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Home State Publications II Page 9
Good roads days, November 5 and 6, 1913
Compiled by
JOSEPH HYDE PRATT, State Geologist, and Miss H. M. BERRY, Secretary
At a special meeting of the North. Carolina Good Roads Association
on September 24, 1913, a resolution was Unanimously adopted, calling
on Governor Craig to set apart two days in November following to be
devoted to the building and improvement of the highways by the people
of the State. In accordance with this, on the 27th day of September,
1913, Governor Locke Craig conceived the plan of setting aside certain
days to be known as "Good Roads Days" and calling upon all able-bodied
citizens in the State in every walk of life to get together and work
on the public roads. In connection with this project, he called upon
the North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey to take charge of
the organization of the State, so as to get the most benefit possible from
the two days' labor which, it was expected, would be given by every
citizen in his own respective county, township, or town,
The Governor also called on Dr. J. Y. Joyner, Superintendent of
Public Instruction, to interest the schools, so that they should contri-bute
their share to the success of this cooperative movement. Dr. Joyner,
in turn, called upon the Geological Survey to prepare a pamphlet giving
data and instructions as to road work and road building, which could
be put in the hands of the school children with profit, and to combine
with this an Arbor Day feature. Such a pamphlet was prepared and
issued, and has been distributed among all the schools of the State.
The University, the State Normal, and a number of the preparatory
schools of the State took a very active part in this movement, and in a
letter from Acting-President Graham, he says
"The value of these days will come not so much in the actual road
constructed, though that will be great; but in driving home the funda-mental
idea, so difficult to hold steadily in mind, that our Government
is primarily a cooperative enterprise in constructive achievement. Every
blow struck on our highways makes emphatic and personal this great
idea.
"The Road is not merely an avenue of trade and community inter-course;
it is a symbol of community strength, and a test of our grasp
of the meaning of Democracy."
Title Good roads days, November 5 and 6, 1913
Contributor Berry, H. M. (Harriet Morehead), 1877-1940.
Subjects Roads--North Carolina
Publisher Edwards & Broughton Printing Co
Physical Characteristics 102 pages, 11 leaves of plates : illustrations, maps ; 26 cm
Full Text GOOD ROADS DAYS, NOVEMBER 5 AND 6, 1913 Compiled by JOSEPH HYDE PRATT, State Geologist, and Miss H. M. BERRY, Secretary INTRODUCTION. At a special meeting of the North. Carolina Good Roads Association on September 24, 1913, a resolution was Unanimously adopted, calling on Governor Craig to set apart two days in November following to be devoted to the building and improvement of the highways by the people of the State. In accordance with this, on the 27th day of September, 1913, Governor Locke Craig conceived the plan of setting aside certain days to be known as "Good Roads Days" and calling upon all able-bodied citizens in the State in every walk of life to get together and work on the public roads. In connection with this project, he called upon the North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey to take charge of the organization of the State, so as to get the most benefit possible from the two days' labor which, it was expected, would be given by every citizen in his own respective county, township, or town, The Governor also called on Dr. J. Y. Joyner, Superintendent of Public Instruction, to interest the schools, so that they should contri-bute their share to the success of this cooperative movement. Dr. Joyner, in turn, called upon the Geological Survey to prepare a pamphlet giving data and instructions as to road work and road building, which could be put in the hands of the school children with profit, and to combine with this an Arbor Day feature. Such a pamphlet was prepared and issued, and has been distributed among all the schools of the State. The University, the State Normal, and a number of the preparatory schools of the State took a very active part in this movement, and in a letter from Acting-President Graham, he says : "The value of these days will come not so much in the actual road constructed, though that will be great; but in driving home the funda-mental idea, so difficult to hold steadily in mind, that our Government is primarily a cooperative enterprise in constructive achievement. Every blow struck on our highways makes emphatic and personal this great idea. "The Road is not merely an avenue of trade and community inter-course; it is a symbol of community strength, and a test of our grasp of the meaning of Democracy."
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FilmStruck, Preacher: S1, Vikings: S4V1, Mr. Deeds: 80th, Matinee (Reg B), Roddenberry Vault & much more
We’ve got three new Blu-ray reviews for you all to check out today, starting with Tim’s look at The Film Movement’s new Dementia 13, one of the first films directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was also produced by Roger Corman. Do check it out. Also, I’ve turned in in-depth reviews of Criterion’s new Blu-ray edition of Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, as well as the first entry in Shout! Factory’s new Shout Selects line, The Adventure of Buckaroo Bandai Across the 8th Dimension. Both titles are well worth your time and money, so do give them a look. [Read on here…]
Preacher: The Complete First Season
Shout! Factory
Shout Factory Selects
Dr Strangelove
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
The Film Detective
Dementia 13
Mr Deeds Goes to Town: 80th Anniversary Edition
Vikings: Season Four Volume One
Matinee Arrow Video UK Region B
The Roddenberry Vault
Release Dates & Artwork
Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV
DTS: X on Paramount BDs
Terminator 2 3D
The Criterion Channel
TCM Classic Movies
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Norway feels Shame
Journey towards Mars
Is web the way forward?
Giving weight to web drama
How to be an SVoD audience sleuth
Digital Drama Season: People Just Do Nothing
By Michael Pickard
Digital Drama Season
Norwegian public broadcaster NRK is making strides reaching young audiences with a host of online dramas. As part of DQ’s Digital Drama Season, Julie Andem tells Michael Pickard how Shame (aka Skam) is reaching out to teenage viewers.
Julie Andem
The Edinburgh International Television Festival this week witnessed a no-holds-barred attack on mainstream media’s failure to grasp youth culture as viewers increasingly move online.
Vice Media CEO Shane Smith warned that broadcasters face extinction as they have failed to connect with young audiences or focus on the content they want to watch, opening the door to digital competitors.
It won’t have been news to executives gathered in the Scottish capital that traditional broadcasters face an uphill battle to win back viewers (of any age) lost to the world of anytime, anywhere viewing.
But some networks are fighting to reclaim this lost audience. One in particular, Norway’s NRK, has taken steps to target teenagers with a number of shows that appeal directly to them and the issues they face.
Among them is Shame (aka Skam), which returns for its third season this autumn. Described as a mix between a traditional drama and a blog, it follows a cast of teenage characters as they navigate life at home and at school. Drawing parallels to British teen drama Skins, each season of Shame centres on a different main character, telling their story from their perspective.
Individual scenes from the web series, lasting up to three minutes, are broadcast daily at different times on p3.no, before they are compiled into longer 15- to 25-minute episodes every Friday. It also airs on linear TV on NRK3 and is distributed internationally by Beta Film.
In season one, Shame centres on 16-year-old Eva and her friends Chris, Sana, Vilde and Noora, who are all first-year students at Hartvig Nissen High School. The series follows the girls through their Russ celebration planning, heartbreak, parties and all the challenges young people face as they begin high school.
Creator Julie Andem had previously made shows for NRK, including Girls, which was aimed at girls aged seven to 12. It was such a big success that the broadcaster asked her if she could write a show for a slightly older audience, specifically 16-year-old girls.
“That audience wasn’t watching NRK at the time, they were only watching Netflix and HBO and big international drama series,” she explains. “We did five or six months of research, conducting interviews and reading articles and trying to understand who they were. Also, because we knew this production would be low budget, we couldn’t really compete with Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones, which we knew they were already following. But [the research gave us] an advantage – now we know who they are, the culture they grew up in, what they watched on television when they were children, where they go on holiday and what they eat for dinner. We know all about Norwegian culture.”
Norwegian teenagers watch a lot of video online, and almost never tune into terrestrial TV, Andem’s research found. They also watch a lot of different shows and happily turn over if something doesn’t grab their attention within the first few minutes.
“So we knew we had to make something that would catch their attention quickly and something that they thought of as true,” she says. “It had to have truth and honesty about their own culture, something they hadn’t seen anywhere before and couldn’t get anywhere else. They had to relate to it and identify with it more than any other series. So that’s what we tried to do.”
Shame’s target audience is 16-year-old girls
The writing process began with the creation of nine characters, each with their own story that speaks to contemporary teens. Andem also leant on the personalities of the actors to bring the characters to life.
“Every character has a specific task,” she explains. “They have something they are supposed to learn. So when I found in the research what sort of topics the target group needed or wanted to know more about, I created characters that would [reflect them] on screen.”
Andem says the best part about writing online drama is the lack of time limits, allowing for episodes to be 14 minutes or 40 minutes long and everything in between. And because the show is set in real-time, storylines set on the first day of school or on Christmas Day are released on those exact days.
“That’s both a challenge and a lot of fun because you have to be up to date on what’s happening in the beginning of the season,” the writer/director admits. “You have to know when schools have holidays and you have to write that in the storyline at that exact time.”
To make matters more complicated, the characters can also be followed across social media, extending the character relationships across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and via text messages.
“Nothing will ever happen on Instagram that has consequences for the storyline, so you don’t have to follow them,” Andem adds, “but it’s a good way to give them more of the characters without necessarily putting it in the story. Viewers can get closer to the characters because they follow them and can comment on their pictures.
“It’s a lot of work, but the audience love it and it’s very good promotion – on social media it spreads on its own. We have 10 or 11 different Instagram accounts for the different characters, and most of them have thousands of followers.”
Each season focuses on a different character’s point of view
The use of social media and the real-time setting gives Shame the authenticity and realism it set out to achieve, but Andem is also quick to point out that the show is still a drama at its heart – and striking a balance between realism and drama is one of her trickiest tasks.
“Since Girls, we’ve always had one rule – there is no rule. We do the best for the scene and we do it as simply as possible. We don’t try to overdo it. Shame has a lot of social realism but we also have a lot of humour. Some scenes we shoot more in a sitcom way to get the humour out. Then other scenes we just follow the characters closely like in a documentary.”
With nine lead characters to follow, it might seem like it would make sense for Shame’s current ninth season to be its last. But Andem says that, with characters coming and going all the time, it would be easy to take the series further.
The show’s creator is convinced that heading online is the best way to serve teenage audiences, though the viewing figures suggest it’s not 16-year-old girls tuning into the daily scenes and weekly episodes as they drop.
“The target group is girls aged 16 and in Norway there’s around 60,000 of those. We had 1.3 million viewers at one point in season two, so more and more people were watching it,” she reveals. “It’s almost like a blog combined with a drama series. We reveal it scene by scene, not episode by episode. It’s a different way of following and a different way of watching television. But I have to create a lot of cliffhangers!”
tagged in: Beta Film, Julie Andem, NRK, Shame
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Tag Archives: Future Man
Cleopatra succeeds Tut
August 24, 2015 GreenlightAll3Media International, Aron Eli Coleite, Brandon Margolis, Brandon Sonnier, CBS, Cleopatra, David Ellender, Endemol Shine Studios, Future Man, Home, Hulu, Jerry Bruckheimer, Limitless, NBC, NHK Japan, Partners in Crime, RTL CBS Entertainment, Sawyer & Huck, Seth Rogen, Shekhar Kapur, Slingshot Global Media, The Bourbon Kings, TNTAndy Fry
Elizabeth Taylor in the 1963 film Cleopatra, the most famous screen version of the Egyptian queen’s story
After Tut, now comes Cleopatra. With the Egyptian boy king only recently departed from TV screens following the three-night event series on Spike TV, the girl queen is the subject of a new series being developed by feted director Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth) and David Ellender, the former FremantleMedia exec who now operates under the Slingshot Global Media banner.
While it is inevitable that comparisons will be drawn between the projects, the creative sensibilities and commercial starting points underlying them should bring about different results. While Tut was written by US scribes for a US channel, Kapur and Ellender come from Indian and European backgrounds respectively. This will presumably affect their approach and funding model.
Kapur, who will write the series, said: “Cleopatra is probably the most famous and the least known/understood figure of all time. Her life will reflect a modern-day parable of our lives today.” Ellender added: “As he did with Elizabeth, Kapur will reveal the human being behind the myth. We couldn’t think of a better filmmaker than Kapur to tackle this subject.”
If there’s one name you’d love to see at the bottom of your production sheet, it’s Jerry Bruckheimer. With film and TV credits that include Pirates of the Caribbean, Beverly Hills Cop, Bad Boys, Con Air, Top Gun, CSI and Without a Trace, he is a bona fide hit machine. So US cable channel TNT must be dancing in the aisles having picked up a Bruckheimer pilot called Home this week.
TNT has picked up the pilot of Jerry Bruckheimer series Home
Originally set up at Fox, Home explores the secrets festering behind the facade of an idyllic suburban family. It centres on a pregnant woman who has a successful business and a wonderful home life with her husband Joe, a respected prison psychologist, and his two sons, to whom she’s stepmother. But the peace and tranquillity are shattered when she discovers long-buried secrets.
Home’s package is further enhanced by the fact the pilot has been written by Aron Eli Coleite, whose credits include Crossing Jordan, Hostages and Heroes (for which he was writer and producer for most of its run). The show is designated as a Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Horizon TV production.
A notable trend in the last few years has been to fictionalise the lives of famous historical figures. Da Vinci’s Demons is a classic case in point, as is ITV’s upcoming series Houdini & Doyle (and so, for that matter, are Tut and Cleopatra). The idea behind this approach is to get pre-transmission brand awareness that will help a show cut through the clutter of competition. Imagine if, for example, Da Vinci showrunner David Goyer had said he was going to make a series about the fantastical youth of a medieval Italian genius. He probably wouldn’t have got more than halfway through his pitch.
Seth Rogen in controversial movie The Interview
There is a parallel process that involves taking fictional characters and giving them new settings. Traditionally, this involves looking back at the youth of the character in question (The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Endeavour et al) or putting them in a different period (Sherlock). A novel take on this was announced this week by CBS, which is to pilot Sawyer & Huck. In this case, Mark Twain’s classic Mississippi characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are to be aged up and placed in modern-day America as adults.
Scripted by The Blacklist writers Brandon Margolis and Brandon Sonnier, the story will see Sawyer as a lawyer, who hires his boyhood friend Huck Finn as an investigator on a murder case. If the series progresses beyond pilot, the plan is for the characters to take on cases for people who don’t have anywhere else to turn.
In other news out of the US, NBC has acquired a drama project entitled The Bourbon Kings from Endemol Shine Studios. Based on a novel by JR Ward, the story centres on an aristocratic Kentucky family who make their fortune in the bourbon industry.
Interestingly (and what are the chances of this?), there are reports that Fox is also developing a TV series about a Kentucky bourbon empire. All that remains to be seen is whether either project will be filmed in Kentucky. A year ago, the answer to that would probably have been no. But in May the state increased its refundable tax credit from 20% to 30%, an aggressive move that will make it a viable alternative to Louisiana and Georgia, two US states that have made excellent use of film incentive schemes.
NHK Japan has picked up Partners in Crime
In the last couple of years, the scripted market has become accustomed to a steady stream of commissioning announcements from subscription VoD platforms like Netflix and Amazon. This week it’s Hulu’s turn to step up to the plate by announcing plans for a comedy pilot starring Seth Rogen.
The project, entitled Future Man, is about a gaming nerd who has to save the human race from being destroyed by aliens. Future Man is being produced by Sony Pictures Television and is the company’s first order from Hulu. Sounds like much safer territory than Rogen’s North Korea satire The Interview.
On the acquisition front, Asian broadcasters have been busy this week. RTL CBS Entertainment has announced it will premiere upcoming US drama Limitless in Asia within 12 hours of its broadcast in the States. Meanwhile, All3Media International has shipped new TV adaptation Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime to a number of international broadcasters including NHK Japan.
The Japanese market is notoriously difficult to crack but “Japan is Christie heartland in terms of a fanbase for the author and this show will introduce a further generation to her work,” says Stephen Driscoll, senior VP for sales at All3Media International.
Equally upbeat is Junko Fukano, senior producer of NHK Japan, who says: “We are delighted that we can broadcast this wonderful show in Japan. Agatha Christie’s dramas have attracted a strong Japanese following, so we believe it will be hugely popular among Christie fans, and hope that it will bring even more audiences to NHK.”
tagged in: All3Media International, Aron Eli Coleite, Brandon Margolis, Brandon Sonnier, CBS, Cleopatra, David Ellender, Endemol Shine Studios, Future Man, Home, Hulu, Jerry Bruckheimer, Limitless, NBC, NHK Japan, Partners in Crime, RTL CBS Entertainment, Sawyer & Huck, Seth Rogen, Shekhar Kapur, Slingshot Global Media, The Bourbon Kings, TNT
Sky Deutschland bets big on original drama
China opens up to outside influences
US studios extend int’l footprint
Japanese and Polish dramas make headlines
Creative heavyweights step up development
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Promise Provides Enrollment Boost
Posted on November 24, 2015 in News
Tennessee Promise drives dramatic increases in freshman enrollments at the state’s two-year institutions.
by Ashley A. Smith
In Tennessee, officials now have a clearer picture of the impact of the country’s first statewide, free two-year college program.
For more than a year state officials, with money and rhetoric, have been encouraging high school seniors to help increase Tennessee’s population of adults with a college degree or certificate. And as of last week, new enrollment data show 16,291 of them have enrolled in the state’s community, technical and private colleges this fall because of the new Tennessee Promise program. The Promise is one of the initiatives Governor Bill Haslam implemented to make sure at least 55 percent of the state’s populace has a degree by 2025.
“In the first year of a 10-year initiative to increase degrees, this is the kind of trend you would want to see,” said Mike Krause, executive director of the Tennessee Promise program. “When we launched our Drive to 55, our central goal was to increase the number of Tennesseans graduating from college, so obviously we needed to increase Tennesseans’ access to college.”
Promise programs have existed in one form or another for a long time, but Tennessee and now Oregon currently offer statewide versions. Tennessee’s program is one of a number of free two-year college programs the Obama administration regarded as the basis for the America’s College Promiseinitiative. In Tennessee, high school seniors must meet a number of requirements in order to qualify for the Promise program, including participating in community service. The program will also follow and track the academic careers for each Promise participant to see if they complete college and with what type of degree or certificate.
Over all, the freshman class in Tennessee’s public colleges has increased by 10.1 percent this fall — due in large part to the effect of Tennessee Promise in the state’s technical and community colleges and despite decreases at the state’s public universities. The community colleges saw a 24.7 percent increase in enrollment of first-time freshmen and the technical colleges experienced 20 percent growth, according to the state’s higher education commission report.
There are about 50,700 freshmen enrolled in the state’s colleges or universities this year, compared to about 46,000 in 2014.
The state’s universities are down in freshman enrollment, although no one can say for sure if the Promise program has affected those institutions, and some believe it hasn’t had an effect at all. But the institutions overseen by the Tennessee Board of Regents are down 8.4 percent and University of Tennessee campuses are down 4.6 percent.
Krause said the biggest surprise has been the increase at the technical colleges.
“Our technical colleges, like many others in the country, often suffer from a lack of visibility with students,” he said. “We deliberately never wanted to say ‘free community college.’ It’s always ‘free community or technical college.’ It was important to the governor that the core initiative was always workforce development.”
Fewer than 500 Tennessee Promise students, or about 2 percent, are enrolled in the state’s independent or private colleges, said Emily House, executive director of policy, planning and research for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
The report also details the net cost of the last-dollar scholarship program. The Promise is offered to qualified graduating high school seniors and covers all tuition and fees that federal grants, state scholarships and assistance programs do not. This academic year the program will cost the state about $10.6 million, with the average award per student at $1,020, according to the commission’s report. About 53 percent of Promise students are eligible for federal Pell Grants for low-income students.
Effect on Four-Year Institutions
Despite the increases at community and technical colleges, House said it’s uncertain what role the Promise program played at the state’s four-year institutions.
In August, at the start of the academic year, there were about22,500 Tennessee Promise freshmen. But the program has lost about 6,000 of those students since that time.
House said about 1,500 of those students enrolled at a four-year public institution.
“Maybe they were wait-listed or maybe they changed their minds or maybe they used the Promise as a plan B,” she said. “Other than that, we’re not certain. We’ll need to match with [the National Student Clearinghouse] to see if they didn’t enroll at all, or if they went private. Enrollment at the four-years is down a little bit, but we’re not quite sure if it’s a direct relationship with Promise.”
At the University of Tennessee at Martin, enrollment is down about 3.6 percent for all undergraduates and about 13 percent among freshmen, said Bud Grimes, director of university relations there.
“We’re not attributing Tennessee Promise as the cause for enrollment decline in freshman numbers. We see that as an opportunity down the line that we’re going to get more qualified transfer students from the community colleges,” he said.
Instead, the university is attributing the decrease to other factors — poor marketing and sparse population in the western area of the state.
“Earning a UT degree is strong for us, and we’re the only UT campus in this part of the state,” Grimes said. “Certainly some opted for the community college experience, but I don’t know those numbers and I don’t think those numbers are high in those who considered UTM.”
Boost in the Middle
The community colleges that saw some of the largest gains from the Promise program are located in middle Tennessee, House said.
There was growth in the western and eastern regions of the state, but not as much as the middle region. Tennessee Achieves — on which the Promise was based — was already established and started in the eastern region, and so the Promise had less of an effect as it did in the middle region, she said.
Motlow State Community College, which is located in the middle part of the state, saw a 74.8 percent increase in full-time freshmen this year — the highest of any two-year institution in the state. Volunteer State Community College experienced a 54.8 percent increase, as well.
“There was a close relationship between the college and our affiliated high schools in our service area,” said Eric Melcher, coordinator of communications and public relations for Volunteer State, adding that they also had a high number of mentors coming from the college to work with the high school students, although he didn’t have the exact number immediately available.
The college also recognizes that it will have to work to retain this increase in freshmen, so it brought in “completion coaches,” or advisers connected to specific academic areas who meet with students regularly to help them understand the paths they’re on and to help them meet their goals, he said. The college also hired extra faculty members due to increased class sizes.
It won’t be long before many of these colleges will see the next influx of Promise students, who will graduate high school this spring.
More than 59,600 high school seniors — 2,000 more students than this time last year — have met the first deadline for participating in the Promise program next fall, House said.
Communication, Course Offerings Key to Vol State’s Growth
Haslam says community colleges spurred new plan
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Soft Hearted Scientists — Uncanny Tales from the Everyday Undergrowth (Expanded Edition)
(The Hip Replacement HIP REP 008, 2005/2016, 2CD)
by Henry Schneider, Published 2016-02-14
There is something endearing about the Soft Hearted Scientists, be it their name, their label name, their vocal harmonies, their whimsical songs, their catchy melodies, etc. I’ve been a fan ever since my first exposure to them via Fruits de Mer. Uncanny Tales from the Everyday Undergrowth is the tenth anniversary reissue of their debut album. Five of the twelve songs on the album were rereleased in 2013 on FdM’s massive vinyl set Whatever Happened to the Soft Hearted Scientists (“Mount Palomar,” “Wendigo,” “Brother Sister,” “The Yongy Bongy Bo,” and “At Night the Quarry Glows Like a Mothership”). All twelve songs on Uncanny Tales from the Everyday Undergrowth are psychedelic pop visions of Victorian fantasies. These are not the sword and sorcery themes we find in Death Metal, but instead gentle leitmotifs suggesting ideas from authors like Jules Verne, Lewis Carroll, William Morris, and Lord Dunsany. The songs are well constructed, arranged, and performed with just the right blend of acoustic instruments and subtle electronics. And to make this anniversary reissue a bit more special, there is a second CD of demos arranged in the same order as the album, so the bonus CD could be viewed as a complete demo of the original album. The songs on the demo disc are a bit raw, warts and all, but they capture the evolution from early versions to the finished product. If you have not yet experienced the Soft Hearted Scientist, this reissue is an excellent place to immerse yourself in this Welsh band’s unique musical view.
Filed under: Reissues, 2016 releases, 2005 recordings
Related artist(s): Soft Hearted Scientists, Nathan Hall / Sinister Locals
Legendary Co-Founder of The 13th Floor Elevators Passes Away at Age 71 – Sadly, Roky Erickson passed away on May 31, 2019. Known as the father of psychedelic music and co-founder of the ground breaking 13th Floor Elevators, Roky had a profound influence on music from the 60s to today. Plagued by his own personal demons, Roky had a difficult life and is now free of these burdens. » Read more
Help MoonJune Bring Great Music to Life – Like many music lovers around the world, we’ve been thrilled and amazed to hear the recordings that have been released by MoonJune from sessions at La Casa Murada in Spain. Such label stalwarts as Mark Wingfield, Markus Reuter, Asaf Sirkis, Tony Levin, Dusan Jevtovic, Vasil Hadzimanov, and many more have gathered in various combinations at the studio to produce some of the most creative music in recent years. Now, label head Leonardo Pavkovic is offering a compilation, La Casa Murada - MoonJune Sessions, Volume One, as a fundraiser for upcoming sessions. » Read more
The Pineapple Thief to Tour North America – November and December of 2019 will see The Pineapple Thief bringing their music to Canada, Mexico, and the US, and famed drummer Gavin Harrison will be on board. The band has been touring extensively in Europe, but North America will be new territory for them. » Read more
Scott Walker RIP – Noel Scott Engel, better known as Scott Walker, was one of the most intriguing and enigmatic musical figures in the second half of the 20th Century. His strange career started with The Walker Brothers, an American pop group that featured no one named Walker and no brothers. After moving to England in 1965, they had a series of hit singles. Scott's solo work started with Scott in 1967. Starting in the 80s, his work took an increasingly avant-garde turn. » Read more
Freedom to Spend Unearths June Chikuma's Archives – Jun (June) Chikuma is well known for her video game and anime soundtracks, but she also released an album of experimental electronic music back in 1986 called Divertimento where she indulged the kind of spontaneity that wouldn't work in a soundtrack. RVNG Int'l label Freedom to Spend is bringing this overlooked item to broader attention with a deluxe reissue. » Read more
Previously in Exposé...
Phideaux - Friction – Phideaux (pronounced like "Fido") is New York singer/composer/multi-instrumentalist Phideaux Xavier. His debut release, Friction, is a dense and quite impressive piece of work. Featuring something in... (1996) » Read more
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Umimachi Diary - Our Little Sister (2015) (Trailer) (HD) from FILMARTI Film on Vimeo.
Our Little Sister
2015, Japan, 128’, Color, Japanese
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Cast: Ayase Haruka, Nagasawa Masami, Kaho, Hirose
2015 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or Nominee
Critically acclaimed director Kore-eda, with films like “Nobody Knows,” “Still Walking” and “Like Father, Like Son” is back with a story based on best seller graphic novel “Umimachi Diary.”
The nostalgic story of three sisters reunited after fifteen years.
The three Koda sisters have been on their own ever since their parents’ divorce, their mother having moved away shortly after her husband left her for another woman. Now in their twenties, the sisters still live together in the house that once belonged to their grandmother. The eldest sister, Sachi (Haruka Ayase), the de facto head of the family, works as a nurse; the middle child, Yoshino (Masami Nagasawa), has a successful career at a bank; while the youngest, Chika (Kaho), is a fashionable, fun-loving free spirit. When they receive news of their father’s death, the sisters are surprised to discover that they have a step-sibling, the thirteen-year-old Suzu (Suzu Hirose), who gratefully accepts her elder sisters’ offer to come live with them. The presence of the shy young Suzu, for whom the loss of her father is still a fresh wound, stirs long-dormant memories among the three sisters, who had thought of their father (if they thought of him at all) as a phantom. And the painful past becomes fully present once more when the women’s mother suddenly reappears after fifteen years.
IMDb : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3756788/?ref_=nv_sr_1
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THE YEAR OF MERCY: GOING BACK TO THE BASIC GOSPEL
The themes of the Transfiguration and the Cross
united in one single mosaic
San Apollinare, Ravenna
“For God so loved the world, the He gave His Only-Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
Whenever Pope Francis speaks, writes or does anything important, the secular press, and even much of the Catholic press, completely distort his message to the Church and the world by trying to fit it into a pattern of ideas that belong to secular politics; and, in doing so, lead to enormous misunderstanding. What Francis is attempting to do is something that has nothing whatsoever to do with being right wing or left wing, conservative, liberal or progressive. Such adjectives are totally irrelevant, totally useless in attempting to interpret Pope Francis. To understand him we must go back to the Gospel.
Jesus interpreted his presence among the Jews as a proclamation the Lord's Jubilee year, the year when all debts are cancelled, all offences forgiven. He described this situation in the following terms;
The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord's year of favour. (Is 61, 1/Luke 4, 18 - 19)
The Jews knew by their own deliverance from Egypt that God is against all types of slavery and entrapment and that his constant love (hesed) is ready to forgive all kinds of sin. At the same time, they knew of no society without slaves, accepted that there were circumstances where people needed to sell themselves into slavery or put themselves into debt, and that it is necessary to punish wrongdoing. They compromised: the maximum length of slavery for a fellow Jew was six years; and all Jewish slaves had to be freed, all debts forgiven, every fifty years. However, as a jubilee every fifty years was only binding if all twelve tribes lived in their allotted area of Israel, and this was ancien history by the first century AD, when Jesus declared a "year of the Lord's favour", it was news indeed.
This "year" was to be a permanent state for followers of Christ: they would live in mercy, observe the exigencies of mercy, so that they could permanently benefit from God's mercy themselves and should be the means by which God's mercy would be revealed to others.
Jesus came to establish God's kingdom on earth, where the will of God would be done on earth as in heaven. The more stable, radical, profound and all-embracing was the voluntary, loving obedience of the creature who welcomed God's kingdom , the more stable and profound would be God's rule. His weapon was the Incarnation, with the two wills, human and divine, acting in perfect synergy. Christ established his Kingdom for his Father, not by conquering, but by a life of obedience "unto death".
"…7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
All that is morally evil in the world is the fruit of a radical disobedience, a radical refusal to allow God in, a flight from and rebellion against the very kenotic Love by which creation exists. When carried to extremes, it is so far from the Source of Being, so close to non-existence, that it can rightly be called Darkness. As the light of Christ's obedience to his Father grows with his self-surrender, his self-sacrifice in love, so the darkness of disobedience is diminished and expelled because the Father is filling this obedience with his love. "He ascended into hell". As a Russian priest wrote:
He [Christ] went where man had gone in his madness, to that profundity and that distance. There is in fact no limit to human fallenness, either. And the Lord descends into Hades, to the very depths of human sin, and there is no terrible, vile, and heinous sin that man has done to which Christ has not reached, which Christ has not touched, which Christ has not taken upon Himself. There is no abomination that Christ has not experienced through His crucifixion and His descent into Hades.
It is precisely because He experienced this, that He attained this, that He reached each one of us in our sin, in our fallenness, that He gives us the opportunity to attain to such heights to which no one had ascended, save the Son of Man. source: Pravmir
There are two scenes in the Gospels that belong together, two feasts in the Church's calendar that are a pair with forty days between them. The two scenes are the Transfiguration and the Garden of Gethsemane; the two feast are the Transfiguration and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: each scene and each feast explains the other. Peter, James and John sleep in both scenes, in one out of wonder and in the other out of sadness. Yet it is the very desperate struggle of Christ, intent on being obedient unto death in the most extreme circumstances that is the vehicle of God's uncreated light so evident in the Transfiguration. The darkness of almost non-existence, brought about by radical disobedience to the Source of Light, is being dispersed by the light of Christ's obedience. By death on the Cross, Christ is conquering death. The obliteration of darkness and the spreading of light throughout the world is the principal theme of the Easter Vigil.
The purpose of a Christian Year of Jubilee, a "year of mercy", is to encourage people to start again, setting them free from all debts, restraints, punishments that impede a new start, just as long as they change direction (repent) and hand over their whole life to God in union with Christ. There is nothing right wing or left wing, conservative, liberal or progressive about any of this. Such adjectives are simply too trivial, banal and superficial to be of any use. It is simply basic Christianity, the meaning of the Resurrection, the basic Gospel for our time.
Since the"year of the Lord's favour" is now a permanent reality for Christians, when a pope calls a jubilee, it becomes an occasion for the Church to be more truly itself, to do more consciously in that year what it is bound to do all the time: it is a challenge to authenticity.
To help us, I am putting together N.T. Wright, who was Anglican Bishop of Durham and is recognised as perhaps the leading New Testament scholar of our time, Pope Benedict XVI who is, to say the least, one of the most prestigious Catholic theologians of our time, and Pope Francis. All three, in their separate ways, preach the same basic Gospel message that forms the theme of the Year of Mercy.
I put Popes Benedict and Francis together because I do not believe that their versions of Catholicism differ in substance. They even share a favourite theologian in Henri de Lubac! Both accept basic Catholic teaching and have a very intelligent and spiritually profound understanding of it. Both, like Pope John Paul II, realise that the modern world needs a new evangelisation. Where they differ is that one is a German academic theologian, while the other is a South American pastor whose theology has had to be re-learned on the streets of Buenos Aires. This may have led to a difference of opinion as to the likelihood of Catholic marriages being valid in a population that is largely unevangelised, and what to do about it. We shall be looking into that question at the end of this post.
For the present, watch and listen to the videos of N.T. Wright, especially the first and the last; read Pope Benedict's sermon on the resurrection of Christ; and then read carefully what the Year of Mercy means to Pope Francis, in his own words.
Remember what Pope Benedict says:
The Resurrection was like an explosion of light, an explosion of love which dissolved the hitherto indissoluble compenetration of "dying and becoming". It ushered in a new dimension of being, a new dimension of life in which, in a transformed way, matter too was integrated and through which a new world emerges.
We already enter by faith and baptism into this new world and share in its very essence in holy communion. To allow us to live this new life, to make use of our new capabilities, to take up our new duties, to activate our new charisms as people in whom Christ lives, Christ unshackles us from our past and forgives our sins. To heighten awareness of this process and to bring people into it, both as evangelisers and as evangelised, is the purpose of the Year of Mercy.
Remember also what N.T. Wright says in his last video,"The living God can actually come into distraught, 'don't know how to cope' situations, and actually transform them, right now." This is because we have a job to do, to proclaim the message, "Repent and be released from your sins." This is not just a message about the past, nor is it only about the distant future This is not a message only for individuals, but for families, towns and peoples. It is about Christ's living presence here and now, addressing people here and now, calling us into the new dimension brought about and revealed in Christ's resurrection. Once people realise that they have been going the wrong way and change direction to do the will of God, God will take away all that has been holding them back and will transform their situation from within by Christ's presence. That is evangelisation.
.."
The Atonement Debate
How God Became King
The Meaning of the Resurrection
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
Vatican Basilica
Holy Saturday, 15 April 2006
"You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here" (Mk 16:6). With these words, God’s messenger, robed in light, spoke to the women who were looking for the body of Jesus in the tomb. But the Evangelist says the same thing to us on this holy night: Jesus is not a character from the past. He lives, and he walks before us as one who is alive, he calls us to follow him, the living one, and in this way to discover for ourselves too the path of life.
"He has risen, he is not here." When Jesus spoke for the first time to the disciples about the Cross and the Resurrection, as they were coming down from the Mount of the Transfiguration, they questioned what "rising from the dead" meant (Mk 9:10). At Easter we rejoice because Christ did not remain in the tomb, his body did not see corruption; he belongs to the world of the living, not to the world of the dead; we rejoice because he is the Alpha and also the Omega, as we proclaim in the rite of the Paschal Candle; he lives not only yesterday, but today and for eternity (cf. Heb 13:8).
But somehow the Resurrection is situated so far beyond our horizon, so far outside all our experience that, returning to ourselves, we find ourselves continuing the argument of the disciples: Of what exactly does this "rising" consist? What does it mean for us, for the whole world and the whole of history? A German theologian once said ironically that the miracle of a corpse returning to life - if it really happened, which he did not actually believe - would be ultimately irrelevant precisely because it would not concern us. In fact, if it were simply that somebody was once brought back to life, and no more than that, in what way should this concern us? But the point is that Christ’s Resurrection is something more, something different. If we may borrow the language of the theory of evolution, it is the greatest "mutation", absolutely the most crucial leap into a totally new dimension that there has ever been in the long history of life and its development: a leap into a completely new order which does concern us, and concerns the whole of history.
The discussion, that began with the disciples, would therefore include the following questions: What happened there? What does it mean for us, for the whole world and for me personally? Above all: what happened? Jesus is no longer in the tomb. He is in a totally new life. But how could this happen? What forces were in operation? The crucial point is that this man Jesus was not alone, he was not an "I" closed in upon itself. He was one single reality with the living God, so closely united with him as to form one person with him. He found himself, so to speak, in an embrace with him who is life itself, an embrace not just on the emotional level, but one which included and permeated his being. His own life was not just his own, it was an existential communion with God, a "being taken up" into God, and hence it could not in reality be taken away from him. Out of love, he could allow himself to be killed, but precisely by doing so he broke the definitiveness of death, because in him the definitiveness of life was present. He was one single reality with indestructible life, in such a way that it burst forth anew through death. Let us express the same thing once again from another angle. His death was an act of love. At the Last Supper he anticipated death and transformed it into self-giving. His existential communion with God was concretely an existential communion with God’s love, and this love is the real power against death, it is stronger than death. The Resurrection was like an explosion of light, an explosion of love which dissolved the hitherto indissoluble compenetration of "dying and becoming". It ushered in a new dimension of being, a new dimension of life in which, in a transformed way, matter too was integrated and through which a new world emerges.
It is clear that this event is not just some miracle from the past, the occurrence of which could be ultimately a matter of indifference to us. It is a qualitative leap in the history of "evolution" and of life in general towards a new future life, towards a new world which, starting from Christ, already continuously permeates this world of ours, transforms it and draws it to itself. But how does this happen? How can this event effectively reach me and draw my life upwards towards itself? The answer, perhaps surprising at first but totally real, is: this event comes to me through faith and Baptism. For this reason Baptism is part of the Easter Vigil, as we see clearly in our celebration today, when the sacraments of Christian initiation will be conferred on a group of adults from various countries. Baptism means precisely this, that we are not dealing with an event in the past, but that a qualitative leap in world history comes to me, seizing hold of me in order to draw me on.
Baptism is something quite different from an act of ecclesial socialization, from a slightly old-fashioned and complicated rite for receiving people into the Church. It is also more than a simple washing, more than a kind of purification and beautification of the soul. It is truly death and resurrection, rebirth, transformation to a new life.
How can we understand this? I think that what happens in Baptism can be more easily explained for us if we consider the final part of the short spiritual autobiography that Saint Paul gave us in his Letter to the Galatians. Its concluding words contain the heart of this biography: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal 2:20). I live, but I am no longer I. The "I", the essential identity of man - of this man, Paul - has been changed. He still exists, and he no longer exists. He has passed through a "not" and he now finds himself continually in this "not": I, but no longer I.
With these words, Paul is not describing some mystical experience which could perhaps have been granted him, and could be of interest to us from a historical point of view, if at all. No, this phrase is an expression of what happened at Baptism. My "I" is taken away from me and is incorporated into a new and greater subject. This means that my "I" is back again, but now transformed, broken up, opened through incorporation into the other, in whom it acquires its new breadth of existence. Paul explains the same thing to us once again from another angle when, in Chapter Three of the Letter to the Galatians, he speaks of the "promise", saying that it was given to an individual - to one person: to Christ. He alone carries within himself the whole "promise". But what then happens with us? Paul answers: You have become one in Christ (cf. Gal 3:28). Not just one thing, but one, one only, one single new subject. This liberation of our "I" from its isolation, this finding oneself in a new subject means finding oneself within the vastness of God and being drawn into a life which has now moved out of the context of "dying and becoming". The great explosion of the Resurrection has seized us in Baptism so as to draw us on. Thus we are associated with a new dimension of life into which, amid the tribulations of our day, we are already in some way introduced. To live one’s own life as a continual entry into this open space: this is the meaning of being baptized, of being Christian. This is the joy of the Easter Vigil. The Resurrection is not a thing of the past, the Resurrection has reached us and seized us. We grasp hold of it, we grasp hold of the risen Lord, and we know that he holds us firmly even when our hands grow weak. We grasp hold of his hand, and thus we also hold on to one another’s hands, and we become one single subject, not just one thing. I, but no longer I: this is the formula of Christian life rooted in Baptism, the formula of the Resurrection within time. I, but no longer I: if we live in this way, we transform the world. It is a formula contrary to all ideologies of violence, it is a programme opposed to corruption and to the desire for power and possession.
"I live and you will live also", says Jesus in Saint John’s Gospel (14:19) to his disciples, that is, to us. We will live through our existential communion with him, through being taken up into him who is life itself. Eternal life, blessed immortality, we have not by ourselves or in ourselves, but through a relation - through existential communion with him who is Truth and Love and is therefore eternal: God himself. Simple indestructibility of the soul by itself could not give meaning to eternal life, it could not make it a true life. Life comes to us from being loved by him who is Life; it comes to us from living-with and loving-with him. I, but no longer I: this is the way of the Cross, the way that "crosses over" a life simply closed in on the I, thereby opening up the road towards true and lasting joy.
Thus we can sing full of joy, together with the Church, in the words of the Exsultet: "Sing, choirs of angels . . . rejoice, O earth!" The Resurrection is a cosmic event, which includes heaven and earth and links them together. In the words of the Exsultet once again, we can proclaim: "Christ . . . who came back from the dead and shed his peaceful light on all mankind, your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever". Amen!
LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS ACCORDING TO WHICH AN INDULGENCE IS GRANTED TO THE FAITHFUL ON THE OCCASION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF MERCY
To My Venerable Brother
Archbishop Rino Fisichella
President of the Pontifical Council
for the Promotion of the New Evangelization
With the approach of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy I would like to focus on several points which I believe require attention to enable the celebration of the Holy Year to be for all believers a true moment of encounter with the mercy of God. It is indeed my wish that the Jubilee be a living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible, so that the faith of every believer may be strengthened and thus testimony to it be ever more effective.
My thought first of all goes to all the faithful who, whether in individual Dioceses or as pilgrims to Rome, will experience the grace of the Jubilee. I wish that the Jubilee Indulgence may reach each one as a genuine experience of God’s mercy, which comes to meet each person in the Face of the Father who welcomes and forgives, forgetting completely the sin committed. To experience and obtain the Indulgence, the faithful are called to make a brief pilgrimage to the Holy Door, open in every Cathedral or in the churches designated by the Diocesan Bishop, and in the four Papal Basilicas in Rome, as a sign of the deep desire for true conversion. Likewise, I dispose that the Indulgence may be obtained in the Shrines in which the Door of Mercy is open and in the churches which traditionally are identified as Jubilee Churches. It is important that this moment be linked, first and foremost, to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with a reflection on mercy. It will be necessary to accompany these celebrations with the profession of faith and with prayer for me and for the intentions that I bear in my heart for the good of the Church and of the entire world.
Additionally, I am thinking of those for whom, for various reasons, it will be impossible to enter the Holy Door, particularly the sick and people who are elderly and alone, often confined to the home. For them it will be of great help to live their sickness and suffering as an experience of closeness to the Lord who in the mystery of his Passion, death and Resurrection indicates the royal road which gives meaning to pain and loneliness. Living with faith and joyful hope this moment of trial, receiving communion or attending Holy Mass and community prayer, even through the various means of communication, will be for them the means of obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence. My thoughts also turn to those incarcerated, whose freedom is limited. The Jubilee Year has always constituted an opportunity for great amnesty, which is intended to include the many people who, despite deserving punishment, have become conscious of the injustice they worked and sincerely wish to re-enter society and make their honest contribution to it. May they all be touched in a tangible way by the mercy of the Father who wants to be close to those who have the greatest need of his forgiveness. They may obtain the Indulgence in the chapels of the prisons. May the gesture of directing their thought and prayer to the Father each time they cross the threshold of their cell signify for them their passage through the Holy Door, because the mercy of God is able to transform hearts, and is also able to transform bars into an experience of freedom.
I have asked the Church in this Jubilee Year to rediscover the richness encompassed by the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The experience of mercy, indeed, becomes visible in the witness of concrete signs as Jesus himself taught us. Each time that one of the faithful personally performs one or more of these actions, he or she shall surely obtain the Jubilee Indulgence. Hence the commitment to live by mercy so as to obtain the grace of complete and exhaustive forgiveness by the power of the love of the Father who excludes no one. The Jubilee Indulgence is thus full, the fruit of the very event which is to be celebrated and experienced with faith, hope and charity.
Furthermore, the Jubilee Indulgence can also be obtained for the deceased. We are bound to them by the witness of faith and charity that they have left us. Thus, as we remember them in the Eucharistic celebration, thus we can, in the great mystery of the Communion of Saints, pray for them, that the merciful Face of the Father free them of every remnant of fault and strongly embrace them in the unending beatitude.
One of the serious problems of our time is clearly the changed relationship with respect to life. A widespread and insensitive mentality has led to the loss of the proper personal and social sensitivity to welcome new life. The tragedy of abortion is experienced by some with a superficial awareness, as if not realizing the extreme harm that such an act entails. Many others, on the other hand, although experiencing this moment as a defeat, believe they they have no other option. I think in particular of all the women who have resorted to abortion. I am well aware of the pressure that has led them to this decision. I know that it is an existential and moral ordeal. I have met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision. What has happened is profoundly unjust; yet only understanding the truth of it can enable one not to lose hope. The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented, especially when that person approaches the Sacrament of Confession with a sincere heart in order to obtain reconciliation with the Father. For this reason too, I have decided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it. May priests fulfil this great task by expressing words of genuine welcome combined with a reflection that explains the gravity of the sin committed, besides indicating a path of authentic conversion by which to obtain the true and generous forgiveness of the Father who renews all with his presence.
A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X. This Jubilee Year of Mercy excludes no one. From various quarters, several Brother Bishops have told me of their good faith and sacramental practice, combined however with an uneasy situation from the pastoral standpoint. I trust that in the near future solutions may be found to recover full communion with the priests and superiors of the Fraternity. In the meantime, motivated by the need to respond to the good of these faithful, through my own disposition, I establish that those who during the Holy Year of Mercy approach these priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation shall validly and licitly receive the absolution of their sins.
Trusting in the intercession of the Mother of Mercy, I entrust the preparations for this Extraordinary Jubilee Year to her protection.
From the Vatican, 1 September 2015
This letter is neither left wing nor right wing, liberal or conservative. Some blog writers who are obsessed with their own sick view on whatever Pope Francis does, have exclaimed that this letter tells women that they can have abortions whenever they like. Clearly, they have not read the letter.
The letter deals with two kinds of people who could have been all too easily left out. The gift of mercy is for absolutely everyone who asks for it. Women and others involved in abortion normally must seek absolution only from priests designated by the bishop, thus underlining the gravity of the sin. So that all who repent can receive absolution, all priests may absolve this sin, thus underlining the mercy of God.
Another group of people could also make things difficult for people to receive mercy are the schismatic priests of the Society of Pope Pius X. As they and their bishops are out of communion with Rome, their bishops cannot give the priests jurisdiction to absolve. This is a consequence of being in open rebellion against papal authority. In this letter, the pope grants to these priests the faculty that their bishops cannot give them to hear confessions , so that ALL may receive mercy.
It must be understood that any change of emphasis or of rules that is sought by Pope Francis does not involve a change in the basic teaching of the Church. The Church will still teach after the Synod that Christian marriage, for example, is for life. It is not the doctrine of marriage that the Pope wants to change - he has repeated the traditional teaching many times - but the rules governing marriage. He wants rules that make possible the New Evangelisation. Here are a few of the changes that are being discussed:
A large part of the Christian population is unevangelised. This means that there are many Catholics simply do not have the spiritual stamina to observe Jesus' teaching on marriage "till death do us part." While being legally Catholics, they take their standards from the contemporary world, not from the Gospel; and statistics show that their marriages are no more stable than those of their non-Christian neighbours. All the evidence points to the probability that, in matter of marriage, that their baptism is inert. The Canon Law does not take that into account. It can be argued that unevangelised Christians are incapable of having a valid Christian marriage because this assumes an intimacy with God that they do not have, and a view of marriage that they only, at the very best, pay lip-service to.
It could be argued that lukewarm Catholics are often more formed by facebook and television, by secular culture rather than by what the have learned of their faith, and that this has so distorted their values that they too often probably enter invalid marriages.
All this becomes important when these people are in the process of being brought into a new relationship with God through the New Evangelisation. This new outreach by the Church to lapsed Christian does call for a revision of present Canon Law that presumes that a Christian marriage is valid when a large number of them very probably aren't.
There is a third situation: that of people who have conducted a valid marriage, but that marriage has broken up, and both partners have new families. They have committed adultery; but the new family has children, and the new couple have returned to the faith and have become practising Catholics, sending their kids to Catholic schools, attending Mass, and doing everything short of breaking up the new family. One thing that we all agree is that the second union is not a sacramental marriage because only the first one was that. Pope Francis is in total agreement, as is Cardinal Kasper. They are not going to change the basic teaching of the Church. The differences lie in what to do with a member of a family who has committed adultery by "marrying" someone else and now has another family. There are three possible attitudes to the new family: a) it is simply an adultrous union, the first marriage being ontologically in existence, even if the couple have completely separated. It is against the will of God, the couple is in mortal sin and, of course cannot go to communion. b) it began life as an adulterous union; but once its members began to live a Christian life, to support one another in the faith, and to be a means of grace for the children, it became something else, a Christian community, even though something less than a sacramental family. Comparison has been made with a Protestant ecclesial community which lacks the structure of a sacramental local church, but has become a means of grace to its members because of the mercy of God and the action of the Holy Spirit. Like an ecclesial community that can function imperfectly as a church for its members, it shares some of the functions of a sacramentally united family, but is cannot symbolise the unity of Christ with his Church because it lacks the "once and for always" quality.
When a second union is functioning in this way, can the couple go to communion? "No," says Pope Benedict, "Because the existence of this family unit is contrary to the plan of God and the teaching of the Church. But they must consider themselves as real members of the Church, and practise as far as they can, making do with 'spiritual communion' at the Eucharist, instead of sacramental communion." "Yes," says Cardinal Kasper, "Because they are not excommunicated; nor are they to be considered in mortal sin, because no one in unrepented mortal sin can make even a spiritual communion because his supernatural life is dead (which is what 'mortal sin' means). Once it is admitted that they can make a spiritual communion, there is no reason for keeping them away from sacramental communion. Besides, the pastoral good that comes from parents and children communicating together , and the spiritual good to them that allows them to give a wholehearted response to the New Evangelisation outweighs any good that comes from keeping the old rules.
It must be remembered that the situation that would allow people in second, non-sacramental families to go to communion demands the context of a whole-hearted conversion to Christ where, from the moment of this conversion, they strive to live by the values of the kingdom.
Cardinal Burke and company are confusing Law with the Gospel. Or, perhaps, they believe the best way to defend the Church against secular society is to build a wall and hide behind it, enabling them to carry on as they have always done, oblivious to the plight of all on the other side of the wall.
Canon Law is based on the teaching of the Church, but is not identical with it. Laws made by the Church to back up Christian civil society can become an obstacle to evangelisation when, after the collapse of Christendom, we wish to hold out a helping hand to the victims who have been wounded by a secular society without God.
The picture of the Catholic Church used as a paradigm in Vatican I, of a perfect society united by the universal jurisdiction of the pope, is true, but can only give a limited insight by itself into the nature of the Church; and there is no room in it to recognise the ecclesial reality of the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches nor the more limited but no less real reality of the ecclesial communities of the Reformation. We need the eucharistic ecclesiology of Vatican II and seeing the Christian llife as essentially communion to do justice to the wider picture. For exactly the same reason, to deal with marriage as a holy but basically legal contract, and to deal with the whole subject in terms of Canon Law,and in degrees of legal certainty rather than in terms of communion of persons, is incapable of appreciating the wider picture. Thus, to say that "They are unable to be admitted thereto from the fact that their state and condition of life objectively contradict that union of love between Christ and the Church which is signified and effected by the Eucharist” is not accurate because a legalistic approach simply cannot cope with an adulterous union becoming, through conversion, a non-sacramental but real instance of living in communion with Christ, any more than the paradigm of the Church as a perfect society can do justice to churches separated from Rome by schism.
SEPTEMBER 25th FEAST OF
ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS
ABBOT PAUL'S HOMILY
St Michael and All Angels 2015
“I tell you solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.”
The first Christian monks believed that this word of Jesus to Nathanael was as much the basis of their vocation as the texts from the Acts of the Apostles describing the life of the first Christian community in Jerusalem. So together with the terms Apostolic Life and Coenobitic Life, the early monks and nuns used the term Angelic Life to describe the wonderful way to which the Lord had called them the live. So the Belmont Community, that has the privilege of living under the protection of St Michael and All Angels, is a community not just of apostles and coenobites: we are angels, for that is what God has called us to be like, a choir of angels. And the longer you live in the community and get to know the brethren, the more you come to realise how true that is.
Why were the desert fathers so struck by the similarity of a monk’s life to that of an angel? To begin with, the Bible constantly tells us that the angels stand in God’s presence night and day singing his praises, worshipping his majesty, sharing in his glory, enjoying his presence, seeing his face. That is what a monk seeks to do, through the grace and mercy of God. We are aware of God’s presence not only when we gather together in church to celebrate the liturgy, but also in the refectory, the calefactory, the cloister, our cells, the parishes and other places where we work, in fact, wherever we happen to be. The desire to practise continuous prayer leads us to seek God and find him in all the circumstances of our lives, whatever we are doing, and in all people.
The Scriptures also tell us that the angels are God’s messengers and servants. Has it ever struck you that only an angel can evangelise? So our vocation, such a tremendous gift of God, calls us to proclaim the truth and the beauty of God’s word, the wisdom and the righteousness of his will, his extraordinary and gracious love for creation and for each one of his creatures. At the same time, we are called to serve the monastic community, our brethren, with charity and humility and without murmuring, as St Benedict repeatedly reminds us in the Holy Rule. And there is a wider call to service in the Church and in the world. Just think what Christian monks and nuns have contributed to mankind, to civilization, in so many areas of life.
In our abbey church, we are all aware of the many angels who surround us and accompany us in our prayer: they are just everywhere. Yet, the angels we see depicted in art are only a reminder of the countless angels we cannot see with our eyes but are truly present when we join in their song of adoration: Holy, Holy, Holy. They speak powerfully to us of what and who we are called to be in the mystery of God’s love and the intentions of his Divine heart. May today’s feast and this celebration help us remember that we must become as the angels, light as a feather on the breath of God in the singing of his praises, prophetic messengers and obedient servants of the Lord in preaching his word, nothing without Him but everything with Him.
On behalf of the monastic community, I wish you all a very happy feast day and to the brethren, who celebrate the anniversary of a profession or an ordination, every prayer and blessing. May the angels lead us all into paradise today and for ever. Amen.
Posted by Father David Bird O.S.B. at 14:24 No comments: Links to this post
THE CROSS AS A WAY OF LIFE by ARCHPRIEST STEPHEN FREEMAN | EVERY HUMAN BEING HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW CHRIST by METROPOLITAN HILARION ALFEYEV
my source: Pravmir
Our lives make sense. This may not always seem to be true, but it is. For each of us, there are inner principles that guide our decisions and prioritize our actions. Life is not entirely random.
Much of that inner sense of things is not conscious. The day becomes very busy, and we can’t stop and analyze each action and think about its meaning and purpose. Sometimes, you just have to drive the kids to school, go to the store, the doctor, two other places, and do a dozen things at home and have dinner on the table. Our inner sense on many days is just survival.
We are not particularly burdened by our hardships, not when compared to the stretch of history. But we often neglect the true principles of our lives. “Necessity” is a very empty principle for getting through the day.
The central point of the Christian life is the Cross. It is more than a single event in history. It is The Event in history and continues as an eternal presence. The Cross of Christ is the revelation of God’s true life in the world. The Cross is the proper shape of our existence. But what does that mean? Especially on a daily basis?
For one, it means that our true lives are not centered in ourselves. We are not created to be self-fulfilling. Our lives, especially in difficulty, find their right shape as we give ourselves to others. The Other and not the Self is the way of the Cross. This is extremely counter to our culture. Of course, the fullness of the Other is God. St. Paul says that our “true life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). We can only find ourselves outside of ourselves. There are very practical ways of applying this in our lives.
Prayer is directing our hearts outside of ourselves and towards God. Pray.
Kindness places the other ahead of ourselves. Be kind.
Giving thanks acknowledges that our lives are not the products of our own efforts, but a gift from God. Give thanks always, for all things.
Forgiveness accepts the fact that our actions have consequences and the lives of those around us. The refusal to forgive is a radical separation of ourselves from others. Forgive. Forgive everyone for everything.
We do not exist to consume. We have our daily needs. Satisfying them is enough. If our true life is found outside of ourselves, then sharing what we have with others is the most natural thing to do with our possessions. Give stuff away. The more, the better.
Lying is the ultimate act of selfishness. It is an attempt to create a false reality that exists only in our own perverse attempt to remake the world and avoid the truth. Do not lie. Do not participate in the lie.
The Cross is the way of life. Learn to love the Cross. Make the sign of the Cross frequently. Indeed the Fathers say we should cross ourselves before beginning anything. And when we are done, we cross ourselves in thanksgiving. The Cross is the remembrance of God and the truth of our lives. Our lives are not our own. They belong to the Crucified God who invites His friends to join Him in the most pure act of love.
Love God. Love His Cross.
Metropolitan Hilarion: Every human being has an opportunity to follow Christ
METROPOLITAN HILARION (ALFEYEV) | 25 AUGUST 2015
On 23 August 2015, 12th Sunday after Pentecost, commemoration day of St Sabbas of Storozhi, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the “Joy to All the Afflicted” Icon of the Mother of God in Bolshaya Ordynka Street, Moscow.Metropolitan Hilarion: Every human being has an opportunity to follow Christ
Photo: https://mospat.ru/
Concelebrating with the archpastor were Archimandrite Andrei (Krekhov), father superior of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in the city of Ryazan; Archpriest Chad Hatfield, Chancellor of St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York (Orthodox Church in America); and clergymen of the church.
A delegation of the Anglican Church in North America, led by its primate, Archbishop Dr. Foley Beach, attended the service.
After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion delivered an archpastoral homily, saying in particular:
“This Sunday, when we are still celebrating the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we have heard a lesson from the Gospel according to Matthew about a young man who came to the Lord and asked Him what he had to do to inherit the Heavenly Kingdom (Cf. Mt. 19:16).
“As you know, the commandments of the Law of Moses were written on two tables of stone; supposedly, the first four commandments pertaining directly to the veneration of God were written on one of the tables, while the other had the commandments dealing with relationships between people.
“Answering to the young man, the Lord Jesus Christ cited those commandments from the Law of Moses that deal with relationships between people. The young man said in response, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” The Lord said to him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and… come and follow me” (Mt. 19:20-22).
“Of course, Christ felt that the young man was rich and that for him to sell his property and give the money to the poor meant to leave everything in order to follow Him. We know that the Lord did not call everyone He met to follow Him. When Christ was walking by the sea of Galilee and saw fishers there, He chose four of them, saying, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt. 4:19). When someone He had called said, “Suffer me first to go and bury my father,” He replied to him, “Let the dead bury their dead” (Mt. 8:21-22).
“The rest of people hear Christ’s another words. Firstly, He calls upon them to fulfill the commandments which had been the foundation of human society for centuries. Secondly, He says that salvation, impossible for men to attain on their own, is possible with God. Therefore, if the man is not ready to give all his possessions to the poor in order to follow Christ it does not mean that the doors to the Heavenly Kingdom are closed for him.
“The Lord does not demand that all people should give up everything they have. He expects each of us to regard Him and His commandments as the cornerstone of our life and to use what we have for our own benefit and for the benefit of our neighbours. It relates not only to material things. Some people receive from the Lord wealth, others, intellect, still others, compassionate and merciful heart. Every man has something to share with his neighbours. After all, every human being has an opportunity to follow Christ.
“Let us live according to the commandments of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us learn lessons from the Gospel readings we hear every Sunday. And when we cannot go to church, let us at home read the pericope intended for a particular day of the liturgical year. Thus we will be able to read the whole Gospel at least once a year and take in all the wisdom, strength and grace which are poured out to us from the divinely-inspired pages written by the Apostles through whom Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself speaks to us. Amen.”
Metropolitan Hilarion also greeted the members of the delegation of the Anglican Church in North America, led by Archbishop Foley Beach, and Archpriest Chad Hatfield (Orthodox Church in America) who was accompanying the delegation. The DECR chairman said, in particular, “Our guests represent a conservative wing of the Church of England, which does not accept the novelties made manifest, to our regret, in the Anglican Communion and Protestant communities.” Metropolitan Hilarion mentioned that during his visit to the United States he had been to Nashotah House Theological Seminary, WI, the stronghold of traditional Anglicanism. On 26 October 2012, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk was honoured the degree of doctor honoris causa at the Nashotah House Seminary.
WHAT IS THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA?
SOME THOUGHTS ON ANGLICANISM - OCCASIONED BY THE OPENING OF THE STANSELM COMMUNITY
With thirty four years in Peru and my ecumenical interests being directly aimed at the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, the Anglican Church has become almost a distant memory. Almost, because the memory has been kept alive by my continued pleasure when I read anything by C.S. Lewis. However, with the coming of Pope Francis and the almost simultaneous ascent of Justin Welby to the see of Canterbury, my interest in the Anglican Church has been given a new lease of life. When the Archbishop-elect was asked what kind of person he would like to see as pope, he answered, "Someone I can pray with." God must have been listening because he certainly got what he had asked for.
In fact, they come from opposite ends of the ecclesial spectrum. There is no doubt that the pope is a dyed in the wool Catholic, and Justin Welby would not hesitate to say that he is a Protestant, belonging to the "evangelical" wing of the Anglican Church. Yet both men have had a faith journey in which their versions of Christianity have ended up looking very much like each other. As I said in the last article, I don't believe there has been any time since the Reformation when a pope and an archbishop of Canterbury have been so close, so spiritually akin to one another. One could even draw the conclusion that God was involved in both appointments!
Yet it has happened at a time when the Anglican Church is showing itself to be a church so very different from the Catholic Church and from the other apostolic churches like the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox that unity appears a distant dream..
All these Apostolic churches, like the Catholic Church, believe themselves to be bound by Tradition. Tradition is how the Gospel has been understood, lived and passed down from the time of the Apostles. This understanding, living and passing down is the result of the synergy between the Holy Spirit and the Church as body of Christ, and is intimately bound up with the epiclesis and the corresponding Spirit's activity in the Mass. In fact, the liturgy is the main expression of what Catholics normally call the ordinary magisterium: lex orandi, lex credendi. The sacramental nature of the Church means that the Church's understanding of the Gospel is more than the sum total of the opinions of the individuals who make up the Church. It is the communal mind of those who share in the liturgy. When a new question arises, it cannot be simply answered by a majority vote: it has to be shown that the answer is faithful to Tradition.
The problem with women bishops and priests is that they have been unknown in Christianity for two thousand years, even though there were women who were witnesses to the resurrected Christ, and even though priestesses existed in pagan religions and must have been available as models to the early Christians. For this reason, both Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI simply said that they had no authority to make such a change. The various patriarchs would say the same. It is not because they are conservative and don't want to: it would inevitably mean that we would have to revise our understanding of the relationship between the Holy Spirit and Tradition. For churches with their roots in apostolic times, Tradition is above law because Tradition is a work of the Holy Spirit as well as a work of the Church, while law requires only human prudence.
In contrast, the Protestant Reformation abolished the authority of Tradition and put in its place "sola scriptura". Each individual interprets the Bible for himself, helped, it is hoped, by the Holy Spirit. If they interpreted Scripture according to a tradition set by their founders, they did not notice it. The Anglican Church is Protestant in that each individual is his own interpreter of revelation. The bishops can only reflect those beliefs. Many have given up the distinctive principles of the Reformation and have embraced the Christian faith of the Fathers (High Church) or even of modern Catholicism (Anglo-Catholic), but they do so like Protestants, picking and choosing as they go along. Others are very definitely Protestant Evangelicals. Actually, this is the most alive wing of the Angican Church. Famous parishes like All Souls, Langham Place in London or "Platt" in Manchester - I have forgotten its name - hum with activity and enthusiastic holiness. It is from this wing that the present Archbishop comes.
In the middle are the middle-of-the-road Anglicans, vaguely Protestant, for whom all doctrine is mere opinion, who normally embrace with what enthusiasm they can muster the values of the day, because they have no clearly held Christian values of their own. Let us not dismiss them too promptly because they are the majority of English people; and it is largely due to them that Britain is the second largest doner in the world of aid to third world countries, and has contributed more aid to the Syrian refugees than all the other European Union countries combined.
Simply because the beliefs of the Anglican Church are equal to the sum of all the individual beliefs of Anglicans combined, the Church of England could resolve the problem of women priests, and then of women bishops by a simple vote, thus showing the difference between them and the other episcopal churches with whom high churchmen usually wish to be associated.
Just at that time, when ecumenism appeared to be in the doldrums, the episcopal chairs of St Peter and St Augustine were filled by two people who could be soul-mates. I suspect that it is the Charismatic Renewal that has opened up the world of each of them to the other. I suspect that both would agree with the words on ecumenism spoken by Peter Kreeft, a convert to Catholicm:
Both Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby put a great emphasis on a personal relationship with Christ which urges us to pray and to announce the Good News, introducing Christ to others. Here is the pope speaking on evangelisation. What is the most important thing? Jesus.
Here we have Archbishop Justin Welby talking about evangelisation:
His message, especially in the second video, is typically Evangelical. Yet, as we have seen in the previous article, his spiritual director is a Swiss Catholic priest, he adores Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, goes on pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and he is a Benedictine oblate of what used to be Nashdom Abbey. This is not a "typical Anglican fuzziness", but a sign of his growing vision of what Christianity is. He is especially convinced of the need for the testimonies of religious communities.
He has a Catholic but ecumenical community in Lambeth Palace called Chemin Neuf:
There is now a brand new "monastic" community called the St Anselm Community.
Archbishop Welby launches monastic community at Lambeth Palace
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/archbishop.welby.launches.monastic.community.at.lambeth.palace/65148.htm 5 days ago
Young people and their families gathered in the Archbishop's Chapel at Lambeth Palace today to celebrate the launch of the community of St Anselm; a monastic-style year-long programme focused on prayer and service to the poor.
It was a relaxed affair; though featuring a number of sombre prayers of commitment and traditional hymns, the service was undoubtedly a celebration - punctuated with worship songs from countries around the world, choral arrangements by the St Martin's Voices were met with bongo drums. The 36 new community members - all aged between 20 and 35 - come from five continents and countries as far flung as Kenya and Australia, and parts of the service were conducted in French, Spanish and Swedish. As Archbishop Justin Welby called each member by name, they stood to acknowledge their new role, declaring "I am here" in their native language; echoing the words of Moses in Exodus 3 which was read at the beginning of the service.
Welby began his sermon with his trademark jovial style. Noting that many bishops have been consecrated in the chapel, he said to appreciative laughter, "this is a place where people have gone from here to suffering, to martyrdom, and here we are today...I'm sorry, that's probably a bad illustration."
He spoke of the importance of grace found in community, adding that St Anselm is not unique or rare, but is rather joining a tradition of religious communities that have existed throughout the centuries. "They are ancient and current reflections of the love of God seen in the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in which people risk everything to emulate that love," he said. "A love that is so great that it overflows infinitely into the world from the Father, in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus and in the sending of the Holy Spirit. Changed by the love which finds and directs us, changed by that grace, we too are to be sources of love and renewal."
Lambeth Palace20 of the members will be living in Lambeth Palace as residents, while 16 will continue working and join the community part time. All will follow a 'Rule of Life', drawn from the 6th century monastic group of St Benedict, and will take part in Ignatian prayer, while also following the example of Pope Francis in serving vulnerable people. It's likely to be a far cry from what many are used to; 23-year-old Peter Angelica spoke of coming to London from the US, where he has been working as an analyst in an investment bank. He admitted to having previously had doubts about leaving the noise of New York for monastic living, but said the value of being embedded in a loving community was evident. Another young woman, Frances Germain, has been a doctor working in A&E for the past two years, and will continue to do that alongside her commitments at Lambeth.
The Palace itself has, historically, "been a place of privilege, of power, even oppression in darker times," Welby said, adding - to laughter - that its prison is still usable. But the community will endeavour to embody grace - "the most beautiful word in the language of God".
RELATEDApplications to 'spend a year in God's time' at Lambeth Palace open todayLambeth prayer community is 'a thing of God, it can't be anything else' says new Prior'Working for peace begins on our knees': Archbishop's chaplain on prayerThe young nuns: Justin Welby invites young people to live monastic life at Lambeth Palace"In that prison, there was no grace," he said. "In this community, we offer the invitation to grace."
When he became Archbishop, Welby declared that his first priority was for the renewal of prayer and religious life across the Church. Today, he said he hopes the community of St Anselm will be prophetic; challenging both the Church and wider society, and speaking "God's truth to itself and to the world."
"Grace reaches out to those who are going nowhere - to the lost. Even when they think they have everything sorted, or there is no hope," he said, speaking directly to the new members before they took their vows.
"Grace is not hidden only in the holy places, but flaunts itself for us in the open air. In community, you will find grace in the ordinary...the grace of Jesus will find you, and you will discover and be discovered in the most mundane moments. Say yes with great expectation."
MY RECENT CONTACTS WITH ANGLICANS
Mucknell Abbey
Just before I left England for Peru, I visited Mucknell Abbey; and, as the abbot is a friend of the Anglican bishop in Lima, my visit to Mucknell resulted in an invitation to the episcopal ordination of three Peruvians in the Anglican cathedral in Lima towards the end of July.
Conventual Mass at Mucknell
I used to know Nashdom. Mucknell is a very different type of monastery. There are about twelve religious, the majority being monks and a few nuns. There are three ordained ministers, the abbot, one of the nuns and a Methodist minister. I attended the conventual mass of the abbot. It was very devout and well celebrated, using a modern Anglican Eucharistic text. The Methodist has special permission of the Methodist authorities to be a monk. He goes out to Methodist chapels on Sundays and takes his turn for the conventual Mass during the week, using the Methodist rite.
The monastery is a converted farm outside Pershore in Worcestershire, and has been built of ecologically sustainable materials, with solar panels on the roof. All is very silent and contemplative. I had a long talk with the abbot who is a very kind person. It seemed to me to be a very good monastery that was not pretending to be anything else but Anglican.
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN LIMA
Bishop Harold Godfrey, Anglican Bishop of Peru
The ordination of the three Peruvian bishops confirmed my impression that there is a real convergence between the "Catholic" and "Evangelical" wings of the Anglican Church. When I last visited this cathedral thirty four years ago, it was straight down the line "Church Missionary Society" evangelicals, smelling of floor polish. The bishop of that time, David Evans,
was very pleasant, humerous and a good host; but it was all very Protestant. They gave us our first hymn books.
The Protestants are still there, unbowed and at ease; but the bishop is an oblate of what was Nashdom and, although there were some scarves among the stoles, everything was unself-consciously friendly. The cross without a figure is still there, but there are more candles and a tabernacle in the wall.
Again, I felt they were at ease with their differences, and the uniting factor was not indifference but concentration on the kerygma, the Good News.
Dr Idowu-Fearon, secretary-general of the Anglican Communion and a Nigerian, also congratulated the diocesan bishop “for his willingness to give up his large territory and carve out three new missionary dioceses for growth.”
In an address to the congregation, he said that the three new bishops “are to focus on proclaiming the Gospel. Doctrines are helpful but only the Gospel saves. They are to proclaim Christ, serve the people and the church will grow.”
WHAT ABOUT UNITY?
We have seen that the Anglican Church does not easily fit into any known category of church. All the churches with apostolic pedigree are an organic unity that springs from the Eucharist that has been celebrated from the time of the apostles, developing and expressing their communal understanding of the mind of Christ. In contrast, the members of the Anglican Church can pick and choose. Because the Anglicans have adopted women clergy and have shown by this that there are things more important than unity, fresh attempts to look again at the problem of Anglican Orders were shelved, and Rome began to think of the Ordinariate as a way of preserving Angican tradition within the Roman communion. Our attitude towards the Anglican ministry became that Anglican orders are valid and effective and a means of grace for the needs of the Anglican Church, but they are not identical to the Catholic priesthood because the Anglican churches are not equivalent to local Catholic churches, as are the Orthodox, Assyrians, Copts etc. Hence, we treat their clergy as our colleagues on the mission to evangelise etc; but, should they become Catholics, we ordain them into the Catholic priesthood. What can be said of their Eucharist? We simply don't know: that is up to God. All we know is what we experience, that their eucharist can lead to real holiness. All things are possible with God. We don't have to have all the answers.
The Church is communion in Christ. As a Catholic, I believe that the basic structure of the Church is complete in Catholicism; but, because it is communion, as Brother Alois says in the video that terminates this post, all our churches are qualitatively deficient because we are not in visible communion with everybody who is in communion with Christ. The damage is reciprocal and our ecclesial lives reflect this. The Anglican Church, with other Protestant churches, have their own weakness in that people decide on doctrine as individuals instead of adopting the truth as an organic whole as members of a eucharistic community and as found in the communal experience of the Church. There are "liberal Catholics" who would like the Catholic Church to be like that, but it isn't. Nevertheless, in the Providence of God, Anglicanism can serve Christian unity by solving within itself the problem of disunity.
Perhaps in the conditions of chaotic disunity among Christians, the Anglican Church has its own vocation which is based on its main weakness, subjecting Revelation to the hazards of individual choice; and this makes it different from other episcopal churches. After all, God often bases a person's vocation on his weakness rather than his strength. More than in any other church, the divisions in Christianity are also the problems of Anglican disunity. Perhaps evangelicals and anglo-catholics finding peace, identity and community in the Lima Cathedral of the Good Shepherd has wider implications for Christians at large.
