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Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out Review
The Wallace & Gromit series of films (consisting of four shorts and a feature-length motion picture) have become a staple in stop-motion animation, and in British popular culture. At its core, the Wallace & Gromit series is about the contrast between the simplistic and the complex, which always seem to come together in the series. Perhaps none of the Wallace & Gromit films showcase this better than their debut short, 1989’s A Grand Day Out.
A Grand Day Out sees eccentric inventor Wallace and his silent dog Gromit on a bank holiday, and they’re deciding where to go for a picnic. When Wallace decides to take a break from searching for a vacation spot and have some tea time – complete with some cheese and crackers – he notices that there’s not a block of cheese left in the house.
With all the stores closed for the holiday, Wallace comes up with the idea to spend their holiday “somewhere where’s there’s cheese.” After briefly thinking of a location, Wallace and Gromit decide to go to the be-all, end-all of cheese locations, the moon. And so Wallace & Gromit begin construction on a rocket ship so that they can take a trip to the moon and sample some cheese.
The story is both simple and whimsically perplexing. When all is said and done, the half hour short really is about little more than Wallace and Gromit wanting to try some cheese, yet the simple plot is turned into something more fanciful by becoming a trip to the moon. It really only goes into that direction because it can. Being an animated family film, why not go to the moon when craving some cheese?
Similarly, the character models for both Wallace and Gromit look a bit rushed, as though creator Nick Park hadn’t yet finalized what he wanted them to look like. Wallace in particular looks less fleshed-out design-wise than he would in the subsequent films, and the character models as a whole look clumpier than they would in future episodes, complete with visible finger prints on their plasticine models.
While the characters look a bit crude compared to later entries, the way in which they move shows a level of dedication and complexity that is rarely approached in animation, even (if not especially) by stop-motion standards.
Take, for example, the scenes where Wallace and Gromit build their rocket ship. Wallace draws up the blueprints, with the camera focusing on the character’s process of drawing. As his hand and pencil glide across the paper, an image begins to appear as though Wallace is actually the one doing the drawing. Another scene has Wallace and Gromit working in unison with a saw and hammer, respectively. As Wallace moves the saw in and out, Gromit hammers in some nails whenever the saw retracts. It’s mind-boggling to even think about where the animation even began with such scenes.
This becomes all the more impressive when you gain the knowledge that Nick Park create a good deal of A Grand Day Out by himself. The film started production in 1982 as a graduation project, with Aardman studios hiring Park some three years later, leaving him to finish the short part-time, with Aardman eventually helping finish the short and releasing it (which ultimately lead to its titular characters becoming the faces of the animation studio). By the time it was released in 1989, actor Peter Sallis (who voiced Wallace for a mere fifty Pounds) was shocked that Park actually managed to finish the film.
A Grand Day Out is admittedly much slower paced than the subsequent Wallace & Gromit shorts, and given that it’s also shorter than them, it ultimately means that not a whole lot happens during its running time, despite the extravagant concept of a moon-based vacation. Some may find that it doesn’t hold up as well as its successors due to its slower nature. But the attention to the fine details of the film are obvious from the get-go. And for those who are thrilled by the technical craft of animation, A Grand Day Out remains a wonder.
Author: themancalledscott
Born of cold and winter air and mountain rain combining, the man called Scott is an ancient sorcerer from a long-forgotten realm. He’s more machine now than man, twisted and evil. Or, you know, he could just be some guy who loves video games, animations and cinema who just wanted to write about such things. View all posts by themancalledscott
Author themancalledscottPosted on January 1, 2016 July 29, 2018 Categories Animated FilmsTags A Grand Day Out, Aardman, Animation, Wallace and Gromit
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Youth Unemployment: The Middle East's Ticking Time Bomb
(HAIDAR HAMDANI/AFP/Getty Images)
With labor markets in the Middle East and North Africa swamped due to a baby boom, countries in the region will continue to face the acute challenge of massive youth unemployment.
Though each state struggles with its own circumstances, most countries will face daunting hurdles as they try to build strong private sectors.
Even if these states do foster more robust private sectors, they may not be able to mitigate the economic hardship when it hits their citizens, due to the uncontrollable nature of the free market.
Earlier this month, Dubai hosted the World Government Summit, welcoming dignitaries from around the world for talks on global happiness. But amid all the discussions of more contented societies lurked a more pressing issue right on the Emiratis' doorstep: the prospect that 5 million workers are set to enter the Middle East's job market each year, even as gainful employment is in short supply. That, at least, was on the mind of Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, who once more exhorted Arab governments to address youth unemployment — and fast. No one was about to disagree. From Morocco to Iran, states and leaders of all sects, political systems and governing systems understand the threat posed by the region's high youth unemployment.
Although regional leaders agree on the need to increase employment, there is a good reason why youth unemployment remains stubbornly above the global average in the Middle East and North Africa. From building vibrant private sectors to finding the right jobs for youth to chasing technological silver bullets, many states have encountered hurdles in searching for a solution. Even if these countries do foster their private sectors and a technological boom, they will open themselves to market forces that they can scarcely control — a development that would challenge their already-strained social contracts with their people. Countries in the region are not blessed with decades to solve the issue of youth employment, but if they fail to find a resolution soon, the survival of these states will come into question.
Slim Pickings for These Baby Boomers
The Middle East and North Africa witnessed a baby bulge in the 1980s and 1990s, as infant mortality rates rapidly dropped in societies that are characterized by large families. From 1980 until 2000, the region's population nearly doubled. Employment, however, failed to keep pace, and today the Middle East has the highest rate of youth unemployment in the world, according to the IMF, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Regional economies failed to keep pace with the rate of population growth for a variety of reasons. Some countries, such as Iraq, Libya and Syria, experienced war, conflict and sanctions, but in places that did not suffer such degradations, youth unemployment rose inexorably. Whether rich or poor, Sunni or Shiite, Arab or non-Arab, Middle Eastern states report more young people searching for work with every passing year. Hampering the youth quest for jobs are a number of factors, including weak private sectors, mismatched skills and a regionwide overreliance on the public sector. But beyond these commonalities, geopolitical issues unique to each country have driven youth unemployment, as local constraints and local problems have all conspired against youth trying their luck in the job market.
Maghreb Maladies
On the western edge of the region, the former French colonies of the Maghreb — Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco — struggle with unemployment rates that run close to 30 percent. For Tunis and Rabat, the problem stems from a lack of high-value natural resources.
Tunisia's pleasant climate benefited inhabitants in an ancient, agricultural era. Today, however, the country's agricultural sector does not yield enough income to provide jobs for most of its people. Instead, Tunisia is forced to rely on the low-wage, low-skilled tourist sector for much of its national employment. Moreover, the country also suffers from underemployment, as a robust education sector has produced many skilled graduates, but there are few jobs to match their skill sets. At the same time, a small coterie of elites continues to syphon off national wealth through corruption.
Morocco, meanwhile, mines phosphorus but that — along with its limited connections to Europe's common market — does not provide enough income to ensure development at the speed necessary for youth job creation.
Algeria suffers from fewer resource constraints thanks to its abundance of hydrocarbon reserves, but the country has failed to fulfill its energy potential. The state has driven a hard bargain in negotiations with foreign energy companies in an effort to extract the most possible income, but the tactics have slowed the sector's growth because they have dissuaded investment, harming employment rates.
In addition, all three suffer from a French colonial legacy of strong civil societies — which would nominally be an asset for stability, because they provide representation for people with grievances. Such groups, however, frequently slow the reforms that are prerequisites for revitalizing the private sector. When countries in the Maghreb propose austerity cuts, tax increases or public sector salary cuts to improve their competitiveness, they can face pushback in the form of strikes or other civil action.
Algiers' actions during the Arab Spring highlighted these issues. Amid the global economic crunch, the overthrow of the government in neighboring Tunisia and worries about its own stability, Algeria's government opened the doors to the public sector, doubling how much it spent on civil servants' wages from 2009 to 2011. The action helped maintain calm on the streets but hurt the country's budgets in the long term. Government spending has yet to return to pre-Arab Spring levels, even as the country's critical energy sector brings in even less oil revenue. Now, Algeria is grappling with the aftereffects of a strategy that solved problems yesterday but gave little thought to today.
The Armies With Their Hands in the Pie
For Egypt, the problem is not just a lack of resources — the recent discovery of the massive Zohr gas field notwithstanding — but a large, urbanized population, a bloated public sector and an economy that is corrupt and dominated by the military.
The country's population of 95 million has almost doubled since 1990, crowding ever more people into cities with poor infrastructure and few jobs besides the low-wage tourist sector. Citizens endure enough problems just finding clean water and affordable food, let alone jobs that can offer them the accoutrements of middle-class life. Unsurprisingly, the jobless rate for youth exceeds 30 percent.
Graft is also rife in Egypt due to years of military domination over large parts of the economy, and that corruption saps national wealth, which could provide more jobs, away from the private sector. The 2011 revolution did not dislodge the military from its paramount position in these businesses, which help divert wealth to these corrupt networks. Layers of regulation additionally protect these sectors and networks from competition.
Furthermore, Egypt's domineering public sector provides the bedrock of the state's political legitimacy. Public sector jobs direct talent away from the private sector and into often unproductive jobs. Those positions are usually created not to conduct functions of state but to buy loyalty to the regime. They also drain national wealth because workers strongly resist pay cuts.
Cairo has registered some success in its attempts to increase competitiveness — at least in 2017. But with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi too dependent on military support for his power, it is unlikely that the authorities will roll back army control over much of the economy to implement greater reforms.
Military cronyism also hampers the economy in Iran, where the youth employment rate is 30 percent. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a powerful presence in the economy, but other elites within the Islamic republic, including the supreme leader's office, have accumulated assets over the years, diverting resources and distorting economic incentives. Perhaps a bigger problem for Iran, however, is a brain drain that has left the the country devoid of its best and brightest. Iran's universities have robust engineering and mathematics programs, but many of its graduates seek work and study opportunities abroad. As a result, Iran foots the bill for the education of such youth but enjoys no dividends from its investment.
The Gulf Between Public and Private
In contrast, members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are neither resource-poor, like the Maghreb, nor overpopulated, like Egypt. Their systems of government are authoritarian, yet there are no military networks gobbling up whole sections of the economy, as in Iran and Egypt. Many GCC states even have many jobs to offer nationals, yet the youth unemployment rate runs to nearly 30 percent in many of the countries. Young people in the Gulf frequently opt for comfortable employment in the public sector rather than seek work in the more demanding private sector. On top of that, the education systems in many GCC countries teach few of the skills private sector employers desire in a potential hire.
To consolidate their legitimacy, Gulf Arab states have relied on their hydrocarbon wealth to build large public sectors that are becoming increasingly expensive and unproductive with their offers of cushy jobs. Now, states in the region are struggling to push their youth toward the private sector despite a preponderance of jobs in the industry, with some eschewing the available private sector jobs in favor of remaining unemployed until a public sector job opens up. Ultimately, generous social safety nets inadvertently remove the incentives for Gulf Arabs to look for immediate work.
GCC members have each set targets to increase the number of nationals working in the private sector, but countries have often reneged on pledges to champion private industry instead of the oversized public sector. As part of a continuing drive to increase the number of Emiratis working in the private sector, the United Arab Emirates' federal government recently froze public sector salaries for 2018 — only for the ruler of Sharjah to give employees in his emirate a raise anyway.
Similarly, Saudi Arabia has been seeking to cut its subsidies and improve its tax base. The kingdom implemented a value-added tax in January to improve the country's overall budget situation, but after members of the public expressed fears that it would lower the standard of living, Riyadh rolled out a Citizen Account Program to soften the impact for poorer Saudis. In February alone, the program transferred $587 million to citizens.
Letting Go of Control
In their bid to find jobs for their youth, many Middle Eastern and North African states are confronted with challenges that will be difficult to overcome. Some are leaning on technology to provide a pathway forward, especially Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Others, such as Egypt, are resorting to international institutions such as the IMF to help them implement the necessary structural changes. Yet a desire to produce modern, vibrant private sectors unifies them all.
The drive for such a private sector, however, presents a risk to many states. Private sectors have a tendency to crash, experience recessions and produce hardship as part of their natural economic cycles. Many Middle Eastern states have strived to mitigate hardship for decades as part of their social contracts with their people, but by embracing stronger private sectors, governments invite the risk that they will fail to manage the difficulties inherent in the inevitable downturns.
This desire to prevent hardship is already playing out in the battle over subsidies across the region. States with economies as diverse as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Egypt are all trying to maintain a fine balance as they fight to reduce budget-draining subsidies and avoid a backlash from societies that have become accustomed to them.
Bigger private sectors connected to the global markets may also alter other expectations for governments, especially when recessions occur. Instead of counting on unified public support for further subsidies during hard times, states could face hostility from entrepreneurs and private sector leaders, making it difficult to mitigate a recession for the population through public spending or new subsidies. Even if they embark on spending sprees to bolster employment, the lag between the beginning of a recession and the response from the government could anger citizens, obliging them to endure recessions that impose austerity with little warning. And if states cannot learn how to absorb such social stress, they risk fomenting the unrest that has racked other austerity-riven countries, such as Greece.
If these states fail to provide the jobs their youth want or need, young people could turn to more extreme ideologies for answers. Religious militants will find plenty of recruits within the ranks of the unemployed, as they always have. Terrorism alone, however, is not the only threat. Some states, such as Saudi Arabia, are actively encouraging a more open society to try to entice investors, tap into the potential of their female workforce and inculcate a culture that lends itself to innovation and creativity. But if openness does not beget prosperity, the hard-line conservatives who have long argued that salvation lies not within the pocketbook but in holy texts may gain the political upper hand, allowing them to sideline reformists.
Right now, there is little appetite in the Middle East and North Africa for a repeat of the Arab Spring. But over the next decade, the demands for change will grow if no solution is found to the problems of unemployment among the 5 million youth who will enter the labor market this year. As the jobless suffer through year after year of poor work prospects, they will question the economic and political systems that have endlessly promised solutions yet failed to deliver an acceptable standard of living. Inevitably, a lack of solutions will foment protests and, potentially in turn, insurrection. With time running out for a solution, revolution might become the youth's biggest employer in the not-too-distant future.
The Global Demographic Crunch
Rebalancing Power in the Middle East
Broken Contracts in the Middle East
The Difficulties of North African Reform
Egypt's Uphill Battle
islamic revolutionary guard corps
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Why You Gotta Be So?
The Wombat · September 29, 2014 · Blog Entries · Magic!, Movie Review, Pop Culture, Rude, Song · No Comments
Why I gotta be so?
I often get in love-hate relationships with elements of pop culture. Usually it’s a TV Show I keep watching only to justify the amount of time I’ve put into it. The last two seasons of “How I Met Your Mother” fit into that category. In the middle of almost every episode, I would ask myself, “Why the hell am I watching this?” And the usual answer was “Remember how funny that one episode in the first season was?”
This summer’s love-hate entry is a song. So the good news is that it should be much more ephemeral, lasting only four minutes at a time and already waning from its peak rotation. But this love-hate is different than most, in that I truly can’t decide if it is an excellent or horrible song. Yet when it’s done, I’m filled with that same “end of the chip bag” sense of introspection.
You were singing that at the top of your lungs, weren’t you? Yeah, how does that make you feel? Boy, you’re going to regret that one in the morning.
It’s just so catchy. The music is great. Just the right instrumentation, rhythm, movement. A peppy little reggae beat that I can twirl my three month old baby to. And isn’t that why we listen to music? Because of the music? So what could be wrong with it?
The lyrics. The lyrics are horrible. And dammit, it’s the lyrics that I have to sing along to whenever it pops up on the radio.
The song is “Rude,” by Magic, and although it started the summer obscure, it listed as the number one iTunes download a few weeks ago, so it now exists in the zeitgeist. If you know the song, you might even be humming it right now. Hell, if you’re anything like me, you knew which song I was talking about four paragraphs ago. I was referencing it while teaching the other day, and all I had to say was “What’s that catchy tune with the really stupid lyrics?” and two or three students offered up “Rude” before I could even describe it further.
The radio station I first heard the song on encourages people to text them if they like or dislike a song. Of course, this seems to be encouraging people to text while driving. I, ahem, have of course, cough, never texted my opinion on a song while driving. I mean, that would be illegal. And please believe me when I say none of this happened anywhere near a moving vehicle of any kind. Honestly, officers, no need to check my phone records.
The first time I heard the song, I was grabbed by the perky, upbeat rhythm and went for my phone. I had already thumbed in the word “like” when the crystal clear singing got to chorus. If one can have a spit take whilst not only not drinking but also driving (er, standing completely still nowhere near a car), I might have done just that. The lyrics, and the entirety of the song, are stupid.
I’m the first person to say that in most songs, the lyrics don’t matter. I can’t understand the lyrics for most of the songs on the radio in a given day. I’ve even karaoked a few songs only to say “Oh, that’s what he says there?” when the lyrics pop up. “Rude” is a song that might have benefitted from a bit more Eddie Vedder style mumbling.
Even when the lyrics are decipherable, they don’t need to make a lot of sense. I watched Alternative Nation at midnight through most of college, and I was fine with a song about a chick who puts Vaseline on her toast. There’s a Crash Test Dummies song that merely describes three people who had little quirks. No point to the song, whatsoever. Perhaps the point of the song was going to be explained in the chorus, but they just decided to sing “mmm mmm mmm mmm” instead. Then again, I’m pretty sure the lead singer of Crash Test Dummies can sing the Brown Note, so we best handle him with kid gloves to protect our bowels.
So I’m fine with silly, pointless songs. I’m fine with fun lyrics without a lot of depth. I’m fine with not even knowing what the guy is singing about. So what’s the matter with “Rude?”
For those of you who haven’t heard the song, the entire thing is about a guy asking his girlfriend’s father for permission to marry her. Yes, in the year 2014, an entire song is devoted to an action that was already insulting and obsolete fifty years ago.
In the first place, asking a girlfriend’s father for “permission” to marry his daughter is insulting to your future bride. It’s the 21st century and you’re implying she can’t make this decision for herself. After the father gives you permission, will the discussion turn to the dowry? Because I’m pretty sure that’s where the whole asking for permission came from. While you’re at it, go ahead and have the father sign the marriage license, because obviously your new wife can’t be trusted to sign legally binding contracts or anything.
But even more than the insulting nature, in the 21st century, the question is pointless. I think this makes it even more frustrating to have this song sung so earnestly. Honestly, what’s the father going to say? No? Chances are you’re already living with his daughter, and even if you aren’t, you’ve at least got some carnal knowledge, right? So Dad says no and you say “Gosh, Pops, you want me to keep getting the milk for free? Awesome. And just for you, I’ll throw in an extra ‘Who’s Your Daddy?’ or two when I’m shtuping her tonight.”
I do understand the desire to alert your future in-laws. You’re setting the stage for your future with your wife, and that includes her family. I found a nice way to do this was to let them know, but not ask their permission. The night before I proposed, I told my father-in-law “I’m going to ask your daughter to marry me tomorrow. I hope I have your blessing.” I was not asking permission, but I also wanted them to be prepped in case their first response was going to be “You’re marrying that loser?” they had fifteen hours to get it out of their system.
But the father in the song said no. I imagine he saw the litany of poems and songs this kid had written for his daughter and, understandably, felt he had no future writing drivel like that. The guy should have asked permission with the background music playing. Then the father probably would’ve said yes, because, I can’t stress enough, it’s fun and catchy music. Although if the father said yes because of the music, then the song would never be written, and I believe that’s how the space-time continuum begins to collapse.
The singer then goes on to sum up why asking a father’s permission is a pointless exercise that barely deserves a mention, much less a song. He’s going to marry her anyway. So you really weren’t asking permission, were you? Any Catholic can tell you the wonderful difference between asking for permission and asking for forgiveness. Again, my father-in-law comes into play here. He asked my grandfather-in-law permission and was told no. So what did he do? Hint: he’s my father-in-law and my wife wasn’t born out of wedlock. So even 40 years ago, it was understood that asking permission wasn’t really asking permission. Yet here we are listening to some Canadian croon on about a non-issue.
“What the hell is he singing about?” I said out loud, phone frozen in my hand, when the chorus hit. “Is this whole song about… Why, this isn’t a new song at all. It is clearly from 1955.”
I quickly thumbed a “dis” onto the front of the “like” text I had already written. I was just about to hit send when the “marry her anyway” part hit. At this point, the music goes from a 4/4 beat to a 6/8 beat. It’s subtle, a change that most people without music backgrounds might just consider a tempo change or not even notice. And it’s quick, maybe only six measures then back to 4/4, but the effect is to take a straight-forward reggae song and fuse it with something else. I still can’t tell what. Is it reggae-rockabilly? Can that even exist? So I sat there, transfixed again by the music with the phone in my hand, unable to push send on either a “like” or “dislike.”
Which is really where I still am today. I never turn the station when the song comes on. Most of the time I sing along. I’m singing lyrics I can’t stand about a subject I find insulting. But dammit, what else can I do?
Of course, listening to it as much as I have, I now know the lyrics quite well. The more I’ve gotten to know them, my initial hatred has only grown. I know I’m picking nits here, but there are two major errors that I’ve found with the song. Both are semantics, and both would barely warrant a mention if not for the catchy tune that makes me listen to the horrible lyrics.
The first problem deals with grammar. Or not even grammar, but how to write dialogue. The lead-in to the first chorus states the father’s response: “You say I’ll never get your blessing for the rest of my life. Tough luck, my friend, but the answer is no.” Okay, is it just me or does that line start out as an indirect quote, then finish as a direct quote?
“Hey, dude,” comes the retort, “you don’t understand poetry. Every word needs to count. We have to worry about rhythm and rhyme. It’s taken you 2000 words to write about a three minute song.” Touche. I can’t imagine writing poetry. Way too verbose. And I understand that poetry, and by extension songs, don’t have to follow strict language rules. But poetry or prose, you’ve got to be consistent with who is speaking. Indirect dialogue is fine, but keep it indirect the whole time.
Oh, and while we’re on the subject of rhyming? No and know are homophones, I don’t think that counts as a rhyme.
The second language problem I have is the very name of the song. They could’ve gone with “Marry Her Anyway,” which is the catchy 6/8 part and captures the point of the song better. But instead they went with “Rude.” The singer’s response to the father’s denial is “Why you gotta be so rude?” This is the second worst rejoinder in history, topped only by his next line, “Don’t you know I’m human, too?” (Insulting the father’s observational skills isn’t going to win him back to your side.)
But rude? I don’t know that I would classify a man not thinking someone is good enough for his daughter as being “rude.” To be rude, one needs to be deliberately hurtful. If you ask someone out on a date and they say no, that is not rude. If they say “not if you were the last human on Earth,” that’s where the rudeness comes in.
In the song, the father was even nice enough to say “Tough luck, my friend.” That has to be one of the more polite denials I’ve heard. Maybe he just felt you had insulted his daughter by asking someone other than her to make this important decision. I don’t know if this is Alanis Morissette “Ironic” level of mis-definition, but it’s up there. SO Canadians don’t know how to define words in song titles. Is that rude? Stereotypical, maybe. While we’re at it, Bryan Adams was only nine years old in the Summer of ’69, so Canadaian singers are bad at both math and English. Probably more hyperbole than rude, but getting closer. I’m not saying the test for rude and the test for libel should be the same, but they’re in the vein.
Canadian singers suck? That would be rude, so I wouldn’t say it. Plus if I said that, the lead singer of the Crash Test Dummies would vacate my bowels.
By the way, you asked the father for permission and then ignored his answer. Sounds like he had a justified reason for his answer.
He didn’t even bring up the fact that you tried to rhyme no and know.
See what I did there? That was intentionally hurtful.
I know, I know. Why I gotta be so…?
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The Roaring Game
Riding a Bike
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Home » MDTA/ Bayspan » The Chesapeake Bay Bridge’s…
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge’s long history
August 9, 2018, 2:56 PM
The William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge crosses the Chesapeake Bay along US 50/30 between Annapolis, Maryland, and Stevensville, Maryland, and connects Maryland’s Western and Eastern shores.
This content is sponsored by Maryland Transportation Authority
The William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge crosses the Chesapeake Bay along US 50/30 between Annapolis, MD, and Stevensville, MD and connects Maryland’s Western and Eastern shores.
When it opened in 1952, the Bay Bridge was the world’s largest continuous over-water steel structure. It is named after former Maryland Governor William Preston Lane, Jr., who was instrumental in obtaining approval for and starting of the bridge’s construction. Exploring the possibility of building a bridge across the bay began with preliminary studies conducted in the 1880s.
In 1927, a group of Baltimore businessmen started to raise funds to build a Bay Bridge and detailed plans were developed. However, the 1929 stock-market crash ended this endeavor. In the early 1930s, several commissions were selected to organize and plan for the bridge. These efforts required federal aid that was not available at the time. In 1938, the Maryland General Assembly submitted a proposal for a bridge and legislation for the construction of the bridge was passed. Movement to start construction was delayed because of the United States involvement in World War II.
Under the direction of Governor Lane, the General Assembly passed legislation to begin bridge construction in 1947. After approximately four decades of planning and organizing, the construction started in January 1949, and the largest public project in the history of the Maryland began. Soon after, underwater work was initiated and the first permanent piles were driven into the Bay’s bottom in March 1950. The bridge was more than one-third complete by the end of the year.
What is now the eastbound span opened to traffic on July 30, 1952. The cost to build the bridge was $45 million. In it’s first year, 1.1 million vehicles drove across the bridge. In 1967, due to increasing traffic volume, the Maryland General Assembly authorized the State Roads Commission to oversee construction of three possible locations for a new crossing. These locations included one north near Baltimore, one in Southern Maryland and one next to the existing bridge from Kent Island to Sandy Point. The option of an additional bridge at Sandy Point was given the highest priority, and construction of the new span began in 1969 and was completed on June 28, 1973. The construction cost was $148 million.
The two spans are 4.33 (westbound) and 4.35 (eastbound) miles long and form the longest fixed-water crossing in Maryland. The eastbound span’s tower is 354 feet tall and the westbound span’s tower is 379 feet tall. Both spans are 186 feet at their highest points, which is high enough to allow ocean-going vessels and ships to pass. The curve near the western side of the bridge was built so that the main spans cross the bay’s shipping channels at 90 degrees, a requirement of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
In 2017, traffic volume in both directions was 27.2 million vehicles. The bridge’s traffic capacity is 1,500 vehicles per lane, per hour. On an average Friday during the summer, more than 56,000 vehicles cross the eastbound span and more than 36,000 cross the westbound span.
To learn more about Bay Bridge traffic operations, tolls and best times to travel visit baybridge.com, call 1-877-BAYSPAN (229-7726) or follow @TheMDTA on Twitter.
Bay Bridge travel tips during the July 4th week
Traveling tips for a safe and happy ride to the beach
Memorial Day weekend Bay Bridge travel tips
MDTA/ Bayspan Sponsored Content
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West Virginia Continues to Lead the Nation in High School Graduation Rates
Nearly Ninety Percent of Students Graduating
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s graduation rate continues to hover at nearly 90 percent, according to data released today by the West Virginia Department of Education. West Virginia’s 2016-17 graduation rate was 89.40 percent. The graduation rate in the Mountain State dropped slightly when compared to the previous year’s rate of 89.81 percent, but is representative of more individual graduates. During school year 2016-17, 17,400 students graduated in the 4-year cohort when compared to 16,826 in 2015-16.
Sixty-eight of West Virginia’s 116 high schools reported graduation rates of 90 percent or above for the 2016-2017 school year. Several schools achieved a graduation rate of 100 percent. Those schools include Paw Paw High School, Pickens Elementary/High School and Paden City High School.
“Ensuring that our students graduate high school prepared for college and careers is a top priority for West Virginia,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Steven Paine. “Our state is poised for extraordinary job growth, and it is our duty to ensure we are graduating students to meet the future workforce needs. I am thrilled to see so many students challenging themselves to strive for greatness and earn their diploma.”
West Virginia’s graduation rate is one of the strongest in the country. Data released from the U.S. Department of Education placed West Virginia among the top states for graduation rates in 2015-16 (the national data lags behind the state-released data). The Mountain State’s graduation rate has continued to rise throughout the last several years. West Virginia also saw a significant increase in graduation rates for the 5-year cohort, moving from 87.4 percent in 2015-16 to 90.3 percent in 2016-17.
Several statewide initiatives contributed to West Virginia’s strong graduation rate. Most notably the creation of the state’s Early Warning System, which tracks 45 different indicators – the most important being attendance, behavior and grades – to identify students at risk of dropping out. The system, which has been used since 2011, provides educators at all levels with easy access to data and research-based information to identify students at-risk of dropping out. Earlier identification of at-risk students allows educators to provide interventions and change students’ trajectory.
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Members of the New York state Assembly vote on legislation that authorizes state tax officials to release, if requested, individual New York state tax returns to Congress, during a session in the Assembly Chamber at the state Capitol, Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York lawmakers gave final passage to legislation Wednesday that would allow President Donald Trump's state tax returns to be released to congressional committees that have, so far, been barred from getting the president's federal filings.
The Democrat-led Senate and Assembly both approved the measures Wednesday, sending them to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat. A spokesman has said the governor supports the principle behind the legislation but will review the bill carefully before deciding whether to sign it.
The legislation doesn't target Trump by name, but it would allow the leaders of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee or the Joint Committee on Taxation to get access to any New York state tax returns filed by elected officials and top appointed officials. The legislation would apply to personal income tax returns, as well as business taxes paid in New York.
An earlier version of the proposal passed the state Senate two weeks ago that would have allowed congressional committees to get any New Yorker's returns, regardless of whether they held public office. Lawmakers later narrowed the legislation to address concerns that it went too far, prompting the Senate to hold a second vote on the new language Wednesday.
New York Republicans have railed against the bill. John Flanagan, who leads the Senate GOP, called the legislation "troubling" and "bad public policy."
Fellow GOP lawmakers said the new proposal's narrower focus shows Democrats went too far with their first proposal, which would have required state tax officials to hand over any New Yorker's state tax returns.
"This bill is nothing more than political showmanship, and we all know it," said Assembly Andrew Goodell, who represents a mostly rural western New York district.
Republicans also blasted Democrats for going after the president instead of focusing on challenges closer to home.
"The fact that we're talking about taxes in this house is ironic because we're not talking about the taxes that New Yorkers pay, which are the highest in the nation," said Rob Ortt, a senator from the Buffalo area.
But the proposals' Democratic sponsors — Sen. Hoylman, of Manhattan, and Assemblyman David Buchwald, of Westchester County — said the legislation promotes government transparency at a time when Americans need to know whether their elected leaders are putting the public's interest first.
"We are affirming Congress' role as a co-equal branch of government and the sacred constitutional principle that nobody is above the law, not even the highest elected official in the land," Hoylman said.
The proposed changes to state law were made amid a battle going on in Washington over Trump's federal returns.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he wouldn't comply with a congressional subpoena seeking six years of Trump's tax returns, in part because the request "lacks a legitimate legislative purpose." U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has threatened to go to court to get the administration to comply.
Democrats are seeking six years of Trump's personal and business tax returns to aid a committee investigation into whether the IRS is doing its job properly to audit a sitting president and whether the law governing such audits needs to be strengthened.
With New York being Trump's home state and headquarters of many of his business enterprises, the legislation could give Democrats access to the president's state tax returns at a time when the White House and Democrats who control the House continue to wrangle over the president's federal tax returns.
Much of the information on Trump's state returns would mirror the information included on a federal return, giving the Democrats a potential end run around the IRS if they wished to take it.
If Congress does request and obtain Trump's state tax returns, that doesn't mean the public gets to see them. Under federal law, the confidential information in the returns is supposed to be for the committee's eyes only.
The New York bills have no time limitation on the tax filings that could be shared with Congress. They require that the returns be requested "for a specified and legitimate legislative purpose," wording that could ostensibly give state officials the ability to refuse some requests they felt were primarily political in nature.
The New York bills would become law immediately upon being signed by Cuomo, though it could be delayed by a court challenge.
Personal taxes
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Oprah Takes Us Backstage at The Color Purple, Starring Cynthia Erivo & Jennifer Hudson
December 17th, 2015 | By Imogen Lloyd Webber
Oprah Winfrey received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Sofia in The Color Purple thirty years ago and now she's producing the Broadway revival of the tuner. "I feel a great sense of pride and I think this new rendition of it is more modernized and still feels so connected and inspirational," the talk show queen told GMA during a backstage tour. The Great White Way's newest big star, Cynthia Erivo, who plays Celie, went on to reveal that the experience has been "an amazing dream come true." Check out the interview, which also includes Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks, below, and then the show at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Oprah Goes to Broadway: The Color Purple airs on December 19 on OWN.
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The Making of J. Lo & Lin-Manuel’s ‘Love Make the World Go Round’
August 8th, 2016 | By Lindsey Sullivan
Following their epic performances on The Today Show and The Tonight Show, Latin pop sensation Jennifer Lopez and Hamilton mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda have released a video of the making of their chart-topping hit "Love Make the World Go 'Round." The two paired up to create the track, which is a tribute to the victims of the tragic Orlando shooting that occurred on June 12. From behind the laptop in the recording studio to shaking it on the roof of the Richard Rodgers, watch the making of J. Lo and Miranda's anthem below!
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» Sporting Journal » Baseball »
MLB Game of the Day – Mets vs. Pirates Tuesday June 7th, 2016
Game 2 of the series between the NY Mets and the Pittsburg Pirates is set to start at 7:05 pm ET at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
The Mets are the current number 2 seed in the National League East and the Pirates are the number 2 seed in the National League Central trailing the seemingly unstoppable Chicago Cubs.
As far as standings go, the Mets are in a slightly better position with a record of 31-24 and a PCT of 0.564 while their opponents are 30-26 with a PCT of 0.536. Looking at the home and away records the match becomes practically even, Pittsburgh has a home record of 16-11 while the Mets on the road record is 16-12.
Now you may be wondering why I picked this match as the game of the day, on the surface it seems like a dull game between two equally matched teams. But that is precisely what makes this an interesting game. Both teams are good, we know that much they are both currently in the second position in their divisions, and with them being such a close match up it will turn out to be a very exciting game. Plus, it will be nationally televised via ESPN2.
Let’s take a look at the probable pitchers for this game. The Mets have listed 27-year-old Jacob deGrom; he is 3-1 with an ERA of 2.62 this season, this will be his 10th start of the season, he was impressive in his last game against the White Sox, but the rest of team failed to score so he ended up being credited with a loss, unfair for sure but that is how team sports work. His performance against the Pirates in his two career starts against them is an advantage as he shut them down both times allowing only 2 runs and none of them homeruns.
On the Pirates side, Juan Nicasio will be on the mound; this will be his 11th start this season, his record so far is 4-4, so to say that the right hand pitcher who possess a strong arm has been rather shaky this year is not a surprise, his current ERA is 4.75. He has started against the Mets in 3 previous occasions with a result of 2-1 where he allowed a total of 8 runs in 15.1 innings pitched which gives him an ERA of 4.70 against the New York team.
The early lines make the Mets a favorite in this match, the lines I’ve seen are somewhere between -130 and -135 and the total has been set at 7.5. For up to date lines make sure to check out AceSportsbook.com.
The Mets win game 2 of their series against the Pirates and the total will go under 7.5.
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Limited Moral Relativism
QUESTION: What is limited moral relativism?
Limited moral relativism holds a belief that all moral relativism is not absolute truth and self-contradictory in its self-denials but accurate in the assertion that circumstances are conditioned and skewed by countless variables.
In other words, a limited moral relativist believes that nothing is set in stone because cultural influences and creative knowledge changes one’s situation.
Also, a limited moral relativist still believes that humans are not accountable to a divine creator. This divine creator disrupts their belief because through divine inspiration changes are wrought in human character and actions.
Humans cannot invent changeless truths. For instance, we cannot change the direction of the revolution of the earth. We cannot ‘think’ a different way and make the earth spin the opposite direction.
We cannot change the natural way babies are created. Conception happens exactly the same way every time for every living creature.
It’s impossible for human beings to create an idea that has not been created before. We only change an existing idea for a different and hopefully, better, purpose.
We were created so uniquely that it’s impossible for another human to think exactly like the next. Cultural differences and upbringing do play a part in the development of a person but that doesn’t make him the authority on an idea or action.
Learn More About Moral Relativism!
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Neil Finn Tour Dates and Concerts | allgigs.co.uk
Pop/ Rock
Neil Finn is a multi award-winning singer, songwriter and musician from New Zealand - a founder member of Split Enz and the Finn Brothers (both with his brother Tim) and front-man of Crowded House.
Studio album releases include the 1998 debut, "Try Whistling This", followed by: "One Nil" (2001), "7 Worlds Collide" (2002), "The Sun Came Out" (2009), "Goin' Your Way" (2013 - with Paul Kelly), "Dizzy Heights" (2014), "Out of Silence" (2017), plus 2018's: "Lightsleeper" (with Liam Finn).
Liam Finn
Former Member Of
Has Worked With
Phil Selway
James Huish
Kris Morris
James Carrington
Logan Wilson
The Finn Brothers
Pajama Club
FlorenceAndTh...
MichaelBubl&e...
www.neilfinn.com
Jan 2019:The Week Ahead with The 1975, Neil Finn, WWE, Mastodon, Architects, London Blues Week, The Hunna, Rebecca Ferguson and more
Sep 2018:Fat Friday starring Ozzy Osbourne, Steely Dan with Steve Winwood, Fatboy Slim, Katherine Jenkins, Orbital, Neil and Liam Finn, Wolf Alice and more
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Libya: Horrific abuse driving migrants to risk lives in Mediterranean crossings
11 May 2015, 00:01 UTC
Photo: © Reuters
Refugees and migrants across Libya face rape, torture and abductions for ransom by traffickers and smugglers, as well as systematic exploitation by their employers, religious persecution and other abuses by armed groups and criminal gangs, according to a new Amnesty International briefing published today.
‘Libya is full of cruelty’: Stories of abduction, sexual violence and abuse from migrants and refugees exposes the full horror and plight of refugees and migrants in Libya, many of whom are driven to risk their lives in treacherous sea crossings in a desperate attempt to reach sanctuary in Europe.
“The ghastly conditions for migrants, coupled with spiralling lawlessness and armed conflicts raging within the country, make clear just how dangerous life in Libya is today. With no legal avenues to escape and seek safety, they are forced to place their lives in the hands of smugglers who callously extort, abuse and attack them,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Director.
“The international community has stood and watched as Libya has descended into chaos since the 2011 NATO military campaign ended, effectively allowing militias and armed groups to run amok. World leaders have a responsibility and must be prepared to face the consequences, which include greater levels of refugees and migrants fleeing conflict and rampant abuse in Libya. Asylum-seekers and migrants are among the most vulnerable people in Libya and their plight must not be ignored.”
The ghastly conditions for migrants, coupled with spiralling lawlessness and armed conflicts raging within the country, make clear just how dangerous life in Libya is today. With no legal avenues to escape and seek safety, they are forced to place their lives in the hands of smugglers who callously extort, abuse and attack them
Philip Luther, Amnesty International Director for the Middle East and North Africa
For years Libya has been both a destination and a transit country for refugees and migrants fleeing poverty, conflict or persecution in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Many come to Libya hoping to reach Europe. But the rise of lawlessness and threat posed by armed groups has exacerbated the risks they face, leading even established communities of migrants who have been living and working in Libya for years to flee to Europe by boat. Abuses in immigration detention centres where thousands of migrants and refugees, including children, face indefinite detention in deplorable conditions are another reason why so many are trying to leave.
With fewer viable routes overland to reach sanctuary in Europe, Syrian refugees are also among those travelling to Libya to attempt dangerous sea crossings towards European shores.
At a special summit held in Brussels last month, the European Council announced plans to increase resources for search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
“The commitment made by EU leaders to deploy more resources for search and rescue is a welcome step, but more people will continue to drown in the Mediterranean Sea unless rescue vessels are delivered promptly, deployed in areas where they are needed most – where most calls for help come from - and remain available for as long as high numbers of refugees and migrants continue to depart from Libya,” said Philip Luther.
The European Council also announced plans to intensify efforts to identify, capture and destroy vessels before they are used by smugglers. These measures are likely to be discussed at today’s meeting between the EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini and the UN Security Council. If implemented, the measures could lead to thousands of migrants and refugees being trapped in a conflict zone.
Introducing measures to tackle smugglers without providing safe alternative routes out for the people desperate to flee conflict in Libya, will not resolve the plight of migrants and refugees
Philip Luther
“Introducing measures to tackle smugglers without providing safe alternative routes out for the people desperate to flee conflict in Libya, will not resolve the plight of migrants and refugees,” said Philip Luther.
Egypt and Tunisia have also tightened border restrictions fearing a spillover of the conflict in Libya, leaving migrants and refugees whose passports have often been stolen or confiscated by smugglers, criminal gangs or their Libyan employers with no other feasible route out of the country except to embark on a perilous sea journey to Europe.
“The world cannot continue to ignore its obligation to grant sanctuary to anyone fleeing such dreadful abuse. Neighbouring countries, including Tunisia and Egypt, must keep their borders open to ensure anyone fleeing violence and persecution in Libya is granted safe refuge,” said Philip Luther.
Amnesty International is also calling for wealthy countries to increase the number of resettlement places for vulnerable refugees and for the international community to take effective steps to urgently address human rights abuses and serious violations of international humanitarian law being committed by all sides in Libya.
Christian migrants and refugees in Libya are at particular risk of abuse from armed groups aiming to impose their own interpretation of Islamic law. People from Nigeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Egypt have been abducted, tortured, unlawfully killed and harassed because of their religion. Most recently a total of at least 49 Christians, mostly from Egypt and Ethiopia were beheaded and shot in three mass summary killings claimed by the group calling itself the Islamic State (IS).
Migrants and refugees also face widespread abductions, torture, theft and physical assaults by criminal gangs and human smugglers, often at Libya’s southern borders and along the smuggling routes to the Libyan coast.
Charles, a 30-year-old man from Nigeria, told Amnesty International he decided to flee to Europe by boat last month after he was abducted and physically assaulted a number of times by members of a criminal gang in the coastal city of Zuwara. He had gone there to escape indiscriminate shelling and fighting in Tripoli.
“They would come steal our money and flog us. I can’t complain to the police about the Christian issue because they don’t like us… In October 2014 four men kidnapped me… because they saw I was carrying a bible,” he said.
They took away his money and phone, and held him for two days while they tortured and beat him until he finally managed to escape one night through the window.
“Such horror stories about the dangers driving migrants and refugees to flee Libya highlight the continuing desperate need to save lives in the Mediterranean. European leaders must ensure that refugees and migrants fleeing conflict and human rights abuses are never pushed back to Libya,” said Philip Luther.
Such horror stories about the dangers driving migrants and refugees to flee Libya highlight the continuing desperate need to save lives in the Mediterranean. European leaders must ensure that refugees and migrants fleeing conflict and human rights abuses are never pushed back to Libya
Abuses along the smuggling routes: abduction, extortion and sexual violence
Migrants and refugees face abuses at all stages of the smuggling routes from west and east Africa towards the Libyan coast.
Sub-Saharan migrants and refugees, including unaccompanied children, have been abducted for ransom along the smuggling routes running towards the Libyan coast. During their captivity, they are subjected to torture and other ill-treatment to coerce them and their family members to pay a ransom. Those who are unable to pay are exploited and often held effectively as slaves - forced to work without pay, physically assaulted and robbed.
Smugglers also sometimes pass the migrants and refugees on to criminal groups once they cross the border in desert areas or in major transit cities along the migration route such as Sabha in the south-west or the coastal city of Ajdabya in eastern Libya.
Migrants and refugees interviewed by Amnesty International said smugglers saw them “as slaves” and treated them “like animals”.
One said the smugglers kept them in a dirty overcrowded room with no toilet, blankets or mattresses and fed them only dried morsels of bread.
“It is effectively a business that they are running. They detain you so that you have to pay… If you don’t answer their questions, they beat you…with rubber pipes,” one man said.
Women, particularly those travelling alone or without men, are at serious risk of rape or sexual abuse by smugglers and criminal gangs. Women abducted along the smuggling route who are unable to pay the ransom are at times coerced into sex in exchange for being released or being allowed to continue their journey.
“I know that [the smuggler] used three Eritrean women. He raped them and they were crying. It happened at least twice,” one eyewitness told Amnesty International.
Another woman from Nigeria described how she was gang-raped by 11 men from an armed gang as soon as she arrived in Sabha.
“They took us to a place outside the city in the desert, tied my husband’s hands and legs to a pole and gang-raped me in front of his eyes. There were 11 men in total,” she said.
They took us to a place outside the city in the desert, tied my husband’s hands and legs to a pole and gang-raped me in front of his eyes. There were 11 men in total
Migrant from Nigeria
Abuses by smugglers before boat departures
Some migrants and refugees said they were ill-treated by smugglers while held in partly constructed houses in Libya for periods of up to three months waiting for more passengers to be gathered. They said smugglers withheld food and water and beat them with sticks or stole their possessions.
Other Syrian refugees said they were transported in poorly ventilated refrigerator trucks.
“Two children were starting to suffocate and stopped breathing. Their parents would slap them on their faces so they would wake up. We were banging on the walls but the driver would not stop,” they said. The children were later resuscitated.
Abuses at immigration detention centres in Libya
Migrants and refugees in Libya also face indefinite detention at immigration detention centres in dire conditions where they face rampant torture and other ill-treatment. Most are detained for irregular entry and similar offences. Those captured on boats that are intercepted by the Libyan coastguard while making the journey to Europe are also detained at such centres.
Women held in these centres have also reported sexual harassment and sexual violence. One woman told Amnesty International how officials at an immigration centre beat to death a pregnant woman detained in one such centre.
“They used to beat us with pipes on the back of our thighs; they even beat the pregnant women. At night they would come to our rooms and tried to sleep with us. Some of the women were raped. One woman got pregnant… This is why I decided to go to Europe. I suffered too much in prison,” one witness said.
“The Libyan authorities must immediately end their policy of systematic detention of refugees and migrants based solely on their immigration status, and ensure that individuals are only detained when strictly necessary for the shortest possible period,” said Philip Luther.
Armed Groups
Refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants
Fleeing my whole life
Russian Federation: On the tenth anniversary of Natalia Estemirova’s murder, human rights groups call for justice long overdue
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Surveillance of American Muslims Underscores Lack of Safeguards
Contact: Gabe Cahn, [email protected], 202.776.7700, c: 202.412.1678, @AIUSAmedia
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Revelations today in The Intercept about the apparently arbitrary surveillance of several prominent American Muslims underscore the lack of safeguards to protect the rights of persons targeted by U.S. surveillance operations, Amnesty International said today.
If it is true, as alleged, that the term "Mohammed Raghead" was used as a placeholder in a government document about how to make surveillance requests, there is good reason to be concerned that anti-Muslim bias tainted the process. Any surveillance conducted on the basis of religion, rather than probable cause to believe that the defendant violated the law, would constitute discriminatory interference with the right to privacy, prohibited by both the Constitution and international human rights law.
"The burden is on President Obama to demonstrate that the surveillance was lawful, and specifically that the government had probable cause to monitor the men, and was not motivated by racial or religious bias," said Steven W. Hawkins, executive director of Amnesty International USA. "Given the indicators of discrimination, as well as the system's lack of meaningful safeguards, we are very concerned that the monitoring was arbitrary and abusive. It is simply unacceptable to discriminate against people on the basis of their religion or race."
While the story is not clear on this point, the government may have been granted warrants by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) to conduct surveillance of the men. The court operates almost entirely in secret, however, relying upon secret interpretations of controversial laws, and lacking sufficient protections against abuse. In particular, the court hears only one side of a request for surveillance: the government's side. In addition, the court's judges are chosen by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, an appointments process that damages its independence and impartiality.
Amnesty International believes that these flaws greatly erode the FISC's capacity to serve as a meaningful check on executive power and its willingness to consider the right to privacy as well as the needs of legitimate law enforcement.
Despite the system's obvious problems, calls for legislative reform have stalled, with Congress failing to move forward on draft legislation. Amnesty International believes that the concerns raised by these cases demonstrate the urgent need for reform.
Under international human rights law, any surveillance must be necessary and proportionate to a legitimate aim, such as countering serious crime, and be the least intrusive means of achieving that aim. Furthermore, the use of surveillance must be enshrined in law, be based on probable cause, and be subject to independent review. Surveillance must be targeted at individuals and be based on probable cause. It should not be conducted on the basis of religion, race, nationality, gender or other discriminatory factors.
As a step toward remedying the system's failures, President Obama should publicly commit to following international human rights law in U.S. surveillance efforts at home and abroad. He should ensure that his administration does not profile people on the basis of religion or race, including by improving the Department of Justice's "Guidance Regarding the Use of Race by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies."
Congress should pass the End Racial Profiling Act as well as comprehensive surveillance reform legislation that upholds the human rights of all people around the world and in the United States.
