pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 183
1M
| source
stringlengths 39
45
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__wiki
| 0.623545
| 0.623545
|
Jared Rusk | Documentary Reel
More Videos By Jared
One Scientist’s Mission To Scan All Fish
In a tiny island laboratory in the Northwesternmost corner of Washington, one marine biologist is on a mission: scan every known fish species in the world. It’s a painstaking and smelly task, but one that promises to fundamentally change the way scientists and educators look at marine anatomy. Adam Summers, a fish expert at the University of Washington, has been 3-D scanning fish for decades, but it was always a complicated and expensive undertaking. Getting access to the right equipment was a struggle and each specimen would take nearly a day to process. In late 2015 Friday Harbor Laboratories on San Juan Island acquired its own computed tomography scanner and Summers’ team set out to achieve what had once seemed impossible: to create 3-D models of all 33,000 known fish species. CREDITS: Produced and edited by Jared Rusk Photography by Greg Davis Jared Rusk Additional photos / 3-D scans Adam Summers Music by Will Slater / Firstcom
Subaru RX Build Ep. 1 - Subaru's First Rally Car
I just became the owner of a bit of Subaru legend. A 1988 Subaru RX, Subaru's earliest rally-inspired production car. Granddaddy to the WRX and the Legacy RS these cars are super unique and hard to find. By the end of this multi-part build series we'll be tearing up the PNW back-roads in our vintage JDM turbo rally car. Shot on a Panasonic GH4, Canon G7x, Google Pixel, Gopro Hero 3+, Phantom 3 Standard Drone. Music licensed by Epidemic Sound. Stock footage borrowed with respect from many wonderful youtubers.
Canvassing For Recycling
In Washington State where recycling rates have been on the decline for several years the region's largest waste management company is sending interns door-to-door to educate people about recycling. EarthFix Production Intern Jared Rusk has this report.
Northwest Offroad Subaru
Jeff Pearson and The Skagit Valley Offroad Subaru club don't choose the easy path. In their tweaked out, jacked up Subaru wagons even the storm of the century wont stop them as they tear through Walker Valley, Washington with no regrets.
Automating Apples
Washington produces over two thirds of the apples consumed in the United States. But with a continually shrinking labor pool and increasing market demands from overseas, the apple industry has struggled to keep up in recent year, despite record-setting crop yields. To meet these challenges farmers, entrepreneurs and scientists are looking to a new generation of automated and semi-autonomous technology to reinforce, and someday perhaps even replace, the lacking labor force in the apple business. Jared Rusk is a senior visual journalism major from Kingston, Washington. He has a passion for filmmaking, music and adventure.
This is Jazz: Improvisation
This short video featurette looks at what it takes to play jazz like the greats. With live performance footage from the Whatcom Jazz Music Arts Center and The Western Washington University Jazz Combo, this piece attempts to put the audience into the head of a jazz musician as they lose themselves in the freeform perfection of the jazz solo.
Bellingham Women's March
As many as 10,000 people attended the 2017 Women's March in Bellingham, Washington. It was the largest demonstration the town had seen in decades.
Rob.Ot (WWU 48 Hour Film Festival 2015)
Love is screwy. Beings not from here find love and amusement in this short film. Follow the story of Rob ad Luna, two lost lovers in this strange world. Made for the 2015 Western Washington University 48 Hour Film Festival. Team Elephant in the Room Genre: Action Comedy Prop: Book Character: Demon Line of Dialogue: "They are trying to communicate with us." Shot on Canon 70D Edited on Adobe Premiere Pro CC
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407898
|
__label__wiki
| 0.597203
| 0.597203
|
Cullen chases a dream
‘“It is great — it has been a lifelong dream of mine to play for the Sabres,” said Cullen, who speaks as much like a fan as he does an actual player, even when in uniform.’
Former teammate defends Tim Connolly
‘“I think some people in the media [in Buffalo] felt like he owed them explanations beyond what he cared to share, and it just became a little bit of a vendetta. From my perspective, the only thing Tim doesn’t care about is what the talking heads think about him. He cares about hockey fans, he cares about winning and he cares about his teammates. In my book, that’s all that matters.”’
Buffalo Sabres 2011 draft review
‘All in all the Sabres came away feeling much better about their center depth and they were able to take some risks that they wouldn’t have with past ownership regimes.’
Center spot in good hands with Roy
‘After a poor playoff in 2010, Roy came back as a better-conditioned, more mature player. Let’s see if he can build on that next season. He still has something to prove. But it seems to me that Leino, not Roy, has more to prove as a No. 1 center in the NHL.’
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407901
|
__label__wiki
| 0.862194
| 0.862194
|
History & Accomplishments
Student Organizing
Into the Fields Internship
Into the Fields Fellowship
Levante Leadership Institute
SAF Alumni Survey
Links to Jobs and Opportunities
Documentary Work
Theater Work
SAF student blog
Sample Presentation
Speaker Referrals
Farmworker Awareness Week
Calendar of Activism
Make a Personal Donation
Donate In-Kind Items and Services
Shop the SAF Store
Look back at SAF's 25 year timeline
of working with young activists
to improve farmworker lives
Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF) traces its history to the 1970s when child psychiatrist Dr. Robert Coles and professor Bruce Payne led twelve Duke students in a summer-long Migrant Project, investigating conditions in NC migrant camps, testifying before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and successfully lobbying for the creation of NC Farmworker Legal Services. In the early 1980s, Payne and other faculty and students at Duke founded the Interns in Conscience project of the Hart Leadership Program, and groups of students went to southern Florida during summer breaks to work with agencies serving farmworkers.
In 1990, a grant from the US Department of Education to the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke funded college student volunteers documenting the lives of migrant farmworker children. Fourteen Duke students in the summer of 1990 and eleven more in 1991 participated in the Center's Migrant Summer Program along with several UNC students. In 1992 students from Duke and UNC participated in a joint service-learning class about farmworker issues and the summer internship program.
Carolyn Corrie, a summer 1990 intern, worked with students, farmworker advocates, farmworkers, and community members to incorporate SAF as a nonprofit in 1992. Since 1992, SAF has directly impacted thousands of farmworkers, students and community members:
Over 100,000 farmworkers and their family members have gained access to health, legal, and education resources provided by SAF interns and fellows in the Carolinas,
Nearly 1000 college students from universities across the country and youth in NC have learned about farmworker rights and advocated for farmworker justice as a result of SAF leadership programs,
More than 150 community organizations and university groups have partnered with SAF on critical issues such as migrant housing reform and access to higher education for immigrant students,
Thousands of individuals are more aware of farmworker issues and more empowered to take action because of SAF's community engagement work, including National Farmworker Awareness Week,
Farmworkers live and work under more dignified conditions because of SAF’s successful advocacy in support of migrant housing and pesticide reform and solidarity with farm labor organizing groups that have won contracts yielding higher wages, grievance procedures, and human rights on the job.
SAF celebrates 25 years of working with young activists to improve farmworker lives with a series of exhibits and events.
SAF received the GSK IMPACT Award for our work addressing critical community health challenges.
SAF received the Latino Diamante Award in the area of Art & Culture for our documentaries, theater, mural, exhibitions, and storytelling that lift up the contributions and traditions of farmworkers and their families.
SAF is honored with the Farmworker Activism Award by Farmworker Justice for our work educating, mentoring and mobilizing students from middle school through the university level to support a more just agricultural labor system.
SAF is named a Fundraising Bright Spot in a study commissioned by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund for our work achieving breakthrough results in raising resources for social change.
SAF Executive Director Melinda Wiggins was selected as 1 of 14 nonprofit leaders from across the country to assist the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations in supporting effective philanthropy.
Nadeen Bir-Zaslow, SAF’s Advocacy & Organizing Director, is selected as a Southern Foodways Alliance 2015 Smith Symposium Fellow and honored for her impact on the southern region and its foodways.
The Adelante Education Coalition is awarded the 2015 Latino Diamante Award for making significant contributions to the Latino/Hispanic community of North Carolina.
The Farmworker Advocacy Network, of which SAF is a founding member, was honored with the 2014 Indy Citizen Award.
FAN’s Harvest of Dignity film receives the “Best Documentary/Topical” award in the Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards.
SAF’s Levante Leadership Institute recognized as a Finalist for the 2014 Examples of Excelencia award as one of the most effective in the nation at increasing Latino student success.
SAF launches the Solidaridad internship program to train students on the farmworker justice movement and gain nonprofit leadership skills by working in the SAF office.
SAF receives the Research Triangle Cross-Class Bridge Builder award for our work with people of diverse classes and races and supporting the leadership of working class people.
SAF is the community partner recipient of Duke’s Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Award.
SAF celebrates 20 years of growing farmworker activists
SAF received the NC Folklore Society’s 2012 Community Traditions Award for twenty years of producing collaborative documentary work between students and agricultural workers and their communities in North Carolina.
SAF Director Melinda Wiggins was honored by the White House as a Cesar Chavez Champion of Change for dedicating herself to improving the lives of others throughout her community and across the nation.
SAF was honored as one of five winners of the 2011 AARP Multicultural Outreach Award for their contributions to diversity and inclusion, focusing on marginalized people.
SAF won Glaxo Smith Kline's 2nd Annual Impact Award in recognition of our outstanding achievements in providing access to healthcare for the underserved
SAF received $100,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC Foundation in celebration of their 10th anniversary to further our impact, providing farmworkers with access to existing health care providers
SAF received the 2009 Nonprofit Sector Stewardship Award, given out annually by the NC Center for Nonprofits
SAF won the annual Community Partner Award from the APPLES Service Learning Program at UNC- Chapel Hill
SAF Executive Director, Melinda Wiggins, was awarded Outstanding Adult Ally/Mentor for Young Nonprofit Workers for developing the leadership of young people, many of whom have chosen to continue working in the social sector as a result
SAF received the NCYT Spark Award for Outstanding Non-Profit to work For, for its workplace culture, emphasis on anti-oppression work, and creative organizing strategies
The Farmworker Advocacy Network (SAF is a member) won the Policy Research and Advocacy Defenders of Justice Award from the NC Justice Center
SAF received an Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award for its role engaging a new generation of activists through the annual Student Labor Week of Action.
SAF received the Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award from World Hunger Year for its innovative, creative approaches to fighting hunger and poverty in the U.S.
SAF was awarded a Promising Practices Award by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.
SAF was awarded a Defenders of Justice Award from the North Carolina Justice and Community Development Center for its work fighting against poverty in the area of grassroots empowerment.
SAF Executive Director Melinda Wiggins was awarded the first NC Community Shares Leadership Award for her long-term commitment to supporting Shares' and its member social justice organizations.
SAF was awarded the Fund for Southern Communities' Helen's Fund Award for our work with young people in the South
SAF was awarded the Fund for Southern Communities' Helen's Fund Award for our work with young people in the South.