Just when the ecumenical movement seemed to have stopped in its tracks, at least as far as Anglicanism is concerned, along comes a Pope who is keen to cross the lines and to choose evangelicals as allies, not as enemies;
For Francis, the essential thing is to have a relationship with Jesus. That makes us already one in him: he is in us and we are in him. This also is Archbishop Welby's conviction. We must learn to love one another: then the problems that keep us apart will be solved. Thus, Francis has visited evangelical and Pentecostal churches, and he has received any that will respond positively in his home. In Rio de Janeiro, he was going by car from one event to another in the World Youth Day. He was passing a Pentecostal chapel which was going at full swing. He stopped the car, got out and entered the chapel. He gave them a Christian greeting, asked them to pray for him, was with them for some minutes, and then left.
What is the theological justification for all this? It is simply that, from a Catholic point of view, the fullness of Catholicism is not an institution but a Person. As St Paul says in 1st Colossians,
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, not by its own power, the Church is his body in whom he is present at all levels. When he is in me and I in him, I am united to all, because he holds all things together. As his body, we are organically united to each other in him,"that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (Jn 17) "We can be damned alone, but we cannot be saved alone" We can only be saved "in communion" with others in Christ, because that is what salvation is.
Catholics and Evangelicals agree that we are saved in and through the Good News. We disagree on some of the implications of this; but Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby believe that this is enough to allow us preach the Good News together.
Also, Anglican history has shown that, if people hold some Catholic truth together, then more can be discovered. Although we cannot agree with Anglican individualism, we marvel at the grasp of the truth of C.S. Lewis, of John Henry Newman before he became a Catholic. The Uganda martyrs are Catholic saints, but some were Anglicans, but our divisions don't reach heaven. The Christian life is so organically inter-related that the acceptance of one Catholic truth implies all the rest, even if this is not realised.
I think we should look at the Taize community which has members from different Protestant churches; but, together with their Catholic co-members, they go to communion at the same Mass because, as a community, they have reached a sufficient fullness of faith and belief, even though they haven't left their original denominations. There is hope.
This post is meant to be read together with:
FATHER NICOLAS BUTTET, FOUNDER OF A CATHOLIC COMMUNITY & SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR OF ARCHBISHOP JUSTIN WELBY OF CANTERBURY
THOMAS MERTON AND POPE FRANCIS
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Sailing every week or two:
Eastbound: Halifax, NS (Day 1); New York (3), Norfolk, VA (6) and Savannah, GA (8), Charleston, SC (9), all in the USA; transatlantic and via the Suez Canal to Port Kelang, Malaysia (39); Singapore (41); Jakarta, Indonesia (43); Laem Chabang, Thailand (47); Vung Tau, Vietnam (50); transpacific to Los Angeles (69) and Oakland, CA, USA (73) ... ...
Westbound: Los Angeles (Day 69) and Oakland (73); transpacific to Hong Kong (89), Vung Tau (91), Singapore (94) and Port Kelang (95), all second calls; Colombo, Sri Lanka (99); transit the Suez Canal (108) and transatlantic to Halifax (119).
Columbus Line - More info
Sailing approx. every two weeks:
New Orleans, LA (Day 1); Mobile, AL (2); Freeport, Bahamas (5); Le Havre, France (16); Antwerp, Belgium (17); Rotterdam, Holand (19); Bremerhaven, Germany (22); Charleston, SC 33; Altamira (37) and Veracruz, Mexico (39); New Orleans (42).
MSC Line - More info
Sailing every five weeks: Le Havre, France (Day 1); New York (8); Norfolk, VA (11); Savannah, GA (13); Charleston, SC (15); Southampton, UK (28); Antwerp, Belgium (29); Rotterdam, Holland (30); Bremerhaven, Germany (32); Le Havre (35).
Sailing every three or four weeks: Le Havre, France; Antwerp, Belgium (Day 1); Rotterdam, Holland (2); Bremerhaven, Germany (4); Charleston, SC (15); Miami, FL (17); Veracruz (21) and Altamira, Mexico (22); Houston, TX (25), New Orleans, LA (28) and Le Havre (42).
Sailing every week or two: London (Gateway port terminal), UK; Rotterdam, Holland (Day 1); and Le Havre, France (3); Philipsburg, St. Maarten (13); Port of Spain, Trinidad (14); Cayenne (Degrad des Cannes terminal), French Guiana (18); Belem-Vila do Conde (23), Fortaleza (26) and Natal (28), all in Brazil; Algeciras, Spain (38); London (42).
New York (Day 1); Norfolk, VA (3); Savannah, GA (6); Miami, FL (10); Algeciras, Spain (19); Fos sur Mer, France (21); Genoa, (22) and La Spezia, Italy (25); Barcelona (28) and Valencia, Spain (29); New York (40).
CMA CGM - More info
Seattle, WA (Day 1); Vancouver, BC (2); Tianjin Xingang, China (25); Pusan, Korea (27);Qingdao (29), Shanghai (31) and Shekou (34) all in China; Singapore (40); Jebel Ali, Emirates (52); Singapore, 2nd call (70); Yantian (76), Xiamen (78) and Ningbo, China (80); Shanghai (82) and Pusan* (85), 2nd calls; transpacific to Seattle (96).* No embarkation
Los Angeles (Day 1) and Oakland, CA (5); Fuking (22), Nansha (23), Honk Kong (24), Yantian (25) and Xiamen, China (27), back to Los Angeles (42).
Columbus PNW and Pearl River Lines - More info
Sailing approx. every two weeks: Hong Kong, Shekou (Day 1), Ningbo (5) and Shanghai, China (6); Pusan,* Korea (10); transpacific to Manzanillo (27) and Lazaros Cardenas, Mex. (28); Buenaventura, Colombia (33); San Antonio, Chle (41); Calao, Peru (45); Lazaros Cardenas (52) and Manzanillo (53), 2nd calls; Yokohama, Japan (70); Pusan, 2nd call (72); Kaohsiung, Taiwan (75) and Hong Kong (77) -- * No embarkation.
ACSA-1 Line - More info
London (Gateway port), England (Day 1); Rotterdam, the Netherlands (2); Hamburg, Germany (Day 5); Le Havre, France (7); Fos sur Mer, France (13); Genoa, Italy (14); Damiatta, Egypt (18); transit the Suez Canal (20); Pointe de Galets, Réunion (30); Fremantle (40), Melbourne (45), Sydney (48) and Adelaide, Australia (52); Singapore (63); Chennai, India (68); Colombo, Sri Lanka (71); Cochin, India (73); transit the Suez Canal (82); Damietta, 2nd call (83); Piraeus, Greece (86); Malta (88); Algeciras, Spain (92); London (97).
The Buxcliff - More info
Southampton, England; Le Havre, France (Day 2); transit the Suez Canal (10); Khor Al Fakkan, UAE (18); Port Kelang, Malaysia (28); Xiamen (34) and Tianjinxingang, China (39); Pusan, South Korea (41); Ningbo (44), Shanghai (46), and Yantian (49), all in China; Singapore (53); transit the Suez Canal (66); Algeciras, Spain (71); Southampton, 2nd call (75); Dunkirk, France (76); Hamburg, Germany (79); Rotterdam, Holland (82) and Southampton (84).
FAL-1 Line - More info
Sailing weekly: Genoa, Italy (Day 1); Malta (4); Beirut, Lebanon (8); transit the Suez Canal (10); Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (12); Jebel Ali, UAE (18); Port Kelang, Malaysia (28); Xiamen (35) and Qingdao, China (36), Pusan, Korea (40); Shanghai (42), Ningbo (44), Nansha (48) and Yantian (49), all in China; Singapore (53); transit the Suez Canal (65); Malta (68); Valencia (72) and Barcelona, Spain (74); Fos sur Mer, France (75) and Genoa (77).
MEX Line - More info
South Seas and Coastal Voyages
South East Asia - East Coast of South America
Sailing approx. every 6 weeks: Shanghai, Ningbo (1), Yantian (3) and Hong Kong (4) all in China; Singapore (9); Rio de Janeiro (32), Santos (33), Paranagua (34) and Navegantes (36), all in Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay (38); Buenos Aires, Argentina (40); Rio Grande (45), Navegantes (47), Paranagua (48) and Santos, 2nd call (50), all in Brazil; Singapore (75); Hong Kong (80) and Shanghai (84).
CMA CGM SEAS Line - More info
Along the Americas' East Coasts
Sailing approx. every seven weeks: New York, Newark terminal (Day 1); Norfolk, VA (2); Baltimore, MD (3); Charleston, SC (6); Savannah, GA (7); Port Everglades, FL (9); Caucedo, Dominican Republic (13); Santos, Brazil (24); Buenos Aires, Argentina (27); Montevideo, Uruguay (29); Rio Grande (31), Navegantes (33), Santos, 2nd call (35), Rio de Janeiro (37); Salvador (40) and Suape, Brazil (43); Caucedo, 2nd call (49); Freeport, Bahamas (53) and New York (56).
The Buxcoast - More info
Sout East Asia - Australia
The CMA CGM Amber sails from Australia via New Zealand to China every seven weeks.
The CMA CGM Georgia and sisterships offer voyages from Australia to Japan, S. Korea and China every couple of weeks.
The CMA CGM Rossini and sisterships connect Singapore and Malaysia with Australia's East and West Coasts, every week or two.
of Westport, CT
Freighter Travel Club Int'l (Since 1958)
Freighter & Specialty Cruises (Since 1993)
1 800 99-Maris / 1 203 936-7447 - (for established customers only)
Maris USA
84-1320 State Route 9
Champlain, NY 12919
(USA mail)
Maris Int'l
805-325 ch de la Pointe-Sud
Nuns Island, Montreal, QC H3E 0B1
Canada (Int'l mail)
Copyright © 2019, Maris USA Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Selectmen hear of police chief's retirement plans
Members of the Board of Selectmen had a pleasant surprise when they met Nov. 30: Police Chief Joe McGann told them that his budget for 2019 will be the same as that for 2018.
When McGann told them he is planning to retire in two or three years, he was asked to keep them clued in so that a quiet transition might take place. He was also asked to have one of the patrol vehicles marked since they are not observed as being �out there� when unidentified.
Asked about target practice and its noise, McGann reported that units from the University of New Hampshire, Rye and Hampton, as well as from town, use the range off Pudding Hill and one can find out when they will be there by calling dispatch, and that no one is there before 9 a.m.
It was made known that the parking area at the trailhead on Route 155 will be closed permanently Jan. 1. All parking will be on Madbury turf.
Moonlight Snowshoe Racing is scheduled from 3 to 9 p.m. Feb. 16 on the trails behind Town Hall, sponsored by Acidotic Racing. This event is open to the public; at this time 125 racers are expected.
There was discussion of the Oyster River Youth Association status, which seems to be in flux due to the Durham Town Council having nixed its funding from that town.
The selectmen took time to go outside to view the new doors on the front of the Town Hall.
The Water Resources Board reviewed the final report issued by the Seacoast Commission on Long Term Goals and Requirements for Drinking Water set up by the state, which met 10 times as well as having subgroup discussions to cover specific areas of concern.
Set up under RSA 485-F:5, the 21-person commission�s charge was to suggest how Seacoast towns could cooperate relative to replacing drinking water in case of contamination; evaluate threats to groundwater due to environmental issues; create a centralized planning group to monitor possible new emerging contaminant threats to groundwater and drinking water � among other goals. Experts in water resources and groundwater protection were called upon.
The report lists known threats to water quality: lead, arsenic, iron, manganese, radon, PFES components; pharmaceutical products; household and industrial septic systems; pesticide and fertilizer run-off; salt-water intrusion and �other man-made contaminants yet to be discovered.�
It reports that, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) �incidence rates for breast, bladder and pediatric cancers are highest in New Hampshire when compared with all other U.S. states. In addition, a double pediatric cancer cluster was identified in a 5-town area of the seacoast in 2016.�
The commission favored having federal agencies take the leadership in addressing emerging contaminants in drinking water.
According to the report, �the Seacoast communities and water systems will need to develop regional and local integrated water resource plans....� It is suggested that the Rockingham and Strafford Regional Planning Commissions be encouraged to take on this project, while also suggesting that the funds to do so be provided by the state.
In June the commission met at the Portsmouth regional water system�s Madbury surface water treatment facility on Freshet Road. An overview of Portsmouth�s system was provided, this system, which provides about 60 per cent of Portsmouth�s water, with lines into Dover, Durham, Greenland, Newington, New Castle, Rye and Madbury.
Christmas program
Will Ogmundson will offer a Christmas program at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Madbury Church.
Ogmundson is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated composer and lyricist, and a classically-trained solo pianist who has many friends and followers in Madbury.
A free-will offering will be taken.
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Home»Gallup History Project»Reader's Corner»Failing Government?
Failing Government?
on March 5, 2015 Reader's Corner
The institutions of any country are crucial to its survival and progress and the faith that people place in these institutions is an indicator of their performance, both current and expected. When conducting surveys about the state and domestic politics, Gallup Pakistan ensures the inclusion of questions related to the overall performance of the government.
In a survey conducted in 2007, people were asked about the degree of trust that they placed in various institutions. In response, 20% of the people said that they had a lot of trust in the National Assembly, 19% believed in NGO’s, 16% had faith in the media and 12% really trusted the armed forces. Comparatively, 11% claimed that they had faith in the ulema, 10% laid their confidence in civil courts, 8% trusted the police and only 5% stated that they really trusted the political parties. When questioned about ways in which public and private institutions could regain the public’s trust and confidence, 30% stressed on the need for greater transparency while 32% said that there is a dire need for these institutions to keep fraudulent behavior in check and that this can be done through more strict punishments. 9% said that there should be new organizational designs, 14% believed that there should be open dialogue and communication between these institutions and the people and 6% stated that the institutions needed to reconnect with all stakeholders. 9%, on the other hand, said that they did not know.
In response to another query in 2007, 45% of the people said that they preferred to seek help from civil courts when facing a problem, 25% stated they turned towards religious leaders, 12% sought help from those enforcing the Shariah and 18% said that they did not know. At the same time, however, the people’s lack of confidence in the judiciary is highlighted by the fact that 51% of the people believed that the enforcement of Shariah in the country was being demanded because the civil courts had failed to uphold their responsibilities. 28% disagreed with this claim and 21% were not sure.
Given the upcoming elections, the respondents were asked in more detail about both political parties and political leaders towards the end of 2006. When asked about political leaders, 62% of the respondents described them as dishonest, 51% thought that they wielded too much power and responsibility, 49% believed that they were unethical and 31% were of the opinion that they were too sensitive when it came to public opinion. 45% of the people rated them as incompetent and 46% were of the view that they tend to respond to pressure from people more powerful than themselves. When asked about the factors that could give one political priority superiority over another, 59% mentioned the policies that political parties advocate, 35% considered the party’s plans about the distribution of finances allocated for development projects to be very important and 36% considered the help that they could get with regard to their personal problems as very significant.
More specifically, in 2006, the people were questioned about education and health facilities in the country. When asked about the problems that they had had to face at local public schools in the past one year, 36% mentioned about the lack of an adequate number of textbooks available for students, 34% indicated towards poor teaching standards, 32% said that the classrooms were overcrowded, 29% mentioned the frequent absence of teachers, 32% stated that the facilities available were very poor and 24% replied that they were required to make illegal payments to the administration. At the same time, it is important to note that 83% of the respondents claimed that they had not had any experience with a public school.
Similarly, when inquired about the problems that the people had experienced at public hospitals in the past twelve months, 47% stated that they had been treated disrespectfully by the staff, 51% mentioned that no medicines were available at these facilities, 49% said that there was a very long waiting line and 36% indicated towards the frequent absence of doctors. 41% also asserted that the hospitals were not clean and 31% said that they were required to make illegal payments. 82%, however, said that they had no experience with public hospitals.
In a survey conducted in 2005, the people were asked to name the institutions that they viewed as very corrupt. 51% mentioned the police, 25% named the judiciary, 32% indicated towards political system, 31% identified the bureaucracy and 16% pointed towards the forces. In a question specific to the judiciary, only 13% of the people felt that the judiciary was doing a very good job of providing justice, 45% believed that it was doing so to some extent and 41% said that it had failed completely.
It is pretty obvious from the data given above that most of the people do not have any confidence in the central institutions of the state such as the judiciary, the armed forces and even the general political system. The current establishment is surrounded with problems and has failed to satisfy the masses. While people have little or no faith in these institutions, most of them still seem to favor them over the religious leaders or those demanding the enforcement of the Shariah.
However, this observation should not be misunderstood. Leave alone the fundamental institutions of the state, the majority of the people strongly feel that the government has failed to provide them even the basic facilities of health and education. They have no confidence in public institutions and more and more of them seem to be turning away from them altogether.
These surveys and polls were conducted by Gallup Pakistan, an affiliate of Gallup International, on a sample of over 1100 respondents in urban areas of all four provinces of Pakistan. This sample was statistically selected across all ages, income groups and educational levels. The error for a sample of this kind is estimated to be +/- 5% at a 95% confidence level.
Previous ArticleVarying estimations regarding attendance at Friday prayers.
Next Article Majority Pakistani do not have any items in their house to protect against ghosts/jinns or magic and envy.
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Profile: Genovese crime family associate Carmine Franco
Posted by Gangsters Inc. on November 24, 2013 at 3:00pm
By David Amoruso
The garbage industry has always been a big moneymaker for the Mafia. Though authorities have worked hard at ridding the industry of its criminal elements, the mob is still at it. Case in point: Carmine Franco, a 78-year-old Genovese Family associate, who, for over thirty years, has bled the waste hauling industry for all he could.
Carmine Franco, nicknamed “Papa Smurf,” knew the jig was up. As he pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to transport stolen goods, he knew he would die in prison.
At 78 years old it doesn’t matter how many years he will get, be it the possible 45 years behind bars or just two to three years, his chances of dying in freedom are slim.
Franco (right) also agreed to pay $2.5 million of his ill-gotten proceeds to the government as part of his plea. Evidently, there still is money in garbage. Lots of it.
Together with other members and associates of New York’s Genovese, Gambino, and Lucchese crime families, Franco was part of a group that exercised illegal control over waste haulers in the counties of Bergen and Passaic in New Jersey and Westchester, Rockland and Nassau in New York.
The group issued so-called “property rights” to mob-linked companies and divided various “stops” where garbage could be picked up by the company which had been given the rights. If other companies tried to step in, offering lower prices or better service, the mob would tell members of the company to beat it or face the violent consequences.
The same was true for companies that were seen as a golden goose from which the mobsters could extract plenty of golden eggs. Either they paid with money, or they paid in blood. The Mafia calls it “protection” money, but that’s just their way of marketing the century-old racket known by most as extortion.
It was business as usual.
In January of this year, the FBI indicted 32 members linked to this “Waste Disposal Enterprise” and listed Franco as their top target. He was also a familiar target. With two prior convictions related to the garbage hauling industry. One in the 1980s and the last one in 1994, when he defrauded the state of New Jersey and Bergen County out of millions of dollars by shipping garbage to out-of-state landfills.
This last bust resulted in him being banned from the waste hauling business in New Jersey altogether in 1998. He was also banned in many New York jurisdictions, including New York City and Westchester County.
But it takes more than a ban to keep a wily old wiseguy from earning. Franco simply started running his business through puppet men.
As a way of staying ahead of the competition, in January of 2010, Franco ordered Stephen Moscatello to steal waste containers from garbage hauling companies in New York. These containers were then repainted so that colors matched those of Franco’s company. He then used them at locations in New Jersey.
Franco also ordered Moscatello to steal garbage from locations serviced by rival companies. From 2009 to 2010, they would steal cardboard in New York and sell it to an export broker in New Jersey.
Name any way a person could scheme to make a buck from garbage and Franco has done it.
Unfortunately for Franco, this time, he had picked the wrong victim.
One of the company owners Franco was extorting weekly payments from was working as an undercover informant for the FBI. With each payment there was more proof of criminal activity linked to Franco.
Realizing the prosecution had an airtight case against him, Franco pleaded guilty. His sentencing is scheduled for March 19, 2014. At age 78, that date is a long time away.
If you enjoyed this story you may also like:
Genovese and Gambino Mobsters in Garbage Bust
Profile of Genovese Soldier George Barone
The Genovese Crime Family section at Gangsters Inc.
Get the latest on organized crime and the Mafia at Gangsters Inc.'s news section.
Follow Gangsters Inc. on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Copyright © Gangsters Inc.
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LATEST NEWS FROM GASCOIGNES
Gascoignes sell large Residential Development site in Elstead - March 2018
Gascoignes sell large Residential Development site in Elstead - Home Builder Joins Forces with Housing Association to Transform a Derelict former Industrial Site.
Click here for the full press release.
Gascoignes WINS 'Best Commercial Agents' - November 2015
We are extremely proud to announce that in November 2015 we received for the third time the accolade 'Best Commercial Agents' at the Surrey Property Awards 2015.
We last won the award back in 2014 and also 2012. We very much appreciate the continued support from every one of our customers and clients and the team at Gascoignes look forward to another exciting and successful year ahead.
Gascoignes acquire site for new 31 bedroom Retirement apartment scheme for McCarthy & Stone in Godalming - October 2015
Acting on behalf of McCarthy & Stone, Gascoignes have a acquired the former Christian Science Church building in central Godalming. Planning consent has been granted for 31 x retirement apartments with communal facilities, associated parking and a replacement Church building with parking.
Commenting on the transaction, Andrew Russell Director at Gascoignes states:-s "with a rapidly ageing population there is plainly a desire amongst Retirement and Care Home Developers to provide tailored accommodation to meet the needs of those aged over 60, the proposed scheme in central Godalming offers a town centre opportunity whilst being close to open countryside, shops and amenities including Godalming main-line station whilst being readily accessible for main road access and the A3 in particular. We felt the subject site would be eminently suitable for McCarthy & Stone and following detailed and lengthy negotiations with the Vendors and their Advisers, we reached an amicable agreement whereby the vendors were given a new Church facility following demolition of the existing Church building which, it was felt was simply too large for current and anticipated congregations. Construction of the new scheme is scheduled to start next month with practical completion anticipated towards the latter part of 2016"
Gascoignes acquire new offices in Guildford for GCL Solicitors - June 2015
Gascoignes are pleased to announce the acquisition of 2nd floor office at Building 3000 Cathedral Hill Guildford, on behalf of GCL Solicitors. The offices have been built to an Institutional standard and are located on the top floor and extend to some 11,500 sq ft with 47 car spaces. The offices are arranged to provide modern open plan air conditioned offices conveniently located on the outskirts of Guildford a short distance from the Town Centre and A3.
Commenting on the move Andrew Russell Director at Gascoignes comments "The improving Economy over recent months has resulted in a marked take-up of Town Centre office stock however a lack of new Office development in the Town Centre partly due to a lack of opportunities and partly due to Permitted Development has resulted in a shortage in the supply of modern offices in the central areas, this has prompted a number of Organisations to consider moving out of Town Centre which, generally is a more cost effective option and does provides better car parking provision for staff and clients alike. We are of the view that this trend will continue until such time as stock levels improve in the Town Centre"
Prime Place to develop Sevenoaks office site into residential - March 2015
Prime Place, Willmott Dixon's residential development business, has agreed to acquire Tubs Hill House in Sevenoaks from Development Securities and convert the commercial premises into high quality residential apartments This deal adds to the company's growing development portfolio following agreement in December with Brentford FC for its new stadium and 1,000 homes, plus a deal in January with The Cheshunt School to fund school enhancements by developing 88 homes on surplus land at their site in Broxbourne.
Tubs Hill House, with a development value approaching £40 million, is located just 200 meters from Sevenoaks' station and is expected to prove popular with people looking for fast access to London while also benefiting from living in Sevenoaks. Construction work will start in Summer 2015. Prime Place was advised by Gascoignes in the transaction.
"This is another example of the versatility and scope of our development capability. Tubs Hill House very much reflects Prime Place's ethos to provide high quality homes in popular locations with good transport links, and we are looking forward to giving a new lease of life to this building once the various permissions have been achieved.
"It is also a further statement of Willmott Dixon's development ambitions to deliver homes for both sale and private rent at scale through our Prime Place and be:here brands. This already includes developing London's first purpose-built community of private renters as part of our 1,176 home Aberfeldy Village in Tower Hamlets, plus the forthcoming Brentford FC masterplan that combines homes for sale and private rent."
Andrew Telfer, divisional chief executive at Willmott Dixon's development division Regen
We are extremely proud to announce that we recently won the category of 'Best Commercial Agents' at the WSA Property Awards 2014, we last won the award back in 2012. We very much appreciate the continued support from customers and clients alike.
10 x new Houses planned on former Industrial site in Guildford - October 2014
Acting on behalf of private clients, Gascoignes have recently sold a Development site to Local Developers. The site was sold with the benefit of Planning consent for 10 x 3-bedroom houses. Construction is scheduled to start during the next few months. Contact us for further information regarding the Development, completion is being planned for Summer 2015.
Gascoignes Voted Property 'Professional of the Year' - November 2013
Gascoignes chartered surveyors are delighted to accept the award as 'Property Professional of the Year' at the Surrey Property Awards 2013, we would like to thank the Surrey Property Awards for their continued support and all members of the Gascoignes family.
36 Home Project - Hindhead, Surrey - June 2013
The former Hindhead Bus Depot fronting the old A3, more recently occupied and owned by Drummonds Architectural Antiques was sold to Thakeham Homes for a figure in excess of £4M earlier in the year. The site, which extends to some 1.50 acres approx has Detailed Planning Consent for 36 x houses and flats and an element of commercial. Thakeham Homes are planning to commence construction later in the Summer. Demolition of the former Bus Station has already taken place.
Contact - Andrew Russell: andy@gascoignes.com
137 Home Project - Godalming, Surrey - June 2013
The former Godalming Police Station and adjacent land in the centre of the town has recently been sold to Willmott Dixon for a figure in excess of £10M. Willmott Dixon are proposing to build 137 homes (102 flats and 35 houses) on the site. The anticipated GDV is approaching £50 million. This project is the largest residential scheme in central Godalming, and the Georgian designed theme for the houses will be interspersed with two and four storey apartment blocks. Demolition of the existing buildings (including the ex-Police Station) will take place late Summer with development of the new homes starting in Autumn. Occupation of the new homes is being planned for early 2015.
Gascoignes Voted Best Commercial Agent - November 2012
Gascoignes chartered surveyors are delighted to accept the award as best commercial agent at the Surrey Property Awards 2012 which was held together with a gala dinner at G-Live Guildford on 22 November 2012 and featured in the Surrey Advertiser. The photograph is of the two principle directors, Andrew Russell and Charles Chatterji receiving the award.
Gascoignes New London Office - June 2011
Geoff Sparrow to spearhead the new London office
Geoff Sparrow has recently joined Gascoignes and will be spearheading the new London Office which will be located in the heart of the West End. His experience is extensive, having been Development Director for over 10 years with Howard Holdings where he was responsible for, amongst other projects the Trinity Gate mixed- use development in central Guildford.
His experience has been almost exclusively in London where he his varied career has seen him act for private and corporate clients as property advisor whilst also acting as Development Manager and as a result, responsible for sourcing and assessing development and investment opportunities and where appropriate co-ordinating various professionals to acquire and progress all transactions. Geoff's background includes all sectors of the market having worked with Freshwater Property Group, Keith Cardale Groves, DTZ, Bilton PLC and more recently Buckrow LLP.
We are pleased to announce the opening of a new London office which represents an exciting expansion of our network and strengthens our regional coverage of the A3 corridor and South East markets. The London office will provide our current and future clients with the support and property expertise and services that Gascoignes have provided in Guildford and the surrounding areas for the last 25 years.
The new London office will officially open on July 15th 2011 and will be based at :-
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Regeln und Nutzungsbedingungen » Second All-Star Team (2006-07 and
Herkunft u. Entwicklung unserer Zivilisation » Adminstrations-. Info- u. Ankündigungsbereich » Regeln und Nutzungsbedingungen » Second All-Star Team (2006-07 and
#1 | Second All-Star Team (2006-07 and 03.04.2019 04:04
TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith understands the reality: Green Bay fans have a large presence at a Buccaneers home game.With the NFC North title still up for grabs, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers couldnt afford a slip-up against the struggling Bucs (2-13).Rodgers threw for 318 yards and one touchdown and Eddie Lacy scored on a 44-yard run to pace a 20-3 victory that clinched at least a wild-card playoff berth Sunday.I look forward to the day were playing good enough football where more of our fans want to come and see us play, Smith said. Right now were not playing good enough football. Well have our day. Right now where we are, we have to take it.It appeared that more than half of the announced crowd of 64,247 was Packer backers.The Bucs have lost five straight and remain in contention for the first overall pick in the 2015 draft. Their sputtering offence was outgained 154-6 in the opening quarter. Josh McCown was sacked seven times and intercepted once; and Doug Martin was held to 17 yards rushing on 10 attempts.Worst offensive day weve had, Smith said. We picked the worst possible time to play our worst (offensive) game, period. This was a frustrating day. Ive had some bad ones and this was definitely one of them.Tampa Bay kept it close with a solid defensive performance, forcing Rodgers fourth turnover in two weeks with Michael Johnsons sack that caused a fumble in the opening half. A goal-line stand denied the Packers points in the third quarter after Lacy gained 5 yards on first down to the Bucs 1. Lacy and John Kuhn were stopped for no gain on the next two plays, and Rodgers threw an incompletion in the end zone on fourth down.To see the defence and the way that it played, its frustrating, man, McCown said.Nevertheless, the Packers wound up with 431 yards total offence.McCown, meanwhile, was 12 of 26 for 147 yards. Mike Evans had four receptions for 49 yards and Vincent Jackson had three for 60 yards, moving both of them to the brink of 1,000-yard seasons.Lacy finished with 99 yards rushing on 17 attempts. Jordy Nelson caught a 1-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter and had nine receptions for 113 yards, while Rodgers completed 11 throws to Randall Cobb for 131 yards.A 21-13 loss to Buffalo a week ago cost Green Bay (11-4) sole possession of first place in the division. It also hurt its chances for earning home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Green Bay closes the regular season at home against Detroit (11-4), with a victory giving the Packers another NFC North crown.Rodgers rebounded from the only game this season in which hes failed to throw for a touchdown, completing 31 of 40 passes without an interception. He threw 24 yards to Nelson on third-and-13 to extend the drive that produced Lacys long TD run, and a 19-yard completion to Nelson set up Rodgers 36th TD pass of the year.I think the last couple of days, you see the kind of warrior he is, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. He battled illness the last couple of days and then goes out and strains his (left) calf the first or second series. He didnt want to come out. Really a gritty performance by Aaron.NOTES: Bucs LB Mason Foster left with an Achilles tendon injury. I kept pushing, but it was making me limp, Foster said. It was one of those things where even if I pushed through it, I felt like I wasnt helping the team being out there and not being 100 per cent. ... Tampa Bay OT Anthony Collins, WR Robert Herron and RB Mike James were inactive. Collins was a starter until being demoted before last weeks game against Carolina. Cheap Detroit Red Wings Jerseys . - Pierre-Maxime Poudrier scored twice and added an assist, and Antoine Bibeau made 43 saves as the Val-dOr Foreur downed the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 6-3 on Sunday to force Game 7 in their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final series. Cheap Red Wings Jerseys .com) - James van Riemsdyk had two goals with one assist to help the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night. http://www.cheapredwingsjerseys.com/. No surprise there. Kershaw, who also earned the title after throwing his first career no-hitter in June, had a 1. Cheap Red Wings Jerseys China . Ronaldo netted his 14th goal of the season in Europes top competition to give Madrid a clear advantage ahead of next weeks quarterfinal return leg in Germany. But it came at a price as the Portugal forward, who came into the first-leg nursing a sore left knee, came off in the 80th minute. Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Authentic . Its been a successful Games for Canada, which will finish near the top of the medal standings again. From repeat gold medal winners to multiple medal winners to undefeated teams to acts that define the Olympic spirit, there are many solid candidates who could be considered to receive the honour.The New York Rangers have signed unrestricted free-agent defenceman Dan Boyle to a contract reportedly worth $9 million over two years. The 37-year-old Boyle scored 12 goals and added 24 assists in 75 games with the San Jose Sharks in 2013-14. His rights were dealt to the New York Islanders following the Sharks first-round playoff exit in exchange for a conditional fifth-round draft pick in 2015. The 2013-14 season marked the final year of a six-year deal Boyle signed prior to the 2008-09 season worth an average annual value of $6.67 million. One of the most productive offensive defencemen in the NHL over the course of the 21st century, Boyle has registered at least 30 points in every full NHL season since 2001-02 save 2007-08 when he was held to just 37 games. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Florida Panthers in 1998, Boyle has scored 144 goals and 417 assists for 561 points in 954 career games with the Panthers, Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning. He was a member of the Lightnings 2003-04 Stanlley Cup-winning team.dddddddddddd He has twice been named to the NHLs Second All-Star Team (2006-07 and 2008-09). Boyle has also represented Canada on a number of occasions, winning gold at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. The Rangers also re-signed forward Dominic Moore to a two-year, $3 million contract and signed unrestricted free-agent forward Tanner Glass to a three-year contract worth $1.45 million per season. Moore, 33, scored six goals and added 12 assists for 18 points in 73 games with the Rangers in 2013-2014. Glass, 30, scored four goals and added nine assists for 13 points in 67 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2013-2014. The Rangers also signed defenceman Mike Kostka to a one-year contract and added Chris Mueller on a one-year deal. Later in the day they signed defenceman Steve Kampfer to a two-way deal. He played in Iowa of the American Hockey League this past season. Defenceman Matt Hunwick was signed as well to a one-year deal worth $600, 000. ' ' '
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Grocery unique depot > Blog > Vitamin D > The list of bogus ‘hate crimes’ in Trump era is long – New York Post
The list of bogus ‘hate crimes’ in Trump era is long – New York Post
In the wake of the arrest of actor Jussie Smollett, who was charged with staging his own racist and homophobic attack, here are just some of the other crimes that have been given prominent play by the media since the 2016 election — often accompanied by politicians decrying, “This is America today” — that turned out to be frauds:
Just before the 2016 election, the 111-year-old Hopewell Baptist Church was attacked with fire and graffiti that said, “Vote Trump.” “The political message of the vandalism is obviously an attempt to sway public opinion regarding the upcoming election,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). Turns out the arsonist was Andrew McClinton, 48, an African-American member of the church.
“Heil Trump” and ”F-g Church” were spray-painted on St. David’s Episcopal Church in Indiana after the election. It was the gay organ player who did it. “Over the course of that week, I was fearful, scared and alone, too, in my fear,” George Nathaniel “Nathan” Stang, 26, explained to the IndyStar. “I guess one of the driving factors behind me committing the act was that I wanted other people to be scared with me.”
Yasmin Seweid, 18, told police that three Donald Trump supporters harassed her and tried to steal her hijab on a No. 6 train in New York City. But the Dec. 1, 2016, alleged hate crime fell apart two weeks later when Seweid admitted she made the whole thing up because she’d been out late drinking with friends and was afraid her strict Muslim Egyptian father would be angry.
Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti was vandalized for months by graffiti that said, “leave n—-s” and “KKK.” A former student, African-American Eddie Curlin, 29, was eventually caught. “It was totally self-serving,” said Robert Heighes, the university’s chief of police. “It was not driven by politics. It was not driven by race.”
More than 2,000 bomb threats to Jewish institutions, including the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, were made in the first three months of 2017. “My personal take is it’s a statement of where we are in this country,” Michael Feinstein, the chief executive of the Bender Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, in Rockville, Md., told The Times. In March 2017, an arrest was finally made in many of the incidents: that of a 19-year-old Jewish Israeli-American named Michael Ron David Kadar. Kadar had been rejected from the Israeli Defense Forces over mental health issues and claimed in his defense that he had a brain tumor.
A few of the threats didn’t come from the Jewish teenager. At least eight were the work of Juan Thompson, 32, who was trying to frame a woman who had broken up with him. Thompson, a black journalist, had previously been fired from The Intercept for making up sources and stories. In response to his firing, he blamed the “white New York media” and claimed his editors were racist.
Forty-two Jewish tombstones were toppled in Washington Cemetery in Midwood, Brooklyn, in March 2017. While officials were worried it was an anti-Semitic act, after an investigation, the NYPD named another suspect: the wind. “[It was] due to neglect, or weather factors like soil and dirt and wind. There is no evidence to suggest this was a case of vandalism,” a police spokesman said.
Five black cadet candidates were bombarded with hate speech on message boards at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School in September 2017. It turns out that the comments were written by one of the African-American cadets. CNN commentator Frida Ghitis didn’t think that point mattered much in a follow-up report, saying, “The election of President Donald Trump lifted the rock under which much of the hatred had hidden, allowing it to squirm out into the light.”
African-American Adwoa Lewis, 20, of Long Island said four teens yelled “Trump 2016!,” told her she didn’t belong here and slashed her tires in September 2018, leaving a note that read “Go Home.” She later admitted to making the story up and putting the note on her car.
Union Temple in Brooklyn was defaced by messages such as, “Die Jew Rats” and “Jew Better Be Ready” in early November 2018. The culprit? Gay African-American James Polite, who had previously interned for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and was raised by Jewish foster parents. He was charged for hate crimes for the graffiti and setting fires at four other Jewish temples and schools. But friends and advocates say bigotry isn’t to blame; Polite is bipolar and was convinced that the FBI and CIA had taken over the city’s homeless shelter system.
More than 100 students marched to demand “safe spaces” after “KKK,” swastikas and the last names of four black and Latino students were scrawled in a bathroom stall at Goucher College near Baltimore in November 2018. But it turned out one of those graffiti’d names, Flynn Arthur, 21, was the person responsible. The biracial lacrosse player explained to cops that “he had been drinking and just did something dumb.”
On Dec. 30, 2018, a 7-year-old African-American girl, Jazmine Barnes, was killed in a drive-by shooting. Witnesses said a white man in a pickup truck was nearby. “We’ve got to call it what it is. Black people are being targeted in this country,” said activist Deric Muhammad. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) insisted, “Do not be afraid to call this what it seems to be — a hate crime,” But the investigation led to the arrest of two African-Americans, Eric Black Jr. and Larry D. Woodruffe, who police believe shot into Barnes’ car in a case of mistaken identity.
This past New Year’s Eve, three Savannah churches and a civil rights museum were vandalized, raising the specter of a hate crime. But it was an African-American, David Smith III, who had thrown bricks through the doors.
Video went viral of a Jan. 18 confrontation at the March for Life in Washington, DC, showing a group of students from Covington Catholic HS in Kentucky, some in MAGA hats, in a confrontation with a Native American, Nathan Phillips. “They were in the process of attacking these four black individuals,” Phillips told the Detroit Free Press. “I was there, and I was witnessing all of this … As this kept on going on and escalating, it just got to a point where you do something or you walk away, you know? You see something that is wrong, and you’re faced with that choice of right or wrong.” Other videos quickly proved that Phillips was lying. A group of Black Israelites was taunting the Covington teens with racial insults such as, “Christ is coming back to kick your cracker asses.” And Phillips wasn’t surrounded by the Covington students; he walked into the group and started banging a drum in the face of one of the kids, whose bewildered expression had online commentators quick to label a smirk. A lawyer for a Covington student has filed a defamation suit against the Washington Post for $250 million in damages.
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How Long Will Our Retirement Savings Last?
by Walter Updegrave
Should we save our money in early retirement or spend some of it on things like travel that we may not be able to do later on due to health and age? -- Diane Goldstein, West Windsor, N.J.
Funny, how our priorities change. During your career, the focus is on saving enough. Once you retire, your attentions shift to spending enough (but not too much).
It's a delicate trade-off. Live too frugally in the early years of retirement and later in life you could end up with a big pile of savings, as well as a big pile of regrets that you didn't enjoy yourself more when you were younger. Loosen the purse strings too much early on, and you might have to stint in your dotage.
If I could give you a formula for pulling off this balancing act, I would. But there isn't one. I can, however, suggest ways to have fun now without unduly jeopardizing your financial security later on.
Start by recognizing that your ability to engage in more vigorous pursuits can diminish quite a …
A 6-Step Guide to Figuring Out When You Can Afford to Retire
by Steve Vernon
How do you know when you can afford to retire? That's the big question most people ask as they approach their retirement years. The best answer: when you've done the math and the numbers work out. The trouble is, most people just guess at how much money they need to retire -- and they usually guess way too low.
It's time to crunch the numbers to see if your retirement income will cover your living expenses for the rest of your life, no matter how long you live and no matter what happens in the economy. It's a tall order, but nevertheless, that's what you need to do.
Let's start by planning how you'll balance the magic formula for retirement security:
I > E
Income > Expenses
To get started, you'll need to choose the age at which you want to retire, taking into account your life expectancy and what you hope to do in retirement. You'll also need to consider your spouse's life expectancy, if you're married.
Now it's time to …
Freedom More Important to Well-Being Than Money
by Laura Rowley
When Bill Douglass and his wife found out they were expecting their first child in 2009, he did something counterintuitive: He quit his job. Douglass left a secure position in corporate communications in New York City to launch his own firm in Stamford, Connecticut.
"I knew I wanted to spend a lot of time with our daughter, especially in her formative years," says Douglass, whose own father traveled frequently on business. "Knowing she was coming was an inspiration to strike out on my own and work from home. My first year in business I only had one client, but because we had been good savers, that gave me the freedom to be able to start my firm."
A new study suggests that from a happiness perspective, Douglass was smart to choose autonomy over money. Psychologists Ronald Fischer and Diana Boer of Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand found that on a national level, individualism and autonomy are more important to well-being than money. The s…
The Banker: You know you’re sick of banking when…
1) The more important you are at your bank, the higher probability your urgent emails or calls always “just happen” to arrive on your iPhone or BlackBerry during someone else's meeting.
2) Your boss insists on using his iPhone/BlackBerry, even when his landline phone is right there at his desk
3) People show off their work-sponsored iPads in meetings and then demand to know why there are no hardcopy meeting packs available.
4) Everyone who is someone wears French cuffs and incessantly fiddles with them just in case you didn't notice them.
5) Senior managers use silly exotic terms like “perfect storm”, “black swan”, “fat tail”, and “green shoots” to make their work sound exciting.
6) Senior managers talk about cost control and “jaws” but most of their audience think that’s a movie.
7) Senior managers issue global circulars emphasising the need to cut costs by minimising travel – and then they convene a mandatory in-person conference at a central location for all senior exec…
Your Well-Paid, Middle-Class Job Is in Danger
by Ruth Mantell
Some highly-paid workers may find they need to switch careers.
The job market is changing, and it's not just manufacturing jobs that are disappearing. Even some highly-paid workers may find themselves needing to re-tool their skills in the years ahead.
The ongoing movement of jobs to countries where labor is cheaper, plus the development of new technologies, may mean fewer opportunities for some well-paid positions in the U.S. over the next decade, said Larry Katz, an economist at Harvard University.
"Employment growth has stopped, or even declined, among many middle-class jobs that are high wage" and don't require a college degree, Katz said.
"A lot of traditional middle-class, upper-middle-class jobs have been disappearing. If you look at general managers and middle-management jobs, those are ones that have been in decline and will decline further," he said.
Workers making about $40,000 to $80,000 a year constitute the bulk of labor costs for ma…
5 Retirement Mistakes That Will Haunt You
"You'll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life."
Those words, spoken on a tarmac at the finale of the classic film "Casablanca," could be stretched from the intended affairs of the heart to how we plan for retirement.
There are financial decisions we make that seem a good idea at the time and retirement moves we make half-heartedly. When it comes to ensuring a lifetime of retirement income, bad decisions may not hurt immediately, but once the pain arrives it can last for decades.
Here are five retirement mistakes that will haunt you, and ways to avoid the haunting entirely:
1. Guesswork, Not Legwork
How much will you need to retire?
That straightforward question should be a starting point for people of all ages, at all stages of planning. A great number of people, however, do no more than guess at what they should save.
According to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, a nonprofit organization funded by Transa…
Why Loving Your Work Matters
If you have ever found yourself looking at your career and wishing you were on a path you felt more passionate and energized about, you may also be familiar with the little voice that says, "Work is a four-letter word. It's not meant to be enjoyed. Suck it up, buttercup." Inherent in that voice is the idea that wanting to love your work is somehow unreasonable and even frivolous.
But not only is loving your work not frivolous, it actually pays huge dividends in your life. And many of them aren't even work-related.
Let me start off with my definition of passion: "Passion is the energy that comes from bringing more of YOU into what you do." When what you are doing is aligned with who you are and what you're naturally drawn to, it's energizing. And not only is doing the work energizing, it also doesn't drain you like work that doesn't fit. So in a way, you get a double dose of energy, first from the energy you gain from doing the work, and second…
A 6-Step Guide to Figuring Out When You Can Afford...
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How to Greece-Proof Your Portfolio
By Lindsey Bell
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- A second bailout to save Greece from defaulting has been agreed to by eurozone finance ministers, but for U.S. investors, the story is far from over.
A deal to secure 130 billion euros ($172 billion) to prevent the sovereign nation from defaulting on its debt in late March (when the next tranche is due) was reached. In return, creditors will accept a 53.5% write-down on their debt and a reduction in the interest rate paid on 56 billion euros in loans from the prior bailout.
This will reduce the ratio of debt to GDP of the country to 120% by 2020. This news originally led to a 1.2% pop in the Euro Stoxx 50 index, which measures the performance of 50 stocks in 12 eurozone countries, but the index ended up declining.
The worries follow concerns that the agreed-upon austerity measures that are to be implemented in order to receive the payment could be reversed to some degree after elections are held in Greece. The election is slated to take place in two months. According recent polls, leftist parties opposing the bailouts are rising in popularity.
Wayne Lin, portfolio manager and investment strategy analyst for Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation, says investors should watch the election carefully and manage their portfolios accordingly. U.S. investors have become comfortable with the situation in Europe, especially as our own economy is showing an improvement.
However, volatility could increase substantially if the incoming government plans to reduce austerity measures, putting the stability of Greece's debt position in jeopardy of default. Talks of exiting the euro would also lead to uncertainty and increased volatility. As the election evolves over the next few months, U.S. investors should actively manage their market positions.
Lin recommends taking some money out of risky assets if one of these scenarios becomes likely. He points out that risk premiums reached historic highs in August and if equities were to approach those levels again, that would signal a good exit point.
Even though the S&P 500 has rallied nearly 9% so far this year, there are still attractive investing opportunities. Looking for undervalued stocks is one of the best ways to play the field. Lin says he "expects the market to trade sideways to slightly up for a while. Getting to the next level is going to require something big to happen."
10 Latin American Stocks Soaring Up to 30% in 2012
Scott Kimball, portfolio manager for the BMO TCH Corporate Income Fund says, "As an investor, you have to figure out what degree the situation in Greece will spill over into Europe and the U.S. If you think there is going to be a spill-over effect, then you're setting yourself up for a flight to quality, like U.S. Treasuries and high quality U.S. investment grade corporate bonds."
Kimball has found value in corporate bonds in the telecom space. He recommends DirecTV and CenturyLink . He explains, "DirecTV has a very emerging business in Latin America, which diversifies the risk away from the U.S. and Europe. CenturyLink (provides voice, internet, data and video services) is entirely a domestic story where they're bringing bundles to areas in the U.S."
If you have a longer-term investment horizon, you will probably be better able to withstand fluctuations in the market related to the Greece debt debacle. If you're in it for the short term, manage your investments more actively.
--Written by Lindsey Bell in New York.
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Home » How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves
The Commonwealth.
We now come to that period when one of the greatest men who ever ruled England was to raise her to the highest position among the nations of Europe.
Numerous engagements had taken place between the ships adhering to the king, chiefly under the command of Prince Rupert, and those of the Parliament, under Warwick, Dean, Popham, and Blake. Blake having finally dispersed Prince Rupert’s ships, was appointed commander-in-chief of the British fleet. He was at first employed in reducing the Scilly Islands and various places in the West Indies and America, which still held out for the king. On war breaking out with the Dutch, he was summoned home to take command of the fleet sent against them. The Dutch had long been jealous of the commercial progress made by the English, who everywhere interfered with their trade, and they only now sought for an opportunity to break with their ancient allies. It was not long wanting. England claiming the sovereignty of the seas, insisted that the ships of other nations should strike their flags whenever they met them. On the 14th May, Captain Young, the commander of an English man-of-war, fell in with a Dutch squadron off the back of the Isle of Wight. The Dutchman refused to strike his flag, on which Captain Young, without further ado, fired a broadside upon the Dutch commander’s ship, which induced her to haul down her flag. This was the commencement of hostilities, which were long carried on between the two nations—the Dutch, notwithstanding the gallantry of Van Tromp, De Witt, De Ruyter, and other admirals, being in most cases defeated by Blake, Penn, and other naval commanders.
Soon after this Admiral Van Tromp put to sea with a fleet of upwards of forty sail, under pretence of protecting the Dutch trade. He was met coming into the Downs by a squadron, when he stated that he was compelled to put in by stress of weather. The English commander immediately sent notice to Blake, who was lying off Dover. Blake at once sailed in search of Van Tromp, and on approaching, fired to put the Dutchman in mind that it was his duty to strike his flag. Blake commenced the action with but fifteen ships, and with them, for four hours, fought the Dutchmen till, late at night, he was joined by the rest of his fleet. By this time two Dutch ships had been taken and one disabled, the English having lost none, when Van Tromp bore away and escaped.
In the Mediterranean, Commodore Bodley, in command of four English ships, fought a gallant action against eight Dutch ships, commanded by Admiral Van Galen. The Dutchman laid the English commodore’s ships aboard, but having been thrice set on fire, he sheered off with much loss. The second ship, which then took her place, was also beaten off, having lost her main-mast. Two others next attacked the commodore, but were defeated; though the English lost a hundred men, killed and wounded. The Phoenix, an English ship, had meantime boarded one of the commodore’s assailants and carried her, but was in turn boarded and captured by another Dutch ship, and taken into Leghorn Roads. Here Captain Van Tromp took command of the Phoenix. The Dutchmen, thinking themselves secure, spent their time in mirth and jollity on shore, when Captain Owen Cox, now serving in Commodore Platten’s squadron, hearing of what was going forward, manned three boats with thirty men in each. In addition to their weapons, each man was provided with a bag of meal to throw in the eyes of the Dutchmen. Captain Cox pulled in during the night, and got alongside the frigate at daylight. The boats’ crews had each their appointed work; one had to cut the cables, the second had to go aloft and loose the sails, while the third closed the hatches and kept the crew in subjection. Van Tromp was below, but hearing the alarm, he rushed out of his cabin, and discharged his pistols at the English, who were by that time masters of the frigate. Finding that his ship was captured, he leaped out of the cabin window, and swam safely to a Dutch ship astern. The Phoenix was carried off in triumph, and reached Naples in safety. Of course, the Grand Duke of Tuscany remonstrated, and ordered Commodore Flatten either to restore the Phoenix or to quit Leghorn; he was determined not to do the former, and sending to Commodore Bodley, who was lying at Elba with his small squadron, it was arranged he should come off the port, and draw the Dutch away. This he did. Commodore Van Galen’s squadron, at the time lying off the port to intercept him, consisted of sixteen sail; while, besides the Alfred, of 52 guns, he had only the Bonaventure, of 44 guns, the Sampson, of 36, the Levant Merchant, of 28, the Pilgrim and Mary, of 30 guns. He contrived, however, to let Commodore Bodley know his position, who attempted to draw the Dutch off, and clear the way for his squadron. Van Galen, after chasing for some time, perceiving Platten’s squadron, returned to attack it. During the action which ensued, the Bonaventure blew up, while Van Galen lost a leg from a shot, of which wound he died. Commodore Bodley’s squadron having now joined, the action became general. Captain Cornelius Van Tromp, who attacked the Sampson, was beaten off, but she was directly afterwards destroyed by a fire-ship. The Alfred, the Levant Merchant, and Pilgrim were all overpowered and taken, and the Mary alone effected her escaped, and joined the squadron of Commodore Bodley.
Another desperate action soon afterwards took place between the Dutch and the English in the channel, the English having 105 ships, and the Dutch 104. The action had lasted about an hour when Admiral Dean, the second in command, was cut in two by a cannon-shot. Monk, the commander-in-chief, seeing him fall, threw a cloak over his body to conceal it from the seamen. The ship of Van Kelson, the Dutch rear-admiral, was blown up after this. From eleven in the morning till six in the evening the battle raged, when the Dutch endeavoured to escape. Blake joined the English fleet during the night, and pursued them. About noon the battle was renewed, and for four hours continued to rage. Van Tromp grappled Admiral Penn’s ship, the James, and attempted to board, but was repulsed, and was boarded in return. The English having driven the Dutchmen below, Van Tromp ordered the deck to be blown up, when numbers of the boarders were killed, though he escaped. His ship was again boarded by the crews of the James and of another ship, and he would have been captured had not De Witt and De Ruyter bore down and saved him. The battle was decisive; eleven Dutch ships were taken and thirteen hundred prisoners, while seven were sunk, two were blown up, thus making twenty ships taken and destroyed.
Grand naval engagements were carried on in those days with very little order or regularity, each ship singling out an antagonist, and attacking her as opportunities offered. Even then, however, some of the more sagacious naval commanders discerned that this was not the wisest plan for gaining a victory. Sir William Monson, one of the most skilful admirals of the period, observes, that the most famous naval battles of late years were those of Lepanto against the Turks, in 1577, of the Spaniards against the French, 1580, and the English against the Spanish Armada, in 1588. After making various remarks, he continues: “The greatest advantage in a sea-fight is to get the wind of one another; for he that has the wind is out of danger of being boarded, and has the advantage where to board and how to attempt the enemy. The wind being thus gotten, the general is to give no other directions than to every admiral of a squadron to draw together their squadron and every one to undertake his opposite squadron, or where he should do it to his greatest advantage, but to be sure to take a good distance of one another, and to relieve that squadron that should be overcharged or distressed. Let them give warning to their ships not to venture so far as to bring them to leeward of the enemy, for it would be in the power of the enemy to board them, and they not to avoid it.”
The strict ordering of battles by ships was before the invention of the bowline, for then there was no sailing but before the wind, nor any fighting but by boarding; whereas now a ship will sail within six points of thirty-two, and by the advantage of wind, may rout any force that is placed in that form of battle—namely, that of the Spanish Armada, to which he is referring. The Admiralty, however, did not appear to agree with Sir William Monson, for the following instructions were issued:—“You are to take notice, that in case of joining battle you are to leave it to the vice-admiral to assail the enemy’s admiral, and to match yours as equally as you can to succour the rest of the fleet, as cause shall require, not wasting your powder nor shooting afar off, nor till you come side by side.”
The more sagacious commanders saw, that in order to ensure victory, something beyond a vast host of ships fighting without order was necessary, and perceived that the fleet which fought in line was in most cases victorious. The fiercest action of this period was fought on the 9th and 10th of August, when the English fleet, under Monk, came in sight of the Dutch, commanded by Admiral Van Tromp, who had with him many other celebrated officers, and nearly a hundred ships of war. Monk had about the same number of ships, which he drew up in line. The English manoeuvred to gain the wind, but Van Tromp, who had it at the first, kept it with advantage, and drew up his own fleet in a line parallel to that of the English, when, bearing down upon them, he began the battle with so great a fury, that many ships were soon seen dismasted, others sunk, and others on fire. A spectator, who was on board a vessel at a distance, describes the scene: “The two fleets were now enveloped in a cloud of smoke so dense that it was impossible to form a judgment of the fierceness of the battle otherwise than by the horrible noise of the cannon with which the air resounded, and by the mountains of fire which every now and then were seen rising out of the smoke, with a crash that gave sufficient notice that whole ships were blowing up. The battle lasted for eight hours, and was the most hard fought of any that had happened throughout the war. The Dutch fire-ships were managed with great dexterity, and many of the large vessels in the English fleet were in the utmost danger. The Triumph was so effectually fired, that most of her crew threw themselves into the sea, though others remaining behind put out the fire. Admiral Lawson engaged Admiral Ruyter, killed and wounded above half his men, and so disabled his ship, that she was towed out of the fleet. About noon Van Tromp was shot through the body by a musket-ball as he was giving his orders. This greatly discouraged the Dutch, so that they began to beat to windward, and to engage only in retreating, having but one flag still flying. As the smoke cleared off, the two fleets were seen in a condition which showed the horrible fury of the conflict in which they had been engaged. The whole sea was covered with dead bodies, with fragments, and with hulls of wrecks, still smoking or burning. Throughout the remainder of the two fleets were seen only dismasted vessels, and sails perforated through and through by cannon-balls. The English pursued them, but being afraid of the shoals, they came to an anchor six leagues off the Texel.” The loss of the Dutch amounted to 6200 men, including Admiral Van Tromp and Evertzen, with many other persons of distinction, with twenty-six ships of war sunk or burnt. On the side of the English, 7 captains and 500 men were killed, and 5 captains and 800 men wounded, besides which three of their ships were destroyed. Among the English ships were several merchantmen, and in order to take off the thoughts of their captains from their owners’ vessels and cargoes, Monk sent them to each other’s ships, a scheme which answered perfectly well, no ships in the fleet having behaved better. He also, it was said, to save time, issued orders at the commencement of the fight, that no quarter should be given or taken. This, however, was not so strictly observed, but that 1200 Dutchmen were saved from the sinking ships. On this occasion the Dutch set the example of fighting in line, though in their case, owing to the desperate valour of the English, the plan did not succeed as well as it did on many other subsequent occasions. Not without difficulty did the English ships get back to England. This victory compelled the Dutch to sue for peace.
It was at this time that the following song is supposed to have been written, showing the spirit which animated the nation. It is probably, as will be seen, the original of “Ye Mariners of England.”
“When gallants are carousing
In taverns on a row,
Then we sweep o’er the deep
When the stormy winds do blow.”
“Jack,” however, was to have his consolation, for at the end, as we read—
“When we return in safety,
With wages for our pains;
The tapster and the vintner
Will help to share our gains.
We’ll call for liquor roundly,
And pay before we go;
Then we roar on the shore
When the stormy winds do blow,” etcetera.
The gallant Blake’s latest achievement was the capture of numerous Spanish galleons, after a desperate battle off Teneriffe. He, however, did not live to receive the fresh honours Parliament was ready to bestow on him, as he died on the 17th of August, on board the George, just as she was entering Plymouth Sound. As Clarendon says of him: “He was the first to infuse that proportion of courage into seamen, by making them see by experience what mighty things they could do if they were resolved, and taught them to fight in fire as well as upon water; and although he had been very well imitated and followed, he was the first to give an example of that kind of naval courage which leads to bold and resolute deeds.”
The first duty of the English fleet after the restoration had been determined on was to bring over Charles the Second, who landed in Kent on the 23rd May, 1660.
‹ Charles the First to Termination of Commonwealth - A.D. 1625 to A.D. 1660. up Charles the Second and James the Second - from A.D. 1660 to A.D. 1689. ›
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U.K. MIDWEEKS: SI BREEZES
Andrea Bocelli is on course for his first ever U.K. #1 album this week with Si (Decca), which features Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Josh Groban, sitting at the top of the Official Albums midweek chart. But it’s a very tight race.
Tom Odell’s third album, Jubilee Road (Columbia), is a close second just 2.5k combined sales behind. And the A Star Is Born soundtrack (Polydor) is currently a mere 500 sales behind at #3.
Following the release of the film, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack (Virgin) has moved up a place to #4, ahead of The Greatest Showman soundtrack (Atlantic) at #5.
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke is on track for a Top 10 debut with the soundtrack for supernatural horror film Suspiria (XL) at #8, and Culture Club & Boy George are close behind with Life (BMG) at #9.
See Archive
WARNER TAKES ON WEST END
posted 7/15/19
BIZ UNITES IN CLIMATE CHANGE FIGHT
BBC APPOINTS POP CONTROLLER
U.K. MARKETSHARE FOR H1 2019
posted 7/8/19
U.K. CHARTS: KYLIE CLAIMS 7TH #1
U.K. MIDWEEKS: KYLIE EYES #1
U.K. CHARTS: WILL SETTLES FOR #2
PARTISAN GETS CREATIVE
UMG U.K.'S VIEW ON DIVERSITY
U.K. MIDWEEKS: YOUNG EYES #1
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WWF condemns plans by aluminium giant Alcoa that would destroy great Icelandic wilderness
Geneva, Switzerland - WWF, the conservation organization, today called on Alcoa, the world’s largest aluminium producer, to live up to its own environmental standards and pull out of a project that would destroy Dimmugljúfur Canyon, one of Iceland's great wilderness areas.
The project would see Alcoa, well-known for household brands like Reynolds Wrap® and Baco ® foil building a giant aluminium smelter in Eastern Iceland. At the same time, the Icelandic government would construct a major dam complex to power the smelter. Alcoa claims that leadership in environmental, health, and safety performance is inseparable from its aspiration to be the best company in the world. However, this joint project will submerge parts of Dimmugljúfur canyon, and breeding grounds for pink-footed geese and reindeer under a 57 square kilometre reservoir and three giant dams, and involve building kilometres of new roads and tunnels. The project will also dam and divert two of the three main river systems in the area, cutting off the vital arteries that feed streams, wetlands and habitat for wildlife.
"Alcoa's performance in environment, health, and safety has qualified the company as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI)," said Samantha Smith, Director of WWF's Arctic Programme. "Although they publicly emphasize their environmental principles a decision to build this smelter would help destroy one of the last great wilderness areas of Western Europe. WWF is calling on Alcoa to live up to its environmental principles and back out of this devastating project."
Alcoa's move is all the more surprising given that it follows a decision by the Norwegian multinational, Norsk Hydro, to withdraw from the project after substantial criticism from environmental groups and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that concluded that the project would have huge and negative consequences on the area. On the basis of the EIA, the Icelandic Planning Agency ruled that the project should not go forward. Subsequently the Icelandic government overturned that ruling, and allowed the project - a decision that has now been challenged in court.
WWF is calling on Alcoa, which has 129,000 employees worldwide and last year generated revenues of USD 22.9 billion, to live up to its environmental principles and back out of its joint plan with the Icelandic Government. The Alcoa board will take a final decision on the project on 11 July. The CEO of WWF-US, Kathryn S. Fuller, sits on Alcoa's board and has raised WWF's opposition to the project with the company at the highest level.
WWF is supporting calls by Icelandic NGOs for the Eastern Highlands to be declared a national park. Such a park would ensure long-term protection for the highlands that risk to be affected by the Alcoa project. This could create more jobs through tourism than will be generated by the power and aluminium development, at much lower cost.
"Everywhere we look, the Arctic is under pressure. From the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the Barents Sea, and now the Dimmugljúfur Canyon, governments and industry see the Arctic as a new frontier for large-scale industrial development. What they don’t see is that the Arctic is one of the last places left on earth where nature still works as it has for centuries. When we lose this, we’ll never be able to get it back," Samantha Smith added.
Samantha Smith, WWF Arctic Programme, tel: +47 22 03 65 18/00, +47 45 02 21 49, email: ssmith@wwf.no
Kyla Evans, Head of Press WWF International, tel: +41 22 364 9550, email: kevans@wwfint.org
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HawaiiThreads.com > Ka Nohona > Melting Pot
Homeless solutions
Page 13 of 14 « First < 3 11 12 13 14 >
Re: Homeless solutions
they got $$$ for tent city squalor... https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/03/st...sing-services/
another $21MIL to spend and still no homes https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/...FdzX1DVj_oYL8s
basic humanity https://www.kxan.com/news/local/aust...swBzOpTp21do8o
The City / State has always been the problem https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/...hfYwW0hwWfEk7o
April 3rd, 2019, 09:14 AM
Caldwell is another trumPOS https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/...gq6f93J2gOrhQA
the Court stood strong https://laist.com/2019/04/03/homeles...MD66sw3qAGNO_k
more Court good news https://www.npr.org/2019/04/02/70925...x8Z3kMTV1LPImg
provide homes? how novel! https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minneso...-homelessness/
RIP Michael Wesley Collins, he took his own life recently. this is what he wrote about homelessness at the end of November 2018.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater
"Homelessness is no joke. Taking a journey through being homeless and penniless has given me a new perspective on what hardships homeless people endure. Once you're in it, it's very, very difficult to escape. You run into chicken-egg problems again and again and it leads to an inevitable downward spiral. For example, you can't get a job because you're homeless and you're homeless because you can't get a job. Imagine having no car, being filthy and trying to show up to a job interview. It's impossible, and you come into a hopeless downward spiral. The homeless shelters are awful places where they pack people in like sardines in bunk beds, and everyone there is in a dark state of hopelessness.
The social services in the USA are a joke and they don't provide enough support to even live, let alone give you an opportunity to dig yourself out of a hopeless hole. Welfare amounts to almost nothing, not even enough to buy food, let alone establish an apartment or residence, and it's quite difficult to get as well, and the system is unforgiving for missed appointments, which can happen quite easily when you don't have a home or money for transportation. Again, it's part of the vicious cycle.
Often there is a waiting list to even get into a homeless shelter. In San Diego for example, the wait list is 1 month, so you must sleep on the street for a month before being considered to sleep in a crowded room. To receive government-assisted housing, the wait list is 2 years! If you become homeless in the richest country in the world, you would wait 2 years for relief!
People are immensely cruel to the homeless as well, many of whom suffer from a psychiatric condition that they cannot help. Often families reject people with psychiatric conditions with the misunderstanding that they could be dangerous in some way, but most often they are sensitive souls who also often connect with higher spiritual energies. In old days, these people would be seen as prophets, medicine men, and spiritual leaders, but today they are derided as mentally ill and very often wind up homeless. They are most often victims of human cruelty and miscomprehension, rather than a threat.
I am still homeless, though I'm continuing to fight my way out, but thankfully I still have some generous friends and haven't yet sunk so low that I cannot escape, though I remain on the precipice. I will say that I will kill myself before I fall into that level of despair, and I fight daily to keep myself from this fate, but often I must choose between difficult options. I have also endured an immense amount to trauma during this experience, and the idea of taking time for healing is ridiculous considering that I must navigate getting basic needs met like food and shelter with the onset of winter coming.
Please keep me and all other homeless in your prayers, but action is needed even more than prayer. If you see homeless, or know of someone on the brink of homelessness, please have compassion for them and give to them generously. You have no idea of the circumstances that led to their condition, as this world can be a cruel and unforgiving place.
I have a master's degree, high intelligence, and a variety of high-value skills, but I still wound up homeless and if you understood the story and reasons why, it would make perfect sense, and you would also understand that I had no control of the events that led to this place. It was a complex series of events that caused it, and it can truly happen to anyone.
Have compassion for those who have fallen into this horrible state of despair."
hello Hilo! http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/04...IYohI9pezAgJu4
chi-ching https://www.statepress.com/article/2...NnZRxHhHF1W0Qo
this is fucked up, of all the places to destroy in futile attempts https://www.facebook.com/dhhl.hawaii...c_location=ufi
I don't agree with some of what they say and are doing but it's their alternative
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=275028123212271
hmmm... https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/ne...oro_O5Ffv8Lpso
the IHS, Oahu's largest shelter has a 'mat rule' which denies shelter to all who need extra help https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...28Q-YYea6RjW-w
the view from LA https://www.cbsnews.com/video/priced...bsn-originals/
NIMBY! https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/05/ho...eighbors-dont/
Shubert-Kwock sits (or did) on the CT Neighborhood Board and is tight with HPD, always pressing her influences, yet she's of such a narrow monstrous mind that she wants to steal the homeless' welfare checks? what a heartless pig! that's another reason why 0 is done to HELP these people, they're always prioritizing hurtful BULLSHIT instead of real and humanitarian ideas. Kimo Carvalho, spokesman for the Institute for Human Services and promoter of the homeless industry lies yet again “The theory that the sit-lie law in Waikiki is pushing people into Chinatown is not true, the fact of the matter is that the majority of homeless are from this Chinatown region.” when in fact these are the vast minority of the 15,000 Oahu homeless and as a group is wildly transitional. https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/...1Bko1ICpkdCTvM
Last edited by Ron Whitfield; May 12th, 2019 at 04:37 PM.
Developers hate these tiny homes and they have owned the County Council such that zoning or permitting changes to allow them are almost impossible to come by.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90347755...e%20newsletter
homeless industry propaganda https://www.facebook.com/kainoa.kaum...03377528063676
if NASA can do this for Mars... https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/...8KfVLfcIC1noN0
June 1st, 2019, 03:16 PM
awesomeness in action https://www.commondreams.org/news/20...hDFSRPZ3lFMzuA
June 3rd, 2019, 02:32 AM
more kau hale! https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/0...5j66X7HlYPKxt4
she's right again, as usual https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4...1V8Koan6SuNB-E
even worse, read the brain dead comments https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/...APxsvHCU-0UMlM
welcome to LA https://www.latimes.com/local/califo...XUhNgBrH9dH9M4
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Excessive executive pay a threat to business, say Institute of Directors members
Business leaders from across the UK say excessive pay for those at the top is the biggest threat to the reputation of business
Excessively high pay for big business leaders is the biggest threat to public trust in business, according to a survey of members of the Institute of Directors carried out on behalf of the High Pay Centre think-tank.
52 per cent of respondents identified ‘anger over senior levels of executive pay’ as a threat to public trust in business, ahead of 51 per cent identifying product mis-selling or unsympathetic portrayal of business in the media. 48% either agreed or strongly agreed that falling trust in business was an important threat to the success of their own company, while 26 per cent did not think it was important.
The survey findings will increase the pressure on political parties to include further measures to contain top pay in their general election manifestos. The Coalition Government gave shareholders the power to veto proposed executive pay packages in 2013, but top pay has continued to prove controversial. Last week HSBC revealed that CEO Stuart Gulliver was awarded nearly £8 million in 2014, while over 300 other senior bankers were paid at least €1 million. Reports suggest that Lloyds CEO Antonio Horta Osorio was paid around £10 million last year, even though a substantial proportion of the bank remains publicly-owned.
The survey from the IoD and the High Pay Centre also found that 54 per cent of IoD members thought that building a successful company was the most important motivation for a business executive, compared to just 13 per cent who said they were motivated by financial reward.
Deborah Hargreaves, Director of the High Pay Centre said: These findings destroy the argument that criticism of excessive executive pay is somehow ‘anti-business.’ Outside the boardrooms of big corporations, ordinary small and medium-sized business owners are as appalled by the culture of top pay as anybody else.
When big business leaders rake in seven or eight figure pay packages every year, including massive bonuses regardless of company performance, we are clearly seeing a corporate governance failure rather than a fair and functional free market. Ordinary workers, customers and wider society, not to mention shareholders, are being ripped off.
Simon Walker, Director General of the Institute of Directors said: Performance-related pay can be a key driver of success. Companies of all sizes have policies that reward individual contributions through mechanisms such as commission and bonuses. When it comes to senior executives there are higher standards, and rightly so. Pay must be sufficiently long-term to encourage them to plan five, ten or twenty years ahead.
“However, in some corners of corporate Britain pay for top executives has become so divided from performance that it cannot be justified. Runaway pay packages, golden hellos, and inflammatory bonuses are running the reputation of business into the ground. Large companies need to look closely at the role excessive pay is playing in fuelling an anti-business backlash from the public and some politicians. IoD members are justifiably concerned at the impact this is having on their own small and medium-sized companies.
“As remuneration committees begin to consider this year’s pay deals, I would urge them to take note of the shareholder backlash we saw last year. There is a responsibility on the part of directors and boards to restore the link between long-term performance, accountability, shareholder return and executive rewards. Groups like the IoD and High Pay Centre will continue to keep on the pressure until companies take note.”
The High Pay Centre is an independent think-tank researching pay at the top of the income distribution. The Institute of Directors is a membership organisation for business leaders in the UK.
The High Pay Centre surveyed over 1,000 Institute of Directors members regarding their views on performance-related pay as part of the IoD’s monthly member survey.
The Coalition Government introduced the ‘Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act’ in 2013 requiring all companies to put their ‘pay policy’ to a shareholder vote at least once every three years. However, the average pay realised by a FTSE 100 Chief Executive in 2013 (the last year for which full figures are available) stood at £4.7 million, up from £4.1 million the previous year.
Independent analysis suggests that the pay of a FTSE 100 CEO is now at least 160 times that of the average full-time UK worker, compared to about 60 times in the late 1990s
Contact: Luke Hildyard, Deputy Director, High Pay Centre - T: 07859 015543 E: luke.hildyard@highpaycentre.org
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Jones Management Services, Inc. Corporate Offices are located at:
201 Keith Street, Suite 80
Cleveland, TN 37364-1015
info@jonesmanagement.com
Allan Jones
Allan attended Cleveland High School from 1969 to 1972 and attended Middle Tennessee State University and Cleveland State Community College. He left college at age 20 to help his father (William A. “Bill” Jones) stabilize the family’s small business, the Credit Bureau of Cleveland. He purchased the business from his father in 1977 and developed it to become the largest credit bureau databases in the state.
Jones sold the credit reporting side of the business to Equifax in 1988, although he retained the name and the company’s collection agency division. The sale to Equifax set a record for the highest price per earnings paid for a credit reporting business.
Jones then built the collections company to be the largest in Tennessee with offices from Memphis to Atlanta. He sold the company in 1998.
He founded Check Into Cash in 1993 and Jones Management Services in 1996. In 2014, he stepped in to save Hardwick Clothes – America’s oldest tailor made clothing manufacturer. Jones rescued more than 200 jobs and vowed to lead the company back to profitability.
Contact Allan
D. Lynn DeVault
Lynn DeVault is President of Jones Management Services, Inc. and serves as a director of Creditcorp, Inc. and Firstview, LLC.
Prior to joining Jones Management, Lynn served as CEO of Llama Holding Company in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Llama was owned by the Walton family, principally Alice L. Walton. Llama, a financial service holding company, included a NASD registered broker-dealer, a commercial mortgage company, an asset-management company, a finance company specializing in vendors to Wal-Mart, and Heartland Capital, a private equity fund.
Lynn previously held various management positions with SunTrust Banks, Inc., in Atlanta, Ga., from 1980 to 1994. She also held positions with Security Pacific National Bank and Trust Company Bank after beginning her career in education. Lynn has more than 30 years combined experience in senior level management.