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million members in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
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Armsby, Henry Prentiss
(21 September 1853–19 October 1921)
Richard A. Hawkins
Armsby, Henry Prentiss (21 September 1853–19 October 1921), agricultural chemist, was born in Northbridge, Massachusetts, the son of Lewis Armsby, an artisan and cabinetmaker, and Mary A. Prentiss. He attended the common schools of Whitinsville and Millbury and was interested in chemical experiments from an early age. Armsby graduated in 1871 with a B.S. from Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science (later Worcester Polytechnic Institute), where he was subsequently an instructor in chemistry from 1871 to 1872. As a postgraduate he specialized in analytical chemistry and spent two periods at Yale’s Sheffield Scientific School, from which he received a Ph.B. in 1874 and a Ph.D. in 1879. In the meantime, and after a year as a teacher at Fitchburg High School in Massachusetts, he had gone to Germany in 1875 to study animal nutrition with the University of Leipzig’s leading agricultural scientists and with Julius Kühn and his colleagues at nearby Möckern Agricultural Experiment Station, Germany’s oldest agricultural experiment station. It was there that Emil von Wolff had begun his pioneering research into agricultural chemistry in 1851....
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Our Latest Accomplishments
July 1, 2019— Apex Companies, LLC Acquires HSE Consulting Business of Bureau Veritas
Apex Companies, LLC Acquires HSE Consulting Business of Bureau Veritas
Forms One of the Largest, Private HSE Consultancies in United States
Rockville, MD—Apex Companies, LLC (Apex) today announced the acquisition of the Health Safety and Environmental (HSE) Consulting Business of Bureau Veritas. Through this transaction, Apex, an award-winning water resources, environmental services and industrial hygiene firm, will strengthen and diversify its portfolio of services across the health safety and environmental value chain, while also expanding geographically. The transaction brings together two highly respected and formidable consultancies in North America that will offer the following combined capabilities:
Approximately 1,000 health, safety & environmental professionals and 50 nationwide offices;
The largest private industrial hygiene practice in the United States;
The largest private stormwater management/compliance practice in the United States;
Industry leaders in safety, ergonomics, sustainability, compliance & mgmt systems; and
A continued partnership with Bureau Veritas on international and cross-disciplinary projects.
HSE will integrate as a business unit of Apex and will be led by Erik Siver, who will report directly to David Fabianski, Chief Executive Officer at Apex. Mr. Siver has been with HSE for ten years, serving in a leadership role since 2011.
“We are excited to join Apex, a firm with a reputation for technical excellence in many complementary areas to HSE,” said Siver. “We view this as a partnership and an opportunity to provide new services and expanded national coverage to our clients. We are also excited at the prospect of learning from one another and the opportunities this presents for the growth and advancement for all of our people.”
“The HSE Consulting Business of Bureau Veritas has developed an outstanding reputation for service excellence and thought leadership and, like Apex, cares deeply about the work they do and the clients and communities they serve,” said Fabianski. “We are delighted to welcome the HSE team to Apex and are excited about what our combined talents and capabilities will mean for our clients and employees.”
Apex is backed by Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that specializes in buying and building businesses in the lower midmarket in the United States and Canada in partnership with management.
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Home / Ambassador of Indonesia to India / Culture / food / india / indonesia / Interview / Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro / The Pride and Glory of Bali-Yatra / travel
An exclusive interview with His Excellency the Ambassador of Indonesia to India Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro
Murtaza Ali Khan 9:16:00 PM Ambassador of Indonesia to India , Culture , food , india , indonesia , Interview , Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro , The Pride and Glory of Bali-Yatra , travel Edit
A Potpourri of Vestiges Exclusive
By Murtaza Ali Khan
I consider myself fortunate to have interviewed His Excellency the Ambassador of Indonesia to India, Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, during a recent launch event "The Pride and Glory of Bali-Yatra" as part of the cultural exchange between India and Indonesia at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, New Delhi.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to H.E. Mr. Suryodipuro for making himself available, despite having a very busy schedule, for an exclusive interview, and, for sharing his vision and strategy to further boost the cultural exchange between India and Indonesia across various sectors including travel and food, in a most elaborate manner.
Edited Excerpts
Q1. Could you please share with us the vision behind “The Pride and Glory of Bali-Yatra”?
A. The Pride and Glory of Bali Yatra is a project undertaken by Mr. Sudip Sen of Resource Indica based in Kolkata to promote the linkages between Odisha and Bali in particular, but also Java, Sumatra and other islands in Southeast Asia. It seeks to promote the linkages of the past to highlight the cultural similarities between India and Southeast Asia and turn it into a photographic and video journey for the Indian audience. This is a project that we welcome and would like to highlight in our own work to promote Indonesia in India. We promoted Mr. Sudip Sen’s work by having a launch of the coffee table book of The Pride and Glory of Bali Yatra at the Embassy of Indonesia recently in the form of a Gala Dinner combined with cultural events and networking with various stakeholders in India, in particular in New Delhi area, covering stakeholders such as tour operators, media, the intelligentsia, officials and others.
Q2. India and Indonesia share a lot in common in terms of culture. How do you see this cultural bond?
A. India-Indonesia cultural bonds are deep rooted in history. Both countries want to not only develop and strengthen the existing cultural bonds, more importantly we want to build on those bonds that will prepare us better to seize the opportunities and address the challenges of today and the future, such as economic development, human development, climate change, and the challenges that come with globalization. A stronger cultural bond will also help us deal with issues such as extremism, radicalism, and identity politics. My job as Indonesia's Ambassador in India has been made easier by the fact that many of my Indian counterparts and friends share the same view.
Q3. Since your appointment, the cultural exchange between India and Indonesia has witnessed a boost. What would be your strategy going forth?
A. Our response or our strategy will be two parts. First, we shall continue to build upon the work that all of us have been doing, such as in the form of exchanges of cultural troupes and artists. This has been long-standing, and the Embassy of Indonesia and our counterparts in India, such as the Indian Centre on Cultural Relations, are endeavoring to develop and strengthen the work that has already been done in the past.
Secondly, we seek to enhance people-to-people contact. To do so, we will work with our Indian counterparts and intensify connectivity between our two countries. At the moment the majority of air connectivity between India and Indonesia are undertaken through third countries. But we do have direct flights between India and Indonesia, 28 times per week, that are served by Indonesian carriers. Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia, Air Asia Indonesia are all flying to India directly from Medan, Jakarta, and Denpasar Bali, and they fly to Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. We are happy to see that the number of Indian visitors to Indonesia has been increasing in a very healthy way. Last year in 2017, the number of Indian visitors to Indonesia reached 485,000 people. We hope that this year that number will increase to 700,000 visitors or more. By having more people-to-people interaction, our bonds and our shared heritage will grow further, and this will be good for both our countries, for our region, and for the world.
Q4. Indonesian cuisine in India has seen a rise in popularity in recent times but it is not yet as popular as other Oriental cuisine. How committed are you in taking the Indonesia delicacies to the common Indian household?
A. It is not as though Indonesian dishes are not known to the Indian consumers or Indian foodies or connoisseurs. If you go to restaurants, cafés, even airlines, you will see a number of Indonesian cuisines being displayed on the menu, such as Nasi goreng and Satay. The fact that there are currently no Indonesian restaurants in New Delhi is a shortcoming in terms of promoting Indonesia to the public at large.
A recent CNN survey indicated that Rendang is the most popular food among the CNN survey respondents. Nasi goreng was also one of the most popular cuisines. Thus, it is for us and above all for entrepreneurs and business community to build on this success story and reputation of Indonesian cuisine into a viable and working business model. I am very optimistic that this is doable. We at the Embassy can help in terms of mobilizing support for those businesses that wish to open Indonesian restaurant in New Delhi.
On our part, the Embassy of Indonesia has been active in promoting its Indonesian food by holding gala dinners, dinners, cocktail receptions, and other events for our Indian friends and colleagues, and other connections. We are cognizant that this is only for a very limited number of people and we have to do more and better, including by eliciting the help of the media.
Q5. What would be your recommended delicacies/preparations to someone uninitiated to Indonesian Cuisine?
A. Indonesian cuisine is very rich and covers the whole gamut of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. In fact, our problem might be because of our diversity. Diversity is good and strengthens our heritage, but we would like to see efforts be focused on certain dishes or on certain region of Indonesia. For example, Indians might be interested as a start to go to restaurants of certain Indonesian regions that is familiar with Indian food. Food from Sumatra such as West Sumatera, North Sumatera, and Aceh, come to mind because of the similarity they share with food from Bengal and Tamil Nadu. This is only one example. We can also promote other foods that are unfamiliar in India, therefore making it an adventure for Indians.
Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your valuable thoughts are highly appreciated!
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Heinz Galinski School
Address: Waldschulallee 73-75 | BERLIN | Germany | Visit Website
Latitude/Longitude: 52.50209, 13.25939
The school was designed in a form of a flower, as a gift to the children of Berlin. The sunflower’s celestial construction seemed most suitable for planning the school, since its seeds orbit the sun and the sun’s rays illuminate all of the schoolrooms.
Berlin accepted the gift and entrusted us with the work. To begin with, calculations had to be made of the sun’s orbits and the length of all the sun rays. When these were completed, construction could begin. Bricks were brought and laid one over the other. Walls rose and the building began to emerge.
In time it became evident that the school, whilst under construction, was gradually transforming into an intricate city. Streets and courtyards followed the paths of the orbits and the infinitesimal traces of the sun rays. The school´s exterior moulded the city´s interior into a mirror of the universe, a place where light and shadow intersect. Children loved it and the work continued.
© Michael Krüger
The building was nearing completion when an uncertainty arose. By now the construction resembled neither a sunflower nor a city but a book whose open pages carry the load of the construction. Building a book was not our guiding principle, and experts had to be consulted as to the cause of the continually mutating images.
Following a lengthy Talmudic debate, the school was eventually found to be built correctly. It was acknowledged that the sunflower, when transplanted from the Holy Land to Berlin evolved naturally into a book. The experts declared that the transformation was unavoidable since the Book represented the only lot Jews were allowed to cultivate in the Diaspora.
© Zvi Hecker
The theory of natural evolution was further reinforced by an account from the Old Testament. Beth-Sefer, the Hebrew word for school, when translated literally means House of The Book. This important biblical-etymological evidence restored confidence in our work and paved the way for the completion of construction.
Oblivious to these transformations were only the school children. They had to discover themselves how the sunflower absorbs the light into its deeply cut canyons and reflects it upon the pages of an open book, and how in turn the House of the Book becomes a city of streets, courtyards and places to hide.
It seems inevitable that the rapid pace of transformation will turn full circle and come to completion. Finally, what many have suspected will be revealed-that the House of The Book is not the building of a School, but a landscape of our childhood dreams.
⇒ Architecture Guide to BERLIN
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December 18, 2008 by Marion Maneker
A clutch of obituaries came out in the past few days:
A painter by training, Mr. Lalanne created his own brand of surrealism when, in 1964, he unveiled “Rhinocrétaire,” a life-size Annam rhinoceros, whose side folded out into a writing desk. Endlessly inventive, he generated a zoo’s worth of animals in the decades that followed: a “landscape fish,” designed for the outdoors, with a rectangular hole in the middle that framed the natural scene like a painting; a giant fly, executed in brass, steel and porcelain, which did double duty as a toilet; and, most famous of all, 24 sheep covered in genuine sheepskin; some had faces, others were shaggy bolsters that stood on sheep legs. [ . . . ]
After completing his mandatory military service he rented a studio in Montparnasse, next to that of Constantin Brancusi, who was a decisive influence on his work. Through Brancusi, Mr. Lalanne met artists like Max Ernst, Jean Tinguely, Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp. Just as influential on his art was his brief stint as an attendant at the Louvre, where he worked in the galleries of ancient Egyptian and Assyrian art, surrounded by animal sculptures staring at him impassively from time’s abyss.
François-Xavier Lalanne, Sculptor of Surrealistic Animals, Is Dead at 81 (New York Times)
Mildred Constantine
Ms. Constantine, who used her maiden name professionally and was known to associates as Connie, was associate curator and ultimately curatorial consultant in the Modern’s architecture and design department from 1943 through 1970, many of those years under Philip Johnson, the department’s founder. She was largely responsible for popularizing ignored or difficult-to-categorize collections, or what she called “fugitive material.”
With exhibitions including “Olivetti: Design in Industry” (1952), “Signs in the Street” (1954) and “Lettering by Hand” (1962), she fostered a new discipline of curatorial studies in the applied and decorative arts. She gave career-defining solo exhibitions for individual graphic and product designers like Alvin Lustig, Bruno Munari, Tadanori Yokoo and Massimo Vignelli, among others. [ . . . ]
Ms. Constantine belonged to the leftist Committee Against War and Fascism, and in 1936 traveled to Mexico, where she became interested in the political Latin and Central American graphics movement. She organized a comprehensive Latin American poster collection, initially shown at the Library of Congress and now part of the permanent collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[ . . . ]
In the same year Ms. Constantine wrote “Tina Modotti: A Fragile Life,” the first monograph about Ms. Modotti, an actress of fervent political passions who is now celebrated as a photographer.
Mildred Constantine, 95, MoMA Curator, Is Dead (New York Times)
Mr. Brecht came of age as an artist in the late 1950s, when Abstract Expressionism and the cult of the heroic creative genius were ascendant. Inspired by the Conceptual art of Marcel Duchamp and the experimental music of John Cage, he began to imagine a more modest, slyly provocative kind of art that would focus attention on the perceptual and cognitive experience of the viewer.
American, European and Asian artists who were thinking along similar lines included Dick Higgins, Alison Knowles, Ben Vautier, Nam June Paik and George Maciunas, who in 1962 came up with the name Fluxus for this confederation of like-minded Conceptualists.
Like many other Fluxus artists, Mr. Brecht created assemblages consisting of ordinary objects in boxes and cabinets, as well as arrangements that often included chairs. He also made paintings and sculptures that played with language, like a piece with white plastic letters spelling “sign of the times.” [ . . . ]
In the early 1960s, Mr. Brecht taught in what was then the unusually progressive art department of Rutgers University, along with Mr. Hendricks, Allan Kaprow (who became known as an inventor of the “happening”) and Robert Watts, who also became a Fluxus artist.
George Brecht, 82, Fluxus Conceptual Artist, Is Dead (Bloomberg)
Ernst Beyeler
Mira Godard
David K. Anderson
Norman Parish
Filed Under: Retrospectives
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Implementation of the USMCA
On 30 September, the three signatory states concluded the agreement. However, it will come into effect only after having been signed by the parliaments of the 3 countries and submitted to the US Congress in January 2019. Donald Trump would like to sign the USMCA at the end of November with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.
Sectors affected by the new free-trade agreement
The USMCA includes several changes compared to NAFTA:– In the automotive sector, at least 75% of the value of the parts must come from North America to be exempted from custom taxes and part of the workers must be paid at least $ 16 an hour, which makes Canada able to compete with Mexico.
– Arbitration of commercial disputes is submitted to a binational committee that applies the rules of the treaty. A company no longer has the possibility to sue a signatory State in case of dispute.
– E-commerce benefits from the new agreement with the increase of the threshold for sales taxes and customs duties. The threshold goes from $ 20 to $ 40 for taxes and from $ 20 to $ 150 for customs.
– The agreement expands the conditions for free trade in the dairy and poultry sectors. The United States will have access to the Canadian market up to 3.5%
– Patents for biologic drugs are protected for 10 years.
On the other hand, the regulations do not change for the Canadian cultural exception and extend to digital content. The important custom taxes on steel and aluminum exported to the United States from Canada also remain and are not affected by this new treaty.
For advice and information on formalities related to your customs obligations and trade opportunities in North America, contact ASD Group experts.
DEB VS Intrastat
In France, the trade of goods declaration, or DEB, consists of both statistical (Intrastat) and fiscal information. In the other member countries, Intrastat is only statistical and is accompanied by an additional tax declaration to determine the trade of goods between member countries.
The dangers of the VAT fraud
Taxation remains a complex subject within the European Union. According to a study by the European Commission, The European Union member countries lost 151,5 billion euros in 2015, from which one third or 50 billion due to the VAT fraud.
Recovery of british VAT
What are the conditions for securing a VAT refund in the United Kingdom?A company established in a member country of the European Union which has incurred specific taxable expenses in the United Kingdom can recover its VAT as long as the company has not conducted any taxable operations in the country.
Latest measures relating to VAT / customs at the international level
International VAT regime knows constant changes. Since some of these changes are very important, we will detail for you the main measures that have recently come into force.
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AUDIO-TECHNICA LAUNCHES PORTUGUESE VERSION OF NEWLY REDESIGNED WEBSITE
Neilson/Clyne
Stow, OH 01-23-2006 – Leading microphone manufacturer Audio-Technica has further expanded its comprehensive website offerings with the addition of Portuguese content to serve the burgeoning international audio community. A-T’s site, www.audio-technica.com, is designed to provide visitors with an intuitive and interactive resource for the latest information on Audio-Technica’s complete range of microphones, headphones and audio accessory products. The announcement of the new Portuguese version reflects A-T’s ongoing commitment to supply the most accurate, up-to-the-minute product, company and industry info to its broad base of end users and dealers.
The website serves customers in the Americas and Europe, with content tailored for four regions: the United States/Canada, Latin America, Continental Europe and the United Kingdom. The site is now offered in five languages: English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese. A-T’s website has recently been streamlined with improved navigation and dropdowns that take visitors to their destination with fewer clicks.
An upgraded product section features all Audio-Technica microphones (hard-wired and wireless), headphones and accessories, a windscreen/mount cross-reference, and an extremely fast and comprehensive product search function, including complete specs and curves on all A-T professional products. Other helpful incorporations are online product registration; product photos with 300 dpi downloadable files; searchable product literature in PDF format including spec sheets, manuals, brochures, etc.; PDFs of the latest A-T advertisements; tools for selecting, using and getting the best performance out of any wireless microphone system; company press releases; as well as U.S. MSRP listings.
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William J. Quinn
Brennan Lenehan Iacopino & Hickey
Lawyer Page:
https://brennanlenehan.com/law...
https://www.brennanlenehan.com
85 Brook Street
Attorney Quinn was born in Hanover, New Hampshire. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Following graduation, he was employed as a Legislative Assistant in the United States House of Representatives with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. He later attended Vermont Law School where he graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1993. Attorney Quinn began practicing law at a firm in North Conway, New Hampshire until 1993 when he joined Brennan Lenehan. In 2004, he became a Sharholder with the firm. Attorney Quinn has attained an AV Peer Review Rating recognizing his high degree of legal skill and ethical standards. He is a member of the New Hampshire and Manchester Bar Associations. He lives in Concord, New Hampshire with his family.
Lawyer Practice Areas
Bar & Court Admissions
Vermont Law School , J.D., graduated 1993
St. Lawrence University, Bachelor of Arts in Government, graduated 1985
New Hampshire, 1993
Maine, 1995
Court Admissions:
United States District Court, 1993
Carroll County, NH - Treasurer
COPOCO - Board of Directors
Best Lawyers, Family Law, Manchester, NH, 2019
National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Top 10 Attorney 2017
Martindale-Hubbell law Directory, Peer Review Rated "AV"
American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, New Hampshire 10 Best 2015
American Institute of Family Law Attorneys,
New Hampshire 10 Best Attorneys
Martindale-Hubbell law Directory,
Peer Review Rated "AV"
National Academy of Family Law Attorneys,
Top 10 Attorney
Primary Practice Areas
Family Law, Estate Planning, Probate
Describe one of your most interesting or memorable cases in the past year.
I was recently involved in a case that involved issues of trusts and estates, voluntary/involuntary underemployment, treatment of unvested stock options, and fault grounds. As the case progressed we addressed expansive requests for discovery of any and all electronic communications. We were faced with a huge number of shifting issues as the case made its way through the process. The level of hostility between the parties was reflected by the vast expanse of issues confronted.
What is most challenging about your area(s) of expertise?
The most challenging part of my job is educating my clients that the Court is going to view your case primarily as an economic calculation, as opposed to a decision based on the raw emotions of a martial break-up. The dissolution of a marriage is painful for everyone, and the reasons for the ultimate breakdown have a cumulative effect on each of the parties. By the time they come to see me, they are so angry, hurt and frustrated with their spouse, that they can be resistant to the fact that the Court is not concerned with the reasons for the divorce, but more with how it will equitably carve up the marital estate.
Key: Awarded in Best Lawyers Not Currently Awarded for this Area in Best Lawyers
Contact William J. Quinn
If you would like this lawyer to contact you directly in regards to a legal matter, please fill in the relative information below. The lawyer will then be sent your inquiry.
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Middle East selected
Iran: CIA spy network broken up, claims Tehran
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13483029
Iran says it has arrested 30 people after breaking up a spy network run by the US Central Intelligence Agency.
It said the network had operated out of US diplomatic missions in the Malaysia, Turkey and the UAE.
Iranian spies had been recruited and asked to spy on Iran's research institutes, universities, nuclear programmes and other sites, it added.
Iran occasionally announces the arrest of people allegedly linked to foreign intelligence agencies.
"Due to the massive intelligence and counter-intelligence work by Iranian intelligence agents, a complex espionage and sabotage network linked to America's spy organisation was uncovered and dismantled," an intelligence ministry statement read on state TV said.
"Elite agents of the intelligence ministry in their confrontation with the CIA elements were able to arrest 30 America-linked spies through numerous intelligence and counter-intelligence operations."
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Co-op grants £8,500 to good causes across Waveney
PUBLISHED: 13:07 10 January 2019 | UPDATED: 13:40 10 January 2019
Thomas Chapman
Projects across Waveney have been granted a share of £8,500 by Central England Co-operative. Picture: Central England Co-operative
Projects across Waveney are celebrating after being granted a share of £8,500 by Central England Co-operative.
A wide range of groups and charities across the nation were handed grants from the Community Dividend Fund, with £40,000 going to good causes in 16 counties.
With its site now 25-years-old, martial arts group Halesworth Kuk Sool will use £5,000 to pay for a new roof for its dojo. It is hoped the work will ensure the group can continue to serve its 1,000 members for a further two-and-a-half decades.
Kevin Clouting, chairman of Halesworth Kuk Sool Won committee, said: “The generosity of Central England Co-op has stunned and humbled us all.
“The donation is breathtaking in its generosity and will allow us to carry out some major and much-needed renovations.”
Members of Lowestoft Shopmobility are also reaping the rewards after being granted £2,000 for a new mobility scooter to help them navigate around town,
Margaret Oldham, chairman of Lowestoft Shopmobility, said the new means of transport would be an important source of independence.
She said: “The scheme was formed 22 years ago to improve the quality of life for anyone with mobility impairments. Some of the older mobility scooters which we hire out can no longer be repaired, so we were delighted to receive a grant.
“This will enable us to buy a new, large pavement scooter, which will be used by our members to do their shopping independently.”
In addition, the 1st Earsham Scout Group will soon have a new access ramp for disabled youngsters to use its facilities thanks to a £1,500 grant.
The Community Dividend Fund guarantees at least 1pc of the Co-op society’s trading profit is reinvested in local communities. Grants of between £100 and £5,000 are handed out every three months to a range of applicants.
Martyn Cheatle, chief executive of Central England Co-operative, added: “We are delighted that these great projects and good causes have been handed a grant for the fantastic work they do in the community.
“Community Dividend Fund grants like this showcase how being a member and continuing to support Central England Co-op helps us as a society continue to invest and fund vital projects in the local area.”
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BM Group: 27 October 2015
Behn Meyer’s 175th Anniversary in Bangkok, Thailand
Behn Meyer’s 175th anniversary in Bangkok Thailand, was held in Pavilion Hall at The Grand Fourwings Convention Hotel, Bangkok during the evening of October 27th 2015. The lead-up to the celebratory event commenced with a photographic presentation of Behn Meyer Group’s journey from the early days up to the present. The photographs on display included Behn Meyer Group’s founder together with others portraying the development of the company logo as well as offices and plants in various countries. The hall was surrounded with an abundance of impressive photographs and those in attendance were also entertained by music from the live string trio band while being served with drinks and refreshments before being led to the main hall for the official celebration.
Mr. Prasonk Aramwittaya, who is Managing Director of Behn Meyer Thailand and also a member of Behn Meyer Group Board of Directors, gave a welcome speech which took the audience of more than 400 through the successful history of Behn Meyer business in Thailand. The speech was then concluded with expressions of gratitude to all the business partners, customers and staff who attended the event.
Dr. Fritz Kleinsteuber, who is the author of the Behn Meyer’s history book volume 3, then talked in depth about Behn Meyer’s Group history, the origins of the business and the principles of the founder of Behn Meyer.
Last but not least, Mr. Jens Kellinghusen, who is a member of Behn Meyer Group Board of Directors, was invited onto the stage with Mr. Prasonk to propose a toast to all those who were in attendance to celebrate the special occasion.
The Behn Meyer Thailand representative then continued the event with a storytelling session and presented a song entitled “If We Hold On Together” as thousands of balloons were released from the top of the hall. Meanwhile, the Behn Meyer Thailand staff presented a Thai jasmine wrist garland to each and every guest to sincerely express their gratitude and honor the dedication and commitment of everyone involved.
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Romanian Section
Spanish Section
Boris Nemtsov was assassinated!
Written by Ionut Vornicu on 27 February 2015 . Posted in Celebrity News
Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov was a Russian physicist, statesman and liberal politician. Nemtsov was one of the most important figures in the introduction of capitalism into the Russian post-Soviet economy.
Just before midnight on 27 February 2015, Nemtsov was shot several times in the back as he was crossing the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge in Moscow, close to the Kremlin walls and the Red Square. He died at the scene.
Nemtsov was murdered less than two days before he was due to take part in a peace rally against Russian involvement in the war in Ukraine and the financial crisis in Russia. The BBC reported: "In his last tweet, Mr Nemtsov sent out an appeal for Russia's divided opposition to unite at an anti-war march he was planning for Sunday". The BBC also quoted him as saying, "If you support stopping Russia's war with Ukraine, if you support stopping Putin's aggression, come to the Spring March in Maryino on 1 March." The night after Nemtsov's murder, his papers, writings and computer hard drives were confiscated in a police search of his apartment on Malaya Ordynka street.
B.B. King dies at the age of 89
Written by Ionut Vornicu on 15 May 2015 . Posted in Celebrity News
Arguably one of the most important musical figures of the 20th century, blues legend B.B. King died last night in Las Vegas at the age of 89. In early October, the tireless bluesman, who in 1956 had performed an astonishing 342 times, was forced to cancel the remainder of his 2014 tour when he fell ill following a performance at the House of Blues in Chicago, and just two weeks ago he entered home hospice care. The“King of the Blues” had lived with type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years and during that time frequently used his celebrity to raise awareness about the disease that took the lives of both his mother and one of his daughters. Though he is survived by two ex-wives, 15 children and some 50 grandchildren, it is his distinctive, lyrical guitar playing and his unique blend of the blues with other musical styles that are his greatest legacy. Read more on Biography.com
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| Site map | News | Contact us
> You are here: worldwide metrology: committee structure > CIPM > Decisions
Outcomes of recent CIPM meetings
CIPM Decisions (since 2012)
CIPM Recommendations
Decision CIPM/107-1 June 2018
The CIPM accepted the minutes of the 106th meeting of the CIPM as a true record.
[Meeting report]
The CIPM noted the decision taken by correspondence on 15 June 2018 amending clause 18.6 of the BIPM Regulations, Rules and Instructions (RRI) to increase the period within which the advisory opinion of the Appeals Committee is delivered from 45 to 60 days if exceptional or unforeseen circumstances warrant so.
The CIPM confirmed its approval of the audited financial statements of the BIPM and of the BIPM Pension and Provident Fund which were reviewed by the CIPM Sub Committee on Finance in June 2018. The CIPM granted the BIPM Director quietus for the 2017 exercise.
The CIPM approved the budget proposed by the Director for 2019.
The CIPM noted that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has not paid its contributions for six years. Pursuant to Resolution 8 adopted by the CGPM at its 23rd meeting (2007) it has been sent a formal notification inviting it to fulfil its financial obligations and reminding it of the procedure governing the recovery of arrears and exclusion. The CIPM decided to recommend to the CGPM at its 26th meeting to take a decision with regard to the exclusion of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in accordance with Article 6 of the Regulations annexed to the Metre Convention.
The CIPM expressed its appreciation and support for the work of the Chair of the Pension Fund Advisory Board (PFAB), the BIPM Director and Legal Advisor in respect of the implementation of its decisions, in particular concerning the long-term financial stability of the BIPM Pension Fund.
The CIPM recalled the decision in 2008 of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) that observed that the BIPM, as an intergovernmental organization established by treaty, recognized the jurisdiction of the ILO Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT). The CIPM recognized the legal status of the BIPM as an intergovernmental organization and instructed the BIPM Director to continue to ensure as much as possible the legal certainty necessary for the implementation of its decisions.
The CIPM recalled decision CIPM/104-48 and confirmed that informal discussions about the terminology used to refer to the BIPM serve to diminish the reputation of the organization and have the potential to damage confidence in its legal certainty. It confirmed that such discussions are closed.
The CIPM noted the steps taken to implement its decisions regarding the future of the BIPM Pension Fund and re-iterated its commitment to achieve its long-term financial stability.
The CIPM requested the BIPM Director to commission an independent report presenting a range of options for the BIPM staff and operations, in the case that the planned measures to achieve long-term financial stability cannot be implemented in an effective and timely manner.
The CIPM decided to review the purpose and agenda of the meeting of the CC Presidents at the next meeting of the CIPM.
Decision CIPM/107-10 June 2018
The CIPM approved the proposal of the CCQM to establish a CCQM Working Group on Isotope Ratio Measurement.
The CIPM asked the BIPM Director and Legal Advisor to explore options to formalize the BIPM liaison with the CODATA Task Group on Fundamental Constants.
It was brought to the attention of the CIPM that there is a discrepancy relating to the definition of the term "unit" between the draft 9th edition of the SI Brochure and the 8th edition. The CIPM asked the CCU President to organize a vote by correspondence among the CCU members, with a deadline of the end of August 2018, as to whether to retain the wording of the draft 9th edition or to revert to the wording of the 8th edition, and to report back to the CIPM President for further action (if necessary).
The CIPM agreed with the proposal from the CCU President to establish a Task Group to review further the issue concerning the definition of the term "unit" in the SI Brochure.
The CIPM confirmed the working practice of inviting the Chairs of relevant Regional Technical Committees to the plenary sessions of the relevant Consultative Committees. The CIPM decided that when any Chair is not from a Member or Observer organization of the relevant Consultative Committee then he/she will be formally invited to participate as a guest of the President of the Consultative Committee.
The CIPM decided to adopt the following definition of consensus (which originates from the ISO/IEC Directives) for use in the Consultative Committees, Sub-committees and ad hoc Working Groups:
Consensus - "General agreement, characterized by the absence of sustained opposition to substantial issues by any important part of the concerned interests and by a process that involves seeking to take into account the views of all parties concerned and to reconcile any conflicting arguments. Consensus need not imply unanimity."
Document CIPM-D-01 will be updated accordingly.
The CIPM agreed the revised version of CIPM-D-01.
The CIPM accepted the proposal that GUM (Poland) and NIS (Egypt) should become observers at the CCL.
The CIPM endorsed the draft Work Programme (2020-2023) presented by the BIPM Director and Department Directors, and asked them to reconcile the scope of the activities with the long-term financial plans for the BIPM and the expected level of the dotation.
The CIPM approved the attendance policy for the 26th meeting of the CGPM.
The CIPM agreed on a "recommended list" of candidates for election to the CIPM and asked the CIPM Secretary to send it to the Chair of the Committee for CIPM Election.
The CIPM approved the Guidelines for Election of the CIPM bureau.
The CIPM decided that the CIPM ad hoc Working Group on Implementing the Recommendations from the Review of the CIPM MRA had completed its tasks and therefore is closed. It thanked all who had participated for their contributions to the success of its work.
The CIPM decided to establish an ad hoc working group to consider the role of metrology in improving the reproducibility of research data and related topics, and appointed Dr Liew as the Chair. Drs Bulygin, Castelazo, Laiz, Rastello, Sené and Milton agreed to be members. Dr Liew will circulate a draft name and terms of reference for the group to the CIPM by the end of August 2018.
The CIPM thanked the Chair of the Sub-Committee for Awards for his report and asked him to take account of the comments made by the CIPM and refine the proposals of the Sub Committee for the next meeting of the CIPM.
The CIPM noted the letter from the Chair of the JCGM Working Group on the VIM (WG2) on the proposed broader definition of the term "measurement" to include ordinal and nominal properties. It expressed thanks for being given early information about an important topic under discussion by WG2. The CIPM concluded that there is merit in the proposed definition and asked WG2 to keep it informed of future developments with the definition.
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Young professionals eye London’s tough neighbourhoods
1 April 2015, The Wall Street Journal
The dangerous streets where a serial killer stalked his prey, a neighborhood synonymous with race rioting and an obscure working-class suburb. As potential hot spots for London’s young hipsters, these neighborhoods might seem unlikely choices. But soaring house prices are forcing Generation Y to look to areas their parents would almost certainly have bypassed.
The latest research by real-estate firm Savills, based on U.K. census data from 2011, has pinpointed 20 areas where wealthy professionals under 35 are most likely to live, and where they outnumber baby boomers by a 3-to-1 ratio.
“Even the most affluent under-35s have been priced out of traditional locations,” explained Lucian Cook, director of residential research at Savills and author of the study. “They are having to pioneer new areas.”
The No. 1 spot is Whitechapel, the East London neighborhood where Jack the Ripper killed at least five women in 1888. Bombed heavily during World War II and rebuilt with sprawling concrete high-rise buildings in the 1960s and ’70s, it isn’t immediately recognizable as the kind of neighborhood where hipsters hang out. “It is a bit of a compromise,” acknowledged Jamie Burnhope, a consultant at buying agency Black Brick. “Anyone who is used to pretty streets might have their hearts in their mouths walking around all this rather aggressive architecture.”
But what it lacks in aesthetics, it makes up for in location and value. The average property price in the area is £465,514, or about $690,000, which by Central London standards is an absolute steal. The average price in Kensington and Chelsea, the heartland of prime Central London, is currently more than $1.94 million, according to the Land Registry, the U.K.’s official home-price monitor.
Oliver Knight, an executive in the residential research department of Knight Frank, says value isn’t the only attraction: Although the area is peppered with postwar projects, it also contains some lovely homes. “The area benefits from existing high-quality property stock, including Georgian terraces as well as period commercial buildings—some of which have already lent themselves to conversion into large-scale, open-plan residential buildings not dissimilar to Tribeca in New York,” he said.
One such terraced property, a 1,287-square-foot 119-square-meter three-bedroom townhouse that’s been modernized with an open-plan kitchen and living room, is on the market for £1.1 million, or about $1.6 million.
Beyond East London, which accounts for 12 of the top 20 neighborhoods in the Savills study, the most popular address is Brixton in south London.
Brixton is a classic example of how London neighborhoods are in constant flux. It was a middle class area before World War II, but in the postwar era its fortunes waned. Projects were built and largely populated by Afro-Caribbean immigrants who suffered from high rates of unemployment. In 1981, tensions over police “stop and search” practices erupted into bloody riots. The neighborhood was hit by riots again in 1985 and 1995.
Despite this, by the end of the 1990s, middle-class buyers were starting to discover Brixton’s Victorian townhouses and excellent public-transport links. Jimmy Carr, sales manager at Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward estate agents, estimates that a four-bedroom house would today be priced at over $1.5 million. A recently refurbished three-bedroom row house with a private garden near Brixton Hill is being offered for around $1.3 million.
“It is a trendy place to live,” Mr. Carr said, adding that his buyers tend to be 30-somethings working in media or advertising. “But there are still areas which are slightly intimidating, which gives it a little bit of edginess.”
While most popular hipster locations are gritty, urban neighborhoods with a vibrant night life, Earlsfield is a notable exception. Seven miles southwest of the city center, the neighborhood has more cafes than nightclubs. But its selling points include its green space, good schools and affordable family homes.
“Earlsfield has come on leaps and bounds in the last five years,” said Jonathan Mount, a partner at the Buying Solution who liked the area so much that he moved there himself last year. “People who would once have aspired to middle-class southwest London neighborhoods like Clapham and Wimbledon have been priced out, and there has been a classic ripple effect.”
That ripple has changed the feel of the once working-class area—its thrift stores now replaced by delis and bars—and buyers now pay around $1.3 million for a three- to four-bedroom townhouse. One recently redone 1,417-square-foot period home in the area with a small studio in the back garden is asking around $1.8 million.
While Generation Y’s parents would likely have felt that a home in Earlsfield—or Brixton or Whitechapel—was a comedown, financial constraints have made them attractive. Over the past three or four decades, British home prices have risen at a far stronger rate than wages, and mortgage lending is now dependent on hefty down payments—around 25% is the norm—that few young buyers can afford.
There is, of course, another reason why Generation Y is plowing a new property furrow. “It is not just a financial issue,” said Savills’ Mr. Cook. “They probably don’t even want to live in areas their parents would like.”
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GenCon 2017, Pt. 2: Science Fiction Edition
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017 | Posted by Andrew Zimmerman Jones
Science fiction themes were front and center at GenCon this year, in a way that surpasses what I have seen in previous years. Usually the science fiction games are almost entirely tied into existing property lines, like the various Star Wars miniature battle lines produced by Fantasy Flight Games. These were certainly present, but they were matched by new science fiction games that had an appeal independent of being tied to well-established and beloved properties.
I’ll dig into several of these games more deeply in future full reviews, but for now here are some high-level looks at some of the new science fiction-themed games and expansions from GenCon.
The release of the Starfinder Roleplaying Game was one of the central events of the convention, the science fiction/space fantasy game set in the distant future of Paizo’s Pathfinder universe. We’ve spoken about Starfinder previously (see here, here, and here). I’ve been enthusiastic about the prospect of this game since the day it was announced, so it’s a pleasure to see that its release was an astounding success. As Erik Mona of Paizo explained to me, the company had looked at their past records and brought more copies of the Starfinder Core Rulebook than the number of any previous book they’ve ever released at GenCon … and it sold out in less than 7 hours. (The PDF, however, is available through Paizo.com for only $9.99!)
Starfinder demos were running all weekend, focusing on both the individual roleplay mechanic and also on the starship combat, and the organized play through the Starfinder Society drew a lot of interest. Walking path the ballroom where they held their organized play events, there was almost always a line of people waiting to play in a Starfinder game, and the demo tables in the Exhibit Hall were also almost always full.
The starship combat mechanic is built around the idea that each member of the party is assigned to a station on their starship, allowing everyone to partake in activities during space combat. As Mona explained, this was in part to avoid the problems that arose in the classic D&D space setting, Spelljammer, where the starships were run solely by a single magic-user jacking into the ship … meaning that space combat was basically a one-on-one game between the Dungeon Master and the magic-user, while the rest of the party had nothing to do. Instead, everyone on the ship has something to contribute.
In addition to the game itself, Paizo had a variety of supporting materials, such as maps (including hexagonal space maps), a re-skinned version of their Combat Pad, and a GM screen. The company Ninja Division had unpainted resin miniatures available, with both character and starship miniatures, and within a couple of months will come releases of these figures as a line of prepainted plastic miniatures. Syrinscape is releasing sound effects specifically designed to align with Starfinder.
The first Starfinder Adventure Path has released (on PDF, at least, after selling out at GenCon), and there will be Alien Archive (the Starfinder variant of a Bestiary) coming soon. Next year will see the release of a hardcover supplement detailing the various Pact Worlds of the central solar system, the core setting location for Starfinder.
We will definitely hear more about Starfinder moving forward, and if the enthusiasm shown at its first GenCon appearance is any indication, we will probably be hearing more about it for a long time to come.
Star Trek Games
Star Trek made an appearance in GenCon in a variety of forms. Gale Force Nine had two new expansions for their Star Trek: Ascendancy board game, offering the Cardassian Alliance and the Ferengi Alliance for gameplay. One aspect of Ascendancy is that the game is distinctly asymmetrical, where the Federation must operate under the Prime Directive and is limited from aggression against new worlds, but the other factions (Klingons and Romulans in the base game) are able to invoke far more aggressive gameplay. The Cardassians and Ferengi both add new dynamics to the game, where Cardassians use their overseer powers to extract greater resources from planets they subjugate while the Ferengi’s proficiency at trade allows them an economic advantage over other players.
Even more significantly, they had a copy of their upcoming Borg Assimilation expansion available for demo, and this is a real changer for the game. The major issue I have with Ascendancy is that it’s designed to be a three-player game, and when I’m in the mood to play there aren’t always two other people who are enthusiastic about sitting down for a three-hour strategy game. But the Borg Assimilation expansion introduces an automated enemy into the game to control the Borg, so not only can they be thrown in as a non-player enemy in regular games, but the rulebook also includes rule variants that allow for 1- or 2-player Ascendancy games.
Modiphius Entertainment released their new Star Trek Adventures (Amazon, RPGNow) roleplaying game, which I reviewed over the last year as I participated in the living playtest (here and here). The game does an exceptional job of capturing the feel of Star Trek, and if you’re a real fan then you may well be interested not only in the core rulebook, but also in the miniatures line, the customized dice, and … heck, just look into the whole Borg Cube collector’s boxed set.
The license for Star Wars games is held by Fantasy Flight Games, and they certainly make abundance use of it, with space combat miniature games like X-Wing and Armada, the miniature combat game Imperial Assault, and their newest version of the Star Wars roleplaying games. Here are three new Star Wars products on the horizon that are well worth looking out for:
Star Wars: Legion – A miniatures unit-scale infantry battle game, just announced at GenCon. Here’s some great coverage of it from Geek & Sundry, or check it out at Fantasy Flight.
Star Wars: Rebellion – Rise of the Empire expansion – This expansion for the cinematic board game Star Wars: Rebellion introduces key figures from Rogue One as leaders in the game, as well as missions and other cards that tie into the film. It also. You can learn more about the game from the Fantasy Flight website or pre-order it from Amazon (or your local game store).
Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game 30th Anniversary Edition – Fantasy Flight has released a new version of the classic West End Games version of the Star Wars roleplaying game.
More Science Fiction Games
Those certainly weren’t all of the science fiction games. Here are some more glimpsed at GenCon that are worth a closer look:
Rail Raiders Infinite – You are a space cowboy, a bandit moving to rob a space train. But watch out for the robot lawmen charged with protecting the train! This game isn’t available to the broader public yet, but here is their Kickstarter page. The game is produced by Ninja Division, so the miniatures are pretty cool.
Planet Mercenary – Based on the Schlock Mercenary web comic, this space opera RPG could have been seen as a gimmick, but it’s a serious tome with a unique rule system and sleek production values. Plus, the alien races include sentient anthropomorphic elephants and koalas, so that alone makes it worth playing at least one session … and you can find out more and order your copy at the Planet Mercenary website.
Clank! In Space – A new standalone deck-building adventure game, in which you play a group of thieves trying to steal prized possessions from evil Lord Eradikus’ flagship, Eradikus Prime. The game involves Find out more about the game, including watching some great gameplay videos. And, if you can’t wait for Clank! In Space to become more widely available and are looking for a game with a more fantasy feel, check out the original Clank!
Dr. Who – This upcoming game builds upon the wealth of characters, both heroes and villains, from the Doctor Who universe to create a time travel adventure board game. It uses a build-as-you-go game board which looks like an intriguing approach to gameplay. Here’s more information at the Gale Force Nine website.
Firefly Adventures: Brigands and Browncoats – Gale Force Nine is also returning to the Firefly universe to create a cooperative miniatures game where you play the crew of the starship Serenity tryin’ to get by on a day of dishonest labor. The Firefly Adventures: Brigands and Browncoats game is slated for release in the final quarter of 2017.
Planet of the Apes – This board game is a long way from being fully realized, as it won’t even hit Kickstarter until next spring, but I was able to get an early demo and it’s worth saying that the game certainly has potential. The multi-level game board allows you to play apes that are able to move horizontally and vertically through the tree line while battling non-player controlled human agents that are attacking you. Here’s a picture of the early prototype of the game, but the company making it has one successful Kickstarter under their belt, so it’s worth seeing what they’ll put together for the final product. In their words, the wood of the tree trunks will probably be less realistic than actual wood while the leaves will probably be more realistic than cut posterboard. If you want to get updated on its advancement, sign up for notifications at their website.
Am I the only one that noticed three of those games had to do with space heists? And two of them were space cowboys performing the heists! Why so much lawlessness in the future?
Did you see any other science fiction games at GenCon that you’d like to let us know about? Add a comment down below to spread the word!
Posted in Blog Entry, Convention Report, Games, Role Playing Games, Star Trek
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Principal Viola
Carmen Flores
Originally from San Diego, California, Carmen Flores Principal Viola, attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and studied viola at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. Her principal teachers were Yizhak Schotten and Steven Dann. Carmen joined the Royal Ballet Sinfonia as Principal Viola in 2007. She is also the violist of the Villiers Quartet, and she has performed in the UK and internationally with many ensembles and orchestras. A recipient of the US Fulbright Award to the Philippines, Carmen has a keen interest in music history and chamber music. She plays on a viola made in 2006 by British luthier William Castle.
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Here's how the super-rich are investing their assets this year
High net-worth individuals have significantly shifted their asset allocation, with cash becoming the largest asset class in the first quarter of 2019, according to the Capgemini World Wealth Report 2019.
The survey found that HNWIs have an increased focus on alternative investments in response to declining markets.
"Declining markets drove a significant shift in overall asset allocations to conservative assets such as cash.
"Globally, cash and cash equivalents replaced equities to become the most significant asset class in Q1 2019 at 28% of HNWI financial wealth, while equities slipped to the second position at 26%," Anirban Bose, financial services strategic business unit CEO at Capgemini, states in the report.
For the purposes of the report, HNWIs is defined as those having investable assets of US$1 (about R14.17m) or more - therefore, excluding their primary residence, collectibles, consumables and consumer durables. HNWIs is further broken down into the categories of "millionaires next door" (US$1m to US$5m in investable wealth); mid-tier millionaires (US$5m to US$30m); and ultra-HNWIs (US$30m or more).
After seven consecutive years of growth, global HNWI wealth declined in 2018, primarily driven by a slump in equity-market performance and slowing economies in key regions, according to Bose.
The wealth of ultra-HNWIs (1% of HNWIs) declined 6% but accounted for three-quarters of total global wealth decline and was the hardest hit by global economic and political turbulence.
Amid geopolitical and trade concerns, the report expects near-term global economic recovery to remain uncertain.
SA's super rich taking their wealth overseas ASAP - immigration expert
In Africa the size of the HNWI population decreased by 0.7% in 2018, while wealth on the continent decreased by 7.1% to US$1.6trn. The HNWI population on the continent is estimated at 166 790.
As for South Africa, the report estimates that the country had about 90 100 HNWIs by the end of 2018 compared to 92 200 a year earlier.
Globally, Asia-Pacific, a global powerhouse for the last seven years, was negatively impacted the most, with China accounting for almost 25% of global wealth decline, while Europe also experienced a noticeable dip in HNWI wealth, according to the report.
The Middle East recorded the only increase in both HNWI wealth and population. North America's performance remained almost flat, while Latin Americas performance is described as mixed.
Among wealth bands, economic turbulence hit ultra-HNWIs hardest. Ultra-HNWI population and wealth declined by around 4% and 6% respectively, compared with almost fat overall HNWI population growth and a 3% decline in HNWI wealth.
Meanwhile, the millionaire-next-door segment (which makes up almost 90% of the HNWI population) was affected the least in 2018.
HNWI population in South Africa:
(Source: Capgemini World Wealth Report 2019)
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Holder: Trump ‘Is in Danger of Being the Worst President’ in American History
During an interview aired on Monday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “The Beat,” former Attorney General Eric Holder said that President Trump “is in danger of being the worst president in the history of the United States.”
During a lightning round segment, Holder stated that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) “Has done a whole bunch of unpatriotic things, has really been a force for polarization in this nation. History will not be kind to him.”
When asked about Trump, Holder said, “We’ve just got to survive these next 22 months or so. I think he is in danger of being the worst president in the history of the United States.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
ClipsDonald TrumpEric HolderMitch McConnell
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Trump’s DHS Nominee: Europe Should Not Block Third-World Migration
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
6 Nov 2017 Washington, DC
President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security led a business-dominated committee at the World Economic Forum which insisted that Europe had no choice but to accept a huge wave of unskilled migrants from poor, conflict-wracked countries.
“The key policy issue confronting Europe is not whether to accept forced migrants but rather how to turn the associated challenges into opportunities,” said the 2016 report by Kirstjen Nielsen’s committee, titled “Global Agenda Council on Risk & Resilience.”
The business leaders, political advocates, and bureaucrats in Nielsen’s group recommended that security risks and economic turmoil be pushed aside to focus primarily on the benefits of cheap labor.
“Reframing the discourse surrounding refugees from one of risk to one that recognizes the substantial social and economic contribution they can make to their host societies is increasingly important in light of the current largescale influx of migrants into Europe,” the report urged.
Nielsen’s background and her role on the committee give no indication that she supports Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” economic-nationalist and civic agenda.
“Why would she be put in charge of Homeland Security,” NumbersUSA’s Rosemary Jenks asked Breitbart News.
“A lot of Kirstjen Nielsen’s background, including her position in this report, indicates clearly she doesn’t support Trump’s immigration agenda,” Jenks said.