SAF was recognized by the Migrant Health Program of the Bureau of Primary Health Care for our dedication and commitment to our nation's migrant farmworkers and their families.
SAF was awarded the first Peace Prize from the North Carolina Peace Corps Association for our work helping people to help themselves, and promoting peace and cross-cultural understanding.
Most farmworkers are married and/or have children; yet almost six out of ten farmworkers live apart from their immediate family members.
Disaster Preparedness for Farmworkers
Take Action on Overtime for Farmworkers
All content, unless otherwise noted, © 2011 – 2020 Student Action with Farmworkers.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407902
|
__label__cc
| 0.688959
| 0.311041
|
Resources Hub
SAI Global News
Brand Resilience and Trust
Vendor and Third Party Risk Management
Information Security and Awareness
US Healthcare Revenue Integrity
Journey Magazine
Home » Brand Resilience and Trust » Linking Culture and Risk - Insights from the Strategic Culture Framework
Linking Culture and Risk - Insights from the Strategic Culture Framework
July 19, 2018 Caterina Bulgarella, Culture and Ethics Architect, Independent Influencer
Whether it's about price gouging, corruption, fixing the books, or sexual harassment, the costs of a toxic culture are always steep. Companies' reputations are at risk, executive careers could go down in flame and shame, and the narratives around business are becoming more opaque with each new story of corporate misconduct becoming public.
One scandal after another, the evidence is mounting: when culture goes bad, the whole system suffers from a giant blind spot.
Today's leaders can neither just assume that they are immune to the consequences of a toxic culture, nor can they think that these risks are not theirs. The odds of becoming the next Wells Fargo, Volkswagen, or Miramax are scarily increasing for all institutions. In fact, it is becoming impossible to effectively manage an organization without the right culture frames and tools.
This is why SAI Global introduced the Strategic Culture Framework (SCF), a strategic tool that allows organizations to assess and manage ethical risk. The SCF highlights the two culture coordinates that produce the highest level of risk in an organization. These are the delegation of ethical dilemmas, which is how and whether the organization introduces conflicting priorities that force people to face up to difficult ethical tradeoffs, and ethical capacity.
In the companion post to this topic, I reviewed the link between business and ethics, and how the link seemingly deteriorated over time.
To better understand how the framework helps assess and manage ethical risk, let's consider a real case study: the Deepwater Horizon debacle in 2010 and BP's culture leading to it.
We know that prior to the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, there was a marked gap between BP's touted values and what the organization actually valued, namely aggressive growth and risk-taking. BP was winning sustainability awards and checking all the boxes in terms of creating the right internal governance structures, but its culture fueled ethical dilemmas. Committees, not business leaders, were put in charge of ethics; people worked under pressure, including pressure to comply, affecting their ability to engage in sound reasoning.
Though some key stakeholders spoke out, senior leadership exercised their influence in a way that drowned discordant feedback. If evaluated in the abstract, BP's exposure to risk was considerable. That risk was untenable if looked at in the context of what the Deepwater Horizon's stakes truly entailed. But in the absence of frames and tools that could help look at the pattern of events taking place in more strategic terms, BP misread all the key warning signs.
We know how the story ended: 11 deaths, a host of harmful environmental consequences for the Gulf of Mexico and a $65 billion price tag for BP.
BP would have scored low on the two SCF's culture axes, showing dangerous flaws consistent with a profile of systemic risk. To be clear, the two culture dimensions highlighted in the framework, Delegation of Ethical Dilemmas and Ethical Capacity, are both critical to understand the intensity and type of risk an organization faces. The more dilemmas in the organization, the more pressure people are likely to face, translating to higher ethical risk. Moreover, the types of dilemmas internal stakeholders must routinely address (around safety, innovation, and process) shed light on the nature of the risk and how it may play out.
The level of Ethical Capacity in an organization is indicative of whether or not the risk ensuing from conflicting priorities will lead to a bad outcome.
In an organization where Ethical Ownership is low, we can expect that people will be more likely to give in if they feel under pressure, thinking that it's not their responsibility to challenge how things are done. Similarly, if Ethical Reasoning is not strong, employees will likely be biased in the face of ethical challenges, discounting important factors or ignoring key pieces of information. And if Ethical Voice is feeble, people may be unwilling to speak out, which will cause risk to escalate.
The profile of an organization along the SCF's two axes is critical in establishing the maturity of the organization's culture and the risk that culture creates. A culture is mature when the organization works hard to address and contain dilemmas on the one hand, while creating ethical capacity on the other. A culture is immature when the opposite is true. In between mature and immature cultures, there are two types that pose uniquely different challenges: ambivalent cultures and righteous cultures.
In an ambivalent culture, there typically are adequate conditions for Ethical Capacity. People are encouraged to own ethical challenges: they are trained effectively, their reasoning is engaged, tough issues are discussed openly, and there is awareness about what works and what doesn't. However, the culture is ambivalent because the organization does not stave off unnecessary dilemmas. Such organizations, for example, might nurture a culture of infinite 'ands.' Be profitable and efficient and high quality and safe and of high integrity. Companies that fall into this category may have mature ethics and compliance learning programs, but that doesn't mean they have a mature culture.
By contrast, organizations with a righteous culture go to great lengths to articulate clear and strong priorities, but they don't do as good a job when it comes to Ethical Capacity. Righteous cultures are somewhat cultish. Their risk arises not from pressure and lack of clarity, but from acquiescence and lack of adaptability.
Risk is lowest in mature cultures because these organizations do a great job in avoiding unnecessary dilemmas and in preparing their people to address ethical challenges. Risk is highest in immature cultures because these organizations let dilemmas proliferate, and they fail to nurture ethical capacity. Righteous organizations face more risk than mature organizations but less risk than immature ones. They have clear priorities, but they do not adequately prepare employees to deal with situations that deviate from the script. For this reason, the amount of risk a righteous organization faces will very much depend upon the environment and business in which it operates.
Ambivalent organizations do their homework when it comes to ethical capacity, but they let dilemmas flourish. As a result, they face moderately high risk. Ambivalent cultures may be born from a desire to do it all, which creates a dangerous form of motivated blindness. This is why these organizations are more intent on mitigating the negative consequences of ethical risk than on curbing that risk to begin with.
To learn more about the relationship between risk and culture, and help identify what kind of culture may exist in your organization, listen to our podcast with Tom Fox and download a copy of the Strategic Culture Framework. Our hour-long conversation is available as five short episodes, which you can access on iTunes.
Episode 1: Introduction to the Culture Framework-Listen on iTunes or Listen on YouTube
Episode 2: The Board, C-Suite, and Ethical Risks - Listen on iTunes or Listen on YouTube
Episode 3: Espoused Ethics and Actual Values - Listen on iTunes or Listen on YouTube
Episode 4: Analyzing Wells Fargo Under the Framework - Listen on iTunes or Listen on YouTube
Episode 5: The Ins and Outs of Ethical Reasoning - Listen on iTunes or Listen on YouTube
To download the full report, click here.
Guest post by Caterina Bulgarella
Caterina Bulgarella is a highly experienced leader with 15 years of advisory work in the field of culture, ethics, leadership development, and human capital metrics. Caterina holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology, and M.A.s in Personnel Psychology and Industrial/Organizational Psychology from New York University (NYU) and is currently serving as an adjunct professor in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Master Program at New York University, where she teaches graduate courses in organizational behavior.
Strategic BCP Acquisition: SAI Global Extends IRM Leadership Position
SAI Global continues to execute an Integrated Risk Management (IRM) vision with acquisition of Gartner MQ L...
Strategic Culture Framework to Predict Risk
SAI Global's strategic culture framework highlights specific systems, norms & mindsets that organizations s...
Global Consumer Trust is on the Offensive, Survey Finds
Purpose-driven consumers skeptical of data privacy, food labeling and brands’ ethical stewardship represent US$1 trillion risk to businesses that are not prioritizing reputational trust & transparency
5 Reputational Risk Predictions for 2019
Armed with data from our second annual Reputation Trust Index, we're highlighting five trends in consumer trust to predict what will be major disruptive forces as we move into the new year and beyond.
How to Prevent Misconduct Through Proper Due Diligence
SAI Global helps organizations proactively manage risk to create trust and achieve business excellence, growth, and sustainability. Our integrated risk management solutions are a combination of...
Reputation Risk: Where Everyone Knows Your Name
Listen in on the discussion between Paul Johns and Scott McClesky about the changing ethics & compliance landscape and its relationship to reputational risk.
No Vacancy: How the Travel Industry is Turning the Tables on Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is the fastest growing international crime. SAI Global shares how the travel industry is taking strides to combat human trafficking.
Corruption is the Dark Underbelly of the Corporate World
The wave of public mistrust is spreading, compelling enforcement authorities across the world to ramp up efforts to investigate & prosecute corruption.
SAI Global continues to execute an Integrated Risk Management (IRM) vision with acquisition of Gartner MQ Leader for Business Continuity Management.
SAI Global's strategic culture framework highlights specific systems, norms & mindsets that organizations should focus on to map how ethics & business relate.
A Pharmaceutical Company's Transformation to Campaign-Based Curriculum
Learn how Teva Pharmaceutical restructured and branded its ethics and compliance program with SAI Global to make it more engaging, effective and approachable for employees.
Using Data for Competitive Advantage in the Quick Service Restaurant Industry
As new data floods into each restaurant, from both internal and external channels, QSR chains need to recognise the value of aggregated data to solve industry challenges. DOWNLOAD...
Magic Quadrant for IT Risk Management Solutions
SAI Global announced the rebranding of the risk software suite to unite the platforms as part of the company's leadership in the provision of globally recognized risk management solutions.
The Oil and Gas Industry: Managing Dynamic Changes and Building Trust
The oil and gas industry has achieved efficiencies & competitive advantage by using software to capture data and convert it into business intelligence.
© SAI Global Pty Limited
'); //$('.fluid-width-video-wrapper').html(' '); });
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407904
|
__label__cc
| 0.693161
| 0.306839
|
A Timeless Odyssey
Vessel Name: Timeless Odyssey
Vessel Make/Model: Allures 45
Hailing Port: Portsmouth
Crew: The Crew; Martyn & Veronica (mostly) Themba (the dog), Dylan and Tayo (occasionally) and other good friends.