Lynn received her education at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and at Emory University in Atlanta.
Email Lynn
Toby Pendergrass
Chief of Staff to Allan Jones
Toby Pendergrass is the Chief of Staff for Jones Management Services. Prior to arriving at JMS, Pendergrass worked in the custom publishing industry and served as the managing editor for the Bradley News Weekly newspaper from 1998 to 2004. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Contact Toby
He was formerly Director of Acquisitions for Jones Properties, LLC. Jones, a lifelong resident of Cleveland, served as Director of Acquisitions since 2013 and was responsible for strategic business investments and the acquisition of commercial and residential properties, as well as renovations and setting rental rates for residential and commercial properties.
Joe Mason, C.P.A
Joe Mason is a CPA licensed in Georgia and a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Joe is responsible for the financial affairs of the Jones’ Companies outside of the flagship operations d/b/a as Check into Cash and its affiliates. Joe joined Jones Management Services in 2013 with 13 years prior experience as the chief financial officer of a multi-family office with a diversified portfolio of investments in banking, construction, real estate, and a destination resort.
Greg Madson
Chief Legal Officer
Greg Madson is the Chief Legal Officer of Jones Management Services, Inc. and all of its affiliated companies. He joined the company in 2000. His prior experience includes practicing law at a firm in Chattanooga, TN and serving as General Counsel for a national consumer finance company. Greg is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Georgia.
Rachel Ingram, C.P.A.
Rachel Ingram is a CPA licensed in TN. She received her Masters of Accountancy from Auburn University and her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She joined the company in 2012, specializing in tax advisory. Prior to Jones Management, she worked in Corporate Tax Compliance with Oreck Corporation and worked 7 years in public accounting.
Daniel Brantley
Jones Companies Courier & Manager, WOOP 99.9 FM
Daniel Brantley is the Editor of the Jones Companies Courier, a company newsletter that is distributed to more than 3,200 employees. Prior to arriving at JMS, Brantley was editor of the Bradley News Weekly newspaper and worked in the education and custom publishing industry. He is a graduate of King College (now University) in Bristol, Tennessee.
Tom Wilhoit
Director of Maintenance
Tom Wilhoit serves as Director of Maintenance for Jones Management Services and joined the company after more than 40 years in the fields of construction and real estate. In his role at JMS, Tom oversees all maintenance projects involving commercial and residential properties. He has oversight of all construction projects and is a broker for the real estate division of the company.
©2018 Jones Management Services, Inc. All rights reserved. View our privacy policy.
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Lily Fawn explores pop side with Hush Hush Noise
Tuesday, 21 May 2019 08:32 Richard Amery
Victoria musician Lily Fawn explores her more experimental pop side with her new project Hush Hush Noise, which comes to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Friday, May 24.
Hush Hush Noise evolved out of a collaboration with fellow Victoria musician Eric Hogg to recreate the music of the TV show Twin Peaks.
“And we enjoyed working together so much, we wondered what it would be like to collaborate on original music,” said Lily Fawn, who is best known as one half of experimental/ swamp rock duo Hank and Lily.
“Eric is the nicest guy. And he’s so easygoing. He’s quite musical. He’s given me the license to be creative. There’s no idea too weird that he isn’t willing to try,” she continued.
“I’m so excited to bring it to Lethbridge (May 24 at the Owl Acoustic Lounge). It’s so different. It’s a lot more experimental and a lot more electronic pop,” she continued, noting the duo have been playing together and recently released their self titled debut CD on Rae Spoon’s record label Coax Records.
“It’s more like (English electronica band) Broadcast or Metric,” she described.
“ And it is a little like Bjork,” she said, agreeing her distinctive high pitched voice does draw the inevitable comparisons to Hank and Lily. But she said it is also a lot different than the Twin Peaks project
“It’s more pop indie rock, but it isn’t Britney Spears,” she continued.
“It’s a collaboration. I wrote 50 per cent of the music and Eric wrote 50 per cent. so it‘s a pretty good mix,” she said adding she plays a variety of percussion, ukulele, vocals and musical saw in addition to singing. Hogg plays guitar, sequencing and sings.
Hush, Hush Noise are combining the Lethbridge show with a week long tour of B.C. and Alberta including a gig at the East Town Get Down Festival in Calgary, May 25.
They are planning a tour out east of Ontario and Quebec for the summer.
She is glad to be part of Rae Spoon’s record label Coax.
“We’re very excited to be part of Coax. It has ended up being a perfect fit for us. Rae has been very cool so it is great to be part of Coax,” she said.
She noted Hank and Lily are also working on new music, but she wants to keep the two musical projects separate
“ They’re totally different. Hank and Lily are a lot more theatrical. I don’t wear the deer antlers (she always wears while playing with Hank and Lily) for Hush Hush Noise,” she said, adding she is also working on new music for Hank and Lily.
“Hank moved to Vancouver, to do more theatre, so it’s hard to get together,” she said, adding they are working on a new Hank and Lily Ep when they have time.
“It’s busy balancing both projects. But we have a new Hank and Lily Ep recorded that we might release this summer,” she observed.
Hush Hush Noise and Tyler Vandendool play the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Friday, May 24. admission is by donation.
— bY Richard Amery, L.a. Beat Editor
Last Updated ( Saturday, 01 June 2019 10:38 )
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Team LondonTeamMarzena
London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Marzena Podhorska Wrocław U of Tech, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Team Mission / Summary Where does it come from? Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..", comes from a line in section 1.10.32. The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.
Team Mission / Summary Where does it come from? Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical ...Read More
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at Sunday, April 04, 2010 | 0 comments |
By Indi Samarajiva
Military tourism by air is slowly but surely taking off
Post-war, the Sri Lanka military is adapting for tourism. The Navy and Air Force have been especially active in re purposing ships, planes and helicopters for civilian use. Two specific civilian services are the Jetliner cruise ship berthed in the Colombo Harbour and the Helitours air transport service. These two services are now in almost daily operation.
Navy tourism
During the war the Navy Jetliner was a top target for the LTTE. Now it is a top destination for blue-chip companies and organisations. This multiple-storied ship is docked in the Colombo Harbour, near the Pettah clock tower entrance. Civilians can enter this formerly high security area to book a tour and take the Jetliner out for a sunset cruise, with 350 of their closest friends. But it wasn’t always like this.
During the war this Jetliner was a lifeline to the north. It was capable of ferrying over 3,000 troops from Trincomalee to Jaffna and large quantities of supplies. As such, it was also a target for the LTTE. It saw action — shots came near the Jetliner but never reached its bow. During some missions the ship was escorted by gunships and helicopters. It was also equipped with its own complement of guns, hand held missiles and about 150 soldiers to operate its defenses. Today, however, Captain Nilantha Heenatigala is more likely to inquire about what equipment you’d like at the bar.
“This service started in January. We expected about four events a month. This month alone we have 11,” he said.
One such event was held in March. It was well attended but compromised by poor food and beverage service, services meant to be provided by the Navy. Bookings aside, the service does still have some hiccups when it comes to delivering five star service to match the facilities.
And the Jetliner is an excellent ship. It is large and has ample room for hundreds of guests in the lounge, Club Room, dining hall or on two decks. These have facilities for sound and light, though at times additional generators may be required. The facilities are spotless and well maintained and the ship itself is a recent lease from an Indonesian company. It can cruise at a top speed of 28 knots (over 30 MPH), burning commensurate amounts of fuel. Being a military ship, it has all the required clearances to sail in our highly secured waters.
The most idyllic package is perhaps the sunset cruise, comprising 1.5 hours at sea and 3.5 hours at harbour. This costs over Rs. 400,000. That price can be divided among 125, 175 or 350 people, costing Rs. 2,300 per head for 175 guests, for example. The cheapest package is about Rs. 200,000, comprising five hours in the harbour, without sailing anywhere. The ship is also available on longer charters. You can sail up to Galle for around Rs.2.5 million, for example. The service is by no means an outing for the family, but it is affordable for companies or large groups.
Of which there are many. In just a few hours aboard the boat there were over four groups of local and international companies inquiring about the ship’s services and being happily obliged with tours. Captain Heenatigala, however, was clear that this remained a project in the ultimate service of the military and nation.
“This vessel has to run,” he said. “If the government wants to transport a battalion at any time, we can do that. This ship is available as a contingency, for any disaster, to evacuate people in cases like a tsunami, for example. It is also able to assist anywhere in South Asia.”
In this way the government is making some of its military/emergency facilities somewhat self-sufficient. Is it breaking even? “We’re not losing money, not making money,” the Captain said. So the ship continues to run, for security and for fun.
Air Force Tourism
Another type of military tourism is by air. The Air Force maintains a variety of aircraft and highly trained personnel. Recently these formerly military flights have been opened to the public and anyone can book a seat. Simply visit the Air Force office across from the Cinnamon Lakeside and the capable staff will fill out a ticket in about half an hour. In the morning you can leave from Ratmalana Airport and be in Trincomalee after 40 minutes in the air.
The service is not seamless — one test flight was an hour late for example — but, most importantly, the flights are safe and regular. According to Group Captain Janaka Nanayakkara, the Helitours service has been operating for almost a year. It does flights to China Bay airport in Trincomalee for anyone and flights to Palaly in Jaffna for citizens or foreigners with Ministry of Defence clearance.
The planes themselves are AN-32 turboprops, comfortable but still obviously military aircraft. They have only four windows and a back bay that opens. On a test flight there were only six tourists and all were seated near a window, which is worthwhile. The experience is remarkable as the plane flies at a constant viewing altitude.
On the test flight check-in time was 6:30 am and the flight arrived at 9:50, about an hour late. This is still incredibly convenient. At Rs. 4,100 for a one-way ticket, it is also affordable, especially for those whose time is money. One-way to Jaffna is Rs. 9,550. A round-trip to either destination is double, with flights leaving Colombo at 8 AM and returning in the afternoon.
Helitours, like the Jetliner, remains ultimately in service of the military. On each flight there are Air Force and military personnel traveling alongside tourists and business people. All involved are extremely courteous and professional and it is a slightly odd but pleasant experience. There are two professional checks, but much less obtrusive than a regular airport.
Travelling to the old ‘Colombo Airport’ is actually like stepping back in time to a more casual and personal age of air travel. It is quiet, uncrowded and one walks across the runway to the plane. Delays aside, the Helitours service is a novel, fast and ultimately breathtaking way to go.
In this and many ways the armed forces are adapting to peace, serving civilians and maintaining themselves. Available services include the ship and plane charters as well as canal boat rides in Colombo, holiday homes, etc. There are hiccups, especially in terms of adapting to regular customers, but both the cruise ship and flight service are entirely operational. The facilities are pleasant and safe and the people, while not necessarily trained in hospitality, are unfailingly hospitable.
This is, in many ways, true to the character of the Sri Lankan armed forces. War was certainly not pretty, but Sri Lanka has emerged from this decades long conflict with an extremely capable military. This military remains ready for war, but they are also moving into more leisurely pursuits. There are certainly very few armed forces in the world that let anyone ride their ships or planes, but it is an experiment the Sri Lankan military has begun. For civilians, it may be worth a try.
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Home » About the Committee » Members Blogs » Sergey Zheleznyak » Sergey Zheleznyak: “The leadership of Kiev has set a goal to completely destroy the remnants of the country’s economy”
Sergey Zheleznyak: “The leadership of Kiev has set a goal to completely destroy the remnants of the country’s economy”
Member of the Committee on International Affairs Sergey Zheleznyak:
“Liquidation of contracts, first of all, will lead to extremely negative consequences for Ukraine itself. As for the rest of the devastating steps of Kiev, they all also cause damage to the economy and the citizens of Ukraine, who become hostages in the hands of the dictator, who has given himself unlimited power. There is a steady feeling that the leadership of Kiev has set itself the goal of finally destroying the remnants of the country’s economy, and turning the population into obedient slaves who cannot defend their rights. ”
According to Zheleznyak, what is happening in Ukraine now is “this is only the beginning of tightening the screws inside Ukraine in order to use Poroshenko of unlimited power”. The politician added that each new destructive step of the Ukrainian authorities clearly shows the goals of its military operation in the Black Sea.
“Nothing else could have been expected from Maidan activists who seized power through an armed coup. Kiev’s new anti-Russian actions, including the ban on the entry of men from Russia aged 16 to 60 years old, the intention to break dozens of bilateral agreements and detain Russian ships to provoking our country to respond, “he said.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin said that Ukraine intends to unilaterally terminate about 40 agreements with Russia.
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Australia's Dangerous Problem With Islam
This may seem a bit slow, but you Must Listen all the way through to the end. Listen to the voice of the woman as she describes the attack on her and three children. Listen to the fear in her voice and to her closing words...
...They've found us haven't they?
Labels: Islam, Jihad, Terrorist
Katzav Found Guilty
Former president of Israel, Moshe Katzav has been found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of an indecent act.
The judges said among other things that:
* Katzav's testimony had been "replete with lies,"
*he should not have accused the media of "trying him publicly," because he himself "used the media to his advantage whenever he could,"and
* he should have accepted the plea bargain that was offered him.
Moshe Katzav is a proven liar, a rapist and a sexual predator apart from the complete shame and disgrace his has brought to the country and the government of Israel. As an immigrant from Iran he sullies the name of all who come to Israel with a desire to make a better life and become a part of the country.
One can only hope that he is given an appropriate punishment of jail time and be made to undergo counseling for sexual predators. Being as how he denies any wrong doing I somehow doubt this disgusting little man will ever do the right thing. I wonder if the two women will sue for damages?
You can read the story here at Arutz 7.
Labels: Criminal, Israel, Predator
ZAKA~Chesed Shel Emet (True Virtue)
David Rawlings & ZAKA Team
About a year ago Israel Vision.TV created a promotional video for ZAKA (a Hebrew acronym for Disaster Victims Identification). David Rawlings spent time following and filming ZAKA in action and interviewed some of their volunteers. When the earthquake stuck in Haiti David was with the team at Ben Gurion airport as they prepared to leave. You can watch these touching interviews on the Israel Vision.TV website. These amazing men speak of their experiences and the strength that it takes to carefully sift through every disaster to insure that no human remains--no matter how small--are left behind. There are also links you can follow to the ZAKA home page.
The following information was posted on Israel 21C by Abigail Klein Leichman on 21 December 2010. Do visit their excellent site for many other interesting reports about Israel.
Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, Founder of ZAKA
In a special Knesset gathering in November, Israeli Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz presented an award to ZAKA Rescue and Recovery Organization founder Yehuda Meshi-Zahav for raising awareness and promoting road safety. The moment was noteworthy not just because it acknowledged ZAKA's role in responding to thousands of car accidents and encouraging safer driving, but also because it underlined the warm relationship between Israel's secular officials and Meshi-Zahav, an ultra-Orthodox (haredi) former anti-Zionist agitator. Yehuda Meshi-Zahav evolved from an anti-Zionist firebrand in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood into the founder of ZAKA, a unique rescue and recovery organization.
Since founding ZAKA in 1995, the 51-year-old father of seven has gained a reputation as an international rescue authority and as one of Israel's greatest champions of tolerance among both Jews and Arabs. His post-9/11 work in New York earned him an invitation to participate in a special commemoration on the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attack, and he chose to take along Sheikh Akel Elatrash, commander of ZAKA's Bedouin Unit in the Negev. "We slept in the same room, ate our meals together, and toured Manhattan together," Meshi-Zahav tells ISRAEL21c. With one sporting a black velvet skullcap and long gray sidelocks and the other in traditional Arab robe and headdress, the two caused quite a stir. "People asked if we were part of a film," he recalls.
Though Meshi-Zahav's life story could easily be mistaken for a screenplay, he is as real as the flesh and blood he encounters at the scenes of accidents, crimes and terrorist attacks. Brought up in the insular Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim, he was ingrained to distrust "the other" and to disdain Zionism as evil.
Arrested 34 Times for Anti-Zionist Agitation
"The haredi community is set up with 'walls' to protect us from outside influences" Meshi-Zahav says, speaking in Hebrew translated by his foreign media spokeswoman, Lydia Weitzman, and ZAKA development director David Rose. "I never knew there were Jews who act and behave differently and that they are also good people." The 11th generation Jerusalemite was taught that there was a correct and incorrect way to do things, "and if we did something the incorrect way, we were called Zionists." This same man, who proudly lit the torch ushering in the State of Israel's Independence Day celebrations in 2003, was arrested 34 times at anti-Zionist demonstrations as a youth.
At some point, the young Meshi-Zahav developed an affinity for the police who apprehended him time and again. "I began to see them as regular people who wanted to go home to their families after a day's work," he relates. "I started to see that a lot of things could be settled more easily by just sitting and talking to one another."
With this revelation as a backdrop, on July 6, 1989 Meshi-Zahav heard the explosion and subsequent screams emanating from a bus driven into a ravine by a terrorist. He and some friends rushed to the scene, determined to help tend the wounded and collect scattered body parts and blood for burial.
Though his mother had set a volunteering example with her regular visits to terminally ill patients, Meshi-Zahav knew neither first aid nor forensics. But he knew Jewish laws regarding human remains, and he discovered that no organization in Israel was authorized to do this gruesome but sacred work.
Free Access to Palestinian hospitals
His life took on a new purpose: "Even though we Israelis have different opinions about how the state should be, the time had come to live together." Over the next six years, he lay the groundwork for ZAKA--the only group of its kind worldwide, it is recognized by the United Nations as an international volunteer humanitarian organization. Donations make up most of its funding; about 10 percent of the budget comes from the government.
ZAKA in Haiti
During the Arab uprising or intifada from 2000 to 2006, Meshi-Zahav and about 600 volunteers rarely slept, constantly on alert for the next call. Working knee-deep in blood, Meshi-Zahav was fortified by his faith. "At the time, I thought we were dealing with kavod hamet--honoring the dead. By the end, I realized that we were actually honoring the living, because a family whose loved one cannot receive a full Jewish burial has no rest."
ZAKA developed an avenue for transferring the remains of terrorists to the Palestinian Authority. "Our humanitarian message is the key that allows us to open doors to all communities," Meshi-Zahav says. "Even during [those years], we were going into Palestinian hospitals when we needed to."
Today, some 1,500 Jewish, Muslim and Druze ZAKA volunteers carry out lifesaving, rescue and recovery operations in Israel and around the world, garnering numerous awards including a citation from New York City for assistance following 9/11. The organization was one of those from Israel that was active in Haiti after the earthquake. Awareness of ZAKA's mission has grown in Israel and abroad.
I have no strikes or vacations
"Before ZAKA, if there was a traffic accident in Israel, paramedics would take care of the injured and a private ambulance would come to take the dead...but if there were body parts, nobody collected them," says Meshi-Zahav. "The firemen would wash down all the blood and that was the end of it. Now it is in the Israeli consciousness to call us instead."
ZAKA has also changed attitudes in the haredi community, now one of its largest pools of volunteers. In the early years, Meshi-Zahav's children were derided at school for their father's close cooperation with official Israeli agencies. But even when the social pressure eased, the time pressure did not. Calls come day and night from ZAKA's hotline or from the army, emergency services, police, firefighters, Homefront Command or foreign governments.
"My typical day's schedule is not fixed by me, but by the angel of death," Meshi-Zahav says. "I have no strikes or vacations."
ZAKA at Burned Bus in Carmel Fire
The Carmel Forest fire earlier at the beginning of December was a case in point. ZAKA volunteers rappelled down a hill to reach the site of the burned bus carrying prison guards and sift through the charred wreckage to uncover all human remains before the victims were buried. Another team worked to identify the charred bodies. "The people of Israel owe you much gratitude for the holy work that you have been doing," Interior Minister Eli Yishai told them. While awaiting better times with perfect faith, Meshi-Zahav remains dedicated to his twin missions of disaster response and bettering society. "In the same way that enemies don't distinguish between different types of Jews, we too must be for everyone," he says. "Our guiding principle is our belief that all men were made in the image of God."
Labels: Carmel, Chesed, Disaster, Faith, Fire, Israel, Israel 21c, Jerusalem, Rescue, Tragedy, ZAKA
Joy and Grief~Update to the Carmel Fire
After fighting for his life for two weeks, Danny Hayat became the 44th victim of the disastrous Carmel fire on the 19th of December. On Tuesday, ten days after he succumbed to his burns, his widow, Hofit gave birth to a healthy girl at the Afula hospital--mother and daughter are both doing well.
Danny Hayat, his partner Uri Samandayev along with 16-year-old volunteer fireman Elad Rivan were called to the scene where the bus was trapped. The three fought the flames that engulfed the bus which had been carrying cadets to help with the evacuation of Damon Prison, which held terrorist prisoners. Samandayev and Rivan died at the scene, while Hayat was rescued in critical condition, suffering from burns to 65 percent of his body. He was hospitalized for two weeks at Rambam, and only recently had begun receiving artificial skin grafts. Family and friends had felt that he was getting stronger and would recover.
Danny Hayat was the founder and commander of the Jezreel rescue unit. The unit's flag hung outside the intensive care room while Hayat was in the hospital. In addition to his wife and baby daughter Danny left behind two sons.
Labels: Carmel, Disaster, Fire
A Bad Year for Israel
As we near the end of 2010, Israel has much sadness to bear. Terror attacks on public roads that left four dead--including a nine months pregnant woman, an horrific forest fire that had taken the lives of forty-four people--many of them young men and women just starting their lives. On Sunday another fire broke out near Maoz close to Mevesseret Zion but is under control, and today a train traveling between Haifa and Tel Aviv caught fire.
According to Arutz 7, the train was traveling from north to south on the Haifa-Tel Aviv tracks when it caught fire in the rear engine as they neared Shefayim, opposite the Ronit Farm. The fire spread to passenger cars causing passengers to shout for the driver to stop the train.
When the train stopped the emergency system that was supposed to throw open the train's doors failed to operate, trapping the passengers. The windows in the cars are supposed to be broken in case of an emergency, but the emergency hammers for breaking them were all gone.
Thankfully there was a fast-thinking Border Guard policeman on board who quickly loaded his weapon and fired at the windows to break them and allow people to get out.
The rear engine car had caught fire, possibly due to an electrical malfunction. At least four cars on the passenger train were in flames, trapping passengers inside--injuring at least seventy-six people. Five people were evacuated in moderate condition and the rest are described a being lightly hurt suffering from smoke inhalation and minor cuts from trying to exit the windows.
Labels: Disaster, Israel, Jews, Tragedy
Thanks to Elder of Ziyon for this wonderful poster. Do visit his site.
Labels: Christianity, Christmas, Israel, Middle-East
Christmas Greetings from PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Labels: Benjamin Netanyahu, Christmas
PA Claims: Mary is Palestinain & Jesus was the First Shaheed
The Palestinian Authority always looks for ways to incite Christian hatred of Jews worldwide and this year is no exception. In 2009 Arutz 7 ran this post which claimed similar baiting comments. The incident that started things off this year was an AFP report that a mayor in Nazareth objected to Christmas trees in the squares.
The story in its entirety can be read on Arutz 7 here. Here is an excerpt:
The suburb in question, Nazareth Illit, was established for the express purpose of creating a Jewish neighborhood next to Arab Nazareth. Over the past decade, however, thousands of Arabs have taken advantage of Israeli democracy to move into the Jewish neighborhood, and it has become dangerous for Jews to walk down certain streets due to Arab harassment. Mayor Shimon Gapso and many of the Jewish residents see the demand by Arabs to put Christmas trees in public squares as just another act of Arab-nationalist chutzpah.
Of course, what they always fail to report is that in the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority, Christians have been murdered, tortured, and intimidated into leaving ever since the PA took over. Nowhere is this more evident than in Bethlehem, a city which Christians hold sacred as Jesus's birthplace--although PA authorities are happy to receive tourist revenues during the Christian holiday seasons. If you are in doubt just check the population drop in Christians since the PA has been in charge! In Bethlehem, the Christian population went from a 60 percent majority in 1990 to a 40 percent minority in 2000, to about 15 percent of the city's total population in 2008. That figure continues to drop with threats and persecution. The same is true of Gaza where the Christian population is down to about 3,000 and don't forget that Hamas had Christian graves dug up because they were "contaminating the ground".
Christians are welcomed and protected by the Israeli government. As long as they are not trying to proselytize, Jews don't pay much attention to the tens of thousands who walk through the streets to visit their Holy Places. In fact, if you go to Ben Yehuda street in Jerusalem on most nights (including Motzei Shabbat--when Shabbat ends) you will find Christian groups singing their songs. Crowds gather to listen and some take pictures, but nobody bothers them.
Let's be honest here, if Israel were to be taken over by the Islamists every Christian and Jewish site would eventually be a mosque. These are the facts. Don't fall for propaganda.
The Same Old Lies
Labels: Anti-Semitism, Arab, Biased Reporting, Christianity, Christmas
A Blessing to All from Israel
For Israel, as in countries all over the world, this has been a tumultuous year. To many it seems that the world is getting closer and closer to the end of days. In Israel, particularly in Jerusalem, the air is always "heavy". There is a spiritual intensity that is always present. The sages say that it is because the Temple Mount is the center of all things:
"As the navel is set in the centre of the human body, so is the land of Israel the navel of the world...situated in the centre of the world, and Jerusalem in the centre of the land of Israel, and the sanctuary in the centre of Jerusalem, and the holy place in the centre of the sanctuary, and the ark in the centre of the holy place, and the foundation stone before the holy place, because from it the world was founded"...Midrash Tanchuma, Qedoshim.
But for many this weekend the center of the world is the tiny town of Bethlehem, for it was there that their world, their salvation was born on a Holy night over two thousand years ago. All over the world this night is observed--or at the very least it is known. Some mark the day with reverence, some with decorated trees and gifts, and others with hatred--what do they fear? The message of Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All Men? How strange, that a gift of peace to the world, brought in a package of love can be feared by some. What is it about a tiny baby that strikes fear into the hears of some? Think about it...
There have been rumors that in the town of Bethlehem this year the symbol of the cross is banished because of fears of Islamic fundamentalism. Always there are those who think they can stifle the Holiness. You can read about it HERE but this post is not about aggression. Meanwhile, on the occasion of the celebrations for Christmas, the Israeli military has ordered troops deployed in the occupied Palestinian territories to facilitate the passage of Christian pilgrims at checkpoints--Bear in mind that this year Christmas Day falls on the Jewish Sabbath--these troops work on their Holy Day to insure Christian Pilgrims are safe. Now that, is the true spirit that we hope will spread to the world.
David was filming a concert in Bethlehem this week, and we hope to have some postings for you after the weekend. He did say he had no problem entering and driving through the city. He said he could feel the "spirit" in the air and it was a wonderful evening.
As always the days fly by and the news is to great to cover. This blog is new and in the coming days and months with help from above we hope to bring you news from Israel as it happens. We want to share with you the daily living, good and bad.
But, for today--for this weekend celebration of the Holy Birth--we at Jerusalem Vistas / Israel Vision send to you our friends and partners our heartfelt wishes for a Safe, and Holy Christmas Day, filled with Peace, Goodwill, and the love of your family.
Labels: Bethlehem, Christianity, Christmas, Israel, Jerusalem, Jesus
Kudos to the Governor of Arizona
I read this letter on Mesopotamia West. I am reprinting it for you to read. All around the Politically Correct world we are being denied the right to openly celebrate our Holidays and Holy Days. We are being forced to take the "Christ" out of Christmas, and the Menorah out of Hannukah because it may be "offensive to some cultures". I reject this completely. Christmas has always been the celebration of the Birth of Christ--End of Story. We must stand up and refuse to allow our history and Judeo-Christian faith to be erased. Merry Christmas to Governor Jan Brewer and all or our friends everywhere. Here is the Governors letter:
An Executive Order that I issued last year encourages the celebration of Christmas and Hanukkah and prohibits any censorship of these religious holidays.
As you may know, in the past, state and local officials in Arizona (and elsewhere) have attempted to strip both Christmas and Hanukkah of their meaning, including establishment of policies forbidding state employees from placing religious items of celebration at their desks, re-naming of Christmas trees as “holiday” trees, and renaming of Menorahs as “candlesticks.”
Under my administration, I will call things what they are...a Christmas Tree and a Menorah...and will gladly allow both Christmas and Hanukkah to be celebrated at the State Capitol. I encourage my colleagues and fellow elected officials to do the same.
Finally, during this Christmas season, make a difference in our community by volunteering your time or making a donation to a worthy cause. An organization that I support, Hope & A Future, is making a difference this Christmas by providing gifts and clothing to foster children. I encourage you to learn more about Hope & A Future and make a difference in our community through this charity or another charity of your choice.
May God bless you, your home, and all of Arizona,
Sincerely, Jan Brewer Governor
Amen Governor!
Labels: Chanukah, Christianity, Christmas, Jesus, Jewish Holidays, Multiculturalism, Scripture
Tragic Attack and Murder
The news is full of the story of two women who were brutally attacked while hiking near Beit Shemesh. There are reports on all the news sites, but YNet has the most current update at this link.
Israel Insider posted the first details. Here is an excerpt. You can read the entire story at their site.
An American tourist killed in a forest outside Jerusalem was employed by an evangelical missionary cult (CMJ) that promotes Christianity with the primary purpose of converting Jews. Kristine Luken, in her mid-40s, was stabbed to death in mysterious circumstances Saturday while hiking with a "messianic" female friend, Kaye Susan Wilson, a tour guide for the missionary organization.
On Saturday, the two headed for the wooded hills southwest of Jerusalem, Wilson told Israeli reporters from her hospital bed Sunday, telling them that she and Luken were attacked by two Arab men with what she said looked like a large bread knife, an unusual choice for terrorists, although in an interview with Yediot she acknowledged that she had taken out a small "lady knife" of her own when she felt they were in danger.
Police have issued a blackout on their investigation, and there is no indication whether Wilson's "lady knife" had on it signs of blood. However, YNetnews reports that on Saturday, police officers arrived at Wilson's house in Givat Ze'ev and spoke with her neighbors in an effort to find out more details.
"I heard about the incident in the news and suddenly a few police officers appeared and told me what happened," Shulamit Avital, Wilson's landlord and neighbor recounted on Sunday. "They asked me to open the door to her apartment and took out some documents and personal belongings. No one knows the details of the incident," she added.
Wilson claimed she escaped to a nearby road after pretending to be dead, hearing her dying friends screams. After the alleged killers had left, she said, she rolled down a hill to a road side, where she was seen by two Israeli families, who notified police. She suffered only superficial wounds. Luken's body, hands bound and bearing multiple stab wounds much more serious than those of Wilson, was discovered Sunday morning in the nearby forest.
The forest is inside Israel but close to the "green line," near the Palestinian villages of Husan and Wadi Fukin.
While missionary activity to convert Jews is illegal in Israel, the laws are not severe, however, the Arab community takes a march darker view of conversions. Most Muslim countries have severe penalties--including death--for proselytizing and for those who try to leave Islam.
The people in Israel and around the world are praying that those responsible are caught quickly. Tragically, this will not bring back Kristine Luken to those who loved her.
Labels: Arab, Christianity, Islam, Israel, Murder, Terrorist
Christmas Around the World~Arlington Cemetery
Christmas pictures are making the rounds so we will be sharing some of them with you each day. I am starting with Arlington Cemetery, because this story is truly inspiring. Maybe the rest of the world isn't interested but what is wrong with the US Media that there is little of no mention of those who have given their all for freedom? Shame on them. Follow the links to learn more of the wonderful project and do watch the video below--be sure to have tissues on hand.
Christmas at Arlington Cemetery
Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell...
The background story about the many wreaths at Arlington Cemetery is beautiful. Each year some 5,000 wreaths are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine. The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.
Blessings of the Season to Merrill Worcester and the people who work to do this amazing work. To the teachers in Maine who are teaching students real values--you will reap the rewards of the seeds you are sowing--never stop! You can read more about this wonderful work at the link.
With all the bad things going on in the world this is one touching act of love that should be shared. Please do pass it on to everyone you know. May God Bless and Keep all the Fallen Soldiers and Protect those who are still fighting.
Arlington Wreath Project~Always Remember
Labels: Arlington, Christmas, Combat, Faith, Miracles, Soldier, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The 12 Days of Winter...What?
This is an interesting take on an old tune. Our society in the west has adopted an air of politically correct secularism. This is the result. I urge you to listen to the words--they are too true! Some may think it's "cute" but I think it is a sad statement on the world as it is today. Hat Tip to Mesopotamia West for finding this.
Labels: Christianity, Christmas, Political Correctness
Hezbollah Chief~Throw the Jews Out
A news flash from Arutz 7 reports that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said in a speech Thursday, that the removal of Jews from the Land of Israel and conquering the land by Arabs was a principle that the Arab world could not surrender on. Speaking at a Shi'ite religious event, Nasrallah said that “we will bring thousands of martyrs” to kill Jews in Jerusalem. “We will never recognize Israel. We will not surrender a grain of Palestine's sand.”
Nasrallah spends most of his time hiding in caves, and as he was born in an eastern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon one has to wonder what his connection to "Palestine" is--other than his complete hatred of Jews.
Samir Kuntar & Hassan Nasrallah
Hezbollah has long been fighting for control in Lebanon and is gaining strength--to the point where he is threatening action if the report on the Hariri inquiry is released. He is a Supporter of terrorists and murderers, like Samir Kuntar--recently released by Israel in exchange for the bodies of two young soldiers who were kidnapped and murdered by Hezbollah. Kuntar was part of the attempted kidnapping of an Israeli family in Nahariya that resulted in the deaths of four Israelis. In a most sadistic attack they captured a father and his four year old daughter. Kuntar shot the father in front of the child, then slammed the child's head on a rock and continued to smashed it in with his rifle until there was no life left. These are the followers of Hassan Nasrallah.
Would he attack Israel? Well, he would certainly incite and scream for an all out attack, but like the majority of the leaders in the Arab world he will rant and rave and call for young men to die, but if (when) war breaks out, Nasrallah, like with the last skirmishes, will be holed up in his caves, screaming for Jewish blood...
Labels: Hezbollah, Israel, Jews, Lebanon, Terrorist
Turkey Gets Apology from MK Danon
When the Mavi Marmara left Turkey it was to the screams of Kaiber, Kaiber el Yahoud, and multiple testimonies from terrorists hoping to get their 72 virgins. Nine of them succeeded and the fake peace mission was exposed. Since then we have had to listen to Turkey's PM, Recep Tayyip Erdogan ranting and raving every time a TV camera is in range. He wants compensation so high it will break the Israeli government, he wants sanctions, he wants apologies and on and on.
On Tuesday, Israeli MK Danny Danon of Likud gave him his “apology” via a letter he read aloud in the Knesset. It doesn't get much better than this...
To the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
(by way of the Turkish ambassador to Israel)
Regarding: The request for an apology to the government of Turkey for the events aboard the Mavi Marmara of the Gaza flotilla.
I would like to apologize to you in the name of the entire state of Israel for the fact that the state of Israel did not take sufficient care to check the terrorist ship Marmara before it left Turkey. That would have prevented the ship from being armed with guns and other weapons, and from transporting terrorist activists under the patronage of the Turkish government.
Because of our excellent relationship, and your great respect for the state of Israel and the Zionist enterprise, I must apologize for the fact that the naval commandos who, when they reached the ship, were greeted by armed terrorist resistance that aimed to murder them did not immediately defend themselves with gunfire, and instead acted with restraint toward the pretend “peace activists” who sought to kill them.
Apologies for the fact that the commandos acted carefully, taking into account the presence of civilians on the ship, and killed only nine terrorists. If the state authorities had known that there were terrorists on the ship, the order would have been given to kill any person endangering our troops.
With your permission, one more apology is necessary, for Israel's decision to release the dangerous terror supporters who were on the ship and not put them on trial for attempted murder, and even to pay for their tickets home.
And finally, please accept our full and heartfelt apology, for not asking the United Nations to censure Turkey, and for not demanding an investigation into the connection between the IHH terrorist organization, your party and you, Mr. Erdogan.
Warm wishes,
MK Danny Danon, speaking on behalf of the Israeli Knesset
*Reprinted with permission
Labels: Gaza, IDF, Israel, Terrorist, Turkey
Canadian Bloggers are Being Threatened !
This Post Re-Printed with Permission: The blogging world contains a wealth of information and I spend a good deal of time reading a number of outstanding blogs. Each of the sites mentioned in this post have a track record for consistently good reporting and are recommended reading.
Coming to a City Near You...
While reading Mesopotamia West I found this item: At least two Canadian bloggers have received death threats from a woman by the name of Afarin Maleki-Raei.The first threat went to blogger Blazing Cat Fur..."I vow I will avenge my family's honor, in the name of Allah. I will make a formal complaint Monday to the OHRC and they will handle you. You will be arrested by those respected detectives. Even if it takes every penny I have or I have to sell my skin I will get you. You will know what suffering means you dirty Zionist garage. [sic]"
And the second went to The Propagandist after it reported on the first threat: "You will see the power and glory our family has in this country. This isn't Gaza strip where you can bully and murder innocents because of your weapons supplied by your Xristian [sic] blood thirsty friends. This is Canada. Islamic Canada. We Iranians have built up in 10 years what you Zionist pigs could not achieve in 50 in Toronto. And this is what scares you.I asked you nicely to remove all references to my family. You did not comply now you will deal with the glorious and brutal York Regional Police. I declare a Fatwa on you and your loved ones. That means we can strike anytime, any place and their blood will be your issue. I told you the consequences will be dire and they will. I suspect you will see the first of it this week."
Mesopotamia West also notes that there is a history behind the threats..."There's more to this story, and this family, judging by this post"...
Apparently the site at the link, Toronto Auto Station Scam was set up to deal with the scams and harassment of this family of "Immigrants".--I found this in their sidebar: "If you have been harassed, scammed, or threatened by the owners of Toronto Auto Station or any member of the Maleki (re: Maleki-Raei) family, please share your story and contact us at: mikeklien99@aol.com...All correspondence will be kept confidential. If you have any documents you would like us to post we will edit out all personal information to protect your safety."
From Blazing Cat Fur
Blazing Cat Fur has posted about this here (dirty Zionist Garage) and again here (Finally! My Own Fatwa!). Blazing Cat Fur also gives the email of the individual involved, afarin.maleki@gmail.com.
As you can see there is a long history and you need to follow the links and read it all. I find it troubling that these people come into a free, democratic country as immigrants, milk the system, cheat, and for some reason, when exposed, are very comfortable to publicly use and print names of police officers while sending out threats...umm and what are these police officers doing about this? Why is this lunatic Iranian throwing out their names so freely? I also find it disturbing to see them claim "This is Canada. Islamic Canada." Excuse Me?? What is Happening in Canada!
Wake up people because Creeping Sharia is picking up speed and using political correctness is like pouring gasoline on a fire.
Time to stand up and insist that Canadian Law is upheld--and I do believe it is illegal to break Canada's laws and then use the names of Canadian police officers to threaten those that expose criminal activities.
I will not print the officers' names, but they are given on the sites in the post. To that end, I encourage everyone to visit the sites and support the bloggers who expose this evil infiltration--they are on the front lines of the battle...but we will all be next unless we stamp out this darkness that is invading the free world.
Labels: Canada, Christianity, Culture, Immigration, Islam, Muslim, Security, Sharia, Terrorist
New Terror for Hevron
The Cave of the Patriarchs is Judaism's second holiest site and has been designated a National Heritage Site by the Israeli government. From the Travels of Reb Benjamin of Tudelah (1173):"And in the valley is the Cave of Machpela, if a Jew should pay the Ishmaelite watchman, he will open for him an iron gate. From there one descends stairs with a candle in hand. Upon reaching the third cave one will find six graves. These are the graves of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and opposite them, Sarah, Rebecca and Leah, And inside the cave are many barrels, filled with bones of Israelites who would bring the bones of their dead to the Cave in the age of Israel.
The area around Hevron has always been a hot spot and now the temperatures have been upped. Arutz 7 has reported that the Palestinian Authority is building a "new" neighborhood next to the resting place of our forefathers and mothers in an area that is under "Full Israeli Control". As if this isn't bad enough, the "New Neighbours" are going to be freed terrorists and their families brought in from other cities and towns of Judea and Samaria!
Security people say they are aware of the risk but attempts to bring the issue up have been blocked "out of political considerations" ...
To read the full article follow the link to Arutz 7
Labels: Avraham, Hamas, Hevron, Israel, Palestinians, Sarah, Terror
This Holiday Season~Take Time to Remember
Email can be valuable, annoying, emotional and many other things. This arrived today and with it a blurb declaring it was written by a Soldier stationed in Afghanistan.
A quick search turned up many authors, the earliest credit given to a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan (circa December 1986). Whether is it American, Australian, British, Canadian, Israeli or from any other nation whose soldiers are fighting around the world, this is a beautiful reminder of what they are sacrificing for us.
Let's stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who give of themselves for us. Please, pass this on to one and all.
The Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, He lived all alone, In a one bedroom house, Made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney, With presents to give, And to see just who, In this home did live.
I looked all about, A strange sight I did see, No tinsel, no presents, Not even a tree.
No stocking by the mantle, Just boots filled with sand, On the wall hung pictures, Of far distant lands.
With medals and badges, Awards of all kinds, A sober thought, Came through my mind.
For this house was different, It was dark and dreary, I found the home of a soldier, Once I could see clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping, Silent, alone, Curled up on the floor, In this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, The room in such disorder, Not how I pictured, A "Nation's" soldier.
Was this the hero, Of whom I'd just read?, Curled up on a poncho, The floor for a bed?
I realized the families, That I saw this night, Owed their lives to these soldiers, Who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world, The children would play, And grownups would celebrate, A bright Christmas Day.
They all enjoyed freedom, Each month of the year, Because of the soldiers, Like the one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder, How many lay alone, On a cold Christmas Eve, In a land far from home.
The very thought brought A tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees, And started to cry.
The soldier awakened, And I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry. This life is my choice I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,
My life is my God, My country, my corps."
The soldier rolled over, And drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, So silent and still,
And we both shivered, From the cold night's chill.
I didn't want to leave, On that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honour, So willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over, With a voice, soft and pure, Whispered,
"Carry on Santa, It's Christmas Day, all is secure."
One look at my watch, And I knew he was right,
"Merry Christmas my friend, And to all a good night."
God Bless our Troops!
Labels: Combat, Remembrance, Security, Soldier
Israeli Invention Enables Paralayzed People To Walk
The world loves to hate Israel. Sometimes it seems that there is a push on to destroy us. So, while Iran is developing nuclear weapons, N. Korea is shooting at S. Korea, and the PA and Hamas are trying to blow us off the face of the earth...what do we do? We give a gift to the world. An amazing invention that helps paralyzed people to stand and walk again....Enjoy!
Labels: Israel, Middle-East, Miracles
The Humanitarian Crisis of the Gaza Mall
The media is always crying about the poor, starving oppressed "palestinians" living in Gaza.
First, remember that Gaza is under the total control of Hamas. Israel only stops weapons and weapon-making items from going across the border and has been shipping goods into Gaza daily--even during the Cast Lead Operation--except when the Gaza terrorists are firing rockets.
Second, Egypt is also blockading Gaza from their border--nobody likes to speak of that.
Third, Israel provides hight quality medical care in its hospitals to tens of thousands of Gazans--mostly at the expense of Israeli taxpayers. Sadly some of those who received the best treatment returned to try and blow up the very people who helped them.
Fourth, Untold amounts of money is going into "Aid Flotillas" for these poor people living under apartheid, but the Mavi Marmara carried only passengers and their personal belongings. Many passengers carried large sums of money on their body. There was no Humanitarian Aid on this ship (just lot of IHH Terrorists). Elder also posts a report about the biased whitewash from the media and the UN. Elder of Ziyon, an outstanding source for facts on the Middle East has compiled this short video. Do visit his site.
Finally, I love Elder's note at the end of the clip--"The mall is made of string and glue. It has to be , because we all know there is no cement or iron in Gaza"
Labels: Biased Reporting, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Palestinians
07 December 1941~The Battle of Pearl Harbor
On the morning of December 7, 1941 the Japanese launched the attack on Pearl Harbor (called the Hawaii Operation or Operation Z by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, and the Battle of Pearl Harbor by some Americans). It was a surprise (cowardly?) military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Americans are taken completely by surprise. The first attack wave targets airfields and battleships. The second wave targets other ships and shipyard facilities. The air raid lasts until 9:45 a.m. Eight battleships are damaged, with five sunk. Three light cruisers, three destroyers and three smaller vessels are lost along with 188 aircraft. The casualty list includes 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians killed, with 1,178 wounded. Included are 1,104 men aboard the Battleship USS Arizona killed after a 1,760-pound air bomb penetrated into the forward magazine causing catastrophic explosions. We must never forget...
Labels: Pearl Harbor, Remembrance, USS Arizona
Sweden's Multicultural Nightmare
On November 24th, 2010 Sweden's parliament, the Riksdag, voted for the most sweeping changes to the country's constitution since 1974. The document contained many significant changes to Sweden's constitution, but public debate on it has remained conspicuously silent. Pat Condell gives his unique opinion on this and a few other "Swedish Delights"
Labels: Islam, Multiculturalism, Muslim, Pat Condell, Sweden
Canada Got it Right This Time
Lately the troops who are battling evil in the mid-east on our behalf have been taking a lot of flak. Not just with anti war protests, but with attacks so cruel they make one ask if we have begun the decent into madness. There has been everything from calling them murderers to to charges being laid against them for "following orders" on a battlefield. Seems our politically correct leaders have lost their way and can't seem to identify their enemy, much less figure out how to defeat them.
This story is not new and somewhat late for a Veterans Day post but it is one of the few things these days that seem to be "done right". As a Canuck I am proud that the government decided to publicly honour one of the many who have, and still do, put their lives on the line so the very ones calling them names can do so "safely".
Take a close look at the right-hand side of a Canadian $10 bill--you will see an old veteran standing at attention near the Ottawa war memorial. His name is Robert Metcalfe and he died in September 2008 at the age of 90. Like most heroes not much is known about him by the general public. Given his exploits in the Second World War it is a wonder he survived at all.
Born in England, he was one of the 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force sent to the mainland where they found themselves facing the new German warfare technique--the Blitzkrieg. While treating a wounded comrade he was hit in the legs by shrapnel. En route to hospital, his ambulance came under fire from a German tank, which then miraculously ceased fire. Evacuated from Dunkirk on HMS Grenade, two of the sister ships with them were sunk. When he recovered, he was sent to allied campaigns in North Africa and Italy. En route his ship was chased by the German battleship Bismarck.
In North Africa he served under General Montgomery against Rommel, the Desert Fox and later was sent into the Italian campaign, where he met his future wife, a lieutenant and physiotherapist in a Canadian hospital. They were married in the morning by the mayor of the Italian town, and again in the afternoon by a British padre.
After the war they settled in Chatham, Ontario where he went into politics and became the warden (chairman) of the county and on his retirement he and his wife moved to Ottawa. At the age of 80 he wrote a book about his experiences--I wonder how many people have read it.
One day out of the blue he received a call from a government official asking him to go downtown for a photo op. He wasn't told what the photo was for or why they chose him. "He had no idea he would be on the bill," his daughter said. Too bad this story didn't go viral while he was still alive.
May God give you peace Robert Metcalfe.
Labels: Canada, Robert Metcalfe, Ten Dollar Bill, Veteran
A New Spin on the Chanukah Story!
This is a cute and easy to understand version of the Chanukah story. This time of year in Israel Dreidels are everywhere, and yes, people do play the game. Enjoy!
Labels: Chanukah, Dreidel, Israel, Jewish Holidays
Chanukah Music~The Maccabeats
Here is an upbeat song for Chanukah. These young kids can sing!
Labels: Chanukah, Maccabeats, Music
Tradgedy~Deputy Commander Ahuva Tomer Dies
Reprinted from frumlife. Deputy Commander Ahuva Tomer, the highest ranking woman officer in the Israel Police Force, died on Monday after succumbing to critical injuries sustained in the Carmel fire. She was driving to assist the bus carrying 40 Prison Service cadets that was trapped (and subsequently burned). She herself was trapped and suffered burns throughout her body. Deputy Commander Tomer was initially taken to Carmel Hospital in Haifa, where a team of 20 doctors worked to revive her--finally succeeding in restoring a pulse--"against all odds," in their words. She was then transferred to Rambam Hospital for continued treatment.
Deputy Commander Tomer was one of the best-known, highest-ranking officers in the northern region.
She made history in 1997 when she was appointed Police Commander in Nahariya, and again in 2009 when she was appointed Commander of the lsraels largest station in Haifa. Well respected by all, she had achieved what no other woman before her had. Commander Tomer did this by hard work and dedication, never using her gender to gain advantage.
The picture on the left shows the bus, with her white care (left of bus) as the flames engulf them.
The below video was made as Deputy Commander Tomer completed and interview. She is shown (2:56) in her car before she drove into the flames in an attempt to help the trapped cadets on the bus. "Baruch dayan ha'emet"
Commander Ahuva Tomer Driving into the Blaze (0:30)
Labels: Ahuva Tomer, Anti-Israel, Carmel, Fire, Tragedy
Chanukah with Neil Diamond
Now that the fire in Haifa is under control we can get back to Chanukah! We will be posting some interesting details about the "Festival of Lights" but for now, enjoy this fun song by Neil Diamond and find out who is Jewish--you may be surprised!
Labels: Chanukah, Neil Diamond
Pray for Israel~The Disaster Continues
Fleeing the Bus Shot thru Back Window by R. Sofer
This information is taken from several blogs and news reports. The first story is from a blog called Shearim. This link is to an Israeli newscast that followed Israeli photographer Roni Sofer back to the location where he observed the burning bus and in fact saved three of the people from the burning wreck. He is an expert photographer and wanted to get pictures of the disaster. He describes the road as they drive down is saying that very quickly there were "walls of fire". He soon realized he must make a quick escape and turned around to drive to safety. There were two other cars and the bus full of prison guards coming and he warned them to make a run for it. The two cars turned around (Note: the driver of one of the cars--from Tiberias--is still missing). The bus, unable to turn around was already on fire and Roni saw three people--a woman and two men--running towards him asking for help. The video shows the pictures he was able to snap of them running from the bus through his rear window. They escaped to safety, but the guards and Haifa police commander, Ahuva Tomer, who was in one of the cars did not. Ahuva Tomer is now in critical condition burned over 60% of her body and fighting for her life.
American 747 Supertanker
The American 'Evergreen 747 Super Tanker is now over Carmel joining fighters from many nations in the fight to control the massive fire that is still burning.
Meanwhile the crew of an air force plane fighting the fires spotted two men in a pickup truck trying to start a fire near one of the areas where a part of the blaze had recently been put out. The air force crew contacted police on the ground with the location of the truck and minutes later police arrived on the scene and arrested the suspects. In the last days arabs around the country have been starting fires to disrupt the efforts in Carmel. Hezbollah is celebrating the lost of life and forest in Northern Israel. “The great Carmel fire has embarrassed Israel's firefighting capabilities and proved its almost complete incompetence,” crowed the Hezbollah-linked Al-Manar TV news network. The arab press is claiming that Ithis shows Israel is weak and no longer able to defend itself because we had to ask for help--and the dancing in the streets continues.
PA Firefighters Arriving to Help Israel
On the positive side, twenty-one Palestinian Firefighters have entered Israel through the Salem crossing accompanied by Administration Personnel. According to Ayash, the Palestinian people viewed the disaster with a great deal of sorrow. He said the cooperation has nothing to do with the relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. "We came here to help without addressing the issue of Jews and Arabs," Ayash added. "We will stay in the Carmel region until the fire is put out." Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had telephoned President Mahmoud Abbas to express his thanks at "neighbours helping neighbours".
This disaster is estimated to cost 3-4 billion dollars and take decades to recover from. Israelis have already started the long task. They begin by laying their dead to rest, taking in the displaced and starting to rebuild. During this week of Chanukah we know one thing, that miracles do happen and that is proven by the biggest miracle of all--we are still here and we are still standing together.
Video~Commander Ahuva Tomer Driving into the Blaze (0:30)
Overview of the Events and Firefighting Efforts
Labels: Benjamin Netanyahu, Carmel, Disaster, Fire, Israel, Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinians, Roni Sofer
URGENT ! Israel Needs Your Prayers Now !
Please pray for the dead, the injured and their families. We need a miracle to bring an end to this disaster, the largest and deadliest since Israel's founding in 1948. Whether or not you are part of a prayer chain, Please, Pray for Israel Today!
A huge forest fire in Carmel has killed about 42 people on Thursday, December 2nd. More than 15,000 people have been evacuated from towns and villages as the fires continue to blaze out of control.
Most of the dead are IPS cadets, the majority of them young Druze in their 20's. They were being transported by bus after assisting in the evacuation of 500 prisoners (mainly arab) in the Damon Prison. At some point the fire reached a great speed--covering a mile in five minutes, according to a firefighting officer--catching the bus in the flames with no chance of escape.
Police officers in a separate vehicle were also trapped by the flames. Two of them are missing, and the Commander of the Haifa Police, Lt-Col. Ahuva Tomer, is in serious condition after suffering burns all over her body. Doctors at Rambam Hospital in Haifa are fighting for her life.
Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara, a resident of Usfiyeh, spoke to a news Channel and said he has received information that the fire was a terror act. The fire was reported to have spread from three locations simultaneously--making arson likely.
One observer said "It was amazing--within 30 minutes almost half the forest was in flames".Israeli firefighters said it was the biggest forest fire in the country’s history, with some 7,000 acres (2,800 hectares) of land destroyed.
So far this year numerous large fires, many set by arabs, have depleted Israel's reserves of fire-fighting chemicals, and the remaining supply will be exhausted by Friday morning. Israeli planes are on the way to France for more supplies. In addition, Seven foreign aircraft are making their way to Israel: four from Greece, two from Azerbaijan and one from Cyprus. In addition, Four aircraft are expected from France, two or three from Russia, and two from Spain.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said: "I shall declare a national day of mourning but right now we haven't got the time to mourn and get into inquiries".
He flew over the scene by helicopter and in a briefing, told reporters "People have showed tremendous strength of spirit, divine heroism, and sacrificed themselves to save others. I want to say to the families that are discovering their own personal disasters, we support you and love you. To our Druze brothers--I know you suffered a major blow. "These were astonishing people who displayed great courage."
And Now, Here is the Kicker:
Radio Haifa reported that Arabs have been Dancing in the Streets of Furadis, just south of Haifa, in Celebration of the Deadly Fire ! While no other country in the middle east--to this very day--will give citizenship or any basic rights to "Palestinian Arabs", Israel has--these people vote, have access to education and medical care like every Israeli--and they dance in the streets when disaster strikes the country that feeds them. Any wonder Israel does not believe we have a partner for peace?
Now, more than ever we ask you to contact everyone you know to join us in prayer, asking the God of all Creation to show mercy on his suffering children. Israel needs you. Thanks from all of us to all of you.
Labels: Carmel, Druze, Fire, Israel, Terror
PA Claims: Mary is Palestinain & Jesus was the Fir...
Israeli Invention Enables Paralayzed People To Wal...
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Douglas Hodge Amicably Separates With Wife! Family Status Now
Published on: Feb 22, 2018 @ 09:05 AM
Married life becomes happier when a husband and wife love, adore and trust each other without any expectations. However, the case doesn't resemble in every circumstance of life.
The British actor, Douglas Hodge even seemed delighted in his married life for last few decades but unfortunately got separated from his wife. Today, let's have a glimpse of his failed married life along with his family details.
Douglas Hodge's Amicable Split With Wife!
Tony and Olivier Award-winning stage actor, Douglas Hodge, has been separated from his wife Tessa Peake-Jones who is best known for appearing as Raquel in British sitcom 'Only Fools And Horses.' Douglas and Tessa who shared the same screen in a TV series 'Damien,' played a role of mother and son on screen.
However, in real life, they are parents to a son Charlie, 17, and a daughter Mollie, 26. The former couple who had an excursion in 27 years of long married life, eventually parted their ways amicably back in autumn of 2012.
Douglas Hodge, ex-wife Tessa Peake-Jones (Photo: Mirror)
According to their spokesman, the former couple is sharing parenting duties even after their split. As of now, their daughter has started a masters in forensic mental health whereas their son is an army cadet.
Two years after the amicable split with Douglas, Tessa talked about her children in an interview with Express in September 2014,
“I’m very proud of both of them. But it’s probably too early for Charlie to know what he wants to do for a living.”
As of now, Douglas' 60-year-old ex-wife is single. Similarly, Douglas seems to be enjoying a solitary life as he hasn't been witnessed enjoying a new romance.
Douglas Hodge's Short Bio
Douglas William Hodge was born on February 25, 1960, in Plymouth, Devon, England, UK. He joined London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art during his early age of acing career.
Douglas, who has worked extensively in film, television, and theatre, is considered as a classical actor as he has performed in several shows like the 'National Theatre,' 'the RSC,' 'Shakespeare's Globe,' 'the Royal Court Theatre' and 'West End.' Furthermore, he was awarded as best actor in musical for his performance in 'The Caretaker' in Laurence Olivier Award in 2009.
Besides being a veteran actor, Douglas has craved himself as a director too. He worked as a director for ten years and has directed one-act play 'The Dumb Waiter' and all of Harold Pinter's sketches for Oxford Playhouse. Likewise, he has directed a short film of Harold Pinter's dramatic sketch called Victoria Station. Furthermore, he has even worked as Associate Director at the Donmar Theatre and has worked as a writer too.
Douglas even made a guest appearance in a TV series Spook and MI-5 back in 2002. Most recently, Douglas appeared in Red Sparrow (2018).
#British Actor #Tessa Peake-Jones #Only Fools And Horses #Damien
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Tests of Allied Unity
Soviet Efforts to Divine Western Allies
Strains within the Western Alliance
Shifts of Public Opinion in Free Nations
Efforts to strengthen the unity of the western world, in the face of Soviet efforts to divide the non-Communist nations, are now being made in every field in which serious divergencies have appeared since the change of Russian leadership in March.
At the Bermuda conference, Dee. 4-8, President Eisenhower meets with British Prime Minister Churchill and French Premier Laniel to canvass “various matters of common concern.” The chief of these is the response to be made to the Russian note of Nov. 26 withdrawing previous conditions and agreeing to a four-power conference on Germany. More hope of constructive results has been expressed in London and Paris than in Washington, where the latest Soviet maneuver, timed to coincide with a French parliamentary crisis over the plan for a European army, was regarded as another attempt to undermine the western alliance.
Reassessment of Allied Tasks at Bermuda
Differences of outlook and political strategy among the Big Three, and among other non-Communist nations, have admittedly hampered efforts to mobilize the full strength of the free world to meet the global challenge of the Soviet Union. The need for greater unity of purpose and action was recognized soon after the assumption of power by the Malenkov regime when the governments of Great Britain, France and the United States first planned the forthcoming Bermuda conference.
U.S.-Soviet Relations
Sep. 14, 1990 The Western Alliance After the Cold War
Feb. 10, 1989 Soviet Trade: In America's Best Interest?
Nov. 01, 1985 U.S.-Soviet Summitry
Jul. 09, 1982 Controlling Scientific Information
May 25, 1973 Trends in U.S.-Soviet Relations
Apr. 05, 1972 Russia's Diplomatic Offensive
Feb. 09, 1972 Trading with Communist Nations
Mar. 10, 1971 Indian Ocean Policy
Apr. 21, 1965 Negotiations with Communists
Nov. 13, 1963 Scientific Cooperation with the Soviet Union
Oct. 03, 1963 Trade with the Communists
Sep. 11, 1963 Non-Aggression Pacts and Surprise Attack
Oct. 11, 1961 East-West Negotiations
Mar. 29, 1961 Russia and United Nations
Aug. 10, 1960 Challenged Monroe Doctrine
Sep. 02, 1959 American-Soviet Trade
Jul. 03, 1959 Cultural Exchanges with Soviet Russia
Aug. 11, 1958 Conference Diplomacy
Jul. 23, 1958 Limited War
May 14, 1958 Cold War Propaganda
Feb. 26, 1958 Military Disengagement
Feb. 20, 1957 Indirect Aggression
Jul. 25, 1956 Trading with Communists
Jan. 11, 1956 Economic Cold War
Nov. 26, 1954 Peaceful Coexistence
Dec. 01, 1953 Tests of Allied Unity
Sep. 18, 1953 Negotiating with the Reds
Jun. 17, 1953 East-West Trade
Apr. 12, 1951 Non-Military Weapons in Cold-War Offensive
Apr. 20, 1949 Mediterranean Pact and Near East Security
Apr. 28, 1948 Trade with Russia
Sep. 11, 1946 Loyalty in Government
Jul. 31, 1946 Arctic Defenses
Apr. 01, 1943 American and British Relations with Russia
Feb. 24, 1933 Soviet-American Political and Trade Relations
Nov. 03, 1931 Russian-American Relations
Feb. 14, 1924 Russian Trade with the United States
Alliances and Security Agreements
U.S. at War: Cold War
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Karen Marjorie Pollpeter Brzostoski, 42, passed from this life on Saturday, November 26, 2011 at McDowell Hospital in Marion, North Carolina, less than eight months after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Karen was born the fourth daughter of Elmer and Annette (Stenger) Pollpeter on March 22, 1969, in Burlington, Iowa. She attended the Burlington Area Catholic schools and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1987.
She studied art at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and also spent nine months in Florence, Italy, studying painting before graduating in 1991 with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Karen moved to New York City and eventually was able to make her living through her paintings, selling them on the streets of Manhattan. That’s how she met her husband, Matthew Brzostoski, also an artist and painter. They moved to Long Branch, New Jersey, in 2000 and were married on August 29th of that year. They have two beautiful daughters, Rebecca and Gabriella, and they traveled, often as a family, all over the United States selling their paintings at art fairs. In 2005, they made their home in Marion, North Carolina.
Karen home-schooled Rebecca and Gabriella, and she was a member of the homeschooling co-ops in Asheville and Fairview. She was an amazing mother, and her spirit will live on in her daughters. Karen will be remembered by all who met her as a generous, talented, compassionate, and energetic woman. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband, Matthew Brzostoski; her two wonderful daughters, Rebecca Joy and Gabriella Rose; her parents, Elmer and Annette Pollpeter of Burlington, IA; her four sisters: Cindy (Randy) Gunter of New Glarus, WI, Joan (Tony) Stewart of Naples, FL, Rosalie (Steve) Pappas of Greenwood, IN, Greta (Tony) Mansour of Brooklyn, NY; her brother Nathan (Darja) Pollpeter of London, UK; several nieces and nephews, and one great-nephew.
A memorial service will be held in Burlington next summer. The family has respectfully requested that any contributions be made to the Karen Pollpeter Brzostoski Memorium account, arranged for her young daughters. Cards may be sent to the family at 163 Viewpoint Drive, Marion, NC 28752.
10 thoughts on “Obituary”
Teresa Sullivan on July 14, 2016 at 11:38 am said:
I was friends with Karen at University of Iowa. We fell out of contact after she moved to New York. She showed up in my dream last night with her bright smile, I thought to look her up today and am sad to learn of her passing. What a remarkable person she was: kind, fun, motivated! I remember an art work she made: it was an octagonal box plywood on the outside mirrors on the inside. I’m so sorry, I’m sure everyone must still miss her so much.
Angela Altenhofen on June 25, 2014 at 11:39 pm said:
I have just now discovered that Karen left us over two years ago… and it’s nearly impossible to expess my feelings at this moment.
Karen and I met as art students in Florence, Italy many years ago and became the closest of friends, even sharing an apartment in Iowa City when we returned to the U.S. Eventually she moved to New York and I to Chicago, each of us with the dream of becoming an artist. Sadly we lost touch over the years, as our lives diverged and we gradually grew apart. But my memories of her as SO vivid… her ever-present black beret; sharing a bottle of chianti with her on the steps of the Duomo in Florence; making baked fennel in our little kitchen in Iowa City ( which we purchased at the Co-op behind our house ) ; staying with her in her apartment in Greenwich Village; on and on and on…
I have some amazing photos of Karen, mostly of her in Italy, if any family members would like to have copies. Please contact me! I would love to hear from any of you and share memories of her.
With deepest affection,
Angela Altenhofen
Carl and Cheryl Auge Himes on December 22, 2011 at 7:09 pm said:
I am deeply sorry for your loss. I just received a card this xmas from Elmer and Annette.
Susan Carman Goble on December 4, 2011 at 12:35 pm said:
Karen and I were neighbors growing up. I spent a great deal of time at the Pollpeter home playing with Karen and her sister Greta as a child. Karen was a wonderful friend, we spent many days together as children playing games, riding bikes and other wonderful adventures. I have several pictures of Karen and I that took as a child, unfortunately I was not a great photographer and they are all very out of focus. As a child when Karen, Greta and I would color or do some sort of a craft or art project I would always ask Karen what color I should choose her reply was always what ever you want, as long as you like it does not matter. Karen’s entire family remain in my prayers.
kay whitmore walker on December 5, 2011 at 8:22 pm said:
I remember Karen from St Patrick’s church, and the Burlington Catholic Schools. I’m so sorry to hear of Karen’s passing.
Kay Whitmore Walker
Granddaughter of Kathryn Jackson
Lisa Nollen on December 2, 2011 at 1:03 am said:
To Karen’s family,
I am so sorry to hear about Karen’s passing. I grew up in Burlington with the Pollpeter family. They were all tremendously talented. Cindy was in my class. I remember Karen from both school and church. She was a sweet girl with a gentle way about her. It is not surprising that she would lead such a remarkable life. She will be missed.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Lisa Nollen
Craig and Sue Gilchrist on December 1, 2011 at 9:51 am said:
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. We send our sincere sympathy.–The Gilchrists
Brad Moss on November 30, 2011 at 6:43 pm said:
I grew up just down the street from Karen. I played on her parent’s farm. My sister and I went to school with her, me a year a head; my sister, in her class. Karen will always be remembered to me as a person without a mean bone in her body. She was intelligent, reserved, always had a smile on her face, and was always taller than me! Good to hear you followed your passion. Rest in Peace. – Brad Moss
Bob and Vickie Ogden on November 30, 2011 at 6:40 pm said:
Elmer and Annette Pollpeter raised wonderful children. We still remember our years as neighbors on Cliff Road. We are truly sorry to hear about Karen’s passing. I know that you will miss her terribly.
Elwin and Bonnie Kendell on November 30, 2011 at 2:24 pm said:
To Elmer, Annette, and all of Karen’s family:
We were shocked and very saddened to learn of Karen’s passing. We were not even aware of her illness.
Even though we have lived just across the street from her family for over 40 years, and watched all the kids grow up into fine adults, sometimes families are subjected to tragedies that even good neighbors can not help them understand.
But, Elmer and Annette, we are here for you, and will do whatever we can to help you thru this sad time, whenever you return home.
For now, though, we do extend your deepest and since sympathy to you and all of Karen’s family.
May God be with you all, and comfort you during this sad time.
Elwin and Bonnie Kendell
Burlington, Iowa
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Following decades of political interference, Argentina has emerged with an accreditation process for the study of informatics. This article discusses forty-five years of political difficulties as they affected computer education in Argentina. Following this history, the article presents the current state of Argentinean informatics, presenting the standards for accreditation and the status of enrollment and graduation at the undergraduate and associate levels. Finally, the article summarizes the constitution and activities of the national professional society.
In 2014, the Argentinean IT community will celebrate the 100th birthday of Manuel Sadosky, an event commemorated with conferences, competitions and publications. Sadosky, known as Argentina’s father of computer science (CS) studies, created the first higher education program in computing, hosted the first Argentine computer, and developed the first IT professional association. However, due to political turbulence, it took almost forty-five years for CS academia to reach Sadosky’s vision. Despite abundant natural resources covering more than one million square miles ( 2,800,000 square kilometers), a population of forty million inhabitants, and relatively few racial or ethnic conflicts, eighty years of political instability crippled the development of the sciences, including computer science.
The faltering of the growth of the sciences in Argentina is particularly remarkable seen against the country’s history in education. In 1613, two hundred years before Argentina’s founding, the Jesuits created the first university in Córdoba, made public in 1858. In 1821, Argentina’s second university, the University of Buenos Aires, came into existence following the Napoleonic model of the “Imperial University” with the goal of forming the national leaders. The growth in the 20th century has been dramatic. In 1955, there were only seven universities in Argentina, all of them public. By 2000, there were more than one hundred public and private universities.
According to Fernández Lamarra [ 15], the same explosive expansion took place in all Latin American countries: there were seventy-five universities in all Latin America in 1950, but more than 1,500 universities in 2003.
COMPUTER SCIENCE IN
ARGENTINA: THE PAST
Jacovkis [ 16] describes the curious history of computer science in Argentina. Computer science began late (more than ten years later than in the USA), had a ten-year span of flowering, but was completely destroyed by the military dictatorship in 1966. Disregarding some advances in small universities in the 1970s, the science only began a weak revival in 1983.
Regarding Argentina’s late entry into computer science, some authors attribute this to a lack of critical mass of computer scientists in the years from 1945 to 1955, but the disruptions that followed were political in nature.
In 1955, by the time President Juan Domingo Perón was overthrown, there were only seven universities in Argentina, all of them
• Rosita Wachenchauzer •
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We recognise that human rights cover a broad range of interrelated issues, requiring an integrated approach across numerous business functions. At MMG, our Human Resources, Supply, Social Performance, Stakeholder Relations, Security, Geoscience and Discovery and Project Development functions have specific responsibilities for upholding our commitment to human rights.
Our approach to managing human rights risk is embedded into our broader risk management framework.
We integrate human rights considerations into our Code of Conduct, employment processes, risk-analysis activities and formal grievance processes. We ensure our stakeholders are confident to report instances of unacceptable conduct without fear of intimidation or reprisal.
MMG is committed to respecting the human rights in the communities in which we live and operate, and to providing access to an effective remedy where we make an impact.
We operate in accordance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the United National Global Compact principles.
We commit to respecting human rights as outlined in the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework.
This commitment has been strengthened through the development of joint industry and civil society guidance on key issues such as FPIC and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and with the recent release of a set of performance expectations. We also participate in ICMM convened member discussions and peer learning on a wide range of business and human rights issues, including the role of business with regards to civic freedoms and human rights defenders.
Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
We operate in accordance with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) as well as the rules of engagement and the United Nations Basic Principles on the use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.
Since 2016, we have standardised our security management plans, and these plans reference the VPSHR in relation to the deployment and conduct of public and private security.
We also ensure public security forces that support our sites are adequately trained in the use and application of the VPSHR. To strengthen our alignment, we have applied to become a participant of the VPSHR initiative.
From our experience, we are aware that many issues that can become security incidents have roots in community concerns that have built up over time. Often these issues are well-understood by our social performance teams, who are working on strategies to resolve these issues before they become security incidents.
In 2018, we took the opportunity to bring our security and social performance teams together to develop strategies around proactive risk identification and mitigation, grievance management and incident identification processes. We also took this opportunity to review our human rights exposures and potential risks.
From this forum, we were able to develop a range of improvements and actions to take forward across our business, which will help us to improve our approach to social and security issues and assist us in refining our group level approach.
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The Catholic Historical Review
Kardynał Adam Stefan Sapieha by Jacek Czajowski (review)
Adam A. Hetnal
The Catholic University of America Press
Volume 85, Number 1, January 1999
pp. 99-101
10.1353/cat.1999.0090
BOOK reviews99 What caused this change ofheart? In addition to the humane treatment mentioned several times over by Höß himself, Deselaers points to the psychological trauma experienced by Höß at the sudden and total collapse in 1945 of the ideological world in which he had believed so passionately. The second half of the book is a philosophical and theological consideration of the questions posed in the subtitle. Appealing to the philosophy of the French Jew Emmanuel Levinas, and others, Deselaers develops a theoretical model of moral responsibility, guilt, and repentance. He applies this to Höß in the book's conclusion. Historians will appreciate especially the author's diligence as a biographer, in particular the critical spirit in which he examines each of his subject's statements . It would have been easy for Deselaers, as a Catholic priest, to exploit Höß's repentance as an example of Catholicism's spiritual power. There is no hint of such triumphalism in these pages. Repeatedly Deselaers points out the limits of Höß's repentance, especially his failure to mention Jews in his final declaration. In explanation (not amelioration) Deselaers cites the observation ofa prison chaplain:few criminals express any regret for their crimes at all; and when they do so the change of heart comes slowly, so that (humanly speaking) one can expect no more than the beginning of repentance. On no page of this impressive work, for which Deselaers was awarded the doctorate in theology summa cum laude by the Papal Academy of Theology at Krakow, does he lose sight of his stated aim: "I dedicate this work to the victims of Auschwitz." JohnJay Hughes Archdiocese ofSt. Louis Kardynal Adam Stefan Sapieha. By Jacek Czajowski. (Wroclaw: Ossolineum. 1997. Pp. 225. Paperback.) Although Cardinal Prince Adam Stefan Sapieha (1867-1951) belonged to the highest Polish aristocracy, and though he permanently inscribed himself in the Polish national pantheon, littie was written about him in the past.Yet forty-six years after his demise, Dr.Jacek Czajowski, a junior faculty member atJagiellonian University in Cracow, came out with a full-scale biography of him. According to the author, the cardinal disliked all pomp and magnificent religious services. He was reserved and self-effacing. On occasions, however, he could be quick-tempered, ready to reprove and proverbially stubborn, a feature inherited from his Sapieha ancestors. The prelate was a Polish patriot and cared for the national heritage, and he most enthusiastically greeted the birth of the Second Polish Republic in November, 1918. Then, he got actively involved in Poland's struggle for its frontiers in 1918-1921. 100BOOK REVIEWS Czajowski claims that the archbishop of Cracow was neither a prominent theologian nor a charismatic orator. But he was a born organizer. He decided to divide large parishes (30,000 faithful or more) into smaller ones. He aimed at providing the congregation with an easy access to the clergy. Sapieha particularly cared for close links between the laity and clergy. To facilitate such a close association, he fully supported the founding of lay communities at the parish level. The prelate was open to liturgical and other novelties inaugurated by Pope Leo XIII, the Benedictines (the cardinal particularly favored them), and others. Furthermore, he wanted each rural community to have a church or at least a chapel. Sapieha often inspected the parishes under his jurisdiction. In addition, he got actively involved in charity work, which activity was particularly evident during World Wars I and II. Then, too, he was a compassionate person. He did much to alleviate the plight of the needy. He also cared for orphanages and homes for the elderly. The cardinal frequently appealed to the rich not to forget about the poor. At the same time, he was relatively conservative;he condemned the class-struggle theory, advocating social solidarity in its stead. With regard to the State, Sapieha was a firm advocate of Church autonomy. He was, for example, opposed to concordats and energetically fought against that of 1925, concluded between the Holy See and Poland. At the same time, Pope Pius XI favored them. The author also speculates on the reasons for Sapieha's relative isolation under his pontificate. He developed a conflict with the...