The members of Nielsen’s committee is a long list of globalist executives, all of whom gain from the continued flow of cheap, foreign workers and welfare-aided, consumer migrants into the U.S. and Europe. They include:
Paul Nicholas, Senior Director, Microsoft Corporation
Victor Meyer, Global Head, Corporate Security and Business Continuity, Deutsche Bank
Nick Wildgoose, Global Corporate Leader, Supply Chain Product, Zurich Insurance Group
Alexander Wolfson, Managing Director, Global Country Risk Management, Citigroup
Michael Berkowitz, President, 100 Resilient Cities, The Rockefeller Foundation
This week Senator Hatch had the opportunity to meet Kirstjen Nielsen, @POTUS’ nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security. #utpol pic.twitter.com/cPStxm5Vqv
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) November 4, 2017
Met with nominee for secretary of @DHSgov, Kirstjen Nielsen, to discuss transportation, cyber, and border security challenges. pic.twitter.com/ovArhBivqk
— Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) November 1, 2017
The report recommended that Western governments resign themselves to mass immigration, and resolve to spend a huge amount of taxpayer funds to mitigate the resulting conflict, to help migrants compete against citizens for jobs and training slots, to help migrants buy products from companies, and to shift social status from citizens to the migrants:
Change the narrative on refugees’ impact in host countries: Active steps should be taken to reframe the discourse on refugees from one of risk to one that also recognizes the substantial social and economic contribution they can make to their host societies. The importance of increasing resilience by conceptualizing support for refugees, particularly support for integration, as an investment for tomorrow, rather than as a cost for today (or, for that matter, a form of charity), cannot be overemphasized, as citizens, confronted by conflict and persecution, will continue to flee their homes, and the unprecedented rate at which they are doing so poses critical challenges and risks to even the most socially and economically stable host countries.
Invest early in facilitating social and economic integration: Host countries should reform social policies and make financial investments to make it easier for refugees and asylum-seekers to seek employment and access training and education. Positive resilience outcomes for refugees are inevitably linked to conducive institutional frameworks and investment in the resources required to support the integration of refugees and address and minimize the initial barriers they face. Strategies need to focus on ensuring that sufficient financial, social and policy/political support are available to facilitate refugees’ safe and dignified arrival and integration, enabling them to harness their skills and potential and become contributing members of the countries in which they seek asylum.
Foster public–private partnerships to support refugees’ integration into society: Public-private partnerships are critical to facilitate refugees’ entry into the labour market and help mitigate risks related to job shortages, unemployment and social tensions. This includes developing initiatives to cut the time refugees and asylum-seekers must wait before becoming employed; increasing access to vocational training, internships and educational grants; and providing tailored support to ensure that children and adolescents receive sufficient educational and vocational training to facilitate their integration and ultimate entry into work.
The report by Nielsen’s group pushed the supposed economic benefits that foreign refugees have brought to Europe and the U.S., without mentioning the social, criminal, and economic costs imposed by mass immigration and civic diversity onto lower-status European and American communities.
“numerous brawls and disputes"… “three women were sexually harassed” https://t.co/RofZjBdkyw
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) November 2, 2017
In Berlin, Germany, for instance, nearly half of crimes are committed by foreign migrants, with Breitbart London reporting:
The proportion of crimes carried out by immigrants rose to 45 per cent last year, a five per cent increase from 2015, when they comprised 40 per cent of crimes committed in the German capital.
According to Berliner Morgenpost, which reported on the data before a longer version of the city’s crime statistics is published, the figure includes tourists, and “traveling gangs” who specialise in burglaries and pickpocketing.
Foreigners were particularly overrepresented in the figures for certain crimes, according to the statistics, which showed non-German suspects in 91 per cent of pickpocketing offences, 85 per cent of crimes related to heroin trafficking, and 80 per cent of car thefts.
Shocking figures https://t.co/BALGG3UQWj
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) September 25, 2017
Economically, the mass migration into Western Europe has strained the pockets of Europeans. For example, in Germany, more than 500,000 migrants now receive some form of taxpayer-funded welfare, while in neighboring Austria, the migrant unemployment rate is nearly 25 percent.
In Sweden, economic elites have even suggested that the country lower wages and job requirements, just so that foreign migrants can get jobs, despite the negative impact the move would have on Swedish workers, Breitbart London reported.
Number of Violent Jihadists in Germany up 64 Per Cent to over 1,800https://t.co/wsE5FmB975
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) October 6, 2017
The report claimed economic benefits from importing unskilled, unproductive, welfare-dependent people, even though government normally spends a huge amount of taxpayer dollars trying to teach young people skills so they can be productive workers who do not need welfare.
But companies do gain extra consumers and extra revenues whenever new people—including unskilled migrants—are moved into a local community.
“Economic analysis from Cleveland in the United States indicates that in 2012 the economic impact of resettled refugees was approximately $48 million, about 10 times greater than what refugee services agencies spent on refugee services ($4.8 million),” the report claimed.
Foreign refugee resettlement to the U.S. continues to be costly for American taxpayers. Refugees are estimated to cost taxpayers $4.1 billion in 2017, most of which is spent on businesses serving the new migrants. Even if Trump were to shut down all refugee flow to the U.S., the refugees already living in the country would spend billions of taxpayer dollars at their local retailers, rental units, and gas stations.
Breitbart News reported:
Even if the Trump administration were to entirely shut down the flow of refugees into the United States in FY 2018 and beyond, the refugees who have already arrived in the country will cost at least another $3.5 billion in 2018, and about $2 billion to $3 billion annually thereafter until FY 2022 and beyond.
For Germany, which has accepted the largest number of migrants, Nielsen’s group claimed mass migration to the European Union (EU) powerhouse was absolutely necessary for economic growth, an argument most commonly made by multinational corporations and the cheap, foreign labor lobby.
“For example, new analysis pertaining to Germany illustrates that, without immigration, labour scarcity and an ageing population will more than halve the country’s economic growth over the next 10 years, potentially jeopardizing social security systems,” the report stated.
“Estimates indicate that Germany will have received over 800,000 asylum seekers in 2015, although numbers are considered uncertain,” the report stated. “If this continues, based on current trends (and assuming related factors do not change), it could potentially halt the decline in economic growth, raise employment levels and stabilize social security systems.”
Not exactly in control of the situation… https://t.co/Dy7I9q3j7i
Nielsen’s group report, though, did not mention that Germany’s open door immigration policy for foreign refugees could potentially cost the country’s taxpayers €30 billion a year, with the cost of teachers, schools, language courses and housing all being greatly impacted due to the migration crisis.
In 2017, the World Economic Forum also listed the attributes that Europeans need to prosper in the highly competitive economy amid the growing population of unskilled migrants. In comparison to the 2015 list, the 2020 list of attributes dropped “quality control” but included “emotional intelligence” and “cognitive flexibility.”
Top 10 skills 2020 vs 2015#skills2020 #skills #worldeconomicforum pic.twitter.com/QoLpcsF5IX
— AA Kurumsal Gelişim (@aagelisim) September 6, 2017
As Breitbart News reported, Nielsen’s nomination to head DHS has been praised by the cheap foreign labor lobby, open borders advocates, and the Washington, D.C. national security establishment which allied itself with the failed “Never Trump” movement during the 2016 presidential election.
Also, Breitbart News reported on Nielsen’s involvement with the Bush administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when more than 30,000 illegal aliens and foreign workers were able to come to the U.S. to take American blue-collar jobs that those devastated by the natural disaster had hoped to get.
Following Hurricane Katrina, 1.5 million Americans were displaced by the storm, and easing of labor laws by the Bush administration left many looking for work outside of the Gulf Coast since illegal aliens and foreign workers quickly dominated the paid clean-up effort.
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter at @JxhnBinder.
PoliticsAmerica FirstAmerican workersBig GovernmentBush Administrationcheap labordepartment of homeland securityDHSDonald TrumpEuropeforeign laborforeign workersGermanyhurricane katrinaIllegal ImmigrantsimmigrationKirstjen NielsenMigrant crisismigrationNever TrumpOpen BordersRepublican EstablishmentTrumpUnited StatesUS workersWhite House
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New FBI Rules Go Too Far
The FBI's new rules governing domestic investigative activity are a significant and troubling expansion of power, approved not by Congress or the Attorney General, but apparently by the Bureau itself.
Emily Berman
Crossposted at Huffington Post.
Since 9/11, the FBI's power to investigate and collect information about Americans, often without any indication of wrongdoing, has expanded on several occasions. Now, according to the New York Times, the FBI is once again poised to extend its authorities by issuing a new version of the rules governing its domestic investigative activity. The changes represent another significant and troubling expansion of power, approved not by Congress or the Attorney General, but apparently by the Bureau itself.
Modifications to the FBI's rules governing agents' undisclosed participation in groups, such as religious congregations or political activists, are perhaps the most problematic. Current rules governing the FBI's monitoring of groups already cause serious concern because they are not even public, leaving us with no idea what constraints are in place or if they are sufficient. Now, the proposed changes allow FBI agents to attend five group meetings before those rules even apply. But what of the information gathered during those five sessions? Does a list of attendees make its way into a government database? Does a political activist opposed to U.S. policy find herself on a watchlist?
New rules regarding searching commercial or law enforcement databases also seem to invite abuse. They permit agents to search these databases without making any record of the search. Will an agent be able to resist the temptation of searching for information about neighbors, ex-girlfriends, or celebrities, knowing that he will not be asked to account for the search because no record of it exists?
Agents may also search an individual's trash for the purpose of finding material that might pressure him into becoming a government informant. Reports that federal agents use potential informants' immigration status or that of their family members for this purpose are already rampant. Now, agents will also be able to threaten a husband that they will show his discarded pornography to his wife, or threaten to bring criminal charges against someone whose trash contains traces of marijuana.
The FBI should of course have the power to follow every lead. But agents can do that without using the highly intrusive tools permitted by the current rules, much less the even-more-liberal impending rules — this is not an all or nothing issue.
An agent can respond to a tip about a suspicious-looking car with no license plate by going to look at the car to determine if it poses a threat — such as whether it contains some sort of explosive device. The current regulations, however, would allow that agent to look at the car; follow its driver 24-hours per day documenting all of his activities; interview his neighbors under the pretext of being someone else; and send an informant into his place of worship to find out what his rabbi, priest, or imam preaches. And the new rules add to that list the ability to go through the driver's friends', coworkers', or neighbors' garbage, looking for leverage to use to get them to spy on him.
These most recent changes also raise what is perhaps a broader, more systemic concern: One can infer from the New York Times article's statement that the FBI "does not need permission to alter its manual" that the FBI itself took the lead in formulating these new rules. This is problematic.
The very purpose of this set of rules is to ensure that the FBI's investigative activities are limited in scope, never more intrusive than necessary, and subject to proper oversight. They safeguard Americans' civil liberties against law enforcement activities that, absent sufficient regulation, could result in unwarranted intrusions into people's lives. But even the most well-intentioned FBI officials are likely to craft rules that err on the side of permitting agents to act aggressively. Thus the fox is not only guarding the henhouse — he is also determining how high the fence that surrounds it and how thick the walls will be.
A continuing trend — one that started years ago but accelerated rapidly after 9/11 — is to increase federal law enforcement power while cutting back oversight of how that power is used. This trend has eliminated many of the measures implemented to avoid the now notorious Hoover-era abuses resulting from the consolidation of too much power within a domestic intelligence agency. In light of these many recent changes, it is time that Congress and the American people take a closer look at the FBI's investigative powers, consider whether they may have grown too broad, and act to re-establish meaningful limits on the ways the Bureau carries out its mission.
Privacy & Profiling
NYPD Predictive Policing Documents
Map: Social Media Monitoring by Police Departments, Cities, and Counties
Fighting Far-Right Violence and Hate Crimes
After Skipping Nearly 1,100 Mandated Emergency Reviews, Congress Decides to Do its Job
How Democrats are Challenging Trump’s National Emergency Declaration
Philly Inquirer
Pentagon Chief Weighs Broader Approach to Border Security
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prime minister of Soviet Union
Albert Resis
Last Updated: Jul 8, 2019 See Article History
Alternative Titles: Vladimir Ilich Lenin, Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov
Vladimir Lenin, also called Vladimir Ilich Lenin, original name Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov, (born April 10 [April 22, New Style], 1870, Simbirsk, Russia—died January 21, 1924, Gorki [later Gorki Leninskiye], near Moscow), founder of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), inspirer and leader of the Bolshevik Revolution (1917), and the architect, builder, and first head (1917–24) of the Soviet state. He was the founder of the organization known as Comintern (Communist International) and the posthumous source of “Leninism,” the doctrine codified and conjoined with Karl Marx’s works by Lenin’s successors to form Marxism-Leninism, which became the Communist worldview.
Vladimir Ilich Lenin. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Where was Vladimir Lenin born?
Vladimir Lenin was born in Simbirsk, Russia.
Where was Vladimir Lenin educated?
Lenin studied law at Kazan University but was expelled after just three months. In spite of this, he achieved top ranking in law examinations and was awarded a law degree in 1891.
When was Vladimir Lenin married?
Lenin married Nadezhda Krupskaya on July 22, 1898. Krupskaya served as Lenin’s personal secretary and played a key organizational role in the socialist revolutionary group that became the Russian Communist Party.
How did Vladimir Lenin change the world?
As founder of the All-Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) and leader of the Bolshevik coup d'état (1917), Vladimir Lenin created the Soviet Union. Along with Karl Marx, Lenin created the communist worldview.
When did Vladimir Lenin die?
Vladimir Lenin died on January 21, 1924, in Gorki, Russia.
If the Bolshevik Revolution is—as some people have called it—the most significant political event of the 20th century, then Lenin must for good or ill be regarded as the century’s most significant political leader. Not only in the scholarly circles of the former Soviet Union but even among many non-Communist scholars, he has been regarded as both the greatest revolutionary leader and revolutionary statesman in history, as well as the greatest revolutionary thinker since Marx.
Lenin, VladimirVladimir Lenin, statue in Oryol, Russia. © Alexey Borodin—Turbotopor/Dreamstime.com
Soviet Union: Lenin and the Bolsheviks
From the beginning of the 20th century there were three principal revolutionary parties in Russia. The Socialist Revolutionary Party, whose…
The making of a revolutionary
It is difficult to identify any particular events in his childhood that might prefigure his turn onto the path of a professional revolutionary. Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov was born in Simbirsk, which was renamed Ulyanovsk in his honour. (He adopted the pseudonym Lenin in 1901 during his clandestine party work after exile in Siberia.) He was the third of six children born into a close-knit, happy family of highly educated and cultured parents. His mother was the daughter of a physician, while his father, though the son of a serf, became a schoolteacher and rose to the position of inspector of schools. Lenin, intellectually gifted, physically strong, and reared in a warm, loving home, early displayed a voracious passion for learning. He graduated from high school ranking first in his class. He distinguished himself in Latin and Greek and seemed destined for the life of a classical scholar. When he was 16, nothing in Lenin indicated a future rebel, still less a professional revolutionary—except, perhaps, his turn to atheism. But, despite the comfortable circumstances of their upbringing, all five of the Ulyanov children who reached maturity joined the revolutionary movement. This was not an uncommon phenomenon in tsarist Russia, where even the highly educated and cultured intelligentsia were denied elementary civil and political rights.
Little Octobrist badgeLittle Octobrist badge with a portrait of a young Vladimir Ilich Lenin. Gertha
As an adolescent Lenin suffered two blows that unquestionably influenced his subsequent decision to take the path of revolution. First, his father was threatened shortly before his untimely death with premature retirement by a reactionary government that had grown fearful of the spread of public education. Second, in 1887 his beloved eldest brother, Aleksandr, a student at the University of St. Petersburg (later renamed Leningrad State University), was hanged for conspiring with a revolutionary terrorist group that plotted to assassinate Emperor Alexander III. Suddenly, at age 17, Lenin became the male head of the family, which was now stigmatized as having reared a “state criminal.”
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Fortunately the income from his mother’s pension and inheritance kept the family in comfortable circumstances, although it could not prevent the frequent imprisonment or exile of her children. Moreover, Lenin’s high school principal (the father of Aleksandr Kerensky, who was later to lead the Provisional government deposed by Lenin’s Bolsheviks in November [October, O.S.] 1917) did not turn his back on the “criminal’s” family. He courageously wrote a character reference that smoothed Lenin’s admission to a university.
In autumn 1887 Lenin enrolled in the faculty of law of the imperial Kazan University (later renamed Kazan [V.I. Lenin] State University), but within three months he was expelled from the school, having been accused of participating in an illegal student assembly. He was arrested and banished from Kazan to his grandfather’s estate in the village of Kokushkino, where his older sister Anna had already been ordered by the police to reside. In the autumn of 1888, the authorities permitted him to return to Kazan but denied him readmission to the university. During this period of enforced idleness, he met exiled revolutionaries of the older generation and avidly read revolutionary political literature, especially Marx’s Das Kapital. He became a Marxist in January 1889.
Gorki Leninskiye, Russia
title / office
head of state, Soviet Union (1922-1924)
head of state, Russia (1917-1922)
political affiliation
Russian Civil War
April Theses
New Economic Policy
War Communism
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
notable family members
spouse Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya
Lenin's embalmed body is displayed in Moscow's Red Square.
Introduction & Quick Facts
Formation of a revolutionary party
Challenges of the Revolution of 1905 and World War I
Leadership in the Russian Revolution
First return to Petrograd
Decision to seize power
Saving the Revolution
Formation of the Third International
Illness and death
Alpha History - Biography of Vladimir Lenin
Duhaime.org - Biography of Vladimir Ilich Lenin
Spartacus Educational - Biography of Lenin
Vladimir Ilich Lenin - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Vladimir Ilich Lenin - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
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Home | Hot Sellers | Pop Icons | Peace T-shirts - Basic Peace Sign | Peace Sign T-shirts - All You Need Is Love Shirts
Peace Sign T-shirts - All You Need Is Love Shirts
"All You Need Is Love" is a song written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. It was first performed by The Beatles on Our World, the first live global television link. Watched by 400 million in 26 countries, the program was broadcast via satellite on 25 June 1967. The BBC had commissioned The Beatles to write a song for the United Kingdom's contribution. ---Wikipedia
All You Need is Love Mens Shirts
All You Need is Love Ladies Shirts
All You Need is Love Kids Shirts
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Amazon expands Development Centre in Cambridge
Amazon today announced a significant investment to boost its research and development in the UK with the opening of a new Development Centre site in Cambridge this autumn. The new building in the heart of the city will have capacity for over 400 highly-skilled employees including machine learning scientists, knowledge engineers, data scientists, mathematical modellers, speech scientists and software engineers.
The brand new 60,000 sq. ft. Amazon Development Centre building at One The Square is located in the CB1 business district, adjacent to Cambridge train station.
Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock said: "This is fantastic news - Amazon's increased investment in developing cutting-edge technology in Cambridge is another vote of confidence in the UK as a world-leading centre of invention and innovation."
Teams of experts working on devices such as Kindle, Fire tablet, Fire TV Stick, Echo, Echo Dot and the new Echo Look, as well as Alexa, will move to the new larger site starting this autumn. Amazon is currently recruiting extensively in Cambridge as part of its expansion plans in the city.
Once the new site opens, the current Development Centre building at Castle Hill will be used primarily for research and development for Prime Air, a delivery system from Amazon designed to safely get parcels to customers in 30 minutes or less using unmanned aerial vehicles, also called drones.
“We are constantly inventing on behalf of our customers, and our Development Centres in Cambridge, Edinburgh and London play a major role in Amazon’s global innovation story,” said Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager, Amazon. “By the end of this year, we will have more than 1,500 innovation related roles here in Britain, working on everything from machine learning and drone technology to streaming video technology and Amazon Web Services.”
The expansion of the Development Centre in Cambridge is part of the Amazon’s significant investment in the UK. The company today announced that it has invested £6.4 billion across the UK since 2010, and this year has pledged to create 5,000 new permanent roles across the country, bringing its full time workforce to 24,000. These new job opportunities are for people with all types of experience, education and skill levels—from software developers, engineers and technicians, to those seeking entry-level positions and on-the-job training.
The company also announced earlier this year an apprenticeship programme offering hundredof opportunities in engineering, logistics and warehousing roles in fulfilment centres across the country, as well as Amazon Web Services re:Start, a free training and job placement programme for the UK to educate 1,000 young adults as well as military veterans, reservists, and their spouses, on the latest software development and cloud computing technologies.
Amazon has played an active role in the Cambridge community increasing awareness of and development of essential science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills. The company runs a STEM Ambassadors programme for students in the area, provides local school children tours of the Prime Air lab, held a Design A Drone competition, and funds the Amazon Women in Innovation Bursary programme helping underprivileged women into study for innovation-focused careers.
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.co.uk/about
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Analyse that…
Youth & Academy system staff boosted
The club are thrilled to announce the arrival of four young interns who are starting a career in football analysis.
The four youngsters, Nathan McKenzie, Simon Whitehead, James Plumb and Jess Fletcher, pictured above, have joined the Youth & Academy system this morning with a view to helping the coaching staff improve the young players from aged 9 upto the Youth Team.
Using the skills they have learnt at Manchester Metropolitan University, studying within the Department of Exercise and Sport Science, the foursome will spend their time with the Shakers using video and statistics recording all games that the youth team and academy systems take part in.
Head of Youth Ryan Kidd said this morning: ‘The management team have developed an action plan over the summer to give the youth and Academy players every possible opportunity to progress professionally. The Board have worked hard to support the department to implement that plan and make the improvements we have asked for. It’s really refreshing to work at a club where there are no barriers or stones left unturned as the club strives for success.
The new intake of staff help to motivate us as they look for direction and leadership and their enthusiasm to learn is infectious. The club is buzzing with everything that is going on at the moment.’
Meanwhile, the club have also taken Bradley Seymour on a temporary basis, and his main role is to redesign the clubs academy and youth website. Brad’s work is well underway and we hope to be able to get the fruit of his work online in the next three weeks.
Also joining the staff is Jamie Hesketh who takes over the role vacated by Dave Tivey who left last month. A recent graduate with John Moores University with a BSC (Hons) in Science and Football, Jamie will become the youth team’s new fitness coach.
Finally, Paul Cunliffe who has taken over the role of Youth Development Coach, a role recently held by Mark Litherland (now Academy Manager).
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France's World Famous Wine Culture Originally Came From Italy
Jun. 4, 2013, 7:18 AM
alexbrn | Flickr
The earliest evidence of wine in France suggests that it came from Italy, and that it was mixed with basil, thyme and other herbs, according to new research.
This early wine may have been used as medicine, and likely was imbibed by the wealthy and powerful before eventually becoming a popular beverage enjoyed by the masses, researchers said.
The artefacts found at the French port site of Lattara, near the southern city of Montpellier, suggest that winemaking took root in France as early as 500 BC, as a result of libations and traditions introduced by the ancient Etruscans in what is now Italy.
The analysis in the US journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is based on ancient wine containers and a limestone press brought by seafaring Etruscan travellers.
"France's rise to world prominence in the wine culture has been well documented," said lead author Patrick McGovern, director of the bimolecular archaeology laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
"What we haven't had is clear chemical evidence, combined with botanical and archaeological data, showing how wine was introduced into France and initiated a native industry."
Researchers studied three containers, known as amphoras, taken from an archaeological site in Lattara where merchant quarters lay inside a walled settlement that dates to 525-474 BC.
The samples they chose were unbroken, unwashed and sealed, allowing for unhampered study of the residues inside.
Based on their shape, researchers could reasonably ascertain that the amphoras were made in the city of Cisra (modern Cerveteri) in central Italy.
Using state of the art chemical analysis techniques, researchers found tartaric acid, the biomarker of Eurasian grape wine.
They also discovered pine tree resin and herbs such as rosemary, thyme and basil in the wine residue, suggesting a medicinal use.
Tartaric acid was found on a nearby limestone pressing platform dating to about 425 BC, suggesting it was used as a wine press.
Together, the artefacts provide the earliest known bimolecular archaeological evidence of grape wine and winemaking on French soil, the study said.
"Now we know that the ancient Etruscans lured the Gauls into the Mediterranean wine culture by importing wine into southern France," said McGovern, who studies how wine culture originated in the Middle East some 9,000 years ago, and made its way to modern Europe.
"This built up a demand that could only be met by establishing a native industry, likely done by transplanting the domesticated vine from Italy, and enlisting the requisite winemaking expertise from the Etruscans."
The earliest known chemical evidence for wine was found in what is now northern Iran at the site of Hajji Firiz, and dates to about 5,400-5,000 BC.
Edited by Steve Wilson for telegraph.co.uk
More: AFP Wine Italy France
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Grow Your Business Technology
Microsoft to End Support for Windows XP: What Businesses Need to Know
By Sara Angeles, Writer January 7, 2014 08:18 pm EST
What Windows XP's end of life means for small business users. / Credit: Microsoft
Is your business still running on Windows XP? If so, one of your first action items for 2014 is to determine whether it's time for an upgrade. On April 8, Microsoft will end support for Windows XP, forcing businesses to either keep using an unsupported operating system or invest in a Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 upgrade. Doing so, however, is no easy task. To help you get started, here's everything businesses need to know about upgrading from Windows XP.
Should you upgrade from Windows XP?
For most businesses, the choice to upgrade from Windows XP is a no-brainer. Heinan Landa, CEO of Optimal Networks — an information technology (IT) services, support and consulting company — said that there are six reasons businesses should migrate from Windows XP to a more recent operating system: security, support, cost, compatibility, performance and productivity.
"Unsupported and unpatched environments are vulnerable to security risks," Landa said. "You can't run business applications on an operating system that does not get security updates. After April, if your employees are still running XP, your network and workstations will get infected very quickly." [7 Cybersecurity risks for 2014]
As a result, IT departments and vendors will see Windows XP as a huge risk and will do everything they can to remediate it, he said. Vendors will also likely stop supporting Windows XP.
"When Microsoft ends its support so, too, do most IT vendors," Landa said. "After all, how can we confidently support clients who are relying on systems that the manufacturer no longer supports?"
If a company refuses to upgrade, there will be costly ramifications, Landa said. "We will always try our best to support you, but it is very expensive to request support of an unsupported system," he said. "It's safe to say that if you choose to keep Windows XP, your tech service costs will increase exponentially."
By leaving Windows XP, machines will be safer and more reliable, which will result in less IT support expenses, he said.
Similarly, software vendors will also stop supporting Windows XP, limiting the number and types of software businesses can use.
"Upgraded operating systems give users the ability to run almost any software that is Windows compatible," Landa said. "In fact, newer hardware device drivers will no longer be written for Windows XP."
Another reason to upgrade from Windows XP is better performance. "With an upgrade, system boot times and application launch times noticeably decrease, as does the time required to [get in and out of] hibernation mode. This means more efficiency for your workforce."
Furthermore, new versions of Windows also have new features to make workers more productive. For instance, new search features allow users to look for keywords in documents, emails and attached storage devices. The search can also extend to networked servers and designated Web pages, Landa said. "Users gain immediate access to specific data they need in that moment, saving precious time and increasing productivity," he said.
What to do before upgrading from Windows XP
Before upgrading from Windows XP, businesses should do three things: back up their data, perform a compatibility audit and determine which version of Windows is best for the company.
It's critical to back up data during any type of upgrade, especially one of this magnitude.
"As Microsoft ends support for Windows XP, more and more companies will undergo data migrations on a tremendous scale," said Ann Fellman, product marketing director at Code42, the creators of CrashPlan, an online backup solution. "Microsoft's own best-practices documentation recommends companies back up endpoint data on computers and laptops prior to migration."
Backing up data ensures that files, documents and other information stay safe and accessible if anything were to go wrong during the upgrade. "In the event of migration failures, IT can quickly and easily restore data, mitigating what can otherwise be an arduous process and tremendous burden on IT resources," Fellman said.
When looking for a backup solution, businesses should choose one that has protective measures for enterprise-grade data, Fellman said. "[It should] provide the necessary data security and support to make the migration as smooth as possible for IT teams and employees."
Software and hardware audit
Next, businesses should perform an audit to determine software and hardware compatibility.
"It's likely that some software will no longer run on the newer version of Windows," said Paul Martini, CEO and co-founder of iboss, a network security company. "Compatibility has been made better throughout the years between Windows XP and Windows 7, so most should be fine."
Nonetheless, businesses should take precautions in case compatibility becomes an issue with Windows 7, 8 or 8.1. "Make sure you save or write down any license keys for software on the Windows XP system, as you'll need them if you reinstall later," Martini said.
Businesses should also check with software vendors to see if the license qualifies for newer versions of Windows, he said. "In some cases, you may need to download the latest version or a previous version of the software in order to keep the license," he said.
Additionally, businesses need to determine whether their hardware is fit for the upgrade. Victor Thu, director of product marketing of virtualization provider VMware, said businesses should ask themselves, "What devices are out there today, and how is that changing?"
This question is important to answer because there are more devices being used today than ever, and older devices may not be equipped to run later versions of Windows. "Macs and Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) really change how IT organizations need to think about delivering and managing corporate Windows systems," Thu said. "Also, many older PCs cannot run Windows 7, so an audit will help you understand if you need new hardware."
Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1?
Lastly, businesses need to determine which newer version of Windows is the best for them: Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1.
"If you're accustomed to the Windows XP layout and style, upgrading to Windows 7 might be a better choice than Windows 8," Martini said. "The feel of the operating system is very similar, and you'll most likely be pleasantly surprised with all of the feature upgrades that make the Windows 7 operating system run smoother than Windows XP."
Nonetheless, those that choose Windows 8 or 8.1 can also have the same experience by configuring the operating system to look and feel like Windows 7.
How to upgrade from Windows XP
The most straightforward ways to migrate from Windows XP are to either upgrade current machines to newer versions of Windows or to purchase new machines preinstalled with Windows 7, 8 or 8.1.
[How to Upgrade to Windows 8.1]
Another option is to outsource the upgrade by moving your systems and network to the cloud via an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider.
"If you want to free yourself from the worry of these constant operating-system changes, your only secure option is to migrate your network to the cloud," Landa said. "Then, instead of buying operating systems every time they are released — or being forced to switch when support is terminated — you are renting them, and the onus is on the cloud provider to purchase and provide you with the most recent versions."
Businesses can also upgrade to new versions of Windows via virtualization, which allows users to run operating systems on virtual servers.
"Virtualization and image-layering technologies allow new ways of deploying the Windows 7 image and applications to your end users," Thu said. The virtual desktop infrastructure also allows roaming access to the same desktop from any device, regardless of platform, he added. "If your device landscape is changing, this may be the right time to consider something different," he said.
Originally published on BusinessNewsDaily.
Sara Angeles
Sara is a Los Angeles-based tech writer for Business.com, Business News Daily and Tom's IT Pro. A graduate of the University of California, Irvine, she has worked as a freelance writer and copywriter for tech publications, lifestyle brands and nonprofit organizations in the Southern California area and throughout the U.S. Sara joined the Purch team in 2013.
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Mathematics Degree
An education in numeric sciences, or a mathematics degree, can be applied to any number of fields, from biology to economics to computer programming. Mathematics, or Maths or Math, degrees are offered at all levels, including associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate.
While deciding on a mathematics degree or understanding career paths, there are fields sometimes referred to as “pure” maths or “applied” maths. Applied maths is when this numeric science is put into action, when it models, predicts, or explains something, such as a Statistician or Investment Analyst. Pure maths refers to mathematical practices or professions that study math itself, such as a researcher. The line can be blurry, but it may come up when deciding upon an educational program or career path.
Associate Level
Earning an associate degree in mathematics typically takes 2 years and provides a basic introduction to the “M” from “STEM.” Curriculum will most likely include calculus, algebra, differential equations, geometry, and trigonometry. Completion won’t make graduates eligible for many careers within the mathematics field, but it can be a good way to save money towards earning a bachelor’s degree!
A bachelor’s degree in mathematics typically takes the standard 4 years to complete, but there are accelerated programs that can be completed in two years. On top of introductory courses, the curriculum will become more in-depth with room for concentrations, as well, such as computer science, probability and statistics, and economics.
Mathematics as a degree can be earned as a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics or a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. In this case, both are comparable. The BA in Mathematics will have added liberal arts requirements, whereas the BS will have science and lab requirements. If the end-goal is a scientific field, the BS may be beneficial, but is likely not required. Keep in mind that some institutions offer programs that combine a bachelor’s and master’s, making it possible to accomplish both in five years.
Career options for graduates with a baccalaureate in mathematics include: Mathematician (federal government jobs), Cryptographer, Economist (government agencies), Actuary, Financial Planner*, Investment Analyst*, Statistician (entry-level), Operations Research Analyst, System Engineer, Inventory Control Specialist, Budget Analyst, Accountant*, Insurance Underwriter, Programmer Analyst, Cost Estimator, Fraud Investigator, Energy Analyst, High School Math Teacher, Data Analyst, Software Tester. With professions varying so wildly, the entry-level salary is heavily dependent on industry, but the average salary for individuals with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics is $73,000.
*May require certifications or special clearance.
Master Level
Depending on the area of study and type of program, master’s degrees can take anywhere from one to two years. Earning a master’s opens career options, primarily in the private sector, as well as higher payer positions. Also available in two different degree types, a Master’s of Arts in Mathematics or a Master of Science in Mathematics, the choice entirely depends on the career goal.
Career options for graduates with a Master’s in Mathematics include: Algorithms Engineer, Geodesist, Meteorologist, Data Scientist*, Mathematical Modeler, Quantitative Financial Analyst. The median salary for a Master’s in Applied Mathematics is $121,900.
*May require a PhD in some industries or to be competitive.
Doctorate Level
There are three primary reasons to earn a PhD in Mathematics: tenure, research, or crushing career competition. As usual, a PhD is indicative of wanting to remain in academia, as a professor, and typically with a research responsibility, as well. Programs typically take five years, two in coursework and three working on a dissertation. It also gives a significant leg up over other candidates applying in the same field who may only have a bachelor’s or master’s.
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Best Majors for Designers and Builders
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November 2015 – January 2016
Production Line is a joint acquisition between York Art Gallery, Southampton City Art Gallery and Shipley Art Gallery, funded through the Contemporary Art Society.
Made directly in the space at Southampton City Art Gallery in 2015, Production Line was a construction of clay built onto a rope and hoisted as it was made. The temporary sculptural work considered the choreography of making, beyond the studio or factory, and the possibility for clay to produce objects which are neither fixed nor permanent.
Cummings uses a labour intensive process of pressing clay through a tea strainer to produce a fine texture of clay. This traditional technique was historically used to suggest grass or fur on ceramic figurines, but is used here on a large scale abstract form. At the end of the installation, the piece was dissolved into water and the clay re-claimed as raw material.
The work breaks boundaries in conventional museum collecting and in contrast to previous acquisitions, will remain in the permanent collections of York, Southampton and Gateshead in the form of an archive of films and photography as seen in this display.
Phoebe Cummings (1981-) studied Three-Dimensional Crafts at the University of Brighton, before completing an MA in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal college of Art in 2005.
She works without a permanent studio space, creating detailed installations and sculptures directly on site.
Cummings uses unfired clay to make poetic and performative sculptures and installations that emphasize material, fragility, time, creation, and decay.
She has undertaken a number of residencies, exhibitions and commissions in the U.K, U.S.A and Greenland, including six months as ceramics artist-in-residence at the Victoria & Albert Museum, 2010, a fellowship at Camden Arts Centre 2012/13 and a solo exhibition at the University of Hawaii Art Gallery, Honolulu. In 2011 she was the winner of the British Ceramics Biennial Award.
Rethink Ceramic Art
Family volunteering at CoCA
CoCA volunteer Jane Eddleston and her son Miles share their Family Volunteering blog.
Derek Matthews: When an Illustrator Goes to Pot
Derek Matthews looks back at his career change from children's illustrator to working with clay.
Collect 2019: A Retrospective
Paul Bailey, producer of Emerging Potters magazine, looks back at this year's Collect 2019 showcase.
Ceramic Art London 2019: A Retrospective
Paul Bailey, producer of Emerging Potters magazine, looks back at this year's Ceramic Art London showcase.
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Harold Hutton Sports Center
Built in 1978, the Harold Hutton Sports Center is home to Chapman's women's volleyball and men's and women's basketball teams, as well as intramurals. Chapman's Athletic Training Room is also housed in the basement.
The Harold Hutton Sports Center is named in honor of this former trustee, and made possible by a gift from his wife, Betty Hutton Williams. It was renovated in the mid 1990’s to include the Julianne Argyros Fitness Center, a gift from long-time trustee George L. Argyros to his wife.
Since it has opened, the women's volleyball team has made nine NCAA tournament appearances and the women's basketball team has made eight. The Panthers have hosted the NCAA's first round of women's basketball playoffs six times. Capacity: 2,400
CLICK HERE FOR OPEN GYM HOURS*
*Must show valid Chapman I.D.
*May vary depending upon scheduled sporting events
*Basketball open gym only
For gym use rules and regulations, please click here.
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‘Avengers: Infinity War’: Why That Post-Credits Scene is So Important
Avengers: Infinity War only has one post-credits scene, but it’s among the most significant in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far.
This sequence at the very end of the credits not only gives us a hint about how that massive cliffhanger will be resolved, but it also sets up a character who will be crucial to the future of this series.
Here’s a look at the post-credits scene and why it’s so significant. Warning: this post will contain spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War.
1. Nick Fury and Maria Hill show up for the first time in years
Nick Fury and Maria Hill in The Avengers. | Marvel Studios
The instant the post-credits scene begins, fans of the MCU are already smiling. After all, it reintroduces us to Nick Fury and Maria Hill, who we haven’t seen in the Marvel movies in years. We last saw both of them in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which came out in 2015.
Fury hasn’t been as much a part of the story since he went into hiding at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But in this movie, Hill and Fury are driving along when they pick up something out of Wakanda.
Next: The first hugely significant moment in the post-credits scene
2. We see the impact of the snap, and Maria Hill disappears
Maria Hill in Avengers: Age of Ultron | Marvel Studios
As Hill and Fury are going along, their car suddenly crashes, and all hell breaks loose. That’s because half of the world’s population has just disappeared, thanks to Thanos’ snap. Although the ending of the movie itself was focused only on the Avengers, we now see the devastating impact this has elsewhere; a helicopter crashes behind Fury because its pilot presumably disappeared.
Unfortunately, Hill is soon one of the victims of the snap, as she is wiped out of existence. So sadly, she’s yet another character who won’t be a part of Avengers 4.
Next: What Nick Fury does next is quite important.
3. Fury disappears too, but not before sending out a distress signal
Nick Fury in Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Marvel Studios
As soon as Hill disappears, we can see that Fury has realized they’re in the worst case scenario. He grabs a mysterious device, pressing some buttons on it before realizing that he himself is beginning to disappear, too.
In a moment Marvel has probably been waiting for ever since they first cast Samuel L. Jackson, Fury says, “Motherf—” before being cut off. When he disappears, Fury’s device falls to the ground.
The camera slowly pans down to it as a signal starts to be broadcast; audiences lean forward in their seats wondering who he is contacting.
Next: This is who Nick Fury sent out his signal too.
4. The Captain Marvel insignia appears on the device
Captain Marvel | Marvel Comics
Finally, after a tremendous amount of buildup, the Captain Marvel insignia appears on Fury’s device, indicating that the message was sent to her. This isn’t a character we’ve met in the movies yet, so if you don’t follow MCU news, you may have been a bit confused. But she is being played by Brie Larson and will be introduced in the March 2019 film Captain Marvel.
After that movie, Captain Marvel, whose real name is Carol Danvers, will also join the action in Avengers 4 in May 2019. So this post-credits scene not only sets up Captain Marvel for her own solo movie, but it also sets up how she will get involved in the events of Avengers 4.
Clearly, the implication is that she will also be a big part of resolving the cliffhanger and defeating Thanos.
Next: Why Captain Marvel being introduced is such a big deal.
5. Captain Marvel is an incredibly powerful new character
Carol Danvers getting that signal from Fury is definitely good news for the Avengers; after all, she’s an incredibly powerful character who they’ll definitely want on their side.
In the comics, Carol Danvers is introduced as an officer in the Air Force. While there, she meets a Kree alien who is in disguise as a human named Walter Lawson. After an accident, Danvers ends up getting Lawson’s abilities and becoming half-Kree, meaning she now has the power of flight, super strength, and more. Think of her like Marvel’s Superman.
Once she joins the Avengers, Captain Marvel will be the group’s most powerful hero, according to Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. Really, the only person whose powers even come close to hers is Thor.
Next: What that post-credits scene tells us about the Captain Marvel solo movie.
6. Carol likely gives Nick Fury that device in Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel is set to arrive in 2019 | Marvel
The post-credits scene also seems to be setting up the Captain Marvel solo movie, despite the fact that that film is a prequel. After all, the device looks pretty old school, almost like a SHIELD version of a pager. Captain Marvel takes place in the 1990s, so it makes perfect sense for the device to be from that time period.
We also know that Captain Marvel is going to star Samuel L. Jackson as a young version of Nick Fury. So that film will probably end with Danvers giving Fury the device. Perhaps she goes off into space — which would explain why we’ve never seen or heard of her before — but she tells Fury that if things ever get really bad, he can call her.
Don’t expect this solo movie to resolve the cliffhanger, though; that won’t happen until Avengers 4.
Next: The post-credits scene has implications beyond Captain Marvel.
7. Captain Marvel will be a huge part of the MCU going forward
Brie Larson as Captain Marvel | Nuradi via Instagram
The official introduction of Captain Marvel also begins to signal the MCU moving into the next era. We know that Avengers 4 is going to phase out some characters, and after that film, we’ll be in a distinctly new era for Marvel. With Captain Marvel being the most powerful character by far, it makes sense that she would be the leader of the new Avengers, especially if Steve Rogers and Tony Stark die or retire as they are expected to.
But there’s another big reason Captain Marvel is a key to the future of the MCU: Her solo movie is going to introduce the Skrulls. Marvel is likely beginning to set up the Secret Invasion storyline, a comic book event in which it is revealed that these alien shapeshifters have actually replaced many beloved characters in the Marvel universe. This could potentially be the plot of Avengers 5.
So the Infinity War post-credits scene is not only a tease about where the story is going; it also represents Marvel beginning to put the pieces in place for Phase 4 and beyond.
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You’ll Be Shocked By Meghan Markle’s Potential Royal Allowance
Aramide Tinubu
Meghan Markle is an official member of the royal family, which means that the Suits alum’s entire life is about to change in a major way. In addition to being thrust into the spotlight in a way that she never has before, Markle will also have to deal with the headache of being a U.S. citizen and all of the tax issues that come with being married to a U.K. citizen.
Though the philanthropist and actress is fabulously wealthy on her own, her marriage to Prince Harry puts her into an even higher tax bracket. With a potential royal allowance at her disposal, Markle and any future children that she might have will never have to worry about money again. You’ll be stunned by the amount of money Markle might get as a royal (page 6), and how much she can have in assets without it becoming public (page 9).
An independent wealthy woman
Markle has been well off on her own for some time now. | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Prince Harry and the rest of the Windsors are worth an astounding $500 million, but Markle is no pauper herself. Though she will not be returning to her role as Rachel Zane on USA’s Suits, she made an astounding $50,000 per episode, with her annual salary somewhere around $450,000.
It’s also been reported that Markle’s total net worth sits somewhere around $5 million, so she clearly doesn’t need any Windsor money.
Next: Markle won’t be able to escape the IRS even after moving to London.
IRS expects to collect from Markle until 2023
Markle will still have to pay taxes even after she becomes a British citizen. | AFP Photo/Pool/Adrian Dennis
Though Markle is set to become a British citizen eventually, for the first five years of her marriage to Prince Harry, she will remain a U.S. citizen. This means the Internal Revenue Service will still be holding out its hands and expecting her to pay taxes on any income that she earns until 2023.
Markle also has the option of becoming a dual citizen. If she chooses to go that route, then she will have to continue filing taxes with the IRS. In November 2017, The Washington Post reported that the forthcoming royal marriage could “cause tax headaches” and “mundane hurdles” for the royal family.
Luckily, love trumps paperwork.
Next: Markle also boosted her income by doing this.
Markle’s house was sold
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Moving to London meant Markle had to put her cozy Toronto pad up for sale. The three-bedroom, two bath house was listed on the market for $1.395 million — a sizable profit that’s sure to keep her comfortable during her transition into the royal family.
The home is located in Seaton Village and comes with wooden floors, vintage flair, and large walk-in closets. It was reportedly sold for 1.6 million in January 2018.
Next: Markle married into millions, but how much?
The prince’s wealth is impressive
Prince Harry has received quite a bit of money in the past. | Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Prince Harry seems like a relatively laid-back dude, but that doesn’t mean his finances aren’t in order. The former army pilot is worth upwards of $40 million, which obviously bodes well for Markle.
When the prince turned 30, he inherited $13.3 million from his late mother Princess Diana’s estate. During his days as a pilot, he also earned an annual salary of $50,000. Prince Harry’s father Prince Charles’ estate also takes care of his children and grandchildren’s expenses when it comes to their royal duties.
The Daily Mail reported that between 2016 and 2017, the Duchy of Cornwall paid nearly $9 million to support Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton’s activities and other expenses. With an all-expenses-paid lifestyle, we doubt Markle is even considering an allowance.
Next: Here’s how taxpayers factor into the royal family’s finances.
The British taxpayers will help pay the bills
Kensington Palace in Hyde Park in the center of London, England. | Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
The couple doesn’t have to worry about monthly rent or utility payments, as they will continue to live within the walls of Kensington Palace. The Sovereign Grant funded by the British taxpayers covers those bills. Parliament is expected to grant the queen over $109 million in 2018/2019 to maintain and perform royal duties.
No doubt Markle and Prince Harry will benefit from this money, as this is what’s used to maintain the Kensington Palace properties and other palace upkeep.
Next: The huge royal allowance Markle may soon have access to
A six-figure royal allowance
Markle will be receiving a shiny new title, which could have monetary benefits. | Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Though she doesn’t need the money, Markle could still be privy to a potential allowance now that she is Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex. In addition to his inheritance and expenses that are covered by his father, Prince Harry also receives an annual allowance of $450,000 from his late mother’s estate.
Though a portion of those funds may not be formally allocated to Markle because of tax reasons, we’re sure some of them will go to her lifestyle.
Next: Where else will these two get income from?
Speaking and charity engagements
Prince Harry (here with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) will continue to be a public figure. | Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Part of the deal of being royal is conducting regular public appearances and engagements. While Markle and Prince Harry will not receive an annual salary for their duties, they will be reimbursed for expenses incurred during ambassadorial appearances through the duchy. That organization paid nearly $9 million for Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton’s activities in 2016.
Since shutting down her lifestyle blog, The Tig, and resigning from her post as a World Vision Global Ambassador and a U.N. women’s advocate, Meghan has expressed interest in conducting charitable work through the Royal Foundation. Luckily, she’ll have the vast capital and resources to do it thanks to the duchy funds.
Next: The surprising status of their royal prenup
Royals aren’t huge believers in prenups
It’s doubtful that the pair will sign anything other than a marriage license on their big day. | Chris Jackson/Getty Images
With so much money on both sides, it seems like a prenuptial agreement would be the smart thing to do for the royal couple. However, Prince Harry and Markle are doing things their own way.
Apparently, prenups aren’t common in England, so the royal couple did not sign one. U.K.-based family law attorney Julian Hawkhead told Us Weekly:
If there was any drive to do so it would have come from the senior members of the royal family. There has been absolutely no such direction to do this and in fact, I’m reminded of when Prince William and Kate Middleton were engaged to be married, the Palace made it quite clear that they had no expectation that there should be any such prenuptial arrangement made. The precedent has therefore been set by Harry’s father and brother, neither having entered in prenuptial agreements before they married.
Next: Here’s how Markle can keep her royal wealth private.
The max amount of assets
Every detail of their lives is scrutinized — including money. | Kensington Royal via Instagram
Whatever Markle and Prince Harry decide when it comes to managing their money, they’re going to have to be careful if they don’t want their business to go public. If at any point in the next five years Markle has more than $300,000 in assets, she’s going to be forced to file Form 8938, a specific form that details foreign assets, which could include foreign trusts.
This means she would be putting the royal family’s finances in the media, and we doubt very much that Prince Harry’s grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, will be pleased with that.
Next: The royal family isn’t as rich as you think.
Not as rich as you think
Even Queen Elizabeth herself isn’t raking in the dough the way you might expect. | Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Though the Windsors don’t necessarily need to watch all of their expenses, they don’t top the list of the wealthiest folks in the U.K. In fact, the queen is the joint 319th richest person in the U.K. She shares her position with The X Factor judge Simon Cowell.
No matter what she decides to do, we’re pretty sure Markle is set for life.
Next: The staggering amount the royal wedding boosted the economy
A royal boost to the economy
The royal couple will be avoiding photos during their celebratory nights out. | Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
Markle joining the royal family affects the whole country. The couple’s May 19 wedding was reportedly estimated to boost the U.K. economy $680 million, according to Reuters. The report attributed $500 million of that to tourism, travel, and hotels.
In addition, $67 million was predicted from the sale of commemorative items like T-shirts and hats. Commoners who celebrated the royal wedding were expected to spend more than $200 million throwing parties.
Follow Aramide on Twitter @midnightrami.
Additional reporting by Lauren Hamer.
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UK health service to use Amazon Alexa to give medical advice
by: KELVIN CHAN, Associated Press
Posted: Jul 10, 2019 / 11:58 AM UTC / Updated: Jul 10, 2019 / 01:29 PM UTC
FILE – In this Monday, Aug. 7, 2017 file photo, an Amazon Alexa display is seen at a store in Hialeah, Fla. Britain’s health agency is teaming up with Amazon’s digital voice assistant to help answer medical queries with advice from the agency’s official website. The British government said Wednesday, July 10, 2019 the service can help senior citizens, blind people and others who find it hard to access the internet. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, file)
LONDON (AP) — Alexa will see you now.