About: About the motley crew: The geologist, explorer and adventurer with the mathematics teacher
17 January 2020 | Preveza
Peloponnese Blog 6 (written much later)
30 August 2019 | Gulf of Corinth
Peloponnese Blog 5 (19 August 2019)
21 August 2019 | Preveza but blog about Saronic Gulf
Peloponnese Blog 4 (9 August 2019)
Peloponnese Blog 3 (15 July 2019)
07 July 2019 | Elafonisos
Peloponnese Blog 2 (24 June 2019)
28 June 2019 | Ag. Nikolaos, Zakynthos
Peloponnese Blog 1
11 June 2019 | Cleopatra Marina (but we are still in London)
The 2019 short season about to kick-off
15 July 2018 | Cleopatra Marina
Eastern Med Blog 4, The Ionian South of Lefkas canal (June/July 2018)
23 June 2018 | Fiskardho
Eastern Med Blog 3, The Ionian (June 2018)
17 June 2018 | Lefkas or thereabouts
Eastern Med Blog 2 (May/June 2018)
Eastern Med Blog 1 (May 2018)
Heading for a shorter sailing season
28 October 2017 | Back in London, reflecting on a season past
Western Med Blog 13 (A summary of the sailing season, out-takes, highlights, must do, should avoid, cultural quirks, etcetera.)
19 October 2017 | Ragusa for the winter
Western Med Blog 12 (Down the ‘shin’ of Italy, the Aeolian islands and touch and go in northern Sicily before returning to the Aeolians and going through the Straights of Messina)
08 September 2017 | Pontine islands, Amalfi Coast and southwards
Western Med Blog 11 (Pontine islands and southwards down the leg of Italy)
08 September 2017 | Tuscan Islands and Rome
Western Med Blog 10 (Around the northern tip of Corsica, the Tuscan islands and on “the road” to Rome)
15 August 2017 | Northern Corsica
Western Med Blog 9 (Up the West Coast of Corsica)
02 August 2017 | Bonifacio
Western Med Blog 8 (Maddalena Archipelago and Southern Corsica)
24 July 2017 | Maddalena archipelago
Western Med Blog 7 (Pottering around northern Sardinia and a visit to Bonifacio before returning to Pommieland for a graduation)
05 July 2017 | Castelsardo
Western Med Blog 6
Patras was not a place to linger longer, so we set out for Messolongi which is a marina down a long canal with salt pans on either side. The Marina is run by a Dutch guy who has been struggling to get permission to run it for several years and has been sending us e-mails for the past two years. In summary, [...]
Martyn Morris with Veronica the editor. Weather warm partly cloudy expecting more rain and thunder in the coming days
We passed through the Lefkas canal for the first time on 11 June 2018. Since we have returned back through it again, I will tell the story of the places between that date and posting this blog, rather than give a chronological account. Some of the places on Levkas and Meganisi that I visited with Clive, were revisited with Veronica. Clive flew back home to Cape Town from Preveza late on the evening of 16 June, with a day in Athens on the way. Veronica returned from her jolly with her sister in England and Ireland, landing at lunchtime on the 16th June.
On our first southwards transit, we anchored just on the other side of the Lefkas canal, just because it was getting late and we had had a long sail. We braaied chicken and roast vegetables on the boat. I did not go ashore at all but Clive did the next morning on the SUP, to get some milk. He reported Ligia to be a busy noisy main road and nothing remarkable. Later when we set of, there was a light breeze from behind and we were going nowhere fast but did not care. At one stage we were level pegging next to a Dutch boat doing 2 knots, sailing on a mirror. Clive had read a book about Aristotle Onassis and was quite taken by the opportunity to circumnavigate Skorpios, which was his private island. We discovered that it had fairly recently been sold to some Russians. There are signs up saying do not approach and no anchoring. This is despite the fact that in Greek law, everything below the waterline belongs to the state. There were some rumours that the local police/coast guard had mysteriously got two brand new RIBs just after the Russians arrived and just before the signs went up. These are of course, just rumours. We sailed by at a respectable distance noting the channel where Aristotle used to moor his private yacht, Christina, acquired at a time when super-yachts were 'not a thing'. We also sailed past the south side of the island where there is a beach and a small white cottage that used to be Jackie Onassis' (Kennedy's) favourite retreat.
We stopped in a magnificent anchorage between the fingers on Meganisi, Ambelike Bay. Meganisi is the island just south of Skorpios. We went stern to with a line to the shore. It was oppressively warm and humid but the sea was refreshing. There were a lot of boats but the water was crystal clear and ideal for swimming and chilling and even better for the SUP in the morning. In the afternoon, we walked over the hill amidst the din of the shrill sound of the cicadas to discover the very quaint little village and harbour of Vathi. I was later to learn that this was known locally as Little Vathi as there is another Vathi on Ithaki. We were quite taken by Meganisi, so much so, that we in total spent 4 nights there: two with Clive and two with Veronica. Our real discovery was the Karnagio restaurant/bar/yacht-haven, run by Alex, this super efficient, Romanian lady who is married into the family of the Greek owners. It is truly a yachtsman's haven, they know exactly what people need, a secure mooring, super clean ablutions, fantastic restaurant, small shop selling essentials, a laundry, a little beach with loungers and a quaint outdoor bar. Veronica loved it and the hosts were fantastic. We befriended a South African family from Durban there: Tim had kept a boat in the Ionian for 15 years and was virtually a local. They had had Alex and her partner out to South Africa on more than one occasion and they had done a 5000km motorbike ride around southern Africa with them. Anyway I would highly recommend Karnagio but you have to book ahead as every day we were there, we saw them turning people away.
While I was with Clive we also went over to Órmos Vlikho on Lefkus island. It looked great in the pilot guide and on the map but Nidri caters for package holidays and all that goes with them. We arrived late in Tranquil (not anymore) Bay and after a morning SUP around the island with the Baroque Valaoritis Mansion on it, we scampered back to Meganisi. Dorpfeldt, the archaeologist that challenged the orthodox theories on the homeland of Odysseus had a house, which is close to Tranquil Bay but we did not visit it and there were reports that the museum has closed.
We headed back through the Lefkus canal to be in Preveza the night before Clive's flight out. There was a thunderstorm building and although it was not overhead we went into the Preveza Marina in more than 15 knots of wind. I decided to take a marina berth and be secure in case the stormy weather got worse. The marina is still under construction, within the old harbour. They are spending €10 million on it so it should be great when it is finished. They charged us a very reasonable €22.38 including electricity and water. We could walk to town, so we were happy. Town turned out to be quite charming and that evening we had a rather excellent meal in a restaurant nestled in an ancient alleyway, draped in bougainvillea. We over did the carafes of wine whilst reminiscing about school, university and everything between then and now.
The next day we repositioned the boat into Cleopatra marina, across the channel. It was convenient for the airport and I also had to talk to the people in the office about the arrangements for the boat haul-out on 14 July. I said cheers to Clive that evening and here I should say thanks for the great company and help, Clive! The next morning, after consulting Google Earth, I did a recce on the bicycle to the airport, which was all of 1.5km away. As Veronica was traveling with hand luggage only, I went out there later, cycling both bicycles to the airport, which was quite a novel way to pick someone up from an airport! It saved the €15 taxi fare, which at about €1 per 100m, has to be one of, if not the most expensive taxi ride in the world.
The next day after Veronica had taken the marina water taxi over to do a look-see at Preveza town and do a shopping run we headed into the Ambracian Gulf and to Vonitsa.
So here is a story I have to tell which is a big shout for the physically challenged, as well as being a tale of uncanny coincidence and a tale of people with a sense of humour and an ability to make light of their own challenges. We decided to sail from Preveza into the inland body of water called the Ambracian Gulf and visit the town of Volitsa, which has a Venetian castle overlooking the town. The castle has a history going back to the Crusades. For a change we had a nice sail zigzagging between the peninsulas, islands and fish farms. We arrived in Volitsa and were trying to decide whether or not we were going to anchor or find a place on the quay. It was pretty crowded and I didn't think we would find a place on the quay. So we decided not to put fenders down until we were sure of being able to get in. There is the A quay (floating pontoon) which was already full to overflowing with charter boats and organised cruising types. Then there is a long B quay with an assortment of yachts in various states of repair interspersed with the occasional cruising/visiting type. There were actually two gaps to go into and as luck would have it, there was a 15 knot plus crosswind to make it more complicated. We decided to go for it. A guy got off one of the boats to come and help. I noticed he only had one arm. I rejected the first gap as there were no lazy lines as most of the other boats had used them and because there were reports of a lot of debris on the bottom, I decided against dropping an anchor. Another gesticulating old sea dog type appeared between the boats and shouted for us to come into the gap between his boat and the next-door boat. This was a pretty small gap and the boats on either side were smaller than us, so laying down on them in the cross wind could have got messy. Veronica got all the fenders down and we made our first approach. As we got the stern into the first part of the gap the bow was getting blown down and the thruster couldn't hold it. A vision of us pivoting around the smaller boat with the anchor tangled in the rails flashed so I called a missed approach and applied full forward thrust to escape the possibility of lazy lines getting caught on one of the twin rudders. The second attempt was much better. The gap was so tight that we pushed the boats apart as we squeezed in. Our helpful neighbour and Veronica stuffed popping out fenders back into the gaps. We were wedged in and got lines ashore. The guy with the one arm took a line and deftly thread it through the ring, with amazing dexterity. Then, as he picked up the lazy line, it quickly became apparent that this lazy line had not seen action for at least 6 months! I could not leave the helm, as I needed to keep thrusting upwind to keep the boat straight and off the anchor of the small boat of our neighbour's, so Veronica dealt with a lazy line that was colonised by mussels. She did a fine job of walking this muddy mussel-clad mess forwards, with kilograms of mussel clumps dropping all over the deck and into the sea. As Veronica was struggling, our downwind neighbour shouted, "Permission to come aboard?" Permission was immediately granted and he leapt over the rail to help Veronica. As soon as the lazy line was on, I told Veronica to come back to the helm so that I could go forward to help him haul on the lazy line and carve off more massive clumps of mussels. It was then that I noticed that he only had one leg, he has a prosthesis below the knee. He is no youngster either, probably in his mid 60s, smiling, friendly, task-solving and strong.
After we were secure, I thanked both helpers profusely and could not resist commenting on what a unique experience this had been. It was my first time of exceptionally able help from a guy with one leg and another with one arm! What are the chances of that! Then, there is a shout from a Dutch boat 4 boats up... He simply announced, "Quite good actually, there are three of us here"! As true as Bob, he had only one arm too. I offered them all a beer for their help. They all were grateful but refused the offer. I asked whether there was any connection between them, it turns out no, one from Montenegro, one from England and one from the Netherlands.
Later we had the braai (barbeque) out and were sitting in the cockpit drinking wine when the Dutch guy and his partner walked by on the way to a restaurant in town. He said, "Welcome to the Leper colony" and laughed heartily. I was just sorry that I didn't get a picture of the 4 of us.