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Author: - March 14, 2019 0 Google reportedly shifting employees away from tablet, laptop division
Since the market is insanely competitive and margins are low, it seems Google decided that perhaps it would be best to concentrate its efforts on its products that are doing well for now. The tablet is, well, a Google tablet, and as usual, it debuted to a lukewarm reception. One source confirmed that the company indeed had "a bunch of stuff in the works " prior to the employee shift.
Author: - March 14, 2019 0 Judgment Sales Halted in Japan Following Actor’s Drug Arrest, Western Release Uncertain
The effect of the actor's arrest on the western version of the game is not yet known. He has since admitted to use of the drug, which is in violation of the country's strict narcotics laws. In a statement from Sega, the company says it received information regarding the arrest of Taki, and are now confirming the facts. The game is scheduled for worldwide release on June 25th, and it's now unclear if Sega will delay its launch or push through with its original plan.
Author: - March 14, 2019 0 Fortnite Now Forces Cross-Play Between PS4 And Xbox One
From now on, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One players will be pooled together (you'll have to opt-in to cross-play) while Nintendo Switch players will be pooled in with mobile players. The rub is that for months Switch fans haven't been happy that they have to compete against other 60FPS platforms with 30FPS, so this move has been a long time coming.
Author: - March 14, 2019 0 Mozilla Firefox Send lets you share encrypted files privately and for free
Firefox Send offers various controls and features, such as the ability to limit how many times the file can be downloaded before it expires . You can choose when your file link expires , the number of downloads, and whether to add an optional password for an extra layer of security.
Author: - March 14, 2019 0 Google Is Probably Making a Video Game Console
The tech giant is expected to announce a new streaming game service at a press event during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on March 19. It prompts gamers to " discover a new way to play ". The potential Google console has been rumored for months. It could be that Project Stream and Project Yeti work together in some way, and the GDC event will see Google launching a hardware product along with the commercial version of Project Stream .
Author: - March 14, 2019 0 Chrome 73 finally supports dark mode on Mac
With the release of Chrome 73 on Tuesday, the browser now natively supports the dark mode long offered in macOS Mojave. If you don't want to wait, or if you're a Mac user who doesn't want to go all-in on dark mode just to change the color of Chrome , you can of course venture into the Chrome themes settings to pick a color of your very own.
Author: - March 14, 2019 0 Huawei Caught Using Stock Images To Promote Upcoming P30 Smartphone Series
When reached for comment, Huawei Malaysia had this to say: "We've been made aware that there might have been some misunderstanding regarding our recent Huawei P30 Series teaser posters". Surprisingly from the pictures , we can actually see the details when it was zoomed in as well. It'll nearly certainly have a bigger screen than the P30 and P30 Pro though, as is normal for the Mate series.
Author: - March 14, 2019 0 Facebook sues Ukrainian app developers for scraping user data
The quizzes, with titles such as "Who is your first, last, and the only love?" and "Who is your doppelganger from the past?", gained access to this information via the Facebook Login system - which enables connections between third-party apps and Facebook profiles.
Author: - March 13, 2019 0 Facebook Messenger DOWN: WhatsApp rival NOT WORKING as users report issues
While some are reporting slower loading times or the inability to send messages, some are saying they can't login to the site at all or use the app. It also said the outage is not related to a DDoS attack. Many people report a similar problem in which they can see their timelines but cannot make posts. According to the website Down Detector, the most common problems being reported are total blackout and log in issues.
Author: - March 13, 2019 0 Google Allo is shutting down today
We've known for a while now that Google's Allo messaging service would be following in Google +'s footsteps, but a specific close data hadn't been revealed - we only knew that it'd be shutting down this month. All of your messages will be completely deleted, though conversations you've had with Google Assistant will remain stored on Google's servers (you can delete them if you wish).
Author: - March 13, 2019 0 Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro first sale today: Price, specifications, features
Both the smartphones will be available via Flipkart and mi.com and if past sales of Xiaomi devices are anything to go by then it is recommended that you select the platform in advance and stay locked into it few minutes before the sale goes live.
Author: - March 13, 2019 0 Samsung to Launch a Killer Smartphone Cheaper than the Galaxy S10
For instance, as reported by AndroidPolice , SmartWorld was able to unlock a Galaxy S10 using a simple photo of the owner, while security researcher Jane Manchun Wong was able to unlock her brother's device using her own face because of family resemblance .
Author: - March 13, 2019 0 Google's Gmail, Drive, YouTube and some other services suffer global outage
Gmail, in a a message posted on Google's GSuite Status Dashboard , said it was experiencing a "service disruption". We will provide an update by 3/13/19, 11:14 AM detailing when we expect to resolve the problem. Gmail has been having issues since around 1:50pm. Google has not confirmed the cause of the outages or how long they would last. But if there's a project or deadline assignment you need to send right away, and Gmail is your only e-mail account, you'll have a flawless excuse as to ...
Author: - March 13, 2019 0 Halo: The Master Chief Collection PC Announcement
Honoring the iconic hero and his epic journey, The Master Chief's story is brought together with a total of 67 campaign missions plus more than 120 multiplayer maps (including the original Halo Combat Evolved maps) and Spartan Ops maps.
Author: - March 12, 2019 0 More phones than ever will get early access to Android 10
Furthermore, the Android Q beta will be available on even more devices that Android P, a Googler confirmed. Q: I noticed that when we announced the Android Pie preview at last year's I/O, there were several devices that were announced at that time, which I thought was new to have that many different devices coming out.
Author: - March 12, 2019 0 Russians protest against internet curbs
Thousands of protesters gathered in Moscow on Saturday to rally against a draft law that aims to reconfigure the foundation of Russia's internet. But an estimated 15,300 people protested at the weekend in Moscow and reportedly made speeches on a stage and chanted slogans such as "hands off the internet" and "no to isolation, stop breaking the Russian internet".
Author: - March 12, 2019 0 Mario Day Sale offers new Nintendo deals to Switch gamers
U Deluxe . If you are looking to pick up a Switch, you can grab any of those games for about half price. MAR10 Day is just around the corner, and Nintendo is celebrating with some savings to be taken advantage of. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch and wondered how much better the experience would be with the Pro Controller, now would be a good time to find out. " This promotion is a great option for consumers who want to pick up Nintendo Switch and some hit games at a value price ".
Author: - March 12, 2019 0 Images of all 10 unreleased Apex Legends characters leaked
However, it won't be too open about its plans because it doesn't "want them to see us coming". Respawn Entertainment's Apex Legends , the free-to-play battle royale game, could be set to add a rocket launcher to its arsenal. Finally, Respawn said in the post that it's aware of issues related to slow performance at the start of matches. "It says that it has heard the community but it is not now pursuing it because it "opens a lot of risk for players to abuse it", and "[It believes] the ...
Author: - March 12, 2019 0 Google Doodle goes all tech to celebrate 30th anniversary
The tech is not to be confused with the internet itself, which is the global computer network that dates back to the 1960s. Berners-Lee also called for a response to the " unintended negative consequences " of the web , which he said had led to "the outraged and polarised tone and quality of online discourse".
Author: - March 12, 2019 0 Windows 10 Can Now Automatically Roll Back Faulty Updates
The company will remove Windows Updates on its own if it detects that your computer recently recovered from a startup failure. Microsoft has said that Windows 10 will start removing installed Windows Updates that cause problems in starting or running your device at peak efficiency.
Author: - March 12, 2019 0 Apple confirms March 25th event, says "It’s show time"
Apple's two big product events-usually in March and September-are A Big Deal. Some reports said actresses Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon and "Star Wars" director J.J. The company has partnered with several publications like The New York Times , Washington Post , Wall Street Journal , etc. The event is one that has been expected, but it's now all official.
Author: - March 12, 2019 0 Vivo S1 key specs, renders and price surfaced online
The vivo S1 is a surprise, as no one expected this phone . The tipster also reveals specifications and price of the Vivo X27 and Vivo X27 Pro alongside. It will be equipped with a microSD card slot for additional storage. The Vivo S1 has a triple rear-facing camera setup with a 12 MP RGB sensor, 8 MP super wide-angle lens, and a 5 MP depth sensor.
Author: - March 12, 2019 0 Pokemon Go studio reveals Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
The teases were pretty cool, but only offered hints at a plot and told us nothing about how gameplay would work. The blog post covers the basic premise of the game. "These real-time multiplayer battles against unsafe foes encourage players to join forces with fellow witches and wizards to take on higher level threats and unlock rare magical rewards".
Author: - March 12, 2019 0 Skype for Web Gets HD Video Calling, Call Recording, New Notification Panel
As a result, even if you're a user of Mozilla Firefox or Opera, two of the blockers which officially are blocked from accessing Skype for Web , you can connect to Skype for Web just fine. There is also an option for call recording where, as it sounds, will let users record their phone calls. They will just have to click Gallery under the chat name to see all the files, links, and photos in the conversation.
Author: - March 11, 2019 0 Apex Legends Has Banned 355,000 PC Cheaters
Developer Respawn Entertainment has had enough of this malarkey, and they've chose to wage a guerrilla war on cheaters: Hit 'em hard, hit 'em fast and leave the offending players scratching their heads when the dust has settled. Many players leave the game even before the match starts. Next week AMD will be at the studio and just like we did with Nvidia visit, we'll be working together to improve stability and performance on PC.
Author: - March 11, 2019 0 Android Q Beta to Be Available to More Smartphones, May Release Today
Several media reports suggest that Google is gearing up to introduce Android Q (or whatever the search giant may call the next software version) and will release the software very soon. Not all companies get access to Android code early so those in the beta program do have a head start, especially in soliciting real-world feedback from users.
Author: - March 11, 2019 0 This is what Google’s video game controller could look like
That said, there are two interesting buttons in the middle. Tweeters have pointed out the relative size of the small analog sticks to the rest of the game controller and the chunky-looking handles have also been criticized. The patent has a January 31, 2019 publication date, and uses line drawings to outline what is mostly pretty standard fare for a console controller.
Author: - March 11, 2019 0 Watch Siliconera Play Devil May Cry 5
You have to support the release of Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen . In the run up to the launch of Devil May Cry 5 , Capcom hinted that a release of the game on Nintendo Switch could be possible in the future as it was something that they confirmed they would love to make happen.
Author: - March 11, 2019 0 Battlefield V's Massive Firestorm Battle Royale Map Exposed In Leaked Tutorial Video
Impressed? We've got to say it looks pretty nifty, although a lot of it is your expected battle royale stuff - and we think it's fair to say that at least some "inspiration" has been taken from EA's other battle royale project, the recently unleashed Apex Legends .
Author: - March 10, 2019 0 Black Shark 2 Appears on Geekbench With Snapdragon 855
Xiaomi is not going to end its gaming smartphone line any time soon. Last December, Lenovo unveiled the Z5 Pro GT with that much RAM as its highest option. The Black Shark 2 was also spotted on Geekbench packing 12GB of RAM and getting its power from Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC. Reports making rounds of the rumor mill indicate that the Black Shark 2 will come in two variants packing 8GB and 12GB of RAM.
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Google Releases More Details About Stadia Multiplayer and VR Support
Every free NES game added to Nintendo Switch Online in July 2019
Pokemon Sword And Shield Have Exclusive Gym Leaders
Borderlands 3 Reveals Ping System and Accessibility Features
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's Operation Apocalypse Z is available now
Our First Look at Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+
Amazon is Also Developing a Lord of the Rings MMO
Qualcomm to finally release a proper processor upgrade for their smartwatches
Nintendo Switch Lite drops September 20 for $100 less than the original
This is the Mi A3, Xiaomi's new pure Android smartphone
The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan unveils new multiplayer modes
Huawei Trademarks Harmony OS, Huawei operating system
There's A Trick To Finding Amazon Prime Day's Best Deals
Amazon Prime Day Becomes a Phenomenon as Rivals Jump In
Minecraft Earth, that Pokemon Go-like, is entering beta soon
Everyone’s sleeping on Amazon Music Unlimited
Should You Buy Dragon Quest Builders 2
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{ title: 'Ulster County, New York', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, ] }
Ulster County, New York
Search All Ulster County Titles
with the words within 5 words of each other with the words within 10 words of each other with the phrase with any of the words with all of the words
From January February March April May June July August September October November December 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
To January February March April May June July August September October November December 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
About Ulster County Titles
Kingston daily chronicle. (Kingston, N.Y.) 1859-18??
The Kingston journal and weekly freeman. (Kingston, N.Y.) 1881-1885
The Kingston weekly freeman and journal. (Kingston, N.Y.) 1885-1891
The Marlborough record. (Marlborough, Ulster County, N.Y.) 1883-1961
The New Paltz independent and times. (New-Paltz, Ulster County, N.Y.) 1919-1972
New Paltz times. (New Paltz, N.Y.) 1860-1919
New-Paltz independent. (New-Paltz, Ulster County, N.Y.) 1868-1919
The people's press. (Kingston, N.Y.) 1853-1863
The Rosendale news. volume (Rosendale, N.Y.) 1938-????
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Manchester's Visitor Centre Is The Officially Best
Award boost for tourist information office
Published on May 24th 2012.
MANCHESTER’S tourism chiefs are celebrating after the city’s Visitor Information Centre won a gold award at last night’s VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
The resulting combination of cutting edge technology and friendly and knowledgeable staff has made the visitor experience even more stimulating and engaging
Manchester’s Visitor Information Centre (MVIC) – managed by Visit Manchester and the first point of call for hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city – won ‘Visitor Information Provider of the Year’.
The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence celebrate the best of England’s tourism industry and a gold award is the most prestigious accolade bestowed at the annual awards ceremony, which this year took place at The Athena in Leicester.
The award recognises MVIC’s extensive £800,000 renovation undertaken in summer 2010 using funding by Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
This investment saw MVIC become the first Visitor Information Centre in Europe to use the type of futurist technology only previously seen in films – a platform that responds to touch, natural hand gestures and objects placed on a display.
Paul Simpson, managing director of Visit Manchester said: “Manchester’s Visitor Information Centre reopened in June 2010 after an extensive renovation which saw it move to Piccadilly Gardens and significantly upgrade its facilities. The resulting combination of cutting edge technology and friendly and knowledgeable staff has made the visitor experience even more stimulating and engaging for every person who walks through the door.
“Of course, the success of Manchester’s tourism sector is also a huge team effort – at Visit Manchester we take a strong partnership approach, working closely with the airport, airlines, hotels and visitor attractions to ensure the city-region delivers a fantastic visitor experience. Therefore the whole Greater Manchester tourism community can be proud for the part they have played in helping us win this award.”
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: "Manchester has established itself as one of England's premier visitor destinations and tourism supports and creates many jobs. We're a forward-looking city and the Visitor Information Centre plays an important role in giving visitors a memorable first impression. We're pleased that VisitEngland has recognised its contribution.
"With new attractions, such as the National Football Museum which opens in July, being added all the time there has never been a better time to showcase our city to visitors from across the region, the country and indeed the world."
Greater Manchester was also recognised with The Lowry Hotel in Salford picking up a silver ‘Business Tourism Award’ and Meadowcroft Barn B&B in Bolton and Opus One Restaurant & Bar in Manchester receiving ‘Highly Commended’ nods for ‘Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year’ and the ‘Taste of England Award’ respectively.
Apparently, according to the official figures Greater Manchester’s tourism industry generates £5.8bn for the local economy and supports 77,000 jobs.
Confidential also reckons that the BDP designed information centre is excellent. Visitors used to tired tourist provision in old-fashioned centres are astonished to find themselves walking into a sort of Apple store for tourism. But the key to the success is the quality of the staff and their commitment to ensuring Manchester's guests get the best from the city.
The big drawback is the location under a deep canopy of the Mercure Piccadilly Hotel. The sheer number of buses here often masks the information centre from view. Still it's always good for the city to win awards such as this and have its profile lifted. So well done to Visit Manchester and Marketing Manchester for being brave with the design and the concept.
MVIC
Microsoft Magic Tables
DavidMay 27th 2012.
Nice centre but pity the website visitmanchester.com is so poor. Just tried to find out what events are on today and gave up after 30 minutes. The screen is full of clutter and the search facility (which is its answer to everything) doesn't work properly.
DamienMay 28th 2012.
It's a proud day as well for the Leapfrog team as we are a local business that installed the video wall, screens, and technology. If you would like to know more about the technology give us a call 01204 661704 (apologies if this breaks any posting rules!)
MixerJuly 16th 2012.
Indeed, it's also a proud day for Economic Solutions who project managed the IT and Microsoft Surface installation. If you'd like to know how we did it please contact us on 0161 2454854
AnonymousJuly 19th 2012.
I'm sure the tech is wonderful and it looks 'different' from the "old-fashioned centres" but what is it for? and does it do the job?
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Controversial Kingston traffic calming scheme makes nearly £4.5 million in fines in 2017
£4.5 million pounds worth of fines have been made in South-West London this year in a controversial traffic calming scheme.
The camera in Kingston has caught out nearly 70,000 motorists in 2017, with £65 fines being handed out to each offender.
The scheme has been criticised by local residents, with many feeling it is badly signposted.
The Kingston council have defended the scheme, stating that the number of contraventions observed has steadily declined since the measure has been put in place.
Police launch appeal for missing 16 year old thought to have travelled to Sutton
The police have launched an appeal to help trace a missing 16 year old girl who is believed to be in London.
Alexandra Zurawaska was last seen at around 7pm on Monday, 25 December in South Yorkshire.
Since then, she is thought to have travelled to Sutton. Alexandra also has links to Hounslow, Richmond, Brent and Enfield boroughs.
She is a white female, around 5ft tall and of medium build, with brown hair.
Sutton defeated in today's local non league football action
In today’s local non-league action, Sutton were defeated narrowly in a top of the national league clash 1-0 by Macclesfield Town.
10 man Woking were forced to settle for a point after conceding a last minute goal in a dramatic 2-2 draw away at Eastleigh.
Metropolitan Police FC were held to a 1-1 draw at Imber Court against Enfield Town in the Bostik Premier.
And in the Bostik League south, Carshalton overcame Horsham 2-1 at Colston Avenue.
Collision in Kensington leaves elderly pedestrian with possible life changing injuries
A collision in Kensington left an elderly pedestrian with possible ‘life changing injuries.’
The Met Police and the London Ambulance service attended Kensington Church Street this afternoon at 1.27pm after hearing reports of a collision between an elderly pedestrian and a cyclist.
His injuries are understood to not be life threatening, but life changing.
No arrests have yet been made and enquires into the incident are ongoing.
Antonio Conte discusses Chelsea's 5-0 win over Stoke
Chelsea are within 13 points of Premier League leaders Manchester City - after a 5-nil thumping of struggling Stoke at Stamford Bridge.
The champions jumped ahead of Manchester United into second place at full time.
Boss Antonio Conte says one thing set them up for the performance.
TV Broadcaster from Weybridge to receive MBE
Eamonn Holmes who lives in Weybridge with wife Ruth Langsford has been named in the New Year Honours List.
The Strictly Come Dancing star has congratulated her husband, who will receive an OBE and tweeted a selection of photos from his TV broadcasting career.
The 58-year old has said his dilemma is who to take to the Palace with him, but since his ‘daughter is a big royalist,’ ‘she’s booked her place.’
After receiving the news, Eamonn said it’s lovely to have someone in authority say ‘you know what, you do this quite well.’
Chelsea are second for now in the Premier League
Chelsea are into second place in the Premier League - for now.
Antonio Conte's side beat Stoke 5-0 at Stamford Bridge, with Manchester United able to go back ahead of them with a win in the late game against Southampton.
Danny Drinkwater scored one of the goals today and said ‘it’s a nice feeling to score.’ He’s said the title race isn’t over, they just need to keep on winning.
Final football scores this afternoon
Football scores at Full Time:
In the Premier League, Chelsea beat Stoke City 5-0.
In the Championship, Brentford beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 and Fulham drew 2-2 with Hull City.
In League One, AFC Wimbledon drew 2-2 with Gillingham and MK Dons beat Peterborough United 1-0.
Former Wimbledon champion playing well after birth of baby
Former Wimbledon Champion Serena Williams is another step closer to her Australian Open tennis return next month.
She’s showed good signs in her first showing since becoming a mum.
She lost to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in their exhibition match in Abu Dhabi - but took a set off the Latvian.
Williams will be the defending champion in Melbourne.
Football scores at Half Time
Football scores at Half Time:
Premier League:
Chelsea 3-0 Stoke City
Championship:
Brentford 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Hull City 1-0 Fulham
League One:
Gillingham 0-0 AFC Wimbledon
MK Dons 1-0 Peterborough United
Football fixtures today including AFC Wimbledon, Brentford, Fulham, Chelsea and MK Dons
In football today:
In the Premier League, Chelsea play Stoke at home.
In the Championship, Brentford host Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham are away to Hull City.
In League One, AFC Wimbledon are away to Gillingham and MK Dons are home to Peterborough United.
All kicking off at 3pm.
Top four finish needed for Chelsea as they host Stoke shortly
Chelsea are in action later as they host Stoke at Stamford Bridge.
If the Premier League champions win, they would move above Manchester United who play at 5.30.
The manager of Stoke City has said he thinks the game today could be ‘difficult’ for his team – kick off is at 3.
Antonio Conte says a top four finish for the Blues is now their main aim.
Chertsey-based Braveheart actor to receive MBE
A well-known Chertsey-based actor will receive an MBE for his services to drama.
It’s as James Cosmo celebrates his 50th anniversary of being in the film business.
He’s best known for his roles in Braveheart, Trainspotting, and more recently Game of Thrones.
The 70-year old is amongst many Scots to be recognised in the New Year Honours list.
Missing 62-year old woman last seen in Barnes
A 62-year old woman is missing from White City, but was last seen yesterday in Barnes.
Police are growing concerned for the welfare of Janice Dick.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101.
A new gong for Surbiton astronaut
A Surbiton resident has been made a Companion of the order of Saint Michael and Saint George in the New Year’s Honours list.
Helen Sharman was the first Briton to go into space in 1991.
The astronaut already had an OBE.
She was also one of the youngest people to go into space.
She was formerly technical manager of Kingston university’s faculty of science in engineering and computing.
She got her stellar job by hearing a job on the radio:
Blaze in flats in Wimbledon
London fire brigade sent four fire engines and around 20 firefighters to tackle a blaze at a house in Wimbledon.
Nobody was hurt in the incident at flats in Queen's Road.
One of the four fire engines sent was an investigation unit.
One man got out of the flats before the fire brigade arrived just before half past six this morning.
New Year Honours in Southwest London
Nick Whitfield, the former director of Children’s Services for Richmond and Kingston councils has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s News Year Honours list.
It’s in recognition of his services to children and children’s services from his work on the councils and as Chief Executive of the council-owned company, Achieving for Children.
Also awarded in the New Year Honours was a Surrey Police detective from Woking.
Detective Constable Alice Barr has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in recognition for her services to supporting families of victims of homicide.
An Epsom musician was reunited with his instruments 7 years after they were stolen
A musician from Epsom has been reunited with his keyboard and seven guitars, seven years after they were reported stolen from his home in 2009.
The musical instruments were located at a property in Preston Lane, Tadworth in June 2016, after police carried out a drugs warrant at the address.
The items were found along with a large number of cannabis plants which were seized.
52-year-old Simon David Morris was arrested at the property and later found guilty of the production of Class B drugs and handling stolen goods.
Twickenham MP slams Brexit exit of Lord Adonis
Twickenham’s MP has criticised Theresa May over the Prime Minister's handling of Brexit as one of her advisers quits.
Labour’s Lord Adonis is accusing Mrs May of linking with UKIP and the Tory hard right".
Sir Vince Cable is glad to see him making a stand:
Two men charged with a stabbing in Hounslow have been refused bail
35-year-old Sebastian Szlaski, and 18-year-old Darusz Badek, were both charged with murder on 24th December.
An application to bail Szlaski was made at Blackfriars Crown Court on 28th December, but was refused.
Badek's application was abandoned in court on the same day.
A pre-trial preparation hearing for the men is currently scheduled for 9th January.
Sutton Police are searching for a teenage girl who went missing on Christmas Day
Police are appealing for help to find a teenage girl who is believed to be in Sutton.
16-year-old Alexandra Zurawaska was last seen at 7pm on Monday 25th December 2017.
She is white, 5ft tall of medium build with brown hair.
Alexandra was last seen wearing a khaki knee-length coat with a fur trimmed hood, khaki tracksuit trousers and timberland-style boots.
Alexandra has links with Brent, Hounslow, Twickenham and Enfield areas.
A Leatherhead-based production company has made its mark in Dubai
It's after a virtual reality film it made about the London Blitz was used in schools there.
Liquid productions made the film in 2015, but only found out it was being used at English-speaking schools in the country earlier this month.
The 3 minute film gives viewers a 360 degree experience of Holborn station during a Luftwaffe raid.
An 85-year-old woman with dementia has gone missing
Mary Faith Simpson was last seen just before midday today boarding the number 14 bus in Putney Heath.
She was wearing a red jacket, red skirt and carrying a large black bag.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says a top four finish in the Premier League is always a successful campaign
The champions are 16 points behind leaders Manchester City.
And the Stamford Bridge boss admits securing Champions League football will be enough in the circumstances.
Fire broke out at a supermarket in Worcester Park in the early hours of this morning
The brigade were called to Central Road just before 2am.
A small part of the ground floor storeroom was damaged by the blaze.
Seven residents from the flats above were evacuated as a precaution but there were no reports of any injuries.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A pub in Wimbledon has been the star of a social media campaign
It was in a bid to return a £600 Christmas bonus to a man, despite knowing nothing except his name.
The pay was left at the Alexandra Pub last Thursday, and nothing was known except the name “Mariusz”.
However, people were desperate to see him reunited with his pay, and the post was shared millions of times across social media.
The campaign was eventually seen in Poland by Mariusz’s son, who passed it onto his father, who doesn’t use social media.
Sarah Dore, a co-manager of the pub, says she was astounded by the reaction of the community.
A man with links to Croydon, Warlingham, Purley and Kenley is wanted on recall to custody by Surrey Police
26-year-old Luke Thompson from Croydon has been wanted since 15th November after failing to attend an appointment with his probation officer.
He’s 5ft 9 inches, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes.
QPR travel to Millwall in London derby
There’s a London derby in the Championship tonight when QPR travel to Millwall.
Kick-off is 7.45pm.
Meanwhile Cardiff can move back into the league’s automatic promotion spots.
After successive defeats, Neil Warnock's side host Preston.
Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals face winter pressure
Staff at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals are asking people not to come to A&E unless they are in a real emergency.
The hospitals are facing unprecedented demand right now and want to prioritise the most urgent patients.
NHS 111, local pharmacies and GP’s are options available if there’s something urgent but not an emergency.
There are also walk-in centres in Ashford and Woking.
UPDATE: Body found in East Molesey was a man in his 40s
Police have confirmed that a body found in East Molesey on Wednesday morning was of a man in his 40s.
Officers were called to Graburn Way at around half-eight in the morning after reports of a body believed to be male was found in the Thames.
The death is currently being treated as unexplained while detectives continue their enquiries.
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
A Chobham address has been granted part closure for anti-social behaviour
A property in Chobham has been granted a closure order due to threatening and intimidating behaviour.
Surrey Police say that the tenants’ anti-social behaviour was so bad that other people living on the street feared to leave their homes.
Guildford Magistrates Court granted the application to part close the address in Brookleys on 22nd December, ruling that only the female tenant was allowed in the property.
The landlords are working with the female tenant to move her to another property.
A Wimbledon pub's appeal to reunite a builder with his pay packet went viral
A pub in Wimbledon went viral in a bid to return a builder’s lost pay packet to him over Christmas.
The Alexandra, on Wimbledon Hill Road, put out a call on Facebook and Twitter to share their post to find the wage packet’s owner, who was known only as Mariusz, after the cash was found just four days before Christmas.
The post was shared tens of thousands of times across the world from Canada to New Zealand, with some even translating it into Polish.
According to the pub, Mariusz (below, centre) had gone home to Poland for the festive break and found out about the post from his son.
A woman has been banned from Woking town centre for anti-social behaviour
A woman has been banned from entering parts of Woking because of to her aggressive and antisocial behaviour.
36-year-old Natasha Claus was accused of being aggressive towards members of the public in and around the town centre.
She is also known to target and take advantage financially of vulnerable men in Sheerwater.
The ban was issued to Ms Claus on Thursday 21st December and is in place until further notice.
Founding firefighter retires
A 58 year old black firefighter who was a founding member of the Black and Ethnic Minority support group for UK fire services has retired.
Carl St Paul joined North Kensington station in 1987, and stayed there for 13 years before moving to other branches.
His career included a fire at Hammersmith Hospital in 1990 and a warehouse fire in Mitcham in 2013.
He qualified as a station manager in 2007, and ended his career as a Senior Fire Safety Officer in Wembley.
People in Richmond will now be allowed to take out a book for up to eight weeks if they join part of a reading group
There is currently a wide range of reading groups, all of which are free to join, and residents are encouraged to set up their own groups too.
Kingston has been named one of the top towns in the country for property price growth
Zoopla say that prices have increased nearly 11% there since January, with gains of over £700,000.
However, Walton is named the second worst town, with prices dropping on average over 3%.
But that’s still over a percentage point ahead of Leigh in Greater Manchester, where prices are dropping 4.62%.
Carshalton MP hits out at Theresa May over homelessness
The MP for Carshalton and Wallington, Tom Brake has hit out at Theresa May over the rise in homelessness.
It’s after figures say 15,290 households were accepted as being statutorily homeless, up 6% from 14,390 in the same period last year.
The figures were released by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Mr Brake said, ‘the government must urgently boost funding for homelessness, reverse cuts to housing benefit for young people and build the social homes.’
A firefighter from Chelsea who was called to the Grenfell Tower fire has been named as one of Stylist Magazine’s women of the year
Louisa De Silvo has worked with London Fire Brigade for eight years, and now serves as a watch manager at Chelsea Fire Station.
She says that the fact the community made them food and drink, despite the tragedy, was “overwhelming and very humbling”.
71 people died in the disaster last June, but 223 people survived due to the actions of firefighters like Louisa.
The IMAX cinema at the Science Museum in South Kensington was evacuated today due to an unexplained “incident”
The screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, was shut off after 10 minutes and people were shown an automated message telling them to head to the fire exits.
The museum says that it’s a false alarm, and the police were not called.
A man from Wallington was found dead on Christmas morning after apparently committing suicide live on webcam
Gregory Tomkins from Clarendon Road was found at around 3.30am when police were called to his house.
It’s unclear why he did it.
The MP for Brentford and Isleworth and the MP for Streatham are among 25 Labour MPs asking the Chancellor to publish his Brexit impact assessment
They say the public has a right to know what the impact of Brexit will be for themselves and their families.
MP for Runneymede and Weybridge Philip Hammond appeared before the Treasury Select Committee recently saying possible Brexit outcomes had been analysed.
The comments came after Brexit Secretary David Davis claimed that no such assessments had been done.
A 26 year old man is in hospital after being attacked at Bookham Station on Christmas Eve
He was left with a fractured skull and required urgent hospital treatment, but is now in a serious but stable condition.
The attacker stole his phone and smashed the windows of the office.
He was white, around 5ft 8ins tall and around 25 to 28-years-old. He was dressed all in black and had a black mask over his mouth.
There’s believed to be another man involved who did not enter the office.
Anyone with information should contact the British Transport Police.
A couple in their 70s near Croydon who had their car stolen in October were given a new one on Christmas Day by the Police
Mr and Mrs Gibbs, who are both cancer sufferers, were given a Vauxhall Corsa and a cheque for £2,300 to cover insurance and MOT.
The car was donated by a West Wickham dealership called Onodi, and serviced by Philip Reygate Garage.
Mr and Mrs Gibbs had their Austin Metro stolen in early October, which they used frequently to get them to hospital appointments.
It was found badly damaged a couple of weeks later.
Forensic work lead police to identify 19 year old Fabion Wilfred from Coulsdon as the thief, who pleaded guilty earlier this month and will be sentenced in the New Year.
A body has been found in East Molesey this morning.
Officers were called to Graburn Way at around half-eight this morning after reports of a body, believed to male, in the Thames.
Officers are still at the scene.
Copy of the letter being sent to Kensington and Chelsea residents today by the Deputy Leader of the Council and the Director of Housing Management.
Dear Resident,
As you may know, the Board of the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) have unanimously agreed to hand back management of housing to Kensington and Chelsea Council.
This means the council will be taking over repairs, looking after your estates and running the day to day services.
We want to be very clear, this is only an interim measure the council is not taking over for good. The council will run services and improve services while you, the residents, decide how you want your homes managed in the future. We know this is the most important aspect for you and we want to work with communities to begin a true and meaningful consultation with you.
At the same time, we are already making progress on an urgent and thorough review of all the KCTMO's operations including health and safety, finance, repairs and estate management services. We have been prioritising this since the new leadership of the council took over, and we believe it is essential following the tragedy of the Grenfell fire. We will continue to share the results of this as we find them and make improvements and changes wherever needed.
It is important to say that while the KCTMO will no longer be involved in managing your homes, it will continue to exist as a legal entity so that leaders can be called to the public inquiry and held to account in any criminal or civil legal proceedings that may take place in the future. This is not a way for the KCTMO to avoid accountability.
We will continue to provide updates throughout the next few weeks and months as we make significant changes to the future of housing in the borough.
Very best wishes
Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith
Deputy leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council
Doug Goldring
Director of Housing Management
The body which managed Grenfell Tower in North Kensington is temporarily giving up control of about 9-thousand other properties it looks after.
The Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation says it can't guarantee it'll be able to deliver services effectively.
It'll hand back responsibility to Kensington and Chelsea Council by the end of January.
Two men charged with Hounslow murder
Two men will appear in court tomorrow charged with the murder of another man in Hounslow.
35-year-old Sebastian Szlaski and 18-year-old Darusz Badek were charged on Sunday and have already made one appearance before the courts.
A 29-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man have been bailed until January pending further enquiries.
The dead man is yet to be formally identified and police are continuing their investigations.
Heathrow sign up to Alternative Dispute Resolution
A voluntary scheme aimed at boosting air passengers' rights has helped to resolve more than ten thousand complaints in its first year.
So far, 35 airlines including, British Airways, have signed up to the Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Heathrow is among the seven UK airports who’ve also signed up.
It's thought around 3 million people will book summer holidays for 2018 over the festive period.
A flood alert has been issued for the River Mole from Kinnersley Manor to South Hersham
The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the River Mole and its tributaries from Kinnersley Manor to South Hersham.
River levels are expected to rise overnight and into Wednesday, reaching their highest in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
The agency advises anyone in the area to take care and be prepared, as flooding of low lying land close to the river channel is possible, but flooding of properties is not expected.
The main areas of concern are Kinnersley Manor and Sidlow, where it is expected the river will overtop banks.
Chelsea move closer to Manchester United after 2-0 victory
Chelsea edged closer to 2nd placed Manchester United with a 2-0 win over Brighton thanks to goals from Alvaro Morata and Marcos Alonso.
In the Championship, Fulham won 4-2 in a dramatic game away at high flying Cardiff City.
Queens Park Rangers claimed a point in a goalless draw away at Ipswich.
AFC Wimbledon were unable to escape the League One relegation zone, as they were defeated 2-1 away at Portsmouth.
Sutton United moved up to second in the National League after a 4-0 away win at Boreham Wood, whilst Aldershot defeated local rivals Woking 3-1.
Might Bite victorious in Kempton's King George VI chase
The favourite for today's King George the sixth chase at Kempton Race course lived up to its billing as Might Bite took victory.
The eight year old horse shook off late challenges down the straight but never looked likely to be beat.
The Nicky Henderson trained horse held off Double Shuffle by a length, with Tea for Two another two lengths away in third.
Twickenham Riverside Police appeal after man was left with two broken legs
The Twickenham Riverside Police are appealing for information on an incident which occurred on the 22nd October on Whitton Road.
A fail to stop collision resulted in a man suffering two broken legs at around 10:50pm on the day of the NFL game at Twickenham Stadium.
The police are keen to trace a black hatchback car; the make and model are unknown.
If you have any information regarding the incident, please call 101.
Christmas day fire in South Kensington leaves two hopsitalised
Firefighters have warned to keep candles away from Christmas trees after a fire in South Kensington left two people hospitalised.
Part of a living room in a first floor flat was damaged in the blaze on Christmas Day in Onslow Gardens.
Those inside the flat left before the fire brigade arrived, and were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.
London Fire Brigade investigators believe the fire was due to a candle being knocked over, allowing the fire to come into contact with a Christmas tree.
AFC Wimbledon look to escape the relegation zone in today's football action
Coming off the back of an important victory at the weekend, AFC Wimbledon will be looking to escape the league one relegation zone today as they travel to Portsmouth.
Woking travel to Aldershot in what will be a hotly contested local derby in the National League.
Sutton United also face a tough away task in the National League, as they face Boreham Wood.
Hampton and Richmond will look to keep up their good form as they face Wealdstone at home today in the National League South.
In the Bostik league, Carshalton Athletic play Corninthian Casuals at Colston Avenue.
Survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire were treated to a Christmas dinner in Kensington yesterday.
More than 250 survivors and neighbours enjoyed the dinner at the Curve Community Centre, nearby to the building.
Council leader Elizabeth Campbell arrived at 11.30 to spend time with the guests.
Also present was Santa, who took time off over his busiest period to meet around 100 children.
People in Kensington and Chelsea are reportedly gaining nearly £1m on the value of their houses
That’s according to research by Hamptons international, based on a nine year ownership.
That’s nearly four times the average London gain of a quarter of a million pounds, and ten times the UK average of around ninety thousand.
Hammersmith and Fulham came in at fifth place at around half a million, Richmond seventh at a third of a million, and Wandsworth tenth at £300,000.
The terror attacks which have hit the UK this year are helping to give a second chance for unwanted dogs.
Battersea dogs home in London says there's been rise in demand from police forces, who need the animals for detecting explosives.
The number, retrained as working dogs, has risen to 58 last year, compared with 34 the year before.
Dan Stevens gives us an inside look into his Xmas project
Dan Stevens says he got to look at one of his favourite authors in a whole new way while making his new film The Man Who Invented Christmas.
The Downton Abbey star plays Charles Dickens in the movie, which is about when he wrote "A Christmas Carol".
Dan says the writer really went through a process to get the book finished in just six weeks.
Pet owners are being urged to avoid giving their pets leftovers during the Christmas period
Over Christmas Day and Boxing Day, chocolate poisoning increases by nearly 800%, with 5.5m unknowingly feeding their pets harmful foods.
39% of people in London say they give their pets leftovers.
Dave Leicester is the Head of Clinical Intelligence at Vets Now, who says that human foods contain hidden substances dangerous to animals.
A South West London based group has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help vulnerable youngsters through art therapy
The “Creating Futures” project will allow them to decorate and personalise the new residence they’re moving into early next year.
It’s been set up by The Children in Care Council, which is championing the use of art therapy.
Joseph Badman, manager of the project, is giving the young people extra responsibility that can help them later in life.
Two men have been charged following the death of a man in Hounslow.
Sebastian Szlaski and Darusz Badek will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Boxing Day.
A 29 year old woman and a 29 year old man have been bailed to a date in January.
Police are asking for help to identify a man found in a ditch in Merrow in Guildford
The man is thought to be in his twenties, and is in a serious condition in hospital after being found at around 12pm by a dog walker.
He is described as white, around 5ft 9 inches tall, of slim build, brown hair, beard and brown eyes.
He was wearing dark grey Slazenger jogging bottoms, a red chequered shirt, and red vans shoes.
Knife detecting arch temporarily installed in Croydon McDonalds
A metal detecting arch was placed in a Croydon McDonalds branch on Thursday, as part of a police campaign to stop young people from carrying knives.
The device was used from 2pm to 4pm on the 21st, one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
All customers except those with young children were invited to use the arch, but using it was not compulsory to get into the restaurant
The arch was also used on November 23rd with the same rules applied.
Officers and staff from McDonalds were on hand throughout the day to hand out leaflets and explain to customers why the arch was in place.
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police explained that while the arch will not be a permanent fixture, it may be put up again in town centre shops or restaurants in the future.
Surrey Police investigating kayak found in Staines
Surrey Police have launched an investigation to find the owner of a Kayak that was found capsized down the River Thames at Staines yesterday evening.
After a search of the river and the river bank, the police are confident that no one was aboard the boat at the time of it capsizing.
It was retrieved from the river at around 6.20pm, and Surrey Police are keen for more information on the boat.
The kayak is white, and has a number of stickers on the side. Anyone with information about the kayak is asked to call 101.
Missing man from Epsom found safe and well
A man missing in Epsom has been found safe and well.
Twenty-six-year old Konrad Rusiniak had been reported missing after leaving his family home yesterday at about 5 o’clock in the afternoon.
The Surrey Police has thanked everyone involved in the search for Mr. Rusiniak.
Man missing from Epsom
Police are appealing for help on tracing a vulnerable man missing from Epsom.
Twenty-six-year-old Konrad Rusiniak had been staying with family in Chessington Road before leaving the house at about 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon.
It’s believed he removed most of his clothing and did not have any other clothing with him.
Heathrow accused of insensitive festive greeting
Residents in Harmondsworth have been left upset and angry after Heathrow airport delivered a brochure about its expansion plans to their homes two days before Christmas.
The brochure entitled Expansion Update was delivered yesterday and includes a timeline of events on the runway process if it’s approved by Parliament in summer 2018.
The next consultation on expansion at the airport opens on January 17.
Wimbledon still in drop zone despite win
In the Championship Fulham beat Barnsley 2-1 at Craven Cottage while QPR drew 1-all with Bristol City at Loftus Road.
Wimbledon beat Bradford 2-1 at Kingsmeadow in League One action, but the Dons remain in the relegation zone.
In the conference, Sutton United dropped to fourth after a 3-1 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers.
In the Isthmian League Leatherhead beat Kingstonian 2-nil at Fetcham Grove.
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Maxine Hardcastle Releases New Album “The Collection” | Available NOW | LISTEN!
Maxine Hardcastle, the daughter of one of smooth jazz’s premier technicians, presents her own work of art entitled The Collection
Back in the mid-eighties, producer/musician Paul Hardcastle rocked the dance floor with the pulsating techno funk of the international smash, “19”, an intense soundtrack that accented spoken vignettes and swift samples from those who served in Vietnam.
JaSupreme June 6, 2019 Collections, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Jazz Vocals, New Jazz Releases, New Music Release, New R&B/Soul Releases, New Singles, Nu-Soul, T.U.M.S. News, Urban Jazz, Video Permalink
Craft Recordings to Release Deluxe Reissue of Movie Soundtrack, “Shaft” on June 14th, 2019
SHAFT — MUSIC FROM THE SOUNDTRACK
SET FOR DELUXE REISSUE JUNE 14th FROM CRAFT RECORDINGS
NEW COLLECTION PAIRS ISAAC HAYES’ ACCLAIMED 1971 ALBUM
WITH RARE, ORIGINAL RECORDINGS FROM THE FILM
Craft Recordings is excited to announce a new deluxe reissue of Isaac Hayes’ GRAMMY® Award–winning album Shaft. Set for a June 14th street date and limited to 5,000 copies worldwide, the two-CD collection will offer the newly remastered, classic soundtrack—as originally released in 1971—plus all of the original music from the film…
JaSupreme May 15, 2019 Collections, LP's/Records, New Music Release, New R&B/Soul Releases, News-Update, Old School, soundtracks, Tributes Permalink
James Brown’s ‘Get On The Good Foot’ To Be Released In New 2LP Vinyl Edition on June 21st, 2019
James Brown’s ‘Get On The Good Foot’ To Be Released In New 2LP Vinyl Edition By Republic/UMe
Double Album’s Closing Track, “I Know It’s True,” Makes U.S. Vinyl Release Debut
LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — James Brown‘s 1972 album, Get On The Good Foot, will be reissued worldwide in a new 2LP vinyl edition on June 21 by Republic/UMe.
JaSupreme May 1, 2019 Collections, LP's/Records, New Music Release, New R&B/Soul Releases, News-Update, Old School, Re-Issues, Tributes Permalink
Reissue of The World’s Best-Selling Reggae Album Of All Time: Bob Marley & The Wailers’ “Legend” on Vinyl | Coming June 14th, 2019
Bob Marley’s Legend Turns 35
The World’s Best-Selling Reggae Album Of All Time Is Anointed With A Special 35th Anniversary 2LP 180-Gram Vinyl Reissue On June 14
LOS ANGELES, April 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — On June 14, The Marley Family, Island Records and UMe join collective forces to observe the 35th anniversary of Bob Marley & The Wailers‘ Legend with a double 180-gram vinyl reissue.
JaSupreme April 26, 2019 Announcements, Collections, LP's/Records, New Reggae Releases, Re-Issues, Reggae, Tributes, Video, World Music Permalink
Trumpeter Don Cherry’s Album “Brown Rice” is Reissued On Vinyl | Available NOW
Don Cherry’s Meditative, Inventive 1975 Album ‘Brown Rice’ Reissued On Vinyl Via Verve/UMe
LANDMARK OUTSIDER JAZZ STATEMENT UNAVAILABLE ON VINYL FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS
LOS ANGELES, March 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Out of print in the U.S. for more than four decades, Don Cherry‘s meditative, inventive outsider jazz classic, Brown Rice, is available on vinyl once again as of today via Verve/UMe.
JaSupreme March 19, 2019 Afro Jazz Funk, Collections, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, LP's/Records, New Jazz Releases, New Music Release, News-Update, Old School, Re-Issues, Urban Jazz, Video Permalink
Original Broadway Cast Recording Of ‘Ain’t Too Proud – The Life And Times Of The Temptations’ Coming March 22nd (Digitally) and April 19th (CD) | WATCH NEW VIDEO!
Original Broadway Cast Recording Of ‘Ain’t Too Proud – The Life And Times Of The Temptations’ To Be Released By UMe
Acclaimed Musical Opens March 21 at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — As performances of the acclaimed new musical Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations begin tonight at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre, UMe and the show’s producers are pleased to announce that the Ain’t Too Proud Original Broadway Cast Recording will be released by UMe this spring.
JaSupreme March 14, 2019 Announcements, Collections, Events, LP's/Records, Movie Scores, New Music Release, New R&B/Soul Releases, News-Update, Nu-Soul, Old School, Video Permalink
Aretha Franklin’s Album “Songs of Faith: Aretha Gospel” To Be Released On Vinyl & Digitally On March 22nd, 2019
Aretha Franklin Celebrated By Geffen/UMe With Restored Album, ‘Songs Of Faith: Aretha Gospel,’ To Be Released On Vinyl & Digitally On March 22, Just Before Franklin’s March 25 Birthday
Classic Album Encompasses Franklin’s Earliest Recordings From 1956, Captured Live at Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Universally hailed as the Queen of Soul, the late Aretha Franklin is one of music’s most beloved icons.
JaSupreme February 10, 2019 Collections, LP's/Records, New Music Release, New R&B/Soul Releases, News-Update, Old School, Re-Issues, Tributes Permalink
Marvin Gaye’s Never-Released 1972 Album, “You’re The Man,” to be Released in 2LP Vinyl & Digital On March 29th, 2019
Marvin Gaye’s Never-Released 1972 Tamla/Motown Album, ‘You’re The Man,’ Set For Global Release On March 29 By Motown/UMe
Music Legend’s Shelved Follow-Up to ‘What’s Going On’ Makes 2LP Vinyl & Digital Debut Celebrating Marvin Gaye’s 80th Birthday on April 2
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — In celebration of Marvin Gaye‘s 80th birthday on April 2, Motown/UMe will release his never-issued 1972 Tamla/Motown album, You’re The Man, in 2LP gatefold vinyl and digital editions on March 29.
JaSupreme February 8, 2019 Collections, LP's/Records, New Music Release, New R&B/Soul Releases, News-Update, Old School, Special Sales, Tributes Permalink
VP Records Releases New Tribute Collection, “Reggae Mandela” (Vinyl, 2 CD & Digital) on Feb 8th, 2019
NELSON MANDELA CELEBRATED MUSICALLY WITH VP RECORDS’ “REGGAE MANDELA”
Available on Vinyl, Double CD & all Digital platforms February 8, 2019
NEW YORK, NY – VP Records celebrates the life and legacy of the South African leader, Nelson Mandela, 100 years after his birth and 25 years after his election in April 1994 as President of South Africa.
JaSupreme February 8, 2019 Black History Month, Collections, Community, New Reggae Releases, News-Update, Reggae, World Music Permalink
2-Disc Collection “WOW Gospel 2019” is Available NOW
CELEBRATED AWARD-WINNING SERIES WOW GOSPEL PRESENTS 30 HIT TRACKS ON WOW GOSPEL 2019 AVAILABLE NOW
NASHVILLE, TN (January 18, 2019) – Get the sensational collection WOW Gospel 2019, available now. The latest hit installment from the longtime award-winning WOW Gospel series, the two-disc WOW Gospel 2019 album delivers a total of thirty tracks with today’s biggest songs and treasured artists.
JaSupreme January 30, 2019 Collections, Gospel, New Gospel Releases, New Music Release, New Singles, News-Update, Urban Gospel, Video Permalink
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Iraqis want crackdown on "sleeper cells" after huge Baghdad bomb
Monday, 4 July 2016 20:28 GMT
Charred bodies are carried to an ambulance after a suicide car bomb attack at the shopping area of Karrada, a largely Shi'ite district, in Baghdad, Iraq July 4, 2016. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack which targeted a busy shopping area as people celebrated Ramadan
* Karrada bombing is deadliest by Islamic State in Iraq
* 37 people still missing
* Authorities say 40 arrested for planning attacks
* Justice ministry says five terror convicts executed (Iraq executes five convicted of terrorism, updates missing)
By Saif Hameed and Maher Chmaytelli
BAGHDAD, July 4 (Reuters) - The death toll from a suicide bombing in a Baghdad shopping district rose above 175 on Monday, fueling calls for security forces to crack down on Islamic State sleeper cells blamed for one of the worst-ever single bombings in Iraq.
Numbers rose as bodies were recovered from the rubble in the Karrada area of Baghdad, where a refrigerator truck packed with explosives blew up on Saturday night when people were out celebrating the holy month of Ramadan.
http://tmsnrt.rs/29dFtFG to see the location of the blast
By Monday evening, the toll in Karrada stood at 175 killed and 200 wounded, according to police and medical sources. Rescuers and families were still looking for 37 missing people.
Islamic State claimed the bombing, its deadliest in Iraq, saying it was a suicide attack. Another explosion struck the same night, when a roadside bomb blew up in popular market of al-Shaab, a Shi'ite district in north Baghdad, killing two people.
The attacks showed Islamic State can still strike in the heart of the Iraqi capital despite recent military losses, undermining Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's declaration of victory last month when Iraqi forces dislodged the hardline Sunni insurgents from the nearby city of Falluja.
Abadi's Shi'ite-led government ordered the offensive on Falluja in May after a series of deadly bombings in Shi'ite areas of Baghdad that it said originated from the Sunni Muslim city, about 50 km (30 miles) west of the capital.
Falluja was the first Iraqi city captured by Islamic State in 2014, six months before it declared a caliphate over parts of Iraq and Syria. Since last year the insurgents have been losing ground to U.S.-backed Iraqi government forces and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias.
"Abadi has to have a meeting with the heads of national security, intelligence, the interior ministry and all sides responsible for security and ask them just one question: How can we infiltrate these groups?" said Abdul Kareem Khalaf, a former police Major General who advises the Netherlands-based European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies think tank.
He said Islamic State, or Daesh, "has supporters or members everywhere - in Baghdad, Basra and Kurdistan. All it takes is for one house to have at least one man and you have a planning base and launch site for attacks of this type."
In a sign of public outrage at the failure of the security services, Abadi was given an angry reception on Sunday when he toured Karrada, the district where he grew up, with residents throwing stones, empty buckets and even slippers at his convoy in gestures of contempt.
He ordered new measures to protect Baghdad, starting with the withdrawal of fake bomb detectors that police have continued to use despite a scandal that broke out in 2011 about their sale to Iraq under his predecessor, Nuri al-Maliki.
The hand-held devices were initially developed to find lost golf balls, and the British businessman who sold them to Iraq for $40 million was jailed in Britain in 2013.
Abadi ordered that the fake devices be replaced by efficient detectors at the entrances to Baghdad and Iraq's provinces.
Later on Monday, the justice ministry announced in a statement that five people convicted of terrorism and sentenced to death were executed on Monday morning, bringing the total number of those executed on the same charges to 37 in the past two months.
"We refuse categorically all political or international interventions to stop the death sentence under the cover of human rights; Iraqi blood is above all slogans," it said, linking the timing of the executions to the Karrada bombing.
Iraqi intelligence services also announced on Monday the arrest of 40 "terrorists" suspected of forming a group to carry out attacks in Baghdad and the eastern Diyala province.
BUSY STREETS Karrada, a largely Shi'ite district with a small Christian community and a few Sunni mosques, was busy at the time of the blast as people were eating out and shopping late during Ramadan, which ends this week with the Eid al-Fitr festival.
As Iraq started observing three days of national mourning, rescuers continued digging through the rubble of a shopping mall believed to be the main target of the bombing, searching for bodies or possible survivors.
Three bodies were pulled out in the morning from the basement of the three-story Al-Laith mall, which was reduced to a skeleton of charred steel and concrete by the blast. Its glass facades were blown out and its internal divider walls collapsed.
Dozens of people gathered outside, many of them friends or relatives of missing. "I know my nephew is here because he called me to say he can't leave because of the fire in the building," said Mohammed al-Tai watching the rescuers at work.
"As Daesh retreats, it will shrink from so-called state and terrorist group to just terrorist group," said Baghdad-based security analyst Hisham al-Hashimi, author of "The World of Daesh".
That will require an increased response from intelligence and security services, he said, as well as cooperation from Iraq's Sunni Muslims, who have complained of marginalisation since the 2003 U.S. invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.
"Their input would be of utmost importance to unmask sleeper cells that could be operating from their areas," Hashimi said.
(Writing by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Larry King)
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Vanderbilt Health is for patients and visitors >
VUMC Reporter
State of the Department of Medicine address reviews achievement, challenges
Nancy Brown, MD, delivers last week’s State of the Department of Medicine address in Langford Auditorium. (photo by Susan Urmy)
Nancy Brown, MD, Hugh J. Morgan Professor and chair of the Department of Medicine in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, delivered a mixture of accolades and challenges to the dozens of faculty members, residents and fellows who attended her annual State of the Department address last week in Langford Auditorium.
Among the good news: Vanderbilt’s internal medicine program ranked 10th best in the country in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings.
The department also ranked second among the nation’s departments of medicine in terms of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Its diverse research portfolio totals $260 million.
In other announcements, Cecelia Theobald, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Medicine, has succeeded Shubhada Jagasia, MD, MMHC, professor of Medicine, as vice chair for Clinical Affairs for the department. Last month Jagasia was named chief of staff for Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital and Clinics.
Among challenges facing the department, Brown acknowledged concerns among physicians that the demands of electronic health records, automated clinical support systems and other technologies can impinge on the time they can spend at the bedside.
“A lot of how we handle this depends upon us,” she said. “We are advocating very hard for systems that will help lessen this burden.”
Brown ended her talk by quoting an unnamed faculty member who was recently a patient at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and who was immensely impressed by the care he received. “Personalized medicine at Vanderbilt extends beyond the hope of individualized therapy tailored to one’s genetics,” she read.
“Personalized medicine must permeate every aspect of our clinical practices at the bedside, our mannerisms, our words, our touch, our willingness to put the patient interaction above the check boxes and our absolute commitment to optimize the patient’s experience while achieving the best clinical outcome,” the statement concluded.
“This is what it’s all about,” Brown said. “We have to stay focused on what it is we do and our values. You do that very well and I’m very proud to be part of the department.”
The meeting concluded with the presentation of teaching awards and other recognitions by each of the department’s divisions.
Chair of Medicine shares good news – and a story
VUMC, Meharry and State Health Department receive NIH grant to establish AIDS research center
Brown honored by internal medicine association
Department of Medicine’s NIH funding swells
Bill Snyder · (615) 322-4747 ·
Reporter Department of Medicine featured-Reporter Nancy Brown Reporter June 15 2018 State of the Department of Medicine
Recent Stories from VUMC News and Communications Publications
The first few minutes of Charlie’s life were a blur, as a team of doctors and nurses at VUMC worked to resuscitate him and stabilize his heart rate. He was then transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt Nurse
Tucked away in a Vanderbilt conference room, 36 adults huddle over Lego pieces. Eleven teams have been assigned to assemble multicolored Legos using the written directions included in the packet. The result should be a Frankenstein figure.
Vanderbilt Medicine
Marissa Benchea has CF, and she is one of hundreds of thousands of adults not only surviving but thriving with a chronic childhood disease.
One hundred years ago, multiple “waves” of a deadly flu swept across the world.
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Follow Al-Sumait Prize
New White Paper on Food Security in Africa
Document • May 24, 2016 19:43 UTC
This new White Paper from Al-Sumait Prize for African Development examines the complex food security challenges faced across Africa in order to encourage better understanding and solutions of the problem.
© All rights reserved (?)
AgricultureClimate issuesEconomyEnvironmental politicsHealth Care, Health ServiceHealth OrganisationsLivestockMedical researchStudiesUniversity, University College
Kuwait's Al-Sumait Prizeskuwaitfood security in africadevelopment initiatives in africaal-sumaital-sumait prize
Kuwait’s 2016 Al-Sumait Food Security Prize for Development in Africa Awarded Jointly To Nigerian and Peruvian Researchers For Tackling Undernourishment Across Africa
The 2016 Al-Sumait Food Security Prize designed to promote development in Africa has been awarded jointly to two research organizations, the International Potato Centre (CIP), Lima, Peru, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. Both were honored for ground-breaking studies on the causes of undernourishment and solutions.
Al-Sumait Prizes for Health and Food Security Advances in Africa, Finalists Selected
Press releases • Sep 20, 2016 15:01 UTC
Selection panels for Kuwait’s Al-Sumait Prize for Health and Al-Sumait Prize for Food Security in Africa have met this week in Kuwait City to select winning nominees for final consideration and approval by the Board of Trustees of Al-Sumait Prize on Monday, October 17, 2016.
Kuwait’s Al-Sumait Prize For African Development Announces winners for Health and Food Security Categories
The winners of the Kuwait-sponsored, Al-Sumait 2015 Health Award and 2016 Food Security Award have been announced by the prestigious Board of Trustees at a meeting October 1, 2016, in Kuwait City.
Leaders of Arab and African Nations Celebrate Inaugural Awards Ceremony of Al-Sumait Prize For African Development For Health And Food Security
The winners of Kuwait’s Al-Sumait Prize for African Development for 2015 and 2016 in the fields of health and food security have received their awards at a special gala ceremony during the fourth Africa-Arab summit in Equatorial Guinea.
Al-Sumait Prize Winners For 2015 Health Award And 2016 Food Security Award To Be Announced In Kuwait On October 17, 2016
The winning recipients of the prestigious Al-Sumait Prizes for the two categories of Health and Food Security will be announced at a Board of Trustees meeting In Kuwait City on Monday October 17, 2016.
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Sept. 18: Seeking Witness: Voice of Witness and Building an Oral History Network
Knox Hall, 606 W 122nd St., Room 509
Check out OHMA students' reflections on this talk: Leonard Cox and Helen Gibb.
Voice of Witness is a non-profit that includes an oral history book series that explores contemporary human rights crises both in the United States and abroad. Voice of Witness titles take up to five years to complete and rely on broad networks of experts, activists, volunteers, and the dozens of individuals we interview for every book. In this talk, managing editor Luke Gerwe describes some of the strategies Voice of Witness staff and editors have used to build and maintain the network necessary to sustain oral history projects that require many years to assemble. Focus will be on the book series’ two most recent titles, Invisible Hands: Voices from the Global Economy (May 2014) and Palestine Speaks: Narratives of Life Under Occupation (November 2014). Both books presented special challenges as we navigated distances of space, communications technology, language, armed conflict, and expectations of the role and purpose of storytelling.
Luke Gerwe is an editor of fiction and non-fiction that has worked on staff or as a freelancer for small presses such as Soft Skull, Counterpoint, Milkweed, Tin House, and others. He is currently the managing editor of the Voice of Witness book series, a non-profit oral history imprint of McSweeney’s Books. In his role as managing editor, he helps title editors shape narratives, conceptualize book structure, research background material, manage contacts and resources, and generally be the one that panics most about deadlines.Voice of Witness started life in 2004 as a book imprint of McSweeney’s, founded by author Dave Eggers and physician/human rights scholar Lola Vollen. In 2008 Mimi Lok came on board as executive director & editor, and transitioned the imprint to a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit, with the mission of using oral history to illuminate contemporary human rights crises. The Voice of Witness Book Series depicts human rights injustices through the stories of the men and women who experience them. The Voice of Witness Education Program connects thousands of students and educators each year with these stories and issues through common core-aligned, oral history-based curricula and holistic educator support. To date there are thirteen titles in the Voice of Witness book series, including domestic titles that address issues such as undocumented workers in the U.S., public housing, and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, as well as international titles that address worker exploitation in the global marketplace; conflicts in Colombia, Burma, and Zimbabwe; and other human rights crises.
SPONSORS: This talk is part of the “Paul F. Lazarsfeld Lecture Series,” co-sponsored by the Columbia Center for Oral History Research (CCOHR), the Oral History Master of Arts Program (OHMA), and the University Seminar on Narrative, Health and Social Justice. Support from the Interdisciplinary Center for Innovative Theory and Empirics (INCITE) is provided for programming that embodies late Professor Paul Lazarsfeld’s commitment to improving methodological approaches that address concerns of vital cultural and social significance.
INFORMATION: For more information, please email Amy Starecheski at aas39(at)columbia.edu
THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
In Past Events
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Home » Middle East » Yemen’s Saudi-led coalition is responsible for the ‘worst cholera outbreak in the world’
Yemen’s Saudi-led coalition is responsible for the ‘worst cholera outbreak in the world’
The cholera outbreak in Yemen is overwhelmingly affecting rebel-controlled areas due to Saudi-led airstrikes and blockades, according to a letter by researchers from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), published in The Lancet Global Health.
Yemen/CIA
Their new analysis finds that eight out of ten of Yemen’s cholera deaths occur in rebel-controlled areas.
The researchers combined WHO’s latest cholera data with data that mapped areas of government and rebel control, and found that the cholera outbreak disproportionately affects areas controlled by Houthi rebels.
They found that 77.7 per cent of cholera cases (339,061 of 436,625) and 80.7 per cent of deaths from cholera (1,545 of 1,915) occurred in Houthi-controlled governorates, compared to 15.4 per cent of cases and 10.4 per cent of deaths in government-controlled governorates.
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1.8 per cent of the population in Houthi-controlled areas have contracted cholera, compared to 1.0 per cent in government-controlled areas. 0.46 per cent of those who contracted cholera died in Houthi-controlled areas, compared to 0.30 per cent in government-controlled areas.
Jonathan Kennedy, Andrew Harmer and David McCoy from QMUL write: “Both sides have been accused of disregarding the wellbeing of civilians and breaching international humanitarian law. But the government and Saudi-led coalition that supports it command far greater resources. As a result, Houthi-controlled areas have been disproportionately affected by the conflict, which has created conditions conducive to the spread of cholera.
“Saudi-led airstrikes have destroyed vital infrastructure, including hospitals and public water systems, hit civilian areas, and displaced people into crowded and insanitary conditions. A Saudi-enforced blockade of imports has caused shortages of, among other things, food, medical supplies, fuel and chlorine, and restricted humanitarian access.
“As the Saudi-led coalition has played a key role in the collapse of health, water, and sanitation systems in rebel-controlled areas, it is bizarre that UNICEF recently published a press release welcoming Saudi Arabian ‘generosity’ after the Kingdom donated US$67 million to the cholera response in Yemen.”
Jonathan Kennedy from QMUL added: “Saudi Arabia is an ally of the UK and USA. American and British companies supply Saudi Arabia with huge amounts of military equipment and their armed forces provide logistical support and intelligence. This backing has made the Saudi-led airstrikes and blockade possible, and therefore the UK and USA have played a crucial role in creating conditions conducive to the spread of cholera.”
In June 2017, UNICEF and WHO released a statement declaring that Yemen is “facing the worst cholera outbreak in the world”. While they acknowledged the outbreak was caused by the civil war that began in 2015, they did not suggest that one party is more responsible than another or that one side is more affected by the outbreak, stating “cholera has spread to almost every governorate”.
The new analysis is published as the UN marks World Humanitarian Day, a yearly tribute to aid workers, and aimed to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. Yemen has been described as the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time.
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Archeological Sites of Messinia
In Messinia one walks side by side with history. In the fertile valleys and hills, embraced in a magical way by nature, ancient monuments, standing priceless and impressive, recounting moments of antiquity.
Ancient Messini
Ancient Messini is one of the most significant ancient cities in terms of its size, structure and state of preservation and still has much to be discovered. Along with the sanctuaries and public buildings it has imposing fortifications, dwellings and burial sites. It has, amongst other things the rare advantage of never having been destroyed or covered by later settlements and sits in an unspoiled inland site in a natural Mediterranean environment. This natural environment combines the mountain grandeur of Delphi and the low riverside serenity of Olympia, the dominating bare limestone mass of Mount Ithome, the ancient acropolis and the low fertile plain spread below the ancient city.
One can easily reach the site by road from Athens along the Corinth - Tripoli - Megalopolis - Kalamata highway or via the Corinth - Patra - Pyrgos - Kyparissia Meligalas highway. From Olympia the site is about an hours drive.
The Stadium and Gymnasium of Ancient Messina
The Stadium and Gymnasium are amongst the most impressive and well preserved buildings on the site. The northern part of the horseshoe-shaped stadium contains 18 stands with 18 rows of seats separated by stairways. Surrounded by Doric stoas, whose columns are standing mostly in place. The northern arcade is double in form, whereas the east and the west are simple in form. The colonnades belong to the Gymnasium which together with the Stadium formed one single architectural ensemble. The western stoa terminated at the end of the track at a length of 110 meters from the northern end. At this point a Doric peristyle court is located which is identified as the palaistra.
Pedestals with honorary inscriptions, are located between the columns of the western stoa and used to hold the statues of gymnasiarchs (Gymnasium officials). Other inscriptions have also been found bearing lists of ephebes (youths). Behind the western colonnade was the sanctuary of Heracles and Hermes with their cult statues.
The Ancient Theatre of Messina
The first monument to be seen when descending from the museum to the archaeological site is the theatre. It was used for mass political gatherings. In this theatre the meeting was held between King Philipp V Macedon and Aratos the Sikyonian in 214B.C, the day following the revolt of the Messinian people. According to the testimony of Livius (39.49.6-12), many residents of Messina gathered in the theatre of the city and demanded that the great general of the Achaean League, Philopoimen from Megalopolis captured by the Messenians in 183B.C., be transferred there and exposed in plain view. The auditorium is based on an artificial embankment composed of a strong semi-circular retaining wall.
The fort like impression is emphasized by the arched entrances and ascending stairways. These elements and the fact that the retaining wall of the cavea is visible and accessible from the outside make the Theatre of Messene an exceptional building predictive of the theatres and amphitheatres of the Roman period.
A large part of the western retaining wall of the cavea survives. The wall is interrupted at regular intervals (by about 20 meters), by entrances with pitched arches which led via stairways to the upper corridor; from there, other stairways provided access to the orchestra and also defined the wedge-shaped divisions of seats. The exterior of the retaining wall is built in exactly the same way as the fortification walls and towers of the city.
The Palace of Nestor
The agricultural town of Hora, located 50 km from Kalamata, is known to all visitors as the archaeological area where the Upper Egklianou palaces of King Nestor were discovered (many compare them with Ancient Mycenae and Tiryns). Close by is the tholos tomb attributed to Nestor and his heir Thrasymidi. Findings from the palace and surrounding region that came to light by the excavations (approximately 4000 years of archaeological finds) can be found in the Archaeological Museum of Hora.
On the Upper Egklianou hill, 4 kilometres south of Hora, the palace was found that is said to be the Palace of Nestor. The excavations started in 1939, and were completed after the Second World War, brought to light earlier ruins from the Palace. The city and the Palace were destroyed in 1200 B.C., probably during the invasion of the Dorians.
The Palace of Nestor just14 km from Pylos, is among the most important monuments of Mycenaean Greece, because it is the only Mycenaean Palace which is in such good condition. The palaces were built in the 13th century B.C. by King Nestor (son of Neleus) who took part in the Trojan War with ninety ships. Ancient Pylos was the second biggest city of the Mycenaean world, after Mycenae, and King Nestor is portrayed as one of the most respected characters in the Homeric epics. The surrounding landscape was calm and the the Palace was not fortified, unlike the other Mycenaean settlements. The palace was almost completely destroyed in the early twelfth century, by fire and never reconstructed. The fire had an extremely positive result; it baked many ceramic tablets thus saving approximately 1200 texts with rare information on the economy, society, worship etc. of the Mycenaean times.
Heinrich Schliemann had made inquiries in the area in 1888, but didnt manage to find the palace of Nestor. In 1912 and 1926 the archaeologist Kountouriotis discovered two Tholos tombs that Carl Blegen felt were royalist. In 1939 Kountouriotis identified the location of the prehistoric royal Palace and the excavation was continued and completed by the American archaeologist Carl Blegen. For 10 days they made excavations in 8 locations and found Mycenaean vases. On the 4th of April they had already found parts of murals, tablets with Linear B (these tablets, which are reminiscent of palm leaves, 1250 in total, were decoded in 1952 by the architect Michael Ventris and the classical scholar John Chadwick, giving us practical information on life in prehistoric Pylos), and one meter thick walls This stage of the excavations continued until 10th May, revealing much of the Palace.
By studying the texts of more than 1100 tablets of Linear B, that were found in the palace complex, the decryption of the Linear B script by Michael Ventris gave abundant evidence of the strong industrial and commercial activity of the area with the Palace at its centre.
The excavations were stopped at the start of the Second World War until 1952. The palace complex consists of four main buildings, which have dozens of partitions. After the discovery of the throne room, Blegen called the site the Palace of Nestor. Gradually the ruins of a wealthy 2 floored edifice came to light and other two auxiliary buildings, spread half way over the plateau of Egkliano. Around the Palace Tholos graves have been excavated with remarkable objects, the closest being found at a distance of 80 metres from the Central Palace.
The Palace is a complex of buildings with a total of 105 ground floor apartments and other public spaces. It consists of four main buildings (western, central, northeast & wine warehouse), as well as some smaller buildings. The most important part is a large rectangular Crown Room" with a circular hearth, also the bathroom with its clay bathtub and warehouses with numerous storage vessels.
Temple of Apollo Epikourios
On the bare rocky slopes of Mount Kotilio stands one of the most important and imposing temples of antiquity, dedicated to Apollo Epikourios ("Apollo the Helper").. The temple is situated in a prominent position and is on the U.N.E.S.C.O. list of World Cultural Heritage sites along with the Egyptian Pyramids, the Parthenon and other monuments worldwide.
The Temple of Apollo Epikourios is one of the best surviving monuments of classical antiquity. In particular, it is the best preserved after the Temple of Hephaestus's in Athens. Of all the temples in the Peloponnese, after the Temple of Tegea, it could take first place for the quality of its marble and its harmonious ensemble.
The temple was dedicated to Apollo Epikourios by the inhabitants of Figalia because they overcame a plague epidemic. The inhabitants of Figalia had erected a temple in honour of Apollo Vassita in the 7th century B.C., and worshipped him with the name Epicure supporter in war or illness. He was given the name Epicurean during the wars against the Spartans around 650 B.C. The final Temple was built during the second half of the 5th century BC (420-410) by Iktino who was also the architect of the Parthenon and for this reason is sometimes referred to as the Parthenons Twin.
The construction managed to combine many iconographic characteristics that showed the conservative religious tradition of the Acadians embracing the new features of the classical era. Characterised by a multitude of both original outer and internal fittings which make it a unique monument in the history of ancient Greek architecture. Is has a Doric pavilion from local limestone. The columns combine the harmony of all the known styles of antiquity (Ionic, Corinthian, Doric) and the frieze of the temple is a real masterpiece, with plain metopes and triglyphs (part of which was broken up in 1814 and is now exhibited at the British Museum in London) is the work of the sculptor of antiquity, Alkamenes.
The temple has been preserved since the beginning of the century by the department of Archaeology. Since 1965, and systematically since 1982, the Ministry of culture has taken on the difficult task of maintenance and protection of the monument. The canopy, which protects the sensitive building materials from the extreme weather conditions in the region, the anti-seismic scaffolding and other facilities are intended to be temporary but will stay in place as long as required by the rescue work.