Britain’s health care service is teaming up with Amazon’s digital voice assistant to help answer medical queries with advice from the service’s official website. Critics, however, warn about risks to data privacy.
The British government said Wednesday that the system will help people get quick and accurate health information. It will be especially useful for senior citizens, blind people and others who find it hard to access the internet while also easing pressure on doctors.
Using Amazon’s algorithms, Alexa can answer voice questions from users about common maladies such as the flu or chickenpox with information verified by the National Health Service.
It’s part of the British government’s long-term modernization plan to provide more digital health services.
“We want to empower every patient to take better control of their health care,” said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Privacy campaigners said that while making it easier for people to access reliable medical advice was a step in the right direction, they were concerned about the partnership and its implications.
“Amazon is a company with a worrying track record when it comes to the way they handle their users’ data,” said Eva Blum-Dumontet, a researcher at Privacy International. “Our medical information is often the most sensitive data there is about us and a lot can be inferred from the questions we ask and the searches we make when we have health concerns.”
Privacy concerns surrounding voice assistants have come into focus amid reports that services like Alexa are listening and recording conversations in homes. A lawsuit filed last month in U.S. federal court alleged that Amazon is violating laws in eight states by recording children without consent through Alexa devices.
Amazon on Wednesday sought to reassure users that their information will be kept confidential, and not shared with third parties, used to sell products or to build a health profile.
“Customer trust is of the utmost importance, and Amazon takes privacy seriously,” the company said in a statement, adding that users control their voice history and can delete recordings.
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NYPD retraining effort has a simple message: Keep cool
May 4, 2015 / 10:23 AM / AP
NEW YORK - Two New York City cops approach a gray sedan with a suspected drunken driver slumped over the wheel. They ask him to get out, and that's when the trouble begins.
The suspect, dressed in a rumpled suit, curses and hollers at the officers because he doesn't want to go to jail. He refuses to be handcuffed and backs away, yelling, "Can't we work this out?"
But even as the man's temper rises, the officers stay impassive and firm, explaining why they need to take him downtown. Eventually, the man calms down and gives up.
"I've realized," Detective Leonardo Pino said, "that if I try to meet his tone with my tone, it doesn't get better."
Police tactics questioned in wake of NY man's death
The scenario was fake - the suspected drunken driver was a fellow officer and the street scene was a set built in a Hollywood-style sound stage. It's all part of a massive, across-the-board retraining ordered for the nation's largest police force in the wake of last year's fatal arrest of Eric Garner.
The Associated Press got an exclusive look at the New York Police Department's three-day course that's aimed at discouraging verbal abuse and needless physical force. The message to every one of the department's 35,000 officers is, quite simply, keep cool.
Cynicism, condescension and complacency are a formula for escalating emotions that can put civilians - and officers' careers - in harm's way. As one instructor put it in a recent classroom session, "Once you put your hands on someone, you can't go back."
The instructors that day didn't mention Garner, the unarmed black man from Staten Island whose videotaped death in a chokehold - a tactic banned by the NYPD more than 20 years ago - fueled loud protests against police. But the case hangs heavy over the retraining, as do the ongoing protests in Baltimore, where a black suspect died of a spinal cord injury after his April 12 arrest.
"We want to talk people into their cuffs," said Lt. Suzanne St. Jacques, NYPD commanding officer for physical training and tactics. "We want to talk them down into compliance, de-escalate the situation. ... The emphasis right now is the talk down before the takedown."
Even when enforcing the law gets messy, officers "have to have a thick skin," said First Deputy Police Commissioner Benjamin B. Tucker, who oversees the police academy.
"People will goad you. People will say things to you. Face it - not everybody loves a cop," Tucker said. "But even when they don't like you, you have a responsibility to respect them and leave them with their dignity even as you do your job."
Over the three days at the department's new $750 million police academy, officers start in the classroom with instruction on verbal techniques for calming down a combative suspect. The course emphasizes the human side of the job, reminding officers that policing is about helping people.
"A lot of times officers can forget why they came on the job, what brought them to this profession to begin with," said another academy commander, Lt. Bobby Lorne Sheppard. "It's a very noble profession."
An entire day is spent in a gymnasium where instructors teach the latest tactics for taking down uncooperative suspects without putting pressure on the neck or chest.
Soon the academy will also introduce role-playing exercises, like the one with the drunken driver, using elaborate sets made to look like a grocery store, a subway station or a street scene.
The training is part of a broader effort by Police Commissioner William Bratton to mend the NYPD's relationship with minority communities that were frayed by the previous administration's widespread use of street stops - mainly of young men of color - as a tool to deter crime. Stop and frisks have steeply declined, and the department is revising the tactic with a federal monitor after a judge ruled it discriminated against minorities.
"It's both praiseworthy and indictable that they're just getting around to this in 2015," said Eugene O'Donnell, professor of police studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. "At least they're admitting they need to do this."
Still, some in the community worry the training will simply take the place of much-needed larger reform.
NYPD reviewing video of cop yelling at Uber driver
"Training is a positive step in the right direction, but ultimately it's inadequate in dealing with the systemic breakdown when it comes to accountability," said Monifa Bandele of Communities United for Police Reform, one of several groups that want laws to give watchdog agencies and prosecutors more power to investigate and punish officers if necessary.
The NYPD recently got another reminder of the potential pitfalls of seemingly mundane street encounters in the age of smartphones when a seasoned detective was videotaped cursing at an Uber cab driver who honked at the officer to get him to move his unmarked car. The detective - heard on tape imitating the driver's foreign accent and asking, "How long have you been in this country?" - was placed on desk duty.
"As you might imagine, I was not happy," Tucker said, when asked what he thought when he first viewed the video.
"We're trying to mightily close this gap in our relations with the community, and every time an incident like that occurs, it sets us back a little bit more."
First published on May 4, 2015 / 10:23 AM
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Tracy Hester
Professor Hester teaches environmental law and emerging technology courses at the University of Houston Law Centre. His research focuses on the innovative application of environmental laws to emerging technologies and risks, such as climate engineering, nanotechnologies, genetic modification, advanced renewable power projects, and on novel compliance and liability issues. Prior to joining the University of Houston Law Centre, Prof. Hester served as a partner in Bracewell LLP for sixteen years and led the Houston office's environmental group.
Prof. Hester co-directs the Environment, Energy & Natural Resource Centre's Speaker Series, which annually draws top speakers on energy and environmental topics to the University of Houston campus. He also organizes and assists in the preparation of workshops and symposia on current energy and environmental topics.
Prof. Hester was inducted into the American College of Environmental Lawyers in 2015, elected as a member of the American Law Institute in 2004, and named the Top Environmental Lawyer in Houston in 2011 by Best Lawyers of America. He was also elected to the Council of the American Bar Association’s Section on Environment, Energy and Resources (SEER) in 2011, and he currently co-chairs SEER's new Law Professors Committee.
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Signal_peptide
Signal peptide
A signal peptide is a short (3-60 amino acids long) peptide chain that directs the post-translational transport of a protein. Signal peptides may also be called targeting signals, signal sequences, transit peptides, or localization signals.
The amino acid sequences of signal peptides direct proteins (which are synthesized in the cytosol) to certain organelles such as the nucleus, mitochondrial matrix, endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast, apoplast and peroxisome. Some signal peptides are cleaved from the protein by signal peptidase after the proteins are transported.
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1 ER signal peptide
2 Nuclear signal peptides
4 Typical signal peptides
ER signal peptide
An endoplasmic reticulum signal peptide is the best characterized signal peptide. It exists at the amino terminal of a protein. The protein is guided to the ER by a signal-recognition particle (SRP), which moves between the ER and the cytoplasm. It binds to the signal peptide. The SRP binds to the signal peptide as soon as it is synthesised and extruded from the ribosome. This causes a pause in protein synthesis, most probably allowing the ribosome-SRP complex time to bind to the SRP receptor on the target ER membrane. The SRP protein is thought to be a regulatory GTP protein. Conformational changes may therefore lead to the SRP release. The protein may then be threaded through the ER membrane by a translocator pore.
Nuclear signal peptides
A nuclear localization signal (NLS) is a signal peptide directing to the nucleus and is often a unit consisting of plus-charged amino acids. The NLS normally is located inside the peptide chain. Almost all proteins that are transported to the endoplasmic reticulum have a sequence consisting of 5-10 hydrophobic amino acids on the N-terminus. Most of these proteins are transported from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. If these proteins have a particular 4-amino-acids sequence on the C-terminus, these proteins stay in the endoplasmic reticulum.
The nucleolus within the nucleus can be targeted with a sequence called a nucleolar localization signal (abbreviated NoLS or NOS).
The signal peptide that directs to the mitochondrial matrix has a sequence consisting of an alternating pattern with a few hydrophobic amino acids and a few plus-charged amino acids form. It is usually called the mitochondrial targeting signal (MTS).
There are two types of signal peptides directing to peroxisome, which are called peroxisomal targeting signals (PTS). One is PTS1, which is made of three amino acids on the C-terminus. The other is PTS2, which is made of a 9-amino-acid sequence often present on the N-terminus of the protein.
Following is a list of types of signal peptides:
N-terminus signal peptides often target the mitochondrial matrix, endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisome.
C-terminus signal peptides often target the peroxisome.
Typical signal peptides
Transport to the nucleus (NLS) -Pro-Pro-Lys-Lys-Lys-Arg-Lys-Val-
Transport to the endoplasmic reticulum H2N-Met-Met-Ser-Phe-Val-Ser-Leu-
Leu-Leu-Val-Gly-Ile-Leu-Phe-
Trp-Ala-Thr-Glu-Ala-Glu-Gln-
Leu-Thr-Lys-Cys-Glu-Val-Phe-
Gln-
Retention to the endoplasmic reticulum -Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu-COOH
Transport to the mitochondrial matrix H2N-Met-Leu-Ser-Leu-Arg-Gln-Ser-
Ile-Arg-Phe-Phe-Lys-Pro-Ala-
Thr-Arg-Thr-Leu-Cys-Ser-Ser-
Arg-Tyr-Leu-Leu-
Transport to the peroxisome (PTS1) -Ser-Lys-Leu-COOH
Transport to the peroxisome (PTS2) H2N-----Arg-Leu-X5-His-Leu-
H2N is the N-terminus of a protein. COOH is the C-Terminus of a protein.
Protein targeting
Categories: Gene expression | Protein targeting
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Signal_peptide". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
https://www.chemeurope.com/en/encyclopedia/Signal_peptide.html
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The Alternate-Universe Chicago In Which Our Craziest Unbuilt Buildings Exist
Some of Chicago’s great unbuilt buildings are as remarkable as the ones that make up its skyline. What would happen if Harry Weese’s Lake Michigan Islands, the Sears Tower on its side, and a Tribune Tower in the shape of a giant classical column shared downtown?
Published Jan. 10, 2013
Last year, the architecture school at UIC put together Visionary Chicago, an exhibit of buildings, infrastructure, and urban planning planned for Chicago—to different degrees of seriousness—that were never actually built. Some are famous, like Burnham’s plan for Chicago, or Adolph Loos’s spectacularly weird idea for the Tribune Tower. Others are less so, like the “urban islands” of Harry Weese, the architect who designed our correctional center and D.C.’s Metro. (Weese’s plan for small, narrow islands in Lake Michigan was never adopted, but they bear an uncanny resemblance to the manmade Palm Islands in Dubai.)
Matthew Messner took a handful of these ideas and envisoned what the city might look like if they’d come to pass. The big reveal to Weese’s islands is wonderful.
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'The Fetus in Utero' at U. of C. reveals mysteries of the womb
Pieces in the exhibit "The Fetus in Utero: From Mystery to Social Media" at the Joseph Regenstein Library at the University of Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
The first womb you see looks like a head of iceberg lettuce. Or maybe some kind of leafy vegetable.
Either way, it’s an image of a fetus in utero. Margaret Carlyle stared at it. She said it reminded her more of a Cabbage Patch Doll — those toys of the ‘80s, born from produce — or maybe the folk legend that babies are delivered by storks. It’s a 17th-century German engraving of a woman, and it’s pretty nutty: The mother in the image resembles a marble statue, casually inviting you to gaze into her stomach, inside which sleeps a infant, nuzzled at the heart of her, uh, cabbage. It’s also the first thing you see as you enter “The Fetus in Utero: From Mystery to Social Media,” a new exhibit at the University of Chicago about the history of visual imagery of wombs carrying fetuses, and like much of what’s found in this intriguing, disturbing show, it’s a reminder that, for centuries, we had no idea what exactly was going on inside of pregnant women.
“You might say for a very long time the womb was regarded as a very mysterious place,” laughed Carlyle, a history instructor at the university, and co-curator of the show.
An illustration of the womb as a cabbage-like room is part of the exhibit "The Fetus in Utero." (University of Chicago)
“So what we wanted to do,” said Brian Callender, her co-curator, a physician and assistant professor of medicine, “was explain how (medicine) went from these playful drawings of pregnancy to sonogram pictures — and everything they made in between.”
One piece, a 17th-century developmental chart showing a fetus evolving from egg to baby resembles, well — frankly, it could have been concept art from the “Alien” movies.
“Yes, that mother could be giving birth to an extraterrestrial,” Carlyle agreed.
She thought a moment.
“Or ... a seahorse. Until (a baby) was fully formed, for a long time we had no clue what it looked like.” Stroll around the Special Collections Research Center Exhibition Gallery at the university’s Regenstein Library on 57th Street (open to the public for the show only, through April 12), study the fantastical woodcarvings, the anatomy atlases, the medical-school illustrations. There are times when childbirth is the last thing here that will come to mind: Some of the babies look like aardvarks, some like Kewpie dolls, some like Winston Churchill. In one image, a uterus resembles a goblin, in another a fetus looks like it is being plucked out of a hot-air balloon, and in yet another, twins appear to be reclining inside a waiting room, just chillin’ until their number’s called.
As for the wombs — when they’re not floral, they’re often spacious, even luxurious.
On a dreary January morning recently, Carlyle and Callender walked a handful of students around the gallery. “The womb had been a mystery,” Carlyle said, “partly because up until around 1500 we didn’t have access to human corpses for dissection.” Students listened with their arms folded, hands over mouths, faces scrunched in horror. “And why,” she asked, “do you think that human bodies weren’t being dissected then?”
“Religious reasons,” a student said.
Carlyle nodded. “Because you had to keep a body intact for possible resurrection.”
Eye rolls.
“But why female corpses in particular?” The crowded gallery went still. No one replied, so she continued: “because the only reason a doctor would touch a body then was conducting surgery or getting a pulse. So it became a big deal when these images by pioneering anatomists showed not only corpses but female corpses.” She stepped aside to allow inspection.
One of the woodcuts showed a surgical theater, crammed with mobs of medical students all jockeying for position around a gruesome operation, their attention fixed on a woman splayed open at the abdomen. The image was made by Andreas Vesalius, a 16th-century physician who revolutionized anatomical illustration. Carlyle said it depicts a condemned woman who had just been hung. She had pleaded with her prosecutors to spare her life; she insisted that she was pregnant, but after a midwife declared that the woman was lying, the execution went forward and her body became an object of study.
Two female students listened to Carlyle and whispered:
“I feel like I’m intruding.”
“It’s creepy, in this fascinating way.”
Indeed, among the subjects that Carlyle and Callender raise in the show: medical voyeurism, the history of patient consent, the evolution of the birthing process, and even our strange, at times prurient interest in medical imagery. While researching the pieces used in the exhibit — many of which are antique texts, culled from the University of Chicago’s collections — the curators were surprised how often some of the most clinical depictions of anatomy and childbirth would be locked away by librarians. “While doing research,” Callender said after the tour, “I’d flip through images and take pictures with my phone for reference, and become very self conscious — it’s like nerdy porn.”
“If a piece was locked away,” Carlyle said, “it told us (the library) didn’t want just anyone seeing it. It was all purely medical, but still, medical students ... It kind of fed into the conversation that we are still having about male physicians touching women’s bodies.”
Peeling away the layers in this Physicians' Anatomical Aid helped show doctors where a fetus was. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Among the works found under lock and key was a medical pop-up text, created by a Chicago publishing house in 1888. As each layer of the body is turned over using cut-away illustrations, as the anatomy came together, the closer a student would come to genitals. (In the exhibit, the piece has a warning: “Viewer discretion playfully advised.”)
Callender is a native of Naperville, who has spent the majority of his schooling and career at the University of Chicago; Carlyle grew up in Montreal, and her research has focused on the history of science and medical technology. A few years ago, while Callender was curating a similar show at the university about anatomical illustrations, he was struck by the wild evolution of childbirth imagery. One day, while walking through campus, he spotted a flyer for Carlyle’s class on the history of science and contacted her. He had located a lot of great material, he said, but he didn’t understand the history.
What they created is not an art show, or overtly political; you won’t find Day-Glo ‘60s freakouts of the fetus or the grim placards waved at abortion clinics; you won’t find commentary on the steady rollback of rights of mothers bearing children. But all of those things will come to mind, and there is plenty to argue about. Largely, their show is made of medical imagery, mostly for medical professionals. Assembled, it illustrates how we went from regarding a womb as a divine question mark to a subject of science.
And those first tentative toe-steps into the clinical study of childbirth are remarkable: Several of the images in the exhibit show a woman sort of unveiling her womb to you, as if there were a window in her stomach and all that was required was a fleshy curtain.
“That,” Carlyle said, “is because there was a concern of moral propriety, so the woman was showcasing herself — ‘See, she welcomes us, it’s OK.‘ Remember, a lot of (illustrations) in this show were created by men of women postmortem. Women in these images often died during pregnancies, so (the artist) is trying to make her look alive.”
An anatomical mannequin used by doctors. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Around 1700, however, as the exhibit shows, cadavers become commonplace, forceps enter the picture, female midwives become less common and the male physicians begin to dominate childbirth itself. As this happens, images of wombs become less classical, less eccentric, and more naturalistic and coldly detached.
Callender: “The interesting thing, as this goes along, the mother gets —”
Carlyle: “Cleaved out.”
“The focus is on the mother as a uterus.”
“She becomes a vessel for reproduction.”
“The focus is on only the parts pertinent to the fetus.”
Among the grisliest images in the show is a drawing from the late 18th century of a womb carrying a near-term fetus; the body had been butchered from the stomach down, removing the legs but still leaving the stumps in the image. “Why portray this kind of butchery?” Carlyle asked the students during the tour. One of them raised his hand.
Her legs wouldn’t fit on the page, he said.
Callender nodded, there is a publishing pragmatism to this. “But also, putting a corpse on ice (to illustrate it) wasn’t an option, so a decision was made to preserve as small amounts of the body as possible. Still, a modern critique would say this is butchery of the female body.” Carlyle directed their attention to a life-size paper mannequin, from around 1900. A softer image, presumably a more refined image. “Her physique isn’t as voluptuous as the Renaissance figures (in the show), she’s closer to mannequins being seen in department stores, which was a new thing (around this time). She’s more like a prototypical female form, only she’s showcasing her body for us to see.”
Her hair is turn-of-the century fashionable.
Her makeup is done.
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“But is there something creepy here?” Carlyle asked. She’s also flayed open. She’s smiling. Afterwards, a pair of female students stood before the piece. “She is smiling,” one said.
“It’s what we were taught to do,” said the other.
Then they shrugged and moved on.
Pieces in the exhibit show babies in various states of development. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Seeing is disbelieving: the head spins of painter Tomma Abts »
Opening a Joliet prison to tourists »
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Why did Hope Hicks resign?
By Jennifer Rubin
We were just speculating as to why President Donald Trump seemed particularly agitated over the past 24 hours, reaffirming his reelection plans and then lashing out at his attorney general. Now we learn (coincidence?) from a New York Times report that longtime confidante Hope Hicks is leaving the White House.
When one leaves to pursue other opportunities, but doesn't identify any, chances are there is a backstory to the departure.
The timing is curious, to say the least. She told the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that she's told "white lies," but not on anything "substantive" for Trump.
Whether that remark or something else she said in the presence of Trump's favorite errand boy, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., may have triggered her departure is unknown, nor is it clear on what topics she declined to provide answers.
Her resignation also comes the day after Jared Kushner's day from hell, when it was learned he had been stripped of his top security clearance and The Washington Post reported four foreign governments have spoken about using his financial interests (recall, he's heavily in debt) to gain influence with the administration. (Might this have been an effort to draw attention away from that fiasco?)
It is hard to believe that Trump, who's depended on her assistance for years — well before the 2016 campaign — wanted her to go. It's also very unlikely that Chief of Staff John Kelly would have much to gain by the departure. We may learn differently, but chances are it was she who wanted to leave, not anyone in the White House who wanted her to go.
Now, the reason for her decision, if it was her choice, may be innocuous. It's exhausting working in the White House, especially this one. Her involvement in the Rob Porter matter, wherein she helped draft a memo defending someone she was dating, may have been an indication that the personal strain of working in this White House simply isn't worth it. She was never a political operative and never seemed entirely at ease shifting from the private sector to the White House. (She remained largely invisible to the press, which is highly unusual for a White House communications director.)
Will her departure matter? On a political level, likely not. Trump is not one to be contained, be it by his chief of staff or his daughter and son-in-law. In other words, she didn't seem to have mystical powers to manage him. Trump, we have learned, remains Trump regardless of who is around him.
Her departure, however, may be bad news for Trump from a legal standpoint. She is a direct witness to much of the day-to-day goings on in the White House. She was present on Air Force One for a critical episode in the Russia affair. She reportedly was involved in the drafting of a memo that did not accurately recount the reason for the Trump Tower meeting in June 2016. Beyond that we do not know what more she has heard or has knowledge of regarding either "collusion" or Trump's repeated attempts to throw the Russian investigation off track.
Now, she has already spoken to special counsel Robert Mueller but freed from the White House, she may be just a tad more inclined to disclose information or to help guide the special prosecutor through the events of the past year. She also, and this is key, worked with Trump in his real estate business — in fact she knew very little about politics before the 2016 campaign. As Mueller begins to delve deeper and deeper into Trump's financial affairs and his connection to Russian money, she may have an unusual inside account as to how he operated and the people with whom he interacted.
If not for the Porter incident, Hicks might have made it through the administration utterly unscathed. For that she deserves credit — more so than Ivanka Trump or many of Trump's advisers. She was not compelled to go out to sing his praises; she did not present herself as defender of women and children. She did not publicly fawn over Trump. In other words, she kept her dignity, which is no small accomplishment in this White House. I have no doubt that whatever impact her departure has on Trump it will be beneficial to her. She's out — and really does have a wealth of opportunities ahead of her.
Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for The Post, offering reported opinion from a conservative perspective.
What to read next:
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Devin Nunes
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Bathroom Bigotry
by Church Militant • ChurchMilitant.com • March 4, 2017
Commentary from a mom
By Caroline Farrow
Donald Trump's decision to lift the guidelines issued by the Obama government allowing transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice has caused much consternation and wailing about the rights of transgender students.
However, when you look at the impact of lifting this guidance, it's hard to see what there was for people to get quite so het up about. Firstly, the original guidelines had absolutely no legal force whatsoever, therefore, as ever, the decision seems to be indicative of Trump's usual style; it's enough to please his supporters and establish his conservative credentials, but doesn't change a lot in practical terms.
For example, when the original guidance from Obama was issued, the state of Texas put a temporary hold on it after 13 states sued. What the lifting of the guidance has done is introduce a sensible level of subsidiarity, noting that this is an issue best dealt with at a local level.
Tellingly for concerned Catholics, the American bishops' conference — the USCCB — has applauded and welcomed Trump's decision on this issue, expressing their gratitude. They note that it's an extremely sensitive situation, best dealt with care and compassion at a local level, respecting the privacy and safety concerns of all students.
Father James Martin, S.J. doesn't appear to agree with them and in response issued a series of tweets, implying that to deny transgender students the rights to choose whichever bathroom or changing room they choose is not Christ-like, it further marginalizes people, infringes on their basic dignity and asking: "Where's the harm?"
Along with a number of other Catholic women, I responded to him in pretty gentle terms as a mother of five. We asked, "Where is the care and compassion for the dignity of vulnerable women and girls who don't actually want to share their intimate spaces with non-biological females?"
I've been at the end of Twitter storms before, but this takes it to a whole new level.
As a result, my Twitter feed has been filled up with an eye-watering amount of expletive-ridden abuse and invective. I am a "terrible person," a "bad mother," "evil," "lacking in all compassion," who "needs to educate herself," "ugly," my "genitals are deformed from having five children," "I must die in a fire," "commit suicide," hopefully "my family will hate me," and so on and so forth. The sheer level and bombardment of hate is dizzying. I've been at the end of Twitter storms before, but this takes it to a whole new level.
It's not only the violent abuse itself which is so frightening, but the level of delusion that it's based upon.
The insults are all variations on a theme, so I'm just going to offer a response to each one.
Adopting a Realistic Attitude
Nobody with any common sense or compassion minds an adult who has fully transitioned, using a public loo designated for women, provided that they do so in the same way as any other woman, i.e., unobtrusively and not drawing attention to their trans status in a way that makes other women around them feel uncomfortable. Most trans women I know already do this.
Most women don't actually take much note of who else is going into their toilets, which in many ways makes them more vulnerable, because we don't expect to see men in there. If you can pass as a woman on first glance, chances are nobody will really object.
However, what women are objecting to, and rightly so, is the idea that anyone who decides to state that they identify as a woman for whatever reason, regardless of their manner of attire, can use women's facilities. It's not acceptable for someone who is so clearly obviously male to think that their feelings entitle them to intrude upon women's spaces. Plus, there is the issue of whether or not sexual predators might take advantage of relaxed laws, as has happened on past occasions. Part of the reason for enforcing legislation is to ensure that people feel safe and to discourage criminal activity.
Years ago, in the era before mobile phones, I was once followed home after getting off the bus, and the only way to shake off the man was to go into a public ladies' room and raise the alarm. The threat of being accosted by someone for following me in or for entering proved enough of a deterrent.
Read the rest at The Catechesis of Caroline.
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Layman’s Guide to Jury Nullification
What is Jury Nullification and Why is it Important?
April 8, 2013 October 15, 2016 Kelly W. Patterson 2137 Views 5-4 decision, 629 F. 2d 439 - Court of Appeals 6th Circuit 1980, A History of Jury Nullification, Accountability, Civil rights, Civil War, Common Law principle of Jury Nullification, cop block, Copblock submissions, core principles of liberty, Corruption, cronyism, Dishonesty, fascist food, federal crimes, federal judge, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 23(b), FIJA, freedom, Fugitive Slave Act, Fully Informed Juror, fully informed jury association, Georgia v. Brailsford, guilty verdict, gut-check, Harassment, illegal everything, inherent right to nullify, john stossel, jury duty, Jury nullification, Justice System, kelly patterson, largest prison population in the world, Law, Lawmall.com, lawyers, Layman's Guide to Jury Nullification, LibertyForLife.com, no sympathy for the government's position, no victim no crime, not required to inform jurors, nutrition nazis, officer of the court, overzealous and tyrannical prosecution, police, Police State, Prison, prison industrial complex, reasonable distribution of jurisdiction, rights, SCOTUS, Second Circuit Court of Appeals, Sparf v. United States, Station 6 Underground, strike the root, taxes, The Straight Dope, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. v. Krzyske, U.S. v. Moylan, undisputed power of the jury to acquit, uninformed public, United States v Dougherty, United States v. Wilson, victimless crimes, video, What is Jury Nullification?, wikipedia
The following post was shared with the CopBlock Network by Captain Six, via the CopBlock.org Submissions Page. It was originally
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BuzzFeed increases female leadership, according to latest report
By Karen K. Ho, CJR
The newsroom of the Los Angeles headquarters of the website Buzzfeed.com, photographed Oct. 7, 2013. (Photo by Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
BuzzFeed’s 2017 diversity numbers for its newsroom show an overall increase in women and people of color, especially in leadership and managerial roles. Its latest data also shows significantly more women and people of color on staff at all levels than many other American newsrooms, including online-only outlets.
“In the past year, diversity in our newsroom has grown at every level, though there is certainly still room to improve,” Editor in Chief Ben Smith wrote in a note to staff, which was shared with CJR. “We’ve been particularly focused on representation in management over the past year, and continue to look for opportunities to promote people internally who are interested in taking on those bigger roles.”
A spokesperson said the 2017 data is based on the US newsroom’s total staff of approximately 200 reporters and editors, which is about two-thirds of BuzzFeed’s global news team. Gender diversity at the company fell slightly, from 61.3 percent in 2016 to 60.6 percent in 2017. The percentage of female managers also fell slightly to 61.1 percent, down from 64.4 percent in 2016. However, the newsroom saw growth in the number of female leaders (defined mostly as executive editors), from 36.4 percent in 2016 to 50 percent in 2017.
Representation of people of color in managerial and leadership levels also saw growth in 2017, to 24.1 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
When BuzzFeed first released diversity data in the fall of 2014, representation of people of color on its editorial staff was only 27.3 percent, compared to 2017’s 37.9 percent. The most recent numbers put BuzzFeed ahead of other US digital outlets, where, according to ASNE, minorities comprise 24.3 percent of all employees.
BuzzFeed’s release of diversity data is part of a larger trend of efforts by news organizations like Vox, The Marshall Project, and NPR to increase newsroom transparency regarding issues like gender inequality and consistently low employment rates for minorities in the industry. However, even with greater awareness of the need to hire, promote, and retain more women and people of color, there is much more work to be done.
Correction: A previous version of this story listed Ben Smith as the CEO of BuzzFeed. He is the Editor in Chief.
RELATED: Marshall Project reveals diversity of its staff in new report
Karen K. Ho is a freelance business, culture and media reporter, based in New York. She is also a former Delacorte Fellow at CJR. Follow her on Twitter @karenkho.
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Dr. Wael Al Mahmeed
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi > Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi > Find A Doctor > Dr. Wael Al Mahmeed
Wael Al Mahmeed, MD
Staff Physician, Cardiology, Heart ＆ Vascular Institute
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Dr. Wael Al Mahmeed can help you with...
HypertensionDyslipidemiaPrevention of Heart DiseaseHeart Disease in PregnancyCoronary Artery DiseaseHeart FailureHeart Valve Disease
Achievements & Career Highlights
Authored or co-authored over 150 publications and abstracts
President, Gulf Heart Association, 2014 – 2016
President, World Congress on Tobacco or Health in Abu Dhabi, 2015
President-elect, Asia Pacific Heart Society, 2011 – Present
President, Emirates Cardiac Society, 2009 – 2012
VIEW PUBLICATIONS BY THIS DOCTOR
Wael Al Mahmeed, MD, is a Staff Physician in the Heart & Vascular Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Al Mahmeed served as the Head of Cardiology at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in Abu Dhabi. He was also the Deputy Chief Medical Officer during his time at SKMC.
Dr. Al Mahmeed received his medical degree from University of Southampton in Southampton, England. He completed his Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and his Fellowship in Cardiology and Echocardiography at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
Dr. Al Mahmeed is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Additionally, he is also a Fellow of The American College of Chest Physicians, The American College of Physicians, The American College of Cardiology, The European Society of Cardiology and The Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology.
PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY
University of Southampton, Southampton, England
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Resident, Internal Medicine
Fellow, Cardiology
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Consultant Cardiologist; Head, Cardiology Division
UAE University, Al Ain, UAE
Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Al-Jazeira ＆ Central Hospitals, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Consultant Cardiologist; Head, Cardiology Department
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Former foster kids in Surrey could use some love and magic sent their way
A program that helps foster youth transition to adulthood is asking for grocery and store gift cards in a Christmas appeal.
The transition from foster kid in B.C. to adulthood can seem overwhelming at Christmas.
Amy, 18, sleeps on a mattress in a cramped basement suite shared with her brother and dad, and wonders if the power will be cut because there’s no money to pay the bill.
A bright young woman with her heart set on studying a trade at BCIT, all she wants for Christmas are the basics – food, a winter jacket, a bus pass, and shoes. Right now she’s walking to where she needs to be without appropriate clothing or footwear.
A veteran of the foster care system, Amy had a part time job, but was forced to quit when she fell behind in her studies at high school. Her friends bring her food so she has something to eat during the day.
The holiday season is filled with joy, traditions, and gifts for many Surrey residents, but for youths aging out of foster care, it can be a difficult time of year, according to SOS Children’s Village B.C.
The society, headquartered in Cloverdale, is asking for donations of gift cards. They will be given to youths in their Transition to Adult program for youths aged 16 to 24 who otherwise have little support from family or the system.
In B.C., once foster kids turn 19, they’re considered adults who are expected to fend for themselves.
Amy’s story is one of four being shared in a Christmas call to action. The TTA team selected youths who “could really use some love and magic sent their way this Christmas,” reads the appeal, shared at Facebook.com/SOSChildrensVillageBC.
The SOS program is looking back on a successful year, sharing enormous milestones and achievements, such as high school graduations and sending off multiple youths to post secondary education.
But it’s just as important to celebrate the small steps.
“Most things in life do not come easily, especially when the odds seem to be stacked against us, which can certainly be the case for many of the youth that we work with,” says the appeal.
A 2014 national report found former foster children in Canada without support and resources risk becoming homeless, unemployed and impoverished.
Sebastian, 19, grew up in and out of foster homes, struggling in his teens with a lack of consistency or family support, but he learned to be his own advocate. Despite those challenges, he’s kindhearted and hopes to one day become a youth worker to help others like himself.
He’s on social assistance while attending school, trying to make ends meet. For Christmas, he’d like grocery store gift cards plus for Guildford Town Centre to buy some new clothing.
Lucy, 20, is a single mom who grew up in foster care and is working to create a different life for her daughter, Emily, 3.
She’d like to attend college, once she gets her financial situation more stable, but for now, she could really use some grocery gift cards to meet her daughters’ most basic needs. Craft supplies and activities for a three-year-old girl would mean the world to her, as would Toys R Us gift cards so she can pick out presents for her daughter.
Peter, 21, grew up in the foster system, moving 31 times in just six years between the ages of 13 and 19 into new placements.
Now too old for a foster placement, he’s been homeless several times but now has somewhere to live. He overcame an addiction to hard drugs, and would like to earn his diploma in community service work to help other foster children.
He struggles to meet his daily needs. For Christmas he needs socks, underwear (men’s size medium), and gift cards to purchase groceries and clothing.
To help, drop off or mail gift cards to 102-5830 176A Street, Surrey, B.C., V3S 4H5. Call 604-574-2964 to arrange for pick up.
Follow the Cloverdale Reporter on Twitter and Facebook. View our print edition online.
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Clues in Marriott hack are said to implicate China
Published Wed, Dec 5 2018 8:26 PM EST Updated Wed, Dec 5 2018 9:56 PM EST
Hackers behind a massive breach at hotel group Marriott International left clues suggesting they were working for a Chinese government intelligence gathering operation, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Marriott said last week that a hack that began four years ago had exposed the records of up to 500 million customers in its Starwood hotels reservation system.
Hackers stole roughly 500 million Starwood customer records, including payment information. Marriott unknowingly inherited Starwood's vulnerabilities in a 2018 deal.
Scott Olson | Getty Images
Private investigators looking into the breach have found hacking tools, techniques and procedures previously used in attacks attributed to Chinese hackers, said three sources who were not authorized to discuss the company's private probe into the attack.
That suggests that Chinese hackers may have been behind a campaign designed to collect information for use in Beijing's espionage efforts and not for financial gain, two of the sources said.
While China has emerged as the lead suspect in the case, the sources cautioned it was possible somebody else was behind the hack because other parties had access to the same hacking tools, some of which have previously been posted online.
Identifying the culprit is further complicated by the fact that investigators suspect multiple hacking groups may have simultaneously been inside Starwood's computer networks since 2014, said one of the sources.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not return requests for comment.
If investigators confirm that China was behind the attack, that could complicate already tense relations between Washington and Beijing, amid an ongoing tariff dispute and U.S. accusations of Chinese espionage and the theft of trade secrets.
Marriott spokeswoman Connie Kim declined to comment, saying "We've got nothing to share," when asked about involvement of Chinese hackers.
Marriott disclosed the hack on Friday, prompting U.S. and UK regulators to quickly launch probes into the case.
Compromised customer data included names, passport numbers, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates and email addresses. A small percentage of accounts included scrambled payment card data, said Kim.
Marriott acquired Starwood in 2016 for $13.6 billion, including the Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, Aloft, Le Meridien, Tribute, Four Points and Luxury Collection hotel brands, forming the world's largest hotel operator.
The hack began in 2014, shortly after an attack on the U.S. government's Office of Personnel Management (OPM) compromised sensitive data on tens of millions of employees, including application forms for security clearances.
White House National Security advisor John Bolton recently told reporters he believed Beijing was behind the OPM hack, a claim first made by the United States in 2015.
Beijing has strongly denied those charges and also refuted charges that it was behind other hacks.
Former senior FBI official Robert Anderson told Reuters that the Marriott case looked similar to hacks that the Chinese government was conducting in 2014 as part of its intelligence operations.
"Think of the depth of knowledge they could now have about travel habits or who happened to be in a certain city at the same time as another person," said Anderson, who served as FBI executive assistant director until 2015.
"It fits with how the Chinese intelligence services think about things. It's all very long range," said Anderson, who was not involved in investigating the Marriott case and is now a principal with Chertoff Group.
Michael Sussmann, a former senior Department of Justice official for its computer crimes section, said that the long duration of the campaign was an indicator that the hackers were seeking data for intelligence and not information to use in cyber crime schemes.
"One clue pointing to a government attacker is the amount of time the intruders were working quietly inside the network," he said. "Patience is a virtue for spies, but not for criminals trying to steal credit card numbers."
FBI representatives could not immediately be reached for comment on the evidence linking the attack to China. A spokesperson said on Friday that the agency was looking into the attack, but declined to elaborate.
Correction: This report has been updated to reflect that hackers were in the Starwood network since 2014. Marriott did not acquire Starwood until 2016.
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Sir Reginald Cleans Up Nicely
How our conservation team treated a turtle soup tureen
July 2, 2019 by Cassia Balogh
When you work with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s art collection, it’s hard not to develop a favorite. One of the objects I find most enchanting is a turtle soup tureen (1991-693,A) that has been on display at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum in the Henry H. Weldon Gallery’s “Revolution in Taste” exhibition since 2006. Named “Sir Reginald” by the person who donated him to the Foundation, the piece is both shaped like a sea turtle and intended to hold turtle soup.
This soup tureen, made in early-19th-century England, is shaped out of fused silver plate, also known as “old Sheffield plate.” Fused silver plate, before it is made into an object, is a metal sheet that has a copper core with a thin layer of sterling silver on one or both sides. This sheet can then be formed into an object that looks like solid silver, but at a fraction of the cost. This means that — though the discerning eye can tell that he is not — Sir Reginald looks like he is made completely of silver. Unfortunately, silver tarnishes. That is where conservation can help.
When silver tarnishes it is actually the development of a layer of corrosion caused by interactions with chemical compounds in the air, often sulfur. Polishing silver removes a thin surface layer of the original metal from the object, so it is preferable to polish as infrequently as possible. Instead, we lacquer silver objects to prevent tarnishing and delaying the need for polishing for more than ten years. Lacquers are not durable enough to withstand use in a home, but in a museum environment they can be a great solution. As the lacquer begins to fail, it discolors and tarnish can begin to form. This is the state Sir Reginald had reached when he came into the Objects Conservation Lab in early 2019.
Lacquered when he joined the Revolution in Taste exhibition 13 years ago, Sir Reginald’s protective coating showed signs of beginning to break down and discolor. We have a gallery maintenance program and staff that, among other things, keeps the conservators informed about the state of objects on display. This team first documented Sir Reginald’s need for re-treatment. Sir Reginald is a popular object and is highlighted on guided tours at the museum, so it was important to communicate with program staff to determine the best time to take him temporarily off exhibit. Finally, the senior preparator/art handler is in charge of transporting the object to the Bruton Heights Collections and Conservation building, which is separate from the museum. So you can see, even getting this treatment started required the collaboration of many people and departments!
Once in the Objects Conservation Lab, Sir Reginald’s treatment could commence. The first step in treatment is always taking photographic documentation and a thorough visual examination of condition. Then, I removed the hinge pin between the lid and the body, so that I could treat the two halves separately without the worry of missing hard-to-reach locations.
In the lab, I used steam to remove the old coating. This method produces less waste than other options involving solvents. Then, I lightly polished and cleaned Sir Reginald to ensure his next coating would stick well. The lacquer we use for silver is a cellulose nitrate-based coating, which is preferably applied with a spray gun in order to achieve an even and clear layer, protecting the object while hardly appearing visible to viewers. This coating is not very durable, so after the two parts of the soup tureen were lacquered, we set them aside for at least two weeks to make sure the lacquer was fully cured. Only then could we replace the hinge pin, take after-treatment photography, and return the object to its place in the museum.
You can see Sir Reginald on display today on the second floor of the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, practically swimming through his display case!
Visit the art museums with your admission ticket, or check out the Museum’s Murder Mystery to discover how Sir Reginald is featured in the storyline.
Cassia Balogh
Cassia Balogh is a graduate intern in the Objects Conservation Lab as part of the pursuit of her Master’s degree from the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation. She has been treating a variety of materials from the Foundation, including silver, ceramics, toys, weapons, and a clock movement. Cassia enjoys reading, DIY home improvement, and painting watercolor portraits in her spare time.
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Jassi Sidhu was 25 when she was killed in India. (THE NEWS/files)
B.C. man faces deportation over father’s honour-killing conviction
Father lied to immigration, was later acquitted of charges in Jassi Sidhu’s murder
Neil Corbett
Jun. 19, 2019 5:15 p.m.
A Maple Ridge man whose father was convicted of crimes in the kidnapping and murder of Jassi Sidhu is facing deportation.
The Federal Court of Appeal ruled on June 7 that Barinder Singh Sidhu must face a new immigration hearing to determine whether he can stay in the country. He has lived in Canada since 2008.
A foreign national is inadmissible to Canada on the grounds of misrepresentation.
Sidhu’s father, Darshan Singh Sidhu, was convicted of offences in relation to the murder of Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu in India and sentenced to life in prison in October 2005.
Darshan Singh Sidhu was one of seven people arrested and charged in India with her murder. Her throat was cut and her body dumped in a canal in June 2000 in Punjab. The newlywed’s husband, Sukhwinder Singh Mithu, was also attacked, but survived.
In 2008, while on parole, Barinder Singh Sidhu’s father landed as a permanent resident in Canada, sponsored by a family member. He listed his wife and son Barinder, then 25, as dependants.
Darshan Singh Sidhu failed to disclose his convictions, and on a declaration form answered “no” to a question of whether he had been convicted or charged with a crime, according to court documents.
The reasons for judgment outline that, in February 2015, immigration officials wrote a report saying father and son were inadmissible to Canada. It said the appellant’s father is inadmissible because he “failed to disclose to the visa officer that he had been convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping in India prior to his visa issuance,” and the son “did not disclose and/or withheld information concerning his father’s conviction, thereby inducing an error in the administration of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.”
The court documents noted that without the father’s misrepresentation, the appellant would not have been admitted to Canada “so that his status as a permanent resident was predicated upon a lie, albeit a lie told by his father.”
This month’s judgment does not say Barinder Singh Sidhu was unaware of his father’s conviction.
“This is a somewhat unusual case,” said the reasons for judgment. “This is not a case where, unknown to the dependants, a principal applicant exaggerated a qualification or other fact in his or her application for permanent residence. The appellant knew of his father’s conviction and that criminal convictions were of interest to the Canadian immigration officials.”
The court documents do not address how a man sentenced to life in prison in India was able to leave the country and come to Canada.
However, Darshan Singh Sidhu, the father, appealed his conviction and won an acquittal in India in 2015. He lives in India.
In January, two Maple Ridge residents were extradited to face a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Surjit Singh Badesha and Malkit Kaur Sidhu, Jassi’s uncle and mother, are now in India to stand trial.
ncorbett@mapleridgenews.com
Shovels could be in the ground on Trans Mountain by September, CEO says
FVRD chair calls B.C. incineration plan for Philippines waste ‘disturbing’
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A Social History of Iranian Cinema, Volume 4
Release Date: 6th November 2012
9780822348788: Paperback
Duke University Press Books
The Globalizing Era, 1984–2010
Hamid Naficy
In the fourth and final volume of A History of Iranian Cinema, Hamid Naficy looks at the extraordinary efflorescence in Iranian film and other visual media since the Islamic Revolution.
Hardback / £119.00
Paperback / £33.00
Hamid Naficy is one of the world's leading authorities on Iranian film, and A Social History of Iranian Cinema is his magnum opus. Covering the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first and addressing documentaries, popular genres, and art films, it explains Iran's peculiar cinematic production modes, as well as the role of cinema and media in shaping modernity and a modern national identity in Iran. This comprehensive social history unfolds across four volumes, each of which can be appreciated on its own.
The extraordinary efflorescence in Iranian film, TV, and the new media since the consolidation of the Islamic Revolution animates Volume 4. During this time, documentary films proliferated. Many filmmakers took as their subject the revolution and the bloody eight-year war with Iraq; others critiqued postrevolution society. The strong presence of women on screen and behind the camera led to a dynamic women's cinema. A dissident art-house cinema—involving some of the best Pahlavi-era new-wave directors and a younger generation of innovative postrevolution directors—placed Iranian cinema on the map of world cinemas, bringing prestige to Iranians at home and abroad. A struggle over cinema, media, culture, and, ultimately, the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic, emerged and intensified. The media became a contested site of public diplomacy as the Islamic Republic regime as well as foreign governments antagonistic to it sought to harness Iranian popular culture and media toward their own ends, within and outside of Iran. The broad international circulation of films made in Iran and its diaspora, the vast dispersion of media-savvy filmmakers abroad, and new filmmaking and communication technologies helped to globalize Iranian cinema.
A Social History of Iranian Cinema
Volume 1: The Artisanal Era, 1897–1941
Volume 2: The Industrializing Years, 1941–1978
Volume 3: The Islamicate Period, 1978–1984
Volume 4: The Globalizing Era, 1984–2010
Illustrations xi
Acknowledgments xv
Organization of the Volumes xxi
A Word about Illustrations xxvii
Abbreviations xxix
1. The Resurgence of Nonfiction Cinema: Postrevolutionary Documentaries and Fiction War Films 1
2. Under Cover, on Screen: Women's Representation and Women's Cinema 92
3. All Certainties Melt into Thin Air: Art-House Cinema, a "Postal" Cinema 175
4. Emergent Contestatory Films, Media Culture, and Public Diplomacy 269
5. Iranian, but with a Different Accent: A Cinema of Displacement or a Displaced Cinema? 369
Appendix A: Iranian Films in Distribution 513
Appendix B: Film House of Iran's Film Collection 515
Appendix C: International Film and Video Center Iranian Film Collection 520
Bibliography 559
Index 591
Hamid Naficy is Professor of Radio-Television-Film and the Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor in Communication at Northwestern University. He is the author of An Accented Cinema: Exilic and Diasporic Filmmaking, The Making of Exile Cultures: Iranian Television in Los Angeles, and (in Persian) Film-e Mostanad, a two-volume history of nonfiction cinema around the world. Naficy helped to launch ongoing annual Iranian film festivals in Los Angeles and Houston.
"A Social History of Iranian Cinema is an extraordinary achievement, a scholarly, detailed work in which a massive amount of material is handled with the lightest touch. Yet it is Hamid Naficy's personal experience and investment that give this project a particular distinction. Only a skilled historian, one who is on the inside of his story, could convey so vividly the symbolic significance of cinema for twentieth-century Iran and its deep intertwining with national culture and politics."—Laura Mulvey, author of Death 24× a Second: Stillness and the Moving Image
"Hamid Naficy is already established as the doyen of historians, as well as critics, of Iranian cinema. Based on his deep understanding of modern Iranian political and social history, this detailed critical study of cinema in Iran since its debut more than a century ago is his crowning achievement. To say that it is a must-read for virtually all concerned with modern Iranian history, and not just cinema and the arts, is to state the obvious."—Homa Katouzian, author of The Persians: Ancient, Mediaeval and Modern Iran
"Hamid Naficy seamlessly brings together a century of Iran's cinematic history, marking its technological advancements and varying genres and storytelling techniques, and perceptively addressing its sociopolitical impact on the formation of Iran's national identity. A Social History of Iranian Cinema is essential reading not only for the cinephile interested in Iran's unique and rich cinematic history but also for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the cataclysmic events and metamorphoses that have shaped Iran, from the pivotal Constitutional Revolution that ushered in the twentieth century, through the Islamic Revolution, and into the twenty-first century."—Shirin Neshat, visual artist, filmmaker, and director of the film Women Without Men
"This magisterial four-volume study of Iranian cinema will be the defining work on the topic for a long time to come. Situating film within its sociopolitical context, Hamid Naficy covers the period leading up to the Constitutional Revolution and continues after the Islamic Revolution, examining questions about modernity, globalization, Islam, and feminism along the way. A Social History of Iranian Cinema is a guide for our thinking about cinema and society and the ways that the creative expression of film should be examined as part of a wider engagement with social issues."—Annabelle Sreberny, coauthor of Blogistan: The Internet and Politics in Iran
“The major strength of the book lies in a vast array of information and examples with a picturesque description of life and society in Iran and cinema that has found numerous platforms all over the world. The scrupulousness with which these histories unfold and develop, coupled with the author’s profound understanding of the milieu, and its media and film, makes this book a must read for anyone interested in contemporary Iran and its extraordinary cinema.”