From the Ambracian Gulf we made our way back past Preveza, through the Lefkus canal and went back to spend two totally chilled days at Karnagio on Meganisi. I cannot speak highly enough of this place and Veronica loved it. We have since had a night in Kioni on Ithaca and are currently in the more upmarket and trendy Fiskardho on the north of Cephalonia. Both of these places are delightful although we did have some anchoring antics at the latter in a strong crosswind. Last night we ran into James, from the Aussie boat, that we had met in Paxos about 10 days earlier. As Clive had commented after the first meeting, what a great guy. It was interesting that they had gone back to Corfu to do a crew change and stopped again in Gaios with their new crew, James' mom and his girlfriend from Sweden. They had had a thunderstorm there that night, with exceptional winds and another boat dragged over them and they ended up alongside the quay. Giaos (a.k.a. Chaos) living up to its name. Then he said coming through the Lefkus channel, it had rained so had the visibility was reduced to 150m and to cap it all, they had anchored in the same place we had, just out of the Lefkus channel, Ligia, and a nearby lightning strike took out all their electronics. Impressively the charter company came out and sorted it all in two days following them wherever they went, while working on the boat. I guess the observation for me was although we experienced hectic rain in Meganisi and we saw thunder and lightning in the distance the weather was relatively localised and we were lucky to miss the worst of it.
Time to say cheers until the next blog. We are heading south with the intention of visiting the famous, much pictured Shipwreck Beach on Zakinthos before turning north to meander back up to Preveza. We have between now, 23 June, and about 12 July when we will be back in Preveza preparing the boat for the haul out on the morning of the 14th.
Timeless Odyssey's Photos - Main
Peloponnese 2019
Anti clockwise circumnavigation of the Peloponnese starting and ending in Preveza
Created 3 July 2019
Sicily to Greece 2018
Aeolian Islands and Sicily
Joined by Sharon and John. The weather is turning but stunning places
Created 26 September 2017
Italy South of Naples
Created 2 September 2017
Italy north of Naples
Sardinia and Corsica B4 back to UK for Dylan's Graduation
Almerimar and along the Costa Blanca
Created 7 May 2017
Western Med sailing plans 2017
This is an arm waving plan of what we might achieve in 2017. We plan however to be less schedule driven this year, so let's see what happens.
Back in Spain, Bay of Cadiz and on past Gibralter
Veronica plans to depart the boat in Cadiz and the boys from Surf Africa join. Let us see what progress we can make and fun we can have on the way to Almiera
Down the length of Portugal and into the Algarve
Atlantic Spain 2016
Created 2 August 2016
Atlantic France July 2016
We arrived in L'Aber Wrac'h after a 100NM night crossing and started exploring the delights of Brittany
Devon and Cornwall beyond West of Torquay
Holland and back to England
We prepare the boat for the season, put her in the water and start making our way back to Pommieland. Some early set backs but still we are blessed.
The mast up route of Holland
Kattegat via Kiel and on to Holland
Sailing back through Denmark from Göteborg and onto Holland
Göta canal
New crew, and we start making a fresh water crossing of Sweden east to west
The Stockholm Archipelago
We made landfall at Nynäshamn from Gotska Sandon. We have 3 weeks set aside to explore the Acrchi.......so a good place to start a new album.
“East Sweden, north of 57º N…….until the next album”
Around the bottom of Sweden and North toward the Archipelago
On the way (Germany and Denmark)
On the Way to the Baltic (Portsmouth to the German border)
Lift out 2015 and wiping the babies bottom
Sailing to the Baltic and back Album 1
Installing the Water Maker
Across the English Channel
A photo essay of a 3 week trip in July and August 2014 to the Channel Islands and the Brittany coast
Sailing in the Solent Year 1
Timeless Odyssey during build
We purchased the boat second hand in January 2014 but these are photos obtained from the Allures factory
More Photos (1830)
A bit more about us and ...hey...want to go skiing
A video from Caveman in Denmark
Same boat, showing us other places to go
Tayo's little video. Sardinia and Corsica
Timeless Odyssey position on Marine Traffic
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407906
|
__label__wiki
| 0.95001
| 0.95001
|
Leishman, Ancer stage improbable comeback at Presidents Cup
By DENNIS PASSA, 15/12/2019
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Marc Leishman said it was probably the best he's ever felt on a golf course. Abraham Ancer said he never gave up hope.
The Internationals pair staged the most improbable of comebacks at the Presidents Cup on Saturday, stealing a half-point when they finished all square in their foursomes match against Americans Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler despite being 5-down after 10 holes at Royal Melbourne.
That left the Internationals with a 10-8 points lead going into Sunday's 12 singles matches.
The Internationals had a woeful start, making bogeys on four of the first seven holes to hand the Americans the big lead. That remained until Ancer's approach shot to within five feet set up a Leishman birdie on the 11th.
On the 12th, Leishman returned the favor, hitting his approach to 10 feet to set up Ancer's birdie.
It was 3-up for the Americans, where it remained until the 16th, when the Americans gave Leishman and Ancer a bit of help. Fowler missed a six-footer for par at 16 before Thomas' miss from nine feet meant the American lead was just 1-up heading to the last.
Thomas' tee shot into the trees gave the Internationals the advantage on 18 and Leishman made no doubt for the half-point when he put his approach to seven feet to set up another birdie by Ancer to halve the match.
The Americans made three bogeys to finish the match.
“It was unbelievable, you talk about coming back from the dead," International captain Ernie Els said. “Five-down and 4-down, you know, through eight and nine holes, come back and get that result, I mean, that's a turnaround. That gets momentum."
Leishman said having a partner made the half point extra special.
“We've all won up here; we've won tournaments, but we don't get chances to play with a teammate very often," Leishman said. “That's probably as good as I've felt on a golf course, and I only halved the match."
Ancer said he told Leishman: “Let's just keep pushing and see what happens."
“Once we start making putts there and seeing the ball go in — I think even 11, 12, obviously were huge, seeing some putts go in, hitting some good shots," Ancer added. “Hey, OK we're back in this. For me, I never really lost hope.
“We knew we needed some help and we needed to execute to perfection, and thankfully we did. It was just an unbelievable experience."
Adam Scott, appearing at a media conference with Leishman and Ancer after the match, said “there's a lot of heart here sitting next to me ... we finished on a high with these guys."
Who's who on Trump's legal team for impeachment trial
By JILL COLVIN and DEB RIECHMANN 18/01/2020
Philippine volcano life-threatening despite `seeming lull'
India level ODI series after beating Australia by 36 runs
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407909
|
__label__wiki
| 0.925073
| 0.925073
|
Easy fire, burning out of control in Ventura County, started near Edison line, utility says
President Ronald Reagan’s Air Force One sits on display at the Reagan Library as the Easy fire burns in the neighboring hills in Simi Valley. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Inmate crews set backfires to heavy brush along Madera Rd. as firefighters try to keep the Easy fire from crossing the road into Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters Iann Miller, left and Austin Houck, right, from Cal Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit on patrol and mop up of the Easy Fire around the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Helicopters drop water after inmate crews set backfires to heavy brush along Madera Rd. as firefighters try to keep the Easy fire from crossing the road into Thousand Oaks. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Robyn Phipps, left, & Laura Horvitz rescue goats from a ranch along Tierra Rejada Road. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters from a Ventura City and Oxnard City Fire work to extinguish hot spots from the Easy fire along Tierra Rejada Road. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
SIMI VALLEY CA OCTOBER 30, 2019 — Trisha Trifunovich, right, holds up Jennifer Porter, left, as gusts of wind almost blow people over in the Easy fire zone near a Simi Valley Wednesday, October 30, 2019. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Helicopters hit flames and burning brush along Madera Road as firefighters battle the Easy fire in Simi Valley. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
A statue of President Ronald Reagan titled “Along The Trail” stands outside the Reagan Library as the Easy Fire burns in the background in Simi Valley. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Billy Macfarlane uses a garden hose to put out embers from the Easy fire threatening his family’s ranch on Tierra Rejada Road in Simi Valley. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Dean Cato and his son, Robert, arrive to help friend Billy Macfarlane save his family’s ranch on Tierra Rejada Road in Simi Valley. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A horse runs free on Tierra Rejada Road early Oct. 30 as the Easy fire burns toward neighborhoods in Simi Valley. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
John Malta waters down mulch at his home while firefighters battle the Easy fire in Simi Valley. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Equestrians flee with their horses as they evacuate Castle Rock Farms while firefighters battle the Easy fire in Simi Valley. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
People run as they flee Castle Rock Farms while firefighters battle the Easy fire in Simi Valley. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Brent Lamb prepares to move horses at a ranch along Tierra Rejada Road between Simi Valley and Moorpark as the Easy fire burns. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Jose Gutierrez evacuates horses in Simi Valley as the Easy fire burns Oct. 30 in Simi Valley. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Smoke from the Easy fire on Tierra Rejada Road between Simi Valley and Moorpark. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
The Easy fire is burning near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Thick smoke choked the hillside where the large building — a repository of presidential records from former President Reagan’s administration — is perched. (KTLA)
A large brush fire erupted in Simi Valley early Oct. 30 and was quickly burning toward neighborhoods, triggering mandatory evacuations amid strong Santa Ana winds. (KTLA)
By Hannah Fry,
Leila Miller, Richard Winton, Jaclyn Cosgrove, Alex Wigglesworth
A major brush fire swept by gusts of Santa Ana winds up to 65 mph raced through Simi Valley hillsides toward neighborhoods Wednesday, threatening 7,000 homes and forcing thousands of residents to flee.
The Easy fire, which started near Easy Street and Madera Road shortly after 6 a.m., quickly burned toward Tierra Rejada Road, leaped across the street and made a run toward the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, said Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen.
“Unfortunately, it was about the worst time it could happen — 40-mile-an-hour sustained winds and fuels that were ripe and ready to carry fire,” he said.
Southern California Edison confirmed Wednesday evening that the fire broke out in its service territory near one of its subtransmission lines, which was not de-energized at the time of the eruption. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown.
The utility has notified the California Public Utilities Commission that there was activity on the subtransmission line near the reported time of the fire, spokesman Robert Villegas said.
Southern California Edison “is conducting a review into the circumstances surrounding the fire and will cooperate with all investigations into the origin and cause,” Villegas said. He said the utility’s top priority is the safety of its customers, employees and communities.
Thick smoke choked the hillside where the 125,000-square-foot library — a repository of records and artifacts from the Reagan administration — is perched amid dense brush. Flames burned on all sides, but the library has not sustained damage, officials said.
Shortly after 3 p.m., the fire jumped the 23 Freeway in the Moorpark area, where firefighters took a stand to prevent it from spreading west toward the Santa Rosa Valley. Crews pounced on the flames and extinguished the spot fire before it took hold, Lorenzen said at an evening news briefing.
“We have been able to at least defeat that part of the fire there and keep it from spreading toward the west,” he said.
The blaze, which has chewed through more than 1,600 acres of dense, dry brush, is also burning east toward homes along Madera Road. At least one home on Tierra Rejada was damaged and 7,000 others are threatened. Three firefighters are being treated at a local hospital for suspected smoke inhalation, authorities said.
About 30,000 residents in portions of Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks have been evacuated. “Be ready and prepared,” Lorenzen said. “When we ask you to leave, please leave immediately.”