The imposing temple measuring 2,075m lies in the centre of the Peloponnese, in the mountains between Ilia, Messinia and Arkadia. Situated 14 km south of Andritsena and 11 km northeast of Perivolia. The archaeological area of the temple can be easily reached:
-From the provincial road that connects Kalamata with Diavolitsi (after Diavolitsi you come to the village Kato Melpia, where signs show that the temple is a further 40km. Following a captivating journey you are directed to the village of Sklirou near the temple.)
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Posted on September 6, 2017 September 6, 2017 by Ayodele John
International students told #YouAreWelcomeHere
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is part of a nationwide campaign to embrace international students. The marketing and social media effort, #YouAreWelcomeHere, features more than 200 universities and colleges.
The campaign started in November 2016 as a way to make international students feel welcome and reassure them that U.S. colleges and universities are friendly, safe and committed to international student development.
In UH Mānoa’s video, a diverse group of approximately 50 UH community members from 17 different countries exclaims: “You are welcome here!” It demonstrates the university’s commitment to providing a positive international program experience.
Countries represented in the video include New Zealand, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, France, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Slovenia, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Thailand, India, Serbia and Latvia.
“UH Mānoa has always been a campus that welcomes students from abroad. The cultural and ethnic diversity of the university and the state of Hawaiʻi represents great strengths, particularly in the current climate of heightened tension around immigration and international relations,” said R. Andy Sutton, School of Pacific and Asian Studies dean and assistant vice chancellor for international and exchange programs. “We’re proud to contribute to the national movement ‘YouAreWelcomeHere’ to express to the world that both students and faculty from all around the globe are welcome at UH Mānoa.
The direct economic impact of international students for Hawaiʻi, according to a 2017 survey by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, was an estimated $225.3 million. The other economic benefits, according to the survey, include $484 million added to the state’s total economic output, $32 million in state taxes generated, $192 million in household earnings and 5,093 jobs supported.
As of late August 2017, UH Mānoa had 938 international students, 519 of them graduate students, enrolled with student visas, and hopes to welcome more. 19 of these international students are from the six affected countries listed in the travel ban. For the 2018 spring semester, which begins in January 2018, the graduate division has already received 45 applications from international students, with three of those applications coming from nationals from the six affected countries.
Source: University of Hawaii News
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Libyans inspect the site of a car bomb attack that targeted servicemen during the funeral of an ex-army commander in the Libyan city of Benghazi, on July 11, 2019. - A car bomb exploded during the funeral of Khalifa al-Mesmari, a special forces chief under Libya's ousted leader Moamer Kadhafi, killing at least three people and wounding 15, a hospital said. (Photo by Abdullah DOMA / AFP)
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By Beth Bandy of International Fundraising Intelligence (One year’s subscription access US$75, originally published October 2011)
Review by Sabine Schuller, Research Specialist, The Rotary Foundation
Why it caught my eye: I have seen very few comprehensive resources on how to uncover information outside the US much less a guide finding facts about China or in Chinese. You can view a six minute video about the resource here. http://www.ifintelligence.com/training/country-guides/
Pros/Cons: It’s most helpful to read the guide on-line with two screens. That way you can view the manual on one and access the online resources on the other. You can click on the hyperlinks to view the original internet source and copy the Chinese characters directly from the guide’s text to your browser. The guide also assumes that you are able to download Google Chrome onto your computer to take full advantage of its Translate feature. The manual focuses on free, online sources and does not cover paid subscription sources such as Bureau van Dijk or CSMAR (China Stock Market and Accounting Research Database). Finally, the handbook assumes the reader has solid experience in finding information online and critical thinking skills.
The author understands the restrictions of a guidebook and doesn’t try to explain every aspect of finding Chinese information in complete detail – that would take several volumes. Instead, it is a tool that will help overcome a researcher’s initial hurdles. She highlights those resources she has found most useful and provides helpful links in both English and Chinese. These connect the searcher who wants to delve deeper with additional information.
Beth Bandy’s guide goes far beyond a simple listing of websites. The author’s sound philosophy is to highlight the benefits of using Chinese information sources and searching in Chinese. She takes pains to explain how the non-Chinese speaker can still take advantage of those resources. She carefully outlines potential language pitfalls and how to not accidentally miss information. The author also evaluates sources’ reliability. For example, she rightly points out the importance of reviewing several news sources about an event or person to gain a balanced perspective. Where there is little or no publically available information for a certain asset class, she provides advice on how to work around that limitation.
I asked a few Chinese speakers to read the Language Tips section. They agreed that the discussion of simplified/traditional characters, Pinyin’s[1] history, and dialects were all correct. One tried several of the techniques described in the guide. She found that using a search engine to “translate” the Pinyin into Chinese characters, using the glossaries on the CSRC and HKEX websites, and the ‘Baidu’ instructions (a Chinese search engine) all worked well.
The testers also made recommendations for additional information. One reader wished that the guide was clearer about the difference between Mandarin and Cantonese which are spoken, but not written dialects. Therefore there are no Mandarin or Cantonese written characters, only simplified and traditional. Another wished for an emphasis that written Chinese is not a phonetic language, something that can be confusing for non-Chinese speakers. In many languages, each letter represents a sound and the reader can piece together a word letter by letter. In written Chinese, each character represents an entire idea not a sound. A final comment advised that, because of tradition or respect, sometimes some names or institutions are written in their original Romanized form. For example, one of the first national universities is known as Peking, not Beijing University.
A final welcome addition to the guide’s extensive discussion on Pinyin and Chinese characters would have been a section on Chinese names. It’s helpful to be reminded that a Chinese person’s surname traditionally comes first (like HU Jintao) but you can see many variations (like Gong Li or Li Gong). It’s also true that some Chinese adopt a western name such as Jackie Chan. Additionally, there can be many variations in a name’s spelling due to transliteration (e.g. Chen, Chan, Chin). However, you can apply Bandy’s techniques on finding alternate keywords to your prospects’ names and their variations.
When Bandy switched the format of her guide from .pdf to on-line resource she overcame a limitation of all print resources. The reader will need to weigh whether they have the resources to maintain continual access to the manual. At the time of this writing, the guide had one screencast tutorial on how to select a dictionary with plans for more interspersed through the guide. The author also includes several sources how the reader can keep current with Chinese information trends on their own. This is particularly valuable since some Chinese sources are not always available. For example, Sina Weibo (the micro-blogging site) was shut down for three days by the Chinese government in April, 2012.[2]
I’d recommend it to: Experienced Prospect Research (Donor Research) professionals who need to either complete their first Chinese prospect research project quickly or slowly develop their Chinese research skills. The handbook has enough links and information resources to point a researcher to substantial information right away. There are also techniques and perspectives about searching a non-western writing system that can be absorbed over the longer term to improve a researcher’s overall knowledge base.
[1] Pinyin: a system of romanization for the Chinese written language based on the pronunciation of the Beijing dialect of Mandarin Chinese. Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/461271/Pinyin-romanization
[2] http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/04/03/han-han-finds-limits-of-new-weibo-freedom/
Stephen Rowe says:
Thank you for doing this Sabine! Would never even have thought of looking for a review of this guide, but I stumbled upon it while consulting your ‘international sources’ list.
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Nepal Today
ANOTHER HLPM, OPPOSITION DEAL
Kathmandu, 16 Aug.: After seven hour-long talks, the High-Level-Political Committee (HLPC) finally reached a six-point agreement with the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Democratic Front (FDF) on Thursday midnight, RSS reportsss..
With the agreement, the agitating front will participate in the November 19 Constituent Assembly (CA) elections.
As per the agreement, the number of the CA would be 585 where there will be 240 under the first-past-the-post system while 335 under the proportional one and 10 to be elected from the Council of Ministers.
For the implementation of this agreement, the President and government will be requested for constitutional and legal arrangements.
Earlier, the four major political parties- UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) had decided to reduce the number of CA members from 601 to 491. And the Election Commission (EC) had started electoral process accordingly.
Similarly, the EC will be requested to extend two more weeks for updating voter registration and homework on the agreement on basic principles of constitution initiated.
As per the agreement, the federal democratic front will join the HLPC; efforts will be made to include other important political parties in it and urge all people to make the CA elections successful.
However, the parties have agreed to keep intact the previous 240 constituencies and their delimitation.
UCPN-Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha signed in the agreement from the HLPC's side while Parshuram Tamang on behalf of federal democratic front.
The six-point agreement, the leaders said, would be a milestone for the success of the CA elections.
The talks were attended by HLPC coordinator and UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML's Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, UDMF coordinator Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar and Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal, Upendra Yadav and others.
PILGRIMS IN GOSAINKINDA
Kathmandu, 16 Aug : Devotees have started arriving here for the
Gosainkunda religious fair that takes place at local Gosainkunda on the occasion of the Janai
Poornima festival, rSS reports from Dhunche..
Sanjeev DM, President of the Gosainkunda Fair Management Committee, said that the pilgrims started arriving from the day of the Nagpanchami festival last week. Gosainkunda lies high up in the mountains in Rasuwa district and this place is a famous pilgrimage for the Hindus and Buddhists.
He said as many as one thousand people have arrived for the religious fair as of Thursday evening. It is estimated that 15 thousand pilgrims will attend the religious fair this year. The Janai Poornima festival falls on August 21 this year.
The management committee is making preparations for the festival. In this connection, more than 100 temporary lodges have been constructed at different places en route to Goasainkunda, in addition to the already existing motels and lodges.
Similarly, the District Administration Office has made arrangements for the security of the pilgrims and for setting up temporary clinics.
MORE VIOLENCE LIKELY IN EGYPT
Kathmandu, 16 Aug.: Deeply polarized Egypt braced for renewed confrontation on Friday after the Muslim Brotherhood called for a nationwide march of millions to show anger at a ferocious security crackdown on Islamists in which
hundreds were killed, Reuters reports from Cairo..
Defying criticism from major Western allies, Egypt's army-backed government warned it would turn its guns on anyone who attacked the police or public institutions after protesters torched a government building in Cairo on Thursday.
At least 623 people died and thousands were wounded on Wednesday when police cleared out two protest camps in Cairo set up to denounce the military overthrow on July 3 of Egypt's first freely elected president, Islamist leader Mohamed Mursi.
It was the third mass killing of Mursi supporters since his ouster. The assault left his Muslim Brotherhood in disarray, but they warned they would not retreat in their showdown with army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
"After the blows and arrests and killings that we are facing, emotions are too high to be guided by anyone," said Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad.
A statement from the Brotherhood called for a nationwide "march of anger" by millions of supporters on Friday after noon prayers.
"Despite the pain and sorrow over the loss of our martyrs, the latest coup makers' crime has increased our determination to end them," it said.
The Brotherhood accuses the military of staging a coup when it ousted Mursi. Liberal and youth activists who backed the military saw the move as a positive response to public demands.
Friday prayers have proved a fertile time for protests during more than two years of unrest across the Arab world.
In calling for a "Friday of anger," the Brotherhood used the same name as that given to the most violent day of the 2011 uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak. That day, January 28, 2011, marked the protesters' victory over the police, who were forced to retreat while the army was asked to step in.
In a counter move, a loose liberal and leftist coalition, the National Salvation Front, called on Egyptians to protest on Friday against what it said was "obvious terrorism actions" conducted by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Signaling his displeasure at the worst bloodshed in Egypt for generations, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday normal cooperation with Cairo could not continue and announced the cancellation of military exercises with Egypt next month.
"We deplore violence against civilians. We support universal rights essential to human dignity, including the right to peaceful protest," he said, taking a brief break from his holidays to deliver the sharp rebuke.
The United States on Thursday renewed a warning to its citizens to leave Egypt because of the ongoing unrest. It issued the same advice last month.
The Egyptian presidency issued a statement saying Obama's remarks were not based on "facts" and would strengthen and encourage violent groups that were committing "terrorist acts."
ARAB AID
Washington provides Egypt with $1.5 billion in annual aid, most of it military. But its influence over Cairo has been called into question during the recent turmoil, which has seen Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates pledge $12 billion in assistance, making them more prominent partners.
By cancelling the military exercise, but not cutting off U.S. aid, Obama was seeking to show his displeasure at the violent crackdown without totally alienating the generals.
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel issued a statement saying he had called Sisi on Thursday to say Washington would maintain its military relationship with Egypt, but he also warned him that the recent violence was putting defense cooperation at risk.
"Since the recent crisis began, the United States has made it clear that the Egyptian government must refrain from violence, respect freedom of assembly, and move toward an inclusive political transition," Hagel said.
"I reiterated that the United States remains ready to work with all parties to help achieve a peaceful, inclusive way forward."
The White House has tried to appear to support democracy in Egypt, while protecting the U.S. strategic interest in Egypt's stability, its peace treaty with Israel and its military cooperation with the United States - including privileged access to the Suez Canal.
Critics argue that Obama had done too little, too late and that his administration has repeatedly sent mixed messages - among them its failure to brand Mursi's ouster a military coup - thereby eroding its ability to influence events.
By comparison with Western criticism, the UAE said Egypt's government had "exercised maximum self-control."
The Arab nations' cash, which started arriving in July, is aimed at stabilizing Egypt's wobbling economy, which is suffering from a ballooning budget deficit and high inflation.
This week's carnage will do further damage to state coffers. The government has set a nighttime curfew that it says will last at least a month, a move that will deal a further blow to the crucial tourism industry.
On Thursday, the U.N. Security Council urged all parties in Egypt to exercise maximum restraint.
"The view of council members is that it is important to end violence in Egypt," Argentine U.N. Ambassador Maria Cristina Perceval told reporters after the 15-member council met on the situation.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had earlier also called for the U.N. Security Council to convene quickly after what he described as a massacre in Egypt and criticized Western nations for failing to stop the bloodshed.
The streets of Cairo were unusually quiet on Thursday, many shops remaining shuttered as people stayed away from work.
However, there was little sympathy for the Brotherhood, which won all five elections following Mubarak's downfall in 2011 but was accused of incompetence and partisanship during Mursi's brief time in charge.
"We didn't want this to happen, but at the end of the day they pushed us to do it," said Mahmoud Albaz, 33, an actor and real-estate agent who lives near the Brotherhood protest camp at the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, now blackened by fire and soot.
Many of those who died on Wednesday were still laid out more than a day later in Cairo morgues and at a city mosque. Their families accused the government of putting bureaucratic hurdles in their way to make it hard to obtain permission to bury them.
Under Islamic tradition, bodies ought to be buried within 24 hours of death.
"We arrived at 7 a.m. The whole family is here," said Atif Hashim, a 50-year-old teacher, who was in line, waiting to collect the body of his cousin, a father of five young children.
"They just drink tea inside, they just throw the bodies on the floor with some ice," he said of officials in the morgue.
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Prophets and Mystics: A Reflection on Teaching
By Brian J. Mahan October 01, 2009
Download PDF: Mahan, Prophets and Mystics
Some confusions are more distressing than others. Those which impinge on my teaching rank among the more serious. Among these, one stands out from the rest. I have repeatedly noted but never made sense of what seems to me an odd if widely held perception within the mainline churches – I include Catholicism under this designation – of an essential opposition between prophetic witness and intense religious experience. In the course of writing this reflection, I decided to return to the work of George Albert Coe in search of an explanation for the origins of this odd antipathy. Coe is considered, with John Dewey, one of the founders of the progressive religious education movement, of which I consider myself a latter-day adherent. My expectations were not disappointed. Coe posits a radical opposition between the prophetic witness of the churches and what he considers the reactionary character of both the Catholic mystical tradition and evangelical Christianity, which tends to place undue emphasis, from his perspective, on what he calls “mystical conversion experiences.” Before engaging Coe’s thoughts on the matter, I will briefly review what four other authors – Joseph Epstein, Paul Fussell, Leo Tolstoy, and William James – have to say on the same subject, this in order to frame Coe’s thoughts in a wider social context and to provide several counter-positions to Coe’s that will help me better frame my own. The animating pedagogical preoccupation of this reflection is the religious formation of young men and women.
Epstein and Fussell
Literary critic Joseph Epstein exhibits a fascination with the possibility that Christian mystical experience might hold the key, if only there were such a key, to challenging, even transcending, the need to celebrate invidious distinctions at the expense of others.
Central to Epstein’s essay is a summary and interpretation of the poet W. H. Auden’s experience of a profound religious experience and its ultimate failure to aid the great poet in transcending his own tendency to “invidious distinctions”:
W. H. Auden, who thought himself a Christian, claims one warm June evening in 1933 to have been sitting with three colleagues – fellow teachers at a boys’ school, two women and a man – and for the first time in his life he “knew exactly – because thanks to the power, I was doing it – what it means to love one’s neighbor as oneself.” No alcohol was involved, and no sexual interest among any of the four people. Auden recounts at that moment he “recalled with shame the many occasions on which I had been spiteful, snobbish, selfish, but the immediate joy was greater than shame, for I knew that, so long as I was possessed by this spirit, it would be literally impossible for me deliberately to injure another human being.” The heightened feeling, he says, continued for roughly two hours, and lasted, in diminishing force, for two more days. “The memory of the experience has not prevented me from making use of others, grossly and often, but it has made it much more difficult for me to deceive myself about what I am up to when I do.”1
“What Auden apparently had undergone,” Epstein continues, “is the experience, or vision of agape, or Christian love feast, in which one feels a purity of love for all human beings, without invidious distinctions of any kind, the powerfully certain feeling that one’s fellows are worthy of the same respect, sympathy, and consideration as one pays oneself… how glorious it must have been to undergo – and, as Auden was too honest not to add, all but impossible to maintain.”
Epstein’s essay, while granting a guarded compliment to Christianity, or at least a particular kind of experience he calls “agape love,” as providing a momentary respite from snobbery, ultimately despairs of the ability of such experience to inspire long-term transformation. “Live and let live,” Epstein continues, “remains the most sensible of mottos, and so much less demanding than the Golden Rule. Time for me to adopt it as my own. What I should prefer is to go through the rest of my life snobbery free, looking neither up nor down but calmly off into the distance. I should like to spend the rest of my days without anger or bad feeling and with a fine social indifference, cultivating a kind of objectivity that Schopenhauer thought constituted genius.”
By way of conclusion, Epstein provides insight into his own sense of why mystical experience cannot finally challenge the social and psychological utility of embracing snobbery:
Snobbery will die on the day when none of us needs reassurance of his or her worth, when society is so well balanced as to eliminate every variety of injustice, when fairness rules, and kindness and generosity, courage and honor are all rightly revered. But until that precise day arrives – please, don’t mark your calendar just yet – snobbery appears here to stay.
Unlike Epstein, Paul Fussell, in his Class: A Guide Through the American Status System, allows for the possibility of transcending snobbery by opting out of the class system entirely.2 Fussell’s advice on this matter is, in my opinion, undermined by his tone, often disdainful and petty. Fussell seems to bear a particular antipathy to working-class sensibilities. There is, also, if I am not mistaken, an undercurrent of angst – Fussell’s own, I suspect – permeating the text. When Fussell asks, “What class are we in and what do we think about our entrapment there?” I think he might do better using the first person singular.
Fussell’s antipathy toward the working class is disguised by occasional quips at the expense of the middle and upper-middle classes, pointing out their own anxieties about their relative positions within society and their pretentious if unsuccessful attempts to mimic “upper-class” tastes and sensibilities. Here and there, Fussell also chides the upper classes themselves, whom he sees as intellectually lazy and without drive or curiosity.
But Fussell is most cruel when about the business of bursting the bubble of those, for instance, who might think earning a college degree is their ticket out of the working class and into middle-class respectability: “Having a degree from Amherst or Williams or Harvard or Yale should never be confused with having one from Eastern Kentucky University, or Hawaii Pacific College, or Arkansas State, or Bob Jones.”
All in all, Fussell paints a picture of class structure within American society, which while allowing for all kinds of fantasies of social mobility, really permits very little. How you dress, where you are from, whether or not you attend church, how you decorate your home or apartment – all these are indicators of who you are and most likely who you will remain for the rest of your life.
In the final chapter, his final essay in what reads like a collection of essays, Fussell attempts to provide a way out. He describes what amounts to an emergent ideal-type, one not captured by or stuck in any single class. These men and women, “X people,” as he calls them, tend, when deciding where to live, to eschew notions of propriety and prestige and choose to live near a delicatessen or a good wine shop instead. The decor of their living space could not be scored on Fussell’s own social quiz chart, since the X person’s home furnishings may in fact be what Fussell calls a “parody display.” Where in upper-middle-class or even upper-class homes you might expect to see copies of The New Yorker or Vanity Fair, in an X’s residence you are more likely to find Mother Jones or The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
There are a couple of problems with Fussell’s proposal for escaping the manacles of social stratification. First of all, as David Brooks’s book Bobos in Paradise3 attests, the recent emergence of a similar social strategy of melding bourgeois comfort with bohemian tastes is not a collective strategy that stands outside the class structure but, rather, the latest manifestation of middle- and upper-middle-class pretension.
More seriously, and harkening back to Epstein’s claim that snobbery and class distinctions are, at a deeper level, a subspecies of the human tendency toward making invidious distinctions at the expense of others, Fussell’s X people certainly have a long way to go. “When an X person, male or female,” Fussell says, “meets a member of an identifiable class, the costume . . . conveys the message ‘I am freer and less terrified than you are.'”4
As for religious faith – Christianity in particular – Fussell, unlike Epstein, not only dismisses, by implication, the possibility that faith could have any role in transcending the deterministic structures of social class, but disqualifies faith entirely from having any place in his idealized image of the X people:
Although they may know a great deal about European ecclesiastical architecture and even about the niceties of fifteen centuries of liturgical usage, X people never go to church, except for the odd wedding or funeral. Furthermore, they don’t know anyone who does go, and the whole idea would strike them as embarrassing.5
What is it, then, about these X people that allows them to escape from the social constraints that so limit and define the rest of us? Having turned their backs on faith and class interest, the X strategy is based on superior intelligence, skill, and force of personality. They are smarter than the rest of us, who remain caught in the social structures we were born to, and they are stronger, too. People like that, it’s easy to understand, need only attend church for the odd wedding or funeral.
In summary: Paul Fussell and Joseph Epstein agree that it is difficult, if not impossible, to escape the gravitational pull of classism, that is, of defining one’s own personhood with reference to what Epstein calls “invidious distinctions,” distinctions that inevitably lead to various manifestations of “snobbery.” Both essayists also have opinions, strong ones, on how religious faith may or may not aid in attempts to extricate ourselves from the near deterministic power of social competition.
For Epstein, it is perhaps only intense religious experience that has a chance of challenging the ethos of social stratification, though ultimately the transformative power of such experience proves ephemeral. For Fussell, however, the transformative power of religious experience vis-à-vis the social structure is – given his disdainful dismissal of all things religious, save elements of aesthetic and historical significance – left unaddressed.
James and Tolstoy
I freely admit that the next essays, Leo Tolstoy’s Confessions and William James’s What Makes Life Significant, are more to my liking. Both challenge Epstein’s dismissal of the relation between intense religious experience and personal transformation, each presenting, in my judgment, a more credible account of the possibility of breaking through the fetters of class consciousness than that represented by Fussell’s depiction of the X character ideal.
Epstein and Fussell address similar issues, but neither one cites, or to my knowledge is influenced by, the other. The case of James and Tolstoy is different. William James was fascinated with Tolstoy’s writing and cites his novels and essays in numerous places. In The Varieties of Religious Experience, for instance, Tolstoy becomes the very archetype of James’s “twice born” soul. James’s sense of identification with Tolstoy’s religious trials and triumphs is indicated by the fact that James places his own experience of panic-fear, and near despair next to Tolstoy’s own within Varieties. Concealing his own experience by attributing it to “a melancholy Frenchman,” apparently in order to hide the depths of his own struggles from his readers, James relates the following incident from his own life. The immediate context of James’s account is his reaction to seeing a patient in a mental ward in an institution outside of Boston:
He sat there like a sort of sculptured Egyptian cat or Peruvian mummy, moving nothing but his black eyes and looking absolutely non-human… That shape am I, I felt, potentially. Nothing that I possess can defend me against that fate, if the hour for it should strike for me as it struck for him… I mean that the fear was so invasive and powerful that if I had not clung to scripture texts like “The eternal God is my refuge, etc.,” “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy burdened, etc.,” “I am the resurrection and the life, etc.,” I think that I should have grown really insane.6
James’s words in this passage only hint at his own “deliverance,” his own “twice-bornness,” if in fact it is fair to characterize the eminent pragmatist in this way, but speak volumes of his own fears and doubts and why, other than out of mere intellectual curiosity, he finds Tolstoy’s post-conversion writings, especially his autobiographical essays, so compelling.
What James selects from Tolstoy’s own account of his conversion in Varieties is instructive, in that it tells us something about James’s sense of Tolstoy’s linking of radical religious experience with social transformation and informs his more or less friendly criticism of Tolstoy in “What Makes Life Significant”:
“I remember,” he says, “one day in early spring, I was alone in the forest, lending my ear to its mysterious noises. I listened, and my thought went back to what for these three years it always was busy with – the quest of God. But the idea of him, I said, how did I ever come by the idea?
“And again there arose in me, with this thought, glad aspirations towards life. Everything in me awoke and received a meaning… Why do I look farther? a voice within me asked. He is there: he, without whom one cannot live. To acknowledge God and to live are one and the same thing. God is what life is. Well, then! live, seek God, and there will be no life without him…
“After this, things cleared up within me and about me better than ever, and the light has never wholly died away.”7
Next, James quotes Tolstoy to establish the link between his radical conversion experience and his dismissal of the significance of social distinctions: “I gave up this life of the conventional world, recognizing it to be no life, but a parody of life, which its superfluities simply keep us from comprehending.” James adds that “Tolstoy thereupon embraced the life of the peasants and has felt right and happy, or at least relatively so, ever since.”8
It is important to add to James’s account that Tolstoy did not attempt to embrace the life of voluntary poverty and emulate the simple faith of the peasants simply as a result of his conversion experience. The influence of Russian peasants on Tolstoy’s religious life pre-dated his conversion. It is also instructive, looking at Tolstoy’s post-conversion writing, to note the role that an Augustine-like illuminative experience provoked by Tolstoy’s reading of Matthew 5:38-45 played in his growing commitment to social transformation. A sentence from the fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, repeated almost incessantly, mantra-like, by Tolstoy in My Religion, is “resist not evil.” Indeed Tolstoy’s celebrated notion of “non-violent resistance” itself owes much to his reflections on this one sentence.9
William James’s essay “What Makes Life Significant,”10 fittingly enough for our context, appears in his collection of essays Talks to Teachers. James’s essay is in large part an affirmation of Tolstoy’s vision of the relation of radical conversion to social transformation, though it does also contain a gentle but telling criticism of Tolstoy’s perspective, one that I think has implications for theological education.
James’s essay begins with an interesting sense of his disaffection for his own social class as symbolized by a description of his brief visit to one of the famous Chautauqua retreats in upstate New York. He speaks of these Chautauqua gatherings as “serious and studious,” as resembling “a first class college in full blast,” and featuring both “a seven hundred voice chorus” and a bevy of “distinguished lecturers.” But upon leaving Chautauqua, James is surprised by his own reaction “when emerging into… the dark wicked world again.” Rather than feeling a sense of loss or nostalgia for Chautauqua and all it stands for, James finds himself saying, “What a relief.”
Later in “What Makes Life Significant,” James issues a forthright confession of his own blindness, and the blindness of his social class, to what he has since come to regard as the considerable virtues of the working class. He also relates an incident, a kind of epiphanal revelation that changed his mind, even as it moved his heart to compassion, if not identification. The epiphany occurred as James rode a train through Buffalo, New York, and witnessed laborers moving intrepidly on a skyscraper then under construction: “As I awoke to all this unidealized heroic life around me, the scales seemed to fall off my eyes and a wave of sympathy greater than anything I had ever before felt, with the common life of common men began to fill my soul.”
Having related his own milder conversion experience, he turns to Tolstoy, expressing empathy for Tolstoy’s radical conversion and praising the fruit it bore in his disinvestment from class privilege and his embrace of voluntary poverty, suggesting as he does that America could well use a prophet of Tolstoy’s stature and power.
James, however, soon qualifies his praise, contending that Tolstoy’s conversion experience has convinced Tolstoy that all social distinctions and pursuits, all achievements and differences of status are meaningless. James for his own part refuses to go that far, commandeering nothing less than the full force of “the common sense of the West” to his cause. James argues that although “the inner joys and virtues are the essential part of life’s business” (as Tolstoy believes they are), “some positive part is played by the adjuncts to the show.” Tolstoy’s vision of life, derived from his mystical deliverance, has, from James’s perspective, a serious flaw. For Tolstoy, “the whole phenomenal world and its facts” are “a cunning fraud.” “But instinctively,” James adds, again speaking of the Western sense of things, “we make a combination of two things in judging the total significance of the human being… inner virtue and outer place.”
It is interesting that James criticizes Tolstoy in this way within the essay, since in Varieties and elsewhere he finds himself more often the defender of the importance of immediate religious experience, what he calls “immediate luminousness,” as a legitimate criterion by which we decide the truth and value of religious belief. Two other criteria, “moral helpfulness,” best understood as akin to what we now call “empowerment,”11 especially psychological empowerment, and “philosophical reasonableness,”12 akin to what Gadamer calls “pre-understanding” and exemplified by James’s appeal to “the common sense of the West,” also come into play. These three elements together constitute the “full fact” of consciousness for James.
Keeping these three criteria in mind, Tolstoy’s error, from James’s perspective, is an error of inattentiveness: Tolstoy has allowed the power of his mystical vision to annul, to cast a veto, as it were, over the other legitimate voices, those of tradition, manifest in his notion of shared common sense, and empowerment.
It is instructive, in this context, to note that like many who have experienced radical conversion, Tolstoy distrusts, perhaps unnecessarily, apparently harmless or even virtuous elements of his former life, particularly his former “pursuit of intellectual excellence” and his stated intention to “strengthen his own will,” as if these personal projects were now rendered meaningless as well.
James’s criticism of Tolstoy represents an indirect indictment of Epstein and Fussell also, though for differing reasons. For Epstein, as with Tolstoy, the expectation is that the leveling of social distinctions and the living out, over time, of this transformed perspective could be the product of intense religious experience alone.13 Recall that once Epstein saw that Auden’s experience of agape love soon faded and, with it, his momentary deliverance from snobbery and the calculus of “invidious distinction,” Epstein quickly turned his back altogether on religion and religious experience as playing a role in the transformation of class consciousness.
Fussell, unlike Epstein, but oddly similar to the pre-conversion Tolstoy, also relies on the exercise of a keen intellect, as well as on force of personality, to escape the pull of social class, while dismissing the power of faith and religious experience as unworthy of consideration.
Still, I have to wonder if James’s more inclusive approach, based on his three criteria, is really a corrective to Tolstoy’s more single-minded vision. Especially from a pragmatic view of things – and after all, William James all but invented pragmatism – Tolstoy’s mystical vision of nonviolent resistance (despite what would appear to be its tendency to invite disempowerment with its uncritical championing of self-sacrifice and surrender of the will and his sometimes patronizing view of the peasants he sought to emulate) has, nonetheless, through his spiritual heirs, especially Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., and many others as well, proved itself to be of unique historical significance.
George Albert Coe and Progressive Religious Education
Both James and Tolstoy, though in differing ways, hold that conversion experiences can and often do play a central role in challenging class distinctions. Epstein, for his part, at least considers the prospect that such experience might blunt the power of invidious social distinctions, though he finally despairs of the notion. Only Fussell ignores the issue altogether, holding instead that resistance to the social scripts ascendant within society is the provenance of acuity of intellect and force of personality alone.
I include Fussell, in part, because, curiously, from my perspective at least, it is Fussell’s radically antireligious perspective that most closely approximates that of George Albert Coe on the subject. For Coe, as we shall see, the capacity for scientific detachment and strength of character forged through adherence to Christian values are key to the prophetic witness of the churches.
Conveniently, for the sake of our discussion, George Albert Coe refers to William James at the outset of his criticism of mystical experiences, applying the term, as James does, though more loosely, to both Catholic mystical and Protestant evangelical traditions. Coe, however, draws a markedly negative conclusion from James’s largely descriptive designation of the “ineffability” of mystical experience.
Before reviewing Coe’s critique of mystical experience, I would like first to stress this esteemed and influential Christian religious educator’s unflagging commitment to educating believers, particularly the young, to resist the unjust social structures associated with American capitalism. Coe not only exhorts resistance but also champions social analysis. Nor does he spare the Church itself once he gets under way, as we see in the following passage from What is Christian Education?:
Church members as a class are within the industrial system as an unprotesting part of it; they share upon equal terms with others, its denial of the supreme value of persons. Moreover, church organizations, in their capacity as employers, buyers, and sellers, have not achieved any moral distinction by their way of adjusting the economic relations of persons to one another.14
Coe’s critique of Catholic and evangelical mystical tendencies reads more like a checklist than a sustained argument. Building on James, Coe first notes that if mystical experience and radical conversion experiences are “ineffable,” they must also be “educationally sterile,” since, by definition, they merely restate the beliefs and opinions that precede and inform them. In a related criticism, Coe claims that mysticism and radical conversion experiences perpetuate the opposition of sacred and profane, at the very moment “theology has begun the twentieth century committed to the doctrine of the immanence of God.” Coe next questions the origins of the Catholic mystical tradition, suggesting that it derives from Neoplatonism and Eastern religions, sources he regards as antagonistic to his vision of orthodox Christianity. Finally, ignoring his own caveat regarding intellectual influences extrinsic to Christianity, he argues that modern psychology has revealed mystical experience to amount to little more than “self-hypnosis.”
Coe’s arguments, though availing themselves of James’s notion of the “ineffability” of mystical experience, are in fact antithetical to James’s perspective on the matter.
For James, in the absence of radical conversion experience, or the more sublimated expressions of religious experience associated with the Catholic mystics, the commitment to the prophetic witness of liberal Christianity is likely to devolve into a form of mere “healthy-mindedness” that James associates with what others have called “muscular Christianity.” Healthy-minded Christianity, while affirming the necessity of the virtue of “social helpfulness” – James’s term for prophetic witness – cannot maintain its own vaunted “moral mood” over time. “The merely moral mood,” James contends, “must give way, a native hardness must break down and liquefy.” Indeed, James goes so far as to say – this in stark contrast to Coe – that the capacity or incapacity for such experiential transformation is what divides the religious from the merely moralistic character.15
Keeping James’s notion of “the merely moralistic character” in mind and making no effort to hide my own biases in the matter, allow me to conclude this segment by briefly summarizing Coe’s ideal image of the Christian youth, an image that I find both distressing and sadly prescient. If you hear echoes of Max Weber’s own ideal types associated with his famous metaphor of the “iron cage” – especially those linking worldly efficacy, impersonality, and the rationalized manipulation of bureaucracies, as well as the more daunting adumbrations of “the polar night of icy darkness” – you are not alone.
Coe’s description of three ideal types of “non-conformist” youth is arranged in ascending order. All three types represent a marked improvement, in his view, over conformist youth, who, like the vast majority of their elders, repeat the platitudes of faith regarding the equality of all people, while living in more or less uncritical adherence to the status quo.
“The attackers,” the first and least effective of youthful non-conformists, tend to turn things upside down, to criticize, and to be very emotional about the whole thing and for this reason are relegated to a kind of honorable mention among their more worthy peers.
Next come the “appliers.” The appliers prove somewhat “more patient” than the attackers and “endeavor to go the whole length with some approved principle, as, for example, Jesus’ injunction to treat all men as brothers.” While largely in control of their emotions, the appliers nonetheless lack the thorough “distancing” from emotion and bias characteristic of the scientific method in their application of Christian rules concerning the absolute value of persons.
Only the third type, “the investigator,” goes behind the appearance of things through the mediation of intellectual processes “that sometimes have all the coolness of science.”16 It is above all this third ideal type, “the investigator” – constituted by the young men and women who evenhandedly and unemotionally apply Christian values to the social situation with the studied distance of the scientist, unimpeded by strong emotion, mystical or otherwise – that Coe champions and heralds as “one of the most solidly hope-giving aspects of the entire youth situation.”17
Though Coe adverts to James favorably, it is doubtful that the compliment would have been returned. In the first place, the saint, James’s ideal character type, is, generally speaking, both deeply emotional and intellectually gifted. For this reason reformers like Luther, Ignatius of Loyola, and Tolstoy himself are given places of honor in James’s communion of saints. Further, though Coe is correct in suggesting that James considered “ineffability” a trait of mystical experience, he is wrong to imply that James suggests that this trait renders mystical experience redundant and therefore “educationally sterile.” In fact, it is not through adding knowledge that mystical experience exercises its transformative power for James. It is rather by empowering beliefs already held but not as yet at “the center of consciousness” that mystical experience intensifies commitment to a life centered in service and compassion.
Were I to conclude this essay with a brief theological reflection, I would expand on my Weber-inspired hunch about the “elective affinity” between Coe’s thought and elements of the radically truncated religious world view Weber associated with the ascendancy of the Protestant work ethic, seconding Gregory Baum’s contention that the moral pronouncements delivered from on high by Weber’s “emissary prophet” must be balanced and extended by the contemplative-ascetic witness of the “exemplary prophet.”18
But this is a reflection on teaching. A primary concern of mine, as a theological educator, is simply how we read texts with the students who find their way into our classrooms. I speak, given the context of this reflection, especially of those texts, often texts describing conversion experiences, that appear to inspire in those who read them what Bernard McGinn has described as a sense of “mediated immediacy”19 – not an infrequent classroom occurrence in my experience.
It is surely proper, as theological educators, to teach students to extract propositional assertions from such texts and judge them on the basis of their cognitive warrants and compatibility with scripture and tradition. Similarly, it is not only legitimate but essential to read texts with an eye to whether they are likely to empower or disempower students, especially with reference to issues of race, gender, and class. But what of intense religious experience?
Every so often you see a work of scholarship that seems to hold together the elements of intellectual excellence, prophetic witness, and openness to the radical transformative power of religious experience in a manner that invites students and scholars alike to a rich variety of readings of the same texts. One such work is Benedicta Ward’s Harlots of the Desert: A Study of Repentance in Early Monastic Sources.20 Ward combines historical acumen and feminist scholarship with an engaging writing style and an uncompromising insistence that the texts she evaluates be permitted to communicate the transformative emotional power embedded within the written page.
After calling attention to the fact that St. Augustine’s conversion was an experience that brought him to tears, Sr. Ward notes that news of Augustine’s conversion also elicited tears of joy from his good friend Ponticianus and, through Ponticianus, from his and Augustine’s friends; and finally, of course, news of St. Augustine’s conversion brought tears of joy to St. Monica, Augustine’s mother, who had prayed so long for her son’s deliverance, for his salvation. In the quotation that follows, I italicize the words that speak directly to the classroom situation I have been describing:
When anyone discusses the healing fountains of conversion, it is in some way, through the gift of other people, and the waters of life thus received overflow in their turn into the lives of others, to fructify the deserts of human experience; it becomes a chain reaction not only for those who have them but for those who read about the event.21
Let me confess to you, by way of conclusion, that whatever else I do in teaching, whatever my tacit and explicit theological presuppositions, whatever I have to say and embody about the importance of upholding intellectual standards or resisting injustice in its multifarious forms, I do not ever wish to find myself counted among those, however well meaning, however well trained, who interrupt the “chain reaction” of tears and transformation Sr. Ward so powerfully portrays.
Feature Photo by Milada Vigerova.
References to Epstein’s essay are from Joseph Epstein, Snobbery: The American Version (Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin, 2002), pp. 241-251.
Paul Fussell Class: A Guide Through the American Status System (New York: Summit Books, 1983).
David Brooks, Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000).
Fussell, 181.
William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience (New York: Penguin, 1982), pp. 160-161.
James, Varieties, p. 185.
Leo Tolstoy, “My Religion,” in The Novels and Other Works of Lyof N. Tolstoï: My Confession, My Religion, The Gospel in Brief (New York: Charles Scribner Sons, 1923), see especially pp. 83-87.
William James, “What Makes Life Significant,” in Talks to Teachers (New York: W. W. Norton, 1958).
James’s notion of “moral helpfulness” represents an element of his thought that both anticipates and influences Erik Erikson’s notion of identity formation. Erikson details his debt to James in the prologue to Identity, Youth and Culture (New York: W.W. Norton, 1968).
See James, Varieties, p. 18 and following.
Though, as I have already indicated, James may not be, probably isn’t, fair to Tolstoy on this count.
George A. Coe, What Is Christian Education? (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1929), pp. 269-270.
James, Varieties, pp. 105-111.
George A. Coe, The Motives of Men (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1928), pp. 203-204.
Coe, The Motives of Men, p. 205.
Gregory Baum, Religion and Alienation (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis, 2006); see especially pp. 156-162.
See “Theological Approaches to Mysticism,” the first section of the appendix to Bernard McGinn, The Foundations of Mysticism (New York: Crossroad Publishing, 2004).
See Benedicta Ward, S.L.G., Harlots of the Desert: A Study of Repentance in Early Monastic Sources (Kalamazoo, Mich.: Cistercian Publications, 1987), pp. 1-9.
Ward; italics mine.
Issue 2: Youth Teaching Matters
education formation pedagogy youth
By Brian J. Mahan
Brian J. Mahan is the former Director of Religious Education at the Candler School of Theology and former faculty member of the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University
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Shell on Earth: Why Shell Fails on Climate
May 15, 2018By Greg MuttittBlog Post, Featured
At the end of this month, the deadline expires for Shell to set out its plans to align with the Paris goals before Dutch environmental groups begin legal action.
In a previous blog, I explored Shell’s failure to align with the Paris goals from an investor perspective. In this post I’ll focus more on the moral (and potentially legal) dimensions of Shell’s climate plans.
Shell claims to “take leadership in the energy transition.” The centrepiece of its approach is an ambition to halve the emissions intensity (per energy unit) of its products by 2050, which it claims matches the needed progress towards the Paris goals.
Shell’s plan to increase emissions
Here’s the problem though. Climate change is caused by greenhouse gases, not by the ratio of emissions per joule. At current rates of growth, Shell’s energy production could triple from current levels by 2050* – so even if it halved the intensity of the energy, that would still mean a 50% increase in Shell’s emissions. This is illustrated in the graph below.
Shell says that “We have already initiated appropriate and sufficient action to address the issues and opportunities arising from the energy transition.” The company argues that it is for governments to drive the transition, and consumers to select low-carbon energy products. It sees its responsibility for climate change as limited to ensuring that it “thrives” financially by supplying its energy products whilst governments and consumers do so.
It may not even achieve this. Shell’s Energy Transition Report, published last month, described the company’s strategy for remaining profitable in three different possible futures, one of which – the “Sky” scenario published two weeks earlier – was meant to be aligned with the Paris goals. As I pointed out at the time, “Sky” misinterprets the Paris goals. It also assumes technologies will be invented to suck carbon out of the atmosphere and deployed at an enormous scale. With oil, gas and coal demand barely changed from current levels by 2050, and all assumptions falling in its favour, Shell shows (unsurprisingly) that it will thrive in this scenario.
In Shell’s morality though, courts would have found that cigarette companies were not responsible for the harms caused by their products, but rather for remaining profitable while smokers tried to cut back. Very likely, their efforts to cut back may have been slowed down by the companies’ strategies to remain profitable.
And herein lies Shell’s responsibility for climate change. In seeking to remain profitable, it has lobbied against the very kind of policies it says should be the solution, policies that would reduce consumers’ use of fossil fuels. Despite arguing that carbon pricing is the best way forward, Shell continues to claim government subsidies that effectively serve as a negative price on carbon. And perhaps most importantly, Shell’s continued expansion of fossil fuel supply worsens the climate problem.
Removing one arm of the scissors
Shell said that a similar resolution at last year’s shareholder meeting, “demonstrates fundamental misunderstanding of the necessary solutions to achieving the Paris goals… Unless overall consumption of hydrocarbons is reduced, unilaterally limiting their supply from a single company would merely result in another supplier filling the gap, achieving no reduction overall in CO2 emissions.”
However, the fundamental misunderstanding lies in Shell’s own claim. Anyone who has studied economics will know – often from the very first lesson – that markets are shaped by both supply and demand. Consumption is not some fixed amount, which suppliers have to deliver – it is determined by the interaction of supply and demand through the price mechanism. As Alfred Marshall wrote in his Principles of Economics in 1890, cited in a recent research paper on climate policy:
We might as reasonably dispute whether it is the upper or the under blade of a pair of scissors that cuts a piece of paper, as whether value is governed by utility [demand] or cost of production [supply].
The only way Shell’s increased production of fossil fuels could be squared with the Paris goals is if other suppliers reduced their production. But every producer aims to grow. The increased supply pushes down the price, which in turn encourages increased consumption.
Over two percent of the anthropogenic carbon that is currently in the atmosphere was extracted by Shell. One legal argument then is that Shell is therefore liable for two percent of damages caused by climate change. In its claim that it can thrive through an energy transition, the company may have inadvertently admitted to its contribution to climate change, in two ways.
Firstly, in the Energy Transition Report, Shell argues that it has achieved resilience by reducing its production costs. This is intended to mean that Shell is becoming more competitive relative to other oil and gas companies (although naturally they are all also reducing costs). If the transition is to take place through consumer choices as Shell says, these cost reductions will also slow the transition down by making oil and gas more competitive relative to cleaner energy choices. Cutting costs is part of what any company does, but Shell cannot then claim that responsibility for the energy transition lies solely with consumers and governments.
Secondly, the Sky scenario stated (happily for Shell’s transition risk), “From 2018 to around 2030, there is clear recognition that the potential for dramatic short-term change in the energy system is limited, given the installed base of capital.”
This is the problem known as carbon lock-in: once upfront investments have been made, it is hard for new alternatives to compete with them. Indeed, Shell had earlier noted the problem, although referring to infrastructure elsewhere in the supply chain: “Once built, such major infrastructures stay in place – and shape our energy needs – for decades.” What this implies every time Shell builds a new platform or pipeline, or drills a new well, the company is committing the world to increased climate change.
Moving to Paris
The Paris goals require a rapid reduction in total emissions, potentially to zero by 2050 for the 1.5C goal. As we have seen, Shell is moving in the opposite direction.
According to one study published in Nature Climate Change, keeping up with the Paris goals would require the company to reduce the emissions from its products by between 3.5% and 5% per year (graph below), even if negative emissions technologies are available (and much faster if they are not).
In response to last year’s shareholder resolution, Shell objected that emission reduction targets “would most likely force the company to cut production and sales of its products.” As for oil and gas, indeed they would: reducing fossil fuel production, sales and consumption are essential to achieving the Paris goals.
Our report The Sky’s Limit (no relation) estimated the emissions that could be locked in by the oilfields, gas fields and coal mines already in operation. We found that those emissions would exceed the carbon budget for keeping warming below 2 degrees Celsius (graph below). The oil and gas alone – without any coal – would take warming beyond 1.5 degrees. Given how difficult it is to compete with projects whose capital has already been sunk, we argued that the fossil fuel industry should stop developing new infrastructure, and governments should instead manage the decline of what we have already. The private sector should focus investment on zero-carbon energy.
If that sounds like a rapid change, it is because the remaining atmospheric space is so depleted. The IPCC’s carbon budget for 1.5 degrees Celsius will be fully exhausted in just eight years’ time at current emissions rates, and the budget for a 2-in-3 chance of staying below 2 degrees in 19 years.
In 2015, a year into his role as Shell’s chief executive, Ben van Beurden said of the urgency of the climate challenge, “I wish we had been starting 20 years ago”.
If Shell had started 20 years ago, reducing emissions intensity might have been a reasonable start. For example, Shell’s claim last year that “in the near term the greatest contribution Shell can make is to continue to grow the role of natural gas”, is inconsistent with the Paris goals, as we showed in a briefing last year: the world needs to move straight from fossil fuels to clean energy, very rapidly.
In any case, van Beurden cannot reasonably make that complaint. Shell has known about climate change for at least 35 years. Indeed, it was 20 years ago that Shell claimed to be part of the solution to climate change, in its “Profits and Principles” report, and a subsequent advertising campaign. Even today, Shell plans only 3 to 5 percent of its investment to go into its New Energies division ($1-2 bn out of $30 bn, by 2020), which includes renewable energy among other things.
We believe Shell should align its business with the Paris goals. To do so, it needs at a minimum to stop developing new oil and gas fields: it should conduct a managed decline of oil and gas production, and focus all investment on clean energy (or alternatively return the money to shareholders). Its current plans don’t even come close.
*: Shell’s oil and gas production has grown by about 3.5% CAGR a year since 2013, which if sustained would imply a tripling within 33 years. Measured in barrels of oil equivalent, including production by both subsidiaries and Shell share of joint ventures. Source: Shell Investor Handbook 2017.
Note that Shell’s commitment to reduce its emissions intensity relates to its production and sale of energy throughout the supply chain: we have extrapolated growth in upstream (extraction) because it is the largest of Shell’s three main operational segments by capital employed, and also the simplest for which to measure energy content. Some parts of Shell’s business have faster growth rates, others slower.
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The Rufty Difference
Green Home Building
Room of the Year
Attention to every detail.
Jon Rufty
Jon is a forefather of green building in North Carolina. A 1977 graduate of N.C. State, Jon built the nationally-lauded HealthyHouse™ in 1994 for the American Lung Association and National Association of Home Builders Research Center, now the Home Innovation Research Labs. He’s also responsible for the very first EnergyStar structure in our state, in cooperation with Carolina Power & Light (now Duke Energy Progress). And in 2002, he completed N.C.’s first Fortified For Safer Living® home. Jon is a member of the exclusive NAHB Builder 20 Club, consisting of the nation’s most elite custom home builders. For over 30 years, Jon has resided in Cary, N.C., and his passion for integrity is our fundamental principle.
Rob Bond
Rob is a 33-year veteran in residential construction with experience as a carpenter, sub-contractor and general contractor managing historic preservation, custom home building and remodeling. He enjoys working directly with clients, alleviating any stress that comes with building a new home, while turning their 2-dimensional dream into a 3-dimensional reality. In his free time, Rob is an expert skier and has served as a professional river guide, plus a ropes course and team-building facilitator. He’s been married to wife Michelle for 29 years.
Mary Beth Buie
Mary Beth Buie is a North Carolina native and graduate of Meredith College where she earned a B.S. degree in interior design, with minors in business and art. Mary Beth’s 17 years of experience enable her to derive great satisfaction in working with her uniquely talented Rufty teammates. She also enjoys experiencing clients’ excitement as they realize their dream custom home, completely tailored to their personal tastes and lifestyle. Mary Beth has two children and is married to a commercial builder. She’s active in her church, enjoys sewing, embroidery and spending time at the beach with family.
Harry Grube
Harry is our man when it comes to remodeling luxury homes. He serves as a project manager for all your custom home additions, updates and remodeling projects. Good thing he’s a 32-year industry veteran of residential construction. Our clients love Harry, because they know he does everything in his power to streamline the process and deliver outstanding results.
Erin Hartmann
For nearly 20 years, Erin’s been involved with teams in construction and loves the job satisfaction she receives in helping families like yours build a uniquely custom home. She also loves the personal attention each individual receives in the process. Erin’s inspired by her mom who completed a half-marathon after age 50. One day she aspires to run a neat and tidy bed and breakfast. You may not realize, but Erin’s our staff ringer in darts. Seriously. She thrives on a team in the City of Raleigh’s Dart League.
Sydney Jamison
Sydney Jamison returns to the team as business development coordinator, having worked with Rufty Homes from 2006-2008. She is a licensed real estate agent and holds three certifications in the insurance industry as Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI), and Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR). Jamison was the youngest woman appointed to the board of directors of the Independent Insurance Agents of N.C. (IIANC) and the N.C. Association of Insurance Agents, Inc. (NCAIA), and has served as chairman of the N.C. Young Agents Committee. She lives in Raleigh with her husband and three children.
Ken Johnson
Ken Johnson plays an integral role at Rufty Homes, serving as project manager. He facilitates the building process, working with families and project teams to bring a custom home to reality. A man of talent and service, Ken frequently travels abroad on mission trips to build homes in impoverished areas around the world.
Carlos Menjivar
As an assistant project manager, Carlos is a valuable resource to support subcontractors in the home building process. He provides timely follow-thru on homeowner warranties, remodeling projects and home repairs. When he’s not managing the building process, you’ll find him playing soccer, decorating, and going to concerts and movies. He enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa, his three daughters, Ashley, Victoria, and Dianne, and his son, Matthew.
Allen Moore
Allen stays so busy in his role serving our clients that his bio information will have to come later. The most important thing you really need to know about him is that he’s a great guy, who puts your needs before everything else. He’s an integral part of the Rufty team and the way we offer personal attention to our clients.
We believe Moore is more, and Chris takes a backseat to no Moore among our cherished staff. He’s our man who makes sure home repairs get fixed right with no hassles. Chris handles all aspects of warranties, maintenance and repair with each of Rufty Homes’ clients, which often includes restoring non-Rufty built residences.
Don Pegram
Don comes from good stock with lineage that includes both grandfathers working in building trades. One was a carpenter and the other a commercial welder. Don has 38 years of industry experience that began when he worked his way through N.C. State doing construction. We’re delighted to have him managing our custom home projects, as he’s a specialist at forming lasting relationships with families to help them visualize and achieve their dream home.
Kelly Nicholson
Kelly is the kind of CPA who enjoys numbers but loves people even more. She’s the business manager who keeps things humming for the team around here. Kelly’s another of our Wolfpack grads with 21 years of experience. Her dream one day is to preserve and restore historic homes. We’re not clowning around when we say Kelly likes clowning. Seriously, it’s her hobby, along with sewing, gardening and working with stained glass.
Parker Shanahan
Parker worked his way through the University of Massachusetts in construction and loved it so much that 30 years later he’s still at it. He enjoys getting up knowing his workday is an opportunity to meet families who rely on him to help design their dream custom home. When Parker’s away from the homesite, he loves to mountain bike and cook up the food he grows in his garden. Favorite movie: Blade Runner. Favorite band: Foo Fighters. A wise one this Parker, inspired by Yoda he is.
“My heart sings when I look at my new house.”
5121 Kingdom Way, Suite 208 | Raleigh, NC 27607 | Phone: (919) 460-8550
© 2019 Rufty Homes, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Sidney Harth
Sidney Harth was an American violinist, conductor, and teacher born (in Cleveland) on October 5, 1925 (Heifetz was 24 years old.) He is best known for being concertmaster of several prominent American orchestras – the Louisville Orchestra (1953 - 1959), the Chicago Symphony (1959 - 1962), the Los Angeles Philharmonic (1973 - 1979.) and the New York Philharmonic (1979-1980.) He graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1947. His principal teachers were Mishel Piastro, Joseph Knitzer, and George Enesco. In 1949, he won the Naumberg Award. He was 24 years old. He toured France as a recitalist in the 1951 - 1952 season. Later, he won second prize in the Wieniawski violin competition in Europe (Poland – 1957.) It created something of a sensation because he was the first American to win one of the top prizes at that competition. His recording of the violin solos in Scheherazade with the Chicago Symphony and Fritz Reiner is still much talked about. Harth’s first appearance with the New York Philharmonic came on June 23, 1964. He played the Brahms double and the Beethoven Triple concertos on the same program (assisted by Leslie Parnas and Leonard Pennario.) On January 30, 1965, he soloed with the orchestra in Wieniawski’s second concerto. He later settled down to an orchestral career with frequent solo and conducting engagements thrown in. In fact, in Los Angeles, he was often criticized for his numerous absences from his orchestral duties. He performed with major orchestras in North and South America, Europe, Russia, Israel, and China. Among the schools at which he was a violin professor or conducting teacher (or both) are the University of Louisville, the University of Texas, the University of Houston, the Mannes College of Music, Carnegie Mellon University (1963 to 1973), Yale University (for 17 years), and Duquesne University (2001 to 2011.) His conducting career began in Louisville, where he was concertmaster and assistant conductor. He held the same title in Los Angeles. His career seems to mirror that of Richard Burgin except that Burgin stayed with the Boston Symphony for 42 years and Harth moved around quite a bit more. Harth actually became musical director or principal conductor of the Puerto Rico Symphony, the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (Durban, South Africa), Northwest Chamber Orchestra of Seattle, and the Jerusalem Symphony. His wife (Teresa Testa) was also a professional violinist. (Burgin’s wife was a professional violinist too.) You can find several audio recordings of his on YouTube. From 1957, Harth played a Domenico Montagnana violin from 1740 aptly named the Duchess of Cleaveland. He later played a Stradivari violin constructed in 1737 that bears a fancy French name. Harth died (in Pittsburgh) on February 15, 2011, at age 85.
Labels: American violinists, Concertmasters, Duchess of Cleaveland, Louisville Orchestra, Natal Philharmonic, Richard Burgin, Sidney Harth
I couldn't name one
Using 1875 as a starting point, I am recalling that in 1877, Karl Goldmark composed a violin concerto that is still being played today. In 1878 Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky composed his, then that same year (1878) Johannes Brahms also came out with his concerto, in 1880 Camille Saint Saens composed his third violin concerto, in the same year came Antonin Dvorak’s in a minor, in 1898 Julius Conus’, in 1904 Alexander Glazunov’s, in 1904 Jean Sibelius’, in 1910 Edward Elgar’s, in 1916 Karol Szymanowski’s, in 1917 Serge Prokofiev’s first, in 1931 Igor Stravinsky’s, in 1935 Alban Berg’s, again in 1935 Serge Prokofiev’s second concerto, in 1938 Bela Bartok’s second, in 1939 Benjamin Britten’s, in 1939 William Walton’s, in 1939, Samuel Barber’s, in 1940 Aram Khachaturian’s, in 1945 Erich Korngold’s, and finally in 1948, Dmitri Shostakovich’s still often-played first violin concerto. That’s twenty one concertos which entered the standard repertoire (and never left it) in a span of 71 years. I am trying to think of one violin concerto which has been written after 1948 which has entered the standard repertoire and I simply can’t name even one. Not one in 63 years.
Labels: standard repertoire, staying power, violin concertos
Alma Roseˊ
Alma Roseˊ (Alma Maria Rose´) was an Austrian violinist and conductor born (in Vienna) on November 3, 1906 (Heifetz was 5 years old and would live an additional 81.) She is remembered for having (for ten months) conducted the world’s, and possibly history’s, most notorious orchestra – the all-female orchestra which played for inmates at the Auschwitz-Birkenau prisoners’ camp (in Poland, also known as Auschwitz II – there were three Auschwitz camps, Birkenau being the largest) during the final days of World War Two. It is important to point out at this juncture that Alma Rose´ was Jewish, although both parents were converts and were well-assimilated into Viennese Christian society, as she was. Her father was long-time Vienna Philharmonic concertmaster Arnold Rose´ (one and the same who turned Fritz Kreisler down after Kreisler’s audition to join the orchestra. He was highly respected and esteemed all over Europe.) Her uncle was composer-conductor Gustav Mahler, on her mother’s side. She may even have been named after Mahler’s wife, Alma Mahler. She was also at one time married (1930-1935) to brilliant Czech violinist Vasa Prihoda (1900-1960.) Books have been written (by Fania Fenelon and Richard Newman) and films produced about her (one of them using an Arthur Miller script) which go into great detail concerning her activities during her tenure at Auschwitz-Birkenau, if one can call it that. It is generally agreed that her talent was modest but that she had great ambition. She studied at the Vienna Conservatory and at the Vienna State Academy. Her debut came in 1926, playing the Bach double concerto alongside her father – that in itself is indicative of her abilities. (They recorded the concerto two years later and – amazingly - an audio version is available on YouTube, here. If you choose to listen to it, be prepared to hear a bombastic cadenza, some odd-sounding glissandi, and a style of playing which is very much from a long, long time ago. Don’t say I did not warn you.) She never became a full-fledged solo artist or an acclaimed concert violinist. However, in 1932, she formed an all-female orchestra called The Vienna Waltzing Girls (or The Waltzing Girls of Vienna) and enjoyed great success with the highly-accomplished ensemble, which toured all over Europe. It was a wonderful life – while it lasted. The orchestra quickly disbanded after the German annexation of Austria in March of 1938. Shortly thereafter, a few months before the outbreak of World War Two (September of 1939), with the help of several friends, including Bruno Walter, Carl Flesch, and Adrian Boult, she and her father managed to make their way to London. Since Arnold Rose’s pension had been terminated by the Nazis, they experienced acute financial difficulties. In England, they played where they could. At this point, Arnold Rose´ was 76 years old. Alma returned to Holland to play and earn money for expenses back in London. She considered it safe to do so and she had many engagements. However, after the German invasion of the Netherlands in May of 1940, she could no longer perform openly and went into hiding for many months, eventually making her way to France, from where she hoped to get away to safety. In late 1942, she tried to transfer herself to (neutral) Switzerland but was betrayed to the Gestapo and captured before she could do so. She was then interned at Drancy (near Paris.) A few months later, in July 1943, she was sent from Drancy to Auschwitz. When she arrived, she was not immediately recognized. She was placed in a block from which inmates were taken for medical research purposes - experiments. In the nick of time, someone identified her and she was then engaged as a musician for a rag tag orchestra which then already existed at the camp. Among them were at least three professional musicians. The camp commander was a serious music lover. Eventually, Rose´ took over the duties of a full-fledged conductor and arranger and built it up to include 45 members, much larger than a typical chamber orchestra. She would also occasionally play violin solos with the orchestra. It is generally agreed that she treated the players quite harshly. On or about April 2, 1944, Rose´ attended a birthday party for one of the camp’s block leaders where, it has been said, she ate some bad meat. As soon as she arrived back at her private quarters, she exhibited symptoms of food poisoning. She was taken to the camp infirmary and, despite treatment, died two days later – April 4, 1944. She was 37 years old. During her tenure, none of the orchestra members died – whether from natural or other causes. Her 1757 Guadagnini violin – which she had entrusted to some friends in Europe – made its way to London in 1945 or 1946 and was soon sold to Felix Eyle, concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at the time. A usually reliable source has it that Zakhar Bron (Russian violin pedagogue) now owns it.
Labels: Alma Rose, Arnold Rose, Auschwitz, Fania Fenelon, Fritz Kreisler, Holocaust, Richard Newman, Vienna Philharmonic, Zakhar Bron
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Seabury Maritime Continues to Strengthen Executive Team
Key Promotions and New Appointments Advance the Company’s Growth Strategy to Provide an Integrated End-to-End Solution Platform to Its Growing Client Base
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#EdwardZimny–Seabury Maritime LLC (“Seabury Maritime”), the global maritime and transportation investment bank and industry advisory and a subsidiary of Seabury Corporate Finance, which is a division of Seabury Capital Group LLC (“Seabury Capital”), announced today the promotions of Jonathan R. Montbach to Executive Director, Investment Banking, and Nikos Petrakakos to Director – Head of Environmental Innovation. In addition, the company appointed Gary W. Pedersen as Director of Operations and Gerardo E. Ayzanoa as Director of Advisory.
Seabury Maritime’s efforts to strengthen its executive team come at a pivotal time as the firm recently completed two successful transaction advisory assignments for the Diamond State Port Corporation and the Connecticut Port Authority, further advancing its growth strategy to expand into new markets and position the business to meet evolving client requirements.
“We are thrilled with Jonathan and Nikos’ promotions as they are widely recognized leaders whose breadth and range of past experiences at providing innovative solutions and services to solve complex challenges in the maritime sector will continue to greatly enhance our existing advisory and investment banking capabilities,” said Seabury Maritime President and Chief Executive Officer Edward M.A. Zimny. “As Seabury Maritime continues to execute on its growth strategy, we are building out robust service offerings that include an expanded focus on maritime and supply chain consultancy.”
Montbach has been with Seabury Capital since 2009. Prior to his new role, he was Senior Vice-President of Specialty Ship Finance at Seabury Maritime. Montbach will lead the institutional practices across Seabury Maritime’s four main business lines that include ship finance, maritime infrastructure and related assets, marine services, and maritime technology and digitalization. Montbach brings extensive experience with financial advisory and investment banking. Prior to Seabury Capital, he worked at KPMG as Vice President Special Situations Advisory Group, where he assisted clients in a broad range of industries, including maritime, gaming, industrials, homebuilders, investment funds, consumer products, satellite and cable communications, retail, and energy. Montbach led and managed deal execution teams throughout transactions, covering a range of areas involving out of court restructuring negotiations, exchange offers, distressed acquisition strategies, and special situations capital raises. During his career, Montbach has also worked with a number of leading financial services companies, such as UBS Investment Bank, AIG, and specialized leveraged and distressed investment firms, including GB Merchant Partners. He is a FINRA representative registered with the Series 7, 79 and 63, and is a CFA charter holder. Montbach holds a B.A. from Colgate University, and an M.B.A. with honors from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.
Petrakakos joined Seabury Maritime in October 2018 to head the Environmental Initiatives Unit, which encompasses Green Ports, Environmental Advisory, and in conjunction with Seabury Maritime’s Investment Banking Unit, Green Marine Equipment Finance (Scrubbers, Ballast Water, and more). Prior to joining Seabury Maritime, Petrakakos co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Ursus Maritime Capital, a specialized consultancy, which was the first company in the maritime industry to provide turn-key ESCO-style project finance for fuel efficiency retrofits, scrubber and ballast water treatment retrofits, and alternative fuels for the maritime industry, as well as other sustainability and technology projects.
Petrakakos has a broad experience in the maritime industry, both in the commercial and technical aspects, and is able to effectively bring solutions that address every stakeholder’s pain points. He began his career as Operations and Projects Manager at Oldendorff Carriers, the largest global dry-bulk ship operators, focusing on their Bauxite Transshipment project. He later worked for PPG Industries and Chugoku Marine in business development for coating technologies. He also worked for shipowner and operator HART Shipping (before Ursus was formed) as Commercial Director and served as a board member. Petrakakos holds an M.Sc. from M.I.T. in Ocean Systems Management, and a B.Sc. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the Webb Institute.
Patrick Bird, Seabury Maritime Managing Director and Global Head of Advisory, commented: “We welcome Gary and Gerardo to our team as their extensive industry knowledge and the diversity of their capabilities will enable our company to deliver immediate value for our clients. These gentlemen have a distinguished track record of being successful, and we look forward to them continuing to do great things while here at Seabury Maritime.”
Pedersen has more than 25 years of industry experience in the maritime operation and advisory sectors, as well as international supply chain development. During his career, Pedersen has led the operational management and building of international freight forwarding business ventures for companies, such as Kuehne + Nagel and Century Distribution Systems. He has spearheaded numerous supply chain software development platforms in the fields of e-commerce, international order / fulfillment management, marine procurement, and asset management. In addition, Pedersen has taught supply chain management and worked as an adjunct professor at New Jersey-based Fairleigh Dickinson University and Union County College. Pedersen started his career as a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Third Officer, where he sailed on ocean-going vessels, and as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Pedersen holds a B.Sc. in Marine Transportation from SUNY Maritime College and an M.B.A. from Wagner College.
Prior to joining Seabury Maritime, Ayzanoa worked in Washington, D.C., for consulting firms Nathan Associates and The Louis Berger Group as project manager, port planner, maritime systems/shipping specialist, and trade analyst. He began his career at the National Institute for Ports and Waterways, the only academic and research center in the U.S. dedicated to performing technical and economic evaluations for the planning of maritime and river terminals and waterway navigation systems. An international consultant with more than 25 years of experience, Ayzanoa has managed specialized multi-disciplinary teams conducting global trade analysis, transport master planning, and economic impact analysis to support the development of transport infrastructure projects in the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Europe. His technical work is extensive and includes the assessment of transport operations performance and productivity and the design and development of simulation models to optimize intermodal transportation networks, including all the physical components and interfaces of logistics chains for containerized, bulk, and other cargos. Ayzanoa holds an M.Sc. from The George Washington University in Engineering Management, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland.
ABOUT SEABURY MARITIME
Seabury Maritime, a subsidiary of Seabury Corporate Finance, which is a division of Seabury Capital Group LLC, is a premier investment banking and consultancy firm focused on global trade and transportation. Our team has developed a thorough understanding of the underlying competitive economics that drive strategic investments and decision-making, while assisting companies operationally to adapt for success and maintain sustained competitive advantage. Reference Seabury Maritime at www.seaburymaritime.com.
ABOUT SEABURY CAPITAL GROUP
Seabury Corporate Finance is a division of Seabury Capital Group LLC (“Seabury Capital”), which operates a number of specialty finance, investment and merchant banking, technology, and software companies with a core focus anchored in aviation, aerospace & defense, maritime, and financial services & technology.
Seabury Capital operates a number of specialty finance, investment banking, technology and software companies with a core focus anchored in aviation, aerospace & defense, maritime, and financial services & technology. Since its founding in 1995, Seabury Capital has taken ownership stakes in software and asset management businesses servicing the aviation and travel industries. Within the last few years, Seabury Capital has expanded its portfolio by investing in early stage startup companies within the financial technology industry and structured investment products. In addition, Seabury Capital owns and operates FINRA and FCA regulated investment banking services firms in the U.S. and U.K., respectively, serving external clients as well as assisting the companies in which Seabury Capital has invested. Seabury Capital has operations in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Chicago, Cordoba, Dallas, Dublin, Durban, Edison (NJ), Hong Kong, Houston, Jersey City, London, Los Angeles, Manila, Minneapolis, Seoul, Shannon, Singapore, Summit (NJ), Stamford (CT), and Tokyo. Reference Seabury Capital at www.seaburycapital.com.
Seabury Capital Group
John Luth
pr@seaburycapital.com
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Running for El Paso Mayor, an iffy situation at best
Comments Off on Running for El Paso Mayor, an iffy situation at best
Running for Mayor of El Paso requires that a candidate be quick on his or her feet, that beaucoup bucks be available, and, most important – name recognition. In the case of the current campaign, it features a candidate that meets all three qualifications, namely Steve Ortega. He is running against an unknown Robert Cormell, who has no name recognition and has never held political office of any sort. But, lest Ortega thinks the election is his, he must reflect and realize that there are no guarantees.
Ortega, a two-term city representative for District 7, has served in a quiet capacity, making noise, for example only in backing the city’s providing health insurance for the partners of gay employees, and supporting the destruction of the current city hall to build in its place a $50 million baseball stadium to house El Paso’s future sports team – the El Paso Padres, or some such.
Cormell, however, has made no noise at all and has very little name recognition, outside of business circles. He is a small business owner who has managed to raise so far $4,300 and Ortega $57,000 according to their latest expense reports. Cornell said he has raised very little money because he’s been focusing on developing his mayoral platform. He promises that his next campaign report will show a stronger contributor base. Ortega, on the other hand, has raised his money from what he calls numerous $50 to $500 donations, including a $1,000 donation from newly-elected Congressman Beto O’Rourke. He has also said he would not accept donations from the folks who have been pushing the new stadium, including Woody Hunt, because that might constitute a conflict of interest.
But, again, raising large amounts of cash does not guarantee victory. As witness the race a few years ago that featured City Rep. Raymond Telles against Carlos Ramirez for Mayor. Ramirez, who worked with then-Mayor Bill Tilney, had only raised $30,000. Telles, however, had raised about $250,000. He even used that money to hire a consultant from San Francisco. All that money, however, didn’t guarantee Telles a victory, because he lost to Ramirez. Of course, Telles made many mistakes, such as hiring a P.R. firm from Juarez to develop a newspaper that touted his qualifications and everything that was good about his campaign. Telles himself short-circuited a campaign that had him leading Ramirez 40 to 21. Ramirez played it cool and won that race.
A more recent campaign proved that money isn’t everything. The race for State Rep. between incumbent Dee Margo and his challenger, Joe Moody, showed that money came in a close second. Republican Margo raised more than $600,000 while Moody raised a mere $100,000. Guess who won that race – Joe Moody, of course. The two candidates had all the required necessities to win the race, such as name recognition, and political experience and savvy. The money, however, seemed to give Margo the edge. However, much as he would’ve liked to keep his seat, all that money in his war chest didn’t help. He lost.
So, there’s hope for Cormell. Remember, too, that it’s a long haul before the election in May. Other candidates are, perhaps, waiting for the right moment to jump into the fray. Who knows who will jump in and truly challenge Ortega. One possibility is former State Senator Eliot Shapleigh. Although Shapleigh has not done anything to indicate that he would be running, if he did suddenly decide to run, he already qualifies under the three requirements – money, name recognition and a track record. Shapleigh outscores Ortega in every category, except money. But, he could clear that hurdle very quickly with his connections and his ability to run winning campaigns.
But, for now, the only candidates are Ortega and Cormell, although, again, that could change very rapidly. There is still plenty of time for anyone who dares to run a strong campaign with the intent to win. Ortega still does hold a good hand in his campaign. His refusal to accept donations from the power-brokers who want to bring a Triple-A Baseball team to El Paso may stand him in good stead. From all appearances, Cormell is against Triple-A baseball coming to El Paso, although he hasn’t said as much. He probably figures that he could get the voters who oppose such a move to support him. But, then, in El Paso politics, anything could happen. Stay tuned.
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Little Hate for Ladies' Code's "Hate You"
2012 saw the emergence of a very notable rookie groups and artists. From boy bands such as B.A.P. and Exo, to soloists like Ailee, the 2012 group surely caught everyone’s eye, for better or for worse. Compared to last year’s extraordinary set of debuts, 2013 has been relatively short. However, one of the more notable rookies of the year is definitely Ladies’ Code. Despite debuting only relatively recently, the group has gathered decent momentum. As the girls are currently prepping for a comeback, they recently put out a pre-release track “Hate You” to add momentum for their pending return.
To be honest, I am somewhat relieved that “Hate You” is only a pre-release track. While the song is sufficient and could easily hold its own, it has very blatant obvious shortcomings that would have made it fall a bit short from being an effective title track.
The song aimed for a very horror-inspired concept, and it succeeded with executing it for the most part. The intro was absolutely spectacular, for it established the mood of the song perfectly. From So-jung‘s beautiful, husky vocals, to the romantically chilling guitar, to the growling synth in the background, the song intro surely opened the song up very promisingly. However, from there, the song unfortunately drops slightly in quality.