Arezou Zalipour
Media International Australia
“[A]n important intervention in Iranian film studies. Naficy has conducted significant research for them while providing new insights on and revisions of his earlier writings.”
Pedram Partovi
Iranian Studies
“The four volumes of A Social History of Iranian Cinema constitute a landmark achievement. . . . For students of Iranian cinema, I can think of no better place to begin than these four volumes. The sheer expansiveness of Naficy’s project is a testimony to the untold narratives, theoretical paradigms, and concepts waiting to be found in the ongoing history of Iranian cinema.”
Sara Saljoughi
International Journal of Middle East Studies
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Home>About us>Our history
Image courtesy of The West Australian, 18 February 1995 | © West Australian Newspapers Limited
Did you know that Crime Stoppers originated in 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the United States?
It all started when Detective Greg MacAleese had no leads to help him solve a brutal hold up and murder of a petrol station attendant. He decided to produce and broadcast a video re-enactment of the crime, guaranteeing anonymity and a reward for anyone from the local community who called with information.
Within a few hours of the re-enactment airing on a local television station, he received a phone tip from a person whose memory of a vehicle driving away was triggered by the video image. Within 72 hours the police arrested two men for the murder and several armed robberies.
The concept took off from there and has become so successful that today Crime Stoppers is a well-recognised and respected name around the world, now operating in 30 countries internationally, including Australia where each State and Territory has their own Crime Stoppers organisation.
CRIME Stoppers IN WA
WA Police Commissioner Bob Falconer brought the idea to Perth when he was recruited from Victoria, where Crime Stoppers was already operating. He officially launched Crime Stoppers WA on 27 March 1995 after a month of trials.
The trial introduction confirmed strong public support, with 344 calls received that led to the recovery of $55,000 worth of goods. As a result, 18 people were arrested and 12 members of the public received rewards of up to $1,000 each for reporting crime.
Over the past 23 years Crime Stoppers has proven to be a great success in Western Australia, having received more than 500,000 calls and led to more than 12,000 arrests.
We’ve come a long way our small beginnings of a handful of call-takers to a fully equipped contact centre that processes all calls and online reports.
As a result, Crime Stoppers has grown to become a significant contributor to crime reduction, with around 50% of police intelligence coming from reports that the public has made to us.
Here’s to another 23 years and beyond!
Crime Stoppers throughout Australia
The program first came to Australia in 1987 when Crime Stoppers was established in Victoria. By 1998, Crime Stoppers was active in all States and Territories.
And the rest is history!
Crime Stoppers Australia Ltd (CSA) was registered in 1999 to bring together the interests of Crime Stoppers in all jurisdictions around the country.
Crime Stoppers Australia comprises a Board of Directors who represent their respective States and Territories. It includes an official representative of the Australian Police Commissioners and a representative from the Australian Institute of Criminology.
CSA operates in the interests of all Australians by coordinating national appeals and programs that seek public support in reporting crime and criminal activities, especially for cross-border crimes such as bush fire arson, illicit drug manufacture, importation and distribution, fugitives and outlaw gangs.
AN International role
Crime Stoppers Australia is a core member of Crime Stoppers International, the global organisation that encourages people worldwide to report transnational crimes such as human trafficking and international fugitives.
Representatives from Crime Stoppers Australia are also on the Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers International, whose global headquarters are in the Netherlands.
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Electric Dreams S01E01: The Hood Maker – The latest big-name, big-budget anthology show gets off to a strong start
Posted on September 18, 2017 by Kevin Boyle
First of all, let’s address the elephant in the room. Philip K Dick’s Electric Dreams is a co-production between Sony Pictures and Channel 4, distributed in the USA through Amazon Prime. Why is this significant? Well Channel 4 is the former home of Black Mirror, and Amazon is the direct rival of the streaming service that Black Mirror is currently owned by, Netflix. Because of this, and because Black Mirror is rightly held as one of the most chilling, popular (and Emmy winning as of last night) and prescient science fiction shows of the last 25 years, Electric Dreams could be seen as a replacement for Channel Four, and a rival to be used by Amazon. This, along with the high-profile support of Bryan Cranston (who will appear in a future episode), has been the focal point of Electric Dreams pre-premiere publicity. On the evidence of The Hood Maker, I believe that this should be the last time that Black Mirror should be mentioned, as this first episode has proved that, while not on par with Charlie Brooker’s show just yet, Electric Dreams has earned the right to be viewed through its own merit.
Philip K Dick has become a powerful force in the film and television industry since his death in 1982. Underappreciated in his own time, his novels and short stories are now intrinsically linked with a particular type of existential dread over the way we shape or own futures and how, through technological advancements, those futures shape us. He is one of the only authors of the 20th century that can match Stephen King for the amount of his work that has been adapted for the big and small screens. The timing of Electric Dreams premiere only heightens the cultural significance of Dick’s singular body of work as it’s only weeks ahead of Blade Runner 2049. All of which gives Electric Dreams a built in audience even before a frame of footage was uncovered.
The Hood Maker, adapted from the short story of the same name by Mathew Graham (Life on Mars), is a strong start. The original story has been used as more of a jumping off point with the McCarthyism subtext removed and replaced with a more personal tale of privacy, rather than an outright political one. We are introduced to a dystopian world, as the existence of telepaths have led to a divided public. The world shown is one of backwards technology: it takes two ad-breaks before we see anything as modern as a screen and even then, it’s an old film projector. The cars are old-fashioned, the guns are normal, and the police use typewriters to file their reports. We follow Honor (Holiday Granger) a telepath, referred to as a teep, who, through a new government initiative, is working with Agent Ross (Game of Thrones Richard Madden), in order to investigate the rising number of people caught with hoods that shield them from telepathy.
Anyone who is even a little familiar with Dick’s work (if you’ve seen Blade Runner you’re on safe ground) won’t take long to become comfortable with these surroundings. At the heart of the story is something that is extremely familiar: a buddy cop story. Madden and Granger have excellent chemistry, making Ross and Honor’s growing trusty in one another seem organic, despite the little time they have spent together. Despite this easy chemistry, The Hood Maker is more concerned with taking the idea of state provided mind invasion to the extreme. This allows for some truly brilliant scenes in which Honor uses her powers.
It’s through these scenes that The Hood Maker comes into its own. Many viewers have complained that the episode doesn’t have a clear example of a warning to the audience, much like Black Mirror does, but I would argue that The Hood Maker’s warning is a bit more subtle than that. Take the first interrogation scene in which Honor uses her powers on a man who was found with one of the hoods. With his own thoughts, his own desires, Honor breaks this man down in order to get the intelligence she needs. She says it herself later in the episode, she is software, a human computer that has access to your minds personal settings. She uses the man’s sexual feelings towards his mother, something that is so sickening in our society, and something that he certainly would never admit to another living soul, in order to shame him into giving her what she and Ross needs. It’s this use of her power that makes Honor, and others of her kind, feared and hated in this society. This monumental difference of teeps, and the access they have to our darkest thoughts makes them seem dangerous when all they want to do is live. The Hood Maker is a very human look at the last boundary we truly have. In a society where our minds are open, the idea of giving over our identities to social network personality sections seems like small potatoes.
It’s not quite perfect though. The reveal of the Hood Maker himself doesn’t have the impact it should as he is nothing more than a plot device, and Ross’ apparent power to block the teeps, along with tricking Honor into trusting him doesn’t have the bite that a twist like that deserves. Nothing would have changed about the investigation other than Ross and Honor’s relationship, and while Madden and Granger manage to make you care, it’s not quite enough to make the twist work.
7/10 – The Hood Maker is an imperfect start for Electric Dreams but it is a good advert for what this series is capable of.
Philip K Dick's Electric Dreams
Black Mirror Review: Season 3
Fargo S03E01 Review: The Law of Vacant Places – It’s pretty gosh-darn good
The Americans S05E01: Amber Waves and E02: Pests Review
Doctor Who S10E01: The Pilot – Peter Capldi’s final run of episodes is upstaged by a great new companion
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Divine Comedy
Nonno Panda Tales
Window of the Soul
/ Home @en / Pandoro or Panettone? Let Us Eat Cake!
Pandoro or Panettone? Let Us Eat Cake!
Luckily, in today’s world, cake is not longer just for royalty – especially at Christmas. Pandoro and panettone are two traditional Italian Christmas cakes, that everyone can enjoy. Chef of celebrities Marco Pernini explains not only how to make them, but tells us about their fascinating origins.
Chef of celebrities Marco Pernini
It’s the end of another year, we’re approaching the last month on the calendar … December! For some of us it is a sad time as yet another year has gone by, but for me, personally, December is a good month for many reasons. Here are three of them:
First of all, it’s my birthday on the 16th. I thank you all in advance for all those expensive presents you’re going to give me – especially for the huge gift I know the editor of Dante Magazine, Mr. Massimo Gava, is going to get me – I’m sure he’s been saving all year (hint, hint).
Secondly, it’s the end of Madonna’s MDNA World Tour where I‘ve been engaged as her personal chef. We kicked off the tour in May, so I’m looking forward to some much-needed rest and relaxation – although I’ve had so much fun travelling the world!
And last but not least, it’s Christmas!
Yes, I know, it can be stressful, running around getting the last minute shopping done, or even just trying to grab the cheapest deal if you’re booking a flight to get away for the holidays. But when that’s all done, there’s light at the end of the tunnel for all of us: a relaxing holiday and of course yummy food and cakes!
Motta Panettone
Mmmm, I can’t wait to get my hands on all the treats we get around this time. As an Italian, Christmas is not Christmas for me unless I have the traditional panettone and pandoro, two of the most traditional Italian cakes. Nowadays you can buy them all over the world, but if you have the time you can always make them at home. The recipes I have for both of them are simple, but first let me tell you something about the origins of these legendary cakes. I’m a firm believer that knowing the history behind things makes us appreciate what we eat much more.
Signor Angelo Motta
Signor Melgatti. Verona
So, let’s start with the word “panettone” itself. It derives from the Italian word “panetto,” meaning a small loaf of bread. Although nowadays this cake’s home town is Milan, the true origins of it date back to the Romans, when they sweetened a type of leavened bread with honey. Throughout the ages, this cake makes appearances at banquets of Popes and Emperors during the time of Charles V. It’s also depicted in a 16th century painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder. But the first recorded association of the cake with Christmas is in the writings of 18th century illuminist Pietro Verri. He refers to it as “Pane di Toni.” There are many legends surrounding panettone that date back as far as the 15th century. One maintains that during a Christmas lunch at the court of Ludovico il Moro, the duke of Milan, the cook burnt the cake. Seeing how desperate his master was, one of the cook’s scullery boys, called Toni, suggested they could use the sweetened bread he’d made for himself that morning. The cake was duly served and was rapturously received by all the guests. Then again there is another story which I personally prefer because it encapsulates the love and passion that Italians put into their cooking and how they’ve made their cuisine so unique. A nobleman, Ughetto Atellani, had fallen in love with Adalgisa, the daughter of a poor baker named Toni. To make her fall for him, he disguised himself as a baker, was hired by her father, and proceeded to invent this rich bread from flour, yeast, butter, eggs, dried raisins, and candied lemon and orange peel. It was such a success that it brought prosperity to the baker’s family. As a result, the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza (1452–1508), was able to agree to the marriage, which Leonardo da Vinci himself attended. It encouraged the spread of this new cake-like bread called ‘Pan de Toni’ (or Toni’s bread).
Whatever the true origins of this cake are, it would not be so popular today if, in 1919, a baker named Angelo Motta hadn’t started producing his eponymous Motta panettoni revolutionising the traditional recipe by letting the dough rise three times, (almost 20 hours) before cooking. This gave the cake its now-familiar soft texture and unmistakeable dome-like shape. Around 1925, another baker, Gioacchino Alemagna, adapted this recipe again, giving his name to yet another popular brand that still exists today. The stiff competition between the two that then ensued led to production of panettone on an industrial scale. Nestlé took over both brands in the late 1990s. However, Bauli, a company based in Verona, after aquiring the biscuit manufaacturer Doria in 2006, bought back Motta and Alemagna from Nestlé in 2009, becoming the world’s leading bakery company.
Galleria Carlo Alberto.
Milan.
And it is precisely in the city of Verona that has given birth to another cake which has been challenging the hegemony of panettone on Italians’ Christmas tables, namely, the “pandoro” (literally, golden bread). So now it has become almost a distinguishing mark – people talk about themselves as more of a pandoro person than a panettone person, just like, in England, people say “I’m more a tea person than a coffee one” or vice versa.
Of course, like everything else in Italy, the pandoro comes with its history and traditions.
The reason for the name “golden bread” dates back to the Middle Ages, when white bread and sweet bread were reserved for the nobilty – peasants could barely afford brown bread. Bread enriched with eggs and sugar or honey was served in the palaces and was known as “royal bread” or “golden bread.” Mention of the Royal Bread is found in a 17th century book by Suor Celeste Galilei, Letters to My Father, the infamous heretic, Galileo Galilei. However, the bread was already known and appreciated in the ancient Rome of Pliny the Elder in the 1st century, and Virgil and Livy also mention it, referring to libum.
Not until the 18th century, though, do we find the first reference clearly identified as pandoro. The dessert was part of the cuisine of the Venetian aristocracy. At the time, Venice was the principal market for the spices and sugar that by then had replaced honey in European pastries. It was in theVenetian territory of Verona that the formula for making pandoro was developed and perfected. This process took almost a century but on October 14, 1894, Domenico Melegatti obtained a patent for the procedure to be used in the production of this soft golden dough – shaped it like a frustum (lopped-off cone) with an 8 pointed-star section, it was served dusted with vanilla icing sugar, made to resemble the snowy peaks of the Italian Alps during Christmas.
Patent certificate granted to
Domenico Melegatti 1894
Bauli master bakers
As with the panettone in Milan, in Verona in 1922, another player – Ruggero Bauli – started commercial production of pandoro, making it known worldwide. Since then many more brands have had success with these two cakes but these four people have been the modern pioneers of the original authentic Italian brands.
Anyway the million dollar question now is: Are you a pandoro person or a panettone person?
Well, I’ll give you my recipe for both of them and you can decide what ‘s best for you. Personally, I like them both. They each have quite a different character, but the beauty of these cakes lies in the fact that they can appeal to a different range of tastes. Whether you like to bake it yourself or just buy it from the shops, the versatility of these cakes is such that, with a bit of creativity, you can personalise your panettone or pandoro and transform it into your own unique dessert. I will not only guarantee that, but I’ll also give you my tips as to how to do it. But don’t tell anyone. It’ll be our best kept secret.
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Pieter Brueghel the Elder
However, if you buy one ready-made, I warn you! It seems that almost 70% of the “made in Italy” products around the world are fakes, basically, not made in Italy at all, so please, please make sure you get an authentic one. It does make a difference – not only in the taste but in the quality of the ingredients. And price-wise, it’s not any more expensive at all.
Bauli’s production line of panettone
The ingredients for the cake are very simple. The dough is made from flour, eggs, milk and sugar, flavoured with raisins and candied peel.
Preparing the cake at home is not complicated, but you need to have patience and take a whole day to prepare it because the cake needs enough time to rise. In the version I’m giving you here, the cake was prepared using artificial yeast rather than natural. This speeds up the process that would otherwise take several days.
This recipe serves 10-12.
850 g. plain flour (00)
240 g. unsalted butter, melted
15 g. salt
8 eggs (2 whole and 6 yolks)
120 g. raisins
120 g. candied peel, finely chopped.
50 g. yeast
1 lemon – grated zest
Dissolve the yeast in the water. Separate the eggs. Sift the flour in a big bowl, make a well in the centre and add the yeast liquid. Mix by hand, gradually adding the egg yolks, the sugar, and the salt until the dough is fairly firm. Add the melted butter, mixing it well, then incorporate the lemon zest, raisins and candied peel. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 5-8 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth and leave in a warm place to rise.
After about 1 hour turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead again for 2 minutes, then shape it into a tall oval loaf in order to get the classic panettone shape. Place the dough in a tall, greased cake tin lined with grease proof paper. Leave it to rise until it has doubled in size (5-6 hours).
Cut the top with a cross shape and brush with egg white slightly beaten. Bake in a moderately hot oven, 200°C, Gas Mark 6, 400°F, for 1 hour and 30 minutes or longer, until well-cooked, and of a rich, dark colour.
Serve the panettone with any spumante, although considering the cake is already quite sweet, I like to serve a Lugana, a local wine from the Lake Garda region, not far from Verona, which complements it perfectly.
Bauli’s production line of pandoro
Pandoro
This recipe serves 12 people.
650 g. flour
250 g. butter
175 g. caster sugar
1 dl. fresh cream
pinch of vanilla
50 g. icing sugar
Sift the flour into a bowl, add 10 g of sugar, baking powder and previously separated egg yolk. Mix everything well. Add 2 tablespoons of warm water. Cover the dough with a cotton towel and let it rise for a couple of hours.
Add 160g of sieved flour, 25g of butter, 90g of sugar, 3 egg yolks and mix. Let the dough rise for two hours. Add the remaining flour, 40g butter, 75g of sugar, 1 whole egg and 3 egg yolks. Knead for a long time and let the mixture rise for a third time – always covered and in a warm place – for 2 hours.
Knead the dough and stir in the cream, grated lemon peel, the rest of the butter and vanilla. Mix until the mixture is smooth.
Make two balls from the dough and place them in two buttered moulds. Let them rise in a warm place until the dough reaches the edge of the moulds. Bake for 40 minutes in a preheated oven at 190°. Lower the heat to 160° halfway through cooking. Let the pandoro cool and sprinkle with icing sugar.
Some sweet suggestions!
In addition to the special pandoro metal moulds you can also get similar paper moulds. The pandoro has a calorie content slightly higher than that of bread, with an optimal distribution of calories from protein, fat and carbohydrates. This makes the pandoro easily digested and assimilated, allowing you to commit the sin of gluttony!
Modern taste sometimes calls for pandoro to come with chocolate chips and zabaione cream and many other variations proposed by the manufacturers. But my tip, if you want to personalise your pandoro, is to cut a hole in the bottom and remove some of the soft interior. Fill with chantilly or vanilla custard cream, mascarpone cheese, or any ice cream you like and then serve. You’ll end up with a unique dessert, sure to garner you plenty of praise.
By the way, if you decide to serve it without any addition, warm it up in the oven for no more than five minutes; this allows all the ingredients to blend even more. You’ll see what I mean when you serve it!
Happy Holidays to all our Dante readers and Happy Eating!
food Marco Pernini Pandoro Panettone
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Follow-Up: Company involved in NSUH-LIJ breach folded
Home / Follow-Up: Company involved in NSUH-LIJ breach folded
Health Data, Subcontractor, Theft, U.S.
In June, this site covered a breach affecting approximately 18,000 patients of North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Unencrypted patient data, including SSN and clinical information, had been on five laptops stolen from Global Care Delivery, a Texas-based firm that contracted with North Shore-LIJ to process and collect payments owed by insurers to the hospital system. At the time, I noted that there was an unexplained 8-month delay between the theft of the laptops and the BA’s notification to the hospital system, and I wondered how HHS/OCR might respond to that.
In its summary of its investigation into the incident, OCR writes:
Five password-protected, but unencrypted laptop computers were stolen from Global Care Delivery, a business associate (BA) of the covered entity (CE), North Shore LIJ Health System in September 2014. The laptops contained the protected health information (PHI) of 18,213 individuals, including names, dates of birth, insurance identification numbers (which contained social security numbers), and diagnoses and/or treatment codes related to claims. The BA notified police at the time of the incident, but did not notify the CE until May 11, 2015. The BA retained Knoll, Inc. to assist with individual notification and provide call center services to answer questions from individuals impacted by the breach. Breach notification was provided to HHS and affected individuals, and the BA offered complimentary one-year identity theft protection services. The business relationship between the CE and BA ended effective May 11, 2015. The BA has closed its business.
So did Global Care Delivery fold as a result of failing to notify their clients promptly, or because of the costs of the breach such as ID theft monitoring, or….? In any event, now we don’t know how HHS might respond to such delayed notification. Could OCR still have pursued the entity even though they folded? I think they could have, but then, what’s the point, right? Or is there a point that should/could still have been made?
NY: 18,000 North Shore University Hospital- LIJ…
Investigation closed: Diversified Resources, Inc.
Update on UHS-Pruitt breach, and we learn of another…
Oh, so that's what happened?
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Round Rock…
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HomeBlogMatt BernatStudy: FDA’s New Added Sugar Label Could Save Lives, Money
Study: FDA’s New Added Sugar Label Could Save Lives, Money
By Matthew Bernat
A small added sugar label change could have big impacts on health and wealth, according to a new study from Tufts University.
Within the next two years, a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy — requiring food manufacturers to add more information about added sugars — is set to take effect.
The FDA announced the mandatory changes in 2016. By 2021, all processed food labels must include the grams and percent daily value of added sugar content. The goal being to help consumers limit the calories from added sugar in accordance with the 2015-2020 dietary guidelines for Americans. Researchers noted that in the U.S. people consume more than 15 percent of their total calories from added sugars. That increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
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Researchers found that the new added sugar labels could:
• Prevent or postpone 354,400 cases of cardiovascular disease and 599,300 cases of diabetes
• Gain 727,000 quality-adjusted life-years
• Save $31 billion in net healthcare costs and $61.9 billion in societal costs
Researchers also considered what might happen if the food industry reduces added sugar in light of the new labels. According to the analysis, the new label could:
• Prevent or postpone 708,800 cases of cardiovascular disease and 1.2 million cases of diabetes
• Gain 1.3 million quality-adjusted life-years
• Save $57.6 billion in net health-care costs and $113.2 billion in societal costs
According to a 2013 study published by the National Center for Health Statistics, added sugar accounts for over 14 percent of total calories consumed by both men and women between the ages of 20 and 39. This translates to 397 calories of added sugars for men and 275 calories for women.
This translates to 397 calories of added sugars for men and 275 calories for women. By contrast, the World Health Organization recommends a limit of 5 percent of total calories for added sugar, which is about 140 calories for men and 95 calories for women.
Added sugars are refined forms of sugar (such as white sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, molasses, maple syrup, or honey) that are added to processed foods to increase their sweetness. Many nutrition experts — and the FDA — believe that it is important to limit added, rather than total, sugar in your diet, since there are health benefits associated with many foods that contain naturally-occurring sugar (such as fruits, cooked tomato products, and milk products).
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Home / Art & Culture / Film
2018 Emmy Nominations: Did Your Favorite Food Shows Make the List?
The food and food-ish shows that made the Emmys shortlist this year.
By Danica Lo on July 16, 2018
This story originally appeared on Foodandwine.com.
Nominees for the 70th Emmy Awards were revealed this afternoon, with Bravo's Top Chef nominated in the overall category of Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, a couple of popular food shows making the shortlist for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series—CNN's Anthony Bourdain: Explore Parts Unknown (also nominated for overall Outstanding Informational Series or Special) and Bravo TV's Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen, the network's original digital series produced in association with Magical Elves—and truTV's At Home With Amy Sedaris nominated for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series.
"It's been another record-breaking year with more than 9,100 entries and 122 unique categories for the initial nomination round of voting," says Television Academy Chairman and CEO Hayma Washington. "The continued growth of the industry has provided opportunities for acclaimed new programs to emerge, while allowing last season's breakthrough programs to thrive... This year's nominations continue to represent increased diversity and inclusion in front of the camera. And, there is a wealth of new and returning programs that reflect so many of today's critical issues."
Other food and food-ish shows nominated this year include:
— For Outstanding Animated Program, Rick and Morty for "Pickle Rick," the one where Rick turns himself into a pickle.
— For Outstanding Short-Form Animated Program, Adult Swim's Robot Chicken for "Freshly Baked: The Robot Chicken Santa Claus Pot Cookie Freakout Special: Special Edition"
— For Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series, Superior Donuts for "Grades of Wrath"
— For Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown for "Lagos" (also nominated in the category of Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program) and Chef's Table for "Corrado Assenza"
— For Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media Within a Scripted Program, Silicon Valley for "Interactive World: Not Hotdog, VR & Twitter-Powered Pizza Drones"
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Climate change set to increase air pollution deaths by hundreds of thousands by 2100
by Guang Zeng and Jason West Aug 9, 2017
Image: London Air pollution Level 9, from David Holt's Flickr Photostream
Climate change is set to increase the amount of ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution we breathe, which leads to lung disease, heart conditions, and stroke. Less rain and more heat means this pollution will stay in the air for longer, creating more health problems.
Our research, published in Nature Climate Change, found that if climate change continues unabated, it will cause about 60,000 extra deaths globally each year by 2030, and 260,000 deaths annually by 2100, as a result of the impact of these changes on pollution.
This is the most comprehensive study to date on the effects of climate change on global air quality and health. Researchers from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan and New Zealand between them used nine different global chemistry-climate models.
Most models showed an increase in likely deaths – the clearest signal yet of the harm climate change will do to air quality and human health, adding to the millions of people who die from air pollution every year.
Stagnant air
Climate change fundamentally alters the air currents that move pollution across continents and between the lower and higher layers of the atmosphere. This means that where air becomes more stagnant in a future climate, pollution stays near the ground in higher concentrations.
Ground-level ozone is created when chemical pollution (such as emissions from cars or manufacturing plants) reacts in the presence of sunlight. As climate change makes an area warmer and drier, it will produce more ozone.
Fine particles are a mixture of small solids and liquid droplets suspended in air. Examples include black carbon, organic carbon, soot, smoke and dust. These fine particles, which are known to cause lung diseases, are emitted from industry, transport and residential sources. Less rain means that fine particles stay in the air for longer.
While fine particles and ozone both occur naturally, human activity has increased them substantially.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has used four different future climate scenarios, representing optimistic to pessimistic levels of emissions reduction.
In a previous study, we modelled air pollution-related deaths between 2000 and 2100 based on the most pessimistic of these scenarios. This assumes large population growth, modest improvements in emissions-reducing technology, and ineffectual climate change policy.
That earlier study found that while global deaths related to ozone increase in the future, those related to fine particles decrease markedly under this scenario.
Emissions will likely lead to deaths
In our new study, we isolated the effects of climate change on global air pollution, by using emissions from the year 2000 together with simulations of climate for 2030 and 2100.
The projected air pollutant changes due to climate change were then used in a health risk assessment model. That model takes into account population growth, how susceptible a population is to health issues and how that might change over time, and the mortality risk from respiratory and heart diseases and lung cancer.
In simulations with our nine chemistry-climate models, we found that climate change caused 14% of the projected increase in ozone-related mortality by 2100, and offset the projected decrease in deaths related to fine particles by 16%.
Our models show that premature deaths increase in all regions due to climate change, except in Africa, and are greatest in India and East Asia.
Using multiple models makes the results more robust than using a single model. There is some spread of results amongst the nine models used here, with a few models estimating that climate change may decrease air pollution-related deaths. This highlights that results from any study using a single model should be interpreted with caution.
Australia and New Zealand are both relatively unpolluted compared with countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, both ozone and fine particle pollution currently cause relatively few deaths in both countries. However, we found that under climate change the risk will likely increase.
This paper highlights that climate change will increase human mortality through changes in air pollution. These health impacts add to others that climate change will also cause, including from heat stress, severe storms and the spread of infectious diseases. By impacting air quality, climate change will likely offset the benefits of other measures to improve air quality.
This article appeared first in The Conversation.
About the Authors: Guang Zeng is an atmospheric scientist at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. Jason West is an Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
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QBI Deduction Issues for Professionals
Written by Sidney Kess, CPA, J.D., LL.M.
Most attorneys, accountants, and other professionals operate as unincorporated sole practitioners, or through partnerships and limited liability partnerships (LLPs), making them owners of pass-through entities. Such professionals may be able to cut the effective tax rate on the income from their practices through the use of the qualified business income (QBI) deduction (Code Sec. 199A). This deduction, which was created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, is up to 20% of QBI, but limitations and other rules can limit or prevent any write-off. Here are some key issues related to the QBI deduction for professionals in light of recently proposed regulations (REG-107892-18, released on 8/8/18 and published in the Federal Register on 8/16/18).
The deduction under Code Sec. 199A (QBI deduction) is a personal deduction claimed on an individual’s federal income tax return. It is neither a deduction in computing an individual’s adjusted gross income, nor is it an itemized deduction. The deduction does not reduce business income. Rules on the treatment of the QBI deduction for state income tax purposes depends on each state’s tax conformity with federal income tax rules and special state-level rules. It appears that in New York and New York City, the QBI deduction is not allowed because income taxes here starts with federal adjusted gross income (which does not include the QBI deduction). However, future guidance from the New York Department of Taxation and Finance could allow the deduction to be treated as an itemized amount for state and city income tax purposes.
The QBI deduction is 20% of qualified business income for a professional with taxable income up to $315,000 on a joint return or $157,500 on any other type of return. For example, a sole practitioner who is single and has taxable income of $125,000 can claim the full 20% of QBI deduction.
When the professional’s taxable income exceeds this threshold, then two limitations come into play:
General limitation. The deduction is the lesser of (1) 20% of QBI, or (2) the greater of (a) 50% of W-2 wages (“W-2 wages”), or (b) 25% of W-2 wages plus 2.5% of the unadjusted basis immediately after acquisition (“UBIA”) of qualified property.
Limitation for specified service trades or businesses (SSTBs) (defined below). The limitation under (b) for all types of businesses applies for married filing taxpayers filing joint returns whose taxable income is over $315,000, and other taxpayers whose taxable income is over $157,500. But for SSTBs, the amount of QBI that can be taken into account phases out over the next $100,000 for joint filers or $50,000 for other filers. In effect, a practitioner (and any other individual in an SSTB) with taxable income over $415,000 on a joint return or $207,500 on another type of return cannot take any QBI deduction; all of the QBI has been phased out.
For example, the partnership’s taxable income is less than the threshold amount, but each of the partnership’s individual partners have income that exceeds the threshold amount plus $50,000 ($100,000 in the case of a joint return). As a result, none of the partners may claim a QBI deduction with respect to any income from the partnership’s SSTB.
Guaranteed payments
Qualified business income means the net amount of items of income, gain, deduction and loss attributable to the practice. Not taken into account are capital gains and losses (including Section 1231 gains), dividends, and interest income on working capital, reserves, and similar accounts (i.e., investment-type interest). However, interest income on accounts or notes receivable received is part of QBI.
QBI does not include guaranteed payments received for services performed for the practice (Code Sec. 707(c)). However, the partnership’s related expenses for making the guaranteed payments may nonetheless reduce QBI.
While guaranteed payments are not part of QBI, they do factor into the partners’ taxable income. Because taxable income limits or bars the QBI deduction, the impact of guaranteed payments needs to be taken into account.
Specified service trades or businesses
A specified service trade or business (SSTB) includes any trade or business involving the performance of services in the fields of health, law, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, consulting, athletics, financial services, brokerage services, or any trade or business where the principal asset of such trade or business is the reputation or skill of one or more of its employees; engineering and architecture are not included. Proposed regulations help to clarify what constitutes an SSTB. Here are the rules for law and accounting:
Law. This includes the provision of services by lawyers, paralegals, legal arbitrators, mediators, and similar professionals. It does not include the provision of services that do not require skills unique to the field of law; for example, the provision of services in the field of law does not include the provision of services by printers, delivery services, or stenography services.
Accounting. This includes the provision of services by accountants, enrolled agents, return preparers, financial auditors, and similar professionals in their capacity as such. The provision of services in the field of accounting is not limited to services requiring state licensure as a certified public accountant (CPA). The field of accounting does not include payment processing and billing analysis.
Multiple activities
If professionals derive income from rentals of property to their partnerships, proposed regulations help to clarify when the income is or is not treated as an SSTB. In general, an SSBT includes any trade or business that provides 80% or more of its property or services to an SSBT if there is 50% or more common ownership (determined under Code Secs. 267(b) and 707(b)). If less than 80% is provided but there is that 50% common ownership, then that portion of the trade or business providing property or services to the commonly-owned SSTB is treated as part of the SSTB.
For example, a law firm that’s a partnership providing services to clients owns its own office building and employs administrative staff. The firm divides into three partnerships: Partnership 1 performs legal services to clients, Partnership 2 owns the building and rents it to the firm, and Partnership 3 employees the administrative staff through a contract with Partnership 1. All three partnerships are owned by the same individuals (the original firm partners). Because the common ownership test is met, all three partnerships are treated as one SSBT.
Figuring the QBI deduction
Again, the QBI deduction is applied at the professional’s level; it does not impact the practice’s income that is passed through to the owners. Thus, as stated earlier, it is the professional’s taxable income that determines the amount of the deduction. However, Schedule K-1 must report items needed by professionals to compute their deduction. More specifically, on Schedule K-1 of Form 1065, “other information” must include:
• Section 199A income (code Z)
• Section 199A W-2 wages (code AA)
• Section 199A unadjusted basis (code AB)
• Section 199A REIT dividends (code AC)
• Section 199A PTP income (code AD)
Special basis adjustments
Partnerships may make special basis adjustments under Code Sections 734(b) or 743(b). Proposed regulations provide that partnership special basis adjustments are not treated as separate qualified property (Reg. Sec. 1.199A-2(c)(1)(iii)). If the IRS had allowed the special basis adjustments to be treated as separate qualified property, then it could result in a duplication of UBIA if, for example, the fair market value of the property has not increased and its depreciable period has not ended.
Impact on self-employment tax
The QBI deduction does not reduce net earnings from self-employment for purposes of figuring self-employment tax. In effect, self-employment tax is figured as though there were no QBI deduction.
Some of the guidance from the proposed regulations may be changed when final regulations are released. Comments to the proposed regulations are being accepted no later than October 1, 2018. In the meantime, FAQs posted by the IRS (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-provision-11011-section-199a-deduction-for-qualified-business-income-faqs) help to clarify some of the rules for this important tax deduction.
Executive Editor Sidney Kess is CPA-attorney, speaker and author of hundreds of tax books. The AICPA established the Sidney Kess Award for Excellence in Continuing Education in his honor, best-known for lecturing to over 700,000 practitioners on tax. Kess is senior consultant for Citrin Cooperman, consulting editor to CCH and Of Counsel to Kostelanetz & Fink.
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Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017: Impact on Individuals
Monday, 05 March 2018 11:25
On December 19, 2017, Congress passed a major tax package (H.R. 1) designed to cut taxes on individuals and businesses, and to stimulate the economy and create jobs. The tax cuts are projected to be nearly $1.5 trillion. The long-term impact on the deficit is unclear; the measure adds to the deficit in the short term but could reduce it in the long term if predictions of economic growth come true. The following is a roundup of the key provisions impacting individuals. Those impacting businesses are in a subsequent column. All of the following provisions apply starting in 2018 unless otherwise noted. Most of the provisions for individuals are temporary; they expire after 2025 unless Congress takes further action.
Tax Rate Reduction
The linchpin to this tax legislation is a reduction in individual tax rates. While the current number of tax brackets has been retained, each one has been reduced slightly.
Tax Brackets
The brackets for individuals are cut to 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% (Code Sec 1). The top tax rate applies to joint filers with taxable income over $600,000 (single filers over $500,000).
Tax Rates for Owners of Pass-Through Entities
There is no special tax rate or cap for taxes on pass-through income. There is, however, a new 20% deduction for business income, although many restrictions apply that prevent this break from being claimed by most attorneys, accountants, and number of other professionals (new Code Sec. 199A).
Capital Gains and Dividends
The 15% and 20% tax rates on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends have been retained. Those in the 10% or 12% tax bracket pay zero tax on these gains and dividends. Also, there had been proposals to require the use of first-in, first-out (FIFO) in determining basis on the sale of stock and mutual fund shares rather than allowing investors to designate which shares are being sold when shares were acquired at different times. This measure was not included in the final package.
The tax rates for the alternative minimum tax (AMT) are retained, but the exemption amounts are increased (Code Secs. 53, and 55-59). More specifically, the exemption amounts increase to $109,400 for joint filers, $54,700 for married filing separately, and $70,300 for other filers. The phase-out threshold for the exemption increases to $1 million for joint filers and $500,000 for other filers; phase-out amounts are indexed for inflation after 2018. Also, the current 10%-of-AGI threshold for medical expenses deductible for AMT purposes is decreased to the 7.5%-of-adjusted-gross-income (AGI) threshold for 2017 and 2018.
The personal and dependency exemptions are repealed, while the deduction for student interest that had been slated for repeal has been retained. Other changes to deductions include:
Above-the-Line Deductions
The alimony deduction is eliminated, but this repeal only applies for payments under agreements entered into or substantially changed after 2018 (Code Sec. 71). This means that recipients of alimony under agreements entered into or substantially changed after 2018 will not be taxed on the payments they receive. The deduction for moving expenses is also repealed, except for members of the military (Code Sec. 217). A deduction for legal fees and court costs in whistleblower cases can be deducted from gross income.
The standard deduction increases to $24,000 for joint filers, $18,000 for heads of households, and $12,000 for other filers. These amounts are indexed for inflation after 2018. The additional standard deduction amounts for age and blindness have been retained. Currently, about two-thirds of individuals claim the standard deduction. The number of taxpayers who do not itemize their personal deductions is expected to increase when the higher standard deduction amounts are implemented.
Many of the itemized deduction rules have changed:
• The medical deduction is retained, with the 7.5%-of-AGI floor retained for all taxpayers for 2017 and 2018 (Code Sec. 213). After 2018, the threshold returns to 10%-of-AGI.
• The cap for deducting mortgage interest for buying or building a home is reduced from the current $1 million cap to $750,000; no interest is deductible for home equity debt (Code Sec. 163(h)).
• The deduction for state and local income, property, and sales taxes is capped at $10,000 (Code Sec. 164). This so-called SALT deduction, which stands for state and local taxes, is a substantial reduction from the former rule allowing all property taxes, plus all state and local income or sales taxes, to be claimed as an itemized deduction. Prepaying 2018 state and local income taxes in 2017 does not help; no deduction in 2017 is allowed for such prepayment.
• The percentage of AGI for charitable contributions is increased from 50% to 60% for cash donations, but no deduction is allowed for donations in exchange for college athletic event seating rights (Code Sec. 170). The cents-per-mile rate for driving for charitable purposes has not been changed; it remains at 14 cents per mile.
• The casualty loss deduction is repealed, except for losses in federally-declared disasters (Code Sec. 165). Miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to the 2%-of-AGI floor, such as unreimbursed employee business expenses and tax preparation fees, are repealed (Code Secs. 61, 67, and 212)).
• The phase-out of itemized deductions for high-income taxpayers is also repealed.
Despite various proposals in the House bill, the final measure retained most current tax credits, including the child and dependent care credit, the credit for the elderly and permanently disabled, and the credit for plug-in electric drive motor vehicles. However, some credit changes were made:
The amount of the credit increases to $2,000 per qualifying child (up from $1,000) (Code Sec. 24). The refundable portion of the credit increases to $1,400. There is a nonrefundable $500 credit for a qualifying dependent other than a qualifying child that applies through 2025. The AGI phase-out for the child tax credit increases substantially, but is not indexed for inflation.
There are some modifications to the earned income tax credit (Code Sec. 32). The credit for nonbusiness energy property for installing insulation, storm windows, etc., which expired at the end of 2016, has not been extended.
The new law contains various other tax rules of note, including:
Individual Mandate
The shared responsibility payment for individual mandate, which is a penalty for not having required minimum essential health coverage and no exemption from the mandate, is repealed (Code Sec. 5000A). However, this change does not take effect until 2019. Thus, it continues to apply for 2017 and 2018. No changes have been made in the premium tax credit for those who choose to buy health coverage from a government Marketplace.
Roth IRA Conversions
The ability to unwind a Roth IRA conversion by recharacterizing it as an IRA by October 15th can no longer be done (Code Sec. 408A). This means that conversions are permanent.
The use of these plans is expanded in two ways:
• Tax-free distributions up to $10,000 can be made for tuition at elementary and secondary schools, whether public, private, or religious (Code Sec. 529).
• Rollovers of funds from 529 plans to ABLE accounts—special savings accounts for the benefit of a qualified disabled individual—can be made on a tax-free basis (Code Secs 529 and 529A).
There had been proposals to change the rules for excluding gain on the sale of a principal residence (Code Sec. 121). The proposals were not included in the final measure.
Estate and Gift Taxes
These transfer taxes are retained but the exemption amount is increased substantially. The $5 million exemption doubles to $10 million (Code Secs. 2001 and 2010). The $10 million amount is indexed for inflation after 2011, making it more than $11 million for 2018. For a couple, this means estates can be transferred tax free up to $22 million.
Death of an Employee: Tax Ramifications
Friday, 01 December 2017 12:22
When an employee dies, family members, co-workers and others may experience profound loss. For the family and the company, there are important tax considerations that arise. Here are some of the issues of note.
If a deceased employee was a participant in a company’s qualified retirement plan, benefits are paid to the designated beneficiary. This is usually a surviving spouse if there is one. If an employee had wanted benefits to be payable to someone other than a surviving spouse, the surviving spouse would have had to consent in writing to this arrangement (Code Secs. 401(a)(11)(F) and 417(a)). The plan administrator should have a record of who was designated as the beneficiary or what happens if there is no such beneficiary (e.g., the beneficiary predeceased the employee).
The person inheriting retirement benefits is not immediately taxed on the inheritance (Code 102). However, when benefits are distributed to the beneficiary, they become taxable to the same extent that they would have been taxable to the employee.
A surviving spouse can roll over the benefits to his/her own account. This allows the surviving spouse to name his/her own beneficiary and to postpone required minimum distributions until age 70½.
A non-spouse beneficiary may direct the trustee of the plan to transfer inherited funds directly to an IRA set up for this purpose. The account should be titled: [Beneficiary’s name], a beneficiary of [employee’s name]. While the non-spouse beneficiary must take distributions over his/her life expectancy (Table I in the appendices to IRS Publication 590-B), this avoids an immediate distribution of the entire inheritance. Generally, distributions must begin by the end of the year following the year of death. However, under a five-year rule, no distributions are required until the end of the fifth year following the year of death, at which time the entire account must be withdrawn.
If the deceased employee’s estate paid federal estate tax, then a beneficiary can claim a miscellaneous itemized deduction for the portion of this tax when benefits are included in his/her income (Code Sec. 691(c)). It is not subject to the 2%-of-adjusted-gross-income floor that applies to most miscellaneous itemized deductions; it is subject to the phase-out for high-income taxpayers.
COBRA Coverage
Under federal law, if the employer has 20 or more full- and part-time employees for at least half of the business days during the previous year and has a group health plan, COBRA coverage (a continuation of the company health plan) must be offered to a surviving spouse and a dependent child (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985). A number of states have “mini-COBRA,” which requires the offer of continuing coverage by smaller firms.
The employer must notify the qualifying beneficiary (spouse/dependent child) within 14 days the plan received notice of the qualifying event (the death of the covered employee) about COBRA. This notice of election must spell out what it means and how to make it. What it means is that the qualifying beneficiary can continue the same or reduced coverage for up to 36 months. This election is voluntary, so if the spouse has access to better or less costly coverage elsewhere (e.g., through the Medicare for the spouse; through the children’s health insurance program [CHIP] for the child), making the election may not be advisable. The qualifying beneficiary must pay the cost of coverage, plus an administrative fee up to 2% (unless the company voluntarily pays for some or all of this coverage).
COBRA does not apply to:
• Health savings accounts (HSAs) (discussed later), even though coverage under a company’s high-deductible health plan (HDHP) is subject to COBRA
• Disability insurance for short-term or long-term disability
• Long-term care insurance
Insurance on the life of an employee is payable at death to the beneficiary of the policy. Depending on the type of coverage, this may be the surviving spouse, the company, or anyone else. As a general rule, the receipt of insurance proceeds payable on account of the death of the insured is tax-free (Code Sec. 101).
Group-term life insurance. Typically proceeds are payable to the surviving spouse or the employee’s child. If the employee has not designated a beneficiary, proceeds are payable according to state law. In order of precedence, this is usually a current spouse, but if there is none, then to children or descendants. If none, then to parents, and then to the employee’s estate.
Key person insurance. This is coverage owned by the company and is designed to provide a financial backstop needed during a replacement period for the deceased employee.
Insurance under buy-sell agreements. If the deceased employee is an owner and there is a buy-sell agreement that has been funded by life insurance, the proceeds are paid out to the company if the company owned the policy (an entity purchase buy-sell agreement), or to co-owners if they owned the policy (a cross purchase buy-sell agreement).
If an employee dies because of a work-related injury or illness, a death benefit is payable to eligible dependents (usually a surviving spouse and minor children, but to others if there is no spouse or minor child). The receipt of these benefits is tax-free (Code Sec. 104(a)(1)).
The amount of the benefit varies from state to state. For example, in New York the death benefit is two-thirds of the deceased spouse’s average weekly wage for the year before the accident (but not more than a maximum amount adjusted annually), or less if there is no surviving spouse, children, grandchildren, grandparents, siblings, parents, or grandparents. In addition, there may be a payment for funeral expenses.
When there is a work-related death covered by workers’ compensation, this usually becomes the sole remedy against the employer. However, an action against the employer may not be barred in some situations (e.g., death because of toxic substances, defective products, intentional actions by the employer).
FSAs
If the deceased employee had been contributing to a flexible spending account for health care or dependent care costs, contributions cease at death. The executor can continue to submit claims for reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred before death; these reimbursements are tax-free. The plan administrator can provide details about the deadline for these submissions.
Restricted Stock and Stock Options
What happens to restricted stock and stock options when an employee dies varies greatly from company to company. Unvested grants may vest upon death. For example, the terms of a stock option plan may immediately vest any unvested grant, allowing the estate of the deceased employee to exercise the options within a set period.
Nonqualified stock options become part of the deceased employee’s estate. If the executor exercises them, income is taxable to the estate (Form 1099-MISC is issued to the estate). There is no withholding required. Similarly, any restricted stock released to the estate becomes taxable to it (assuming that the employee did not make a Sec. 83(b) election); there is no withholding required.
In addition to what the law requires, some companies may offer families of deceased employees special benefits. For example, Google pays 50% of a deceased employee’s salary to a surviving spouse or domestic partner for 10 years (http://money.cnn.com/2012/08/09/technology/google-death-benefits/index.html). The company also pays each dependent child a monthly amount until age 19, or 23 if a full-time student.
Families must present death certificates to the company in order to receive any employment-related benefits on behalf of the deceased employee. They should also work with the company to undo other entanglements, such as company credit cards and company vehicles.
Charitable Contributions for High-Income Taxpayers
The government views those with income of $200,000 or more as “high-income taxpayers,” and charitable contributions are a popular write-off for this group of individuals. For 2015 (the most recent year for which statistics are available), the average charitable contribution deduction for those with adjusted gross income (AGI) of $200,000 to under $250,000 was $11,370. For those with AGI of $250,000 or more, the average deduction was $16,580. In this period of tax uncertainty resulting from Congressional goals of tax reform, what can high-income taxpayers do to maximize their tax-advantaged giving opportunities?
Tax Rules for Charitable Contributions
High-income taxpayers should understand the basic charitable contribution rules for federal income tax purposes, which are fairly straightforward (Code Sec. 170):
• A taxpayer must itemize deductions. No above-the-line deduction for non-itemizers is allowed.
• Donations must go to an IRS-recognized charity, which can be found in Publication 78 online (https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/organizations-eligible-to-receive-tax-deductible-charitable-contributions).
• A taxpayer must follow substantiation rules, with may include obtaining written acknowledgments from the charity and qualified appraisals from outside appraisers.
• Cash donations are limited to 50% of adjusted gross income. Donations of appreciated property usually are limited to 30% of AGI (with the exception of donations of conservation easements explained later). Deductions in excess of these limits can be carried forward for up to five years.
• The deduction for charitable contributions is subject to the phase-out of itemized deductions for high-income taxpayers. This means that the tax write-off for contributions can be reduced by as much as 80%.
Conservation easements are a type of special arrangement to let taxpayers have their cake and eat it too. Property owners can give away interests, take a tax deduction, and continue to enjoy the property.
To be deductible, the donation must be a contribution of a qualified real property interest (i.e., a restriction granted in perpetuity on the use which may be made of the real property) to a qualified organization exclusively for conservation purposes (Code Sec. 170(h) and Reg. §1.170A-14). The types of conservation contributions include:
• Preservation of land areas for outdoor recreation by, or the education of, the general public.
• Protection of a relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants, or similar ecosystem.
• Preservation of open space (including farmland and forest land).
• Preservation of a historically important land area or a certified historic structure (such as a building façade).
Donations of conservation easements are limited to 50%of AGI minus the deduction for other charitable contributions. Any excess amount can be carried forward for up to 15 years. For donations by farmers and ranchers, the AGI limit is 100%, rather than the usual 50%, with the same 15-year carryover.
However, the IRS has made syndicated conservation easements a reportable transaction that must be disclosed on a taxpayer’s return and may invite IRS scrutiny (Notice 2017-10, IRB 2017-4, 544). For more details about conservation easements in general, see the IRS’s Conservation Easement Audit Technique Guide (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/conservation_easement.pdf).
An IRA owner who is at least age 70½ has an additional way to give to charity. They can make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) of up to $100,000 annually from the IRA (Code Sec. 408(d)(8)). The distribution is not taxed, and can be counted toward a required minimum distribution (RMD). But no charitable contribution deduction can be taken; no double tax break is allowed.
QCDs are restricted to regular IRAs. They cannot be made from IRA-type accounts, such as SEP-IRAs or SIMPLE-IRAs.