(Chris Keller / Los Angeles Times)
There was no containment of the fire as of Wednesday night. Although firefighters had bulldozer and hose line around a significant section of the blaze, they will not consider it contained until it has been wind tested for 12 hours. Fire officials anticipated the containment figure would increase Thursday, as long as things remain under control.
The size of the fire pales in comparison to Ventura County’s previous wind-driven monsters: the Thomas fire in 2017 that burned almost 282,000 acres and remains the second largest fire in the state’s modern history, and the Woolsey fire, the seventh most destructive fire in state history, which burned almost 97,000 acres in Ventura and Los Angeles counties and destroyed about 1,600 structures, including several homes.
Fire officials said this time was different, in part because of what they’ve learned from previous fires and because they had substantially more resources from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
Lorenzen said that given the extreme wind event warning, Cal Fire sent more firefighters to the region, and thanks to a recent boost in state funding, there were more strike teams that also came to the area.
Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were also crucial, as they aided ground crews in keeping the fire skinny, Lorenzen said.
“They worked the flanks pretty hard, and then they were incredibly vital when the fire crossed the 23,” Lorenzen said. “We had the DC-10 come in and lay down retardant along the 23 and then right in that neighborhood above it, and it gave us the opportunity to get in there and knock it down. In the absence of the aircraft there, that would have been a really big challenge for us to contain that fire.”
The efforts of 800 firefighters, eight air tankers and nine helicopters trying to get control of the fast-moving blaze were stymied through the morning by extreme wind conditions.
The fire quickly outflanked crews as gusts picked up embers and carried them through the air. Wind-driven embers have been known to blow miles ahead of the front line of a blaze, setting spot fires and igniting homes. For that reason, officials cautioned people near the evacuation zones to keep their doors and windows closed.
Tanker aircraft dropping water and fire retardant were forced to divert from the area periodically because of turbulence, officials said.
“The [conditions for] air assets are challenging at best,” Ventura County Fire Capt. Steve Kaufmann said. “You can see a lot of the water that’s coming from the ‘super scoopers’ is atomized because of the wind. It definitely makes it challenging for us.”
Ventura County Assistant Fire Chief Chad Cook said significant manpower was devoted to areas near the Reagan Library through the morning to protect the landmark. Helicopters repeatedly dropped loads of water behind the library amid 60-mph winds, turning the flames into smoke on a ridge 300 feet below. As wind gusts blew strong enough to knock a person off balance, two ‘super scooper’ planes dipped down behind the library, unleashing a large volume of water that created its own rainbow.
With fire sweeping down the ridge toward Roosevelt Court, an off-duty LAPD officer began yelling, alerting residents that the blaze was headed down the hill. Tensions immediately heightened as the flames became visible to homeowners.
Rory Kaplan has lived on Roosevelt since the homes were built there in 2001.
“I got the reverse 911 about 6:30 a.m.,” he said. “I pulled the cars out into the driveway, put the passports and bank documents in one and my musical instruments in the other car. I am ready to go.”
Q&A: How a Times photographer got this Easy fire photo with Reagan’s Air Force One
Times staff photographer Wally Skalij has covered many wildfires for the paper. On Monday, he went to Simi Valley for the Easy fire, where he got a notable shot.
Simi Valley police began directing everyone via loudspeaker to leave the neighborhood behind the Reagan Library. Kaplan joined the exodus.
“One thing is sure,” he said. “They aren’t going to let Reagan’s library burn — and that protects us.”
Just south of Madera Road, a group of neighbors stood in an intersection in the Village on the Green neighborhood in the Wood Ranch area, watching the fire crawl down nearby hillsides and waiting to see whether they would be evacuated.
Helicopters flew close overhead, the sound of their engines echoing as they dumped load after load of water on the blaze. The wind ebbed and flowed through the neighborhood, shooting cold air past the group.
“I’m not so nervous, but my wife is,” Erik Roodman, 54, said as he watched the action. “She already has a bag packed. I just made sure I had clean clothes on in case I need to go.”
Hours earlier, thousands of residents fled their homes as wind-whipped flames rapidly consumed large swaths of brush, casting hillsides in an orange glow.
All Simi Valley public schools were closed because of the fire, and a shelter has been set up at the Thousand Oaks Community Center at 2525 N. Moorpark Road.
Kris Mae, 69, was one of the first people to arrive at the community center. Mae, an early riser, had been watching television on mute and listening to the radio when she heard the announcer say there was a fire near the Reagan Library — about four miles from her house. Outside, she saw a beige-and-red-hued plume of smoke.
“I’m right in the path,” she said. “That’s why I left my house, because it was so close.”
But she was prepared. She had packed her car with several suitcases, boxes of important files and a fire safe about a month ago when the first major fires of the season started.
“It’s too hard to pack and unpack over and over,” she said. “I’m a very nervous person when I get shaken.”
Chandler Collins, 23, was jolted awake early Wednesday by the sound of his grandmother banging on his door. They had to evacuate.
It was still dark outside, but he could see flames licking uphill near their home, which is on the same road as the Reagan Library. He threw together some clothing, pet supplies for his cat, Shadow, and his chinchilla, Rocket, plus his Halloween costume, in case he couldn’t make it back home before his dress-up day at work Thursday.
“I’ve never done this before, but it’s probably going to happen more often,” he said of the evacuations.
Inside the battle to save the Reagan Library as fire laid siege to landmark
When the Easy Fire erupted early Wednesday morning in Simi Valley, a priority quickly arose: Save the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
The Easy fire was one of several blazes that broke out across Southern California on Wednesday.
Throughout the day firefighters converged on multiple blazes throughout the region — the Hill fire in Jurupa Valley in Riverside is the largest of the others at 200 acres and at times closed the 60 Freeway. Fires broke out in Whittier Narrows, Brea, Calabasas and at least one other in Riverside.
The new fires come amid dangerous weather conditions and the threat of more intentional power blackouts as utility companies attempt to reduce wildfire risk.
In the area of the Easy fire, gusts of about 30 mph from the northeast were reported nearby around 8 a.m., National Weather Service meteorologist Lisa Phillips said.
By midday Wednesday, Southern California was facing peak fire weather, with winds of up to 78 mph at Boney Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains in Ventura County, while relative humidity fell to rock bottom, clocking at zero at Mt. Wilson in the San Gabriel Mountains and peaks in the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Los Padres National Forest, Phillips said.
The air was exceedingly dry throughout Ventura County. Relative humidity was 8% at Sinaloa Lake and 7% in Moorpark.
Forecasters said the winds would be the strongest to hit the region in recent memory.
Brent Lamb prepares to help move horses at a ranch along Tierra Rejada Road as the Easy fire burns Wednesday morning.
“The magnitude of the wind gusts really is going to be a concern,” said Daniel Swain, climate scientist with UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. “The actual winds that people experience really will be quite extreme in a lot of places, really everywhere except for the wind-sheltered parts of downtown L.A. and central L.A.”
The extreme fire weather conditions are expected to persist through Thursday evening, the National Weather Service said. While Santa Ana winds have likely peaked, they’ll still be strong, with expectations of gusts between 40 mph and 60 mph.
It’s also possible that red flag warnings — a term used to describe critical fire weather danger from a combination of high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation — will be extended for valley hills and mountains beyond Thursday afternoon. On Thursday night through Friday, top winds will weaken to gusts of 25 mph to 35 mph.
Southern California is expected to get a break from Santa Ana conditions next week. Unfortunately, there is no outlook for rain over the next 10 days.
The forecast of extreme Santa Ana winds prompted Southern California Edison to say it might shut off power to more than 340,000 customers in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
To the north, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said Wednesday that it would begin restoring power to customers who were shut off this week in its latest bid to reduce wildfire risk. Crews will inspect utility lines, repair damage and restore power to about 365,000 customers in its service area, except for Kern County, which is still experiencing strong winds, according to PG&E.
Fire danger from power lines was underscored Tuesday when L.A. officials said a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power line hit by a tree branch sparked the Getty fire.
Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde contributed to this report.
CaliforniaTop StoriesWildfire
Hannah Fry
Leila Miller
Richard Winton
Jaclyn Cosgrove
Alex Wigglesworth
Thousands of ‘penis fish’ wash up on a Northern California beach
Northern California’s Drake’s Beach, where it’s common to see elephant seals mating, is overrun with another phallic symbol: innkeeper worms
Mt. Baldy hiker missing for 2 days after getting separated from group on steep trail
Sreenivas “Sree” Mokkapati of Irvine got separated from his group of three other hikers during a trek from the Village at Bear Flats to the Mt. Baldy summit on Sunday
‘Adulting’ is hard. UC Berkeley has a class for that
Adulting classes have swelled in popularity, in part because many high schools have largely abandoned courses such as home economics that help students navigate the path to adulthood, experts say
Teen who opened fire at Saugus High dies of self-inflicted wound; guns are seized from his home
Two students were killed in the shooting Thursday at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita. Three others were wounded, and two of them remain hospitalized.
Teacher and students recount the horrifying moment
Banks: The answer in the Santa Clarita school shooting? God, gunshot kits and fire extinguishers as weapons
Saugus High shooter opened fire on crowded quad in 16-second attack that left 2 dead and 3 wounded, sheriff says
Authorities captured a suspect, described as a 15-year-old boy, in a shooting that injured at least five people at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita
Details on injuries, school closures, advisories
Students heard shots and ran. ‘When I go home, I’m going to cry’
L.A. rapper who collaborated with Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur dies in Riverside County jail
Jamarr Antonio Stamps, a 43-year-old rapper known as Bad Azz, died Monday while in custody on suspicion of domestic violence, authorities say
Congressmen help migrant girl with Down syndrome get into US
A delegation from the U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus has helped a 6-year-old migrant girl with Down Syndrome and a heart condition get paroled in the United States
Police say a man stole $145,000 in cash from a marijuana money courier’s van at a Southern California gas station after the driver collected the proceeds from several dispensaries
The Democratic National Committee has announced its criteria for the first debate to be held after voting begins in the 2020 presidential campaign, including a new pathway to the stage based off delegate pledges
State: California inmate kills 1 prisoner, wounds another
Officials say one inmate fatally struck a fellow prisoner and critically wounded another at a central California prison
Anti-Trump protests have shrunk. What’s it mean for 2020?
Anti-President Donald Trump protests have gotten smaller three years after he took office and millions of people swarmed to the Women’s March in Washington and companion marches across the country
Sheriff: One dead, one seriously injured in an avalanche at Lake Tahoe ski resort
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407911
|
__label__wiki
| 0.823395
| 0.823395
|
Man arrested near storage facility on Lockhart…
Man arrested near storage facility on Lockhart Gulch Road, after a chase
By Cathy Kelly and Santa Cruz Sentinel |
PUBLISHED: April 16, 2013 at 12:00 am | UPDATED: September 11, 2018 at 12:00 am
SCOTTS VALLEY – A 24-year-old man was arrested by Scotts Valley police Monday after he was contacted at a storage facility on Lockhart Gulch Road and found to have drugs, authorities said.