Following the intro, the song dives into its first verse and the synthetic sound it carries for the rest of the track. The verses themselves are pretty sufficient. While they lose the romantic and gothic vibe the intro established so effectively, the steeliness and airiness in the vocals complements the horror concept quite effectively. The small whispers and haunting, elongated adlibs also contributed in the mood the verses set. However, the song’s major downfall is definitely its chorus.
The chorus, by contrast, is very repetitive and tiring, and unfortunately, it bogs down the rest of the song with its monotonous sound. The chorus uses So-jung’s vocals from the intro but adds some unnecessary elements to it. Namely, the song replaces the wonderful guitar instrumental with an overly complex loop of synths, and it adds a shrill echo effect that gets to be tiring and annoying very quickly. These imperfections sadly overwhelm the rest of the song, for the verses become overshadowed and the intro forgotten after the paralyzing effect of the chorus. And really, this is very lamentable, considering the potential to what the track could have been had it keep the mysterious, gothic feel of the first half of the song.
Luckily, the music video to the effort turned out much better. The group was aiming for a horror concept, and they delivered such a concept with little regret, offering a very polished video that surely stays true to its theme. The video is very artsy, and the girls go all out in trying to act creepy, making for an overall interesting watching experience.
The visuals of the video were definitely spectacular. The music video offered three very distinctive main settings: the wall of roses seen at the beginning; the purple and white wall corner laden with disfigured dolls; and the very creepy dining table set. The wall of roses managed to appear very sinister and romantic at the same time, with the roses adding a very picturesque element to the overall shadowed and secluded feel of the scene.
While my least favorite of the three settings, the wall corner still matched the theme of the music video, with the disfigured dolls and the scribbles in the wall being successful in giving the eerie feel the effort was going for. My main issue of the setting, though, was its relatively bright and childish color scheme, which disrupted the video’s visual progression somewhat. Conversely, the dining room setting was by far my favorite. It managed to be dark yet vibrant at the same time, delivering just the right mix of elegance and creepiness the video needed.
Furthermore, the video’s use of the dolls was also very effective. In most cases, the presence of dolls has become a bit cliché in horror-themed videos, but in this case, they work. This is because rather than using them sparingly, the video goes all out in utilizing them, actually tying them into the message of the video. From the content of the video, it seems like the girls are supposed to mirror the dolls, and their tattered states are due to the dysfunctional relationship described in the song’s lyrics. This made the dolls a pretty creative tie-in, for they become tools to tell the story and not as simple, thoughtless props.
Moreover, unlike most other K-pop videos that usually heavily indulge in solo shots of the group members, “Hate You” actually allows the members to come in pairs. This is actually pretty interesting because the video has a lot of symmetrical visuals, and having the members in pairs certainly helps in achieving this effect. The symmetry, and more particularly, the disarray even within this symmetry, proved to be a very intriguing visual, for it gave the video a contrasting balance within some very distorted visuals.
However, if I were to point out flaws in the video, one would be the members’ acting. While the execution varied and some members were certainly better than others, overall, the execution of the scenes were lacking. The girls’ expressions seemed awkward and forced, with the girls looking and feeling posed and maneuvered. Additionally, while I understand the effect they were going for, having the members look straight into the camera only compounded the awkwardness; if they were to look away instead, I believe they would have been better able to portray the mysterious, creepy vibe of the rest of the video. Also, the artsy transitions, while at some points creative, seemed childish and sloppy at other points, cluttering the visuals of the video slightly.
Like I said, I am glad that “Hate You” is only a pre-release, for it would have been slightly lacking as a lead single. Nevertheless, “Hate You” is acceptable as it is; while the song itself is repetitive and grating, it has its shining moments and a pretty on-point and visually relevant music video to go with it. The video itself is vibrant, dark, and actually a bit creepy, with only minor imperfections. Overall, “Hate You” gets a 2.7/5 from me.
Readers, what are your thoughts?
(Youtube, PopGasa)
Tags: Ladies' Code
Student. Blogger. Fan.
All About the Money: We Got Married and So Did the World, Part 2
Roundtable: Take Us Two Your K-pop!
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Political Conferences
Security Conferences
Tourism Conference & Festival
Social Conferences
Economics Conferences & Exhibitions
Cultural Conferences & Festivals
Arabic Language Day
Thursday، 19 May 2016 - 12:00 AM
During its 190th session the UNESCO Executive Board adopted a decision to celebrate 18 December of every year as International Arabic Language Day. The new initiative, proposed by Morocco and Saudi Arabia, seeks to promote multilingual and cultural diversity, as well as celebrate Arabic language’s role in and contribution to the safeguarding and dissemination of human civilization and culture. The decision recognizes the need to implement more wide-ranging cooperation between peoples through multilingualism, cultural rapprochement and dialogue among civilizations.
Language is not merely a tool for communication, but rather the bearer of a whole range of cultural expressions and a bridge enabling close relations between societies. The Day creates an occasion to raise awareness about the cultural and social treasure of the Arabic language and gives an opportunity to discover more about the language and its contribution to human civilization.
Arabic is the language of 22 of the Member States of UNESCO and is one of the Organization’s official languages. It is one of the most widespread languages spoken by more than 422 million people; most of them live in the Middle East and North Africa.
Arabic became a UN official working language on 18 December 1973 by virtue of a United Nations General Assembly resolution. In an effort to support and strengthen linguistic and cultural diversity within the UN system, on 19 February 2010 the United Nations Department of Public Information announced the decision to celebrate an international day for each of the six official languages of the UN: French (March 20), English (April 23), Russian (June 6), Spanish (October 12), Chinese (November 13) and Arabic (December 18). Arabic Language Day is celebrated on 18 December, the date on which the UN General Assembly designated Arabic as the sixth official language of the United Nations.
Preserving Arabic
The Academy of the Arabic Language was founded in Cairo in 1934 in order to develop and regulate Arabic.
http://www.arabicacademy.org.eg
Celebrating the Day
Marking the UN Arabic Language Day 2013, events shall be held at:
• The General Authority for Cultural Palaces
• The Egyptian General Book Authority
• The National Library and Archives
• The Fine Arts Sector
• The Greater Cairo Library
• The Cairo University Center for Arabic Language & Culture
UNESCO celebrations
UNESCO is set to mark the Day under the theme: “Media Role in Strengthening or Undermining Arabic”. Attending will be a number of media personnel from Satellite Channels broadcasting from inside and outside the Arab region. Linguists and media experts alongside writers, researchers, diplomats and UNESCO personnel will also participate.
Discussions will focus on how satellite channels contribute to spreading the language. The motives behind creating Arabic Language editions of foreign channels will also be investigated together with the role of the social media in bringing Arab youth to using their language.
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Dogus Balbay, Efes: 'This is a unique opportunity'
It all comes down to Game 5 – and we will play at home, in front of our fans. The game has been sold out for a few days and the atmosphere will be amazing. During the EuroLeague regular season, one of our goals was to make it to the playoffs. Well, not just make the playoffs, but also get home-court advantage because that would give us more belief that we could be one of the four teams fighting for the EuroLeague title in Vitoria. How important is the home-court advantage in Game 5 of a playoffs series? Everyone believes it is very important and we will see very soon how important it is. One thing is clear - knowing that 15,000 people will be supporting us in a sold-out environment will give us energy and enthusiasm. It will be the biggest game of the season so far, no doubt about it!
We played really well in Game 3 in the series to reclaim the home-court advantage. Between Games 2 and 3, we had a couple of meetings and analyzed our opponent, FC Barcelona, very well.
We were able to successfully carry over to Game 3 everything that we worked on in practice. We started playing tough, physical and hitting all the open shots we had. We were able to find open shots even though Barcelona used a variety of defenses against us - zone, switching man, full-court press. We went to Barcelona immediately after losing Game 2 at home, so we knew we had to get at least one win at Palau Blaugrana to at least bring the series back to Istanbul. I believe that by winning the first game at their place, we took a crucial step - mainly because it wouldn't have been easy to come back from a 1-2 deficit in Barcelona.
Game 4 was a completely different story. They went from doing everything wrong on defense to doing everything right. We knew that Game 4 would be totally different than the others and that it was not going to be as easy for us as Game 3 was. We knew that with their backs against the wall, they would come out and play as hard as they could to win since it was their last chance. So it went on that way; they were tougher and obviously played better than us and tied the series. I cannot say we were surprised by their reaction; we knew they would react, but they played well and beat us.
Shane Larkin has been a big part of our team. We all trust him and believe in him. His ability to score and create for others definitely makes our job easier. His presence on the court in Game 5 will be crucial for our team.
As a player who has been here for many years and lost a couple of Game 5s with Efes in the past, it is definitely a motivation to be in this situation again. But this time, Game 5 is at home. We did see the light at the end of the tunnel twice and were very close to making it before, but lost against Olympiacos twice. This time, having the home-court advantage will help us more and give us a better opportunity and we will try to make the most of it.
more on euroleague.net
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Streetcar History
Costs & Funding
Board / Staff
Los Angeles is changing.
The city that grew up around the personal automobile is becoming more transit-oriented, walkable, and bicycle-friendly. For the past 15 years Downtown L.A. has led the way in that change, helping Angelenos reimagine their built environment and spurring changes that have helped create a safer, healthier, more economically and environmentally sustainable city. The Downtown L.A. Streetcar is the next step along that path – to a more connected, active, and productive Los Angeles.
The Downtown L.A. Streetcar is planned as a modern, fixed-rail streetcar system that will offer an easy to navigate and convenient mode of transportation connecting many of Downtown’s neighborhoods, destinations, and transit options. The approximately four-mile route will run frequently for 18 hours a day to connect riders with neighborhoods, including South Park, the Financial District and Historic Core, Grand Park and the Civic Center, the Fashion District, and the Convention Center and L.A. Live. The Downtown LA Streetcar will offer an attractive alternative to driving between neighborhood destinations for residents and visitors alike, and it will catalyze additional commercial and residential development in the city’s most urban, transit-accessible core.
Streetcars have a rich history in Southern California
Once serving as the backbone to an expansive rail transit network – the “Red Cars” and “Yellow Cars” were once the largest electric transit network in the country – that stretched all the way from the San Fernando Valley to San Bernardino. Central L.A. was the home to a dense network of “Yellow Car” streetcar lines that knitted together many of L.A.’s inner neighborhoods and districts. Then, as now, Downtown Los Angeles serves as the central transit hub for the local and regional rail system, but residents, employees, and visitors currently lack effective and reliable connections between the varying districts of Downtown L.A. The return of streetcar service to Downtown will reconnect these neighborhoods and provide riders with a much-needed “last-mile” connection between their homes, destinations, and regional transit connections.
Stay connected to keep in touch with the latest Streetcar progress and news.
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Questions or Comments? Email us at info@lastreetcar.org
© Los Angeles Streetcar, Inc. | 2016
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Identity Politics and American Anti-Semitism
When Robert Bowers walked through the door of the Tree of Life synagogue with murder on his mind, he was propelled by identity politics. As a white supremacist, his brand of identity politics is more politically incorrect than the ones that led Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour of the Women’s March to support Louis Farrakhan, but it’s no more violent, racist or evil.
Before the massacre, the most recent high profile anti-Semitic attack had been carried out by a Muslim who was caught on video beating a Jewish man while shouting about, “Allah” and his hatred for Jews.
Another hate crime, also caught on video, was a violent assault with a baseball bat by a black man.
Such assaults are less devastating than the mass murder of eleven people, but also much more commonplace. They repeat from month to month and year to year. They make up much of the toll of anti-Semitic hate crimes so that they top the list of hate crime statistics every single year.
The Tree of Life massacre has been greeted with editorials mourning a “loss of innocence” by American Jews. Such editorials come from a bubble of privilege that is cut off from the way many Jews live.
In 1991, New York City’s first black mayor stood and watched while a violent mob whipped up, by among others, Al Sharpton, went on a violent anti-Semitic rampage in Crown Heights. The Crown Heights Pogrom, as it would become known, took three lives and terrorized a neighborhood.
Sharpton, the black supremacist linked to the anti-Semitic violence, went on to speak at the Democratic National Convention, host a show on MSNBC and become a regular visitor to the Obama White House.
The distance between Crown Heights and Squirrel Hill is more than mere geography, it’s social and cultural. Anti-Semitic violence by black supremacists and Muslim terrorists tends to happen in poorer, urban neighborhoods and is directed against a poorer and more religious class of Jews. White supremacist attacks tend to target more suburban, prosperous and less diverse Jewish areas.
Those are home to the same Jewish populations who are much more likely to write editorials about a loss of innocence. But innocence is a privilege that Jews in poorer urban neighborhoods never had.
There are Jews who live in proximity to neo-Nazis and those who live closer to admirers of Farrakhan and Hamas. (Though Farrakhan and Hamas both admire Hitler for killing millions of Jews.) The Jewish communities that endured a generation of race riots, and another generation of muggings, knockout games, rapes and murders, before often having to pack up and move out, from their American Anatevkas in major cities, have never had any innocence of anti-Semitism, only bitter experience.
It is no coincidence that the privileged are also more likely to be progressive. The hysteria over Trump is not born of experience of anti-Semitism, but inexperience. To believe that President Trump is anti-Semitic is a confession of privilege. It’s an admission that your experience of anti-Semitism is an abstraction, a series of theories and history lessons, rather than the awareness of an everyday reality.
It takes a great deal of inexperience of anti-Semitism to believe that it exists only on the side of the political spectrum furthest from you. Anti-Semitism is tribal. Those who hate Jews tend to be losers who are convinced of their own natural superiority and blame the Jews for their failure to achieve it.
You can find such people on the right side of the spectrum, but it is the left side of the spectrum that has been built for them. Hitler’s genius lay in taking the fundamental appeal of socialism, its state controls, welfare state security blankets, suspicion of meritocracy and appeal to mediocrity, and reframe them in racial and nationalistic terms. But he only emphasized the anti-Semitism in socialism, he didn’t invent it.
Identity politics does the same thing as National Socialism, combining the welfare state and anti-capitalist rhetoric with naked racial appeals, tapping into the supremacist convictions of failed groups, offering them special racial privileges, while blaming their failures on meritocracy and capitalism.
The biggest beneficiaries of the social mobility provided by both have often been the Jews.
There is very little difference between white supremacism and black nationalism. Indeed there was so little difference that Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam collaborated with the KKK and the American Nazi Party. There’s a much closer route between Obama and Hitler, than there is between Trump and Hitler. Just follow Obama’s photo with Farrakhan, the affinity of his mentor, Jeremiah Wright, for Farrakhan, Farrakhan’s admiration for Hitler, and Hitler’s admiration for Islamic anti-Semitism and his role in inspiring the Muslim Brotherhood. But that’s a route that the progressives choose not to follow.
While progressive Jews may deny that black nationalism and white supremacism are the same thing, the mutual admiration society between them makes a mockery of their denials. Anti-Semitism is a tribal problem. Multiculturalism evolved into intersectionality, spawning more tribalism, more resentment, and an alliance of the resentful in which Jews are not full participants, but growing targets.
As a society becomes more racially and ethnically tribal, it grows more anti-Semitic. The white supremacist attack on a synagogue in Squirrel Hill is one symptom of a much larger problem.
The progressive Jews worry about the rare outbursts of white tribal anti-Semitism because that is the not particularly diverse population that these proponents of diversity live among. The working-class Jews of the inner cities worry far more about the daily diverse tribal anti-Semitism that surrounds them.
That is a ubiquitous anti-Semitism that their progressive brethren neither understand nor care about because it is inconvenient to their politics and alien to their experiences.
While Jewish communities around the world, from Crown Heights to Jerusalem, mourn for the massacre in Squirrel Hill, it often feels as if such outpourings of empathy are not reciprocated. When Jews were being stoned in Crown Heights by anti-Semitic mobs, the progressive Jews told them to stop embarrassing New York City’s first black mayor. When Rabbis were axed to death in a Jerusalem synagogue, the “innocent” progressives blamed Netanyahu and Israel’s imaginary ‘rightward’ drift.
They did not care that their tax dollars were being used to pay the terrorists murdering Jews. Nor do they care that the MSNBC news network that they were watching was paying a pogromist.
This “innocence” of theirs has a high price and for now, Jews in Brooklyn and Jerusalem are paying it. While progressive Jews live in the fading golden summer of the suburbs, working class Jews have lived through generations of looted stores, ransacked apartments, and random violent assaults. The dream of the former, their political policies and ideals, have been the waking nightmares of the latter.
But the age of innocence is coming to an end.
America is changing. The same forces that made Obama have also made Farrakhan relevant once again. Muslim migration will transform America the way that it did Europe. The cities will feel it first. But they won’t be the last. The combination of political radicalism and tribalism that is driving out the Jews of France, Sweden and now the United Kingdoms will not pass by the suburban shtetls of America.
White supremacism is one vector for anti-Semitism. Identity politics has created a dozen more.
The shootings at Squirrel Hill were not the worst of it. Unfortunately, tragically, and horrifyingly, the worst is yet to come. And when it comes, the old innocence will vanish as if it had never been.
a great piece from a great mind
Mr. Cohen said...
I read this excellent article a few times.
One of the lessons that I extracted from it,
is that Progressive and Leftist Jews,
who consider themselves to be very enlighted,
are actually ignorant and in deep in denial.
Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre Aftermath:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/11/massacre-aftermath.html
I agree with everything that you have said, yet why do Jews in North America vote for Dems (or Liberals or NDP) at rates of 80%-90%, they are not all stupid, and they can’t all be “JINOs”, so what are we missing. Why the hatred for conservatives and Republicans when we seem to be their only friends.
What are they believing that causes their seemingly unchanging voting tendencies?
There is another part of the story the rest of us non-Jews aren’t being told.
Nothing like the ugly truth to smack the libtards in the face.
In California, they are taking away the "Boalt" name from the UC Berkeley law school because he was a "racist" a century ago. But public elementary schools are named for Malcolm X, and the Black Panthers (and Angela Davis) are lauded.
epoche said...
Unfortunately, we cannot have an honest discussion about identity politics without being called racist so i dont see any way out of this.
Johnty Dee said...
Jewish appeasement of liberal fascists is matched only by the rank stupidity and ignorance of the likes of Farrakhan. Muslims hate blacks and were the first to enslave them, exclusively for 500yrs, before introducing Europeans to the trade. The movement to end black slavery didn't come from Islam. Over 100m blacks were murdered in that trade and over $100b plundered under horrendous conditions that rivals the social conditions established by ISIS.
Jews, whether religious or secular, are otherwise obsessed by the lie of their 'moral superiority' and are intoxicated by the identity paradigm that this affords them.
Michael Mostofsky said...
Thanks once again. I am a yarmulka wearing Jew that grew up and lived most of my life in Bklyn and then Queens NY. As a child going to Yeshiva on NY City buses I was insulted and violently attacked regularly. It is nothing new. For Jews who live a publicly Jewish life violent anti-semitism is hardly a new thing. One friend wondered why I couldn't wear a baseball hat to avoid being a target. In fact most of the time I no longer show my Judaism publicly. I regret this decision and since Pittsburg I have again emerged as a public Jew. I will no longer allow haters to decide who I am an what I can display. I love this country. I also love my Judaism. I will not be cowed into submission by those who want me to.
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Posted on November 9, 2015 November 9, 2015 by The Coaster
By CHRIS CHRISTOPHER
Not many offensive players get past Dan Loizos.
The Ocean Township High School graduate led the Ithaca College football team in total tackles with 60 through his first seven games of the season. The sophomore linebacker was first on the Bombers in solo tackles with 32 and added 28 assists. He made nine tackles for 18 yards lost and registered one sack for three yards lost.
The former Spartan intercepted one pass, forced one fumble, broke up three passes, deflected four passes and recovered two fumbles.
Loizos is a 5-foot-11, 205-pounder.
Former Ocean players Withler Marcelin and Mark Diedrichsen continue to star at Rowan University.
Marcelin, a senior, rushed for 890 yards and 12 touchdowns on 174 carries through his first six games of the year. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry and 127.1 yards per game. His longest run chewed up 82 yards. He caught seven passes for 68 yards and one touchdown, averaging 9.7 yards per catch. His longest reception covered 37 yards.
Diedrichsen, a junior punter, averaged 40.7 yards per boot. He punted the ball 41 times for 1,667 yards. His longest punt sailed 65 yards. He produced four touchbacks. Seven punts landed inside the opposing team’s 20-yard line.
In a 38-25 loss to Wesley College, Marcelin rushed for 163 yards and one touchdown on 28 carries. He scored on a two-yard run and added one solo tackle. Diedrichsen punted five times for a 34.2-yard average. His longest punt sailed 46 yards. One punt landed inside Wesley’s 20-yard line.
In a 31-28 loss to Salisbury University, Marcelin sped for 190 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries. He scored on runs of one, 26 and two yards. His longest run ate up 41 yards. He caught three passes for 14 yards. Diedrichsen punted six times for a 37.8-yard average. His longest punt was 47 yards. He produced one touchback.
In a 59-0 win over Southern Virginia, Marcelin rushed for 105 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries. He scored on runs of 39, eight, three and five yards. He averaged 8.8 yards per carry. He caught one pass for five yards. Diedrichsen punted one time for 48 yards.
Kean University sophomore Tahj Hammary (Asbury Park) is among the top wide receivers at Kean University.
Through his first seven games of the season, the former Blue Bishops player led the Cougars in touchdown catches with six. He paced the team in scoring with 36 points. He was second on the club in receptions (27) and second in yards (381). He averaged 14.1 yards per catch. He averaged 54.4 yards per game. His longest reception devoured 46 yards.
Stevenson University sophomore quarterback Jeff Farrah (Monmouth Regional) threw for 1,181 yards through his first six games of 2014.
Farrah completed 88 of 165 passes (53.3 percent) for 12 touchdowns. He tossed six interceptions. His longest completion devoured 66 yards.
Farrah connected on 14 of 27 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown in an 18-15 loss to Delaware Valley College. He tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass and threw two interceptions.
Montclair State University punter Hunter Daly (Neptune) averaged 34.4 yards per boot through his first seven games of this season.
He punted the ball 40 times for 1,377 yards. His longest punt sailed 54 yards. He added one touchback and seven fair catches. A total of 12 punts landed inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.
Fordham University freshman tight end Isaiah Searight (Monmouth) caught one pass for seven yards and added one solo tackle and one assisted stop through the Rams’ first eight games of the campaign.
He’s a 6-foot-4, 234-pounder.
Sophomore Chris Seager (Ocean) played goalie on Monmouth University’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season championship team in men’s soccer.
Four local players are on the Georgian Court University men’s soccer team.
They are junior defender Jordan Eugenis (Ocean), freshman forward Spencer Dunn (Monmouth), redshirt sophomore forward Rulsk Noel (Ocean) and sophomore midfielder George Kavarakas (Ocean).
Eugenis handed out one assist through 14 matches. Dunn scored two goals, including one match-winner, and added one assist through 15 matches. Kavarakas notched two assists through 12 matches.
On the Duke University women’s team is freshman midfielder Taylor Racioppi (Ocean).
She has appeared in and started 18 matches., logging 1,419 minutes. She scored four goals, including a team-high three match-winners, and added three assists.
East Stroudsburg University freshman forward Alex Pickett (Ocean) scored one goal and added one assist through her first 15 matches of the season.
She was a starter in six matches.
The College of New Jersey freshman midfielder Jenna Loeser (Ocean) handed out two assists through her first 14 games of the year as a reserve.
East Stroudsburg freshman forward Kelli Shapiro (Ocean) netted one goal and handed out one assist in six games in field hockey.
On the Fordham women’s basketball team is 6-foot-2 senior forward Samantha Clark, a Neptune resident and a St. Rose graduate.
Clark last year averaged 8.6 points per game. She averaged a team-high 7.6 rebounds per outing and paced the Rams in blocks per game at 1.1. She was seventh in the Atlantic 10 Conference in rebounds and 12th in blocks. She was a third-team all-league preseason selection.
As a sophomore, Clark swatted away a team-high 26 blocks and averaged 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. She scrapped for 23 steals.
The former Purple Roses standout starred in her first year on campus, winning all-league all-rookie honors and winning conference rookie of the week honors a program-record five times. She averaged 8.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She blocked a club-best 50 shots and added 27 steals.
Monmouth junior Sam Lynch (Ocean) sparkled for the Hawks in their 97-83 men’s swimming loss to Seton Hall University.
Lynch helped the Hawks to second place in the 200-yard medley relay. He swam a 23.74 to give the Hawks the lead on the first leg. They were 1.64 seconds short of the win. He won the 100 butterfly in 50.01 for his third win of the season in two meets. He was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men’s Swimmer of the Week.
American University junior Julianna Cavano, a Neptune resident and a former Red Bank Catholic swimmer, won the 200 individual medley in 2:12.60 in a meet against Loyola of Maryland. No team scores were kept.
The former Casey helped American win the 3×100 backstroke by one second at the Potomac Relay Invitational. American bested Towson by one second and finished third in the team results with 84 points.
Posted in Shore Communities and tagged Chris Christopher, Sports.
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The Esther Project
A voice for the persecuted Church
Home / Asia / The Church in North Korea: An Overview
The Church in North Korea: An Overview
by Lex February 2, 2017 February 5, 2017 Asia
North Korea is the worst place on earth to be a Christian.
Our focus for February is the country that has topped the World Watch List, as home to the worst persecution against Christians, for 16 consecutive years.
North Korea is a communist dictatorship ruled by the Kim family. Worship of the Supreme Leader is mandatory for all citizens—everyone is required to hang photos in their homes, every statue is bowed before. Failure to comply means arrest, imprisonment, abuse, and often death.
Photo cred: Open Doors
No one outside the country really knows for sure how many prison camps and secret prisons exist within North Korea, or how many people are held in them. A new one was discovered just a few months ago. People regularly disappear inside North Korea.
Life Inside North Korea
North Korea is such a foreign place that understanding what it’s like for the Church starts with understanding what it’s like for everyone. Still, it’s no easy task: North Korea is known as the “hermit nation” for a reason.
Most North Koreans live in extreme poverty. It started with a huge famine in the 1990s that killed 2.5 million people, and at least 25% of the population still face malnutrition and starvation on a daily basis.
The government controls almost every aspect of daily life. Human Rights Watch has called North Korean citizens, “some of the world’s most brutalized people.” Amnesty International‘s report on North Korea begins:
North Koreans continued to suffer denial and violations of almost every aspect of their human rights. Authorities continued to arbitrarily arrest and detain individuals without fair trial or access to lawyers and family… Households, particularly those with members suspected of having fled the country or trying to access outside information, remained under systematic surveillance.
Reeducation still happens in North Korea, and the government controls almost everything its citizens know about the outside world.
Christianity in North Korea
Christianity is illegal in North Korea. Believers meet in very small groups, in homes, at night, if at all. There are virtually no bibles. If a believer does get a bible, it is often buried to avoid being discovered in a raid, and brought out only at night; sometimes bibles are divided into pieces and hidden in several locations so if one is found the rest is still available.
Sharing their faith is extremely risky for believers. North Koreans can be arrested for not reporting Christians, so everyone is a potential informer. Parents often keep their faith a secret from their own children – because young children might reveal something on accident, and older children (especially if they are in school) may even report their parents.
According to the USCRIF’s 2015 report on North Korea:
It is estimated that tens of thousands of Christians in North Korea are currently in prison camps facing hard labor or execution.
Back to Jerusalem recently released one woman’s story as Smuggling Light: One Woman’s Victory Over Persecution, Torture, and Imprisonment. There are some difficult pieces—mostly her descriptions of life in North Korea, and her missions work—but it’s enlightening.
Escaping Persecution in North Korea
The border between North and South Korea is heavily guarded, so Christians (or anyone) who escape North Korea do so by crossing into China. But that crossing is dangerous as well.
The Tumen River makes up about one third of the border between China from North Korea, and is the best place to cross undetected. In the summer the river is shallow enough to wade across, and in the winter it freezes solid. Most people who escape into China cross the river at night, slipping past scattered guards.
If they are caught, or found inside China, they are returned to the North Korean government. The penalty for leaving North Korea without permission is three to five years in a labor camp. Being caught with missionaries or attempting to take the “underground railroad” to South Korea, however, is considered treason.
Help the Church in North Korea
First and foremost: pray. Open Doors lists three specific prayer points for North Korea:
Pray for North Korean believers in prison camps—for faith, strength, boldness, comfort.
Pray that Christians would have access to Bibles and fellowship
Pray that God would open Kim Jong-un’s eyes to the surpassing glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You can also give to organizations working to support the church in North Korea:
Open Doors works in North Korea.
Back to Jerusalem is printing Bibles for China and North Korea.
If you can knit or crochet, you can also help supply Christian Friends of Korea with hats, sweaters, and more for the hospital facilities they run in North Korea.
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
Christian Town Destroyed, All of the Accused Acquitted
Silence: Movie Review
Mosul Almost Free of IS, Iraqi Christians are Not Relieved
New Report from India Reveals Unprecedented Christian Persecution
Five Chinese Christians Sentenced to Years in Prison for Meeting
The Esther Project exists to give greater voice to the persecuted Church worldwide. We hope to share their stories, enlighten the world to their plight, and inspire prayer and action on their behalves.
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. (Hebrews 13:3)
The Voice of the Martyrs
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Metro-Polis
The Bazaar
Business as Usual [Open]
by Guest on Wed Feb 12 2014, 20:11
The click-clack of hard soles on the metal rails echoed down the dusty concrete tunnel, reminiscent of the train wheels that had not turned in who knew how long. Out of the tunnel, walking precariously on the old rail, was Barlow Gates. His big arms swung about to keep balance. If someone were to look Barlow up and down, they'd characterize him as a hard-edged wanderer with a chip on his shoulder who'd seen the very worst of the wasteland, somebody who carried a lot of pain. They'd say he was a dangerous, lonely man. The quiet type. Yet here he was, trying not to fall off the rail and smiling. He looked less like a dangerous man and more like a kid who'd been stretched out too much. He hopped off the rail and hefted his canvas messenger bag onto the platform. He looked away for a moment, and when he looked back, a pair of prying eyes were scanning his bag, and bony fingers were reaching out for it, but when the prying eyes met his, the fingers stopped. His eyes weren't filled with anger or malice or ferocity or hate, but they sent a powerful message nonetheless. Or maybe it was just the fact that he was a big man and had a propensity to be scarier than he intended. Either way, the eyes turned away and the fingers stayed neatly folded inside empty burlap pockets as Barlow pulled himself up onto the platform.
He looked around and took in the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of the Bazaar. It was the lifeblood of Metro-Polis and the hub of his business. He dropped off a few packages and messages along his zig-zag through the Bazaar. Most of the recipients were long-time clients and greeted him with open arms, including a woman twice his size who payed him for the delivery with a 'fresh' bowl of baked beans, which she knew he loved.
"Evenin', Mr. Quire," he said cheerfully, walking up to the counter of one of the more trustworthy barter stations, and the one he knew the best.
"Barlow!" the old owner exclaimed, coming to meet him at the counter, "Still haven't dropped dead out there, I see."
"Not yet, sir." Barlow chuckled.
"Whatdaya got for me today, son?"
Barlow put his bag on the counter and laid out a few old trinkets, a pocket mirror, and a set of guitar strings which, as far as he could tell, were still functional. The owner looked over the collection and looked up at Barlow with a souring expression as he said, "Ya know ya got a crap job, right son?"
"It's all I need," Barlow replied happily, "And it's a job people need done."
"Alright," the owner shrugged, "What can I get ya?"
Barlow pointed to the shelf behind him. "That pair of socks."
"Barlow, we don't come by a fresh set of socks every day."
"I certainly don't. That's why I need 'em."
"Okay, but it'll cost all of this junk. And then some."
"Fine by me." Barlow let the owner take all of his scavenged treasures and a few ticket stubs he had made finishing deliveries earlier. He gave his regards to the owner and his family and went on his way.
He kept wandering through the Bazaar until he saw another familiar face and called out, "Sima!"
A young woman with sunken eyes and lice-ridden, short black hair turned and her bony face lit up at the sight of him. She ran over, weaving through the crowd. The child in her arms naturally found its way into Barlow's embrace, and he looked down at the little one with a bright, genuine smile on his face, but a sadness began to build underneath. He could see that the baby was hungry, and so was the mother.
Sima asked him about his travels, and he asked her about life in the tunnels. She wanted to know how long he'd be in town, but he couldn't answer. Instead, he asked the same question he'd asked when he last came through Metro-Polis, "Any sign of the little guy's father?"
Her heavy eyelids fell shut. "He's still missing."
"Don't worry," Barlow whispered, putting a warm hand on her shoulder, "He's only lived down here for a year. People get lost in the tunnels. It happens. We'll find him." He opened his bag. "Here," he said, "I found this on the way over."
He pulled out a silver bracelet adorned with shimmering, glass-like crystals. Sima's eyes opened wide, catching the glow of the crystals in the dim light. "Are those...?" she trailed off, too astonished to finish her question.
"I think so," Barlow answered, keeping the bracelet concealed from the crowd, "But even if they're not, it's gotta be worth a couple cans, maybe even some fresh bread." He placed it in her palm and folded her hand shut around it. "Keep it hidden and make your way to Quire's. Hurry."
"What? Barlow, do you realize what this is? You're giving away a LOT of--"
"I know what I'm doing. Look, I've got more than enough to get by. It's better off with you. Take good care of the little guy." Sima nodded and backed away. "Take care of yourself, too!" he exclaimed over the crowd. She waved to him with water welling in her eyes. He smiled and walked to an open space on the wall. He sat down between a fortune teller and a hat vendor with his bag out front and a paper sign advertising his carrying services. His feet were aching from days of travel, and he had delivered the last of his packages. It was time to rest, lighten his load, and ply his wares all over again before trekking back out into the wasteland.
It was business as usual in Metro-Polis.
Re: Business as Usual [Open]
by Guest on Thu Feb 13 2014, 00:34
Through the crowd ahead of him Barlow could see parts of the crowd being pushed apart, likely someone making their way through the busy area. Once the person got through he could see it was a blonde haired man, a sword at his side and revolver at the other, along with a green bag on his back, looking like an opportune adventurer needing supplies. He looked rather seasoned but at the same time seemed a bit young and impressionable.
Frosty squinted his eyes as he seeing the vendors by the wall, nothing he needed majorly until he saw Barlow's advertising sign, a small smile appearing on his face. He starts heading towards him before tripping on a bit of rubble on the ground landing on a knee and his hands in front of his vendor spot. He quickly recovers by pulling off his bag and placing it down in front of him looking at Barlow with a smile "Oh uh, hey! Sorry for that... wasn't looking right.", he opens his bag reaching in for his tickets, a bit of dirt covering his face looking like he was just in a scrap. He looks back at Barlow with another smile "You er, got any water to sell? I just came back from a trip and my throat feels like it'll collapse."
Barlow didn't notice the young man in the crowd until he tripped. His first instinct was to get up and help, but the boy seemed to be alright. The weapons told him the boy was accustomed to fending for himself, and the wear and tear he carried from head to toe indicated that he was a new arrival as well. He asked Barlow for some water.
"Hold on," Barlow answered, rummaging through his supplies and pulling out a battered metal canteen, "No charge. Water's water." He knew nobody trusted a vendor giving something away for free. Nobody trusted anyone giving something away for free. Even with people who knew him, Barlow's generosity was often met with suspicion, hostility, or just plain confusion. Nevertheless, the young man wasn't trying to rob him or trick him. He was being genuine, and Barlow couldn't discourage that behavior in a world where it had become so rare. He stood up to appear at eye level and held out the canteen. "Help yourself, friend."
Frosty gave a warm smile as he took hold of the canteen giving a nod, Barlow could see that he seemed rather trusting even with the short time he just met him with. He raises his head up taking a small drink of it and passes it back to Barlow "Heh, thanks for that man. Name's Frosty, just came out here from the wastes. It's my first time here in Metro-Polis actually."
He looks into his bag pulling out a smaller bag that had his tickets within them, setting it down on the ground. He looks back at Barlow with a grin, brushing his rough hair back with a hand realising it was covering his forehead "So uh, mind if I ask what you're selling? I just kind of needed some supplies, food and such. I'll pay any price ya got, long as I can afford it."
"I'm a carrier," Barlow replied, sitting back down and placing his canteen back in his bag, "You need a message or a package delivered anywhere in the wastes, I can get it there. I'm not the fastest, Skybornes own that department, but once something goes in my bag, it doesn't come out 'til it's reached its destination. Other people can get it there fast, but they can't promise they won't sell it on the way there. Or let it get stolen. Ask anybody 'round here and they'll tell you I can be trusted. You need anything moved?"
Frosty nods his head slightly looking like he was pondering something as he put his smaller bag back into his storage. After a few moments he glances behind himself as if checking no one was approaching him then looks back at Barlow "Well all I was looking for was someone to trade with, wasn't sure where else to go. But I guess I don't really need anything moved.", he sighs as he frowns a bit at Barlow "I know it might sound a bit sudden... but, you need any help with traveling? The last group I was with didn't go too well and some people are a bit annoyed. If you can't, then it's fine... in that case I might have something. It's just been a bit dangerous on the road and you might need the help."
"I can take care of myself, but I can always use the company," Barlow replied, taking out his canteen again, pouring some water in his hand, and splashing it on his face, "And, ya know, I also scavenge whatever goods I find along my route. I've already traded everything I found on my way in, but my next trip starts as soon as I get my bag filled up here. You come with me, we can split whatever we find fifty-fifty."
He stretched out his hand to the young man. It was an old tradition taught to him by his parents, a sign of trust. It required hands empty of all weapons. It required sincerity. Even through dusty gloves and calloused skin, he could tell when someone took his hand with honesty, and they could feel that he had nothing in his heart but the truth. "I'm Barlow, by the way."
by Guest on Fri Feb 14 2014, 02:29
Frosty smiles and reaches his gloved hand out shaking it, his grip firm and confident "Thanks, I was kind of worried you were gonna say no there. To be honest I'll just take anything I need to survive, all I need is a bit of company until I get near where I want to go.", he brushes his hair back with a hand again, despite his dirty outlook and obviously having gone through some rough times, his positive outlook seemed like it would never dim.
He reaches into his bag picking up a loaf of bread that looked somewhat stale, breaking it off in half and taking a bite then holding the other half towards Barlow "I've been off in the wastes for about a year by now. It's been going okay, but I was planning on trying to drop by home or something if we pass around there. Won't hassle you to get there, but I'd like to see how my family is doing and all. You kind of learn to miss them once you've been on the road a while."
"I know the feeling," Barlow replied, graciously accepting the piece of bread. It was stale, but it was better than what he usually ate out on the road. "I got folks all over the wastes I call family. Getting to stop in and see them every now and again is one of the perks to this job. And everywhere I go, my family gets bigger."
He finished the bread and wiped the crumbs off his hands. There was a pause as he thought about something. Frosty said he had been out there for a year. Even if he couldn't visit the same place twice in one year, Barlow was never away from a major settlement like Metro or Silver Linings for more than a few months. The young man who had been kind enough to share bread with him had been away from not only his home, but any real sort of home for an entire year. "Where, uh... where do you call home, exactly?" Barlow asked.
Frosty thinks for a moment as he lowers his head towards his bag "Uh... where exactly? Hm, think it was some small town that was about an hour away from that Iron Sea place. But I don't really stay anywhere, I just keep on the move and make camp every now and then. Staying at a settlement never really appeals to me, I just drop by to pick up supplies like now."
He takes another bite of his bread leaving a couple of crumbs around his mouth then looks at Barlow "There's uh, nothing odd about that, right? I just thought that's what everyone else does out here."
"Nothin' wrong with it, really..." Barlow trailed off and looked into the crowd, smiling at every little interaction between vendors, customers, friends, and strangers, "You just miss out on some great things."
Frosty slowly nods as he looks down at the ground silently, the thought of actually living somewhere other then traveling never really occurred to him, but it seemed like an interesting way to live. He stays silent for a moment then looks back at Barlow with a curious look, speaking out "Hey uh, mister Barlow. If you don't mind me asking... you got a place you call home? I mean, you have a lot of friends like you said, but you sound like you just drift around as well. Is there just that one place you keep coming back to? Or is everywhere just home?"
Barlow's brow stiffened as he considered the question. He did have a home once, with his family, his mother and father and siblings, but even then, they were nomads. The closest thing he'd ever had to a permanent home was the settlement that took him in when he'd been separated from his group as a boy. He had returned to them several times, but he never stayed anywhere for more than a month. "I don't know," he replied at long last, "Wherever I am, I make that my home... and whoever I find around me is family. That's probably a strange way of seein' things... lotta people I've met certainly think so... but it's just how I am."
by Guest on Sun Feb 16 2014, 01:32
Frosty smiles a bit and nods, finishing off his bread and wiping off his mouth "Yeah... I know what you mean. Feels like most of the wasteland is my home. To be honest though, having somewhere to actually stay, I don't know if that's for me.", he sighs as he looks at Barlow "I've uh, ticked off a fair few sides over the last while. Mostly bandits, trying to stop whatever they were doing. Kind of luck I've gotten this far alive, but I've probably got too much heat to settle down anywhere. It's kind of hard to deal with... y'know, the people you can't really call family."
"You ain't kiddin'. When bandits see a carrier all alone in the middle of nowhere, they see a present with a big bow on two legs. Usually, I can keep out of sight, but when I see folks like that hurting other people, I, uh... lose my cover." The carrier chuckled and rubbed the morbidly dark bruise that covered his right shoulder and part of his chest concealed beneath his clothes.
Frosty sighs a bit as he lowers his head "Yeah I know what you mean all too well. Can't be easy being a carrier from the sounds of it.", he reaches for his bag opening it up and takes out a map, placing it down in front of Barlow. He looks at him curiously before placing a finger on the map keeping it flat "So uh, if you don't mind me asking Barlow, did you know where you were heading next? I've been to a decent few places myself, but haven't been to spots like Last Resort yet. I was just wondering if we were heading somewhere I haven't been before."
"The packages I'm given determine my route," Barlow answered, "But Metro-Polis is the busiest place for a carrier. Someone always wants something sent somewhere. I'll have a full bag pretty soon, and I guarantee somebody's gonna give me one marked for Last Resort, don't you worry about that."
Barlow peeled the hat off his head and scratched his head, tangling his wiry black hair. The hat was covered in salt from dried sweat on the inside and ash and dust on the outside. It needed to be cleaned. Everything needed to be cleaned. Including him. Twice, preferably. "Ya know, I've been to Last Resort a lot over the years. Beautiful place, if you don't mind the cold. 'Course, you take someone outta the Agony or the Boglands and they will fall to their knees and weep when they feel a cool breeze." He chuckled and sighed, "Snow's a pretty rare thing these days. You ever seen snow? In person, I mean."
by Guest on Mon Feb 17 2014, 03:19
Frosty smiles a bit as he rests on a knee, folding up the map while looking at Barlow "Actually, I never have, but I always like the cold. Is the snow as beautiful as they say it is? Someone told me it's like a big winter park.", he puts the map back in his bag while grinning a bit "Kind of got used to the cold anyway when I camp out, especially if I lost my blanket. I got colds a few times so I'm kind of used to it by now. I don't mind the wasteland and this place much... but, it'd be nice to see something natural and pretty for once, y'know?"
"Whoever told you that was selling it short," said Barlow, "When you look out and all you see is clean, even white practically glowing in the dead of night, even when it's too cloudy for the moon to shine through, it just seems like the world is... untouched. Makes you feel like all this never happened, like the world is new... and you can go anywhere."
He closed his eyes for a moment, just imagining it, and he smiled. "But you've gotta keep yourself bundled up, tied down, and waterproof. One loose fold and there'll be snow all up the length of your leg. Winter's beautiful, but it's unforgiving, too."
by Guest on Tue Feb 18 2014, 04:06
Frosty closes up his bag and looks at Barlow "Yeah, but that the wasteland is like that as well, it's not really anything new.", he pushes his bag to the side then looks back at Barlow "I think the cold is just like nature in general. It is pretty, but it'll defeat you if you don't know how to deal with it."
He looks down at the ground for a moment then looks back up "You ever used to be in a group Barlow? Last one I was in had some, well crap luck and we disbanded. Just when I look at you... you can't have been on your own forever.", he sighs as he leans back a bit "Sometimes I want to be in a big group, but... it's hard to know who to trust at times, I guess."
Barlow shook his head. "I've never been a real part of a group. I've come across a few who've been willing to have me along for a while, but we always parted ways before long... or they tried to eat me." He scratched his rough, hairy cheek and sighed, "It can be a challenge finding people safe to travel with... safe enough to turn your back, to leave your bag alone with them, to sleep when they're awake. But my personal policy's always been, 'trust everyone 'til they give you a reason not to. That, uh..." he pulled back his sleeve to reveal a long, straight scar running diagonally up his forearm. The skin was littered with other, tinier marks, but the pronounced, lumpy mass of tissue around that old, deep gash stood out over the rest. "...that policy's gotten me into a lot of trouble over the years."
Frosty stays silent for a moment then takes hold of the left side of his shirt and slowly lifts it up, some bandage placed over some skin near his stomach that was patched with red. He sighs as he glances down at it "Got it from a bullet... nearly hit my stomach but just missed it. Probably would've died if I didn't get some help from a nearby town. Yeah, I've paid for it as well."
He lowers his shirt back down then looks at Barlow with a smile "I don't let it stop me though, the world isn't going to get any better if we don't help each other out. I hear everyone talk about death and well... I'd rather go down being able to look at myself in the mirror than live on as someone no one likes. There's too many good people out here to hurt, and I like to think if we all make a difference, then the world can become something a bit more brighter, y'know?"
"Hear, hear!" Barlow exclaimed, resisting the urge to start a scar show-off competition. It was something most outgoing survivors did with one another, one of the few guaranteed ways for strangers wandering the wasteland to bond. He'd never truly supported the practice, but he'd been swept up in a few such contests in his time, and won most of them. They cheered for him at the time, but he always wondered why he was exalted for getting hurt more than anyone else.
"It's not too common you meet a traveler who thinks like that. A lot of people, they let this kinda work... the things they see... they let it change 'em. And after the sorta things I've seen, the sorta things I have no doubt you've seen, it's hard to blame 'em, but... things just aren't gonna change by accepting that everyone and everything is bad. And we, each and every one of us, we need to disprove that. We need to show that there is good, and we need to find what isn't good and fix it. We owe it to the people we care about. We owe it to the people we've never met. We owe it to ourselves. We owe it to the world for giving us a chance to do things right. We can't just give up... and we can't let anyone else give up, either."
Frosty smiles and nods "Yeah... that's true, same way I think about what's going on.", he nearly continues on before hearing some commotion behind him among the crowds. He turns his head as Barlow could see past him a couple of roughly dressed men stepping through the crowds, one with a hatchet at his side and the other with a pistol, both wearing masks over their mouths.
Frosty stays silent watching them for a moment then looks back at Barlow looking a little sad "I uh... I gotta step out for a bit Barlow. I'll uh, meet you back here later, but if I don't show up, then don't worry about it." He stands up and starts walking over towards one of the escalators heading underground and looks over seeing the men start to head his way. He looks forward then runs down the steps into the darkness to the underground, both men walking after him into the dark.
"Yeah, no problem," Barlow replied slowly, looking for what had made his new acquaintance so uneasy and spotting the two men navigating the crowd with a clear, malicious goal in mind, "Take care..." He watched Frosty move hurriedly and saw the men hop off the platform and follow him into the dark.
Barlow climbed to his feet, groaning as every sore joint and muscle that had just locked up from rest was thrown back into action. He shouldered his bag and ran through the crowd, jumping off the platform and following them. "Excuse me, gentlemen!" he called into the darkness. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a few ticket stubs he had made on drop-offs that day. "I, uh, I think I saw one of you drop these up in the Bazaar." He held them out and tried to appear friendly and clueless. It wasn't a stretch. "Are they yours?"
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Art, Imagination and Theology
May 9, 2016 Lieve Orye
This blog post is part of the 'Theology & Art' project
by Sander Vloebergs
In my previous blog posts (This Sister now cries out to us, When Mother became Mary, A Composition of Compassion) I explored the possibilities of an artistic theology which I would intuitively describe as a dialogue between the artistic process of creating art on the one hand, and theological reflection on the other. In preparation for the upcoming Anthropos conference ‘Relation, Vulnerability, Love: Theological Anthropology in the Twenty First Century’ I decided to elaborate on the idea of an artistic theology and its methods. In this blog I will briefly reflect upon the artistic relation between the vulnerable human (and creation more broadly) and the loving Creator by engaging the work of Maureen O’Connell (who will participate as respondent at the conference) on the one hand and with the work of Barbara Newman who has been studying medieval imaginative theology. Her work on medieval imagination and spirituality has been an important source of inspiration in my own project. Both projects bring theology and art (imagination) in relation, but do so in interestingly different ways.
Murals as ‘living theology from below’
In her book If These Walls Could Talk. Community Muralism and the Beauty of Justice (2012) Maureen O’Connell analyzed the theological, aesthetic and ethical implications of murals in Philadelphia. She focuses on the artistic and communal process (the event, as David Tracy would call it) of making murals in a context of oppression and injustice. Creating murals is a means for empowerment, resistance and hope. The artists create a multilayered ‘sacred’ space that contradicts the politics of oppression and challenges the viewers’ indifference. The murals are a figurative and literal locus of theological reflection, embodied religious practices and serve as a touchstone for moral conversion and action. The beauty of the art combines the aesthetic reaction and the ethical response.
By studying the murals and their aesthetic-ethical-theological influence on/in the context, O’Connell tries to discover a living theology, a “theology from below”. She describes the theology from below as follows:
Characteristics of any systematic theology “from below” – Christology, ecclesiology, and anthropology – include a distinct emphasis on the organic and dynamic rather than the authoritative and immutable nature of religious belief and theological reflection. Belowness attends to the collective experiential wisdom of persons in concrete context rather than appeals to external authorities or universal truths. (p. 13)
The murals tell the story of people: their hopes for a better future, their longing for justice and their wish for liberation and salvation. The story of the mural interrupts the ongoing process of oppression. Art creates a safe haven, a sacred space where God’s salvific presence becomes tangible.
The artistic construction of the sacred space relies on imagination. According to O’Connell the imagination provides the primary means to encounter and be in relationship with a God who cannot be fully understood and grasped by human reason.
Imagination is central to Christian anthropology. It is the capability through which we accept our inherent dignity that comes with being made in the image of a widely imaginative and creative God; through it we express our freedom or our ability to build purposeful lives and to enter into meaningful and life-giving relationship with ourselves, with others, and with God. (p. 72)
The artist is a guide in the world of imagination. He/she reveals what might be and empowers us to dream of a different future. He/she gives us a vision, offers us the imagination
to liberate us from the paralysis of being overwhelmed by the immensity of our social problems and unleashes a desire to become something more than we are or to participate in something greater than ourselves that can shake up our passivity. (p. 73)
Maureen O’Connell's analysis of the murals is very inspiring. Particularly important is the attention she pays to the role imagination in the process of art-making and theological reflection. Nevertheless, I would like to complement her contribution to the interesting debate about art and theology in two ways. First, whereas O’Connell still focuses on art from an outsider’s perspective, I’m exploring an insider perspective. She is an observer who engages in a dialogue with artistic communities. She retells the stories of their murals. I would like to tell the story from within my own creative work. Second, I’m a white male theologian who cannot claim to be oppressed, who is not confronted with social injustice in his personal context. My context of art-making is completely different from the context of the Philadelphian murals. Still I feel I have to deal with another kind of paralysis. I would call it the existential void that ‘terrorizes’ my own context (although this void could also appear in a context of oppression). I believe that this existential void is related to the feeling of ethical powerlessness. There seems to be an emptiness where there were dreams before. It haunts us and silences us. There is no dream left to fight for. [*]
Medieval imaginative theology as ‘theology from within’
We are in desperate need for imagination, for images and the sacred power of art that makes us dream again. In this part I explore the role of imagination and its importance for contemporary theology. But I do so through a focus on medieval imaginative theology (and in later blogs more specifically on the visionary theology of Hadewijch, a Flemish mystic). As I see it, medieval imaginative theology could be a useful complement to the socially-engaged art theory of O’Connell, precisely because it focuses our attention on the inner life while O’Connell’s art-based ‘theology from below’ explores the ethical-aesthetic dynamics in society and contemporary culture. It would be a major mistake to oppose these two approaches to artistic theology. Inner experience demands an outflow, an expression, a performance in everyday reality. Our social/ethical experiences influence our inner life, they ask for reflection and enrich our spirituality and/or artistic process. They are both sides of the same coin, as medieval spirituality was well aware (actio-contemplatio).
Barbara Newman uses the concept of imaginative theology to describe a medieval method that aims to assist believers in their quest to find and to talk about/with God. This medieval practice helps me to make sense of my own artistic-theological experience and allows me to frame it within the larger mystical movement that took place in late medieval western Christianity.
Barbara Newman in her book God and the Goddesses. Vision, Poetry and Belief in the Middle Ages (2003), describes imaginative theology as follows: “The imaginative theologian, like the poet, works with images and believes, with Christine de Pizan, that ‘the road of the imagination… reveals the face of God to whoever follows it to the end” (p. 297). She argues that imaginative theology is an important medieval mode of theological writing next to the scholastic, monastic, mystic and pastoral mode. It is often overlooked by medievalists who are mainly interested in the scholastic tradition.In this theological method, images are both the source of theological reflection and the means by which theology is communicated. The aim of this method is to enable both writer and reader to visualize, conceptualize, and interact with emissaries of the Divine. Newman shows in her research how theological abstract ideas gain concrete form because they are personified by theologians(/artists) using images, more in particular, by imagining them as goddesses.
This kind of theology is not so much an objective recollection of theological dogma’s knitted together by rational reasoning – rather it is an active imagining, an artistic process of creating images drawing from personal experience and from the mnemonic space of imagination. Practicing this kind of theology takes the shape of writing a play, a choreography, where ideas are performed. These ideas are enlisted in one’s own imagination, taken up within one’s own inner self, rather than studied from an academic distance. Rather, picture this method as an attempt to access an exchange of imaged ideas, written down or visualized or performed; as traveling through an imaginative landscape; as becoming a vessel through which theological images/ideas incarnate.
A Short Initial Personal Reflection
My artistic process makes my theology personal, tactile and a matter of imagination. I experienced that the artist becomes a vessel through which an artistic incarnational movement reshapes creation. I would describe the artistic process as an incarnational movement as the words of the theological reflection become flesh, they engrave divine images in matter. Creating art is an intimate encounter between theological knowledge and my own lived experience. Art makes theological speculation suddenly very personal. To create art, you have to sacrifice your own being, expose your own lived experience which is the source for artistic expression. To express theological knowledge trough the medium of art means revealing your own inner self, your own personal poetic work of imaging/imagining the relation with God. To me, this form of theology - speaking about and to God – draws from a personal and experiential source which is the inner person of the artist. By engaging in this personal adventure to recollect dreams and to re-enchant creation with art and vision, we can find a stepping stone towards an antidote to the existential void that paralyses our context.
[*] I will elaborate on this feeling and how it relates to my artwork in an upcoming blog.
In Theology & Art Tags Art, Creativity, Imagination, Hadewijch, Theology from below
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That Swamp-Pop Sound: Rod Bernard & Cajun Rock'n'Roll
https://youtu.be/hDoXtbWnYMU
That Swamp-Pop Sound: Rod Bernard & Cajun Rock'n'Roll Part 1
This is part one of a documentary I made in 1986 about my father, swamp pop musician Rod Bernard. I think it came out well, even though I couldn't get Dad to stop using his "announcer voice" during the interview segments. Dad still plays music today on occasion, and still works in TV (albeit for a different station). My grandfather, who appears in the video, died about a decade ago. This video got me into NYU Film School, which I quit after about a month.
--Shane Bernard
https://youtu.be/Efi9fOCeASk
This is part two of a documentary that I made in 1986 about my father, swamp pop musician Rod Bernard.
https://youtu.be/jJ_sE4ZvWuE
Rod Bernard - This Should Go On Forever
https://youtu.be/kzW-AEJhLYI
My Jolie Blonde - Rod Bernard and Clifton Chenier
The King of Zydeco (pronounce Za-ree-co please) Clifton Chenier (1925 - 1987) a Creole French-speaking native of Opelousas, Louisiana, was an eminent performer and recording artist of Zydeco, which arose from Cajun and Creole music, with R&B, jazz, and blues influences. He played the accordion and won a Grammy Award in 1983. In 1984 he was honored as a National Heritage Fellow and in 1989 was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame... From Louisiana too, Rod Bernard, a Rockin' Swamp pop artist was recording "This Should Go On Forever" and was the first "Swamp Pop" million seller. Before the age of 20, Rod was touring the USA and even appeared on the Dick Clark "Bandstand" Show. Rod's band, "The Twisters" was one of the hottest rock 'n roll groups of the late fifties and early sixties. Rod was fortunate to record an album with the great King of Zydeco, "Clifton Chenier" before his untimely death. If there is a King of Swamp Pop music, it would have to be this man.
https://youtu.be/SYq8k8myi-A
Rod Bernard - Colinda (1962)
https://youtu.be/StZDIeLt2Hk?list=PLHza8XX5XJ7TCCIfIfF2DGkZEtQjKBaE6
Fais Do Do - Rod Bernard (1963)
https://youtu.be/HW8IWVdEmGE
Rod Bernard ~ "New Orleans Jail" (1962)
Labels: cajun, clifton chenier, rod bernard, swamp
That Swamp-Pop Sound: Rod Bernard & Cajun Rock'n'R...
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5 new plays for 5 Utah theatre companies from CATF
Posted by Russell Warne | Jul 19, 2013 | Articles, Reviews | 0
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — Given the number of world premieres that UTBA has reviewed, it’s clear that Utah audiences have an appetite for new plays. So, when the American Theater Critics Association (of which I am a member) announced that they were meeting this year at a festival—the Contemporary American Theater Festival—that produced only new plays, I knew that I had to visit and report to UTBA’s readers about new plays being created in other parts of the country. So, below are short synopses for the 5 new plays of the festival’s season, my brief reaction to each script, and my suggestion for which theatre companies might be best situated to give each script a home in Utah.
Modern Terrorism
Mahira Kakkar as Yalda Abbasi, Kohler McKenzie as Jerome, and Omar Maskati as Rahim Janjua in Modern Terrorism, or They Who Want to Kill Us and How We Learn to Love Them. Photo by Seth Freeman.
Can Americans laugh at terrorism? That’s the question that playwright (and staff writer for The Simpsons) Jon Kern raises with his black comedy play Modern Terrorism, or They Who Want to Kill us and How We Learn to Love Them. Most of the play takes place in the an apartment inhabited by Qalalasse (Royce Johnson), Yalda (Mahira Kakkar), and Rahim (Omar Maskati)—three Islamic terrorists who are planning to detonate a bomb on the observation deck of the Empire State Building. Things for the three get more complicated when their upstairs neighbor Jerome (Kohler McKenzie) stumbles upon their plot.
Modern Terrorism is most successful when it draws audience members to focus on the big questions: What turns a normal human being into a terrorist? What is the thought process of terrorists as they plan to kill Americans? I found it fascinating to listen to a terrorist plot from the “other” side, and I think that the human traits of the terrorists were enlightening. But Modern Terrorism‘s biggest failure is the fact that it’s not terribly funny (much like a post-1990’s episode of The Simpsons). Moreover, the mechanics of play writing were executed sloppily. Some of the dialogue is also telegraphic (such as when Yalda outright tells her companions how she feels about Americans—which they must already know) and peppered with words like “hegemony” and “patriarchy” that sound much more like they came from a college professor than a terrorist. Finally, the tone is remarkably inconsistent. Some scenes feel like a sitcom; some of the first act is reminiscent of Seinfeld with the focus of the dialogue on trivialities of daily life. Other scenes feel terribly serious.
The attendees of the American Theater Critics Association were sharply divided about this play. I think that this play has its audience, but it’s a small audience. That audience is daring, willing to have conventions challenged, but isn’t interested in shock value for its own sake. Recommended for: Salt Lake Acting Company. Daring choice for: Westminster College.
Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah
Rod Brogan as Ernest Hemingway (background) and Joey Collins as F. Scott Fitzgerald (center) in Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah. Photo by Seth Freeman.
From Mark St. Germain, the writer of Freud’s Last Session, comes another play about two historical figures meeting to discuss their personal philosophies and pasts, Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah. F. Scott Fitzgerald (Joey Collins) is finishing a screenplay at a hotel named the Garden of Allah when his friend Ernest Hemingway (Rod Brogan) stops by ostensibly to discuss a film adaptation of one of his stories. An interesting psychological exploration ensues when the two discuss their families, their childhoods, and their literary careers.
Scott and Hem is surely the most literary script at the Contemporary American Theater Festival. Apparently, St. Germain (who also directed this world premiere) incorporated some of Hemingway’s and Fitzgerald’s exact words into the script. I found many lines to be eminently quotable, such as Fitzgerald saying, “Hollywood is a place where men get stabbed in the back while climbing the ladder,” or his assistant (the only female character in the play, portrayed by Angela Pierce) saying, “Every good story is a war story.” The script is intimate and provides two male actors with nearly the entire array of human emotions to explore in just 85 minutes. It truly is an actor’s piece.
Other American Theater Critics Association members felt that Scott and Hem was too reminiscent of some of St. Germain’s other works. However, because his work is largely unknown in Utah, a production of this play would feel fresh to most local audience members. Recommended for: Pioneer Theater Company. Daring choice for: The Echo Theatre.
A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World
Rod Brogan as Judah, Becky Byers as Rebekkah, and Susannah Hoffman as Abigail Williams A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World. Photo by Seth Freeman.
Ten years after the Salem witch trials, Abigail Williams (Susannah Hoffman) encounters Mercy Lewis (Cassie Beck), both of whom accused many of the citizens of Salem of witchcraft. Abigail wishes to find closure in order to ease her guilty conscience before leaving the colonies. Mercy, however, still believes that witches and demons did vex the citizens of Salem in 1692.
According to Contemporary American Theater Festival artistic director Ed Herendeen, playwright Liz Duffy Adams will be revising this play; I think those revisions are needed, but Discourse is not a new product needing a major redesign (like Modern Terrorism). Rather, it is a new machine that needs some fine tuning. Some scenes could be tightened up, especially the Macbeth recap and the rooftop scene. I also suggest that Adams remove any of the 21st century language from this period piece. It drove me nuts when Rebecca’s (Becky Byers) first or second word was, “OK.” Other anachronistic language includes the use of “hell,” “damn,” and “God” in a nonbiblical sense (something that would be much more rare in a highly religious 18th century society than today), and the sarcastic comments from Mercy.
I liked this piece more than most theatre critics and think that it has the capacity to be produced in the future. In Utah I could imagine it being performed by university theatre departments because of the strong roles for women and the historical setting that many audience members would find interesting. Recommended for: Utah Valley University. Daring choice for: Brigham Young University.
Diane Mair as Deborah and Alex Podulke as Jake in H2O. Photo by Seth Freeman.
My favorite piece at the festival was H2O, a world premiere play written by Jane Martin and directed by Jon Jory. In Martin’s script, Jake (Alex Podulke), a self-destructive movie star, wishes to star in a stage production of Hamlet to prove that he’s more than a pretty face. His Ophelia? Deborah (Diane Mair), a struggling evangelical Christian actress whom he sees as his hope for both professional and personal redemption.
H2O is so engrossing that for most of the play I could not take my gaze off the action happening on stage, and afterwards my heart felt tired because it had been beating so quickly for most of the play. Martin’s characters are so well drawn that I found both Jake and Deborah profoundly relateable; it has been at least a year since I identified so strongly with a female character on stage. Furthermore, many Utah readers will be pleased that Deborah’s strong religious beliefs were treated with the utmost respect and served as an impetus to much of the action. But H2O is certainly not a religious play; the grittiness of Jake’s life is shown unflinchingly. It also grounds the play in the real world and ensures that Martin’s script never strays into devotional or inspirational territory.
The biggest hurdle for Utah audiences will be the strong language in the play. But it would be tragic for it to be censored because the language only heightens the differences between the two characters. That being said, the language in the final scene seemed aberrant, and I encourage Martin to reconsider it. But I adored H2O and would love to see it again. Recommended for: Plan-B Theatre (if their mission permits them to produce the play). Daring for: Silver Summit Theatre Company or any other company that can tolerate the strong language.
Heartless playwright Sam Shepard.
The latest work from Sam Shepard, Heartless, focuses on Sally (Margot White) who received a heart transplant from a murder victim when she was a child. The story is told in a nonlinear fashion, with bits and pieces of characters’ relationships being revealed gradually through dialogue and actions that occur in nonchronological order. If my synopsis for Heartless is short, it’s because the play’s non-Aristotelian structure makes it hard to say much about the story without spoilers.
The non-traditional structure of the play makes Heartless the most inaccessible of the five scripts at the Contemporary American Theater Festival. Many patrons that I spoke to afterwards told me that they did not understand what happened in the play. On a more detailed level, I had difficulty believing that Sally would feel a stigma for being a heart transplant recipient. Sally seemed to think that not having her original heart made her less of a person, but I failed to grasp why a real human being would feel this way. (The symbolism was obvious, but not compelling, to me). Sally did indicate that she was suffering from survivor’s guilt, but this seemed such an implausible psychological reaction to an organ transplant that I had difficulty empathizing for her situation. Finally, I hated much of the dialogue that Sally’s mother (Kathleen Butler) spoke; it was almost all excessively artificial and staid.
As my critiques in the previous paragraph show, Shepard was clearly not trying to write a realistic script. Most Utah audiences would consider the show to be avant garde, and I think the only reason to produce Heartless in the Beehive State would be to capitalize on Shepard’s name. However, the exploration of female psychology was somewhat interesting. Recommended for: Pygmalion Theatre Company. Daring for: University of Utah.
The five shows at the American Contemporary Theater Company play daily through July 28 (except Tuesdays) at various times on the campus of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Tickets are $10-57. For more information, visit catf.org.
Tags: A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World, Alex Podulke, Angela Pierce, Becky Byers, blog, Cassie Beck, Contemporary American Theater Festival, Diane Mair, Ed Herendeen, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Freud's Last Session, H2O, heartless, historical, Jane Martin, Joey Collins, jon jory, Jon Kern, Kathleen Butler, Kohler McKenzie, Liz Duffy Adams, Mahira Kakkar, Margot White, Mark St. Germain, Modern Terrorism, Omar Maskati, or they who want to kill us and how we learn to love them, Rod Brogan, Royce Johnson, sam shepard, Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah, seinfeld, Susannah Hoffman, the simpsons, world premiere
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Russell Warne
Russell Warne is the president of Utah Theatre Bloggers Association. Before reviewing theatre he was a performer, music director, and technical crew member on many productions. He has been a member of the American Theatre Critics Association since 2012. He is a psychologist in his day job.
STEEL MAGNOLIAS survives, despite its weaknesses
MARTY HAS CANCER reveals last wishes
TARZAN is swingin’ fun at Tuacahn
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE dictates its own terms
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Cancer Drug Battles The Flu
Ever get a flu shot and still get the flu? If so, there's new hope for flu-free winters in the years to come thanks to a new discovery by researchers who found that a drug called DMXAA, originally developed as anti-tumor agent, enhances the ability of flu vaccines to ward off this deadly virus. A new research report appearing in the March 2011 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that DMXAA could assist flu vaccines by causing the body to produce its own antiviral proteins, called interferons, which interfere with the virus's ability to spread. In addition, DMXAA may be a useful antiviral therapy to treat newly emerging strains of the flu for which a vaccine has not be developed.
"We are hopeful that DMXAA or similar agents can be used ultimately to blunt the impact of yearly influenza outbreaks, and perhaps, for other virus infections as well," said Stefanie Vogel, Ph.D., co-author of the study and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine in Baltimore.
To make this discovery, Vogel and colleagues infected mice with a mouse-adapted influenza strain. When given DMXAA three hours before or after infection and then two days later, the infection was significantly less severe. In addition, they found that DMXAA protected cells from flu strains that are resistant to Tamiflu®, one of the most advanced anti-flu drugs on the market. These discoveries suggest that DMXAA could potentially enhance the efficacy of current flu treatments and vaccines, and perhaps treat other viruses or bacteria. To be sure that DMXAA led to increased production of interferons, the researchers also tested it in mice that lacked a gene needed to produce interferon, and found that these mice received no benefit from DMXAA.
"H1N1 was a wake-up call that the flu remains a very serious disease, regardless of how "common" we may think it is," said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. "Every year this virus mutates, and history has shown us that new, very dangerous strains of this virus will continue to emerge. New drugs like this one that can combat this virus - especially drugs that are effective against newly emerging strains - may prove to be lifesaving for millions of people around the world."
Kari Ann Shirey, Quan M. Nhu, Kevin C. Yim, Zachary J. Roberts, John R. Teijaro, Donna L. Farber, Jorge C. Blanco, and Stefanie N. Vogel
The anti-tumor agent, 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA), induces IFN-β-mediated antiviral activity in vitro and in vivo
J Leukoc Biol. March 2011 89:351-357; doi:10.1189/jlb.0410216.
Cody Mooneyhan
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
View drug information on Tamiflu capsule.
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Flu Shot May Be Less Effective After Transplant
Kidney transplant patients have a weaker response to influenza immunization than healthy individuals, especially in the first six months after receiving a transplant, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation.
Respiratory viral infections are common among transplant patients, and are cause for concern because they can be particularly harmful to people with suppressed immune systems, noted Kelly A. Birdwell, MD, MSCI, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee in her report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends influenza vaccine for kidney transplant patients, but little is known about what kind of antibody response they are able to mount to a flu shot. What's more, no studies have looked exclusively at patients on tacrolimus, now the most commonly used immunosuppressant in kidney transplant patients.
The researchers looked at the response to influenza vaccine in 53 kidney transplant recipients and 106 healthy controls during the 2006-2007 flu season. All of the patients were receiving tacrolimus for immunosuppression.
Dr. Birdwell and her team checked vaccine response by testing study participants' levels of antibodies to three different influenza strains--A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B--before they received the vaccine and again one month later. The researchers used two criteria to gauge the effectiveness of the vaccine: seroresponse, defined as a four-fold increase in levels of antibodies against a viral strain; and seroprotection, meaning levels of antibodies adequate for protection against infection.
A smaller percentage of the transplant patients achieved seroresponse or seroprotection than the healthy controls. But the differences were statistically significant only for one strain, A/H3N2; among controls, 62.3% achieved seroresponse, compared to 34% of the transplant patients, while 91.5% of controls and 69.8% of transplant patients were seroprotected.
Patients who had undergone transplants within the last six months were significantly less likely than the healthy controls to show seroresponse or seroprotection to any of the three viral strains contained in the flu shot. Dr. Birdwell and her team point out that during the first six months after transplant, patients are typically on the highest doses of immunosuppressant medication to prevent their bodies from attacking the transplanted organ. This translates to a weaker immune system, and a weaker response to the flu vaccine.
There are several possible approaches to providing additional protection against the flu to kidney transplant patients, Dr. Birdwell said. "Possibilities include the provision of a booster dose of the influenza vaccine, or the use of an adjuvant, or substance given along with a medication or vaccine to enhance its effects," the researcher said.
"In addition, the live intranasal vaccine may provide a more vigorous protective response, though the use of a live vaccine in this immunosuppressed population certainly requires formal investigation for safety and efficacy. As always, routine hand washing is one of the best defenses."
Any new influenza vaccines-including those targeting H1N1, also known as the swine flu-may not provoke the same protective response in kidney transplant patients, she added, and this should be taken into consideration.
"Kidney transplant recipients should still be immunized against influenza, as recommended by the CDC," said Dr. Kerry Willis, Senior Vice President for Scientific Acitivies, National Kidney Foundation. "There are several promising approaches to providing additional protection against the flu for these patients, but more research is necessary before any can be recommended."
The National Kidney Foundation is dedicated to preventing and treating kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increasing availability of all organs for transplantation.
Ellie Schlam
Director of External Communications
National Kidney Foundation
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Video In A Networked World
By JACQUELINE EMIGH
In late November, 18-year-old Ryan Cushing of Huntington, N.Y., threw a 20-pound turkey through the rear window of a car he was riding in, critically injuring the 44-year-old driver of another vehicle when the fowl bounced off the highway and smashed through her windshield. A police officer caught the suspect and five of his buddies by viewing video surveillance from a local Waldbaum's supermarket, where the teens had used a stolen credit card to buy food and CDs earlier that night.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a "moving picture" ¡ª like those on video surveillance systems ¡ª must be worth at least a million.
As a testament to its value, video surveillance is becoming quite commonplace. Many organizations still use traditional analog video surveillance systems, which are based on videotape. Increasingly, however, computerized ¡ª or digital ¡ª video is entering the surveillance scene, making it even faster and easier to capture courtroom-worthy evidence.
Customers at the leading edge of digital video surveillance are now blazing trails into two innovative technical areas: video over the Internet and remote cellular wireless access.
"Let's say I have an oil rig in a very far-off location. I can use video over the Internet to perform surveillance from wherever I am," says Lee Hirsch, vice president at Pixim Inc., a supplier of digital imaging systems.
On the wireless side, a company called SerVision is now testing its IVG-400 cellular surveillance system in Mexico with both DHL and PepsiCo, says Oren Yehezkely, vice president for product implementation. "Ruggedized" for in-vehicle use, the system uses cellular networks to deliver video to a choice of PCs or handheld PDAs.
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Protective Service (FPS) used LiveWave Inc.'s FirstView RoverCam Systems to perform mobile video surveillance at this year's Republican National Convention, Democratic National Convention and Boston Red Sox victory parade.