A donor-advised fund is a fund or account in which a donor can advise but not dictate how to distribute or invest amounts held in the fund (Code Sec. 170(f)(18)). Usually, a taxpayer giving cash or property to a donor-advised fund can take an immediate tax deduction even though the funds have not yet been disbursed to a charity.
Donor-advised funds from some major brokerage firms and mutual funds have minimum contribution amounts and fees.
Business Donations
High-income taxpayers may own businesses that can make donations.
• For C corporations, donations are limited to 10% of taxable income.
• For owners of pass-through entities, their share of the businesses’ donations is reported on their personal returns.
Usually, donations of inventory are deductible to the extent of the lesser of the fair market value on the date of the contribution or its basis (typically cost). If the cost of donated inventory is not included in your opening inventory, the inventory's basis is zero so no deduction can be claimed. However, businesses that donate inventory for the care of the ill, the needy, or infants, an enhanced deduction is allowed (Code Sec. 170(e)(3)).
Leave-based donation programs. Companies may have programs that enable employees to donate their unused personal, sick, or vacation days, with this time used by other employees in medical emergencies or disasters. Donated leave time is taxable compensation to the donors, subject to payroll taxes. Employees cannot take any charitable contribution for their donations.
A special rule applies for donations to benefit victims of Hurricane Harvey. The IRS has guidance (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-17-48.pdf) on the tax treatment of these leave-based donation programs. Employees are not taxed on their donations for this purpose, and no employment taxes are owed on employee contributions for this purpose. Employer can then donate the amount of these donations to a charity providing relief to victims of Hurricane Harvey and claim a tax deduction for this action. Employer donations to tax-exempt organizations must be made before January 1, 2019.
Other Rules
There are many variations on charitable giving, each with special tax ramifications. Some examples:
• Donations of appreciated property held more than one year are deductible at the property’s fair market value on the date of the contribution. Potential capital gain is never recognized.
• Donations can be arranged through special trusts, such as charitable remainder trusts. The donor (and spouse) can enjoy the property for life (or a term of years), with the remainder passed to a named charity. The donor can take a current deduction for the present value of the remainder interest. Another trust option is the charitable lead trust.
• Wealthy individuals can set up their own private foundations to further their philanthropic goals. Special tax rules apply to these foundations.
Year-End Tax Planning
At present, it is uncertain whether there will be any changes in the rules for charitable contributions and, if so, when they will become effective. Likely, the charitable contribution rules for 2017 will be unchanged. However, a decline in tax rates would mean that tax value of donations would be reduced. For example, a $1,000 donation for someone in the 39.6% tax bracket saves nearly $400 in federal income taxes. If the rate for the same taxpayer declines to 25%, the savings would be only $250.
While high-income taxpayers may continue to be generous donors, regardless of tax breaks for giving, thought should be given now to making donations before the end of the year. Review charitable giving to year-to-date and project the tax savings for additional gifts that can be made by December 31, 2017. Allow sufficient time when making donations that require qualified appraisals and legal documentation.
Key Tax Laws by Birthday
Many of the tax rules for individual taxpayers depend on age. Attaining a birthday may entitle an individual to a special tax break or end entitlement to another. Here is a rundown of key birthdays and what they mean for federal income taxes. It should be noted that some apply on the date of the birthday, some rules apply when the birthday is achieved as of the close of the taxable year, and some apply with respect to the half-year birthday.
The dependent care credit can be claimed for a child who has not attained age 13 (Code Sec. 21(b)(1)(A)). This means that expenses up to this birthday can be taken into account for the year in which this birthday occurs.
Age, however, is disregarded if the child is a dependent who is physically or mentally incapable of self care (Code Sec. 21(b) (1)(B)).
A tax credit of up to $1,000 can be claimed for a child under the age of 17 (Code Sec. 24(c)(1)). If they turn 17 during the year, no credit is allowed for that year; the credit is not prorated for this purpose. There is no age exception for a disabled child (Polsky, CA-3, USTC ¶ 50,506).
A contribution of up to $2,000 can be made annually to a Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA) until a child attains age 18 (Code Sec. 530(b)(1)(A)(ii)). However, a contribution can be made until the birthday. For example, if a child becomes 18 years old on May 1, 2017, a contribution of up to $2,000 can be made for 2017 until April 30, 2017. The contribution amount does not have to be prorated for the portion of the year in which the child was under age 18.
Ages 19 and 24
For purposes of treating a child as a qualifying child for the dependency exemption, these two birthdays come into play (Code Sec. 152(c)(1)(C)). A child can be a qualifying child if younger than the taxpayer claiming the exemption and is under age 19. A child can continue to be a qualifying child up to the age of 24 if he/she is a full-time student and younger than the taxpayer.
However, a parent may still claim a dependency exemption for a child who does not meet the definition of a qualifying child if the child can be treated as a qualifying relative (Code Sec. 152(d)). Thus, if a parent is supporting a child who is 32 years old in the parent’s home, a dependency exemption can be claimed as long as the child’s gross income is not more than a set amount ($4,050 in 2017) and other requirements are met.
Ages 19 and 24 are also key birthdays for the kiddie tax (Code Sec. 1(g)). Once this age is obtained, all of a child’s unearned income is taxed only at the child’s rates rather than the parent’s top tax rates.
Under the Affordable Care Act, a child can remain on his/her parent’s insurance policy until the age of 26. This is so whether the child is a dependent or even lives with the parent. However, once the child attains age 26, this coverage is no longer permissible.
When a beneficiary in a Coverdell ESA attains age 30, the account must be distributed to him or her within 30 days of this birthday (Code Sec. 530(b)(1)(E)). Even if there is no actual distribution, it is deemed to occur on this date. Earnings in the account become taxable at this time.
However, the deemed distribution rule does not apply if the beneficiary has special needs. Also a deemed distribution can be avoided by changing the beneficiary of the account to a “member of the family” (as defined in Code Sec. 529(e)(2), such as the beneficiary’s child, sibling.
Individuals with compensation from a job or selfemployment can make a “catch-up” contribution to certain qualified retirement plans and IRAs (including Roth IRAs). These additional contributions are permitted to enable workers to maximize retirement savings. Despite the term “catch up” for those age 50 and older, there is no relationship to prior contributions or the absence of such contributions.
For 2017, the additional catch-up amounts (Notice 2016-62):
• 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans: $6,000
• SIMPLE IRAs: $3,000
• IRAs and Roth IRAs: $1,000
The 10% early distribution penalty on distributions from qualified retirement plans prior to age 59 ½ does not apply if distributions are made because of separation from service after age 55 (Code Sec. 72(t)(2)(A)(v)).
As in the case of retirement plans and IRAs, additional contributions based on age can be made to health savings accounts (HSAs) beginning at age 55. The additional contribution is $1,000. This amount is fixed by law; it is not indexed for inflation.
Age 59½
The 10% early distribution penalty on distributions from qualified retirement plans and IRAs does not apply after attaining age 59 ½ (Code Sec. 72(t)(2)(A)(i)).
An individual who uses the standard deduction can claim an additional amount for age (Code Sec. 63(f)). For 2017, the additional standard deduction amount is $1,550 for singles and $1,250 for joint filers (for each spouse age 65 and older).This applies to someone who attains age 65 before the close of the taxable year. It also applies to anyone with a January 1 birthday; he or she is deemed to have reached age 65 in the previous year. For example, a person who attains age 65 on January 1, 2018, can claim the additional standard deduction on a 2017 income tax return.
This age also impacts the threshold for filing an income tax return (Code Sec. 6012(a)(1)(B)). More specifically, the gross income threshold is increased by the additional standard deduction amount.
Age 65 is also the age when distributions from HSAs can be taken penalty free for nonmedical expenses. However, these distributions are still subject to income tax.
Becoming 70½ years old bars any further contributions to an IRA (Code Sec. 219(d)(1)). No contribution is allowed if this age is attained by the end of the year. This contribution limit applies even though the individual continues to work. However, contributions to a SEP and a SIMPLE-IRA, which are IRA-based retirement plans, continue past this age, even though required minimum distributions simultaneously start at this time, explained next.
Attaining age 70½ triggers the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules for qualified retirement plans and IRAs. Owners of these accounts must begin their RMDs by the end of year in which this age is reached. For example, an individual’s 70th birthday is March 1, 2017. She reaches age 70½ in 2017, so her first RMD is due by December 31, 2017. If her birthday had been July 1, she would not attain age 70½ until 2018 and her first RMD would be due by December 31, 2018.
The failure to take an RMD can trigger a 50% penalty (Code Sec. 4974(a)). However, the RMD can be delayed in some circumstances:
• The first RMD is treated as timely if taken by April 1 following the year in which the taxpayer attains age 70½. In the earlier example, she would not have a penalty if her first RMD were taken by April 1, 2018. However, in any event, the second RMD is December 31, 2018.
• An individual who is still working for a company with a qualified plan may postpone RMDs until actual retirement if the plan permits it. However, this delay does not apply to anyone who is a more-than-5% owner of the company. And it does not apply to IRAs and IRA-based plans (e.g., SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs, and SARSEPs).
There are no lifetime RMDs for the owner of a Roth IRA.
Attorneys are used to working with tickler systems and calendars to ensure that key deadlines for certain actions are timely met. The same methods should be used to ensure that age-related tax rules are observed.
Tax Advantages for Working Children
Tax Issues of Long-Term Care
Tax Consideration of Identity Theft
Tax Aspects of Disasters
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Potential Pitfalls of Boilerplate Agency Claims: Non-Signatory Agents Compel Arbitration
Camilo Artiga-Purcell
The general rule is that only a party to an arbitration agreement is bound by or may enforce the agreement. Cal. Code Civ. Proc § 1281.2; Jones v. Jacobson (2011) 195 Cal.App.4th 1, 17. In other words, barring an exception to the general rule, non-signatories cannot invoke an agreement to arbitrate. In a March 2012 decision, the Fourth District Court of Appeal held “[o]ne such exception provides that when a plaintiff alleges a defendant acted as an agent of a party to an arbitration agreement, the defendant may enforce the agreement even though the defendant is not a party thereto.” Thomas v. Westlake (2012) 2012 Cal.App. LEXIS 339, 13.
II. BACKGROUND FACTS
In Thomas, Katherine Thomas (“Investor”) signed multiple agreements with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (“AFSI”) in connection with three investment accounts, e.g., Brokerage Client and Client Service Agreements. Each agreement contained an arbitration clause requiring that all disputes be settled by arbitration.
After Investor’s death, Investor’s successor in interest (“Plaintiff”) sued AFSI and multiple non-signatory defendants, alleging “defendants conspired to ‘churn’ [Investor’s] investment accounts by inducing her to make unsuitable investments that increased defendants’ commissions and profits and substantially reduced the value of the accounts.” Id. at 5. In his Complaint, Plaintiff inserted boilerplate agency language:
At all times relevant herein, Defendants, and each of them, acted as an agent of each other Defendant in connection with the acts and omissions alleged herein.
Defendants were acting as the actual or ostensible agents of the other Defendants.
Id. at 13.
III. ANALYSIS
The Fourth District Court of Appeal acknowledged the general rule that “only a party to an arbitration agreement is bound by or may enforce the agreement.” Id. at 11. In Thomas, only Investor and AFSI were parties to the applicable agreements containing arbitration clauses. Notwithstanding, applying the exception to the general rule, the Court ruled that “as alleged agents of parties to the agreements containing arbitration clauses, AFI, Westlake, WGG, IDS and RiverSource [the non-signatory Defendants] are also entitled to compel arbitration of [Plaintiff’s] claims against them.” Id. at 13. The Court reasoned it would be unfair to allow Plaintiff to avail himself of agency principles when they worked to his advantage, but to disavow those same principles when they worked against him. Id. at 16.
In the wake of AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion (2011) 131 S. Ct. 1740, California courts are paying more deference to arbitration clauses, reading them more broadly to the detriment of the Plaintiffs’ Bar. In this context, it is imperative that counsel investigate the existence and content of any agreements to determine whether an arbitration clause applies to potential Plaintiff clients before filing the complaint. The results of such investigation will impact who is sued and whether and how agency allegations are worded.
In Thomas, Plaintiff’s case was removed from State Court to arbitration merely by Plaintiff’s insertion of boilerplate agency language. In light of Thomas, always assess the efficacy of agency claims in the complaint, particularly where Plaintiff asserts breach of contract claims, and where Plaintiff has entered into a contract with any potential Defendant containing an arbitration clause.
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Giovanni Hidalgo
Drummer / Percussionist
CONGA CLINIC
Educator, percussionist and conguero extraordinaire, Giovanni Hidalgo (a.k.a. "Mañenguito") was born on November 22, 1963 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Giovanni has worked with a diverse group of artists including Bola Abimbola, Sikiru Adepoju, Art Blakey, Muruga Booker, Jack Bruce, Don Byron, Michel Camilo, Dizzy Gillespie, Sammy Hagar, Kip Hanrahan, Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Cassius Khan, Charlie Palmieri, Phish, Tito Puente, Hilton Ruiz, Paul Simon, and D'angelo.
As an educator, Hidalgo accepted an adjunct professor position at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he taught numerous types of Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican and African rhythms. He held his position at Berklee from 1992 to 1996.
Hidalgo received a Grammy Award (1991) in the category of World Music (the first year the category existed) for his role on Mickey Hart's Planet Drum. He also performed on the 1993 Arturo Sandoval album Danzon (Dance On) which won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Performance, and received Grammy nominations in the same category for the albums Hands of Rhythm in 1997 and The Body Acoustic in 2005. In 2009 he collaborated with Hart again as part of the Global Drum Project, whose title album won the world music Grammy that year.
Hidalgo endorses LP Percussion products and continues to perform with various artists/groups around the globe.
Subscribe to the Drummer Cafe ~ Premium Resources to watch Giovanni Hidalgo's complete one-hour percussion clinic & performance, recorded in Nashville on October 17, 2011.
On January 12, 1998 Giovanni Hidalgo met up with Martin Cohen at Robby Ameen's apartment on West 52nd Street in NYC to discuss Giovanni's music career and make some serious noise with Paoli Mejies, Javier Oquendo and Sammy Figuerroa.
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Three Threats to Reproductive Freedom
I have been an advocate for reproductive rights since I was an undergraduate student at the University of Connecticut. However, I truly gained clarity about the importance of women's reproductive freedom when I was a Peace Corps volunteer working with a women's group in a small rural town on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It happened on my first day working with the group of about 12 women in a bakery which was begun to provide the women with economic opportunity. Once we got started baking in the small open-air, rustic building with a beautiful round stone oven, the very first question I was asked was very simple "How do you keep from getting pregnant?".
I was instantly able to see clearly that the way women answer that question for themselves determines their life's journey. I was a woman in her early 20s with the freedom to travel the world and almost every one of the women in front of me had become mothers of multiple children before the age of 20. Their lives, their families and their economic opportunities were entirely shaped by their reproductive lives. It was urgent for them to ask the gringa for useful information to prevent and plan future pregnancies.
History shows that when there is no access to contraception women will have unintended pregnancies, which is what my bakers were trying to avoid. Access to contraception and abortion are interwoven issues for women all over the world including here in Rhode Island. When there is no access to contraception, women who do not want to or who cannot carry a pregnancy to term are compelled to seek any means available to terminate their pregnancies. When abortion is not safe, legal and available, women - disproportionately young and poor women - will die and suffer severe injury or infertility from illegal and unsafe abortion procedures and methods. Rhode Island women are no different than the women I baked with in Costa Rica, we need information and access to reproductive health services.
In the state of RI General Assembly, at the US Department of Health and Human Services and at the Supreme Court, women's reproductive rights are at risk today. This is a significant public health concern and impacts our families, our communities and our economy. We need to work together to support a system that trusts women with their bodies and their health choices.
Reproductive Health Care Act (RHCA)
Rhode Island's General Assembly missed the opportunity to codify women's reproductive rights into law with the passage of the Reproductive Health Care Act (RHCA), introduced in 2017 and 2018 in its current form, but essentially similar to bills introduced over the past 25 years. In 2018 the House Bill (H7340) had 29 co-sponsors - just shy of 40% of the House of Representatives - yet it was still not brought to the floor for a vote. Representative Jason Knight was the sole legislator who did not agree to hold the bill for further study as is the well-known method for keeping bills from getting to a vote. The Senate Bill (S2163) was co-sponsored by 9 Senators (including Barrington's own Senator Cindy Coyne), and that bill was also not brought to the floor for a vote. The majority of Rhode Islanders support women's access to safe and legal abortion services. Should Roe V. Wade be overturned by the Supreme Court, which is looking more and more likely with the appointment of Justice Neil Gorsuch and the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Rhode Island women, especially young women and women in poverty, will bear the burden of this substandard health policy that denies women comprehensive reproductive health services.
Proposed Changes to Title X
In June, the current administration proposed changes to Title X, the federal grant program from the US Department of Health and Human Services. This grant provides funding for family planning services to low-income women, preventing unplanned pregnancies and reducing funds needed for other federal services. The proposal sends a clear message that the administration does not trust women, especially young women and women in poverty, with their own health and their own bodies. Instead, it demonstrates that it supports regressive ideas by eliminating women's access to health services, including contraception, that support their privacy and bodily autonomy while shifting support to agencies and providers who will not provide comprehensive options for women's reproductive health services. The article 'More Than a Gag Rule' Atlantic, June 4, 2018, about a Title X grantee in Texas, is a helpful illustration of what will happen to basic family planning services for the poor as a result of the proposed changes. The changes will not only impact services, but will certainly impact the financial viability of health clinics in our communities, destabilize our health care safety net and cause a loss of jobs, not to mention the impact on individual women's economic opportunities and their families due to lack of comprehensive reproductive health care.
Supreme Court Nominee
The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court seat being vacated by the retirement of Justice Kennedy has made clear the administration's priorities when it comes to women's reproductive health. Judge Kavanaugh, in 2017, ruled against an undocumented teenager who sought to have an abortion while in federal detention whose right to the procedure was protected under the constitution. This action, among other court decisions he's made, demonstrate his contempt for women's reproductive rights and should serve as a stark reminder that the President and Judge Kavanaugh are eager to restrict women's rights. More perspective is available on the Supreme Court nominee in this Democracy Now interview with Cecile Richards.
We Must Act
These three examples are a stark reminder that the reproductive rights of women in Rhode Island face significant risk, which translates to women's health and women's lives at risk. Women's reproductive health services should no longer be used as a political tool anywhere. Specifically in Rhode Island, decisions need to be made to provide women the health services they need and to support community health services as viable members of our business community providing vital healthcare. Even a national watchdog group, NARAL Pro-Choice America has given Rhode Island an F rating for it's poor protections of women's reproductive rights.
Let's make change here in Rhode Island by electing legislators in November who will work to pass the RHCA and protect women's reproductive rights. Let's continue to be vigilant about Title X and fight against the undermining of women's health services in our state. Let's speak out and oppose the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Rhode Islanders' lives depend on it.
If elected, I vow to be a champion of the RHCA and I will continue to stand with reproductive health activists, Planned Parenthood and the medical community in supporting safe and legal access to abortion services and access to family planning services here in our state and around the country.
Thanks for reading, sign up for updates from the campaign, and stay tuned for the next post -
Liana
Starting the Discussion
When we were young, most of us heard that you should avoid talking about politics and religion in polite company. I believe the days of staying silent about the things we care about are over. With respect and an open mind we learn from talking to people and if we're lucky we come to new ideas and new ways to see the world and make it a better place.
This campaign blog is a step to start conversation based on feedback I've been hearing at events and while canvassing in Riverside and Barrington, as well as an effort to touch on some of the many events going on around us. Please check in and read it from time to time as we head into the elections.
At our recent Summer Kick-off event we asked attendees to tell us what the issues are that are influencing their votes in 2018 and to tell us what they would like to see the Rhode Island General Assembly address in 2019. We gave folks a Sharpee and asked them to transcribed their answers and below you can see pictures the original poster boards from the event. I was THRILLED to read what people had to say and I'm grateful to everyone who picked up a pen that night. It helps me to know what is on the mind of voters.
Where you see a * or +1, etc, or (checked), indicates where someone came to write something but wanted to agree with a topic that was already listed. I've done my best to transcribe the posters which you can see below.
What issues are influencing your vote in 2018?
Honesty, Integrity *
Mendacity (against)
GUN SAFETY x5
issues around equality + access
Compassion *
Represent all constituents
Make our state a compassionate and safe place for all
Equity (checked)
Balanced Budgets
Reproductive Justice (x2) and Safe Schools Act (+1+2)
increasing representation of women in office
Protection from federal policies
Candidates who are honest and will speak the truth
Common sense and compassion
What would you like to see the RI General Assembly address in 2019
Progressive Agenda
Reproductive Rights x8
Gun Safety x2, x3, x200 squared
Rights for women and underrepresented citizens x2
Living wage x2
Purity of water supply
Prosecuting sexual abuse cases x2
Pass the Safe Schools Act x2, x3
Raise the age to 21 to buy a long gun x2
Limit capacity -HCMs (high capacity magazines) x2
Protect Reproductive Rights
Assault Weapons Ban x2
Protect ACA x2
Automatic Voter Registration (checked)
Fix the Fair Pay Act
Sexual Harassment Legislation
Some of the issues are concrete and others speak to the culture of governing and how we want our state to function - all are critical conversations for us to have. There may not be time before the September 12th RI Democratic Primary to hit all of the topics in the blog, but all of them are truly relevant and reflect the priorities of many voters I talk to. Let's be sure to talk about politics in polite company and everywhere until we make the world a better place.
DONATE TO LIANA'S CAMPAIGN
Liana Cassar is a candidate for RI House of Representative for District 66, Barrington/Riverside, running in the Democratic Primary on September 12, 2018
PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF LIANA CASSAR
COPYRIGHT 2018 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Location information for Portugal
Portugal is a popular holiday destination. This country in the west of Europe offers beautiful beaches, good accommodations and magnificent nature. Cities like Lisbon and Porto are certainly worth a visit and you can enjoy the delicious Mediterranean kitchen. The sunny climate makes your trip to this country complete.
The first inhabitants of what is now Portugal were Celts and Lusitanians. From 200 BC, the country was inhabited by the Romans, who stayed for about 600 years. After a short Germanic domination, the Islamic Moors took control. The Moorish occupation lasted for centuries.
The kingdom of Portugal emerged in the 12th century. Portugal seceded from Galicia and the country was declared independent by the Burgundian knight Henry. When the knight died, he was succeeded by his son Afonso Henriques. This man became the first official king of Portugal. In 1385, John I became king of the country. He managed to prevent neighboring countries from conquering Portugal. Henry the Navigator was the son of John I. He made many voyages of discovery that were very important for the construction of Portugal's global empire.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal became a major colonial power. At the beginning of the 16th century, Portugal occupied areas in Africa, America and the Middle East. Nevertheless, Philip II of Spain took over control of Portugal in 1580. The Spanish occupation lasted until 1640. The Duke of Bragança organized a coup and assumed the throne as John IV. In 1775, the capital Lisbon was hit by an earthquake that destroyed the city and other parts of the country.
In 1807, Portugal was conquered by Napoleon and his men. With the help of Great Britain Portugal managed to remove the last of the French troops from the country in 1812. Between 1808 and 1821, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil was the capital of Portugal. In 1822, Brazil declared its independence. This returned the position of capital of Portugal to Lisbon.
A century later (1910) the monarchy came to an end. Portugal became a republic, and Teófilo Braga the first president. This period was characterized by political instability. Various governments succeeded each other and no fewer than nine presidents resigned. Shortly after, the First World War started. Economically instable Portugal joined the Allies. During a right wing nationalist revolution in 1926, the republican government was overthrown.
Antonio de Oliveira Salazar was president of Portugal until 1968. His politics were a mixture of Catholic corporatism and fascism. During the Spanish civil war (1936-1939) he supported Franco. During the Second World War, Portugal remained neutral. Later, Portugal was a co-founder of NATO (North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation). Salazar's reign was characterized by colonial wars. Salazar's regime became internationally isolated.
During the 'Carnation Revolution' in 1974, Salazar's right wing leadership was ended. Portugal became a political democracy. Left wing and right wing governments succeeded each other. In 1986, Portugal became a member of the European Union (EU). In the 1990's the country gave its colony Macau back to the Chinese. Since that time, Portugal no longer is a colonial power.
Portugal has over 10 million inhabitants. The country is sparsely populated and it has a negative population growth. Many Portuguese emigrated in the 1960's. In the 1970's Portugal once more became an attractive place to live, and many people returned. At the moment, many Portuguese (about three million) for economic reasons remain in countries like France, Germany, US, Canada and Venezuela. Five percent of the Portuguese population is made up of immigrants. Most immigrants are from Ukraine, Brazil, Cape Verde and Angola. Also, many people are living illegally in Portugal. A large portion of the population lives in the major cities: Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Aveiro and Coimbra.
About 97% of the Portuguese supports the Roman-Catholic church. In addition, there are Protestants, Muslims, Hindus and Jews. Portuguese is the official language. It is spoken throughout the country (apart from some small villages). It is a Romanic language that resembles the Spanish language. Worldwide, more than 160 million people speak Portuguese.
Architecture is characteristic of Portuguese culture. The country's architecture has been influenced by many cultures with which the country has been in touch (especially the Moorish and Roman cultures). This influence is also visible in the Portuguese festivals, music and literature. Portugal is famous for its Fado. This is the Portuguese music. It is a particular way of singing and it plays an important role in the lives of the Portuguese people. Football is the most popular sport in Portugal. In addition, many other sports are practiced. The Portuguese love their festivals and have them in abundance. The Portuguese people are friendly and they are known as hard workers.
Portugal has a parliamentary democracy. The four pillars of Portuguese politics are the president, the parliament, the government and the (high) courts. The constitution guarantees the separation of powers. The government answers to the president and parliament. The president is elected every five years through universal suffrage. Parliament consists of one chamber with 250 members.
The government is formed by the PS. This is a socialist party. Anibal Cavaco Silva has been the president of Portugal since 2006. He is a member of the PSD; a conservative party. Both the PS and the PSD are market-oriented and in favor of European unification. Since 2005, José Socrates is the prime minister. The prime minister is appointed by the president.
Generally speaking, the Portuguese have a positive attitude towards Europe. Although abortion is currently illegal, it will be discussed again in the near future. Gay rights are improving. Since 1976 women are allowed to vote as well.
Portugal has a market economy. Membership of the European Union in 1986 has benefited the Portuguese economy. Unemployment has fallen and the country has the fastest growing economy in the European Union. However, Portugal has a negative trade balance and inflation is high. It is the goal of the present government to implement market liberalization and privatization and reduce bureaucracy. This should improve Portugal's competitive position.
The service sector is very important to the Portuguese economy. A part of this is tourism. Every year, 10 to 20 million tourists visit the country. A disadvantage of this is that the economy may come to depend on tourism. The industrial sector also employs a large part of the professional population. Most companies are small and industry has not developed as far in Portugal as it has in many other European countries. Important industries are textiles, shipping, fish canning, wine and petrochemical industry. Important trade partners of Portugal are, among others, the US, Spain and Germany. The country exports wine, textile, clothing, canned fish and cork (Portugal controls 50% of the world's cork market). Important import products are oil, machines, iron and steel.
Agriculture also plays a role in the economy. Thanks to the financial support from the EU, Portugal is able to modernize its agricultural sector and increase production. Agriculture and viniculture yield products like olive oil, wine, wheat and corn. Especially Port wine is exported. Fishery is also an important element in the country's food supply. Mining yields hardly any raw materials.
Portugal is located at the western tip of Europe. Together with Spain it makes up the Iberian Peninsula. In the north and east Portugal borders on Spain, and in the south and west it touches the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal covers a surface of more than 92,000 square kilometers. Its coastline is more than 950 kilometers long (including the islands). The coastline is characterized by beautiful beaches, dune formations and rocks. Especially the Algarve (the southern coastal strip) is known for this.
The Azores and Madeira are part of Portugal. These islands are situated in the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the islands have active volcanoes. Portugal is divided in half by the Tagus River (Tejo). The landscape in the north is mountainous. The south consists predominantly of hilly landscapes (apart from the coastal areas). The highest point of the country is on the island of Pico. The mountain top 'Ponta do Pico' is no less than 2,351 meters high. Next to the Tagus, the Douro is also a large river. Other rivers are Guadiana, Minho, Mondego and Sado. The capital of Portugal is Lisbon, which has almost three million inhabitants. Other important cities are Porto, Amadora, Braga, Coimbra and Funchal.
The largest part of Portugal has a Mediterranean climate. In the summer it is hot and dry and in the winter it is cool and rainy. The Algarve has over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. In the south of Portugal there is a warmer, drier climate than in the north. The average temperature on the mainland is 15 degrees Centigrade in the north and 18 in the south. This makes Portugal one of the warmest countries in Europe. August is the warmest month, and inland temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees Centigrade.
Increasing drought is a climatological problem facing the country. The increasing drought often leads to forest fires in the summer.
The number of cars and the industrialization have increased tremendously in recent years. In the area of transport, many improvements have been made since 1990. The road network measures almost 70,000 kilometers and is in good condition. Especially the roads between the big cities are maintained well. The people drive on the right side of the road. Speed limits are indicated in kilometers. Public transport is to a large extent in the hands of the state company Rodoviária Nacional (RN). In addition, services are also being offered by private companies. Especially in major cities, public transport is extensive.
The length of the railway network is about 2,850 km. Traveling by train is not very expensive. The national railway company (CP) has three kinds of services. There are trains that stop almost anywhere (Regional) and trains that only stop in the major cities (Intercidade). Between Lisbon and Porto there is an express train (Rapido). Lisbon and Porto also have a good metro network. Construction of a TGV train between Porto, Lisbon and Madrid (Spain) has been planned for 2008.
The most important airports are in Lisbon (Lisbon Portela Airport), Faro (Faro Airport) and Porto (Porto Airport). The latter two airports have recently been improved. The most important airports on the Portuguese islands are the airports of Madeira (Madeira Airport), Porto Santo (Porto Santo Airport) and Ponta Delgada (Ponta Delgada Airport).
Sea ports are of great importance to Portugal. Many goods are transported by sea. The two main ports are Lisbon and Porto. From Lisbon, every 15 minutes there is a ferry across the Tagus to the suburb of Cacilhas.
Portugal is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). It is, therefore, one hour earlier than the European mainland. In spring, the clock is put ahead one hour.
The Portuguese kitchen is very diverse. There are many Mediterranean dishes. Many dishes are prepared with fresh fish. Crab, lobster, shrimp, but also cheaper species like sardines, are eaten often. The dishes are prepared in various ways. This often depends on the region. A well-known Portuguese dish is bacalhau: dried and salted codfish. Many Portuguese start their meals with soup. The Portuguese kitchen also includes many meat dishes: beef, pork, lamb and chicken. In the north of the country, meat is often stewed in an earthen pot (a pacura). Many dishes are prepared with olive oil. In restaurants it is customary to leave a 10% tip. Officially, tips are included in the bill.
Portugal produces many delicious wines, and it is a popular drink. Especially Port wine is a famous export product, and the Portuguese are proud of this. The wines are made from grapes that are cultivated on the Portuguese slopes. The wines are very good and vary from acceptable to very exclusive. In principle, it is possible to drink Portuguese tap water. Sometimes the water has a chloride taste. In that case you are recommended to buy mineral water. Especially outside of the cities, it is best to drink bottled water.
Portugal is geared towards the millions of tourists that visit the country every year. There are various kinds of accommodations available. There are holiday cottages, guest rooms, hotels, inns and campsites. There are unique campsites among the vineyards, but there are also very large and luxurious family campsites. The accommodations in Portugal are known for their good quality. The Algarve is a popular holiday destination. Here, many tourists enjoy the beautiful beaches, the sun and the sea.
For more information about Portugal, we recommend Google, and the following sources:
Wikipedia, Portugal
Website from the Portuguese Government concerning Investments, Trade and Tourism
Website about tourism in Portugal
All cities in Portugal
EasyTerra Car Rental Portugal compares prices of car rental companies in the following cities:
Angra Heroismo
Alverca Ribatejo
Armacao De Pera
Carnaxide
Corroios
Peso Da Regua
Vale de Lobo
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Wichita church embraces its role in urban ministries
By Melodie Woerman
The Rev. Arland Wallace, left, assists the Rev. Eli Montes on June 1 as she prepares to bless the ministries taking place in the parking lot across the street from St. John’s Episcopal Church in Wichita, Kansas. Photo: Tom Pott
[The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas] For more than 25 years, St. John’s in Wichita, Kansas, has provided sacks of sandwiches every Saturday to people in need. But in recent months, the church has partnered with organizations to serve even more people in new ways. And through it all, the church has maintained a ministry of presence to people who are homeless in downtown Wichita.
Late last year, the church moved its Sandwich Saturdays distribution from an area behind the church to a vacant parking lot across the street to make it easier to hand out its 200 meals. That led Joshua Reed, a nurse practitioner who had developed a model for street medicine, to ask if he could bring his new medical trailer to the parking lot to provide care for people who came to eat, and others. Then, later in the spring, the church was approached by Family Promise, a group that helps homeless families, about using a vacant building the church owns for part of its work.
Together, these efforts have resulted in what the church has labeled “St. John’s Urban Ministries.”
Shirley Orr, St. John’s senior warden, said these partnerships reflect the fact that “we are an urban church serving an urban population.” She said the church wanted to be a better neighbor to the community around it. Those efforts have “radically transformed the congregation,” she said, prompting a more intentional effort to serve those who rely on the shelters and soup kitchens in the neighborhoods around the church. Orr said, “Our hope is that people see that we have a social justice mission and are trying to be the hands of Jesus in the world.”
Medicine for people on the street
That effort rang true with Reed, who grew up attending St. Paul’s in Clay Center, Kansas, before drifting away from the church as a young adult. As a nurse working in a variety of clinics and hospitals, he saw patients arrive with serious complications that could have been avoided if they had access to medical care that didn’t require a phone to make an appointment or a car to get there. He researched best practices for care with those who are homeless and spent time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to see if a model of street medicine could work. He came back to Wichita convinced it could.
While working full time in an area emergency room, he started the ICT Street Team, a registered nonprofit (ICT is the airport code for Wichita). It consists of a trailer with exam tables stocked with everything a health care professional would need to treat the kinds of conditions Reed’s team sees in homeless patients: wound care, lesion removal, and management of chronic illness including COPD and asthma, high blood pressure and diabetes. Donations from pharmaceutical manufacturers allow him to provide antibiotics, insulin and other medications without charge. Meds that need to be kept refrigerated, along with other supplies, are stored in an office space that the church provides.
The trailer also includes equipment to run diagnostic tests, including blood work and EKGs, to better treat patients.
Josh Reed, left, the founder of the ICT Street Team clinic, and other volunteers get ready to see patients outside the mobile medical clinic. Photo: Tom Pott
Reed said the Street Team provides key aspects of care for people living on the streets – availability and consistency. They are in the parking lot across from St. John’s every Wednesday and Saturday morning. When they hand out medicine for high blood pressure, or insulin for diabetics, they ask people to return for follow-up testing. And patients know they will be there.
Jeremy, a 27-year-old man, recently stopped by the mobile clinic because he needed help with his diabetes. He had been hospitalized to try to get his blood sugar levels under control, and while there, he lost his job and with it his health insurance. After being released, he had gone three weeks without insulin, which now costs nearly 10 times what it did five years ago.
When Jeremy stopped by a recent Street Team Saturday clinic, his glucose level was in the 400s, far above the normal of around 100, leaving him feeling tired all the time, even with plenty of sleep. Reed was able to provide insulin and syringes and asked Jeremy to return the following Wednesday to get his blood checked again.
Reed and those who work with him are all volunteers, and the cost of the trailer and other supplies is covered by private donations and partnerships with other organizations.
During most clinic sessions, the Street Team will see as many as 30 patients, with about a quarter of them new each time. On the first Saturday of the month, however, the clinic expands and hands out donated clothing and sleeping bags, while other groups provide breakfast and other items. On those days, they can see more than 60 patients.
Just being there for people
A nurse takes the blood pressure reading for a patient at a clinic run by the ICT Street Team, a partner with St. John’s Church, in Wichita. Photo: Melodie Woerman
St. John’s rector, the Rev. Eli Montes, is present both days of the week that Reed and his team see patients, and the Rev. Arland Wallace, a deacon, joins every Saturday. They visit with folks who stop by, offering bottled water and kind words. People say it makes a difference.
Walter, a tall man with a keen mind and sharp wit, said both the Street Team and St. John’s helped him through a recent medical crisis. He wasn’t feeling well, and Reed’s team discovered his blood pressure was sky high. They sent him to the hospital, where after four days, he was discharged with a prescription. With no money in his pocket, he returned to the parking lot, only to find it wasn’t a day the Street Team had a clinic. He crossed the street, knocked on the church door and was greeted by Montes, known by everyone as “Mother Eli.” She researched the cost to get his prescription filled – $4 – and gave him money to pay for it. But then, Walter said, “We sat and talked. She prayed with me. That was a low moment, but God and the church helped. That renewed my faith. It wasn’t just the $4; we talked. It encouraged me on the right path.”
Shorty, who wears a ball cap and a crucifix, said that Reed’s efforts helped save his life after he got off drugs and alcohol by going cold turkey alone in his shack by the railroad tracks, last winter. He ended up in the hospital where Reed was working, diagnosed with kidney and liver disease. “Josh told me he could help me if I would let him,” Shorty said. With his conditions now stabilized with medications, he said, “God sent them to help and save me.”
He said people on the streets know that “St. John’s has always had a love for us,” noting the annual memorial service in December for people who have died on the streets. But the united efforts with the ICT Street Team have expanded that. “We love them,” Shorty said. “There is love everywhere we go.” One of the Street Team nurses, working with the Wichita Police Homeless Outreach Team and the city’s Housing Authority, was able to get Shorty into an apartment, with rent and utilizes provided for two years.
Montes said the partnership of the medical team and the church has helped to create a sense of community for those seeking help. “What I experience every Saturday is beyond my imagination,” she said. “People feel acknowledged, loved and cared for. They are seen. They aren’t invisible anymore.”
St. John’s presence took a liturgical turn on June 1, one of the large first-Saturday clinic mornings, when Montes formally blessed all those serving and being served in the parking lot.
People line up to get a sack lunch every Saturday in the parking lot across the street from St. John’s. Photo: Melodie Woerman
But St. John’s tends to more than just spiritual well-being. There is a lending library, run by retired teachers Peggy Karr and Marlene Franklin, who seek out donated books and often scour used bookstores to meet requests from those who stop by the table they set out each Saturday. Westerns and science fiction are favorites. The women do this as a labor of love because, according to Karr, “A life without reading is a life without happiness.”
And the partnership with Family Promise soon will result in space to help more people. That agency is renovating an empty building of St. John’s next to the church that it will use to help more homeless families move into sustainable independence. The building will provide services such as adult training and child care, with families heading to partner churches every evening to sleep.
Church is the most important partner
Reed said that St. John’s is the most important partner for the ICT Street Team, surpassing even those who donate or provide free goods. The church’s eagerness to support his street medicine plan made a real difference. “Without them we couldn’t have gotten off the ground so quickly.”
He said that even though Wichita has decriminalized being homeless, there remains a stigma about having homeless people on one’s property. “But homeless people congregate around the church, and they know they won’t be run out,” Reed said. “These are people who sometimes are on drugs or with mental health issues, or prostitutes or drug users, and people who are drinking, and [St. John’s] has taken the high road. The church is very embracing.”
– Melodie Woerman is the Diocese of Kansas’ director of communications.
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Home > (Verborgen) nieuws > Is North Korea a diversion for a US-Jordan invasion of Syria?
Is North Korea a diversion for a US-Jordan invasion of Syria?
Bron: Counterpunch
(Verborgen) nieuws, Politiek, Oorlog, Midden-Oosten, Geografisch
(Counterpunch | Mike Whitney) The United States is not going to launch a preemptive attack on North Korea. The risks far outweigh the rewards and, besides, the US has no intention of getting bogged down in a conflict that doesn’t advance its geopolitical objectives. The saber-rattling is just an attempt to divert attention from the Syria-Jordan border where the US and Jordan are massing troops and equipment for an invasion of Syria. That’s what’s really going on. The Korean fiasco is a smokescreen.
“Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said that his country has information that Jordan is planning to send its troops into southern Syria in cooperation with the United States….’Jordan is not an independent country. Whatever the United States wants, it will happen,’ said Assad.”
— Middle East Monitor
“In the event of a de-facto partition of Syria, the US and its allies will get a strategically important region. It is through Deir Ezzor that the proposed gas pipeline from Qatar is supposed to run….The Deir Ezzor province is also home to Syria’s largest oil deposit, the Al-Omar. …the city and the province are of particular value since the deposits there contain the highly valuable light sweet crude usable in the production of gasoline and diesel fuel.”
— South Front, “The Stronghold of Deir Ezzor; What You Need to Know”
True, the Trump administration is milking the situation for all its worth, but that doesn’t mean that they want a war with the North. That’s not it at all. Washington wants to deploy its controversial THAAD anti-missile system to South Korea, but it needs a pretext to do so. Hence, the ominous threat of an “unstable, nuclear-armed North Korea”, that’s all the justification Washington needed to get its new weapons system deployed. Mission Accomplished.
But the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) isn’t aimed at North Korea, it’s aimed at China, and China knows it which is why it has protested its deployment repeatedly. The US wants to surround China and Russia with military bases and missile systems that are integrated into its broader nuclear weapons system. These lethal systems are a crucial part of Washington’s plan to pivot to Asia and rule the world into the next century. Here’s the rundown from Tass:
“Anti-missile elements that are being deployed around the world are part of a very dangerous global project aimed at securing US’ overall overwhelming superiority to the prejudice of security interests of other states….The US missile defense architecture is tilting the strategic balance of forces in the area of offensive weapons and creates more and more serious risks of global instability.” (“US anti-missile systems in Eastern Europe violate INF Treaty”)
And here’s how Russian President Vladimir Putin summed it up:
“The US is developing an anti-missile defense system which”….when it is operational… “there will be a moment in time when our entire nuclear capability will be neutralized, which means that the entire global balance of power will be overturned.. This means one of the powers will have absolute security and be able to do whatever it likes in regional conflicts. We’re talking about unrivaled power in global conflicts. ..This system forces us to create weapons that can nullify the system asymmetrically.” (Tass)
Is missile defense something the American people should want?
Heck no. Just think of the number of people that Uncle Sam has slaughtered in the last 16 years. Now try to imagine if all the constraints on Washington’s rampaging were removed allowing the US to conduct its bloody war on the world with complete impunity?
No one in their right mind would ever give the Washington crazies that kind of power. It’s a prescription for global annihilation. Besides, absolute security for one country means no security for everyone else.
But deploying the THAAD anti-missile system is just one part of Washington’s North Korea swindle. The fear-mongering is also being used to grease the wheels of the Military Industrial Complex (MIC). Here’s the scoop from The Hill:
“Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) push for a $7.5 billion fund to bulk up the U.S. military’s capabilities in the Asia-Pacific is gaining momentum as tensions with North Korea mount. The commander of U.S. forces in the region threw his support behind the idea this week, “This kind of money can help us bring together our allies and partners,” said Patrick Cronin, senior director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. …The … proposal has gained more visibility amid the intensifying concerns over North Korea and its nuclear program.” (“McCain plan gains momentum amid North Korea threats”, The Hill)
So the MIC lackeys in Congress had already been pushing this latest boondoggle, but they needed a trumped up crisis in North Korea to put them over the finish line. Typically, the process is called “creative advertising”, which means scaring the shit out of the public so you can rip them off. Here’s more from the same article:
“I’d like to thank Chairman McCain and this committee for proposing and supporting the Asia-Pacific Stability Initiative,” Adm. Harry Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said at Thursday’s hearing. “This effort will reassure our regional partners and send a strong signal to potential adversaries of our persistent commitment to the region.”
The weapons manufacturers love sugar-daddy McCain who’s always on-hand with gobs of moolah.
Here’s more: “We can thank North Korea for one thing in this,” said Harry Kazianis, director of defense studies at the Center for the National Interest”. “They’re amplifying the imbalance in the Asia-Pacific.” (The Hill)
Good idea, let’s thank North Korea for this latest windfall for the weapons makers. Why not? Let’s send Kim a nice big valentine from the American taxpayer with John McCain’s name writ large at the bottom.
In any event, Washington’s policy towards North Korea hasn’t changed. All the chest thumping and fireworks are just part of a circus sideshow designed to justify additional defense splurging and missile deployment. At the same time, the media is trying to divert attention from critical developments in the Middle East, particularly the Syria-Jordan border where Washington has rallied its proxy-fighters into a makeshift army that will (likely) invade southern Syria, charge northward to Deir Ezzor, establish a no-fly zone over the occupied territory, and partition the area east of the Euphrates preventing loyalist forces from reestablishing Syria’s sovereign borders. That appears to be the basic game-plan. Check this out from the Middle East Monitor:
“The Syrian regime of President Bashar Al-Assad said that his country has information that Jordan is planning to send its troops into southern Syria in cooperation with the United States…
“We have this information, not only from mass media, but from different sources”…
Speaking to The Washington Post, King Abdullah of Jordan reiterated that a planned joint operation could take place against terrorists. “It is a challenge, but we are ready to face it in cooperation with the US and Britain.” (“Assad accuses Jordan of planning Syria invasion”, Middle East Monitor)
The pretext for the invasion will be to fight ISIS, but the real goal is to seize the eastern part of the country consistent with a plan that was concocted by the Brookings Institute two years ago. After 6 years of covert support for CIA-backed militants on the ground, the Trump administration appears to be leaning towards a more traditional military approach. Here’s more from the LA Times:
“Reports have also emerged of Jordanian and U.S. troops on the section of the Jordanian border opposite southwest Syria, a possible prelude to a campaign in which rebels, supported by Jordanian and coalition forces on the ground, would overrun Islamic State’s pocket in the Yarmouk basin, near southwestern Syria’s borders with Israel and Jordan.” (“How long can Jordan keep walking the Middle East tightrope?”, LA Times)
Naturally, Moscow is concerned about the developments on the Jordanian border. Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov issued a statement saying, “We will pay special attention to the issues most important for us which concern the situation on the Jordan-Syria border.”
Also worrisome, is the fact that US Defense Secretary James “Mad Dog” Mattis has been traveling across the Middle East rallying Washington’s allies in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel. Mattis sees the fighting in Syria as a proxy-war between the US and Iran for influence in the region. This same erroneous view is shared by all of the main powerbrokers in the Trump administration.
“Everywhere there’s trouble in the region, you find Iran,” Mr. Mattis said on a stop in Riyadh, adding that nations in the region are working to “checkmate Iran and the amount of disruption, the amount of instability they cause.”
These latest developments take place just days before the resumption of negotiations in Astana, Kazakhstan (May 3 and 4). Russia, Turkey, Iran and a number of the leaders from the rebel groups will gather to see if they can agree on the terms of a ceasefire and an eventual settlement to the 6 year-long war. The Trump administration’s cruise missile attack on a Syrian airbase in early April has boosted the morale of many of the jihadists militias and is keeping them away from the bargaining table. In other words, Trump’s unexpected escalation has sabotaged Putin’s efforts to resolve the crisis and end the hostilities. The last thing Washington wants in Syria is peace.
A number of reports have confirmed that Trump has handed control of his foreign policy to his Generals, Mattis and McMaster. And while Mattis has shown little interest in getting more deeply involved in the Syrian conflict, McMaster sees Russia as a “hostile revisionist power” that “intimidates our allies, develops nuclear weapons, and uses proxies under the cover of modernized conventional militaries.”
McMaster is a hard-boiled militarist with a driving animus towards Russia. In a speech he delivered at The Center for Strategic and International Studies, McMaster offered this remedy for so called ‘Russian aggression’. He said: “what is required to deter a strong nation that is waging limited war for limited objectives… is forward deterrence, …(is) convincing your enemy that (he) is unable to accomplish his objectives at a reasonable cost.”
McMaster can be expected to use his “forward deterrence” theory in Syria by trying to lure Putin into a confrontation with US forces east of the Euphrates. But there’s no reason to think that Putin will fall into the trap, in fact, it seems highly unlikely given the potential for a catastrophic face-off between the two nuclear-armed superpowers. Instead, Putin will probably take the high-road, present his case to the UN Security Council, and denounce the US intervention as another example of Washington’s destabilizing and expansionistic foreign policy.
Putin’s worst mistake would be to base his strategy entirely on the situation on the battlefield. He doesn’t need to liberate every inch of Syrian soil to win the war. Let the US and its proxies seize the territory, establish their military bases and no-fly zones, throw up a DMZ along the Euphrates, and wade deeper into the Syrian morass. Putin has other fish to fry. He needs to focus on winning hearts and minds, strengthening alliances and building a broader coalition. He needs to look like the only adult in the room, the rational leader whose sole ambition is to end the dispute and restore security. He needs to establish a contrast between his behavior and that of his recklessly-violent and mentally-unstable rival, Washington, whose flagrant disregard for international law and civilian lives has plunged the Middle East and Central Asia into chaos and carnage.
If Putin’s ultimate goal is to rebuild the system of global security based on the bedrock principles of national sovereignty and greater representation for all the countries in the world, he must lead by example. Restraint and maturity in Syria will move him closer to that goal.