Police contacted Eric James Cornell, who is on probation, at the storage business. He allegedly had drugs and drug paraphernalia and gave them a false name, police said.
Cornell, who reportedly had property at the facility, also made a desperate escape attempt , slipping from handcuffs and running toward the woods, officers said.
He was caught after a search, at about 3 p.m.
Tuesday, he was in County Jail facing several alleged offenses, including an “escape with force” arrest allegation, per online jail records.
Business Digest: Music program starts Sunday
Mortgages and your retirement | Peter Boutell, Lending a Hand
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407913
|
__label__wiki
| 0.682913
| 0.682913
|
SaaS Accelerator
SteelCentral
Cloud Performance Management
End User Experience Monitoring
Network Performance Management
SteelCentral SaaS
Unified Communications Management
SteelConnect
SteelConnect EX
SteelConnect CX
SteelHead SD
SteelHead CX/GX
SteelHead Interceptor
SteelHead Mobile
SteelCentral Controller for SteelHead
SteelCentral Controller for SteelHead Mobile
SteelScript
SteelScript Application Framework
SteelScript for Python
Digital Performance Platform
Digital Networking
SD-WAN : Software-Defined WAN
Standard Support
Riverbed Support Partners
Performance Engineering Program
Partner Overview & Login
Riverbed-Ready
GCS Credits
Plan Services
Optimize Services
Consulting Services Catalog
Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsiblity
Trial Downloads
New Zealand Department of Conservation
INDUSTRY: GOVERNMENT
Boosted application performance over the WAN and eliminated use of Citrix
The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) is a central government agency reporting to the Minister of Conservation. It is responsible for protecting the natural and historic heritage of New Zealand, as well as providing recreational opportunities for locals and tourists. With around 3,000 employees, the department is divided into 13 conservancies, or regions, across the north and south islands, each of which has between one and four area offices, depending on the size of the conservancy.
To overcome bandwidth limitations in remote offices
To centralize management and backup processes
To uncover more bandwidth for future applications
A range of Steelhead appliances (200, 520 and 1020) deployed across DOC’s 60 remote offices
Steelhead 5010 installed at three data centres
A Steelhead 8000 Central Management Console installed at headquarters in Wellington
500 per cent improvement in network bandwidth utilization across remote sites
Halving DOC’s potential spend on telecommunications services
Visibility of network performance
NZ Department of Conservation
NZ Department of Conservation boosts application performance over the WAN using Riverbed Steelhead WAN optimisation appliances; eliminates the use of Citrix
The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC)is a central government agency reporting to the Minister of Conservation. It is responsible for protecting the natural and historic heritage of New Zealand, as well as providing recreational opportunities for locals and tourists. With around 3,000 employees, the Department is divided into13 conservancies, or regions, across the north and south is lands, each of which has between one and four are a offices, depending on the size of the conservancy.
Challenge: Overcoming bandwidth constraints at remote sites
Ken Walker, manager, technology and outsourced services, DOC, said the geographical layout of New Zealand, and the remote locations of the majority of the organisation’s 60 offices, meant the sites outside of the main city centres were severely constrained by low bandwidth connectivity. The low speeds resulted in poor application performance and user dissatisfaction at those regional sites.
“The challenge in New Zealand is that you can really only access high-speed Internet from the bigger cities,” he explained. “Of our 60 sites, only seven are located in city centres and some are as remote as Aoraki/Mount Cook. This meant our remote offices were typically operating on bandwidth levels of 2MB, whereas in the city you can get 10MB or 100MB Ethernet connections.”
When DOC began rolling out a new document management system to centralise management and backup processes, the Department took the opportunity to address the bandwidth constraints being experienced at its remote sites by deploying Riverbed Steelhead appliances. Previously, corporate documents had been distributed across servers at 43 sites, in part due to concerns the organisation had about the performance of their WAN.
“The document management system is used for all the Department’s collateral including permits, concessions, financial reports and other corporate documents,” Walker explained. “When we looked at centralising this data, we knew this process would need to include overcoming the bandwidth constraints of our regional offices and speeding up application performance at those sites. We also had to find more bandwidth for future applications such as web/video conferencing. We came across Riverbed at the Gartner conference in Sydney and that’s where it all started.”
Solution: Steelhead appliances accelerate web-based applications
DOC chose Riverbed based largely on Gartner’s positioning of Riverbed in the ‘WAN Optimization Controller Magic Quadrant’ and the breadth of features its WAN optimization technology offered. The Department then engaged local technology partner, Datacraft, which, together with Riverbed, conducted a trial to prove the bandwidth saving capability of the solution.
Recalling the demonstration, Walker said, “We tested a file that used to take over two minutes to download across the WAN. With the Riverbed Steelhead appliances installed, the first download took only 10 seconds; we then downloaded it again and it was there in an instant.”
The deployment was equally straightforward for DOC. The units were pre-configured before dispatch to DOC’s remote sites and, once installed, the remainder of the configuration was managed centrally from the control centre.
“Riverbed’s demonstrated ability to save bandwidth and speed up application performance across our network really made the solution stand out for us,” Walker said. “Another appealing factor was the simple deployment of the products - we did not require any changes to the network or applications.”
DOC has a 24x7 support agreement with Datacraft, which handles escalations to Riverbed technical support. Walker said the response has been reliable, with a trouble ticket and update issued on the same day, and the assigned engineer doing follow up with DOC for extra information.
Benefits: 500 per cent improvement in network bandwidth utilisation and increased visibility of network traffic
Since deployment began in late 2005, DOC has seen a 500 per cent improvement in network bandwidth utilisation across the organisation. This includes a significant saving in the Department’s most bandwidth-hungry area - the backup traffic travelling between DOC’s data centre and disaster recovery site. Bandwidth utilisation here has been reduced by 85 per cent. Other optimised traffic types include Doubletake backup, CIFS file sharing, HTTP (web/webcache) and MAPI (Exchange).
“Users are generally happy and most of them are blissfully unaware the Steelhead appliances are even there,” said Walker. “Even when we do complicated things on the network, the Riverbed technology just lets it happen; it’s smart enough not to create problems for us. The Steelhead appliances speed up response times, and the maths certainly stands up as far as value for money goes.
“There was no comparable option for us to increase bandwidth because high-speed Internet services were not available at the remote sites,” Walker explained. “We spend $60K each month on bandwidth services from our telecommunications provider; without the Riverbed solution in place, we may have had to double that.
“In addition, since the overall WAN performance was so much better after deploying the Steelhead appliances, we have been able to essentially remove all our legacy Citrix infrastructure.
“The only alternative for us would be to deploy a distributed document management solution. However, this would have negated all the benefits of a centralised management approach such as reduced hardware, licensing and support costs.”
One area that delivered unexpected benefits for DOC was the Riverbed Central Management Console (CMC). It gives DOC visibility of network performance that the Department never had before and Walker said his team uses it to measure and plan for application usage.
“I use the CMC to monitor the status of the environment and the impact our various business applications are having on the network,” said Walker. “The reports generated by the CMC also provide critical information to support the Department’s planning decisions, such as the impact of a new application rollout.
“Another indirect benefit of the management console is that we now have a central view of the temperature of the computer rooms at all our sites which, in some regions, is no more than a cupboard in the branch office. We’ve been able to pick up on some heating issues before they caused damage to the equipment.”
DOC plans to use Riverbed technology to accelerate additional applications down the track including GIS, a centralised image repository and web conferencing.
“The Steelhead appliances are very resilient, we now have the bandwidth we need, when we need it, and we now understand what makes up our network traffic,” Walker concluded.
The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) needed a solution that would speed up the performance of centralised applications in its widely dispersed offices, and overcome the severe bandwidth constraints experienced by the sites located in remote regions. DOC chose to deploy the Riverbed Steelhead WAN optimisation solution as it was the only way the Department could save on bandwidth while taking a centralised network management approach.
The Steelhead appliances have improved DOC’s network bandwidth utilisation by 500 per cent, giving users in all locations the ability to collaborate in real-time and halving DOC’s potential spend on telecommunications services.
“The challenge in New Zealand is that you can really only access high-speed Internet from the bigger cities.”
“Users are generally happy and most of them are blissfully unaware the Steelhead appliances are even there.”
“Since the overall WAN performance was so much better after deploying the Steelhead appliances, we have been able to essentially remove all our legacy Citrix infrastructure.”
Simplify and manage your SteelHead optimization deployments using a central web interface
VIP opportunities for VIP customers
“We simply don’t have as close of a relationship with other vendors as we do with Riverbed,” says Gerry Holmes, Director of Information Technology, Canadian Cancer Society. “The Riverbed Customer Network is a big part of the reason why we’ve been able to maintain that connection.”
Regional Access Group
The forum for Riverbed users
Get connected with Riverbed user communities for advice, ideas, tips, special information on upcoming products, and answers to your toughest technical questions.
Advanced Access Program
Beta test the latest before it’s released
Be the first to try the hottest new technologies, and evaluate them in your environment.
Download a trial, contact us for more info, or find out how to buy. We’re here to help you get ahead.
ABOUT RIVERBED
Riverbed Story
©2020 Riverbed Technology. All rights reserved.
Dispute Policy
Selected Country/Region:
Great Britain - English
By using this website you agree to our use of cookies. Read Riverbed's cookie policy
You are now leaving translated content.
Do not show this message again...
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407918
|
__label__cc
| 0.713567
| 0.286433
|
Respond Make Inspire
Weaving Works, Belfast
Arc Apartments, Belfast
Newry Train Station
Mews Lane, Derry
RMI Architects Belfast, Northern Ireland
RMI Architects are an award-winning design studio based in Belfast but with work across UK, Ireland and United States. We are committed to creating Architecture that can positively influence our environment and enrich our lives, working across a wide range of sectors and scales and our approach is underpinned by our ambition to Respond, Make and Inspire.
We are a Chartered RIBA Practice and all of our Architects are registered with both RIBA and ARB. We offer the full range of RIBA services as outlined in the RIBA Plan of Work and are ISO14001 and ISO9001 accredited.
Latest Journal Posts
Merry Christmas from all the team at RMI Architects
To all our friends and colleagues on behalf of the Partners and all the team at RMI Architects we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New...
123 York Street, Winner of Bel Tel “Commercial Development of the Year”
We are delighted to announce that 123 York Street Student Accommodation has won “Commercial Development of the Year” at the recent Belfast Telegraph Property Awards. Well done to all of...
RMI shortlisted in two categories for Bel Tel Awards
We are delighted to be shortlisted for BelTel Commercial Project of the Year for 123 York Street Student Accommodation & Commercial Practice of the Year....
Another Year of Success at the RICS Awards
Let’s Go Hydro has been awarded winner in the category of Regeneration at 2019 RICS awards held at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. The award honours exceptional improvements to urban, rural or...