Why are organizations turning to digital video? For one thing, unlike analog video, which must be viewed sequentially, digital video can be treated much as any other computer data. It is almost like the difference between doing a quick search for facts over the Web from a home PC vs. the time it might take to track down the same information on an old microfiche machine at the library.
Just as importantly, instead of running on a separate dedicated network, digital video can be used on a main corporate network. There, it operates alongside word processing programs, accounting software and other PC applications used by employees, while conveniently sharing the same information security (IS) systems.
Typically, these networked IS functions include a firewall ¡ª for filtering out spam and other unwanted communications from the Internet ¡ª as well as user ID and password systems, for network "authorization" or access control ¡ª and antivirus software.
In addition, network digital video systems also include their own special software programs, known as "algorithms," for encrypting (or scrambling) the video data, and for compressing (or shrinking) the images for easier transmission.
"Digital surveillance systems do tend to cost more than analog, though," Hirsch acknowledges. Essentially, digital video surveillance systems revolve around three main pieces: security cameras; PCs; and network video appliances such as digital video recorders (DVRs).
Some DVRs attach to PCs, whereas others are standalone devices with built-in (also known as "embedded") operating systems of their own. Standalone DVRs tend to be more reliable, and to produce better pictures, experts say. Alternatively, video can also be transmitted live directly from a PC, without the use of a DVR.
DVRs, however, allow for extra flexibility. Video captured on a DVR can either be saved for review ¡ª in the event that security staff or police need to look at it later ¡ª or "streamed" out to viewers over the network
DVRs can be used either with traditional analog video cameras ¡ª augmented by a video server or some other analog-digital conversion method ¡ª or with newer types of digitally-enabled "network" cameras. Some companies use combinations of both sorts of cameras.
Other network video appliances are out there, too. For example, departments of transportation in the states of New York, Florida, Utah and California are using appliances from VBrick Systems for broadcast-quality video surveillance of highway traffic. Devices are available with an optional 60-gigabyte hard drive for storing and forwarding video.
More typically, however, digital video surveillance systems are run over "wired" corporate local area networks (LANs), also referred to as intranets. Corporations have also started operating a number of other digital video applications on their intranets, ranging from computer training sessions to video-conferenced presentations from top company brass.
Generally, LAN-based surveillance systems do not achieve full-motion video speeds of 30 frames-per-second. Yet full-motion video is not always required for adequate surveillance, says Bob Laribeau, video analyst at Multimedia Market Research.
The speed and quality of video transmissions over corporate networks depends on factors that include the total "bandwidth" (or capacity) of the network, the amount of bandwidth being used by other software applications, and the numbers of employees who are accessing the network at any particular time.
Corporate networks typically range in bandwidth from about 10 megabits per second to 1 gigabit per second. Generally, videoconferencing can be successfully achieved at the much smaller bandwidth of 384 kilobits per second, according to Laribeau.
"You wouldn't want to try to watch a hockey game at 384 kilobits per second. But it will usually give you good enough resolution for surveillance work," Laribeau says.
Still, some corporate video surveillance implementations today are getting much higher bandwidth by using special DVRs. These high-end DVRs are able to double as network switches, providing services to special sections of the network, known as subnets, which are used strictly for video recording.
Improvements are occurring in the camera arena, too. Camera manufacturers such as JVC, Baxall and Pelco have all adopted Pixim's Digital Pixel System (DPS) for capturing accurate images in "high contrast" environments with lots of lights and shadows. Pixim's technology converts images from analog to digital format directly at the point of video capture.
But when video is broadcast "outside the firewall" ¡ª meaning over the Internet ¡ª information security and image quality can get dicier. "Video surveillance is one type of content that you really want to keep out of the wrong hands," Hirsch says. Digital video is subject to all the same kinds of hack attacks as other data on the Internet.
One way to work around these IS issues is to use what is known as a virtual private network (VPN) for video transmission, he suggests. Essentially, a VPN is a private network that carves out software "tunnels" in the Internet for secure communications with remote locations.
In cellular network environments, on the other hand, remote access does tend to be highly secure. That's because the wireless carriers are in charge, says Kevin Day, chief technology advisor to SnoCone Systems Inc., another player in remote cellular access.
Yet image quality can also be compromised whenever video surveillance systems are being accessed remotely ¡ª over the Internet, and even more so via cellular.
Organizations just do not have the same kind of bandwidth control when dealing with the Internet, as opposed to an intranet, according to Laribeau.
In contrast, cellular networks typically impose strict physical limitations on bandwidth. Although carriers are working to upgrade their networks, they generally do not have all that much bandwidth to spare.
But workarounds are available for this problem, too. For example, on its cellular surveillance system, SerVision uses MPEG compression ¡ª together with proprietary compression algorithms ¡ª to compress images at very high ratios of more than 50:1, says Gideon Tahan, the company's president and CEO.
According to the research firm Frost & Sullivan, the global network video market will reach $790 million by next year ¡ª and by 2007, network cameras will make up more than half of the overall security camera market.
ENCOMPASSING CCTV, ACCESS CONTROL & INTRUSION DETECTION
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Down-to-earth security at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
passive infrared detector
CC100 - Hidden Spy Camera - Clairmont Wall Clock
Tools exist ? from biometrics to smart cards ? that can verify a citizen?s identity, but a
High-rise security for 30 buildings is a complex goal
LAX gets massive reimbursement for detection machines
Weather Station for your HiTech Home
What's new in intercoms, phone systems
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PUBG game addiction is increasing in youth, cases of physical and mental illness, know what is the reason
By admin on January 4, 2019
In India, PUBG Game (PlayerUnknown’s BattleGround) has become very fast. There is a lot of craze about this game in the youth. But this game has a bad effect on the mental and physical development of children and youth. Over the last few days, more than 120 cases were reported in the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, in which the effect of this game was seen on children’s mental health. Learn what are the health hazards from this game.
What is pubg games
PUBG is a game in which 100 Players descend on an island with Airplane. Upon arrival, they have to go to different places and places where there is a need to collect the necessary items for arms, medicines and combats. Players get a bike, a car, and a boat so that they can go everywhere and shoot the second uponant in the game and move on. A player who survives in 100 people becomes the winner of the game.
This game has been very fast in India in recent times. Recently, changes in behavior of thousands of youth have been seen due to the addiction of this game. According to the doctors, it is very worrisome that in spite of the addiction of any game, cases of unusual behavior are coming out in thousands of young people.
PUBG is doing such an effect on the brain
In the hundreds of cases filed at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, it was noticed that problems related to sleeping in children, distance from real life, continuous absence from college and school, falling grounds, and anger on leaving the game are emerging. . Kids play with the International players in this game to wake up at 3-4 o’clock in the night, so that they have started many types of health problems.
Threat of game addiction
Sleeping patterns of the youth are changing due to waking up late at night.
Changing sleeping patterns is increasing the risk of problems like blood pressure and diabetes.
Due to not getting the right sleep, the brain is harming, thereby increasing the problems of memory, lack of concentration, obstruction of learning, obstacle in intellectual development.
Aggravation of youth in the game is increasing due to the use of weapons and the winnings of winning.
There is a strange kind of irritability and insensibility in the nature of children.
Many times the physical development of children is also affecting due to changes in eating habits and sleep habits.
According to Dr Manoj Sharma, Professor of Clinical Psychology, initially only 3-4 cases of brain-imbalance were reported in children. But these cases started to increase over time and now more than 40 cases are coming up every month. Describing a case, Dr. Manoj said that recently a 19-year-old boy had brought his parents to him. He was told that the boy started playing around 4 o’clock at night so that he could play the game with the international players. Because of this, his sleeping pattern changed. He woke up at around 12 o’clock in the afternoon and continued playing games continuously for about eight hours.
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Abbey Road is an Award Winning community of 18 individually-crafted homes for active adults (55 years and older) in the quintessential New England town of Sherborn, Massachusetts. The homes are grouped around a common center green to promote a close-knit sense of community and neighborliness. This “pocket neighborhood” is an exciting new concept in residential neighborhood design, rarely found in New England.
Abbey Road homes feature open and spacious layouts, first floor master suites, custom cabinetry with granite countertops, top-of-the line appliances, and front and rear porches with views of the common gardens and surrounding wooded areas. Most units have two car garages.
Located on North Main Street in the historic center of Sherborn, Abbey Road offers the charm of a classic New England town with the walkability and convenience of in-town living. Sherborn’s reputation as one of the state’s most desirable communities is built upon its serene natural setting, top-ranked school system, and convenient access to Boston and other towns in the Metro-West area.
Each home will be Energy Star Rated and LEED for Homes certified. These features result in up to 30% lower energy use than a standard home, reducing energy costs and environmental impact, with optimal indoor air quality.
WHAT IS A POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD?
A pocket neighborhood is a type of planned community that consists of a grouping of homes with functional front porches that overlook a central common area, typically a landscaped courtyard. The design intentionally “cultivates healthy neighborly connections, while preserving personal privacy.” [footnote: Ross Chapin, one of the first land planners to recognize the need for cultivating community in neighborhoods, and a pioneer in designing pocket neighborhoods]
Typical features of a pocket neighborhood include:
Modest home sizes (typically 2,200 square feet) for convenience and so that no single home towers over the others.
Exquisitely landscaped common areas that provide a focus for the community, and encourage interaction amongst neighbors.
Commons building or structure to provide a gathering space for neighbors, and also available to host larger gatherings.
The car is not the focus of a pocket neighborhood. Garages are located behind the house, or even separate from the homes.
WHAT MAKES A POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD DIFFERENT?
Most neighborhood developments across America are collections of individual houses dominated by front-facing garages and driveways. Residents tend to pull into garages and disappear into houses, so there is little real connection among neighbors. Moreover, the garage often occupies a central space on the front of the house, obscuring light and the view of the neighborhood.
A pocket neighborhood is just the opposite. Walkways and shared spaces connect homes—and residents—to each other, fostering a sense of community. Garages and parking are intentionally off to the side and in the back of homes so that residents walk through the commons and interact informally. By sharing outdoor space residents take part in its care and oversight, thereby enhancing a sense of security, identity and community.
PRIVATE SPACES
While a pocket neighborhood encourages community, it also offers peace and privacy. Privacy is built in layers surrounding each home, starting from the openness of a well-manicured common space, and moving inwards to individual front porches, shaded and surrounded by a garden of perennial flowers and trees. The homes at Abbey Road have large windows bringing light and views of the common area, but these are carefully placed to ensure privacy and views of the surrounding woods. Generously-sized covered rear decks and brick patios offer spaces for relaxation and intimate gatherings.
The architecture of Abbey Road is inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century, which revived traditional artistic craftsmanship and was inspired by nature, incorporating themes of simplicity, honesty, and function.
Typical features include generous front porches with square tapered wood columns, low pitched roof lines, use of natural materials like red cedar shingles and mahogany front doors, and earthy colors and warm tones. The homes at Abbey Road incorporate natural materials providing an organic feel, with spacious flowing rooms flooded with natural light. The emphasis on simplicity is balanced by a high level of detail for functionality and comfort.
The site and existing buildings, rich in history, informed the architecture of the newly constructed homes. The Dowse Memorial Building, built in 1914 in the Jacobean Style, originally housed Sherborn's Library. The house sitting beside the Dowse Library, originally named the Coolidge House (also built in 1914), is a remarkable example of Edwardian Architecture, reminiscent of the work of English architect Sir Edwin Luytens.
Inspired by the bungalow courts of Pasadena, pocket neighborhoods have been gaining popularity along the west coast. With a fresh approach and emphasis on community, pocket neighborhoods are now catching the attention of planners, developers, town officials and homeowners in New England and along the East Cost.
To read more about pocket neighborhoods, click on the articles below:
US News & Money
2 NORTH Main St. Sherborn, MA (RT.16 & 27)
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The Boombox - 50 Greatest East Coast Hip-Hop Albums of the 1990s (2017)
Postby StevieFan13 » Sun Oct 22, 2017 12:42 am
http://theboombox.com/50-greatest-east- ... the-1990s/
50. Black Sheep - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
49. Busta Rhymes - The Coming
48. Queen Latifah - Black Reign
47. Masta Ace Incorporated - Sittin' on Chrome
46. Naughty by Nature - Naughty by Nature
45. Digable Planets - Blowout Comb
44. Bahamadia - Kollage
43. EPMD - Business Never Personal
42. Helktah Skeltah - Nocturnal
41. Redman - Whut? Thee Album
40. Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night
39. A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
38. Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst
37. Redman - Muddy Waters
36. LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
35. Capone-N-Noreaga - The War Report
34. De La Soul - De La Soul is Dead
33. Puff Daddy & the Family - No Way Out
32. Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
31. Lil' Kim - Hardcore
30. KRS-One - KRS-One
29. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - The Main Ingredient
28. Nas - It Was Written
27. The Roots - Things Fall Apart
26. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Wanted: Dead or Alive
25. De La Soul - Stakes is High
24. Ghostface Killah - Ironman
23. Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
22. Eric B. & Rakim - Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
21. Black Moon - Enta da Stage
20. Big Punisher - Capital Punishment
19. GZA - Liquid Swords
18. Main Source - Breaking Atoms
17. DMX - It's Dark and Hell is Hot
16. Black Star - Mos Def and Talib Kweli are...
15. Organized Konfusion - Organized Konfusion
14. Gang Starr - Daily Operation
13. Fugees - The Score
12. Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
11. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Mecca and the Soul Brother
10. The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death
9. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
8. Mobb Deep - The Infamous...
7. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
6. Gang Starr - Step in the Arena
5. The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
4. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
3. Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt
2. A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
1. Nas - Illmatic
Pretty predictable top 5. They also have standout tracks for each album that I'll transcribe later.
Re: The Boombox - 50 Greatest East Coast Hip-Hop Albums of the 1990s (2017)
Postby StevieFan13 » Sun Oct 22, 2017 6:02 pm
50. The Choice is Yours, Flavor of the Month, Strobelite Honey
49. Woo-Hah!! (Got You All in Check), It's a Party, I'll Vibe
48. U.N.I.T.Y., Just Another Day, Rough
47. The I.N.C. Ride, Sittin' on Chrome, Born to Roll
46. O.P.P., Ghetto Bastard (Everything's Gonna Be Alright), The Wickedest Man Alive
45. 9th Wonder (Blackitolism), For Corners, Jettin'
44. Unknowhowedo, 3 the Hard Way, I Confess
43. Crossover, Head Banger, Chill
42. Operation Lock Down, Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka, Therapy
41. Time 4 Sum Aksion, Tonight's Da Night, Blow Your Mind
40. Luchini (This is It), Black Nostaljack, Cooley High
39. Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It?, Footprints
38. Earth People, Blue Flowers, 3000
37. Whateva Man, Smoke Buddah, Creepin'
36. Mama Said Knock You Out, Jingling Baby (Remixed But Still Jingling), Around the Way Girl
35. T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York); Illegal Life; L.A., L.A.
34. Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey), A Rollerskating Jam Named Saturdays, Keeping the Faith
33. Can't Nobody Hold Me Down, Been Around the World, All About the Benjamins
32. 8 Steps to Perfection, Blind, Population Control
31. Crush on You, Not Tonight, Queen Bitch
30. Ah Yeah, MCs Act Like They Do, Rappaz R. N. Dainja
29. Searching, I Got a Love, Take You There
28. Street Dreams, If I Ruled the World (Imagine That), Affirmative Action
27. You Got Me, The Next Movement, Dynamite!
26. Streets of N.Y., Riker's Island, Kool is Back
25. Stakes is High, Itsoweezee (HOT), Big Brother Beat
24. Daytona 500, All That I Got is You, Camay
23. Umi Says, Miss Fat Booty, Mathematics
22. Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em, Mahogany, Keep 'Em Eager to Listen
21. I Gotcha Opin, Buck 'Em Down, Who Got Da Props?
20. Super Lyrical, You Ain't a Killer, You Came Up
19. Liquid Swords, Shadowboxin', Cold World
18. Just Hangin' Out, Looking at the Front Door, Live from the BBQ
17. Get at Me Dog, Stop Being Greedy, Ruff Ryders Anthem
16. The DEFinition, Respiration, Brown Skin Lady
15. Fudge Pudge, Who Stole My Last Piece of Chicken?, Organized Konfusion
14. Take It Personal, Ex Girl to the Next Girl, Soliloquy of Chaos
13. Fu-Gee-La, Zealots, Cowboys
12. Fight the Power, 911 is a Joke, Burn Hollywood Burn
11. Straighten It Out, They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.), For Pete's Sake
10. Hypnotize, I Got a Story to Tell, Sky's the Limit
9. Heaven & Hell, Glaciers of Ice, Incarcerated Scarfaces
8. Give Up the Goods (Just Step), Shook Ones (Pt. II), Survival of the Fittest
7. Award Tour, Electric Relaxation, Lyrics to Go
6. Just to Get a Rep, Step in the Arena,Who's Gonna Take the Weight?
5. Warning, Big Poppa, Gimme the Loot
4. C.R.E.A.M., Can It All Be So Simple, Da Mystery of Chessboxin'
3. Can't Knock the Hustle, Can I Live?, Friend or Foe
2. Check the Rhime, Jazz (We Got), Scenario
1. The World is Yours, It Ain't Hard to Tell, Life's a Bitch
Postby Pierre » Sun Oct 22, 2017 7:03 pm
StevieFan13 wrote: Pretty predictable top 5. They also have standout tracks for each album that I'll transcribe later.
Is it? I would have thought Public Enemy would dominate it hands down. I'm not from the East Coast or even America of course, so maybe it's just a foreigner's view.
Over here, while it’s well-loved, it isn’t nearly as beloved as Nation of Millions. The top 5 are pretty much obligatory on any rap list, especially pertaining to the ‘90s.
I see. Yeah, here in France, the 1990s rap album featured ahead would probably be Fear of a Black Planet (in trad rock outlets wanting to keep up with younger audiences but not actually liking hip-hop much, I've even seen Apocalypse 91 in older lists, thanks to (or because of) the Anthrax collaboration). And that's all the more preposterous knowing that the album most generally acknowledged as the best French hip-hop album ever, IAM's L'École du micro d'argent, is basically considered a Wu-Tang album (to the point that on one track, a few second-rate Wu-Tang affiliates are featured claiming the album as such)! But French rock critics have trouble catching up.
Postby StevieFan13 » Mon Oct 23, 2017 1:36 am
I mean, a Wu-Tang association is considered an honor over here, but how much affiliation do they have?
Postby Pierre » Mon Oct 23, 2017 7:18 am
StevieFan13 wrote: Over here, while it’s well-loved, it isn’t nearly as beloved as Nation of Millions. The top 5 are pretty much obligatory on any rap list, especially pertaining to the ‘90s.
It's loose, as you'd expect. But it exists. On L'École du micro d'argent, Timbo King, Dreddy Krueger & Prodigal Sunn (not the higher profile Wu-Tang guys, I know) are featured on the track "La Saga" claiming to "bring the listener to another chamber". More substantially, Method Man & Redman are featured on "Noble art", a track from their subsequent album Revoir un printemps. IAM themselves are featured on the track "Seul face à lui" from RZA's compilation The World According to RZA.
The album L'École du micro d'argent itself is self-produced by the band and the production imitates the style of RZA, with the cover art being a shoutout to the whole samurai thing although the "old movies samples" on IAM's albums generally evoke spaghetti westerns more than samurai movies, and are often forged. But if you play the album alongside a Wu-Tang one, the production style will appear similar, which is what the band had in mind.
Postby bootsy » Tue Oct 24, 2017 3:54 am
The only questionable one is Reasonable Doubt to me. I think it's a very good album but not better than some of the albums it's in front of on this list.
You're probably right but there are some days where I would take Fear over Nation. The production on that ablum is so good and intense.
Postby StevieFan13 » Tue Oct 24, 2017 4:09 am
For sure, and it's definitely not Jay-Z's best (that's probably The Blueprint, although The Black Album and 4:44 are also making a bid for that title). It's more legendary for being his debut than for being his best album. I'd also say some of the standouts on Fear of a Black Planet hold their own with Nation of Millions, but I'd still take the latter over the former.
jimmyj
Strange Fruit
Postby jimmyj » Tue Oct 24, 2017 3:34 pm
No Jeru the Damaja? The Sun Rises in the East? DJ Premier production at its finest.
Bahhhh
Oh and Nation of Millions wouldn't appear on this list. It was released 1988.
Postby StevieFan13 » Tue Oct 24, 2017 4:14 pm
jimmyj wrote: Oh and Nation of Millions wouldn't appear on this list. It was released 1988.
Well yeah, we're talking about general opinion.
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Board index Music Poll creations
Why is Kendrick Lamar’s ”DAMN.” in the top of every eoy list?
It is just as good as ”good kid, m.A.A.d. city” and ”To Pimp a Butterfly”.
2017 was a poor music year
The critics are lazy and pick the already most acclaimed artist
Location: Älvsjö, Stockholm, Sweden
Contact Henrik
Postby Henrik » Mon Dec 18, 2017 8:23 pm
Vote and/or discuss. As always, be kind.
Everyone you meet fights a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.
Re: Why is Kendrick Lamar’s ”DAMN.” in the top of every eoy list?
Postby Dan » Mon Dec 18, 2017 9:51 pm
It was difficult for me to choose between option 2 and 3, but I eventually decided on option 3. Like every other year, this year I relied on critics' lists (and reviews and ratings from major music publications/sites) for recommendations about what to listen to. I can't say that I'm loving much of what I've heard.
Of course, one possible reason for that could be that I'm simply losing my edge and becoming out of touch with the musical innovations that's happening at the moment... or that it's just a bad year for music.
But something I've noticed over the past couple of years is how the most acclaimed albums of the year seem to make an appearance on almost every critics' list. Maybe this has always been the case (?) but I don't think so. Isn't being nonconformist one of the things music criticism prides itself on? If so, then why are the critics copying each other and becoming so conformist?
Every year I feel that I have to delve deeper into critics' list to find music I like. I guess that's not a bad thing at all as it exposes me to so much more music.
But yeah, it's absurd that DAMN is so dominant.
...will keep us together.
BleuPanda
Postby BleuPanda » Mon Dec 18, 2017 9:53 pm
I don't agree with any of these poll options; DAMN is not as good as To Pimp a Butterfly or good kid, m.A.A.D. city. 2017 is a perfectly fine year overall, though it is maybe missing a truly definitive work at the top (but I do have two albums this year in my top 100, and those are both in the top 4, so...). And even if my two choices took the top spot, I also wouldn't call American Dream the best LCD Soundsystem album, nor do I think most people would agree with me on MASSEDUCTION being St. Vincent's best. I certainly don't think the critics are going with the obvious choices here; in the end, even if many of us didn't click with it as much as his previous two masterpieces, DAMN still stood above pretty much everything this year on Metacritic.
The problem with this year is that all the top acts have already created career-defining works. All of these albums are worthy of being album of the year, even if they don't match earlier efforts by the same artists.
I also don't think it's fair to judge an entire year on the very top work; if we did that, 2003 would look like one of the greatest years ever, and that very much isn't the case...
https://foolfantastic.com/
https://twitter.com/BleuBurgess
Postby StevieFan13 » Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:47 pm
BleuPanda wrote: I don't agree with any of these poll options; DAMN is not as good as To Pimp a Butterfly or good kid, m.A.A.D. city. 2017 is a perfectly fine year overall, though it is maybe missing a truly definitive work at the top (but I do have two albums this year in my top 100, and those are both in the top 4, so...). And even if my two choices took the top spot, I also wouldn't call American Dream the best LCD Soundsystem album, nor do I think most people would agree with me on MASSEDUCTION being St. Vincent's best. I certainly don't think the critics are going with the obvious choices here; in the end, even if many of us didn't click with it as much as his previous two masterpieces, DAMN still stood above pretty much everything this year on Metacritic.
I agree with all of this. And I actually thought the last two years have been very good music years (I've had to narrow down my personal list from over 300 songs, not even counting all the great stuff I haven't even heard). Kendrick being named the best is an easy default position (although hey, it wasn't the case with Untitled Unmastered), but as long as his albums are THIS GOOD, I don't think it's either lazy or uncontroversial.
Location: New York State
Postby Nick » Mon Dec 18, 2017 11:10 pm
I love Kendrick and DAMN, but I had to go with option 3. It seems like in the past couple of years the standards for critics have dropped precipitously. I blame much of this on the recent trend of rewarding songs and albums for their cultural relevance at the expense of all other factors. It seems today that any song that is sufficiently "memeified" is going to place high come EOY time.
This very salty post that I may or may not have written and posted on reddit at 1 in the morning on a work night gets the idea across...
So this is what it’s come down to, huh?
With the crowning of “Bodak Yellow” as 2017’s single greatest piece of music, Pitchfork has finally completed their transition from pretentious indie rag to absolute, unsalvageable garbage. Maybe I’m just old and out of touch. Maybe the children are wrong. But I have no idea how a song with such a generic beat and such a generic flow and such generic, mindless lyrics like “Bodak Yellow” is even considered a decent piece of music, much less some groundbreaking work of art.
It’s obvious at this point that Pitchfork has changed, and for the worse. This wouldn’t have happened even five years ago. Back then you could have critiqued Pitchfork for their writing or their attitude or their politics, but their lists? Their lists contained some genuinely forward thinking, boundary pushing music. When they made a list it felt as if they were really trying to reward the best music of the year. Don’t believe me? Their top three songs of 2012 were Usher’s “Climax”, Frank Ocean’s “Pyramids”, and Grimes’ “Oblivion”, three songs that were unique, innovative, and overall well-crafted pieces of pop music. Let’s go back even further, to 2007. Pitchfork’s top three songs from that year were Panda Bear’s “Bros”, Battles’ “Atlas”, and LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends”. There’s no way, absolutely no way at all, that you can tell me that “Bodak Yellow” deserves to be ranked among any of those songs.
And you know what? I actually like some of this list. In the top ten alone I really like “Boys” and “Green Light” and “DNA”. But the songs that I do like are simply overwhelmed by the amount of trash elsewhere. And it’s not even as if these “trash” songs have some redeeming qualities here and there. It’s not as if they’re songs that, while well-executed, just fail to connect with me. The reality is that, try as I might, I simply cannot fathom what makes a song like “Bodak Yellow” or “XO Tour Llif3” an enjoyable, forward thinking piece of music. I can’t even fathom what makes those songs “decent”. To me they just sound like absolute, unmitigated, garbage.
So yeah, I’m getting older. What might have connected with me ten years ago may not connect with me now. But Pitchfork has also changed. And in their attempt to gain a larger audience they’ve shed the bulk of the avant-garde music that might’ve scared off some of their potential audience (could you even imagine something as weird as the 12 minute long psychedelic odyssey that is “Bros” cracking the top ten in 2017?) in favor of music that largely panders to the lowest common denominator.
Congratulations, Pitchfork. I hope all that extra ad revenue is worth it.
Sweepstakes Ron
Location: Here, There, and Everywhere
Postby Sweepstakes Ron » Mon Dec 18, 2017 11:21 pm
Nick wrote: This very salty post that I may or may not have written and posted on reddit at 1 in the morning on a work night gets the idea across...
Whoa, whoa, WHOA. Hold the phone... That was YOU?
Aw geez, the internet really is a small world... I've read your reviews, but I certainly didn't think that you'd have a copypasta like that in you! Congratulations...?
Speaking of which, a bit a snooping around on /r/popheads and a few other sites with similar pophead demographics seems to indicate that "Bodak Yellow" isn't too popular among that crowd either. Just a cursory glance, though.
"Music is powerful, man. It speaks to a primal pit in our brains. It makes anyone want to get up and get their knees going!"
— Jake the Dog
Postby Nick » Tue Dec 19, 2017 12:27 am
Sweepstakes Ron wrote:
Yupp, that was me. I found some of the reactions to my post hilarious actually. I was cracking up the next morning as I read all my replies. Trust me, I'm 100% aware of how salty I sounded. I'm also responsible for another ridiculous copypasta about hating the name of the band Portugal. The Man, but that's a story for another day...
TVFan365
Postby TVFan365 » Tue Dec 19, 2017 4:38 am
I loved DAMN. and consider it one of the greatest albums of all time. I had this one on repeat more than his other albums.
Postby StevieFan13 » Tue Dec 19, 2017 6:46 am
TVFan365 wrote: I loved DAMN. and consider it one of the greatest albums of all time. I had this one on repeat more than his other albums.
Yeah, worth noting that it was one of the few 2017 albums to actually earn a place on our top 1000. (I'd say it deserved it).
Postby Henrik » Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:29 am
I made this poll because I think it's the last option. Admittedly, I haven't listened to a lot of music from 2017, but this is still quite a strong feeling I have. It's not just about Kendrick, but established artists in general that gets almost all the love. Where is the desire for something new?
Postby Pierre » Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:45 am
Henrik wrote: I made this poll because I think it's the last option. Admittedly, I haven't listened to a lot of music from 2017, but this is still quite a strong feeling I have. It's not just about Kendrick, but established artists in general that gets almost all the love. Where is the desire for something new?
I've already said it somewhere else when I saw Kanye West and Radiohead raking in excessive (not undeserved, but excessive, though I'm mostly saying that not to re-ignite the debate about The Life of Pablo) acclaim for their last albums, and I'll repeat it: the Pitchfork generation is starting to Rolling Stone-izing itself. Maybe it'll soon be time for a new generation.
JohnnyBGoode
Unquestionable Presence
Postby JohnnyBGoode » Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:19 am
Option 1: Not really my genre so can't really comment (though in my mid 40s, I'm trying to get more into it & Noname was in my top 5 last year).
Option 2: Personally don't think any 2017 album would have made my top 3 last year (Car Seat Headrest, Radiohead, Bowie) but still plenty of good stuff.
Option 3: I think many individual critics may well have gone for other albums as their #1, but DAMN. was the one that polled highest most consistently to top the cumulative polls of different websites/publications. From a quick look at one where we see individual lists, NPR voted DAMN. no.1 but, while some of those available to see voted it #1, some didn't include at all, and others had a a different #1.
Option 4: There's so much music out there (a lot of it good) it's much more easily accessible, the more we listen to, the less time we (including critics) have to spend on individual albums we love. So maybe (while perhaps easier to get out there) harder for lesser known artists to rise to the very top in cumulative terms, with the vote split more & more between the lesser known, while more established acclaimed artists who produce something near their best will get more cumulative attention (most critics will at least give them one listen, they may not all listen to lesser known artists). Therefore it may either take an exceptional album and/or a quiet year from the big hitters for a different result...
Postby BleuPanda » Tue Dec 19, 2017 1:56 pm
I don't think there's a lack of love for new artists; SZA and Sampha are getting a lot of love for their debuts, and Lorde is doing phenomenal with only her second album. Vince Staples is also hanging in the top ten with only his second full album; are they not new enough?
The simple fact is, making a stellar debut is difficult. How many debuts sit at #1 for their year? Honestly, music is the one medium I know where we kind of expect older artists to fade into the background to be replaced by younger people. Kendrick Lamar has only been in the spotlight for 5 years! There are singular video games I have waited about that much time for!
Checking, the last time we had a debut album at #1 was Funeral; 13 years ago. Before that we had This It It. Two times this century so far.
Kendrick Lamar is still a young artist; he's simply been working his ass off. Four studio albums in 6 years; most other artists in this era take around 3 years between albums. We rarely see an artist this dedicated to creating new work.
I really don't remember anyone complaining about the top albums from last year; so Kendrick's fourth album is too much but David Bowie's 25th is fine? Hell, Sleep Well Beast is the only album this year that isn't within the first five albums of its artist. The top three from last year were the 25th, 9th, and 16th of their respective artists! So, what, Nick Cave was finally getting his due respect after being in the business for 30 years? Are epic comeback albums given a free pass, even if they require the band to already be established?
I just think you're not looking at the big picture if you think critics are suddenly ignoring debut albums this year. Let's look at the top 10 instead of #1:
2017: 2 debuts
2016: 0 debuts!
2015: 1 (Barnett)
2014: 1 (FKA twigs)
2013: 1 (Disclosure)
2012: 1 (alt-J)
2011: 2 (James Blake, The Weeknd)
2010: 0!
This year is actually on the high end for debuts this decade! This is actually a really young year, all things considered.
Postby bootsy » Tue Dec 19, 2017 2:24 pm
Why is this a poll. This is about one of the silliest and most useless polls I've seen. Would this be a poll if some rock album was number 1 instead. I somehow doubt it.
Postby Henrik » Tue Dec 19, 2017 2:37 pm
bootsy wrote: Why is this a poll. This is about one of the silliest and most useless polls I've seen. Would this be a poll if some rock album was number 1 instead. I somehow doubt it.
Because it's #1 with a large margin in the eoy spreadsheet, although very few people I have heard seem to think it's on the same level as ”good kid, m.A.A.d. city” and ”To Pimp a Butterfly”.
Henrik wrote:
I guess my question is, who are these people you're talking to? If you're looking at this forum, you have to consider the fact that a lot of us don't consider rap our favorite genre, and there are certain factors that would make us like To Pimp a Butterfly more than DAMN. DAMN is Kendrick's most traditional rap album, while To Pimp a Butterfly was infused with a lot of funk and jazz elements. I think, for people who aren't exactly big on rap, having these extra elements gave TPAB a certain appeal, even if the difference in quality isn't that great to someone who appreciates rap in general. We simply don't have enough serious rap fans on this forum to get a meaningful answer out of this poll.
Ok so it is. There's a reason it is because the critics overwhelming love this album. This is ridiculous to complain, 'well it's number 1 because .....wait.....wait... because it's number 1 I guess'. I didn't see this poll last year when David Bowie's Blackstar was number 1. It's not on the same level as his previous two albums, SO WHAT? Is Blackstar on the same level as Rise and Fall or Low? Probably not but it was still number 1 for 2016. This shouldn't be a poll. But on acclaimedmusic this nonsense seems to come up when it's something the moderator doesn't like. Go figure.
Postby Pierre » Tue Dec 19, 2017 4:30 pm
Since we've already established countless times that AM is by no means a hip-hop-hostile forum but you're just in complete denial on that point, I'll bet that it's more probably precisely because many artists snatched AOTY status in recent years while they were well into their career (Kendrick was an exception up until now but he isn't anymore) that the issue suddenly entailed a reaction; the fact that it's a hip-hop album is just mere coincidence. But, hey, we all know that you will never admit it because you're a big ball of stubbornness, so whatever. The best answer is to bring back what Henrik told us to do from the start:
Henrik wrote: Vote and/or discuss. As always, be kind.
Seriously, regarding the issue raised here, it's true that the last debut album to be an AOTY was Funeral. There's an interesting question in there: does that mean that zero act since them produced a game-redefining release by bringing in a new, completely fresh take on a music style or creating one from scratch with their debut album? Then again, is it really an issue assuming that no such event can occur with a release after the debut one (Kendrick exemplifies this as even though Good Kid, m.A.A.d. city and To Pimp a Butterfly were not his debuts, they nevertheless revolutionized hip-hop)? Remember Nirvana folks Or Radiohead, even. I can't believe I'm writing that. Actually, remember My Bloody Valentine instead
The funny thing to me is, we're also seeing a bunch of breakthrough singles getting a ton of acclaim and also getting dissed on this forum. "Bodak Yellow" and "XO Tour Llif3" are being treated like signs that critics are selling out by picking supposed flash-in-the-pans.
I think there are two options:
1. Every critic has collectively had a massive decline with no apparent explanation within the course of a year
2. This forum, while not hostile to hip hop, might not be the best at assessing the genre's merits, especially its modern form
I think the best way I can put this is by comparing it to my opinion on a lot of classic rock from the 70s. Steely Dan, Derek and the Dominoes, etc., are apparently definitive bands from their era, but they sound like 'just rock' to me. There's a certain point where even the top acts of a style can begin to sound generic to an untrained ear. But are they generic, or the top examples of an oversaturated style?
I think we're reaching that point with some of you in regards to modern hip hop.
So, don't compare DAMN. to TPAB. Compare it to other more traditional rap albums. In that area, I would say it's definitely a stand-out for the last few years.
Let's flip this question; imagine, for whatever reason, the top album of the year was going to be hip hop. Which album would you go with this year if you couldn't choose DAMN, and do you truly believe it is a better album than DAMN?
Hell, here's a more likely reason DAMN is dominating; there are only three hip hop albums in the top 20 this year. Meanwhile, there are 5 rock albums in the top 10. All the people who like hip hop are coming to an easier consensus than the rock fans, as it's really just a battle between DAMN and Big Fish Theory.
Henrik wrote: Because it's #1 with a large margin in the eoy spreadsheet, although very few people I have heard seem to think it's on the same level as ”good kid, m.A.A.d. city” and ”To Pimp a Butterfly”.
LOL at this guy. If I'm stubborn then you are pretentious as hell and pretty ignorant.
You typed all of this and still make no sense. Was this your way to convince me because you failed as usual. No purpose for this poll. None other than to whine about it's not fair that a hip hop album is number one. And you want to bring up stubbornness. That is you trying to type all of the nonsense you typed and that someone took the time to create this poll and you defending it. That's stubbornness.
Last edited by bootsy on Tue Dec 19, 2017 5:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Setherex
Postby Setherex » Tue Dec 19, 2017 5:47 pm
My friend and I found your Bodak Yellow post the day after and thought it was hilarious. So A+ job
Pierre wrote: stuff
You typed all of this and still make no sense. And this poll doesn't either.
I think I do, but regardless, I wasn't particularly trying to anyway. The fact that I'm writing a wall of text doesn't necessarily mean I'm trying to make a point (I sometimes do), it may also mean that I'm just rambling about to remind people not to take everything too seriously Especially not music.
I think I do
Nah you don't
bootsy wrote: You typed all of this and still make no sense. And this poll doesn't either.
Ooh, schoolyard-level debate here. Time to get back to work
Forget about Kendrick Lamar specifically. Here are some interesting numbers:
From each AM top 10 of the year (the eoy spreadsheet for 2017), here are the number of ”new” artists with a top 10 of the year album.
For example: Frank Ocean was a new top 10 artist in 2012 (because ”Nostalgia, Ultra” is only #27 of 2011), but not a new artist in 2016.
2013-2017 has an average of 4 ”new” artists in the yearly top 10s, while it’s between 5 and 9 ”new” artist in each top 10 albums list from 2000-2012. That sure looks like the acclaim has been more concentrated to a few already acclaimed artists during the last years.
This is of course just an interesting pattern, not a proof that the critics are lazy.
Additional note:
Some of this trend (but not all, I think) probably has to do with that earlier years are more based on all-time lists, that often include only one groundbreaking album per artist and not favor repeated successes to the same extent. If we had an eoy spreadsheet from each year 2000-2012, I think they would also have fewer ”new” artists in the top 10s.
I think there is another trend there; a lot of the bands from the 2000s didn't necessarily hang around. We've written a lot about the instant decline of Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes, for example. I wonder how that number looks going back to the 60s...
Edit: I'm actually checking now. I'll be back with what I find out.
BleuPanda wrote: I think there is another trend there; a lot of the bands from the 2000s didn't necessarily hang around. We've written a lot about the instant decline of Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes, for example. I wonder how that number looks going back to the 60s...
Yeah it's about staying power which as you mentioned those bands didn't sustain. It's Kendrick's fault he's so good. 'DAMNit Kendrick, why you so good that you gotta be all on top of the critics list all the time'
Here's the data I found:
Average top 10 debuts for each decade:
All-time: 6.12
1960s: 5.1
2010s: 5
So, yes, the 2010s are currently below average, but actually comparable to the 1960s; and I definitely think Henrik is on to something by mentioning the fact that all-time lists can help dig out albums by unique artists. Didn't we have some Tom Waits and Bruce Springsteen albums from the 2000s in their top 10 for a year, only to quickly slide off once we got lists a few years on? Maybe we should be comparing the EOY files from earlier years rather than what's on the site now to get a better idea about how these years truly compare in their immediate aftermath.
Likewise, the 1990s and 2000s appear to be quite a bit higher than average, so of course the 2010s look odd in direct comparison - good thing a bigger view shows they're both a bit away from the average in opposite directions.
2013 and 2016 are definite anomalies (for now); every other year has at least 4 top 10 debuts. It could be we're having an odd few years, but I think that has more to do with the fact that this is the first era we've really seen a large amount of artists from previous generations making stunning comebacks. Other eras didn't really have people like Leonard Cohen and David Bowie making late-life masterpieces after decades out of the critical spotlight.
Other fun fact: 2 years have an entire top 10 consisting of top 10 debuts, 1983 and 1996.
Great post, BleuPanda! Not that much to disagree about anymore, but very interesting statistics nonetheless.
Going to EOY sheets, let's look to a decade ago at 2007:
EOY sheet rank:
1. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (now #9 for year)
2. Radiohead - In Rainbows (now #1)
3. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (now #2)
4. M.I.A. - Kala (now #5)
5. Panda Bear - Person Pitch (now #7)
6. The National - Boxer (same)
7. Battles - Mirrored (now #11)
8. PJ Harvey - White Chalk (now #19)
9. Feist - The Reminder (now #16)
10. Burial - Untrue (now #3)
Albums now in the top 10:
4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (not even in the 2007 spreadsheet)
8. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (not even in the 2007 spreadsheet)
10. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer (was #19)
Overall, 2007 moved from 4 top 10 debuts to 5 with the removal of White Chalk.
And, you might say "But that's largely because For Emma, Forever Ago and Oracular Spectacular weren't ranked until 2008"...but, that could be true for something from this year as well. And that also doesn't change the presence of White Chalk back in 2007.
Let's compare 2008:
1. Portishead - Third (same)
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (same)
3. TV on the Radio - Dear Science (now #4)
4. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (now #3)
5. Nick Cave - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! (now #12)
6. Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. (now #6)
7. Santogold - Santogold (now #17)
8. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid (now #5)
9. Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair (now #10)
10. Lil Wayne - The Carter III (now #8)
7. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours (was #16)
9. Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (was #25)
2008 stays the same as far as debuts go, but it still shows that these things can shift. There are going to be albums that will be reconsidered, and ones that seemed important but didn't actually leave as much impact as we once believed. So don't be discouraged by the lack of new artists or what-not, because it's not like Velvet Underground topped any critic lists back in 1967.
Postby BleuPanda » Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:07 pm
I also decided to check the top 10 songs, though that's a bit harder to gauge; I counted how many unique appearances occurred in each top 10 (though each song could only count once even if it introduced multiple new entrants), so a year where an artist makes multiple top 10 debuts, they get counted once. I included artists for their first song with a major part, so Kendrick got counted for 2014, Nicki Minaj made "Monster" count for 2010, etc.
Average: 6.03
So, as far as songs go, 2010s are pretty much in sync with previous decades.
Only one year had 10 distinct new artists: 1976. 2004 also only had new artists in its top 10, but Arcade Fire has two songs that year. 2006 also has only new artists with 8 distinct artists, with Hot Chip and Amy Winehouse both managing to land 2 songs. 1978 and 2014 have 9 new artists each (so 2014 is actually one of the biggest debut years!), with Kraftwerk and Caribou being the only repeats.
One year had only two new artists featured: 1980 only found space for Motorhead and The Jam, though The Jam worked in two songs to make up for it.
prosecutorgodot
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Postby prosecutorgodot » Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:33 am
Wow, one of BleuPanda's last posts, about being too close to the fire right now and we need to let time pass, was really convincing.
I was going to go on a rant about how 2017 just might be a bad year (similar to 1974 and 1996), but now I'm good.
Also want to commend the good thoughts from everyone about the third option (which I voted for). My last two cents: there are so many storied artists in the top 20s (LCD, National,...), or otherwise new artists that every single publication supports (SZA, Jlin,...). More so than publications losing touch, I see that publications are all voting for the exact same albums (as others have stated). In other words, we are only getting "safe" lists (at least in terms of albums).
Postby BleuPanda » Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:53 am
I wonder if we're seeing the other end of the internet's effect; I used to argue music diverged during the 2000s due to the ease of spreading new work; thus, no one had to listen to the same thing if they didn't want to. I believe this is why so few acts could maintain their top status for an extended period. However, I believe we might be seeing the opposite effect; because we're all so connected, we are collectively aware of what the big albums of each year are through word of mouth.
Like, there has to be a few critics featured on this website who are aware it exists, right? And if not this site, they certainly have Metacritic. I feel like we're returning to an era where many of us are listening to the same music throughout the year. And I don't know about other people, but if I see something that didn't click with me getting a lot of sustained hype, I'll usually return to it and see if I can find something more. What this means in the long run, we'll have to see, but I believe a direct effect will be critics either consciously or unconsciously considering their own opinions in relation to others. I think MASSEDUCTION placing 22nd on Pitchfork's list after they gave it one of its less positive reviews is a sign something like this is happening (or, of course, they got St. Vincent's least biggest fan to write the review for their site and everyone else there loved it...).
And - if this truly is the beginning of the decline for the current era of critics, I guess I'll have to gather some people together and start the next era.
Postby Nassim » Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:39 am
BleuPanda wrote:
That one is easy, I think Big Fish Theory would make a better number 1 than DAMN. It pushes more boundaries, is as much in synch with its time thematically and just plain sounds better to me.
And yeah, of course an album that comes linked to a big name or that has a lot of steam right when it comes out is more likely to end on EOY lists, most websites do their lists a bit like we do so an album that everybody has listened to is, by definition, most likely to end of more lists than one a bunch of people have heard ; so it takes some time for a hidden gem to get to the top (see how In The Aeroplane Over the Sea slowly climbed the AM ladder with each update).
That being said, DAMN is head and shoulders above other major releases of the year, there’s no reason why that effect would have benefitted him more than LCD Soundsystem, Lorde or St. Vincent.
Where I think DAMN might suffer is at the end of the decade. Most critics will be reluctant to put 3 Kendrick albums on their list, or at least 3 Kendrick Albums on the top 50. And that will be even worse on all time lists, so I could see it losing to Melodrama on the long run (except if Lorde tops it and faces the same effect)
Postby Dexter » Fri Dec 22, 2017 1:21 am
I'd still pick DAMN. to win the Album Grammy next year, though.
Another thing I realized; we are talking like this is the third time Kendrick has topped the EOY year, but this is only the second. GKMC only just became number 1 for 2012. Things will shift if Damn is undeserving.
Postby Jonathon » Tue Dec 26, 2017 11:42 pm
Two of these albums will drop at Decade's end. There's no way one artist gets 3 top 5 albums of the decade. Even 3 top 10 is unlikely.
Chris K.
Postby Chris K. » Sat Dec 30, 2017 8:04 pm
IMO, 2017 was a pretty boring year for music. I like DAMN. a lot but it pales in comparison to TPABF or GKMC. The rest of the top 10 isn't really that exciting to me either though. American Dream, Masseduction and Melodrama are great as well, but I prefer Blond, A Seat at the Table, A Moon Shaped Pool, Lemonade and Blackstar to any of those three albums.
Postby Gillingham » Fri Jan 05, 2018 11:23 am
Jonathon wrote: Two of these albums will drop at Decade's end. There's no way one artist gets 3 top 5 albums of the decade. Even 3 top 10 is unlikely.
Still, both To Pimp a Butterfly and good kid, m.A.A.d. City are shoo-ins for the top ten of the decade. Good chances for top five as well. Not so sure about DAMN. though.
Postby Jonathon » Tue Jan 09, 2018 2:17 am
Gillingham wrote:
Neon Bible was once in the top 200 of all-time. Things happened. I imagine we'll see the albums drop into a more typical top 3 albums pattern (See: Kid A, In Rainbows, Amnesiac. Nevermind, In Utero, MTV Unplugged. Sign O The Times, Purple Rain, 1999.)
Postby Jonathon » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:27 pm
With Kendrick getting #1 album of the year and #1 song of the year, I see him taking the artist of the decade crown from Kanye, and entering the top 60 (maybe even top 50?) of all-time next update.
To Henrik's point, I think critics in this century have always been excited about the idea of contributing to the crowning of new legends. There is a ton of bandwagoning. Remember the Daft Punk Discovery reassessment of 2009? Critics are writers, and ultimately, like a good story. Kendrick's rise as the it artist simply fits their current narrative.
Jirin
Postby Jirin » Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:24 am
Out of the albums this year that are legitimate contenders for the top spot, it's the one everybody has heard of.
Critics gotta eat too.
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One year on from the UN Summit for Refugees & Migrants: a conversation with the UN Special Representative for International Migration", SDG Media Zone (18-22 September 2017)
22 Sep 2017 - Speakers: Ms. Louise Arbour, (UN Special Envoy for International Migration)
Moderator: Ms. Alison Smale, (UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications)
The SDG Media Zone aims to engage people all over the world in the important conversations happening during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly in New York from 18-22 September. Bringing together well-known personalities and Member States as well as content creators, influencers and media partners, the SDG Media Zone will provide a dynamic space to strengthen the commitment of the international community in support of the 2030 Agenda.
Heads of State and Government will be gathering at the UN Headquarters in New York for the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly which opens on 12th September. The theme of the general debate this year is “Focusing on people: striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet”.
English 5 Dec 2018
Louise Arbour, UN Special Representative for International Migration
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Video message by the SRSG for International Migration, Ms. Louise Arbour, to...
Creativity for the Goals, SDG Media Zone (18-22 September 2017)
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‘The Cloverfield Paradox’ Is A Challenge For Movie Scientists And Brand Association (Movie Review)
February 5th, 2018 by Aaron Neuwirth
So it turns out Cloverfield is not just the name of a road in Santa Monica, CA, it’s a space station. That’s a spoiler for a premise, but The Cloverfield Paradox seems like a film so bent on throwing surprises at you that this one is not a major reveal to feel that concerned with. More concerning is how J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot Productions plan to use the Cloverfield label. While I’m fully ready to review this third entry, it is, frankly, impossible to evaluate the film without considering the unprecedented nature of its release. What we have is a sci-fi horror film that was suddenly dropped on audiences every, following the Super Bowl, and whether or not that’s a matter for those watching this film years from now, it does play a role in understanding what is making this film tick.
The story follows a crew of scientists working on a space station. Like any plausible near-future, this crew is made up of an international set of individuals with eyes on working together for the greater good of the world (in this case, it’s an energy crisis). The team includes Gugu Mbatha-Raw as the de-facto lead Hamilton, David Oyelowo as the level-headed Kiel, Daniel Bruhl as the suspicious Schmidt, John Ortiz as the religious Monk, Chris O’Dowd as the funny one, Askel Hennie as the one most likely to die first and Zhang Ziyi as Chewbacca (she’s assured, but speaks exclusively in another language that everyone understands). Their mission is to activate a particle accelerator in space, hoping to save the planet from certain doom. One of their attempts creates a form of chaos that spills the movie over into Twilight Zone territory.
To backtrack a bit, The Cloverfield Paradox follows 2008’s Cloverfield and 2016’s 10 Cloverfield Lane. One was a kaiju movie from the perspective of a camcorder. The follow-up was a paranoia thriller set in a bunker. Now we have a space station disaster film that fits right in with movies like Event Horizon, Sunshine and 2010. The thing about these two follow-ups, neither film was meant to fall under the Cloverfield banner, and that’s becoming something of an issue.
By having Abrams serve as a producer who can swoop in and try to fix things, for better or worse, the seams are apparent. In the case of 10 Cloverfield Lane, a film utilizing much of the same crew as the first film, there wasn’t much of a problem. For The Cloverfield Paradox, the idea of merging a movie (formerly titled The God Particle) into a franchise puts it at odds with what we should expect.
This is all important to understand, because the resulting film has clear issues. Following release date delays that could be looked at as a way to distance itself from 2017’s other space disaster films Life and Alien: Covenant, but could likely be more accurately associated with the screenplay, character and editing issues, The Cloverfield Paradox finally received a title, trailer and release all in the same day. Netflix was rumored to be purchasing this $40-ish million movie, and that was indeed validated all in a hurry. It’s a brilliant gambit for sure; releasing a film with one Super Bowl ad, hours after it premiered, but also speaks to what many could glean. The film just wasn’t working on all levels during production.
However, I wouldn’t say it isn’t worthwhile. As a standalone film, there is a lot to enjoy and admire, considering both the talent involved (though I understand many cast members are wasted) and the technical aspects (which I also figure would have a better impact on a big screen). Perhaps this is still coming from my general spite for Netflix’s Bright, which I did see on a big screen, but I was happy enjoying a film about a group of smart people wanting to do something that would benefit the world. The added twists that come with it are par for the course, and while it’s a shame the film does not do a better job of justifying some of the oddities that come from what occurs early on, there is something to enjoy about the audacity of a film that presents a lot of crazy ideas and just lets it sit with the audience. I would wager to say writers Oren Uziel and Doug Jung have a clear idea of why things are happening; it’s just a fault of the film that an audience will never have a completely clear understanding.
This in mind, I don’t really care about a film explaining every aspect of its logic. I would even say I like some of the implications this film has as far as it being a part of the Cloverfield narrative (with some fun ideas dealing with the multi-dimensional concepts and how that can throw in plenty of interesting wrinkles that could be handled in a film already set on being a part of this universe, instead of after the fact). A chance was taken to make something out of a flawed picture that wasn’t getting the right amount of studio attention to fix it, so I’m just a bit more willing to accept the conceptual issues.
Because of this, it becomes a clear challenge to take on the choices and direction made by the characters and the story. This is especially evident in the film’s later sections, as the audience is being fed exposition regularly and the minimally-sketched out characters only have so much to define them. Without having Ridley Scott’s excuse concerning how little he cares about the humans and just wants to focus on androids played by Michael Fassbender, there is little to appreciate in these people beyond the personalities on display. A big screen experience would have made the spectacle more effective, I suppose, but given the unique presentation of this film (which feels more and more like a last ditch effort), one really benefits best by zeroing in on the highlights as opposed to the areas that just aren’t fresh in a film about a malfunctioning spacecraft.
Those highlights include a few performances. Mbatha-Raw, in particular, gets to standout. She plays the sort of lead character that is not officially the lead character until many others are out of the picture and the film decides to reveal a bit more backstory. However, she is an effective asset as far as providing the film with something emotional to connect with. O’Dowd also stands out, as he’s the funny one and it only makes sense for him to leave an impression. The most interesting character comes in the form of a stowaway of sorts played by Elizabeth Debicki, but the film never quite finds the best way to connect her beyond some bits of dialogue that direct the plot in specific ways.
Director Julius Onah deserves some mention, as this could not have been a smooth production, let alone one that wasn’t frustrating in some way. Whatever quibbles I have, there are some cleverly-staged moments, such as an opening montage or the perspectives we see at various instances in the film. He, cinematographer Dan Mindel and composer Bear McCreary all find ways to at least make the movie very watchable, which deserves credit for a film that was almost as doomed as Earth seemed to be at various points in this movie.
With another Cloverfield-branded film on the way set during WWII, I can only hope there is a better effort made by Bad Robot to ensure a movie that feels like more of a whole. As it stands, given my admiration for the first two Cloverfield films (I think the first is a modern classic as far as what it did for movies in various ways) and a choice to really try and look past what I assumed were production issues leading up to this surprise release, I enjoyed what was offered. It’s coming out of the Abrams playbook in many ways, and even as it takes more conventional routes to resolve its plot, there is an interesting sheen to the experience that I admired.
Written by: Aaron Neuwirth on February 5, 2018.
Aaron Neuwirth
Writer/Reviewer, Film Lover, Podcaster, Gamer, Comic Reader, Disc Golfer & a Lefty. There are too many films, TV, books, etc. for me to list as favorites, but I can assure that the amount film knowledge within my noggin is ridiculous, though I am always open to learning more. You can follow me on Twitter @AaronsPS4, see what else I am up to at TheCodeIsZeek.com & check out my podcast, Out Now with Aaron and Abe, on iTunes.
Tags: Askel Hennie, Chris O'Dowd, Daniel Bruhl, David Oyelowo, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, John Ortiz, Julius Onah, The Cloverfield Paradox, Zhang Ziyi.
This entry is filed under Movie Reviews . You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0 . You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
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Difference between revisions of "Firearms Registration"
Hoffmang (Talk | contribs)
(→De-Registering a Firearm)
John.Simutis (Talk | contribs)
(→Private Sales)
Infrequent sales of '''long guns over fifty years old''' are exempt from using an FFL (Penal Code 12078 (t)(2)). (''Infrequent'' means "occasional and without regularity.", Penal Code 12070 (c)(1)) Note that the "infrequent" unlicensed '''sale of handguns is limited to six transactions per year''', Penal Code 12070 (c)(1)(a), ("For pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed upon the person, less than six transactions per calendar
year. For this purpose, "transaction" means a single sale, lease, or transfer of any number of pistols, revolvers, or other firearms capable of being concealed upon the person.")
== Not all guns are registered ==
The net effect of these older guns is '''not all guns in California are registered''' with the state, and it is not required that they be registered.
2 Currently
3 Private Sales
4 Not all guns are registered
5 What is registered to you?
6 Voluntary Registration
7 De-Registering a Firearm
Firearms sold through California Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) generally are recorded with the state through the Dealer's Record of Sale process. (Penal Code 12070 and following)
However, sales using an FFL were not required until January 1, 1991. Prior to that date an individual could sell to another individual without using a dealer, and there are probably several million firearms in California which have not changed hands since 1990.
Rifles defined as Assault Weapons had specific time windows before which they had to be registered to maintain possession. Later, .50BMG rifles were also required to be registered by their owners to continue to possess them.
Beginning January 1, 1998, individuals moving to California with handguns are required to register their handguns as "personal handgun importers" (Penal Code 12072(f)(2)). The person must file the "New Resident Handgun Ownership Report".
Prior to 1998, guns moved here were not registered, even by mail. Note that this registration requirement does not apply to "long guns", typically shotguns and rifles. The number of firearms moved here is unknown.
It is illegal to possess a firearm that is defined as an Assault Weapon or a .50BMG rifle without a valid registration or permit. Only those persons with an Assault Weapons Permit from the Department of Justice or sworn law enforcement officers who have obtained a letter from their department can register new Assault Weapons or .50BMG Rifles.
Infrequent sales of long guns over fifty years old are exempt from using an FFL (Penal Code 12078 (t)(2)). (Infrequent means "occasional and without regularity.", Penal Code 12070 (c)(1)) Note that the "infrequent" unlicensed sale of handguns is limited to six transactions per year, Penal Code 12070 (c)(1)(a), ("For pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed upon the person, less than six transactions per calendar year. For this purpose, "transaction" means a single sale, lease, or transfer of any number of pistols, revolvers, or other firearms capable of being concealed upon the person.")
Not all guns are registered
The net effect of these older guns is not all guns in California are registered with the state, and it is not required that they be registered.
What is registered to you?
An individual may ask the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms, for a report of all firearms registered to him or her by filing a "Automated Firearms System (AFS) Records Request Form".
Voluntary Registration
An individual may voluntarily register a firearm with the state by filing a "Firearm Ownership Record".
A benefit of registering an unregistered handgun is that there are certain sentence enhancements for committing a crime with an unregistered handgun. The most relevant example is that illegal concealed carry is a felony if the handgun is not registered to the person illegally concealing the firearm but is a misdemeanor if the firearm is registered to the person carrying it (Penal Code 12025 (a)(6)(B)).
De-Registering a Firearm
A person may remove a registration of a firearm to him- or herself by filing one of the "No Longer In Possession" forms: Handgun or Assault Weapon.
Note that when you sell a handgun via Private Party Transfer at a California FFL, the handgun is not automatically removed from your AFS record of registered firearms. One can use the form above to remove a handgun sold from one's AFS record.
Retrieved from "http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/index.php?title=Firearms_Registration&oldid=112"
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2 CommentsPhotographersJohnOct 10, 2011
Peter Gabriel’s new album New Blood just arrived – yes, I do still buy CD’s and no, I don’t want to download compressed mp3 files for the same price – but for the last week or so he’s been trailing the album on his site and as well as lapping up the new versions and the interviews about the songs there was a strange graphic and it was only with the arrival of the CD that I could find out what it was. I’m sure it would have made an impressive LP cover back in the day….
Well, it turns out to be a photograph, of an embryonic stem cell on the tip of a needle, and was taken by retired scientific photographer Steve Gschmeissner from Bedford using a scanning electron microscope which magnifies subjects by up to a million times. Not much about him online though, apart from a stock library and his spiders and other insects.
[Update] Steve has contacted me to say he now has a web site at theworldcloseup.com.
[Update] What do I think of the album? OK, I’m a big fan (since c 1974!) and you may well wish to discount my views on that basis alone, but I don’t always like what he does and I’m not generally a fan of older rock stars kowtowing to classical music. Too often his great songs and vocal performances seem let down by overwhelming backing music – “Here comes the flood” from his first solo album was much better in its pared-back versions with Robert Fripp, on the greatest hits album, or here. “Red rain” is another example, and while it does work on “So” it’s much better when he just sings it with a piano. It is on New Blood too, and for me it came close to being lost in the wall of sound produced by a 45 piece orchestra, but it just about works. The same with “Intruder”, although in this case the music seems to echo a thriller soundtrack and suits the subject. On the other hand, when the orchestra is held back it’s really successful. There’s also an adventurous re-engineering of some of the songs, with hints of Steve Reich on “San Jacinto” and the full orchestra only comes in at the inspiring climax of “Wallflower”, my favourite track on the album where you really hear the character in Gabriel’s increasingly-coarse voice. Conclusion – one of the more immediately enjoyable of Gabried’s later albums.
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Gareth says:
Heard PG on Jools – and some of the stuff on the website as well. Seems like a must buy. I first saw PG solo in 1979 – Hammersmith and then blagged our way in to his Paris gigs. A very good musician and a very interesting person in the technology world too…
Definitely a must buy. You may also like this Radio 2 concert http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015n400#synopsis (must admit it makes me feel so old recommending a Radio 2 program!).
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Michael was born and adopted in Berlin, Germany in 1969. He moved to the U.S. with his newly adopted family in 1972 where he began his musical studies in piano that continued for 13 years.......
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Michael was born and adopted in Berlin, Germany in 1969. He moved to the U.S. with his newly adopted family in 1972 where he began his musical studies in piano that continued for 13 years, and then he completed higher studies for an additional 4 years. Composing his first minuet at the age of 6, he knew why he was alive. Michael always believed the adoption was the best thing that happened to him. It gave him the chance to do the otherwise impossible, to follow his dreams.
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Japan - AEGIS Weapon System Japan - AEGIS Weapon System
Japan - AEGIS Weapon System
The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan of two (2) AEGIS Weapon Systems (AWS), two (2) Multi-Mission Signal Processors (MMSP) and two (2) Command and Control Processor (C2P) Refreshes and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2.150 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
The Government of Japan has requested to buy two (2) AEGIS Weapon Systems (AWS), two (2) Multi-Mission Signal Processors (MMSP) and two (2) Command and Control Processor (C2P) Refreshes. Also included is radio navigation equipment, naval ordnance, two (2) Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Systems, Global Command and Control System-Maritime (GCCS-M) hardware, and two (2) Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), U.S. Government and contractor representatives' technical, engineering and logistics support services, installation support material, training, construction services for six (6) vertical launch system launcher module enclosures, communications equipment and associated spares, classified and unclassified publications and software, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $2.150 billion.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region. It is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Japan in developing and maintaining a strong and effective self-defense capability.
Avionics Market - Global Forecast to 2024
This proposed sale will provide the Government of Japan with an enhanced capability against increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile threats and create an expanded, layered defense of its homeland. Japan, which already has the AEGIS in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing this system into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support does not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor for the Aegis Weapon System and Multi-Mission Signal Processors will be Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Washington, DC. The Command and Control Processor Refresh will be provided by General Dynamics, Falls Church, VA.
There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require annual trips to Japan involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for technical reviews, support, and oversight for approximately eight years.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.
Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
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Nature Study Pinpoints Mechanism that Controls AIDS in Rare Cases
A Miller School researcher and his team have discovered how a rare, few people infected with HIV fight off AIDS without taking antiretroviral drugs, a finding that may bring scientists a step closer to developing a vaccine for HIV/AIDS.
Miller School Gives Foreign Journalists Close-up View of War on HIV/AIDS
As the International AIDS Conference wrapped up in Washington, D.C., last week, 25 journalists from 25 countries visited the Miller School campus for an up-close view of how the U.S. is fighting the epidemic in the clinical and research arenas.
The Miller School Wins Prestigious Designation as Center for AIDS Research
The National Institutes of Health has recognized the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as Florida’s first and only Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), a prestigious designation awarded to only about 20 of the nation’s most prolific and promising AIDS research institutions.
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Gleason Library septic work under-funded
At the September 10 meeting of the Board of Health (BOH) a status update on the septic tank upgrade at Gleason Library revealed the project was under-funded by approximately $20,000.
After experiencing a problem with the septic system in April of 2012, other system flaws were identified and Gleason received an estimate for repairs in the amount of $34,000 from the engineering firm of Stamski and McNary, Inc. The library then requested and received these funds from April’s Town Meeting with the passage of Article 19. After a public hearing on May 14 the upgraded system design was approved by the BOH and work was slated to begin in August.
“Why isn’t this done?” asked Chair Jeffrey Brem when Gleason Library Director Katie Huffman and Board of Trustees Chair Steve Golson appeared before the BOH. Golson explained that bids for the work went out between mid-June and late-July with the work set to begin shortly thereafter. Only one bid was received but in the amount of $52,000. “We had $34,000,” explained Golson.
Golson contacted the engineering firm that provided the initial estimate and was told it had made an error. “[Stamski and McNary] said, ‘We didn’t know this was a Prevailing Wage job,’” said Golson. The Prevailing Wage Law sets minimum wage rates for Massachusetts public works projects with higher rates than those typical for a residential project. The firm agreed a more accurate estimate of the project at these rates would be closer to $50,000. Huffman later noted that the higher wage requirement raises the cost of the project by 50%.
The board was visibly surprised by the error and asked how the engineering firm could think the library did not qualify as a municipal project. Golson repeated that it had been an error on the part of the engineering firm and explained the library did not have the money to make up the difference.
Golson said the library trustees would be meeting shortly and would have a discussion with Town Administrator Tim Goddard about next steps. “Do we go to Town Meeting or to the Selectmen?” said Golson. “You’re talking about a whole year delay,” said Brem, explaining the BOH could issue an emergency order to obtain funding sooner. Huffman said the timeline would no longer work, because fall was the busiest season for library patrons. August had been specifically chosen as the least busy month said Huffman.
The BOH voted to issue a new permit for the current septic system until the end of August 2014 and asked Golson and Huffman to work with Goddard to get additional funds and get new bids out right up until the next Town Meeting. Work would be done in August 2014.
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Basic Mapping Software
Posted on June 5, 2011 By CyberTower
MICHELLE THOMPSON: Now that we've taken a look at some of the census information and their terms, in order to get a better sense of what type of data is used for neighborhood analysis, we'll focus our attention on Roxbury, Massachusetts. Roxbury is one of 16 neighborhoods in the city of Boston. The next few slides will take a look at information on neighborhoods that is typically available throughout cities and towns in the United States. This slide is a summary of information on the percent of small business loans for women-owned businesses overall in the city of Boston. But we're going to focus in on Roxbury in particular. This employment data is used to show the distribution of women-owned businesses and how they can leverage funds in this particular neighborhood. You can see that north Roxbury has approximately 35% to 45% of women-owned businesses with funding where southern Roxbury has 23% to 29%. But in general, overall there is a large percentage of small business loans in the Roxbury neighborhood. But I think you have to begin to ask some questions about this information. What are the number of women-owned businesses? And in this particular year, from 1990 to 2002, how many businesses were provided with funding? In the next slide, we're going to review information about minority-owned businesses as well. And you can see a high percentage of minority-owned businesses that receive funding from the Small Business Administration. But once again as we take a look at this information, the neighborhood planner needs to evaluate what type of information has been provided here. It looks as though 100% of the minority businesses have received funding. However, what are the number of businesses? How many have been approved by the SBA? And throughout the years, once again 1990 to 2002, what are the range of loans that have been provided in this neighborhood? In the last few years, in particular for this chart that's showing a 10-year span, the Massachusetts housing market has gone through an incredible boom. In this slide, we see an overview of the change in median housing prices over time from 1990 to 2000 and a summary of the information about median home income and purchasing power. Overall in the metro Boston area, the amount of median family income on average is about $86,000. But the income to purchase a home is approximately $126,000. However, the median existing home price, the average home price, is about $325,000. So this gives you some indication of the lack of purchasing power for most residents in Boston. This particular chart, the median household income in 2000, shows that, for the Roxbury area, on average, the income was below $30,000. I think you can get a pretty good idea of the lack of the ability of those neighborhoods and residents to purchase homes in Boston and in Roxbury in particular. As we can see in this slide, the median income by race gives us a better indication of the level of income overall for the city of Boston. In comparison for example for the white race, we have approximately $45,000 to $47,000 where for black it's approximately $30,000. The information, however, compared to the previous slide shows that it doesn't matter what race you are. You may not be able to purchase a home in Massachusetts. This is really important for planners as they begin to develop strategies and policies for how to make affordable housing in the community. This chart gives us an overview from 1999 to 2002 for the median home prices by neighborhood. Let's key in a little bit on Roxbury. And we can see over time that the prices, the average price for a home in their ability to purchase has dramatically shifted. So from this chart, we have to remember the neighborhood values changed and, in fact, have doubled, which eliminates or reduces the ability for a particular resident to purchase a home in the Roxbury neighborhood. Now, we're going to shift a little bit away from data that has to do with land but more that has to do with social equity and also health. This summary chart provides information about asthma hospitalization. There have been many studies which talk about the rates of asthma related to poverty. As we can see for Roxbury, they're astronomical. They're off the charts. What happened in Roxbury was that there was a study by a community-based organization that found out that there was a central bus area where all the buses for Roxbury and Dorchester were idling. Students went out with information from the National Institute of Health and were able to measure the levels of toxins based upon that information in the idling and the number of asthma rates. After they collected this information, they were able to summarize the asthma rates, the toxins, and get a policy change so that no buses idle in that area. This was a major policy initiative not by the municipal planning, but by the neighborhoods. And that made a big difference in the quality of life. Community planners in the city of Boston and nationwide not only have to consider toxins and impacts on children and families for information inside the home, but as well outside. We're going to explore some environmental issues a little bit later on. But for this particular slide, it shows that Roxbury, while not at the top in terms of elevated lead levels, it certainly has a significant amount for its community. All the information that's been provided here and in the previous slides provides a picture of what Roxbury and some of the issues that are faced. And so planners must take those into consideration in terms of summarizing the information, but also displaying it in an accurate manner. We're going to continue to explore more information about Roxbury to give you a picture of what it's supposed to look like. And we have to talk about perception reality a little bit as we go forward. In this particular slide, we're looking at the citizen ranking of quality of life. There are different surveys that have been completed, some from census data. And this particular one is from the Boston Police Department. And we can see from Roxbury over time that the citizens have indicated that their quality of life has increased. In the next slide, however, we take a look at the citizen perception of safety by neighborhood within the same time period. For Roxbury, again, we see a change over time that is positive. That neighbors, the people who reside in this particular neighborhood, feel as though their neighborhood is safe, and it's been improving. But that certainly is the perception of the neighbors, and there's always been a question about the balance between perception and reality. Let's take a look at this chart where the violent domestic crime incidences from 1999 to 2000 have significantly increased. Roxbury, unfortunately, has a reputation of having a high level of violent incidences that have been reported in that neighborhood. Now, let's balance that with trust among neighbors. So when a planner starts looking at this information and says, the neighbors feel safe, and yet there's a high level of crime. What's missing from the data? What kind of reporting has been done? How has the information been interpreted? So that is where we're going to take a look at information gathering, analysis, and will lead us into our discussion of GIS a little bit further. But for this particular chart, we can see from 1997 to 2001. In fact, there has been a mixed message here about trust among neighbors. As you can see in Roxbury, there has been an increase, a slight decrease, and then an increase again. As we've seen in the previous slides, there's been a variation between trust and perception of crime. And we have to wonder, what type of information and where are the resources not only for the planners, but for the neighbors? I also wonder if we take a neighborhood outside, such as Hyde Park or West Roxbury, will the perception of Roxbury change? Will that trust issues about Roxbury change? So we have to, as planners, begin to look at the data sets and evaluate the sources and make sure that the information that we're projecting here is an accurate portrayal of the situation that exists.
Map making is an event that we perform everyday. Whether we try to figure out the best route to a neighborhood park or travel cross-country, all of us "make maps." The process of creating maps for academic research is very much the same.
Data is gathered about a specific place, verified by theoretical or applied means and analysis is rendered. The ability of applied research to create sophisticated "maps" has been profoundly enhanced by using geographic information systems (GIS).
GIS allows users to create, collect, analyze and visualize data in a integrated database for use in a wide array of disciplines. Community based planners can utilize GIS along with contemporary data and local knowledge for capacity-building and long-term sustainability. The use of parcel information and census data as a 'data package' will be explored in this study room.
This video is part 3 of 8 in the Applied GIS: Turning Data into Information series.
Applied GIS: Introduction
Overview of Census Data
Case Study of GIS Use
Data Package: Census & Parcel Data
Applied GIS: Conclusion
More from Applied GIS: Turning Data into Information
Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research
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WHY SOFA
ABOUT SOFA
KEY ECONOMIC AREAS
EU HORIZON 2020
WHO NEEDS SOFA
WHAT SOFA DOES
CONTACT WITH SOFA
Written by Walter Amerika
By Walter Amerika
In Bibliotheek
Rapport Naam
Your content here.
New US Law Will Help Entrepreneurs Raise Money: Crowdfund Act
It could be easier for you to launch your next great idea. Now, thanks to a provision of the recently enacted JOBS Act authorizing “crowdfunding,” instead of trying to convince big banks and Wall Street to back your business, you will soon be able to turn to Main Street. The provision, dubbed the CROWDFUND Act, brings securities laws and regulations into the Internet age. It’s designed to boost job growth by making it easier for new small businesses and entrepreneurs to raise capital from small dollar investors.