Source: Counterpunch
Je kunt de golven niet tegenhouden, maar je kunt wel leren te surfen.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, Amerikaans moleculair bioloog
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Video Maxwel Igan / the Crowhouse: Signs of The Times
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Study Predicts Lag in Summer Rains Over Parts of U.S. and Mexico
Delay Could Affect Agriculture, Livestock, Desert Ecosystems
A delay in the summer monsoon rains that fall over the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico is expected in the coming decades according to a new study in the Journal of Geophysical Research. The North American monsoon delivers as much as 70 percent of the region's annual rainfall, watering crops and rangelands for an estimated 20 million people.
"We hope this information can be used with other studies to build realistic expectations for water resource availability in the future," said study lead author, Benjamin Cook, a climate scientist with joint appointments at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
A delayed monsoon could affect vegetation across the Sonoran desert, including saguaro cactuses. (Jeremy Weiss)
Much of the arid U.S. Southwest is expected to get even drier as winter precipitation declines under climate change, but the present modeling study predicts that summer rain levels will stay constant over southern Arizona and New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico. What will shift is the arrival of the heaviest rains, from July and August or so, to September and October, the study says. "There still will be a healthy monsoon which is good news for agriculture in the southern U.S. and northwestern Mexico-the timing is the problem here," said study co-author Richard Seager, a climate scientist at Lamont-Doherty.
A delayed monsoon could potentially lower crop yields as rains come later in the growing season, when the days are getting shorter. By prolonging hot and dry conditions during spring, a late monsoon could also trigger more wildfires and force cities to stretch diminished water supplies. The study makes use of the latest climate change models (those used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its Fifth Assessment Report due out next fall), to estimate monthly changes in precipitation by the end of the century, 2080-2099. The researchers hypothesize that future warming will make it more difficult to form clouds and rainfall early in the monsoon when soils are dry, followed reduced winter rain and snowfall, thus delaying the onset of the monsoon rains until enough moisture can be moved in from the oceans.
There is some evidence that the monsoon may already be arriving later. A 2007 study in the Journal of Climate led by researcher Katrina Grantz, then at the University of Colorado, found a decline in July rainfall since the late 1940s, and a corresponding increase in August to September rainfall. Other scientists are cautious about drawing conclusions from a relatively short instrumental record, given the monsoon's natural year-to-year variability. The second-latest monsoon onset was recorded in 2005, but for three years after, the monsoon came earlier than average or on schedule, said Chris Castro, a monsoon researcher at the University of Arizona who was not involved in the study.
Rainfed grasses are a source of food for cattle. (U.S. Forest Service)
The Sonoran Desert and Sky Islands ecoregion lies at the northern edge of the North American monsoon, where vegetation ranges from saguaro-studded subtropical desert in the lowlands to high-altitude boreal forests. It is unclear how plants finely attuned to the monsoon’s arrival will cope with the longer wait. “Will their growth slow down, or will some species grow dormant?” said Jeremy Weiss, a geosciences researcher at the University of Arizona who was not involved in the study.
A delay is bound to have economic impact, whether in northwestern Mexico or Arizona where agriculture and rangelands respectively are mostly rain-fed. The late monsoon in 2005 hindered summer grass development to the point that U.S. ranchers had to buy supplemental feed for their cattle, Andrea Ray, a researcher at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, noted in a 2007 study in the Journal of Climate.
Though total monsoon rainfall is projected to stay the same, warmer summer temperatures under climate change will cause more evaporation, leaving less water for crops, reservoirs and ecosystems. "It is important to look at the big picture before getting too sanguine about monsoon rainfall staying steady," said Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Arizona who was not involved in the study. "Farmers who rely on summer rain will have a trickier time as the rainfall timing and amounts change--they like predictability. Ultimately, the jury is still out, but this is a fine study that gives us more information to plan with."
Richard Seager explains the study: Global Decadal Hydroclimate Predictability, Variability and Change: A Data-Enriched Modeling Study (GloDecH)
National Science Foundation video: North American Monsoon System.
Kevin Krajick
kkrajick@ei.columbia.edu
Kyu Lee
klee@ei.columbia.edu
Journalists may call these contacts for information. Other inquiries, please see contacts page.
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Ely branch of the Royal Naval Association are looking for new members to keep it afloat
Sarah Cliss
HMS Walpole
Ely maybe land locked but the city still has close links to the nation's naval service dating back to the second world war when its citizens adopted a warship.
The city heeded the government’s call to support the war effort during the National Warship week launched in 1942 and raised funds to adopt HMS Walpole - a W Class destroyer.
A year later a delegation of Ely citizens led by Ely Urban District Council, Ely Rural District Council and the Dean of Ely Cathedral visited the ship in Harwich to meet the crew.
The ship was built in 1917 and served the country well including taking part in the D Day landings but was severely damaged by a mine in 1945, when she was scrapped.
Now the Ely Royal Naval Association, which is made up of former members of the both the royal and merchant navies, the Fleet Air Arm, Submarine Service, and wrens, is hoping the city’s long links with the service will encourage new members.
The association’s Peter Holden explained people do not have to have served to join, anyone with friends or relatives in the navy or who simply has an interest in maritime matters and the nation’s great naval tradition are welcome too.
The branch leads the Remembrance Day parade in Ely as representatives of the Senior Service (as the navy is known).
It also meets on the last Thursday of the month at the Lamb Hotel in Ely at 7.30pm to ‘swing the lamp’ and honour naval traditions such as sitting for the Loyal Toast, or taking a daily tot of rum.
This latter tradition was discontinued in the Royal Navy in July 1970, but kept “afloat” in Ely. There are also day trips, games nights, barbecues and a Trafalgar Dinner.
For more information about HMS Walpole or Ely RNA visit www.kgva.org/elyrna, or Ely museum. The branch secretary can be contacted at elyrna@live.co.uk
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July 15, 2019 / by
New York Times Comes Tantalizingly Close to Admitting “Training” in Iraq Doesn’t Work
Never forget the ass-kissing little chickenshit who has been the driving force for most of the failed training of Iraqi troops.
In today’s New York Times, Rod Nordland speaks to a number of US troops currently deployed to Iraq yet again to train Iraqi troops. Shockingly, Nordland comes very close to explaining that the current deployment is likely to be meaningless since the repeated failures of earlier training make it likely that the current round of training also is likely to fail:
The current, woeful state of the Iraqi military raises the question not so much of whether the Americans left too soon, but whether a new round of deployments for training will have any more effect than the last.
Yes, indeed. We already know that all of the previous rounds of training Iraqi troops failed miserably. That indisputable fact allows Nordland to pose the question of whether this new round of training could be expected to somehow be successful after all those failures. Since the article offers no description of any changes in strategy or methods in this new round of training, it’s hard to see how the answer is anything other than a strong probability that this round of training also will fail.
The catastrophic demise of Iraq’s forces is staggering with the numbers Nordland presents. At its peak, the Iraqi military numbered 280,000. And yet once ISIS advanced, the melting away of multiple whole divisions of troops whittled Iraq down to a force that perhaps was as low as only 50,000. This current training effort, being carried out by 3000 US forces, is expected to add, at best, 30,000 Iraqi troops. Nordland admits, however, that the number is likely to be “far fewer”. Despite this depressing math, Nordland doesn’t get around to pointing out just how little impact such a small increase in Iraqi forces is likely to have even if their training somehow turned out to be successful.
But don’t despair. Our intrepid Speaker of the House is on duty to make sure that we continue repeating our training failures:
Boehner blamed “artificial constraints” on the 4,500 American trainers and advisers to the Iraqi army, suggesting that a slight increase in U.S. troops could occur if the Pentagon’s commanders suggested they were needed to help direct fighting against Islamic State forces. “They’re only there to train and advise the Iraqi army, and the fact is it’s just that – training and advising,” he said, dismissing fears that his proposal would lead to tens of thousands of additional U.S. troops locked in another bloody ground war.
“There’s more that we can do, with limited risk, and it wouldn’t require that many more people,” the speaker said.
“Please,” Boehner seems to be saying, “Let’s get back to a full war in Iraq, but without calling it war.” Presumably because the last one worked out so well.
Postscript: Marcy has been the one tracking maneuvers around the issue of an AUMF (even as recently as yesterday), but the Boehner quote above comes from a larger article about a possible new Iraq AUMF. Boehner is fighting Obama’s proposed AUMF. But he’s fighting it because he doesn’t want Obama to give back some of the unlimited war powers of the Executive:
“Until the president gets serious about fighting the fight, until he has a strategy that makes sense, there’s no reason for us to give him less authority than what he has today, which is what he’s asking for,” Boehner told a group of reporters Tuesday, following his trip with lawmakers to several Middle East hot spots during the congressional recess.
Take that, Mr. President. We won’t give you authority for this war until you ask for even more unfettered power than we already grant you!
Copyright © 2018 emptywheel. All rights reserved.
Originally Posted @ https://www.emptywheel.net/tag/aumf/
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Department of Recreational Sports schedules maximum fun, drives revenue with EMS
participants per year
internal sports clubs
“With EMS, nothing is impossible.”
Tawyna Elliott
Facilities Reservations Coordinator
At Texas A&M University, 14 departments use the EMS scheduling platform. Among those departments, the university’s Department of Recreational Sports is probably where EMS facilitates the most fun. In fact, each year the A&M recreational sports department serves 1.2 million participants – roughly the same number of people who flood stadiums to watch the Dallas Cowboys during an entire NFL season.
The Department of Recreational Sports is responsible for scheduling the university’s student recreation center, totaling 497,774 square feet of facilities, plus coordinating offsite activities. Students, university departments, and community members take part in a wide variety of activities that include 36 internal sports clubs, university classes, tournaments, conferences, meetings, banquets, and private events. In summary, the scheduling responsibilities within the university’s recreational department alone are no small game.
More play, with less work
Tawyna Elliott, Facilities Reservations Coordinator for the Department of Recreational Sports, and her team use EMS to organize ongoing activities and events, as well as to create accurate invoices and reports. With EMS, they can rely on one tool to schedule and manage multiple facilities that house ball courts, multipurpose rooms, and meeting space; outdoor facilities that include with tennis courts and dividable fields; and the Natatorium, which houses four pools and a diving well. All told, these facilities represent several hundred bookable spaces.
“We may have up to 1,000 screaming cheerleaders in our facilities at one time with a lot of other activities going on,” says Elliott. “We have to make everybody happy.”
By automating processes and eliminating scheduling errors, EMS helps Elliott’s department increase productivity by operating efficiently and effectively. Whether it’s booking time on the rock climbing wall for a class, reserving a field for a group of students who are planning an ultimate Frisbee tournament, or scheduling space for a special event, EMS enables Elliott and her team to easily manage scheduling, invoicing, and reporting for all of it.
“Everything is scheduled through EMS,” Elliott says. “EMS has increased my productivity. I can enter reservations faster and more accurately.”
Pinpoint scheduling, maximum utilization
Texas A&M has a lot of recreational space to work with, but just like at smaller schools, many spaces serve dual purposes. With EMS, the department can easily prevent spaces from being double-booked. For example, the school’s archery room is also in high demand for banquets, dances and other events – often by external users, such as local high schools or community groups. EMS helps Elliott eliminate errors and conflicts with reservations for the space, helping to provide a great experience and differentiate the university’s brand.
“Aquatics – it was its own beast,” says Elliott. That’s because the university’s swimming facilities also host collegiate swimming and diving meets, local swim teams, and national diving championships. EMS provides the flexibility to coordinate everything flawlessly. When booking an event or making reoccurring reservations, Elliott can schedule by each pool, and account for individual quadrants, lanes, and even the required water depth for certain events.
For an off-site excursion, such as a wilderness first-aid training or a canoeing, surfing or skiing trip, Elliott books a ‘phantom room’. This allows her to organize all the details in the EMS system and track the resources associated when a student group takes off to explore a river, mountain, or ocean.
Accurate, timely invoicing
In addition to reserving space for events as diverse as celebrations and sports classes, EMS lightens the workload when it comes to billing facility users and tracking invoices.
EMS allows Elliott to bill her users on a three-tier system, making it simple to charge student groups, university departments, and outside groups unique rates. It’s also easy to generate invoices for one-time events, like locking in space for surrounding school districts to host graduations and after-prom events. The department leases space to other campus entities, and Elliott uses EMS to manage contracts with Smoothie King, the university’s athletics department, and the Aggie Swim Club.
All of the bookings made in EMS can be invoiced in the system. Invoices are created with the information entered into EMS when the space is initially reserved, allowing Elliott to provide accurate, detailed invoices to facility renters by email. All of this functionality within EMS not only helps to reduce administrative costs, but also to generate revenue.
“With EMS, nothing is impossible,” says Elliott.
“Everything is scheduled through EMS. EMS has increased my productivity. I can enter reservations faster and more accurately.”
About Texas A&M
Texas A&M opened its doors in 1876 as the state's first public institution of higher learning. Today, Texas A&M is a research-intensive university dedicated to sending leaders out into the world prepared to take on the challenges of tomorrow. Located in College Station, Texas, the university’s main campus is home to over 64,000 students, with more than 436,000 former students worldwide. Find out more at http://www.tamu.edu.
About EMS Software
EMS Software™ removes the barriers to inspired work by connecting your people, tools and technology within a single platform. GSK, Yale University, Citi and thousands of other leading companies and universities in more than 75 countries rely on EMS Software's comprehensive, enterprise-class resource and space management solution to power their dynamic work and learning environments. The EMS platform integrates with both hardware and software infrastructures to provide the visibility, control and insight needed to increase productivity, reduce costs, attract and retain people, and differentiate enterprise brands. For more information, please visit emssoftware.com.
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Jobs & Roles
Bon Jovi Experience
One of the most iconic bands of the 80's, Bon Jovi had platinum selling albums and a plethora of anthemic singles around the world... The Bon Jovi Experience are the world's first & finest tribute - and the fact that they have performed live with Jon Bon Jovi himself and are featured on the official Bon Jovi website tells you all you need to know.
The five piece band power their way through 2 hours of rocking tunes giving 100%. Front man Tony Pearce bears an uncanny resemblance to Jon Bon Jovi and his soaring vocals compliment the tight musicianship of the band.
"The best tribute I've ever seen" - JON BON JOVI
You will rock 'til you drop!
Promoter: EAA
Saturday 02 June, 2018 19:30 £18.00 (Conc) £18.00 (Members) £19.00 (Full price)
Copyright © 2019 Evesham Arts Centre
site by Quick By Design
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Metal Earth /
Aviation /
The most capable carrier based fighter-bomber of World War II featured the largest engine available at the time: the 2,000 hp, 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial. It was the first US warplane to exceed 400 mph in level flight. The plane featured an unusual inverted gull wing to keep the undercarriage short while allowing the use of the large diameter propeller demanded by the powerful engine.
Check this out on Metal Earth
Number of sheets: 1 Sheet
Assembled Size:
4.49" x 3.71" x 1.48" (11.5 x 9.5 x 3.8 cm)
Mustang P-51
1 Sheet
The P-51 Mustang was a long-range World War II fighter aircraft that flew as a bomber escort over Germany. Powered with the British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, it was unmatched by any other piston fighter aircraft of World War II.
Fokker D-VII
Manfred von Richthofen praised this aircraft as the best he had flown. It offered excellent performance, yet it was safe and easy to fly. Richthofen's recommendation led to the first provisional order for 400 production aircraft. In all, Germany produced around 3,300 D-VII aircraft in summer and autumn of 1918.
2 Sheets
There once was a real ship named Black Pearl captained by Henry Morgan, one of the world’s most notorious pirates. The Black Pearl which first sailed in 1669 fought many battles; the most famous of which was an invasion in Panama in 1671. The following year Captain Morgan was put in prison in England. Years later he returned to Jamaica as a judge and governor. Henry Morgan died in England in 1688 after a long illness.
Avro Lancaster Bomber
Is a British four-engine heavy bomber used by the RAF in World War II. It became the most successful night time bomber of the war and flew 156,000 sorties. The bomber gained additional distinction for carrying the famous Upkeep "Bouncing bomb" for Operation Chastise in attacks on dams in the Ruhr Valley.
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Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/19/2002
Agencies:
This final rule is effective August 19, 2002.
Docket No. 010410086-2165-02
I.D. 020801A
0648-AN83
Comments and Responses
PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC
PART 635—ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES
PART 640—SPINY LOBSTER FISHERY OF THE GULF OF MEXICO AND SOUTH ATLANTIC
PART 654--STONE CRAB FISHERY OF THE GULF OF MEXICO
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/02-18308 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/02-18308
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
NMFS issues this final rule to implement the Generic Amendment Addressing the Establishment of the Tortugas Marine Reserves in the Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico (Tortugas Amendment), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf of Mexico Council). This action will provide enhanced protections for existing marine reserves in the vicinity of the Dry Tortugas, Florida, and is taken under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This final rule complements regulations previously issued by NOAA under the authority of the National Marine Sanctuary Act by better informing the public of applicable restrictions and providing enhanced enforcement authority and stricter penalties for violations. Consistent with NOAA's existing regulations, these regulations prohibit fishing for any species and anchoring by fishing vessels within the reserves. The intended effect is to inform the public of these restrictions and to further protect and conserve important marine resources.
Peter Eldridge, phone: 727-570-5305; fax: 727-570-5583; e-mail: Peter.Eldridge@noaa.gov.
The Gulf of Mexico fisheries for coastal migratory pelagics, coral and coral reefs, red drum, reef fish, shrimp, spiny lobster, and stone crab are managed under fishery management plans (FMPs) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Council and approved and implemented by NMFS. These FMPs were prepared solely by the Gulf of Mexico Council, with the exception of the FMPs for coastal Start Printed Page 47468migratory pelagics and spiny lobster that were prepared jointly by the Gulf of Mexico Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council).
The Tortugas Amendment amends the following FMPs: Fishery Management Plan for Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico; Fishery Management Plan for the Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Fishery Management Plan for the Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; and Fishery Management Plan for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. All of these FMPs, except the FMPs for spiny lobster and stone crab, are implemented under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. The FMP for spiny lobster is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 640; the FMP for stone crab is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 654.
On March 7, 2001, NMFS published a notice of availability of the Tortugas Amendment and requested comments on the amendment (66 FR 13692). On June 6, 2001, NMFS approved those Tortugas Amendment measures that amend the FMPs for coral and coral reefs, red drum, stone crab, shrimp, and reef fish. On July 19, 2001, NMFS announced the availability of the Tortugas Amendment management measures that would amend the FMPs for coastal migratory pelagic resources and for spiny lobster and requested comments on those measures (66 FR 37635). NMFS approved those measures on October 16, 2001. A proposed rule to implement all measures included in the Tortugas Amendment, with a request for comments through March 25, 2002, was published on February 7, 2002 (67 FR 5780). The background and rationale for the measures in the Tortugas Amendment and proposed rule are contained in the preamble to the proposed rule and are not repeated here.
NMFS received three general comments in support of the Tortugas Amendment during the public comment period on the amendment. NMFS has approved the amendment. One comment supporting the specific aspects of the proposed rule was received during the comment period on the proposed rule.
Comment: An environmental organization supported all the measures in the proposed rule, including a prohibition on fishing for highly migratory species. They stated that they would vigorously oppose anything less than the protections currently included in the proposed rule. They commented that the proposed measures were crucial to help maintain and rebuild fish populations; protect corals and maintain a functioning ecological whole system; and to provide effective enforcement of the current no-take regulations in that area.
Response: NMFS notes that fishing for any species, including highly migratory species, and anchoring by fishing vessels is prohibited in the Tortugas marine reserves.
The Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS determined that the Tortugas Amendment is necessary for the conservation and management of fisheries resources in the Gulf of Mexico and that it is consistent with the national standards of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law.
This final rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration that the proposed rule for this action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for the certification was published in the proposed rule. No comments were received regarding this certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis was not prepared.
The Council prepared a final supplemental environmental impact statement (FSEIS) for the Tortugas Amendment that was filed with the Environmental Protection Agency for public review and comment. A notice of its availability for public comment for 30 days was published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2001 (66 FR 15241). According to the FSEIS, the elimination of consumptive uses within the marine reserves will protect essential fish habitat from fishery-related impacts and eliminate fishing mortality. Establishment of the marine reserves may result in many benefits to the ecosystem, including increased size and abundance of marine species. This may potentially improve reproductive success which could enhance recruitment to other areas of the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys. The FSEIS states that although commercial and recreational fishermen could experience increased costs because of further restrictions on their activities within the marine reserves, they and non-consumptive users are expected to realize long-term benefits resulting from the maintenance of healthy and diverse marine ecosystems. It is noted that following NMFS' publication in the Federal Register of the notice of availability of the Tortugas Amendment for public comment, the FKNMS regulations became effective, thereby prohibiting all commercial and recreational fishing in the marine reserve areas. Accordingly, this final rule should not impact commercial and recreational fishermen in terms of a new prohibition on fishing and anchoring in the reserves.
Fisheries, Fishing, Puerto Rico, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Virgin Islands.
Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, Foreign relations, Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Statistics, Treaties.
Fisheries, Fishing, Incorporation by reference, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Fisheries, Fishing.
Dated: July 15, 2002.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs,National Marine Fisheries Service.
End Signature Start Amendment Part
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR parts 622, 635, 640, and 654 are amended as follows:
End Amendment Part Start Part
End Part
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:
Start Authority
2. In § 622.34, paragraph (d) is revised to read as follows:
Gulf EEZ seasonal and/or area closures.
(d) Tortugas marine reserves. The following activities are prohibited within the Tortugas marine reserves: Fishing for any species and anchoring by fishing vessels.
(1) EEZ portion of Tortugas North. The area is bounded by rhumb lines Start Printed Page 47469connecting the following points: From point A at 24°40′00″ N. lat., 83°06′00″ W. long. to point B at 24°46′00″ N. lat., 83°06′00″ W. long. to point C at 24°46′00″ N. lat., 83°00′00″ W. long.; thence along the line denoting the seaward limit of Florida's waters, as shown on the current edition of NOAA chart 11438, to point A at 24°40′00″ N. lat., 83°06′00″ W. long.
(2) Tortugas South. The area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points:
North lat.
West long.
A 24°33′00″ 83°09′00″
B 24°33′00″ 83°05′00″
C 24°18′00″ 83°05′00″
D 24°18′00″ 83°09′00″
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
End Authority
4. In § 635.21, paragraph (a)(4) is added to read as follows:
Gear operation and deployment restrictions.
(4) No person may fish for, catch, possess or retain any Atlantic highly migratory species or anchor a fishing vessel, issued a permit or required to be permitted under this part, in the areas designated at § 622.34(d) of this chapter.
5. In § 635.71, paragraph (a)(30) is revised to read as follows:
Prohibitions.
(30) Deploy or fish with any fishing gear from a vessel or anchor a fishing vessel, permitted or required to be permitted under this part, in any closed area as specified at § 635.21.
7. In § 640.7, paragraph (v) is added to read as follows:
(v) Fish for any species or anchor a fishing vessel in a marine reserve as specified in § 640.26.
8. Section 640.26 is added to subpart B to read as follows:
Tortugas marine reserves.
The following activities are prohibited within the Tortugas marine reserves: Fishing for any species and anchoring by fishing vessels.
(a) EEZ portion of Tortugas North. The area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points: From point A at 24°40′00″ N. lat., 83°06′00″ W. long. to point B at 24°46′00″ N. lat., 83°06′00″ W. long. to point C at 24°46′00″ N. lat., 83°00′00″ W. long.; thence along the line denoting the seaward limit of Florida's waters, as shown on the current edition of NOAA chart 11438, to point A at 24°40′00″ N. lat., 83°06′00″ W. long.
(b) Tortugas South. The area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points:
10. In § 654.7, paragraph (o) is added to read as follows:
(o) Fish for any species or anchor a fishing vessel in a marine reserve as specified in § 654.28.
11. Section 654.28 is added to subpart B to read as follows:
End Supplemental Information
[FR Doc. 02-18308 Filed 7-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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Buffalo Wings & Rings Hires New Corporate Chef
Buffalo Wings & Rings, the Cincinnati-based elevated sports restaurant franchise with more than 80 locations across the globe, recently brought on restaurant and franchise industry veteran Dan Admire as Corporate Chef. Admire will lead efforts to further build and develop a menu with a focus on crave-worthy, high-quality options in line with the brand’s commitment to providing a club level experience that can be replicated across franchise and corporate-owned restaurants.
“I’ve been cooking in kitchens my entire life with the exception of a three month stint in the late 70’s when I went to work on a shrimp boat in Corpus Christi, only to be interrupted by Hurricane Anita,” says Admire. “I’ve had the pleasure of working under and with a ton of great people in my career and I see incredible opportunity to apply the knowledge I’ve garnered in my career to further innovate and elevate the Buffalo Wings & Rings menu.”
After returning from that short shrimp boat endeavor, Admire rose quickly in the restaurant industry. Admire became executive chef at Fedora Café in Kansas City which was ranked in the top ten by USA Today. There, he earned recognition and acclaim for his cutting edge approach and incorporation of ingredients that he imported from overseas. After Fedora Café, Admire moved into the hotel segment as an executive chef with Marriott, followed by a stint as corporate executive chef at John Q. Hammons Hotels and Resorts and then spent 14 years at Houlihan’s Restaurants, Inc. where he became vice president of culinary and oversaw menu development for Houlihan’s, J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks and Devon Seafood Grill. Most recently, Admire became a partner in fine dining seafood restaurant Brendon's Catch 23 in Louisville, Kentucky, before joining Buffalo Wings & Rings at the beginning of 2019.
“People ask how I went from fine dining to Buffalo Wings & Rings and when you're in fine dining, you appreciate what you're doing and the craft but it's not necessarily what you crave,” says Admire. “You see this a lot with chefs who make a name for themselves in fine dining—they end up opening places with food that they crave. Buffalo Wings & Rings is all the food that I love. It's flavor-forward and chef-driven. It’s a really great group of people who run the company too. It’s a really collaborative environment and it feels like a family.”
Since new ownership took over Buffalo Wings & Rings in 2005, the company has been focused on providing a club level, VIP experience for guests which includes an elevated menu not found at typical sports bars. The addition of Admire, and his more than four decades of experience, furthers that commitment from the brand.
“Dan has an incredible resume and has done amazing things within the restaurant industry, but he also has extensive background in cultivating menus for franchise brands which is extremely important to us at Buffalo Wings & Rings,” says Nader Masadeh, CEO of Buffalo Wings & Rings. “Providing support to our franchisees is paramount in our brand’s philosophy and Dan will help create not only an elevated, delicious menu with options for the whole family but will do so in a way that the experience will be excellent whether you’re at one of our locations in Florida, Ohio, North Dakota or anywhere else in the U.S.”
Admire hit the ground running at Buffalo Wings & Rings in just his first few months on the job, focusing early attention towards research and development aimed at elevating all aspects of the menu and to expand on the brand’s established offerings.
“I think that food is moving faster right now than it ever has before. Social media has played the largest role in that. As we look at that and we look at our customer and demand, there is a lot of room for international flavors to be introduced into a lot of different categories. There are things that you might only taste in upscale dining that can be brought into the Buffalo Wings & Rings kitchen,” says Admire. “But since we are a growing franchise, I'm thinking of everything in terms of line level execution. The recipes I create will need to be executed by someone thousands of miles away that I've never met before. So, they have to be easily executed. The greatest recipes aren't great if you can't execute them easily elsewhere.”
Shula’s Hires Rohini Moradi as Corporate Director of Bars
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The Road to Armageddon
By Paul Craig Roberts | Feb 26, 2010 | US, Viewpoints | 1 |
Photo Credit: Det. Greg Semendinger, NYC Police Aviation Unit
The Washington Times is a newspaper that looks with favor upon the Bush/Cheney/Obama/neocon wars of aggression in the Middle East and favors making terrorists pay for 9/11. Therefore, I was surprised to learn on February 24 that the most popular story on the paper’s website for the past three days was the “Inside the Beltway” report, “Explosive News,” about the 31 press conferences in cities in the US and abroad on February 19 held by Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth, an organization of professionals which now has 1,000 members.
I was even more surprised that the news report treated the press conference seriously. How did three World Trade Center skyscrapers suddenly disintegrate into fine dust? How did massive steel beams in three skyscrapers suddenly fail as a result of short-lived, isolated, and low temperature fires? “A thousand architects and engineers want to know, and are calling on Congress to order a new investigation into the destruction of the Twin Towers and Building 7,” reports the Washington Times.
The paper reports that the architects and engineers have concluded that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provided “insufficient, contradictory and fraudulent accounts of the circumstances of the towers’ destruction” and are “calling for a grand jury investigation of NIST officials.”
The newspaper reports that Richard Gage, the spokesperson for the architects and engineers said: “Government officials will be notified that ‘Misprision of Treason,’ U.S. Code 18 (Sec. 2382) is a serious federal offense, which requires those with evidence of treason to act. The implications are enormous and may have profound impact on the forthcoming Khalid Sheik Mohammed trial.”
There is now an organization, Firefighters for 9/11 Truth. At the main press conference in San Francisco, Eric Lawyer, the head of that organization, announced the firefighters’ support for the architects and engineers’ demands. He reported that no forensic investigation was made of the fires that are alleged to have destroyed the three buildings and that this failure constitutes a crime.
Mandated procedures were not followed, and instead of being preserved and investigated, the crime scene was destroyed. He also reported that there are more than one hundred first responders who heard and experienced explosions and that there is radio, audio and video evidence of explosions.
Also at the press conference, physicist Steven Jones presented the evidence of nano-thermite in the residue of the WTC buildings found by an international panel of scientists led by University of Copenhagen nano-chemist Professor Niels Harrit. Nano-thermite is a high-tech explosive/pyrotechnic capable of instantly melting steel girders.
Before we yell “conspiracy theory,” we should be aware that the architects, engineers, firefighters, and scientists offer no theory. They provide evidence that challenges the official theory. This evidence is not going to go away.
If expressing doubts or reservations about the official story in the 9/11 Commission Report makes a person a conspiracy theory kook, then we have to include both co-chairmen of the 9/11 Commission and the Commission’s legal counsel, all of whom have written books in which they clearly state that they were lied to by government officials when they conducted their investigation, or, rather, when they presided over the investigation conducted by executive director Philip Zelikow, a member of President George W. Bush’s transition team and Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and a co-author of Bush Secretary of State Condi “Mushroom Cloud” Rice.
There will always be Americans who will believe whatever the government tells them no matter how many times they know the government has lied to them. Despite expensive wars that threaten Social Security and Medicare, wars based on non-existent Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, non-existent Saddam Hussein connections to al Qaida, non-existent Afghan participation in the 9/11 attacks, and the non-existent Iranian nukes that are being hyped as the reason for the next American war of aggression in the Middle East, more than half of the U.S. population still believes the fantastic story that the government has told them about 9/11, a Muslim conspiracy that outwitted the entire Western world.
Moreover, it doesn’t matter to these Americans how often the government changes its story. For example, Americans first heard of Osama bin Laden because the Bush regime pinned the 9/11 attacks on him. Over the years video after video was served up to the gullible American public of bin Laden’s pronouncements. Experts dismissed the videos as fakes, but Americans remained their gullible selves. Then suddenly last year a new 9/11 “mastermind” emerged to take bin Laden’s place, the captive Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the detainee waterboarded 183 times until he confessed to masterminding the 9/11 attack.
In the Middle Ages confessions extracted by torture constituted evidence, but self-incrimination has been a no-no in the U.S. legal system since our founding. But with the Bush regime and the Republican federal judges, whom we were assured would defend the U.S. Constitution, the self-incrimination of Sheik Mohammed stands today as the only evidence the U.S. government has that Muslim terrorists pulled off 9/11.
If a person considers the feats attributed to Khalid Sheik Mohammed, they are simply unbelievable. Sheik Mohammed is a more brilliant, capable superhero than V in the fantasy movie, “V for Vendetta.” Sheik Mohammed outwitted all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies along with those of all U.S. allies or puppets, including Israel’s Mossad. No intelligence service on earth, or all of them combined, was a match for Sheik Mohammed.
Sheik Mohammed outwitted the U.S. National Security Council, Dick Cheney, the Pentagon, the State Department, NORAD, the U.S. Air Force, and Air Traffic Control. He caused Airport Security to fail four times in one morning. He caused the state-of-the-art air defenses of the Pentagon to fail, allowing a hijacked airliner, which was off course all morning while the U.S. Air Force, for the first time in history, was unable to get aloft interceptor aircraft, to crash into the Pentagon.
Sheik Mohammed was able to perform these feats with unqualified pilots.
Sheik Mohammed, even as a waterboarded detainee, has managed to prevent the FBI from releasing the many confiscated videos that would show, according to the official story, the hijacked airliner hitting the Penagon.
How naive do you have to be to believe that any human, or for that matter Hollywood fantasy character, is this powerful and capable?
If Sheik Mohammed has these superhuman capabilities, how did the incompetent Americans catch him? This guy is a patsy tortured into confession in order to keep the American naifs believing the government’s conspiracy theory.
What is going on here is that the U.S. government has to bring the 9/11 mystery to an end. The government must put on trial and convict a culprit so that it can close the case before it explodes. Anyone waterboarded 183 times would confess to anything.
The U.S. government has responded to the evidence being arrayed against its outlandish 9/11 conspiracy theory by redefining the war on terror from external to internal enemies. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on February 21 that American extremists are now as big a concern as international terrorists. Extremists, of course, are people who get in the way of the government’s agenda, such as the 1,000 Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth. The group used to be 100, now it is 1,000. What if it becomes 10,000?
Cass Sunstein, an Obama regime official, has a solution for the 9/11 skeptics: Infiltrate them and provoke them into statements and actions that can be used to discredit or to arrest them. But get rid of them at all cost.
Why employ such extreme measures against alleged kooks if they only provide entertainment and laughs? Is the government worried that they are on to something?
Instead, why doesn’t the U.S. government simply confront the evidence that is presented and answer it?
If the architects, engineers, firefighters, and scientists are merely kooks, it would be a simple matter to acknowledge their evidence and refute it. Why is it necessary to infiltrate them with police agents and to set them up?
Many Americans would reply that “their” government would never even dream of killing Americans by hijacking airliners and destroying buildings in order to advance a government agenda. But on February 3, National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair told the House Intelligence Committee that the U.S. government can assassinate its own citizens when they are overseas. No arrest, trial, or conviction of a capital crime is necessary. Just straight out murder.
Obviously, if the U.S. government can murder its citizens abroad it can murder them at home, and has done so. For example, 100 Branch Davidians were murdered in Waco, Texas, by the Clinton administration for no legitimate reason. The government just decided to use its power knowing that it could get away with it, which it did.
Americans who think “their” government is some kind of morally pure operation would do well to familiarize themselves with Operation Northwoods. Operation Northwoods was a plot drawn up by the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff for the CIA to commit acts of terrorism in American cities and fabricate evidence blaming Castro so that the U.S. could gain domestic and international support for regime change in Cuba. The secret plan was nixed by President John F. Kennedy and was declassified by the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Review Board. It is available online in the National Security Archive. There are numerous online accounts available, including Wikipedia. James Bamford’s book, Body of Secrets, also summarizes the plot:
“Operation Northwoods, which had the written approval of the Chairman [Gen. Lemnitzer] and every member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called for innocent people to be shot on American streets; for boats carrying refugees fleeing Cuba to be sunk on the high seas; for a wave of violent terrorism to be launched in Washington, D.C., Miami, and elsewhere. People would be framed for bombings they did not commit; planes would be hijacked. Using phony evidence, all of it would be blamed on Castro, thus giving Lemnitzer and his cabal the excuse, as well as the public and international backing, they needed to launch their war.”
Prior to 9/11 the American neoconservatives were explicit that the wars of aggression that they intended to launch in the Middle East required “a new Pearl Harbor.”
For their own good and that of the wider world, Americans need to pay attention to the growing body of experts who are telling them that the government’s account of 9/11 fails their investigation.
9/11 launched the neoconservative plan for U.S. world hegemony. As I write, the U.S. government is purchasing the agreement of foreign governments that border Russia to accept U.S. missile interceptor bases. The U.S. intends to ring Russia with U.S. missile bases from Poland through central Europe and Kosovo to Georgia, Azerbaijan and central Asia. U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke declared on February 20 that al Qaida is moving into former central Asian constituent parts of the Soviet Union, such as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. Holbrooke is soliciting U.S. bases in these former Soviet republics under the guise of the ever-expanding “war on terror.”
The U.S. has already encircled Iran with military bases. The U.S. government intends to neutralize China by seizing control over the Middle East and cutting China off from oil.
This plan assumes that Russia and China, nuclear armed states, will be intimidated by U.S. anti-missile defenses and acquiesce to U.S. hegemony and that China will lack oil for its industries and military.
The U.S. government is delusional. Russian military and political leaders have responded to the obvious threat by declaring NATO a direct threat to the security of Russia and by announcing a change in Russian war doctrine to the pre-emptive launch of nuclear weapons. The Chinese are too confident to be bullied by a washed-up American “superpower.”
The morons in Washington are pushing the envelope of nuclear war. The insane drive for American hegemony threatens life on earth. The American people, by accepting the lies and deceptions of “their” government, are facilitating this outcome.
thirdeye on March 7, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Very good article. You might also want to look at homeland security and their homegrown terrorist act. This act stops people from exposing the corrupt us government and also stops freedom to express any anti us feelings. Any mass demonstration or any of the above gives them the right ot inprison and silence people.
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Seismic Shifts in Serbia’s ‘Right’
By Doug Henderson | Apr 23, 2016 | Europe, Viewpoints | 0 |
Aleksandar Vucic (Zoran Žestić/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Two rulings of an international tribunal might fuel right-wing nationalism as Serbians vote in parliamentary elections.
As Serbia heads into the final weeks of parliamentary elections scheduled for April 24, two rulings by a UN court in the Hague which some feared might fuel a revival of right-wing nationalism and anti-Europe fervor appear instead to be driving voters towards the centrist party of incumbent Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić.
On March 24, an International Criminal Tribunal sentenced Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić to a 40-year prison term for genocide in Srebrenica, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Then, a week later, the judges took the view that charges against Serbian far-right nationalist leader Vojislav Šešelj should be dismissed.
The immediate reaction in Belgrade was that the timing of these decisions could not have been less helpful to supporters of European engagement and Balkan reconciliation. Though very different, and grounded in seemingly contradictory logic, each judgment in its own way looked likely to stir up old passions, inflaming right-wing nativist sentiment.
Serbia’s tabloid media were immediately full of speculation about the rise of the right. The chief beneficiary seemed likely to be Šešelj’s Radical Party, which opposes EU accession and advocates a “Greater Serbia”—in effect a partial restoration of Yugoslavia’s old boundaries under Serbian rule.
Even before the UN tribunal’s rulings brought the former Yugoslavia’s tragedies of 1991-1999 back to the front pages, there had been murmurings that some left-wing and normally pro-EU voters might support rightist parties. The former deputy prime minister and left-leaning political theorist Žarko Korać, a Vučić critic, told an interviewer [in Serbian] several weeks ago that “democratically oriented citizens are beginning to make pacts with those anti-European oriented individuals or groups, with the chauvinists, who would, if they are in power, be much worse than Vučić.”
However, it now appears the pro-EU left has been alerted to the risk and the complicated multi-party calculus of Serbian politics may be in the process of changing again. The ruling Progressive Party may well become a safe haven for voters fearful of an ultra right-wing revival.
Vesna Rakic Vodinelić, an influential legal expert who four years ago advocated depositing blank voter slips into ballot boxes rather than vote for any candidate, says she now foresees feeling compelled to support the Progressives. In an interview with Radio Free Europe’s Serbian service she said the situation was comparable to that of recent regional elections in France, where the Socialists called on their supporters to back Nicolas Sarkozy’s party to block the election of Front National candidates.
Asked if she felt the danger was so great that pro-European parties which oppose Vučić might one day ask their supporters to support the Progressives, she replied: “Yes, unfortunately, including me.”
For many Serbian liberals, that may well prove to be the reasonable choice on April 24.
Rakic Vodinelić believes a revival of xenophobia and right-wing populism in Serbia will be much in line with trends visible across Europe. By opposing EU membership, Šešelj’s Radicals are almost perfectly in tune with France’s Front National, Hungary’s Jobbik, Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland, Britain’s UKIP and others. As elsewhere, Serbia’s version is partly fueled by a still-struggling economy and high unemployment, conditions which the Vučić government is only now beginning to tackle effectively.
In Belgrade, Šešelj is being heralded as a hero by his supporters, having been acquitted of nine war crime charges arising from incidents in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia during the 1990s. The Hague tribunal ruled that his ultra-nationalist views were political, not criminal, and that there was insufficient evidence to convict him for crimes by paramilitary volunteers he had recruited.
Jubilant Radical Party supporters now expect their electoral fortunes to improve and commentators tend to agree. At the very least it is expected that the party’s support will eclipse the five per cent needed, according to electoral rules, for parliamentary representation, giving it a national platform. It failed to win any seats in the last election and had widely been viewed as a spent force until the past week.
Since the Progressives’ election in 2012, the Vučić-led government has made EU accession a flagship policy. Vučić called the current early election because he said he needed four more years to put in place the reforms needed to achieve that.
Vučić has been highly critical of the ICT process without defending either Karadžić or Šešelj. He has said he views the Tribunal as a “political court and not as a judicial institution.” He said last week reconciliation had originally been one of the main goals of the process but “there is no doubt that the Hague tribunal has not fulfilled this goal.”
The impact on the rest of the electorate is an open question. The center-left Democratic Party is in some disarray following a series of corruption scandals dating from its time in office. Until last week, with polls showing support for the Progressive Party at or close to 50%, it seemed a safe bet that the Vučić government would be returned with a majority and a mandate to proceed with its economic reform package and EU negotiations. That may still be a safe bet, but it appears possible that instead of the opposition being solidly left-leaning, there may also be opposition from the right.
Tags: EU, Genocide, Serbia
Doug Henderson, a UK Labour MP from 1987 to 2010, was Minister for Europe in Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government.
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First American and Transamerica Combine Real Estate Information Businesses
— First American Owns 80 Percent of Combination, Creating Nation’s Largest Property Data Repository With Advanced Technology Platform —
August 2, 2000, SANTA ANA, Calif.
The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF) today announced the combination of the Intellitech real estate information business of Transamerica Corporation with its First American Real Estate Solutions division (RES). This combination will create the nation’s largest database of property characteristic information, supplying data and decision-support products to the real estate and mortgage finance industries.
The combination creates a data repository containing information that covers more than 85 percent of the nation’s property sales and mortgage financing transactions. This repository is compiled from public record and proprietary sources, including site-inspected property data made available by appraisers and real estate agents. A new limited partnership will be formed in the transaction. Transamerica will receive a $22.5 million cash payment from First American and a 20 percent interest in the new partnership. First American will have an 80 percent interest and management control of the new information business, which is expected to have annual revenues in excess of $100 million.
The transaction creates a content and technology business serving more than 50,000 customers, including mortgage originators and lenders, appraisers, Realtors and title insurance companies. First American RES’ online and desktop applications are used by leading real estate and mortgage finance companies to support real estate commerce. Its information enables customers to quickly and efficiently locate and value all types of property, prospect for homebuyers and borrowers, and assist in underwriting and closing real estate and mortgage financing transactions.
Concurrent with the combination, First American RES has released an information technology platform that will serve as the data and image repository of the combined businesses. The new platform is the result of a two-year, $15 million technology investment, which included standardizing multiple data sources and consolidating them into a single proprietary database structure. The database structure, which employs Oracle’s 8i relational database management system, was created specifically to drive a new family of Web-enabled, server-based applications and operates on a Sun UNIX system that is capable of supporting tens of thousands of users.
“The combination of these two companies, with the flexibility of First American RES’ new, state-of-the-art technology platform, enhances First American’s position as a provider of real estate data that supports the real estate and mortgage finance industries, including business-to-business e-commerce and the majority of the Internet sites that offer real estate information to businesses and consumers,” said Parker S. Kennedy, president of The First American Corporation. “Through the integration of these businesses, combined with the leveraging of the technology platform, we can significantly reduce overall operating expenses and gain the economies of scale we have always intended for this business.”
“This transaction strengthens our position in providing automated valuation models (AVMs),” said Dennis Gilmore, president of First American’s Database Products and Services Group. “The addition of Intellitech’s AVM (known as AREAS) enhances our product offering, which includes other leading brands such as Valuepoint, Home Price Index and a new assessment-based valuation model.
“Additionally, we are accelerating the development of applications that are core to the industry’s drive for time and cost efficiency,” said Gilmore. “Our new technology platform gives us enormous flexibility in how we store and deliver information. This flexibility will lead to new applications including instant electronic ownership and encumbrance reports combined with AVMs and document images on a national basis.”
First American Real Estate Solutions will maintain its headquarters in Anaheim, Calif., with offices in Sacramento, Calif.; Atlanta; Philadelphia; Cincinnati; Miami; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Oklahoma City; Weehawken, N.J.; Silver Spring, Md.; and additional sales offices throughout the United States. First American holds its interest in this combination through its 80 percent-owned joint venture with Experian Information Solutions, Inc.
Transamerica Intellitech, Inc., a leading real estate information and software company, is a subsidiary of Transamerica Corporation and AEGON N.V. (NYSE: AEG).
The First American Corporation, based in Santa Ana, Calif., is the nation’s leading provider of business information and related products and services. The corporation’s three primary business segments include: title insurance and services; real estate information and services, which includes mortgage information services and database information and services; and consumer information and services, which provides home warranties; automotive, subprime and direct-to-consumer credit reporting; property and casualty insurance; property and automotive insurance tracking services; resident screening; pre-employment screening; investment advisory; and trust and banking services. Information about the company and an archive of its press releases can be found on the Internet at www.firstam.com.
Any statements in this document that look forward in time involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the following: the effect of interest rate fluctuations; changes in the performance of the real estate markets; the effect of changing economic conditions; general volatility in the capital markets; the demand for and the acceptance of the company's products; changes in applicable government regulations; continued consolidation among the company's significant customers; consolidation among significant competitors: the impact of the legal proceedings commenced by the California attorney general and related litigation; the continued ability to identify businesses to be acquired; and changes in the company's ability to integrate businesses which it acquires. The company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements, and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of them do, what impact they will have on the results of operations or financial condition of the company.
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Tim Evanson By: Tim Evanson
Albert V Bryan Federal District Courthouse - Alexandria Va - 0011 - 2012-03-10
Looking up and southwest at the statue of Blind Justice on front of the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. This courthouse is home to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The statue and architrave constitute the artwork "Justice Delayed, Justice Denied." This is a 1994 artwork by American sculptor Raymond Kaskey. The statue depicts the traditional "Blind Justice," holding the scales of justice in each hand. The statue leans out over the entrance of the courthouse, her robes billowing in the wind.
The architrave below the pedestal is inscribed with a Maryland tortoise projecting out from the center, with racing hares on either side. The image of a tortoise with a billowing sail on its back was the symbol of Cosimo de' Medici, the wealthy businessman who ruled the city of Florence from behind the scenes in the early 1400s and who founded a vast political and religious dynasty. His motton was "Make Haste Slowly." The billowing robes of Blind Justice, standing atop the tortoise, echoes this motto.
However, the animals also evoke the classic fable of "The Tortoise and the Hare." The moral of that story is "slow and steady wins the race."
Judge Albert V. Bryan was a conservative federal judge who, in the 1950s and 1960s, ordered the racial integration of public schools in Virginia. No one expected Judge Bryan to rule in favor of racial integration. For more than two decades, Judge Bryan balanced the need for haste in order to protect constitutional rights with the need for due deliberation in the administration of justice.
Together, the two mottos depict the tension in the law which Judge Bryan so ably administered.
Blind Justice's left foot stands on a small dome atop a pedestal. Her right foot is extended behind her. The pedestral is inscribed with the phrase "Justice Delayed, Justice Denied."
This 10-story, 285-foot high U.S. federal courthouse was designed by Spillis Candela & Partners in association with John Carl Warnecke & Associates. Construction began in 1992, and was complete in 1995. It is located at 401 Courthouse Square in Alexandria, Virginia, USA.
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Olive Garden Operator, Darden Restaurants, Beats Q1 Earnings, Raises FY Guidance
By Trey Williams Published October 04, 2016 MarketsMarketWatch Pulse
Shares of Darden Restaurants Inc. saw a nearly 5% pop after the company reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that beat expectations and raised its fiscal year guidance above consensus. Net earnings for the quarter came in at $110.2 million, or 87 cents per share, compared with earnings of $86.4 million, or 67 cents per share during the same period a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share were 88 cents, which beat the 82 cents FactSet consensus. Sales for the Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse operator hit $1.71 billion, which was an increase compared with last year's $1.69 billion, but just below the FactSet consensus of $1.72 billion. And same-restaurant sales were up 1.3%, below FactSet's expectations of 1.5%. For fiscal 2017 Darden still expects same-restaurant sales to increase 1% to 2%, but the company raised its earnings per share outlook to a $3.87 to $3.97 range, from a $3.80 to $3.90 range. The FactSet consensus is $3.87. Darden shares have declined 3.6% in the year to date, underperforming the S&P 500 Index , which is up 5.7%.
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Are You Afraid to Role-play?
written by Rik Sullivan
That’s a loaded question, isn’t it? But you’d be surprised how many folks are just that.
Role Playing can be a bit disconcerting to someone who has never tried it. You go to a region that is set up for some kind of Role Play. You see people wandering around in strange outfits. You may even see creatures you’ve never seen before!
There are stacks of notecards called ‘Rules’ and ‘Races’ and ‘Guilds’ and ‘Factions’. You try to look through them but it makes you dizzy.