Let’s Go Hydro
We are delighted to announce Let’s Go Hydro has been shortlisted for the RICS Awards 2019 in both the Regeneration & Tourism and Leisure Categories. The facility is the first of its...
AJ Retrofit Awards Finalist
We are delighted to announce that the Weaving Works has been shortlisted for the AJ Retrofit Awards in the offices between 2000-5000m2 category. We believe it is the only Northern Ireland...
84—94 Great Patrick Street
Belfast, County Antrim,
F: +44(0)28 9024 2688
E: admin@rmi.uk.com
RMI Architects are an equal opportunities Employer and are committed to creating a better environment for all and delivering the highest quality of service for our clients. We maintain ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certification, are Constructionline registered and SSIPS registered.
Website by Bag of Bees
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407919
|
__label__wiki
| 0.542269
| 0.542269
|
Buy This Morgan Aero 8 So You Can Be the Only Person You Know With a Morgan Aero 8
Sold in limited numbers in the US, the Aero 8 combines old-school looks with modern underpinnings and a BMW V8.
If you're tired of all the Porsches, Jaguars, Corvettes and BMW M cars crowding your local car shows, and you want something that'll stand out, look no further than this 2005 Morgan Aero 8. Sold in limited numbers in the US, its design is reminiscent of vintage Morgans, but it has modern suspension, brakes, and electronics. It also has a naturally aspirated BMW V8 making 325 horsepower. It's for sale right now on eBay, and we think you should buy it.
Welcome to You Must Buy, our daily look at the cars you really should be buying instead of that boring commuter sedan.
Upon first glance, you might say the Aero 8 looks a bit strange. The fascia has a cross-eyed look, and the rear end, with those six round taillights, seems sort of insect-like. But then you start to appreciate the retro vibe the designers set out to create. Those massive front fenders slope down next to the doors, a Morgan signature style, while the engine tucks under a wedge-shaped hood that flows nicely into a vertically slatted grille. This one comes in a perfect silver-on-red color combo, too. And, most importantly, it's a six-speed manual. All of the panels look to be in good condition, as does the interior.
According to the seller, the car is being offered as a part of an estate sale, and has just 8800 miles on the odometer. It was serviced last year, when it received a new starter. The engine, BMW's M62, can also be found in cars like the E60-generation 5-Series and first-gen X5 SUV. This Morgan is currently on eBay with a high bid of $55,200 and reserve not met. Considering these cars don't change hands often, it's hard to gauge what a reasonable price might be. We think the quirkiness and rarity are probably worth what the seller is asking, as long as it's not over six figures.
More From You Must Buy
Here's Your Chance to Own the First Ferrari F50
The Most Used Fun Cars You Can Buy for Under $5000
You Can Own One of the Jaguar C-X75s from Spectre
21-Mile Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution for Sale in CA
Rod Emory Porsche 356 Outlaw for Sale on BaT
This Bronco Is Actually a Pre-Runner Underneath
This Wacky Airplane-Shaped Car Could Be Yours
You Can Own the Same Car As the First Man in Space
This 1967 Camaro Trans Am Car Is Vintage Muscle
Someone Please Take This 944 Turbo Cup Car Racing
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407920
|
__label__cc
| 0.696459
| 0.303541
|
Why Oracle?
A recent article asks the same question I have asked on my own blog: "Why PHP?"--but this time, from the angle of an Oracle developer. One of the major conclusions the author makes is that, "it's not about Oracle programmers choosing a new language; adding PHP is meant to bring more developers to Oracle. Open source developers I would assume. Fair enough." This begs the question: "Why Oracle?" Not from a developer's standpoint--but rather, I mean, "Why did Zend partner up with Oracle?"
The truth is that while PHP by virtue of its popularity may bring more developers to Oracle, having Oracle as an ally bolster's PHP's perceived value in the enterprise. It is, in fact, PHP's popularity as a language that has hindered its reputation--a kind of double-edged sword that comes with being the most flexible, feature-rich web development language around. By attracting inexperienced programmers with low barrier to entry, massive community support, and rich features, PHP has also earned itself the same reputation as those inexperienced programmers--insecure, sloppy, unprofessional. Yet PHP is just a tool, and in the hands of an experienced, security-conscious coder you can go further faster than any other language. However, the people in the enterprise making decisions about technology don't read code--they read headlines. Security flaws make headlines. But so do partnerships and endorsements from big companies. So, is PHP good for Oracle? In the right hands, absolutely. Is Oracle good for PHP? Again, if the relationship is managed right, I say "yes."
The only point I would dispute is that Oracle support will attract open source developers. Oracle is, in fact, a proprietary database, and the idea that PHP is only used in open source applications (i.e. the stuff you find hosted on Sourceforge and elsewhere) is a misconception. More likely than not enhanced Oracle support will attract companies like the financial services firm I used to work for looking to uplevel their data storage infrastructure from open source databases like PostgreSQL and MySQL to Oracle. Taking advantage of the enterprise features of Oracle across the board means a more tightly integrated backend, and so bringing in those apps written against other databases into a single, unified system sometimes makes good sense.
Whatever the reason, many enterprise shops have embraced Oracle and many have embraced PHP. Tighter integration means more choice--not only for PHP developers moving to Oracle, but, hopefully, in the other direction as well. Invariably there will be skepticism, as Oracle developers look at PHP developers through the lens of their own prejudices, and vice-versa. Ultimately, it is a question of what you want to accomplish and what your company will allow. The less prejudiced thinking, the more options, the more empirical analysis of what works and what doesn't--the better. Partnering with PHP might not necessarily signal an increase in open source in the Oracle world, but it is certainly a sign of more open mindedness. I encourage the PHP community to respond in kind.
Categories: Newsletter and PHP.
Practical PHP Coding Standards – Part 1 / 3
Does IBM Get PHP?
ZCE > PHP5?
High Performance PHP
Essential PHP Security a Must Read
Typing PHP
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407922
|
__label__wiki
| 0.524262
| 0.524262
|
BLOG TOUR - Fatal Invasion
Today we are celebrating the release of FATAL INVASION, a romantic thriller title that is part of the Fatal series by Marie Force. Purchase links for the book can be found below.
FATAL INVASION by Marie Force
The 13th romantic thriller title in the Fatal Series.
Book Blurb:
First the fire, then the heat…
A brutal home invasion. Two small traumatized survivors who may have witnessed the horror. Lieutenant Sam Holland has never worked a case quite like this one, in which her eye-witnesses are five-year-old twins. But when Sam steps up in a big way for them, she risks her heart as much as her career. While Sam and her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano, go to battle in more ways than one for her tiny witnesses, her colleague Sergeant Tommy “Gonzo” Gonzales battles his own demons. Months of unbearable grief and despair come to a head in an unimaginable way that threatens Gonzo’s status with the department and his relationship with his fiancée, Christina. With trouble both at the precinct and on the case, Sam struggles to keep her priorities straight at home and at work while trying not to lose her heart to her latest crime victims.
PURCHASE IT NOW!
Kindle US | Apple Books | Nook | Kobo | Google
Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
PURCHASE IN PRINT: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Chapters Indigo
IndieBound | Books-a-Million
PURCHASE IN AUDIO: Amazon | Audible US | Audible UK | Audible AU
PLEASE ENJOY THE FOLLOWING EXCERPT:
Fatal Invasion, Fatal Series Book 13
“This is a classic case of be careful what you wish for.” Nick placed a stack of folded dress shirts in a suitcase that already held socks, underwear, workout clothes and several pairs of jeans. Only Nick would start packing seven days before his scheduled departure for Europe next Sunday, the day after Freddie and Elin’s wedding. “That’s the lesson learned here.”
“Only anal-retentive freakazoids pack a week before a trip.” Sam sat at the foot of the bed and watched him pack with a growing sense of dread. “Three freaking weeks. The last time you were gone that long, I nearly lost my mind, and I don’t have much of a mind left to lose.”
“Come with me,” he said for the hundredth time since the president asked him to make the diplomatic trip, representing the administration on a visit with some of the country’s closest allies. Since President Nelson was still recovering—in more ways than one—from his son’s criminal activities, several of the allies had requested he send his popular vice president in his stead.
Sam flopped on the bed. “I can’t. I have work and Scotty, and Freddie is going on his honeymoon for two weeks and… I can’t.” No Nick at home to entertain her. No Freddie at work to entertain her. The next few weeks were going to totally suck monkey balls.
“Actually, you can.” Nick hovered above her, propped on arms ripped with muscles, his splendid chest on full display. “You have more vacation time saved up than you can use in a lifetime, and you have the right to actually use it. Scotty will be fine with Shelby, your dad and Celia, your sisters and the Secret Service here to entertain him. We could even ask Mrs. Littlefield to come up for the weekends.”
Their son’s former guardian would love the chance to spend time with him, but Sam didn’t feel right about leaving him for so long. However, the thought of being without Nick for three endless weeks made her sick. His trip to Iran earlier in the year had been pure torture, especially since it kept getting extended.
“Why’d you have to tell Nelson you wanted to be more than a figurehead vice president?” She play-punched his chest. “Everything was fine when he was ignoring you.”
He kissed her lips and then her neck. “You’re so, so cute when you pout.” “Badass cops do not pout.”
“Mine does when she doesn’t get her own way, and it’s truly adorable.” She scowled at him. “Badass cops are not adorable.”
“Mine is.” Leaving a trail of hot kisses on her neck, he said, “Come with me, Samantha. London, Paris, Rome, the Vatican, Amsterdam, Brussels, The Hague. Come see the world with me.”
Sam had never been to Europe and had always wanted to go, so she was sorely tempted to say to hell with her responsibilities.
“Come on.” He rolled her earlobe between his teeth and pressed against her suggestively. “Three whole weeks together away from the madness of DC. You know you want to go. Gonzo could cover for you at work, and things have been slow anyway.”
There hadn’t been a homicide in more than a week, which meant they were due, and that was another reason to stay home. “Don’t say that and put a jinx on us.”
“Come away with me. Scotty will be fine. We’ll FaceTime with him every day and bring him presents. He’ll be well cared for by everyone else who loves him.” He kissed her neck as he unbuttoned her shirt and pushed it aside. “You’d get to meet the Queen of England.”
Sam moaned. She loved the queen—speaking of a badass female. “And the Pope. Plus, you’ll need some clothes—and shoes. Lots of shoes.” “Stop it.” She turned her face to avoid his kiss. “You’re fighting dirty.”
“Because I want my wife to come with me on the trip of a lifetime? I need you Samantha.”
As he well knew, she could deny him nothing when he said he needed her. “Fine, I’ll go! But only if it’s okay with Scotty and if I can swing it at work.” “Yes,” her husband said on a long exhale. “We’ll have so much fun.”
“Will we actually get to see anything?”
He pushed himself up to continue packing. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“Um, excuse me.”