Over the last few years, musicians, writers, directors and other artists and creative types have already successfully used crowdfunding to fund thousands of independent projects. Using websites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, these artists have solicited millions of dollars in contributions from hundreds or thousands of people. But, because of securities laws enacted during the Great Depression, these artists have thus far only been able to accept donations and contributors have not been able to loan or invest money in the project with any expectation of profit.
The CROWDFUND Act changes the game. Friends, family members and strangers now have a chance to buy into your idea or business and have an ownership stake. The Act allows entrepreneurs to collect up to $1 million a year by posting their businesses on “funding portal” websites that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). There, people can check out business ideas, evaluate the risks and decide whether to invest. People with incomes of $100,000 or less may invest up to 5 percent of their income or $2,000, whichever is greater. Those with incomes or net worth over $100,000 will be capped at 10 percent of their income or net worth, as applicable, or $10,000, whichever is greater.
Supporters say crowdfunding has the potential to not only help entrepreneurs and create jobs, but also improve local communities. For example, investors may seek to fund small ventures that align with their particular interests, like a plan to increase recycling or a project to rehabilitate a blighted neighborhood. Crowdfunding offerings also create an opportunity for entrepreneurs who have a great idea for a business but no connections to big banks, venture capitalists or hedge fund managers. New ventures also create more jobs in proportion to large corporations, so encouraging new ventures should in theory help an economy struggling with high unemployment.
Still, critics say crowdfunding removes too many investor protections and could open the floodgates to fraud. Congress attempted to alleviate this concern by requiring all crowdfunding offerings to be conducted through registered brokers or independent third party websites. These independent third party intermediaries must screen potential investors for their ability to demonstrate a basic understanding of the level of risk inherent in startups and small business, including the risk of losing an entire investment. Funding portals are also required to conduct background checks on the owners and executives of potential issuers. Funding portals are prohibited from taking an interest in any company that conducts a crowdfunding offering on their website. They also may not give investment advice to potential crowdfunding investors, and may not handle investor funds or securities. The actual exchange of money for stock, bonds, etc., in the transaction must be handled by a reputable third party such as a federally insured bank or licensed brokerage.
Critics also point to other potential problems. For instance, small businesses that are funded by angel investors usually receive much more than capital, including industry expertise, experience, market intelligence and connections that an angel investor brings to the table. A crowd of investors would offer none of these things, but could bring plenty of headaches from investor relations, communications and tax reporting, as well as an increased risk of shareholder litigation.
In all, it remains to be seen whether the CROWDFUND Act will have a meaning full impact on small businesses, jobs or the economy. Clearly, demand for crowdfunding investments exists. However, in practice crowdfunding could prove to be unworkable or too great an opportunity for fraud. But, despite the risks and pitfalls and potential for fraud, crowdfunding could also turn out to be a revolutionary mechanism for creating jobs and democratizing access to capital in the Internet age.
By Nick Jensen
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Home ›› Growing in Humility
Growing in Humility
With Stuart McAlpine, Founding Pastor at Christ Our Shepherd Church on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
December 7, 2013 | Washington, DC
Free Seminar Audio:
Growing in Humility - Part 1
About Stuart McAlpine:
Stuart McAlpine is the founding pastor of Christ Our Shepherd Church, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. He has spoken at churches and conferences all around the world. Stuart also lectures for the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows Program, as he has a great knowledge and love for the works of C.S. Lewis. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s degree in theology from Cambridge University in Great Britain. Stuart and his wife, Celia, have 6 children, 5 grandchildren, and live in Washington, DC.
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Robert C. Johns Research Partnership Award
The Robert C. Johns Research Partnership Award is presented annually to a team of individuals who have collaboratively drawn on their diverse expertise to achieve significant impacts on transportation. The award is named in honor of former CTS director Robert Johns, who provided visionary leadership in recognizing that the most effective research to address today’s complex transportation challenges is often a result of interdisciplinary teamwork and partnerships. He demonstrated this by developing and leading several major CTS studies, including transportation and regional growth, transportation and community design, and access to destinations. He continued to champion interdisciplinary research as director of the U.S. DOT Volpe National Transportation Systems Center.
This award recognizes research projects within the CTS program that have the following qualities:
Included an interdisciplinary research component led by University of Minnesota faculty or research staff
Involved University of Minnesota students
Produced significant findings that have influenced transportation practice and/or policy
Generated measured benefits as a result of the impacts of the research
Involved a team of individuals representing one or more sectors of society (i.e., public, academic, private, non-profit)
Exploring Links between Medical Conditions and Safety Performance in Tractor Trailer Drivers
This year’s recipient is a project that explored the links between medical conditions and safety performance in tractor trailer drivers. The project included an analysis of multiple aspects of a motor-carrier-based obstructive sleep apnea program, as well development of the capacity for future analysis of medical conditions and safety outcomes.
University of Minnesota Morris: Stephen V. Burks, Jon E. Anderson Bibhudutta Panda, Rebecca Haider, Jesse Eklund, John Zaharick
Harvard Medical School: Charles Czeisler, Stefanos Kales
Precision Sleep Solutions: Mark Berger, Wendy Sullivan
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute: Jeffrey Hickman, Erin Mabry
Schneider Enterprise Resources, LLC: Don Osterberg, Tom DiSalvi, Andrea Sequin
For additional information about the project, visit the research project page or read coverage from the April 2018 issue of CTS Catalyst.
View a list of research projects that have previously received the Research Partnership Award.
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Definition of Lewis
United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935) (noun.person)
Synonym: jerry lee lewis
United States athlete who won gold medals at the Olympics for his skill in sprinting and jumping (born in 1961) (noun.person)
Synonym: carl lewis, frederick carleton lewis
United States explorer and soldier who lead led an expedition from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River (1774-1809) (noun.person)
Synonym: meriwether lewis
United States labor leader who was president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1920 to 1960 and president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations from 1935 to 1940 (1880-1969) (noun.person)
Synonym: john l. lewis, john llewelly lewis
United States novelist who satirized middle-class America in his novel Main Street (1885-1951) (noun.person)
Synonym: harry sinclair lewis, sinclair lewis
English critic and novelist; author of theological works and of books for children (1898-1963) (noun.person)
Synonym: c. s. lewis, clive staples lewis
An iron dovetailed tenon, made in sections, which can be fitted into a dovetail mortise; -- used in hoisting large stones, etc. (noun)
Explore lewis in VisualSynonyms.com
Images of lewis
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Could the future of sex be robotics?
Tech advancements have seen the development of the most lifelike humanoids to date, but what does this mean for the relationship between man and machine?
Posted 4 Nov 15 By Jamie Matroos Design Thinking Creative Work / Design News Comments
Companies like True Companion and RealDoll are at the forefront of a progressive movement campaigning for the development of sex robots – machines in the form of women and children specifically designed to serve the user’s sexual needs. While these companies and other groups have called the development of sex robots a safer alternative to the objectification of human women and children, one campaign highlights the way these robots could contribute to the inequalities in today’s society.
The most vulnerable of our population, women and children face persecution, attack, rape, and exploitation all around the world. A number of people have argued that a lifelike machine, equipped with artificial intelligence to “feel” realistic, could reduce the number of humans attacked and exploited. They’ve also argued that these robots could allow otherwise immobile people to lead fulfilling sex lives. But, the Campaign Against Sex Robots says the world is not ready to deal with the consequences that sex with robots could present.
According to the campaign, humanoid robots would reinforce the idea of women and children as sexual objects and reduce the human empathy developed during the shared experience of a mutual relationship.
“We take issue with those arguments that propose that sex robots could help reduce sexual exploitation and violence towards prostituted persons, pointing to all the evidence that shows how technology and the sex trade coexist and reinforce each other creating more demand for human bodies,” reads the campaign’s website.
At the same time, futurologist Ian Pearson predicts sex between humans and robots will be commonplace by the year 2050. In a recent paper titled "The Future of Sex Report: The Rise of the Robosexuals," he argues that it could be a positive advancement and not a far cry from the sex toys already accepted in the bedrooms of many consumers.
“Sex and the pleasure it provides has been fundamental to the human race for three billion years, and it isn’t going away anytime soon. Rather, new technology and increasing wealth will stimulate the market enormously to three times its current size in 20 years, and seven times by 2050,” says Pearson.
The first annual Love and Sex with Robots conference was held in Portugal last year. Malaysian authorities cancelled the second conference, scheduled to take place in Malaysia in 2016. They felt there was “nothing scientific” about sex and robots. Whether this means the world is not ready to get into bed with robotics remains to be seen.
More on Design Thinking
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Designing kangas that celebrate queer love
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DFSV is managed by an executive team, which provides support and advice to the Board, leads implementation of the DFSV strategic plan and oversees day-to-day operations of the organisation.
Amanda Hill – Chief Executive Officer
The role of the Chief Executive Officer is to provide the leadership and strategic direction to enable DFSV to meet its statutory and corporate objectives.
Amanda has a strong understanding of the food regulation system, and well-developed national and international networks. In her previous position at Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Amanda was responsible for development of primary production and processing standards, food safety standards and recall and incident management. She was also the Australian Delegation Leader to the Codex Committee for Food Hygiene.
Amanda chaired the Food Regulators Incident Response Working Group and led the establishment of the Food Incident Forum, to facilitate government and industry collaboration on potential food safety issues including preparation, response and recovery. More recently, Amanda led the national strategy to promote and improve food safety culture, working with a broad range of stakeholders including food regulatory agencies and food businesses.
Amanda’s background is in immunology, microbiology and molecular biology and involvement in science management in joint ventures between research, commercial and service delivery organisations.
Andrew Wilson - General Manager, Compliance, Enforcement and Technical Services
The role of General Manager Compliance, Enforcement and Technical Services is to lead delivery of DFSV’s core function of regulatory oversight of Victorian dairy production. This includes monitoring compliance and responding to non-compliance and is supported by the technical services team providing scientific advice.
Andrew joins DFSV from Safe Food Production Queensland, where he worked for almost 10 years and was the Manager, Science and Strategy. Andrew has a broad range of experience across primary production and processing from both a practical and technical standpoint with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science focussing on production animal science and ruminant nutrition and a PhD in ruminant microbiology. Previously in his roles at Safe Food, Andrew has worked with meat, dairy, seafood, egg and horticultural industries to improve operational food safety systems and compliance monitoring through the application of information capture, analysis and exchange, data modelling and food safety culture.
Karen Armitage - General Manager, Planning and Business Services
The role of General Manager Planning and Business Services is to lead DFSV strategic thinking and planning, communication and engagement processes and to analyse and report against strategic objectives.
Karen has worked in the dairy industry for a number of years with previous senior roles at Australian Dairy Farmers Ltd and Dairy Australia where her focus was on facilitating positive regulatory outcomes related to dairy food production (including food safety across the value chain) for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing market access. Karen has also worked at the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
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Home > Code of Conduct
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At ECHN, we are committed to providing safe, efficient and exceptional patient care. Incorporating our core values of Caring, Teamwork, Respect and Communication, we seek to always do the right thing no matter what our duties are. This code of conduct document provides a summary of the standards of behavior that are expected to be followed by every member of the ECHN family.
Read ECHN's Code of Conduct
Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN) complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ECHN does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
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You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:
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Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.
Read ECHN's Notice of Non Discrimination and Accessibility Policy in
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Contact David Humphreys
Head of Health Policy, EIU Healthcare
Argentina, Brazil, Latin America, US
Corporate strategy, Emerging markets, Evidence-based solutions, Forecasting and policy analysis, Healthcare, Investment, Labour, Market entry, Mercosur, Public policy, Regulatory impact, Technology
David Humphreys is the Global Head of Health Policy for The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Healthcare Practice. He leads a multidisciplinary team that conducts high quality clinical and policy analyses to inform micro level health decision making and produce macro level perspectives. Supporting clients across the health ecosystem for internal and external strategy making, David develops and directs engagements on such issues as evidence-based reviews of new health technologies, future healthcare challenges, value-based healthcare approaches for specific therapeutic areas, and impact of new policy initiatives.
Previously, David held multiple roles at The EIU, first as the Americas Director of Custom Research managing a business that delivered projects on public policy and market strategy, and then as the Head of EIU Healthcare in the US. Prior to joining The EIU, he was the senior director of Latin America at Frost & Sullivan, where he led strategic analyses in industries such as ICT and Healthcare, and spearheaded the firm’s expansion into the region. He also served as a senior adviser at Management Partners, a consulting firm for municipal governments in the US.
David holds an MBA degree and an honours certificate in international business diplomacy from Georgetown University, and a BA in economics from Ohio Wesleyan University. He has participated as a speaker at various healthcare conferences, given lectures at academic institutions, led strategic workshops and directed numerous expert panels with senior level executives.
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Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday. Photo: Reuters Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1101061/rapplers-ressa-arrested-at-naia#ixzz5jWMOxfDo Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter
Home World International
Philippine news site chief arrested again over foreign ownership
The head of a Philippine news website known for critical reports about President Rodrigo Duterte was re-arrested at Manila airport on Friday, this time on charges she had violated foreign ownership rules, Reuters reports.
“I am being treated like a criminal when my only crime is to be an independent journalist,” Maria Ressa, the award-winning head of news platform Rappler, told ABS-CBN news channel as she was led away by police.
Ressa was served an arrest warrant over a libel case last month and spent a night in detention before she was released on bail. Legal action against Rappler has drawn global concern about a free and open press in the Southeast Asian country.
She was arrested again minutes after arriving at the airport from an overseas trip. She said she would seek bail.
“I would like to post bail because I’ve been served a warrant,” Ressa said as she was being escorted away by three police officers.
State prosecutors filed the latest charges against her on Wednesday, while she was overseas.
The Philippine constitution bans foreign ownership of media, but Rappler had said foreigners who invested in its Philippine Depositary Receipts do not have any say in its operations.
Media watchdogs said the charges against Ressa were trumped up and aimed at intimidating those who challenge Duterte’s rule, in particular his deadly crackdown on illicit drugs.
“The court case is unprecedented and speaks volumes of the Duterte administration’s determination to shut the website down for its credible and consistent reporting on the government, particularly the ‘drug war’ and the extrajudicial killings of drug suspects and civilians,” Human Rights Watch said.
Duterte has made no secret of his annoyance at Rappler and has sparred frequently with its reporters, who are known for scrutinizing his policies and appointments and for questioning the accuracy of his sweeping, often bellicose statements.
A police spokesman said officers were executing a court order when they arrested Ressa.
“There is no bias. Whenever we are tasked by the court to issue a warrant of arrest, we do so,” spokesman Bernard Banac told ANC news channel.
Since the outbreak of the mass movement against the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, four young people in our city have reportedly taken their own lives for reasons linked to the proposed legislation. A couple of...
Han Kuo-yu on Monday won the opposition KMT’s nomination for Taiwan’s 2020 presidential election, setting the stage for an intense battle with Tsai Ing-wen, the island’s incumbent leader, in the upcoming contest. Han, who...
China’s leader Xi Jinping appears to be in an unassailable position, with his name and his “thought” having been enshrined in the Communist Party constitution in October 2017 and the state constitution in 2018....
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Police in Paris fired tear gas to disperse protesters from the Champs Elysees avenue on Sunday, a few hours after French President Emmanuel Macron reviewed the traditional Bastille Day military parade, Reuters reports. The...
Tens of thousands join anti-extradition march in Sha Tin
Tens of thousands took part in a march in Sha Tin town in Hong Hong’s New Territories on Sunday, the latest in a series of protests related to the government’s extradition bill fiasco. Calling...
Iran ready to talk to US if sanctions lifted: Rouhani
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Indonesia grants clemency to Canadian teacher in sex abuse case
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What we can learn from Sweden’s success in recycling
Sweden is running out of trash thanks to advanced recycling. I visited Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, a couple of years ago. The city has adopted a system of reducing, sorting, treating and recycling...
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#17 sharing
17 sharing
Fight for Rio’s Streets
Isabel Makhoul
Fight for Rio's Streets
In Brazil, Graffiti is a weapon of the poor and disinherited. Artists are reclaiming the streets, using their fame to build and educate their communities.
The blazing sun beats down on us and dust hovers in the air as I follow Acme up the steep hill step by step. The well-known graffiti artist, whose real name is Carlos Esquivel, is wearing his signature black cap together with a blue t-shirt with an orange inscription, bright shorts, and sturdy shoes. Colorful paint residue from the day before is still visible on his fingers. His passion for color and art began in his youth with his interest in rap music and his first attempts to immortalize himself with tags in the city after a long day of selling drinks on the beach. Making friends in Rio de Janeiro's world-famous graffiti scene, the autodidact artist discovered his talent. Over time, his ambition grew, turning his hobby into a career. “I wanted to be able to make a living out of it and get famous for my art. So I built up a whole universe – Acmecity – with characters and colors that I often use in my paintings.” Today he participates in international competitions and exhibits his work in galleries, receives requests to paint walls in trendy bars and shops, and is contracted by the municipality to beautify public spaces throughout the city. But for him art is more than a way of expression and making money. He uses it to improve the situation in the favelas.
We are walking through Pavão-Pavãozinho, one of Rio's famous favelas. Acme was raised in this community and lives here today with his own little family. We are only about 450 steps above the world-famous Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, but up here the expensive boutiques and trendy bars where tourists cavort along with the Brazilian upper-middle class seem worlds away. On our way through the favela, we stop at a small wooden shop where Acme enters into conversation with a neighbor while I buy two bottles of water for us. One might assume that up here everything would be cheaper than down in the city, but the prices are the same. After all, the cost of the porter has to be included.
A few years ago, the area on the slopes of the city was declared a ‘risk zone’.
On the top of the hill, residents enjoy breathtaking views over the richest areas of the city, the endless beaches, and the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain in the background – a picture-perfect scene. Everybody greets each other; people stop to chat or have a refreshing drink with neighbors. Children are flying their kites on the roofs. This part of the favela is also called Caranguejo, which means crab, because in the olden days people here were already so poor that one had the feeling they were moving backwards in life. Up here, houses are partly made out of wood or corrugated iron. Waste disposal is a major problem and occasionally water and electricity are cut. Climbing up the hill to reach Caranguejo is exhausting, especially for day-to-day tasks like carrying groceries, the occasional piece of furniture or, in the worst case, a sick or elderly family member. A few years ago, the area on the slopes of the city was declared a ‘risk zone’ due to the topographical conditions and the danger of houses collapsing. People who settled here decades ago and have built up their lives with family and friends now live under the constant fear of losing their homes, as the informal houses could be demolished at any time.
Climbing up the hill on endless staircases. Pavão-Pavãozinho is one of Rio de Janeiro's famous favelas and sits atop Cantagalo Hill right behind the rich neighborhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema.
Around 10,000 people live in Pavão-Pavãozinho. The first houses were built at the beginning of the 20th century and the community has expanded since then. The consolidated area has narrow streets and a high degree of densification.
The spectacular postcard view from the top of the hill overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. At the bottom lies the neighborhood of Copacabana with its famous and crowded beaches.
Acme in front of one of his murals only a few steps from his house. In most of his paintings, he draws a child-like figure with innocent, large, limpid eyes wearing a helmet in the form of an eagle.
Caranguejo is the poorest area in the favela. Some houses here are still improvised wood structures and basic services (water, electricity, sanitation) are in a poor state. Living here can be very exhausting.
You may find homemade and quite adventurous architecture up here, but it has been built out of necessity, and with no services or infrastructure provided by the public authorities.
The very end of the favela. The stairs are made of mud and lead up to a football field, behind which the dense forest starts.
For several years now, Acme has been involved in different social projects. Through his art, he is trying to turn this area into a better place and improve the everyday lives of his family and friends. In 2008, he founded the Museu de Favela, an open air museum where visitors can take a walking tour, guided or on their own, through the favela. Huge graffiti murals depict the history and culture of the community, along with the difficulties it faces. These are the residents' stories and memories of their families and pleasures in life, but also the stories of the struggles, gang and police violence, injustices, and stigmatization the people living in Pavão-Pavãozinho experience every day.
An archway painted by local artists marks the beginning of the open air museum at every entrance to the favela. Acme was inspired by the Parisian Arc de Triomphe.
At the bottom of Pavão-Pavãozinho, the biggest square in the favela is Alegria da Zona Sul – the Happiness of the South Zone. It is one of the few public spaces here. The graffiti on the wall depicts the local carnival school.
On a sunny day in December, children play football or ride their bicycles. Residents meet here in the evenings or on weekends and sometimes concerts or parties are organized in the square.
The paintings also show the daily challenges of informal living. Residents are regularly exposed to police violence. In 2009 the favela was pacified and a special police task force has been stationed here ever since.
Garbage is a major challenge for the community. In this caricature the trash collector is telling the pig to stop throwing garbage on the streets. The angry pig responds that he is just making sure the trash collector has work.
Acme has invited many other national and international graffiti artists to Pavão-Pavãozinho. This is a collaboration with famous graffiti artist Does from the Netherlands.
Today Acme shows me his current project up on the hill in Caranguejo. One of the few areas available here in the favela is ‘Praça do Vietnã' (Vietnam Place). The square is flanked by three colorful houses. All were painted by Acme or his friends. In the center is a water tank that provides water for the surrounding houses and also serves as a stage for events. It is a place where neighbors meet and children play. A stone staircase from Acme’s house has brought us up here. Some improvised mud stairs lead from here to a football field just before the end of the favela and the beginning of a dense forest.
“From next month on, we will organize free boxing classes taught by a professional instructor from the community.” (Acme)
Acme would like to use this free space to open up an "itinerant school for urban arts", as he calls it, and thereby shape the public space in the favela. Acme has opened up his atelier in close proximity, which he is planning to remodel and expand to offer various art courses taught by himself and other volunteer artists from Brazil and around the world. “I want to give the locals here a voice to express their needs, but also to claim their right to the city and especially their right to housing. Children and adults will be able to take art classes and attend cultural events. I am installing a mobile open-air cinema here. From next month on, we will organize free boxing classes taught by a professional instructor from the community.” Creating public spaces is a way to empower the community through culture and art, providing them with higher visibility. Via a crowdfunding campaign last year, Acme successfully raised funds and was able to pave the square as a first step. The graffiti artist tries to involve all residents in the planning and decision-making process, and therefore organised a participatory assembly at which the project was presented and residents determined future steps together.
Vietnam Square in Caranguejo. The water tank in the middle can be used as a stage for events.
The square from above. The wooden frame will support punching bags for the boxing classes for children and adults led by a professional teacher from the community and scheduled to start by the beginning of 2016.
Acme is installing a mount to hold a projector for open-air cinema sessions on the hill. He wants to project movies onto a removable white canvas hung on one of the houses.
Every year for Christmas Acme and his wife Iani organize a Christmas party with a tree out of recycled materials. They collect donations and presents for the children of the community.
A child standing on the water tank flying his kite. Acme wants to organize art classes for children and offer them better educational options and perspectives in life.
One of the houses around the square with graffiti paintings on the wall. In the poor neighborhood colors and paintings on houses can make a real difference and change the perception of these forgotten spaces.
‘Grafite’ in the form of colorful designs as well as ‘pichação’ (tags) are not only visible in Pavão-Pavãozinho, but in the rest of the city as well. This new form of expression in the public sphere has been on the rise over the past years. Brazilian graffiti and especially the "Carioca Street Art" in Rio de Janeiro is known worldwide for its unique, colorful, and energetic expression. Artists like Marcelo Eco, Smaël, Marcelo Ment, Joana Ceaser, and Toz are well-known beyond national borders for their individual works or for their work in artists' collectives like the "Flashback Crew", the "Santa Crew", and many more. Many art galleries exhibit street art in Rio, such as the "Olho da Rua" gallery in Botafogo, "Homegrown" in Ipanema and Tijuca, and "Galeria 80" in Copacabana, where Acme is currently showing his work. Rio’s street artist scene has created networks, and social initiatives have been launched in recent years to beautify and upgrade favelas or revitalize quasi-abandoned areas in Rio, like in the city center and the port area.
Modern street art has its roots in New York and emerged during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, but quickly spread all over the world. It has since become a language of opposition and was later closely linked to the hip-hop movement. In Brazil, the first graffiti emerged in the 1960s, but when the military dictatorship took hold, graffiti was criminalized and seen as vandalism. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, graffiti spread in Rio de Janeiro in the periphery and urban areas like Tijuca and Ilha do Governador. During that time, the capitalist crisis followed by the neoliberal era and the Washington Consensus all had tremendous impact on the urban lower- and middle-classes and increased poverty and inequality levels. By the beginning of the 1990s, urban art had also reached the center and the city’s southern zone, home to rich neighborhoods like Ipanema or Copacabana, and was slowly gaining acceptance from inhabitants.
"You can really perceive a change in mindset nowadays. Street art is being valued in the public space.” (Nina)
In Brazil, street art has also become an important form of expression for underprivileged sectors. It allows writers and painters to express their feelings about their monotonous, urban, everyday lives, but also to show political consent or protest certain measures and decisions. In 2009, the Brazilian government passed law 706/07, which officially decriminalized street art in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Nina from Rio Street Art Tours tells me, "You can really perceive a change in mindset nowadays. Street art is being valued in the public space and even financially supported by the city's municipalities and local residents' associations." She also explains that as street artists are gaining more and more recognition, they can really make a living from their art, and that legalization was an important aspect of this. As host of the most important international mega-events, the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Summer Games in 2016, Rio de Janeiro – a city of six million - is striving to become a modern and efficient global city. This has led to high speculation on the real estate market and transformed the city into an exclusionary and expensive space only accessible to a few privileged urban dwellers. Graffiti can be a medium to change the metropolis and reconquer the urban space. After spending months in the favelas, my impression was that urban art has become a social practice to balance this growth in highly urbanized Brazil.
Over 30 of Rio's graffiti artists have come here to paint the entrance of the Morro das Prazeres or Hill of Joy favela. Local residents offer graffiti tours of the community.
André Kajaman mixed graffiti with stencils to of to create this bird a little reminiscent of the famous angry bird game.
Very few people benefited from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. While the country spent billions building stadiums and other sports amenities, most people are still suffering from high inflation and unemployment.
Acme also participated in the art project to upgrade the Morro dos Prazeres favela. Maybe you recognize his figure with the eagle helmet.
A famous mural by Marcelo Ment. He often paints women with forceful looks and wild and colorful hair. Words like Amor - Love are written in the strands of her hair.
Graffiti is omnipresent in the city. The Carioca style is known for its color and energy.
Football is one of Brazil's greatest passions. Posters from a local citizen’s campaign to restore the local tram in the charming neighborhood of Santa Teresa are visible in the background.
Rio is not the only city to show this type of development. In Cairo, for instance, graffiti played a major role in communication during the Egyptian Revolution. Before the uprising, very few public spaces were not subject to the thorough control exercised by the merciless police state. Starting around Tahrir Square, the city's walls became showcases for democratic slogans and political claims from youth activists in 2011. Since then, street art has expanded throughout the city and become the voice of a new generation of young urban artists. Another famous example is Buenos Aires, globally known for its speaking walls that depict a turbulent past and present. Memories of the Argentinian military dictatorship, the restoration of democracy, and the economic breakdown in 2001 have shaped the country and are still very present in the public debate. Many pieces of urban art deal with these subjects and have become an instrument for overcoming national traumata, while preserving the nation’s memory.
The world is becoming more urban day by day. Gray, noisy and crowded - this is the reality for many urban residents in the metropolises of the Global South today. In many cities, the appearance of walls and gates has increased significantly in the last two decades, turning urban centers into exclusive territories only accessible to a small group of privileged urban elitists protected by security staff and with high prices for entrance and consumption. For a long time, the poor majority of the population has been excluded from this world. In the past few years, however, a new trend has become visible, as urban dwellers around the globe demand equal access to the cities in which they live.
Competing with giant neon panels and commercial ads for the public space, graffiti as the ‘new contemporary art of the street’ has conquered the walls of cities around the globe. It has become an important means of free expression, without limits and accessible to anyone who sees it. Artists like Banksy, JR and their contemporaries are shaping the cityscape with their political messages, stories, and signatures, and have become an essential part of urban identity.
“Graffiti is our weapon.” (Acme)
Back at the bottom of Pavão-Pavãozinho, it almost appears like Acme is returning from his dream world back to harsh reality. With a scornful smile on his face, he says, “Nothing has changed. Now with the new law they say you don't need permission to paint. But you always need permission. Politics is always done for the rich; they won’t change anything for us up here.” He kisses me twice on the cheeks to say goodbye. While turning around, he hesitates briefly and adds, “But we won’t give up. Graffiti is our weapon.”
Nestornauto - in memory of ex-president Nestór Kirchner who died in 2010 after having introduced many necessary social reforms to benefit the country's impoverished majority in particular after an era of neoliberal dictatorship.
The colorful work of Gualicho, a name based on the word for bewitch, with bizarre retro-futurist landscapes. In this complex orange, red, and yellow painting, he combines animals and human beings with different shapes and icons.
A discrete but powerful piece of street art in memory of the famous Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, who to this day are still searching for their missing children stolen and put up for adoption during the military dictatorship.
Graffiti artist Jaz has painted Mao Tse Tung in the neighborhood of Palermo. He is especially interested the aesthetics of Chinese propaganda and uses vivid colors in his murals.
Mixing forms and styles - the new generation of urban artists is creative. Artists paint during the day and with the permission of the home owners. As people pass by, they stop to watch the great art and eye-catcher taking shape on the street.
Visit Acme's fan page
Visit the website of the Museu de Favela
Visit the website of the Rio Street Art Tour
Visit the website "#StreetArtRio"
Photos by Isabel Makhoul
Isabel Makhoul is a graduate student in International Development at the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA/Sciences Po) and has gained broad experience in Latin America, studying and working in Argentina, Mexico and Nicaragua. After interning with the Development Policy Forum of GIZ in Berlin she is currently conducting field research for her master thesis on real estate markets in Brazil and the formalization processes in the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro.
Life Art & Design
Life Education
Media Political Participation
Politics Society
Art as a Weapon
Syria: Art can be a weapon when journalists are forced to shut up.
The New Faces of the Favela
Young people from the favelas can be so much more than just members of a drug gang.
"Israel loves Iran" - a path to peace in the Middle East?
What is the sum of 8 and 1?*
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Ronald Evered Chilcott
Rear-Admiral Ronald Evered Chilcott, C.B.E., R.N., Retired (30 July, 1876 – 10 August, 1935) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.
Born in Dartford and raised by Mrs. E. V. Bradburn as his guardian.
Chilcott was promoted to Lieutenant in October, 1899.
Chilcott was promoted to Commander on 30 June, 1912.[1]
Chilcott was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December 1917.
On 22 August 1918, he assumed command of the first class protected cruiser Theseus.[2]
Chilcott was appointed in command of the depot ship Assistance on 10 January, 1921.[3]
Chilcott was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Rear-Admiral upon his relief on 26 March, 1929.
Naval Appointments
Henry E. Hillman Captain of H.M.S. Woodlark
1 Oct, 1901 – 19 Dec, 1902 Succeeded by
Guy R. Livingstone
Robert H. Coppinger Captain of H.M.S. Violet
23 Aug, 1912 – 5 Nov, 1912 Succeeded by
Wion de M. Egerton
Arthur K. Macrorie Captain of H.M.S. Theseus
22 Aug, 1918[4] – 10 Feb, 1920 Succeeded by
Thomas J. S. Lyne Captain of H.M.S. Assistance
10 Jan, 1921[5] – 17 Aug, 1922 Succeeded by
Colin A. M. Sarel
↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 15.
↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 918.
↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 728.
Retrieved from "http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php?title=Ronald_Evered_Chilcott&oldid=249354"
Flag Officers
Flag Officers (UK)
Rear-Admirals
Rear-Admirals (UK)
H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of January, 1891
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Oct 26 Who is calling for a decrease in sectarian violence in Iraq?
Middle East and North Africa, Peace and Conflict
By Sarah Husain At the age of 17, Al Nasir Bellah Al-Nasiry was shot in the leg by a sniper outside of his home in Baghdad. After being treated in the emergency room without anesthesia, Al-Nasiry discovered the demand for physicians and for generally improved healthcare in Iraq. While many youth in Iraq may have sought revenge against their attackers, Al-Nasiry applied to medical school. Now at age 26, Dr. Al-Nasiry is an emergency room physician in Iraq. He is on a mission to create a system of role models for his generation in Iraq in order to keep them from joining violent extremist groups such as the Islamic State.
Since its establishment on June 30, 2014, the Islamic State, commonly known as ISIS or Daesh, has succeeded in attracting tens of thousands of members from around the world. Thousands of disenfranchised Sunni-Iraqi youth are estimated to have joined the ranks of ISIS. While Dr. Nasiry is promoting professional role models for the marginalized Sunni-minority, religious leaders and Iraqi government leaders such as former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, have further targeted Sunni-communities by backing violent Shia militias who are attacking Sunnis in the wake of ISIS. Though current Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi has been cracking down on the actions of Shia militias, they are still violating the human rights of Sunnis in the name of fighting ISIS.
The Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa or religious order on June 13, 2014, which called on citizens, no matter their religion, to take arms and volunteer with the government security forces to fight ISIS. Following his order, numerous militia groups formed in Iraq. Though Sistani clarified that citizens should not be seeking revenge, numerous Shias responded to the Ayatollah’s call by engaging in violence against Sunnis. While Shia militias have succeeded in keeping the Islamic State from taking over Baghdad and kept them from the Iranian borders, militias have abducted, detained and even executed hundreds of Sunni prisoners without trial. Amnesty International reported in October of 2014 that Shia militias have abducted more than 170 young Sunni men from their homes in a majority Sunni city, Samarra. Dozens of these men were later found dead and the rest remained missing. Militias have also destroyed homes and businesses of alleged ISIS supporters in areas in which they have regained control from the terrorist organization.
About 40 of these militia groups operate under the umbrella of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). When Al-Maliki came into power in 2006, sectarian tensions were at a height in Iraq. While he was in power from 2006 to 2014, Al-Maliki and many other Iraqi officials supported Shia militias, which include Badr Brigades, Hezbollah in Iraq, Khorasani Brigades and the Mahdi Army.
Since al-Abadi, has come into power, he has imposed more strict regulations against the Shia militias. The Iraqi government, under al-Abadi, voted to bring PMF under government control on April 7, 2015. However, the government has yet to condemn Shia militia leaders for their numerous war crimes and human rights violations. They have also yet to ask Shia militias to release the 160 men that were abducted and were last known to be in the custody of Hezbollah forces. Overall, there has been no effort to encourage disarmament in Shia militias or Sunni tribes due to the government’s commitment to gain the maximum number of fighters against ISIS. While Abadi is making progress, many steps still need to be taken towards Sunni inclusion and ending sectarian violence in Iraq.
peace and conflict, sarah husain
Oct 29 Trans-Pacific Partnership Offers Hope for Sustainable Development
Oct 18 Leftward Mobility and the Death of New Labour
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Hardly A New Drang Nach Osten
This ain’t 1941. This is actually good news!
“German soldiers go into Ukraine.” But not to stay: they’ll be in the western part for around 11 days starting July 20, near the major city of Lviv, participating in NATO maneuvers called Rapid Trident, associated with the separate Sea Breeze exercise coming in off the Black Sea.
This is good news as the token it is of German support for Ukraine in its struggle over the eastern provinces which, although now seemingly at a low burn, has hardly yet been resolved. US troops (and ships) will be involved as well in these exercises as well, of course; the Obama administration has so far shown itself willing to go even further in its support for Ukraine than the Europeans, to include training and even selling equipment (although, so far, the latter has remained “non-lethal”).
This German participation has also attracted public Russian attention, as Vice-Premier Dimitri Rogozin inquired on social media whether the Germans were there to tour the sites of their past “military successes.” There we are taken back to 1941, and clearly the Russians aren’t happy about this development. But just let Rogozin vent, or any of his colleagues: they surely still have credit on account from the 20 million+ dead of 70 years ago.
UPDATE: And speaking of 20 million . . . Here’s a new report that the German government is increasing its budget for Bundeswehr maneuvers outside the country by that amount.
Note that this is a budgetary supplement applying only for the remainder of this year. In fact, in terms of numbers of troops, slightly fewer German soldiers are going on maneuvers outside their country this year compared to last; further, the really big exercise – named “Trident Juncture” – actually is to take place on the Iberian peninsula from 28 September to 16 October.
Nonetheless, this monetary move is seen to be an explicit sign of resolve towards Russia.
Posted in Poland | No Comments »
Fair Maiden Protected or Abused?
The just-murdered Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was 55 when they shot him last Friday night, and as he made that fateful walk across Moscow’s Great Moskvoretsky Bridge he was in the company of his 23-year-old Ukrainian girlfriend (and fashion model), Anna Durytska. Although that great disparity in age will surely prompt tsk-tsk’s even in this day and age, surely any man who shows himself ready to face down the criminal Russian political establishment over many years must surely be vouchsafed certain sweet side-benefits. Even the sainted Václav Havel was said to be something of a womanizer – when he didn’t find himself in jail, of course – and in the eyes of many he lined up his second wife, a prominent Czech actress, rather too quickly after the death from cancer of his first wife, Olga. These must be classic alpha males we are dealing with here, after all.
But back to Ms. Durytska, who had to endure the horrible experience of seeing her lover, with whom she was holding hands during a romantic midnight stroll on a bridge, cruelly shot down and killed right before her. According to all accounts, the first thing she did was call the police, and then call her mother back in the Ukraine. The police naturally had to take her in for questioning, but, according to the on-line account at BBC News, she was then allowed to return to the Ukraine, and her lawyer stated that the police had been “acting correctly.” (That BBC site also – inevitably? – is topped by a glamor head-shot of Ms. Durytska, just in case anyone wanted to doubt her modeling credentials.)
Other reports, however, paint a picture that was much more unpleasant for Nemtsov’s girlfriend.
She was retenue – “retained,” of course – in Russia, which hints of a certain freedom of movement denied. And in the actual linked news report, taken from Le Point, that is the case. “The investigators interrogated me and wouldn’t tell me when I would be free nor why they were detaining me [there],” Ms. Dyritska is quoted as complaining. “I have the right to leave Russia, I am not a suspect. I am a witness and I gave them all the information that I had, I did everything I could do to help the investigators.”
Inna Durytska, Anna’s mother, already figures in this tale through that midnight telephone call (she was also naturally Anna’s first destination when first arriving back in the Ukraine – Anna is 23, remember), and she became plenty worried. “I was afraid they would accuse her of murder, simply because they need some Ukrainian trail of clues.”
But again, I’m just a little concerned by this discrepancy between the BBC’s account and others’. And it is not just L’Actualité24/Le Figaro, either: this other piece in Germany’s FAZ – surely a source you can trust most of the time – also reports of Ms. Durytska having her departure from Russia “obstructed” (gehindert; it also has yet another shot of her fair countenance, for those who cannot get enough). And surely we all can intuit that a visit to the Russian police – under any circumstances, much less when one is associated with someone so much out of favor with the authorities – is likely to be quite unpleasant.
So what’s going on with the BBC? Or could it be (as ungentlemanly as it may seem) that the Moscow police authorities really gave her no harsher treatment – and detained her no longer – than any witness ordinarily has the right to expect, so that there is an element of personal hysteria here which the BBC was prudent – even gentlemanly – to ignore?
BTW I just heard on VRT, Flemish Radio, that Boris Nemtsov was buried today at the same cemetery that holds the grave of investigative journalist Anna Politovskaya, another figure whose mysterious street-murder (in 2006; well OK, in her apartment building’s elevator) was mighty convenient for Vladimir Putin.
UPDATE: Whatever the true nature of her treatment in Moscow, Die Welt reports that Anna Duritskaya has had to seek police protection in the Ukraine after receiving multiple threats to her life.
Hand-Me-Down Arms to Ukraine
Here’s a good on-the-ground example of what the current Western skittishness about providing Ukraine with the means to defend itself actually means.
“Szrot for the Ukrainian army.” Szrot (pronounced simply as [shrot]) would be a fun Polish word in any other context: it means “scrap metal,” basically trash. But that’s basically what the Ukrainian army has to look forward to now, specifically to twenty “Saxon”-type armored personnel carriers coming fairly soon from United Kingdom stocks, to be eventually followed by fifty-five more.
This piece by Rzeczpospolita staff-writer Piotr Wożniak goes on to estimate that Ukraine will be paying the UK government about $51,000 for each such APC, which seems hardly a high amount for a military vehicle. The trouble is that this is hardly top-of-the-line equipment. A perusal of the Wikipedia page for the Saxon is valuable here, although Wożniak provides several related data-points of his own. Saxons went into service in the British Army in the early 1980s; they’re no longer actively used there because they’ve been replaced by more modern equipment. You’ll only find them still in use in backwater militaries like that of Hong Kong or Mozambique.
Even then, and even for that $51,000 apiece, none of the Saxons will come equipped with the armament that was standard for them in British service (namely a 7.62 mm MG medium machine gun, which itself is really no very big deal) – for no one wants to actually provide the Ukraine with “offensive weapons” as that would be too “offensive” to the sensibilities of Vladimir Putin. (Meanwhile, just go on-line for satellite photos to take a gander at the top-of-the-line Russian military equipment – and personnel, let us not forget – crossing the border to support the Separatists.)
Relevant to this point, Wożniak has a great paragraph:
What is interesting is that the lack of support for Kiev when it comes to weapons and military equipment cannot be rationally explained. Ukraine is not the object of any embargo, nor is it some terrorist-supporting state. There exist no legal obstacles.
Ah, but of course that is just a Pole talking, someone whose country knows all about invasions from the East from past experience, whose country is objectively next in line – just look at the map! – after Ukraine falls. That is, someone who doesn’t realize how Vladimir Putin can be a perfectly reasonable fellow, provided one simply doesn’t resist him.
Take 2 Rocket-Launchers, Call In AM
“Something a bit like the flu” – does that phrase sum up for you the recent geopolitical struggle over the Eastern Ukraine? No? It doesn’t cut it for Polskie Radio, the Polish State radio & TV broadcaster, either.
Translation: “Czech President is for lifting sanctions on Russia. He appeared at a conference organized by a colleague of Putin.”
That first individual mentioned would be President Miloš Zeman, the second is Vladimir Yakunin, president of the Russian railways. We all know that you don’t get that sort of high-profile executive job at a State agency in Russia without Vladimir Putin’s personal approval; in fact, Yakunin is originally from Leningrad, like the Russian dictator, and is a close neighbor at a restricted zone of country dachas fronting an idyllic lake just to the North of the city.
He is also President of something called “World Public Forum – Dialogue of Civilizations,” which provided the occasion – on the Mediterranean island of Rhodes, no less – for President Zeman’s disparaging remarks about the Ukraine confrontation. Zeman knew very well who was behind the conference, this article reports, as they happen yearly and he has attended them regularly – just not before as Czech President. What’s more, he delivered his remarks there in Russian. (But he is old-school enough to come from that period in Czechoslovak history when you had to learn Russian to get ahead.)
The Poles have quite a different evaluation of the situation in Ukraine; you can be sure that they are not pleased with this official Czech line, nor with Miloš Zeman’s choice of associates.
Swing Your Partner – If He’s There
In related news from Polskie Radio, Ukraine President Poroshenko recently announced an initial slate of 60 reforms to his country’s laws and legal practices designed to make it ready to become an EU member-state by the year 2020. “Without reform,” he declared, “we have only one road – to Russia.”
That’s very fine – and, Lord knows, the way business and government is run in the Ukraine is badly in need of such reform – but joining a club also depends on the willingness of that club to accept one as a new member. Is Poroshenko quite sure that the EU will be ready to admit the Ukraine in 2020, or ever? Has the EU offered the Ukraine any concrete indications or guidance on the question? (The European body-politic it purports to represent would surely like to know! There does exist an entire EU Commission DG/body of bureaucrats, named “Enlargement,” that is supposed to be on top of such matters.)
Or, having learned nothing from its 27-year-long Turkish tease (applied for full EU membership in 1987; still has no chance in Hell of getting it), is the EU about to embark upon another awkward, ultimately fruitless accession lap-dance with a geopolitically crucial country?
Next in the Intimidation Line
New bad news for the Ukraine:
“Hungary stops gas deliveries to Ukraine.” Would that have something to do with the visit by Gazprom chief Alexei Miller to Budapest on Monday of this week to speak with Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán?
Not if you ask the Hungarians. From the lede:
According to the government in Budapest and the State company responsible for the pipelines, FGSZ, the step was taken due to the rise in domestic demand for gas. Satisfying Hungarian demand has priority.
Yeah, right. Like the rest of us Europeans, Hungary has been enjoying the usual global warming-induced prolonged summer September weather, with temperatures dipping below 15ºC (59ºF) only at night. Demand for gas there – for heating – is due to rise maybe end November, beginning December, and not particularly now.
The real story here can be clearly seen from a couple weeks ago, when Gazprom similarly forced Poland to stop the “reverse supplies” of natural gas it was providing to the Ukraine by threatening to cut off the Poles’ supply they were diverting from. It’s just that the latter were willing to be rather more straightforward about what was happening than the Hungarians. Indeed, this Telegraaf piece speaks of a €10 billion Russian loan Orbán’s government is hoping to gain. How is such a thing even possible after the EU has collectively imposed repeated waves of sanctions – including of the financial kind – on Russia?
I’d like to derive two remarks from this data-point, which we can call “Major” and “Minor”:
Major: Putin really likes throwing Russia’s geopolitical weight around using the threat of energy cut-offs. I believe I read somewhere that the dissertation he wrote for whatever higher academic degree it was that he earned back in his KGB schooldays had precisely to do with that subject.The prevailing wisdom seems to be that, while the Ukraine has of course already been shoved out into the cold (literally) for the coming winter when it comes to Russian natural gas, Putin would not dare to do that to the rest of the EU because of the revenue loss that would entail. Then again, he seemed indifferent enough to the food-price inflation the Russian people have had to suffer resulting from his embargo on EU agricultural imports. Make no mistake: this coming winter is when the EU will be confronted in the bleakest and most direct way possible with the problem of how to do without Russian energy supplies.
Minor: Notice here as well the common thread of the involvement of Gazprom, which is supposed to be a private company. Well, at least it is a private company to the likes of FIFA, which allows it to pay the mega-price to be one of the commercial sponsors of the Champions League. (It is also the shirt-sponsor of the famous German football club Schalke 04.) Inevitably, those watching Champions League games at home have to put up with repeated commercials extolling Gazprom as a reliable energy-provider; if you watch closely, you’ll even notice how the characteristic Champions League graphic used when heading into and out of commercial breaks, in which spotlights come on in turn around a circular stadium, precisely recalls the pattern of gas-jets lighting up on a stove! How many of those looking on for the football actually realize that Gazprom will be glad to let them freeze next winter, if only Putin gives the order?
Revealed: Ukraine’s Weapons-Sellers!
This might be considered as the most important “secret” result of that NATO summit at the end of last week that was held at some golf resort in Wales, and the EU Beobachter (“EU Observer”) has picked it up.
Yes, in the wake of that summit five states intend to start selling weapons to the Ukraine, and they are: the USA, Poland, France, Italy and Norway. The notable absence on this list is Germany, whose weapons, notably its small arms, are particularly good in comparison to most others, but whose Chancellor, Mrs. Merkel, made it clear at that summit that it was not ready to take that step. Understandable: the German government only in the past few weeks decided that it would break precedent and send arms to the Kurds fighting the Islamic State in Iraq, and that decision caused quite a bit of consternation on the German political scene. Merkel was not ready for the same again – not that that was the only reason for German reticence.
What’s really notable about these arms-sellers is just how hush-hush the whole subject is. None of these countries has been willing to announce these upcoming weapons-sales; indeed, all have officially denied they are ready to do so. So who knows? Against that we have – for what it is worth – an announcement yesterday by a close advisor to Ukraine President Poroshenko that these five countries would indeed be supplying his country militarily. That announcement notably appeared on the advisor’s Facebook page.
If we examine that roster, the sales from the US and from Poland are understandable: American weapons manufacturers are seemingly ready to sell anywhere, anytime, while Poland is the state leading the alarm over Ukraine developments. For France and Italy it is a bit harder to understand why they would want to be involved (indeed, the Italians have continually been suspect as too Russia-friendly) – until you realize, as this article states explicitly, that they mainly see this as an opportunity for their native arms industries to make some money. It’s only Norway whose involvement is totally mysterious: its economy doesn’t need the money, and to this point it has not seemed particularly alarmed about what is happening off to the East. Indeed, as a good Scandinavian land, it is supposed to have certain ethical pretensions of not selling war material into an active war-zone. (more…)
Posted in Germany, Poland | No Comments »
Dispatches from the Front (& Behind)
Yes, today was the day for that “referendum” in Eastern Ukraine, while towards the evening there was apparently some shooting incident involving a mob and some soldiers at a place called Krasnoarmiisk. No doubt we’ll all hear about that soon, but just as I write this Twitter is still trying to figure out exactly what went on there.
In the meantime a number of other interesting tweets have passed through the timeline. This from Danish Radio:
“German media: American mercenaries in Ukraine.”
We saw this at large scale in Iraq, namely US ex-military goons earning many multiples of their former soldier’s pay while basically doing the same thing – but with much looser rules about when they could fire their guns – out of uniform. It was Blackwater that was premier (although not alone) among companies that provided such services; those folks are clearly so ashamed of what they did there that they changed the company’s name to “Xe Services” in 2009 and then again to “Academi” in 2011! Oh yes, they’re in the higher education business now!
Rather, it’s “Academi” men, around 400 of them, who have been sighted now in Ukraine. That’s according to German sources, including Der Spiegel (in German). It’s said they are being paid by Ukrainian oligarchs (really the only ones around there who have the money); it’s further said that they are even now in support of Ukrainian units engaged against the rebellious town of Slovyansk.
Then there is this, from Die Welt:
“Moscow’s vice-premier: Next time I’ll come with a Tu-160.” For your information, the Tupolev Tu-160 is Russia’s top-of-the-line strategic bomber.
What prompted this sort of outburst? It was emitted by Dimitri Rogozin, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and therefore clearly one of Vladimir Putin’s right-hand men. His mission last Friday, Great Motherland Victory Day, was to fly to Transnistria, the Russian-speaking break-away region of Moldova which is to the west of Ukraine, in fact to pick up a petition and deliver it back to Moscow. (There’s little doubt that the petition had to do with ethnic Russians there pleading for help from Mother Russia and so seeking to open a Ukrainian Western Front. Ever since the region split away from Moldova in 1990 there have been Russian soldiers in place to protect it, and they currently number 1,500.)
If you look at the map, you have to wonder how Rogozin even managed to fly into Tiraspol, that territory’s capital. It’s not really on the coast; you’d have to fly over Ukraine or Moldova or Romania, none of which would be likely to give permission.
Rogozin did make it, even as Romania explicitly denied overflight authorization. That’s what prompted him to tweet about coming back next time in a modern bomber. Nasty words, but check out the Romanian reaction, according to the reporter (no byline; credited to several news agencies):
The [Romanian] Foreign Ministry issued a reminder that Romania is a member of the EU and of NATO. It demanded from Moscow an explanation whether Rogozin’s statement was the official position of the Russian government[!]
Meanwhile, according to this same Die Welt piece, while Rogozin may have made it to Tiraspol, he was thwarted when it came to the Transnistrian petition – somehow the Moldovan authorities had gotten to it first. But how could they do that, without staging their own mini-invasion of Transnistria? The article doesn’t say.
Ah, here’s the explanation, in English, from Thomson Reuters where they report that Rogozin did wind up returning triumphally with the Transnistrian petition after all.
UPDATE: Conveniently, the NYT has come out with a timely reminder-piece about Blackwater in Iraq and what I meant by “much looser rules about when they could fire their guns” – they perpetrated the “My Lai Massacre of Iraq.”
Posted in Denmark, Germany | No Comments »
Feeling Shaky? Join the Euro!
A quick note here on the latest entry on The Economist’s “Eastern approaches” blog entitled “Poland’s foreign policy: A shaky compass.” (Subscription required – well, you do get to look at one article per month for free, make it this one!)
The point here is that Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski sees his country’s swift adoption of the euro as a needed response to the turmoil to the East. From the article:
Ditching earlier concerns by former finance minister Jacek Rostowski, Mr Sikorski called for Poland to move rapidly to adopt the euro – the last core European institution to which Warsaw does not yet belong. “The decision about the eventual adoption of the common currency will not have just a financial and economic character, but rather it will be mainly political, dealing with our security,” said Mr Sikorski.
This view has yet to gain much traction. . . . Recent polls show about two-thirds of Poles opposed to joining the euro.
First let me note that Poland has a treaty obligation to join the euro, under terms of its 2004 accession to the European Union. But then let me add that this is an obligation to do so eventually, and that Poland will not be allowed in until its economy and the złoty pass a number of real-world tests – something over which any Polish government will naturally have a great degree of control.
But there is a larger point here, which is the strange continued attraction of the euro to certain (EU and non-EU) countries, even while other member-states regret it and some are indeed seriously suffering under it. That attraction is self-evident in the accession to the euro of Estonia in 2011 and Latvia just this past January 1. And now we have Poland – or at least that country’s Foreign Minister.
Can his assertion really be true that adoption of the euro will help strengthen Polish security? It really seems unlikely. Surely a more profound discussion is to be had concerning under what circumstances Eurozone membership really can benefit a country. It’s possible that such a discussion would sooner be characterized by many economists as a “reminder,” but surely things that we thought we knew along those lines need to be reassessed in light of the terrible track-record since the outbreak of the European sovereign debt crisis in 2009. And soon, please: Lithuania is all set to join its fellow Baltic states in the Eurozone as of January 1 of next year.
Meanwhile, beware of hysterical Polish political discourse. I don’t necessarily mean Mr. Sikorski’s assertions quoted above; I rather mean this from the end of that Economist piece: “[Polish Premier] Mr Tusk on Friday said that some members of the opposition, with their Eurosceptic views, posed a ‘mortal danger to Poland.'”
Posted in United Kingdom | No Comments »
Ukraine Crisis: What a Gas!
There are some people – or institutions – that can’t help but look at the bright side of things. Over in Eastern Ukraine, seven European military officers working for the OSCE have just been put out for display at a press conference, unconvincingly insisting “We are not prisoners of war, we are guests of [Sloviansk] Mayor Ponomarev”; the Economist writes [subscription required] “Every day, incident by incident, the situation is deteriorating and moving towards major armed conflict of one form or another.”
Not to worry, though, at least if you read the Netherlands’ leading business newspaper Het Financiele Dagblad: The Ukraine crisis also has its winners. The lede:
The drift since the crisis in the Ukraine has been: Europe has to become less dependent on Russian gas. Who can profit from that?
Oh, a number of organizations can profit, and journalists Gijs den Brinker and Mathijs Schiffers have the run-down. (more…)
Mirror-Imaging over Ukraine
Take a look at the latest word issuing from Voice of Russia, the international radio broadcasting “service,” and associated website, of the Russian government. Hubert Orzechowski of the Polish edition of Newsweek first picked this up.
Translation: “Russian radio: Poles in Zhitomir want autonomy, and Warsaw pushes for the break-up of Ukraine.” Zhitomir is a province of Western Ukraine, with a lot of ethnic Poles in it (although, interestingly, it’s not one of the two Ukrainian provinces that actually abut Poland itself).
The lede (of the Voice of Russia article he cites):
Ethnic Poles living in Ukraine demand a referendum in the Zhitomir Region to create a Polish autonomy with broad self-governance rights. They also insist that the Polish language be granted the official status along with the Ukrainian language.
As I say, it’s the Polish Newsweek that points this out but, fortunately for us all, the article where Voice of Russia lays out this case of Polish agitation in Western Ukraine was published in the English-language section of their site (from where I took that above lede), so you can click that link to read it all, in English which is often less-than-perfect but still quite understandable.*
Just be aware that it’s all a crock. That’s the point of Orzechowski’s Newsweek piece. Yes, parts of Western Ukraine are what used to be Poland, before World War II; yes, there was considerable tension between Poles and Ukrainians over those lands – even leading to infamous massacres – in the 1930s and 40s. But for Poland a lot of water has passed under the bridge since that era, a lot of changes-of-regime, plenty of time for a change of attitude. Further, there has been no indication of this sort of alleged unrest among ethnic Polish citizens of Ukraine other than that cited in Voice of Russia’s fevered imaginings.
These days the Polish government acknowledges its special relationship with Ukraine in more positive ways, such as actively supporting its eventual EU membership, as well as having taken the lead (along with Germany, in fact) in EU diplomacy towards Ukraine and Russia back when the Maidan Square crisis was at its height the first couple months of this year. This leading Polish role is not so much the case anymore, probably because NATO is becoming a more important forum for Europe to confront these increasingly alarming developments to the East.
So the propaganda purpose of this sort of article is self-evident. As Orzechowski says at the end of his own commentary, “you can’t help feeling that this description fits perfectly yet another neighbor of Kiev’s”; one doesn’t know whether to mock Voice of Russia for its lack of imagination, or to admire it for its audacity, in trying to project onto Poland the very same irredentist trick its sponsor government is itself trying to pull in Eastern Ukraine.
* But do let me give credit to Voice of Russia’s English-language writers where it is due: they actually nail the subjunctive there (“. . . insist that the Polish language be granted . . .”), something far beyond, say, at least 75% of English native speakers.
East Gas? West Best!
It seems Russian troops – even though they (mostly) are not yet labeled as such – are in the Crimea to stay. Reclaiming that strategic peninsula for Ukraine would require the use of force, something no state outside of the Ukraine is willing to contemplate, and before which even Ukraine authorities themselves should hesitate due to the risk of thereby only losing more of their territory.
What the West is left with is proceeding with a deliberate worsening of relations with Vladimir Putin’s regime as punishment: denying him the chance to get yet more mileage out of his $51 billion Sochi reconstruction by staging a G8 summit there, for instance. But the unfortunate problem is that, to a great extent, this can turn out to be self-defeating as the West needs Russia just as Russia needs the West.
Anyone who follows international affairs regularly can name two vital areas right off the bat for which that is true: Iran and Syria. For the former, the West seems very close to achieving a remarkable deal that will safeguard against any nuclear weapons ambitions Iran might have – but one for which Iran’s willingness has been predicated upon united political and economic pressure from the West and from Russia. As for Syria, the regime there is already behind on the schedule for the elimination of its chemical weapons that Russia did quite a lot to help draw up.
(Now, this NYT piece claims that Syria is ready to try to speed things up to try to make up lost ground – but the article is dated March 4. Returning to Russia’s potential reluctance for any more international cooperation, there are always those inspections that Putin, in good times, ordinarily consents to undergo in relation to various arms-control treaties.)
Then there are the more tangible things – like natural gas. (OK, it’s a gas, but still slightly more tangible than a pure concept such as “arms control.”) Plenty of European countries are still dependent on gas supplies from Russia, piped through the Ukraine. And so we get this:
I know, that must seem at first sight like some confused jumble. “V4,” for example: what’s “V4”?* That is shorthand for the “Visegrad 4,” itself a shorthand for the Central European countries Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. And what the governments of those countries have done is think ahead a bit in light of this new geopolitical confrontation with Putin. (more…)
No Roads for the Euro Championships
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
I know, you probably have enough on your plate as it is to worry about. And goodness knows, they now say this whole financial crisis thing is likely to drag on for a while, so that it’s highly likely that we’ll all need the 2012 European football championships – scheduled to be jointly hosted by Poland and the Ukraine – as some welcome distraction from our everyday cares and fears.
Unfortunately, there is certainly going to be a big problem there in 2012, at least with the Polish half of the tournament. (And the Poles are reckoned to be the more-sophisticated country of the pair – they’re an EU member-state, after all – and therefore a better bet to fulfill their Euro 2012 promises.) The bad news is right there in the headline in Poland’s leading daily, Gazeta Wyborcza: There will not be roads for Euro 2012. It’s in Polish in the original, of course, as is the accompanying article. But still, surely someone from UEFA speaks that language and is monitoring this sort of thing! For heaven’s sake, Gazeta Wyborcza states the following outright, in its lede:
Construction of new highways and expressways is bogging down again. There will not be routes to Euro 2012. Investment in roads won’t help to fight this crisis either, since there is simply too little of it.
It was Polish Minister of Infrastructure Cezary Grabarczyk himself who promised a year ago that Poland intended to build 700 km of new highways and to expand its network of expressways by 2,100 km. However, reporter Andrzej Kublik concludes that that was an unrealistic goal from the very beginning, even as the current effort to build those new roads (as well as to modernize existing routes) represents the biggest such Polish infrastructure program in decades. While things got off to a promising start through 2007 – in terms of meeting intermediate construction quotas – that initial pace then became too difficult to maintain thereafter, even as the quotas were set much more ambitiously starting in 2008. An added element of confusion entered the picture as the government authorities decided to contract for some of the stretches of highway with a private firm, Gdansk Transport Company, rather than rely exclusively on the State highway-building company. (I’ll spare you the full name of the latter; from its initials it’s known as the GDDKiA.) There was a couple of untimely changes in the management of that state company; and other political considerations got involved. The upshot was a series of postponements of completion dates that now threatens to deny UEFA the functioning highway-net (especially between the cities staging the matches!) that it was promised when Poland won the Euro 2012 bid along with the Ukraine.
A frank report like this from Gazeta Wyborcza is refreshing to see, but really, it needs somehow to feed through to UEFA officials. (One can also infer that extra scrutiny on their part of the extent to which the necessary infrastructure – stadiums, roads – is coming along in the Ukraine is warranted as well.) For rather than allow a hopelessly messed-up Euro 2012 tournament to be staged in the countries that agreed to do so but are not ready to ensure that it is a success, there has always existed and still exists the “pull the plug” option to simply re-assign the tournament to some other European country more ready to take over. I’m sure that Germany – to name but one candidate – is ready and able to take the task on.
Spicy Russo-Georgian Potpourri
Monday, September 1st, 2008
“Georgia – again?” Well, yes. What else would there be? The Republican National Convention? Coming up (we think). Sarah Palin? Not today, but definitely stay tuned on that one, it could turn spectacular. Hurricane Gustav? The European viewpoint there is probably not too interesting, even if we might be somewhat honored by the choice of that quintessentially (Central) European given name for bestowal on the storm. My best sense of the EU’s official position on Gustav – gathered from that extensive trawling through the various national presses that I do for you on a continual basis – is that it’s taken to be a bad thing, definitely.
Actually, developments on the Georgia story do keep on coming, especially if you take the unpleasantness there of last month (not at all unreasonably) as a proxy for the new Eurasian balance-of-power that conflict suddenly revealed to the world. Today is when the EU heads of government are due in Paris to meet on a European response (if any) to Russia’s recent behavior. Looking ahead last Friday, the Berlin correspondent for Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza, Bartosz T. Wielinski, put forth a mostly pessimistic outlook on what could be accomplished (What the Union can do to Russia on Monday). (more…)
Posted in France, Germany, Poland | No Comments »
Deep Purple Funk
Next Monday, 11 February, is promising to be quite an eventful day on the Gazprom front – that’s of course the gigantic Russan natural gas company, the largest extractor of natural gas in the world, of which the Russian government owns a majority stake. On the one hand, it’s the same-old same-old, what we’ve all seen before, for Monday is the day that Russia, speaking for Gazprom, will cut off all natural gas supplies to the Ukraine due to alleged non-payment by the latter of $1.5 billion. Curiously, Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko has been scheduled for some time to arrive in Moscow for a visit on Tuesday. At least he’ll be glad to be away from his native country and someplace instead where it’s actually warm inside the buildings, though one can imagine that the diplomatic talks he will engage in might still be rather frosty.
But that is all par for the course for a European winter; I can remember recently thinking to myself “Hmm, it’s already February – shouldn’t we have had the regularly-scheduled Russian energy cut-off crisis by now?” More interesting is that next Monday is also the evening of the going-away concert in honor of Dimitri Medvedev – Gazprom chairman now, but Vladimir Putin’s “recommended” candidate for president of the Russian Federation at the upcoming March 2 elections, and therefore also a shoo-in as the next Russian president. The concert will be headlined by the legendary English rock-n-roll band Deep Purple, and this was recently commented upon in the New York Time’s weblog “The Lede: Notes on the News,” by Mike Nizza, who notes that Putin himself will surely be present as well. (more…)
Posted in Germany, United Kingdom | No Comments »
Europe on Five Demonstrations a Day
Is the ongoing post-9/11 slump in the worldwide tourist industry getting you and your country down? Those canny business-writers at the Czech Republic’s leading business newspaper, Hospodárské noviny, have an idea for you: cue a massive public protest against your government! That’s what has done the trick for the Ukraine, a land which prior to last month’s second-round presidential election ranked among desirable tourist destinations somewhere around Upper Volta, but which is now experiencing a tourist boom, as HN reports (Crisis in Ukraine As Advertising Trick). (more…)
No NATO for Ukraine
One of the key international figures involved in brokering the deal between the Ukrainian government and the opposition that finally led to the agreement for the election repeat on December 26 was Spain’s Javier Solana. But it’s vital here to stay up-to-date on Solana’s career path: he was NATO Secretary-General, but that was in the period 1995-1999. In 2004 in Kiev he has rather represented the European Union, as its High Representative for the Common Foreign & Security Policy (together with the presidents of Poland and Lithuania, who were also actively present there). Thus, it was the EU that was there on the scene, wielding influence from being not only Ukraine’s neighbor but also the club most Ukrainians wants to join. NATO, on the other hand, was not there; and, as Ole Bang Nielsen of Denmark’s Berlingske Tidende reminds us (NATO Puts Ukraine on Ice), the Ukraine cannot expect to find itself on NATO’s short-list of new-member candidates anytime soon. (more…)
Europe’s Forgotten Land
Ole Bang Nielsen of Denmark’s Berlingske Tidende provides a lot of useful background to the electoral dramatics currently going on in the Ukraine today (Europe’s Forgotten Land). Basically, the EU has dropped the ball – or has it? (more…)
Eurovision Gerrymandering
The yearly Eurovision Song Contest really should be, and deserves to be, ignored. A creation of the mid-1950s, when schmaltzy pop songs were still the thing, the Contest’s continued existence now into the 21st century makes no more meaningful cultural contribution than would an instruction manual on the proper wearing of the pantaloon.
So why is EuroSavant, now into its second year of existence, remarking on this yearly event for the second time? Could it be the well-known “car wreck” phenomenon: the campy songs, garish costumes, and ridiculous accessory acrobatics are uniformly awful, but you just can’t turn your eyes away? Or, given my own TV-less state, could it have something to do with the pretext the Contest provides each May for the lavish party thrown in Amsterdam by the leading Dutch recruitment/employment agency for international personnel, a party inevitably dominated by the huge TV screen broadcasting the proceedings? (This distraction, and the sheer volume of the sound, it must be said, pose considerable obstacles to the usual getting-to-know-you function of such a party, at least until on past midnight when the Contest is finally over.)
I prefer to try to excuse my coverage of something that I would rather never have to confess to even knowing about, much less seeing, by pointing to the political aspects that have crept into what is fundamentally supposed to be, if nothing else, a Eurofest of brotherhood and song. (more…)
Friendly Fire, Polish Style
Memo to US LT General Ricardo Sanchez, occupation ground forces commander in Iraq: Don’t allow the Polish troops to get involved in any air defense, or even any air defense training. He would be wise to draw that lesson from an incident from last month recently uncovered by Zycie Warszawy; today’s update is entitled Su-22 w strefie razenia, or “Su-22 in in the Danger Zone.” (The Su-22 is a Soviet-developed attack aircraft, apparently the export version of what in the Russian Air Force is known as the Su-17. I’ve found a hobby enthusiast’s website about it here, if you’d like to look into this airplane more.) (more…)
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In lives full of remarkable moments, we help create even more.
Whether it’s a brief encounter or a life changing event, these unique moments enrich lives. And we do everything we can to make them happen.
To give you an idea of how we can make a difference, here are Remarkable Moments from our home.
Our Remarkable Moments
On July 21st 2016, Extendicare Vulcan celebrates 50 years of helping our residents live better. The team at Extendicare Vulcan focuses on residents, ensuring that they have the best care possible in the home.
Extendicare would especially like to thank the families for being our partners in making the resident’s stay a comforting time in their lives.
Thank you to the Extendicare Vulcan staff who work tirelessly every day and night to keep our residents comfortable, safe, healthy and entertained.
Extendicare would especially like to single out one special staff member, Donna B. who at the tender age of 21 walked through the doors of Extendicare Vulcan on the morning of March 17, 1968 and started her new job as a housekeeper. We value the service you have given to our home and for dedicated a large portion of your life and career to Extendicare and we wish you the very best in your retirement. You are special to Extendicare and to your colleagues and we know there are many other staff following in your footsteps of providing this privileged service to our much loved residents.
Happy 50th anniversary Extendicare Vulcan. May you continue helping people live better!
Mr. R. was in his early 80’s when he received a phone call. It was from his long lost brother whom Mr. R had not seen since they were separated as children in Austria.
Mr. R. was in his early 80’s when he received a phone call. It was from his long lost brother whom Mr. R had not seen since they were separated as children in Austria. His brother had tracked him down and they began talking regularly by phone. As much as his brother wanted to come and visit, he couldn’t afford it. Determined to see his brother, Mr. R. decided to try his luck on the Video Lottery Terminal in an effort to raise the necessary funds. It worked! Mr. R. won the money he needed to bring his brother over for a visit. Naturally, they were elated to be reunited after all those years.
A Wish to Ride a Horse
Mrs. T. was 102 when she came to live with us and, when the Recreational Therapist asked her what she would like to do...
Mrs. T. was 102 when she came to live with us and, when the Recreational Therapist asked her what she would like to do, she responded by telling her she had always wanted to ride a horse. As luck would have it, our recreational therapist was an avid horse person. With the help of some friends, brought a gentle horse to our home. At the age of 103, Mrs. T. got her wish and got up on a horse and went for a ride. Mrs. T. passed away about a year later at the age of 104 but she had fulfilled her wish for riding a horse.
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Forge stroger partnership with research institutions – BAC
22 Août 29 Economie (24303), Entreprises (1270),
By Stephen Asante, GNA
Accra, Aug 22, GNA – The Business Advisory Centre (BAC) has urged small-scale and medium enterprises (SMEs) to forge stronger partnership with business research institutions for optimal performance.
Mr. Benjamin Kwasi Marfo, the Atwima-Mponua District Head of BAC, said it was the path to travel to achieve technical efficiency to survive the intense market competition.
He was addressing a day’s consultative meeting of the Association of Small-Scale Industries (ASSI) held at Mpasatia with support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Veterinary Services, Food and Drug Authority and the National Vocational Training Institute.
It was meant to build the capacity of small businesses in the district to aid their growth through the adoption of best practices.
Mr. Marfo indicated that small-scale enterprises had become increasingly knowledge-based and technologically-driven and said companies whose operations were underpinned by research and innovation “always have a competitive edge over other businesses”.
He made reference to the findings of a study, which showed that many SMEs, particularly, in the developing nations, tended to collapse within the first five years of operation with only about five per cent surviving.
This, he said, was often the result of insufficient capital, the lack of focus, inadequate market research, over-reliance on just a single or two markets for finished products and inexperience.
Added to these, were the lack of proper book keeping, irregular power supply, poor infrastructure, equipment and machinery as well as the inability to attract qualified people.
He called for the government to do more to improve the infrastructure to facilitate business growth.
Mr. Kwame Buor, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of ASSI, said the association had struck a partnership deal with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Business School to train its members on modern business practices.
The goal was to inject professionalism into their operations to bring high level of efficiency for sustainable growth.
Mr. Buor said the economic development of any country was measured by the vibrancy of its private sector, adding that, it was time the government gave priority attention to the private sector.
That, he said, was vital for creating jobs and lifting the people from poverty.
SA/KWA/ELI
Côte d’Ivoire/ Fin des jeux olympiques à Rio : La population de Bouaflé satisfaite de la prestation des athlètes ivoiriens
Côte d’Ivoire/ 58,3% de parturientes abandonnées sur le lit d’accouchement (Etude)
Le centre Carter a, au cours d’une journée d’échanges organisée vendredi
14 Juillet 10
A articulação com o sector privado mostra-se como um dos maiores entraves que
Le Premier ministre, Christophe Marie Joseph Dabiré, s’est réjoui vendredi,
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says Small
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Danny Hahlbohm Wall Art
Danny Hahlbohm (June 1949 – Alive) is an American artist who specializes in inspirational art. He paints both spiritual and general inspirational pieces using different mediums. Danny was brought up in the eastern part of Long Island, New York. He would later join the US Armed Forces in 1968, serving abroad for a period of four years before he was honorably discharged in 1972. And that's when he started painting for auction houses and private galleries. In 1974, Danny started going round the country, exhibiting and distribution his works to different events and galleries. He would do it until 1978 when he met one of the then leading publishers. They agreed to work together in the production and distribution of his works. Two years later Danny released "Footprints in the Sand," which gave him an almost instant recognition globally, putting his artwork in different galleries and homes.
His more than 30-year career has seen over 100 of his works reproduced and distributed across the globe. Although Danny never had any formal training in arts, he has excelled in art career and made a name through his unique style that speaks to the hearts of many. He has gone as far as offering art classes to several students across the US. Danny says that he receives a lot of miracles in his life, inspiring his creative artwork that in turn inspires others. His works are found in Corner Stone Gallery in Dublin, Ireland, Swanson Gallery in Francisco, New Bedford Whaling Museum just to name a few.
"It has become clear through the years that my artistic gifts were meant to be used by the Lord for the comfort and growth of those they touch. He touches their hearts with that which He projects from my artistic eyes to see and reproduce."
Danny Hahlbohm
Mommy Said
Paper Size: 8 x 10 Fine-Art print
Image Size: 8" x 10"
Wise And Foolish Builders
Ye Are The Light
I Asked Jesus
Paper Size: 6.25 x 8.25 Fine-Art print
Image Size: 6" x 8"
The Living Waters
Invitation (Spanish) - small print
Invitation (Spanish)
Prayer from the Heart
One Nation (city)
Among These Things
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