Then there’s trying to create your own character. What should I be? Should I be good or bad? Should I fly? What outfit should I wear? Do I need a weapon? What about a HUD? Are HUDs even allowed?
And all these people wandering around here, talking to each other, doing some chore, sitting with a group or even fighting! Where to begin?
Now you see why Role Playing could be somewhat frightening to a new-comer. But don’t despair! I’d like to give you a bit of guidance here. Let’s start with a question. Did you ever play ‘Let’s Pretend’ when you were young?
I would say that most everyone can answer that ‘Yes’. Role Playing is exactly that... pretending. You use your imagination to make believe you are someone, you can do something or you’re just somewhere amazing.
Here, in the Great Canadian Grid, some of that ‘imagination’ is laid out before you. It’s a landscape or a build that is put there for people like you to come to and ‘pretend’. Some are elaborate and some are simple, but the purpose is the same. It could be a back-story someone has written to give players a place to start. It could be a series of clues someone has set out for players to follow and solve. It could be a quest or battleground. Or it could be just a themed build that sets your stage for you.
It’s all made like that so someone like you can come there and have fun participating, exploring and imagining. And there will be others around there that are more than willing to interact with you as one of the characters in the story. All you need to do is ‘pretend’ you are that character, in front of other folks. Yes, it’s ‘acting’, but you’re not out to win an Oscar…
To get started you should join the GCG Role Players group. It’s an open group so all you have to do is join it. Look for this logo on the group information window then join. It’s free.
Once you’re in the group go to the GCG Role Play HUB region. There, you’ll find examples of different kinds of Role Plays and even several Role Play information posters that give notecards and landmarks to different areas in GCG that specialize in Role Play. Most all of these regions welcome new explorers so you don’t have to have a character set up to visit them. The only rule is, if you want to interact with the folks there in open chat, you need to be attired appropriately. But to ask questions, an IM works great.
So, put your fears aside and put on your ‘make-believe’ hat. Wander around our great grid and check out the Role Play areas. It’s all added fun to your virtual world experience.
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Home Insights Big Pharma’s Open Innovation Initiatives Zoom In on Discovery
Companies are setting up deals modeled on the software industry’s open-source programs but retain IP in exchange for in-kind contributions and expertise. [Kay Ransom/Fotolia.com]
Big Pharma’s Open Innovation Initiatives Zoom In on Discovery
Alex Philippidis
Alex Philippidis Senior News Editor Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News
Successful models appear to focus on conducting discovery-stage work.
The software industry was a trailblazer in the field of open-source innovation. Savings to users were estimated at about $60 billion a year, according to a 2008 study by The Standish Group International. Open-source collaboration has now spread to the biopharma industry, among others.
For biotechnology and pharmaceutical businesses, the open-source model holds potential for advancing drug discovery faster and at lower cost than the model now in place. The current system emphasizes developing and protecting proprietary intellectual property, then spending years and additional dollars undergoing reviews with the aim of securing an FDA approval. The cost of developing a new drug has escalated to an all-time high of $1.3 billion, the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development said in January.
Hence pharma giants are trying to embrace not only more partnerships but more so-called open innovation efforts. These include less profitable disease indications that have struggled with attracting investment.
Merck’s Focus on In-House Drugs
Last year Merck & Co. launched Merck Oncology Collaborative Trials Network. The network was to consist of 15 academic and independent research institutes across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. All 15 sites were to focus on development of Merck drug and vaccine candidates for cancer by leading the design and conduct of Phase 0 to IIa studies.
“Every year the network will enroll approximately 1,200 patients in 30 to 40 clinical trials,” Merck previously stated. “These studies will include investigator- and company-sponsored trials.” But after its $41 billion merger with Schering-Plough, Merck has spent the past nearly two years restructuring its operations to cut costs.
Earlier this year, Merck deactivated the network. “Given the changes in clinical strategy, Merck could no longer ensure that network enrollment requirements could be met, and therefore the difficult decision was made to discontinue,” Merck spokesman Ian R. McConnell told GEN.
GSK’s Open Lab for Neglected Diseases
A more successful example of a big pharma open-collaboration effort is GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) strategy, targeting diseases of the developing world. GSK launched its open innovation initiative early in 2010 by starting its first “Open Lab” based outside Madrid, Spain. Open Lab allows up to 60 scientists from around the globe to tap into GSK expertise while pursuing their own R&D in tropical diseases. GSK spent $8 million to seed-fund the research through a not-for-profit foundation.
“We decided to pursue this model of working in this disease area because we recognize the need to develop new medicines for malaria,” a GSK spokeswoman, Janet Morgan, told GEN. “There is a wealth of expertise in the malaria field area beyond GSK, and by sharing data and working collaboratively with the scientific community, we are increasing the likelihood of developing life-saving medicines.”
Open Lab has provided funding for three projects, totaling slightly over $425,000. Since the launch, six projects have begun in the Open Lab, including one with South Africa-based iThemba Pharmaceuticals in multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and co-infection with HIV/AIDS; GSK provided in-kind contribution and the support of its scientists. iThemba was the first company to take advantage of the Pool for Open Innovation against Neglected Tropical Diseases (POINT). GSK shares intellectual property and knowledge through POINT, which has made more than 2,300 patents available.
Open Lab scientists last year published a paper in Nature detailing more than 13,500 malaria compounds found when they carried out a whole-cell screen of the malaria parasite against GSK’s over two-million-compound library. Chemical structures and associated assay data of these compounds are now stored on leading public scientific websites including those of the European Bioinformatics Institute, the National Library of Medicine, and Collaborative Drug Discovery, according to Morgan.
When GSK launched its open innovation strategy last year, the company said that one of its goals was the development of a malaria vaccine at a profit of 5% above the cost of production.
Lilly’s Expanding Initiatives
The most recent example of big pharma’s interest comes from Eli Lilly. Late last month Lilly said it will expand its open-source effort beyond its two-year-old Phenotypic Drug Discovery (PD2) initiative, in which molecules can be submitted by scientists outside the company for screening. The new target discovery program called TargetD2 will screen molecules designed to interact with specific genomic targets believed to be involved in disease pathogenesis.
Lilly also added late last month a component to its TB Drug Discovery Initiative that will screen molecules for their ability to fight MDR-TB. Members including the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) and NIH contribute in-kind resources; IDRI handles in vitro work to test compounds, while NIH helps as needed with in vivo and development resources as well as researchers developing assays, for example.
“This entire program is one that provides unprecedented access to novel molecules around the globe,” Alan D. Palkowitz, Ph.D., vp of discovery chemistry research and technologies with Lilly, told GEN. “As we’re working in the TB initiative as part of a not-for-profit, and we know some of the challenges for TB drug discovery are really centered on identifying novel sources of compounds for screening, it seemed like an ideal way to leverage this platform that we’re using for some of our internally derived drug discovery efforts.”
He said the success of the TB initiative could serve as a model down the road for additional collaborations aimed at rare and neglected diseases, which are not usually a focus for Lilly and other pharma giants.
Under the new TargetD2, as with PD2, investigators retain intellectual property rights to their molecules until a promising compound emerges. “If we see something very interesting from the data, we will ask the investigator to share the structure with us,” Dr. Palkowitz said.
“And then if we are convinced that we are seeing something very promising, then only at that point would we approach the institution and the investigator to actually exercise our first right of access.” If the institution and researcher agree, they’ll negotiate a collaborative arrangement to further optimize the science as well as milestone and royalty fees. “If the institution is not interested, they’re free to use the data whatever way they like, whether it be to publish, to put in a grant application, or to actually pursue the science on their own,” Dr. Palkowitz explained.
Lilly’s open-collaboration effort includes more than 250 institutions in 27 countries. “By having both the phenotypic module and the target-based module, it allows us to add more assays, add more areas that are of interest to us over time as our area of disease focus evolves and changes. It’s something that now that it’s in place, can be easily scaled over time,” Dr. Palkowitz remarked.
PD2 has disclosed two open-innovation collaborations, one in cancer and the other in diabetes. PD2 has “probably about six or seven active collaborations” in all when partnerships that have been signed, those being negotiated, and those in early stages of exploration are all counted, he added.
Big pharma’s appetite for open-source collaboration has been evident in the past few years. The industry’s apparent focus has been on research and discovery work. Some academic-based groups have also formed, which seem to concentrate more on discovery through clinical development along with data-sharing initiatives. A few examples of those efforts will be examined in a separate story in this section.
The Six Projects Launched at GSK’s Open Lab Since January 2010
• Barcelona Centre for International Health Research will spend two years and €320,000 from GSK to create a continuous lab-based supply of the P. vivax malaria parasite in the blood stage.
• CIC bioGUNE will get €115,050 (about $153,000) from GSK for an 18-month program to characterize the ubiquitylation profiles of cells infected by multiple drug-resistant TB and the malaria parasite P. falciparum.
• Durham University will use £41,800 (about $65,000) from GSK over nine months to identify compounds that can inhibit a new target in kinetoplastid protozoan parasites.
• Weill Cornell Medical College will attempt to identify compounds that can affect both drug-sensitive, multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant TB in the nonreplicating phase. Over 24 months the team will be able to leverage GSK’s facilities and scientific support including the firm’s compound library, while The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is providing funding.
• iThemba Pharmaceuticals program covers multidrug-resistant TB and co-infection with HIV/AIDS. GSK provided in-kind contribution and the support of its scientists.
• Imperial College London, Drug Discovery Centre and The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute are working to identify CDPK (calcium dependent protein kinase) inhibitors from the 13,500 compounds identified by GSK in 2010 as inhibiting P. falciparum growth. GSK scientists are contributing through their expertise in liquid handling and screening. While the project lasted two months starting in November 2010, analysis of data is ongoing.
Alex Philippidis is senior news editor at Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.
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Home News CRISPR Platform Scans DNA to Predict Off-Target Effects
CRISPR Platform Scans DNA to Predict Off-Target Effects
The heart of the new technique for detecting interactions between CRISPR and off-target DNA segments is a standard next-generation gene-sequencing slide (also known as flow cell), produced by Illumina. [Wikimedia user Bainscou, via Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license]
If you’re reworking a genome, you might want to heed the old saying, “Measure twice, cut once.” Otherwise, your attempts to right the genome or modify it for special purposes could end in genomic wrongs—off-target effects. For example, the popular gene-editing tool known as CRISPR could go astray, altering genes other than the ones it was meant to alter. If only CRISPR’s potential slips could be foreseen! Then, perhaps, they could be avoided, and CRISPR would realize its potential not only in research, but also in medicine.
Scientists from The University of Texas at Austin took an important step toward safer gene-editing cures for life-threatening disorders, from cancer to HIV to Huntington's disease, by developing CHAMP, which stands for chip-hybridized association-mapping platform. It repurposes next-generation sequencing chips to enable the massively parallel profiling of protein–nucleic acid interactions.
The scientists used CHAMP to provide the first comprehensive survey of DNA recognition by a type I-E CRISPR-Cas (Cascade) complex and Cas3 nuclease. CHAMP, the scientists showed, was able to simultaneously measure the interactions between proteins and ∼107 unique DNA sequences.
Additional details appeared June 29 in the journal Cell, in an article entitled, “Massively Parallel Biophysical Analysis of CRISPR-Cas Complexes on Next Generation Sequencing Chips.” These details suggest that CHAMP provides a framework for high-throughput, quantitative analysis of protein–DNA interactions on synthetic and genomic DNA.
“Analysis of mutated target sequences and human genomic DNA reveal that Cascade recognizes an extended protospacer adjacent motif (PAM),” the article’s authors wrote. “Cascade recognizes DNA with a surprising 3-nt [nucleotide] periodicity. The identity of the PAM and the PAM-proximal nucleotides control Cas3 recruitment by releasing the Cse1 subunit.”
Essentially, these findings led to a model for the biophysical constraints governing off-target DNA binding. This model, for example, suggests that Cascade pays less attention to every third letter in a DNA sequence than to the others.
“So, if it were looking for the word 'shirt' and instead found the word 'short,' it might be fine with that,” explained Stephen Jones, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at UT Austin and one of three co-lead authors of the Cell paper.
Knowing such rules could lead to better computer models for predicting which DNA segments a specific CRISPR molecule is likely to interact with. And that can save time and money in developing personalized gene therapies.
“You and I differ in about 1 million spots in our genetic code,” said Ilya Finkelstein, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of molecular biosciences at UT Austin and the project's principal investigator. “Because of this genetic diversity, human gene editing will always be a custom-tailored therapy.”
The researchers took a DIY approach to developing the equipment and software for their technique, using existing laboratory technology. The heart of the test is a standard next-generation genome sequencing chip already widely used in research and medicine. Two other key elements—designs for a 3D printed mount that holds the chip under a microscope and software the team developed for analyzing the results—are open source. As a result, other researchers can easily replicate the technique in experiments involving CRISPR.
“Next-generation genome sequencing was invented to read genomes, but here we've turned the technology on its head to allow us to characterize how CRISPR interacts with genomes,” noted Andy Ellington, Ph.D., a professor in the department of molecular biosciences, vp for research of the Applied Research Laboratories at UT Austin, and a co-author of the paper.
“If we're going to use CRISPR to improve peoples' health, we need to make sure we minimize collateral damage,” commented Dr. Jones. “And this work shows a way to do that.”
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This site is intended for healthcare professionals only
HCP Awards
Supplier Awards Voting
People’s Choice Award
Derek T Barron
Director of Care, Erskine
Derek T Barron RMN MSc FQNIS
Director of Care | Erskine
Twitter: @dtbarron
Derek is the Director of Care at Erskine, which is Scotland’s foremost provider of care for veterans and their spouses in their four purpose built care Homes. He has been at Erskine since 2016.
Derek has been a mental health nurse for over 30 years, latterly as an Associate Nurse Director in NHS Ayrshire & Arran/Lead Nurse in North Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership posts he held after 22 years in NHS Greater Glasgow in Clyde. In 2015 he was the interim Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions in NHS Orkney
Derek was a visiting Senior Lecturer at Abertay where he taught the leadership module on the MSc in Healthcare. He is on the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Mental Health Nursing and on the NMC Professional Strategic Advisory Group.
In 2016 he received a Life Time Achievement Award from the Mental Health Nursing Forum Scotland for his leadership and contribution to mental health nursing in Scotland; in December 2017 he was awarded the title of Fellow of The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland in recognition of his contribution community nursing in Scotland.
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Surrey measles cases triple and scarlet fever cases double since 2017 say Public Health England
The number of cases of scarlet fever also reached the highest level since records began
Matthew LodgeReporter
Reported cases of measles in Surrey more than tripled in one year according to the latest available figures from Public Health England (PHE).
Last year there were 49 reported cases of the disease in Surrey, a rise of more than 326% from the 15 reported cases in 2017. It is the highest figure since 60 cases were reported in 2012.
PHE repeatedly warned of measles outbreaks across England in 2018, linked to outbreaks in Europe, and particularly affecting teenagers and young adults who missed out on their vaccine when they were younger.
Anyone who might not have received two doses the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, is asked to get in touch with their GP as they could be at risk of infection.
Measles presents itself as a high fever, with sore, red, watery eyes, coughing, aching and feeling unwell. A blotchy red brown rash usually appears two to four days after initial symptoms.
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Although unpleasant in healthy people, the disease can lead to serious complications for people with immune problems, pregnant women and babies younger than one year old. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 110,000 people died worldwide from measles in 2017.
Data from PHE also shows that Surrey has the third lowest uptake of the vaccine in the South East, with only 81.7% of eligible children receiving both doses of the vaccine before their fifth birthday. Only Slough and the Isle of Wight, both with 81%, have a lower uptake in the region.
This is far below the 95% coverage that the WHO says is needed to prevent outbreaks and as a result many people are left susceptible to the disease.
MMR vaccines are free and can save your life (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
Dr Margot Nicholls, PHE South East health protection consultant, said as measles is so infectious it is important people receive the vaccine.
"The free MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting against measles, mumps and rubella," she said. "It is particularly important for parents to take up the offer of MMR vaccination for their children at 1 year of age and as a pre-school booster at 3-years 4 months of age."
"If children and young adults have missed these vaccinations in the past, they are recommended to ask their GP practice for the vaccine now, in light of the increase in recent cases."
Figures also show that there were 593 cases of highly-contagious scarlet fever reported in 2018, the highest figure since records began in 2010. This is more than double to 244 reported cases in Surrey in 2017.
A fifth of Surrey children without vaccines for serious disease such as measles and mumps
Scarlet fever is a seasonal bacterial illness that shows up as being a sore throat, fever, headaches and a rosy rash. It tends to affect children, with cases peaking between December and May.
Although it is unknown for certain what caused the increase, PHE suggests that it is down to a combination more infections and more awareness of the condition leading to better reporting.
Other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, with 55 cases, mumps, with 133 cases, and whooping cough, with 89 cases, became less prevalent in 2018. All saw fewer reported cases in 2018 than in 2017.
Anyone who is concerned they or their child may have measles or scarlet fever is asked not to go straight to A&E or their GP. Instead they should ring their GP or ring NHS 111 for advice.
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Gluten-Free Living > Gluten Free > Dispelling Myths > Myth: Wheat Cannot Be Used to Make an Ingredient in a Food That Is Labeled Gluten Free
Myth: Wheat Cannot Be Used to Make an Ingredient in a Food That Is Labeled Gluten Free
It would be logical to assume this is correct because wheat is prohibited in gluten-free foods. But Food and Drug Administration rules allow the use of ingredients made from a gluten-containing grain that has been processed to remove gluten.
This includes wheat starch, citric acid, dextrose, glucose syrup and maltodextrin, which is found in both food and medications and is always gluten free. A cereal chemist we asked about these kinds of products said they are so processed that if gave you him a sample and he tested it, he would not be able to tell the source of starch used to make it.
Around the world, maltodextrin has been tested for gluten. In Canada the most sensitive tests available were used and no gluten was found. The European Food Safety Authority exempts maltodextrin made from wheat from allergen labeling requirements based on testing results.
Researchers in Finland have studied the use of glucose syrup by those who have celiac disease and concluded it can be used safely on the gluten-free diet. The ingredient itself has been tested and found to be free of harmful levels of gluten. Even more important, a clinical study showed that patients who consumed glucose syrup for 24 weeks showed no symptoms, changes in blood tests or signs of damage when biopsied. The researchers concluded wheat base starch hydrolosates, glucose syrup and maltodextrins do not have a harmful effect on celiac disease patients.
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Celiac disease and partner burden
Celiac disease commonly imposes a burden on patients’ partners, according to new research from Columbia University.
More Gluten-Free Study sessions
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Home This Day In History Good News in History, September 5
Good News in History, September 5
On this day 40 years ago, Jimmy Carter opened 12 days of secret negotiations at Camp David between the two leaders Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat that would soon lead to the signing of the first peace accord between Israel and one of its Arab neighbors. (1978)
MORE Good News on this Day:
The first United States Labor Day parade was held in New York City (1882)
The Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the Russo-Japanese War, was signed in New Hampshire (1905)
Baseball legend Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run knocking in three runs; as the pitcher, he also threw a one-hitter that day for his Providence club that beat Toronto 9-0 (1914)
Janis Joplin began recording the song ‘Me and Bobby McGee’, written by lover and friend, Kris Kristofferson–the song that topped the US singles chart after her 1971 death (1970)
The Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention of 1989, the current international treaty defending indigenous peoples, came into force (1991)
Denmark celebrated the first national Flag Day, in memory of the fallen Danes in international operations since 1948 (2009)
The United Nations declared today as International Charity Day, an annual celebration honoring the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and all the work that charities do worldwide (2012)
And on this day in 1946, Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock group Queen, was born.
Known for his remarkable four-octave vocal range, he wrote many of Queen’s classic songs, including ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Somebody to Love’, and ‘We Are The Champions’. Born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar, he grew up in India and learned to play piano at age seven. At 17, the family escaped racial violence and moved to England, where he joined Brian May and Roger Taylor and renamed their band Queen.
Also, Happy Birthday to comedian Bob Newhart, 89; and Michael Keaton, 67
And on this day in 1957, “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac was first published. Based on the travels of Kerouac and his friends across the U.S., it was the defining novel of the Beat Generation–a term the author himself coined.
Reflecting the background of improvisational jazz, poetry, and drug use, Kerouac called the writing style “Spontaneous Prose.” Often named one of the top 100 novels of the 20th century, it featured key figures in the counter-culture movement, like William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Neal Cassady, with Kerouac as the narrator—all with fictionalized names. The way the text was produced as a nonstop scroll was also unique… Typed out on tracing paper and taped together into a continuous scroll during April 1951, the 120-feet of text, with no paragraph breaks, has appeared on display in museums worldwide, including one in Lowell, Massachusetts, the city where Kerouac was born. The book was also made into a 2012 film, entitled On the Road.
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Home | Updates / Events | Legal Insights | IP Alert: Barring Registration of “Immoral or Scandalous” Trademarks Violates First Amendment
Dean Eyler
Molly R. Littman
IP Alert: Barring Registration of “Immoral or Scandalous” Trademarks Violates First Amendment
June 26, 2019 | Alert
On June 24, 2019, the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional another provision in the Lanham Act regarding registration of trademarks. In particular, the Court ruled that the prohibition on registration of “immoral or scandalous” marks in 15 U.S.C. § 1052(a) is viewpoint-based discrimination that violates the First Amendment. IANCU v. Brunetti, 588 U.S. ___, 2019 WL 2570622 (2019).
In the case, Erik Brunetti sought to register the trademark “FUCT” for use in connection with his clothing line of the same name. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) refused to register Brunetti’s FUCT mark based on the prohibition on registration of “immoral or scandalous” marks. Brunetti appealed the trademark examiner’s refusal, but the USPTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board agreed with the examiner, calling the mark “highly offensive” and “vulgar,” and stating that it had “decidedly negative sexual connotations,” and communicated “misogyny, depravity, [and] violence.” In re Brunetti, 2014 WL 3976439 (TTAB 2017). Brunetti appealed the Board’s decision to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which found that the while the mark comprised immoral or scandalous matter, the immoral or scandalous bar is an “unconstitutional restriction of free speech.” In re Brunetti, 877 F.3d 1330 (Fed. Cir. 2017). The Supreme Court agreed.
Relying heavily on its 2017 decision in Matal v. Tam, in which the Court struck down the “disparagement” clause of 1052(a), the Court found that the “facial viewpoint bias in the law results in viewpoint-discriminatory application.” Brunetti, 588 U.S. __, 2019 WL 2570622, at *4. Specifically, the Court held that the “immoral or scandalous” bar to registration was likely to result in viewpoint discrimination where the Lanham Act “allows registration of marks when their messages accord with, but not when their messages defy, society’s sense of decency or proprietary. . . [T]he statute, on its face, distinguishes between two opposed sets of ideas: those aligned with conventional moral standards and those hostile to them; those inducing societal nods of approval and those provoking offense and condemnation.” Id. “[A] law disfavoring ideas that offend discriminates based on viewpoint, in violation of the First Amendment.” Id. Accordingly, the USPTO can no longer refuse registration of a trademark on the basis that it contains “immoral or scandalous matter.” Justice Kagan authored the decision, and was joined by Justices Thomas, Ginsburg, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh.
In a strongly worded concurring opinion, Justice Alito wrote that “[v]iewpoint discrimination is poison to free society,” and that “it is especially important for this Court to remain firm on the principle that the First Amendment does not tolerate viewpoint discrimination.” Id. at *6. Justice Alito also noted that the Court’s decision “does not prevent Congress from adopting a more carefully focused statute that precludes the registration of marks containing vulgar terms that play no real part in the expression of ideas.” Id. Also concurring in part and dissenting in part, Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, and Chief Justice Roberts all agreed that the prohibition on “scandalous” marks should be narrowly construed as including only “obscene, vulgar, or profane” marks, which can be restricted by the Government without violating the First Amendment. See generally id. Justice Sotomayor voiced her concern, in which Justice Breyer joined, that the “coming rush to register such [vulgar, profane, or obscene] trademarks—and the Government’s immediate powerlessness to say no—is eminently avoidable.” Id. at *10.
While an interesting First Amendment analysis, it is unclear what impact the Brunetti decision will have on trademark owners. The number of “immoral or scandalous” marks now registrable that can serve as important brands in the marketplace is probably rather limited. There is concern that the Court’s analysis in Brunetti and Tam will prompt new First Amendment challenges to other Lanham Act provisions.
As the dissenting Justices pointed out, there is likely to be a “rush” of vulgar terms registered with the USPTO. Whether the USPTO finds alternative reasons to deny registration of these marks, and whether such reasons are viewpoint neutral, will be something to watch.
As always, when selecting or seeking to register a trademark, consideration should be given to whether the mark is registrable. While Brunetti opens the door for registration of new trademarks, whether the mark actually functions as a trademark or violates any of the other principles of federal trademark law should be analyzed before seeking a federal trademark registration.
If you have any questions about the potential impact of the Brunetti decision on your trademarks, reach out to the Gray Plant Mooty Intellectual Property, Technology, and Privacy Practice Group.
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Olympic Gridlock
December 30, 2008 By Andrew Gilligan
NOT CONTENT with picking our pockets and lying to us about the amount, not content with making absurd promises that will never be kept, not content with putting at risk our priceless park, the people behind the London Olympics are also proposing to close down the rest of Greenwich as well.
Or at least, they’re taking the power to do so. They haven’t yet troubled to tell us how they’ll exercise it.
You may not have heard of the “Olympic Route Network.” I don’t blame you if you haven’t; it’s received mysteriously little press coverage. But you will. The ORN is the network of roads on which the Olympic Delivery Authority will be given the power to ban parking and stopping, restrict traffic, close lanes and indeed shut the roads down in their entirety.
Earlier this month, the Department for Transport launched a consultation document outlining which roads would be part of the ORN. In the borough of Greenwich alone, there are 44. They include:
the Blackwall Tunnel.
All approaches to the tunnel, including the entire A102 from the Greater London boundary to the tunnel and Blackwall Lane.
the whole of Greenwich town centre.
the entire length of Romney Road and Trafalgar Road.
Creek Road.
Deptford Church Street.
Blackheath Road, Blackheath Hill, Shooters Hill Road (as far as the old Shooters Hill Police Station) and Charlton Way.
Woolwich Road and Woolwich Church Street, between Blackwall Lane in Greenwich and Woolwich town centre.
Most of Woolwich town centre.
The A205 South Circular from Woolwich to the junction with Shooters Hill Road at the old police station.
As well as all the main roads, dozens of residential side streets in Greenwich will be part of the Olympic Route Network. They include:
Crooms Hill.
Stockwell Street.
Park Vista.
Nevada Street.
Maze Hill.
At GMV, West Parkside, John Harrison Way and Edmund Halley Way.
Charlton Park Lane.
All the Red Route side roads off the A102.
If you want to park a car, drive, cycle or travel on a bus on any of these streets come 2012, you might not be able to. (The bus routes involved, by the way, are the 47, 51, 53, 54, 89, 96, 99, 108, 129, 161, 177, 178, 180, 188, 199, 202, 244, 286, 291, 386, 422, 469, 472, 486, N1, N47 and N89.)
I say might, because exactly what the ODA will do with its draconian powers is still entirely unstated. Rather worrying, perhaps: if the planned restrictions are to be modest, short-term and benign, they’d surely be happy to tell us that.
If this year’s Games in Beijing are any guide, some roads will be closed entirely and others will have special Olympic vehicle-only lanes, the so-called “Zil lanes” in which only the “Olympic Family” can travel.
Most of Beijing’s main roads are multi-lane expressways – and of course half the traffic was banned every day - but even so, as I saw during the Games, the closure of just one lane caused enormous congestion for the unlucky drivers left with the rest of the road.
The only multi-lane roads in Greenwich’s Olympic Route Network are the Blackwall Tunnel itself, the A102 approach road, Woolwich Church Street, Deptford Church Street and a little bit of Shooters Hill Road. Even closing one lane of these would essentially double most drivers’ journey time, or worse.
And for Greenwich’s remaining single-lane roads, all are badly congested for much, if not most, of the working day. If the idea is to prevent the “Olympic family” from being caught in this congestion, there will be no option but to close these roads.
The final unknown about the Olympic Route Network is exactly how long it will last. Just for the duration of the Games? Oh no. The ODA is being given its powers by the middle of 2009, three years before the Olympics, for a reason – so that some restrictions can come in much earlier.
And even though most restrictions will only happen nearer to the Games, there will, the consultation document admits, be “some trials in summer 2011.” The Olympic period itself is surprisingly long; the document describes the Olympic Route Network as “primarily an operational measure for the 60 days of the Games.” Sixty days? But the Games themselves only last for 15 days.
My best guess is this. Outright road closures are likely to be for several hours at a time, perhaps more than once in the day, over a period of about two weeks. Lane closures, on the multi-lane roads, are likely to be full-time over the same period.
But some traffic management measures will start almost as soon as the ODA is granted the power to do them – around the middle of 2009. Greater parking and stopping restrictions will follow. Outright and draconian parking and stopping controls will be imposed for, at the very least, the entire 60-day period mentioned in the consultation document. And if you’re a shop dependent on passing trade – hard cheese.
The damage all this will do to the normal life of Greenwich, and the business of everyone not connected with the Olympics, is of course enormous. Another example of how the Games will do precisely the opposite of what the boosters claim.
Filed Under: Andrew Gilligan Tagged With: 2012 Olympics, Transport
Sick Transit
November 11, 2008 By Andrew Gilligan
TFL'S plan for a new "Greenwich Waterfront Transit" sounds like it should be rather good. A tram, perhaps? A river service of some kind? Surely a guided busway, at least?
Actually, I'm afraid, it's complete rubbish. Despite the name, intended to make it seem like something special, it is simply a normal bus service - using normal diesel buses - from North Greenwich Tube station, via Woolwich, to Thamesmead and Abbey Wood. It won't even give us any more trips - it will simply replace the existing 472 route, at precisely the same frequency.
There's no doubt that Woolwich and Thamesmead need new transport links. But the only new things this will bring are a short stretch - around half a mile - of bus-only road in Thamesmead and a little diversion away from the existing 472 route to serve the Royal Arsenal development at Woolwich. For the rest of its route, it will run on the same roads as the existing bus routes do now.
In fact, the only thing remotely special about the "Greenwich Waterfront Transit" is the price - an eye-watering £20 million for just over five miles, plus operating costs of around £1 million a year, making it probably the most expensive bus route in the history of the world.
Even one of the claimed benefits of the route, the Royal Arsenal diversion, is being fiercely resisted by some residents. The development's main thoroughfare, Number One Street, currently an attractive, pedestrianised boulevard leading down from the Arsenal's main gateway, past the Firepower museum and other heritage buildings, to the river and pier, will be ripped up and turned into part of the bus route.
Jamie Milton, one Royal Arsenal resident, has organised a campaign and a petition against the move: it and another petition currently have around 500 residents' signatures, a very substantial proportion of the development. "Number One Street is the only full-time pedestrianised area in Woolwich and is home to two listed buildings, the Royal Brass Foundry and the first-ever Royal Military Academy," he says. "We are understandably up in arms about this."
TfL says the route along Number One Street was chosen after an "extensive public consultation," three words to send a shiver down any spine. In fact, says Milton, the consultation, in 2005, attracted just 27 responses from the entire Royal Arsenal development (perhaps not surprising, since it was still being built at the time). Of those 27, just 11 supported the bus route going down Number One Street!
Even our local Labour MP, Nick Raynsford, not known for his opposition to costly vanity schemes (he's a fervent supporter of the Greenwich Park Olympics) can't see the point of this one.
"I supported the original transit scheme as it offered the prospect of a convenient and rapid transport system from Thamesmead and Woolwich to North Greenwich," he says. "However, as the scheme has been progressively watered down to what is now little more than a glorified 472 bus, its benefits have been seriously eroded. Bearing in mind the opposition of many residents in the Royal Arsenal to the current route through the Arsenal, I no longer consider it justifying the substantial costs involved."
It had been hoped that the GWT would be a candidate for Boris Johnson's bonfire of the vanity projects, his new transport strategy. Well, some other worthless Greenwich-area extravagances, such as the new £500 million Thames Gateway bridge, were laid to rest when the strategy was published last week. Later, unfunded phases of the GWT have also been canned.
But although there could still be scope for some route changes and cost cutting - no planning application has yet been submitted, and by now it should have been - it is looking like the first phase, the North Greenwich- Thamesmead - Abbey Wood route I describe, will go ahead.
And that's a shame, because the money that's being spent on annoying residents in the Arsenal could have paid for five or six new bus routes in places where they actually would be new, and where they actually are wanted.
Filed Under: Andrew Gilligan Tagged With: North Greenwich, Thamesmead, Transport, Woolwich
Tube and DLR Engineering Works This Weekend
August 20, 2008 By Rob Powell
Watch out for longer journey times this Sunday and Monday, as TFL carries out engineering works on the Tube and DLR networks. Replacement buses will be provided services between North Greenwich and Stratford underground stations, as well as replacing DLR services between Canary Wharf and Lewisham.
Filed Under: News Tagged With: Transport
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How you could make a difference and even help save lives just by giving the gift of listening
Volunteers are needed to help the Samaritans in Grimsby provide a lifeline every day of the year
From left, volunteer Roly, deputy director Angie and volunteer Gill (Image: Abby Ruston)
Volunteers are desperately needed in a variety of roles at the Grimsby branch of the Samaritans because just listening can be the greatest gift you can give to somebody.
Based on Alexandra Road, the Grimsby branch has been providing a service for 53 years, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
In the Yorkshire and Humberside region there are 17 branches and overall, 201 branches countrywide. Although a network of 21,000 volunteers keep this valuable service going throughout the year, the small, friendly Grimsby team currently have 25 listening volunteers and nine support volunteers.
They would love to encourage people to take on the roles of a publicity officer, fundraising officers or just be a part of the fundraising team. Additional volunteers are needed for their neighbouring charity shop, which is limited in its opening hours due to a lack of staff.
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Deputy director Angie has been at the Samaritans for six years and explained more about what the organisation does.
She said: “We offer emotional support to those in distress or despair.
"To be a listening volunteer, it’s nothing special - it’s just having someone to talk to and listen.
“We don’t judge and we don’t give advice.
“We hope they find the way forward themselves by talking things through.”
Being part of the Samaritans was something that Angie wanted to be part of for a long time so when her children had grown up, she felt she had the time to dedicate.
She said: “I like it when you get a caller and you know you have helped.
“This is why I’m here, it’s such a lovely feeling.
“To have someone listening, it makes such a big difference, it’s giving them that time.
“It’s important for kids to know there’s someone to talk to, as it can be tough.”
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Branch director Carmen agreed, adding: “A lot of people call us when they have got nowhere else to go.
“They can’t talk to their family or they have no-one to talk to and that’s when they call us.”
Roly enjoys his role as a volunteer,with deputy director Angie and fellow volunteer Gill (Image: Abby Ruston)
Volunteer Roly, from Grimsby, said: “We like to do something good, that’s what it’s about.
“It’s hard but when you’re doing fundraising and outreach, and people will come up and thank you as Samaritans for helping them that’s really good.
“The smiles people give us.
“The kindness and tremendous help from people within the town.
“We could do a lot more if we had more volunteers.
“We are getting busier and busier but if we had three or four people who like meeting people, who can smile and say thank you are what we are after.
“You get a lot of pleasure from this.”
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The Samaritans provide two training sessions each year and the next intake is on Sunday, September 17 and is divided into modules. Those wishing to enrol for the training should get in contact before the end of August.
A special open evening will take place on Wednesday, August 16, at 7pm at the Alexandra Road branch. You can simply turn up and listen to the information before deciding if you wish to enrol for September.
A minimum shift requirement for a listening volunteer is three hours, once a week and you must be aged over 18. Those wishing to lend hours for the shop must be aged 16 and over.
Samaritans Listening Tips or S-H-U-S-H:
• Show you care: Focus just on the other person, make eye contact, put away your phone
• Have patience: It may take time and several attempts before a person is ready to open up
• Use open questions: That need more than a yes/no answer, and follow up eg; ‘Tell me more’
• Say it back: To check you’ve understood, but don’t interrupt or offer a solution
• Have courage: Don’t be put off by a negative response and, most importantly, don’t be afraid to leave silence
Some people don’t want to listen on the phone so can choose to do outreach work instead, “You answer the phone when you are ready and feel confident,” Angie continued.
“The support from fellow volunteers is huge, it’s massively important to us.
“Some of the calls are quite upsetting at times so we make sure everyone is looked after.
“It’s nice being part of a small team.”
Carmen explained: “You don’t have to be on the phones, we have lots of roles - there is something for everyone.
“People have got different issues.
“Everything is anonymous, we don’t know where people are ringing from, there is no caller display.”
Particular times of the year such as Christmas or New Year can also leave people isolated or feeling lonely said Carmen: “Often these are the days that people are struggling.
“Evenings, night times and weekends are quite difficult for people.”
A couple of their volunteers are also trained to provide emotional support outside the branch and the Samaritans are part of the emergency plan.
Louth Friends have also supported the branch for years, doing street collections, organising pie and pea nights, quiz evenings. They are doing a street collection on August 10/11 in Louth town centre. A collection will also take place at Sainsbury’s in Grimsby on Saturday, September 9.
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Volunteer Gill from Grimsby has been giving her spare time for over three years and said: “I’ve done a lot of volunteer work for a long time with other organisations.
“ I had some free time and wanted to give back to something in the area that I’m used to working in.”
Donations of clothing or bric-a-brac can be left at the Alexandra Road shop in Grimsby.
“We rely on the shop for fundraising, that’s what helps to pay our bills,” added Angie.
The kitchen at the Samaritans is outdated and needs replacing
They would desperately like to upgrade their ageing kitchen, so if a business would be willing to donate a nearly new kitchen they would love to hear from you. Although they have tried to update each room, they just don’t have the money to improve the kitchen facilities which are used by the volunteers during their shifts.
“Because we are self funding, we just don’t have the money and we want it to be nice for the volunteers,” said Angie.
Last year the team did an awareness walk and are excited to be taking part once again this Sunday, July 23. They feel it’s fitting that the walk starts on the south side of the Humber Bridge in Barton-Upon-Humber, as Chad Varah the founder of Samaritans was born there in 1911.
A walk took place over the Humber Bridge on July 24, 2016 as part of the Samaritans annual awareness raising campaign titled Talk to Us. Walking across the bridge were volunteers from Scunthorpe, Bridlington, Grimsby, Hull and Leeds and the primary aim was to raise awareness of the service (Image: Submitted photograph)
They will meet at 10am on Far Ings Road, should anyone wish to accompany them as the route is suitable for serious walkers, casual strollers and families. The date was chosen, as it’s the nearest day to “24/7” which Samaritans celebrates as the day to epitomise its service.
Seven branches of the charity from across Yorkshire and Humberside will be walking south to north and back again on the Humber Bridge.
This event builds on the success of the walk last year where five branches joined together with almost 40 volunteers walking the iconic bridge.
Carmen said: “We in Grimsby are just one part of a huge organisation which ensures that we can be there for callers 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year.
“The volunteers provide a local support network for their own areas, but work together as a massive team to make sure that we are simply ‘always there’ for people who need to talk about whatever is getting to them.
“The event on July 23 is a way of bringing together our volunteers from all over the region, in a combined event to show just how joined-up our organisation really is, and also to emphasise to the public that our volunteers are ordinary people from all walks of life.
“We welcome anyone crossing the bridge that day to show their support to us and encourage us in the work we do.”
The Samaritans shop on the corner of Alexandra Road and South Parade, Grimsby (Image: Bob Hoggett)
There is also a sign for the Samaritans phone number on the Humber Bridge. Every six seconds, someone in the UK and Ireland contacts Samaritans, and every 90 minutes someone takes their own life. Samaritans believes that listening is crucial to helping people find their way through their problems, and wants to encourage people to seek help early, rather than when they reach a crisis.
If you would like to support Samaritans by making a donation, or perhaps wish to find out more about becoming a Samaritan volunteer, you can find out how you can help at: www.samaritans.org/branches/samaritans-grimsby-cleethorpes-and-district or phone 01472 353111 (local call charges apply)
National telephone: 116 123 (this number is free to call), email jo@samaritans.org or send a text to 07725 909090.
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Letter from CEO We Care Mission & Promise About Us
Matrimonials 2.0
6 Cs of happy marriages
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Second Year in a Row
'People Interactive (I) Pvt Ltd', an arm of 'People Group' - has once again been prestigiously named a winner at the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 India 2006 awards. People Interactive, owns new media and technology businesses such as Shaadi.com, Fropper.com, Astrolife.com, Shaadi Centre and Shaaditimes.com.
On achieving the award Mr. Anupam Mittal, Chairman & MD, People Group quotes "The last few years have been an elating challenge & experience for People Group & the Year 2006 has been somewhat of a milestone year for us;
We have raised a total of $18 million via venture capital funding and also won awards such as the Red Herring Asia 2006 and CNBC EMERGING INDIA 2006 Awards. To top it all, being honoured with an award at the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 India Program for the 2nd consecutive year is a great feeling."
Click here to view larger image.
Deloitte Technology Fast 50 India program recognizes the fastest 50 growing technology companies in India. The award is based on stringent parameters like consistent revenue growth year on year, ownership of proprietary technology that has contributed to a significant growth of the company and much more.
In addition, the company has also found its way into the Deloitte Technology Fast 500
Asia Pacific program, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media and telecommunications companies in Asia Pacific, for a second successive year.
People Interactive (I) Pvt. Ltd.
People Interactive (I) Pvt Ltd is part of Anupam Mittal promoted People Group and owns new media and technology businesses such as Shaadi.com, Fropper.com, Astrolife.com, Shaadi Centre and ShaadiTimes.com. People Interactive has been awarded the prestigious Deloitte Fast 50 India Award and Deloitte Fast 500 Asia-Pacific Award for 2005 and 2006. It has also won the 2005-2006 Franchisor of the Year Award, for its business unit Shaadi Centre. People Interactive has also been recognised as a unique entrepreneurial and highly innovative company with the Red Herring 100 Asia Award and the CNBC-TV 18's Emerging India Award.
About People Group
People Group was founded by Anupam Mittal in 1996 and has consistently grown by over 200% each year since then. The group currently employs over 400 people and is headquar-
tered in Mumbai. In addition to 7 regional offices in India, People Group also have opera-
tions in UAE, UK, and the USA. Besides People Interactive, the group is also a very strong player in the wireless space through its company People Infocom (I) Pvt. Ltd. Its brand MAUJ
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Queen Charlotte council discusses road safety
Jan. 13, 2006 5:00 a.m.
The safety of the roads of Queen Charlotte was on the minds of councillors reviewing a draft report at their January 3 meeting.
The report — prepared by a consultant for the village, ICBC and the Ministry of Highways — identifies potential accident areas and other road safety issues in the new municipality.
Mayor Carol Kulesha asked council for comments. She said this was the one time they’d have such open access to the consultant and if there is anything missing in the report it was time to speak out.
For example, Mayor Kulesha says town speed limits were not addressed as a whole in the report.
“Should we have one rate all the way through town?” she asked, questioning the effectiveness of having the limit shift between 30 kilometres and 50 kilometres an hour.
Councillor Gladys Noddin said many residents have deemed the taxi service unreliable. She wanted to know whether only a certain number of taxis can be licensed per capita?
“Is there any way to address taxis?” she asked.
Mayor Kulesha suggested this line of discussion was more about public transit and problems finding drivers. She added a bus service has been tried several times, but there are not enough people to make it viable.
Councillor Eric Ross used to own the taxi business on island and outlined the rules as he remembered them. He thinks the rules of a taxi license state the service has to be available 24 hours.
“Otherwise if complaints go in, the license can be pulled and given to somebody else,” he added.
Councillor Kris Olsen wasn’t at the meeting, but he left written comments. He said he liked some of the suggestions in the report about how to deal with the worst streets, but he feels the current system is working well.
“Road safety is important, but council can wait and attend to more important issues,” he said.
Councillor Ross, on the other hand, thinks something must be done about Skidegate Landing, before a terrible accident happens in the area.
He is concerned about the way ferry passengers’ cars are parked on the side of the road and the two businesses operating large trucks in the area.
He suggested using the old road above the landing as a parking area.
Mayor Kulesha said they would need to research whether the area was private property or not.
The road safety report was in draft format — council would not provide the Observer with a copy.
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Masset to donate gravel to golf course
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The Latest: UK Parliament votes to hold May to Brexit vow
LONDON (AP) - The Latest on the negotiations on Brexit (all times local):
Britain's Parliament has underscored Prime Minister Theresa May's promise to give lawmakers a vote on whether to delay Brexit rather than leave the European Union at the end of March without a divorce deal.
The House of Commons voted 502 to 20 on Wednesday in favor of a motion backing May's commitment to hand lawmakers a say in the Brexit process if she can't win backing for her withdrawal deal by March 12.
May said Tuesday that lawmakers would get to vote March 13 on whether to leave the EU with no deal, and to vote again the next day on whether to seek to postpone the scheduled Brexit day of March 29.
Wednesday's vote in the House of Commons was a symbolic move designed to ensure the government doesn't try to wriggle out of the promise.
The government did not oppose the amendment. Some pro-Brexit lawmakers, who fear a delay could be used to try to stop Brexit altogether, abstained.
Britain has agreed to guarantee the rights of European Union citizens in the country, even if it leaves the bloc without a divorce deal.
An agreement struck between the U.K. and the bloc says 3 million EU citizens in Britain and 1 million U.K. nationals in other EU nations can continue their lives undisturbed after Brexit.
But the deal has not been approved by Britain's Parliament, leaving a question mark over the citizens' status just a month before the scheduled Brexit day of March 29.
On Wednesday, the Conservative government agreed that Prime Minister Theresa May will seek a joint U.K.-EU commitment on citizens' rights, whether or not the Brexit deal is approved.
The move had gained wide support across the political spectrum, and the government agreed to support it to avoid an embarrassing defeat in Parliament.
Britain has struck a deal through the World Trade Organization for a post-Brexit world, inking plans to stay part of a market for lucrative government contracts with dozens of trading partners.
The accord reached Wednesday paves the way for Britain to retain its place among 47 WTO countries that are involved in the Government Procurement Agreement, including the European Union's 28 and soon to be 27 members.
The arrangement ensures continuity of cross-border bidding for big-ticket government contracts, though military contracts are generally excluded.
A Geneva-based trade official said the agreement was a relatively straightforward step but also important for ensuring access to a combined market valued at over $1.7 trillion.
Britain still faces unresolved issues when it comes to access for its goods and services markets after its withdrawal from the EU scheduled for March 29.
French President Emmanuel Macron says Britain needs a good reason to seek a delay of its scheduled March 29 departure from the European Union.
Speaking in a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris Wednesday, Macron reiterated that the withdrawal agreement "cannot be renegotiated."
Any delay request would need to be justified by "a clear perspective on the goal," he said. "We don't need time, we need decisions."
Merkel said that Germany and France "agree completely" that the already-negotiated withdrawal agreement stands.
"If Britain needs a bit more time, we will not refuse that, but we are aiming for an orderly solution - an orderly withdrawal by the British from the European Union," she said.
EU negotiator Michel Barnier is holding out the possibility that Britain can still exit the European Union in an orderly fashion.
Barnier said in an interview on Wednesday with FranceInfo radio that "I think we can save this accord" but that it's up to Britain to take responsibility.
Barnier said: "It's not correct to say that a no-deal is the most probable" outcome. "It's a possibility. It's not yet a probability."
If British lawmakers agree to seek an extension of the March 29 exit date, the 27 other countries in the EU must unanimously agree. He said everyone must be sure that extending negotiations won't still lead to the impasse facing both sides today.
He added that he sees no "added value" in Britain's departure. "Brexit is lose-lose."
The Czech Parliament has approved a government plan to guarantee the short-term rights of British citizens in the country in the event of a "no-deal" Brexit.
The lower house approved the plan in January, and the upper house, or the Senate, followed suit in a 72-1 vote on Wednesday.
The plan means that the roughly 8,000 Britons currently living in the country would retain their rights immediately after Brexit, even if Britain crashes out of the EU in March with no deal. They would retain basically the same rights as citizens of EU countries for a transitional period until Dec. 31, 2020.
"The goal of the law is to prevent serious complications" those Britons might face, Interior Minister Jan Hamacek told lawmakers.
They would retain basically the same rights as citizens of EU countries for a transitional period until Dec. 31, 2020.
A senior German official says Berlin would want to see "something substantially new" put on the table to justify delaying Brexit.
British Prime Minister Theresa May says she will give British lawmakers a choice of approving her divorce agreement, leaving the EU March 29 without a deal or asking to delay Brexit by up to three months. A delay would require other EU members' approval.
Michael Roth, a German deputy foreign minister, told ZDF television Wednesday that "for us as the German government, it is important that something substantially new be put on the table that justifies a delay."
He added that "if we can really achieve something new with a delay, and if we then reach a sensible decision, we are the last people who will stand in the way."
The head of one of Britain's biggest business organizations says Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to allow lawmakers to delay the country's exit from the European Union provides an "option on sanity."
May on Tuesday said Parliament will get the chance to delay Britain's scheduled March 29 departure if lawmakers fail to approve the divorce agreement with the bloc.
Confederation of British Industry head Carolyn Fairbairn told the BBC on Wednesday that neither business nor the government is ready to leave, and exiting without a deal would be "a wrecking ball on our economy."
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay refused to take the possibility of a no-deal Brexit off the table, however, telling the BBC: "It will be for Parliament to decide."
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