“My temperature after your attempts at persuasion.”
A slow, lazy smile spread across his face, making him the sexiest man in this universe—and the next. “Is my baby feeling a little needy?”
She pulled her T-shirt over her head and released the front clasp on her bra. “More than a little.”
“We can’t have that.” Stepping to the foot of the bed, he grasped the legs of her yoga pants and yanked them off.
“Lock the door.”
“Scotty’s asleep.”
“Lock the door, or this isn’t happening.” With Secret Service agents all over their house, Sam couldn’t relax if the door wasn’t locked.
“This is definitely happening, but if it’ll make you happy, I’ll lock the door.”
“It’ll make me happy, which will, in turn, make you happy.” She splayed her legs wide-open to give him a show as he returned from locking the door, and was rewarded with gorgeous hazel eyes that heated with desire when he saw her waiting for him.
“You little vixen,” he muttered.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, you don’t,” he said, laughing as he came down on top of her and set out to give her a preview of what three weeks away together might be like.
They broke the news to Scotty the next morning at breakfast. “So,” Nick said tentatively, “what would you think if Mom came with me to Europe?” Thirteen-year-old Scotty, never at his best first thing in the morning, shrugged. “It’s fine.”
“Really?” Sam said. “You wouldn’t mind? Shelby, Tracy and Angela would be around to hang with you, and Gramps and Celia too. We thought maybe Mrs. Littlefield could come up for a weekend or two if she’s free.”
“Sure, that sounds good.”
Sam glanced at Nick, who seemed equally perplexed by his lack of reaction. They’d expected him to ask to come with them, at the very least.
“Is everything okay?” Sam asked her son.
“Uh-huh.” He finished his cereal and got up to put the bowl in the sink. “I’m going to finish getting ready for school.”
“Okay, bud,” Nick said.
“Something’s up,” Sam said as soon as Scotty left the room.
“I agree. He didn’t even ask if he could miss school to come with us.”
“We’ll have to see if we can get him to talk to us before we go—and not in the morning,” Nick said.
“I’ll ask Shelby to make spaghetti for dinner. That always puts him in a good mood.” Sam’s phone rang, and when she saw the number for Dispatch, she groaned. “Damn it. You jinxed me!” So much for getting out of Dodge without having to worry about work. She took the call. “Holland.”
“Lieutenant, there was a fire overnight in Chevy Chase.” The dispatcher referred to the exclusive Northwest neighborhood that was home to a former U.S. president, ambassadors and other wealthy residents. “We have two DOA at the scene,” the dispatcher said, reciting the address. “The fire marshal has requested Homicide detectives.”
“Did he say why?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.” Thankfully, she’d showered and gotten dressed before she woke Scotty. “Please call Sergeant Gonzales and Detective Cruz and ask them to meet me there.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sam flipped her phone closed with a satisfying smack. That smacking sound was one of many reasons she’d never upgrade to a smart phone.
“You’ll still be able to come with me, right?” Nick asked, looking adorably uncertain.
Sam went over to where he sat at the table and kissed him. “I’ll talk to Malone today and see if I can make it happen.”
“Keep me posted.”
A ringing phone woke Christina Billings from a sound sleep. Two-year-old Alex had been up during the night with a fever and cold that was making him miserable and her sleep deprived. Her fiancé, Tommy, had slept through that and apparently couldn’t hear his phone ringing either. He was due at work in an hour and was usually up by now.
“Tommy.” She nudged him, but he didn’t stir. “Tommy. Your phone.” He came to slowly, blinking rapidly.
“The phone, Tommy. Answer it before it wakes Alex.” He needed more sleep and so did she, or this was going to be a very long day.
Tommy grabbed the phone from the bedside table.
Christina saw the word Dispatch on the screen.
“Gonzales.”
She couldn’t hear the dispatcher’s side of the conversation, but she heard Tommy’s grunt of acknowledgment before he ended the call, closing his eyes even as he continued to clutch the phone.
Christina wondered if he was going back to sleep after being called into work. She was about to say something when he got out of bed and headed for the shower.
Nine months ago today, his partner, A. J. Arnold, had been gunned down right in front of Tommy as they approached a suspect. After a long downward spiral following Arnold’s murder, Tommy had seemed to rebound somewhat during the summer. But the rebound hadn’t lasted into the fall.
In the last month, since his new partner, Cameron Green, had joined the squad, Christina had watched him regress into his grief. He’d said and done all the right things when it came to welcoming Cameron, but he was obviously spiraling again, and she had no idea what to do to help him or how to reach him. Even when lying next to her in bed, he seemed so far away from her.
Sometimes, when she had a rare moment alone, she allowed her thoughts to wander to life without Tommy and Alex at the center of it. She loved them both—desperately—but she wasn’t sure how much more she could take of the distant, closed-off version of the man she loved. They were supposed to have been married by now. Like everything else, that plan had been shoved aside to make room for Tommy’s overwhelming grief. It’d been months since they’d discussed getting married. In the meantime, she took care of Alex and everything else while Tommy worked and came home to sleep before starting the cycle all over again.
They didn’t talk about anything other than Alex. They never went anywhere together or as a family. They hadn’t had sex in so long she’d forgotten when it had last happened. She was as unhappy as she’d ever been. Something had to give—and soon, or she would be forced to decide whether their relationship was still healthy for her. She did not want to have to make that decision.
Only the thought of leaving Tommy at his lowest moment, not to mention leaving Alex, had kept her from making a move before now. She loved that little boy with her whole heart and soul. She’d stepped away from her own career as Nick’s chief of staff to stay home with him and had hoped to add to their family by now. When she thought about the early days of her relationship with Tommy, when they’d been so madly in love, she couldn’t have imagined feeling as insignificant to him as a piece of furniture that was always there when he finally decided to come home.
Christina hadn’t told anyone about the trouble brewing between them. In her heart of hearts, she hoped they could still work it out somehow, and the last thing she needed was her friends and family holding a grudge against him forever—and they would if they had any idea just how bad things had gotten. Her parents had questioned the wisdom of her giving up a high-profile job to stay home to care for her boyfriend’s child, especially when she’d made more money than him. But she’d been ready for a break from the political rat race when Alex came along, and she had no regrets about her decision. Or she hadn’t until Tommy checked out of their relationship.
This weekend they’d be expected to celebrate at Freddie and Elin’s wedding, and she’d have to pretend that everything was fine in her relationship when it was anything but. She wasn’t sure how she would pull off another convincing performance for their friends. Tommy was one of Freddie’s groomsmen, so she’d get to spend most of that day on her own while he attended to his friend.
Dangling at the end of her rope in this situation, more than once she’d thought about taking Alex and leaving, even though she had no legal right to take him. Another thing they’d never gotten around to—her adoption of him after his mother was killed. What would Tommy do if she left with his son? Call the police on her? That made her laugh bitterly. She’d be surprised if he noticed they were gone.
Tommy came out of the bathroom and went to the closet where he had clean clothes to choose from thanks to her. Did he ever wonder how that happened? He put on jeans and a black T-shirt and then went to unlock the bedside drawer where he kept his badge, weapon and cuffs.
She watched him slide the weapon into the holster he wore on his hip and jam the cuffs and badge into the back pockets of his jeans, the same way he did every day. Holding her breath, she waited to see if he would say anything to her or come around the bed to kiss her goodbye the way he used to before disaster struck, but like he did so often these days, he simply turned and left the room.
A minute later, she heard the front door close behind him.
For a long time after he left, she lay in bed staring up at the ceiling with tears running down her cheeks. She couldn’t take much more of this.
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE FATAL SERIES
Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the indie-published Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. In 2019, her new historical Gilded series from Kensington Books will debut with Duchess By Deception.
All together, her books have sold 6.5 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list many times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter as well as a publisher through her Jack’s House Publishing romance imprint. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award for romance fiction.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie's mailing list for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @marieforce and on Instagram. Join one of Marie's many reader groups.
Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | Goodreads
Join Marie's Reader Groups
Posted by Robin Loves Reading at 12/03/2018 09:00:00 AM
Labels: excerpt, mystery, romance, thriller
Review - A Christmas Revelation
Review - The Scot's Bride
Review - Not the Duke’s Darling
Review - The Lady is Daring
Review - Immortal in Death
Review - The Night Stalker
Review - Christmas with an Angel
Review - Mistletoe Cottage
Review - Patience for Christmas
Review - Respect for Christmas
Review - A Highlander’s Christmas Kiss
Review - My One and Only Duke
Review - Christmas on Mistletoe Lane
Review - The Trouble With Christmas
Review - Christmas Kisses and Mistletoe Kisses
Review - A Midnight Clear
Review - Once Upon a Christmas Eve
Review - Hello Again
Review - The Exes’ Revenge
Review - The Highland Chieftain
Review - The Highland Guardian
Review - The Highland Commander
Review - The Highland Duke
Review - The Switch
Review - Glory in Death
Review - Guess Who
Review - Star Spangled Murder
Review - Father’s Day Murder
Review - Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets
Review - Her Darkest Nightmare
BLOG BLITZ - Last Lullaby
BLOG TOUR - Her Final Confession
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407923
|
__label__cc
| 0.540631
| 0.459369
|
Why We Need The Navy
The state of the Royal Navy today
Quick Posts
Instagram Photo Gallery
Modern Royal Navy
Post War and Cold War
The Falklands War
More details emerge about plan to replace Royal Navy Harpoon anti-ship missile
This week the MoD Weapons, Torpedoes, Tomahawk and Harpoon (TTH) Project Team issued a Contract Notice (CN) which outlines more of the requirements for a new weapon to replace the Harpoon Block 1C anti-ship missiles.
In March 2019 the MoD issued a Prior Information Notice (PIN), not a formal request for tender but a document that sets out their general requirements to potential contractors. This provided reassurance the obsolete Harpoon 1C would actually be replaced by an interim purchase. Until 2017 the RN had accepted that budget pressures meant Harpoon would go out of service in 2020 with no replacement. The retirement date was pushed back to 2023 and now funding has been secured to replace the system, at least on a modest scale.
The PIN states the available budget would be up to £200M, enough to buy a stock of missiles, logistic and training support until the FCASW is available in the early 2030s. (The Future Cruise and Anti-Ship Weapon is an Anglo-French project to replace a variety of long-range missiles with new generation technology, it is unclear, as yet if it will be capable of hypersonic speeds or another subsonic stealthy cruise missile). As a critical bi-lateral international project, it is important to signal to the French that I-SSGW will only be a small purchase to cover a 10-year capability gap and does not mean the UK is losing interest in FCASW.
The contract notice, issued on 19th August says the Interim Surface to Surface Guided Weapon (I-SSGW) is to provide “a ship-launched, over-the-horizon precision anti-ship capability and a terrain-following precision maritime land attack capability.” The desire for land-attack capability is sound and but adds another dimension to the project. Although the deterrence factor of having the ability to sink other ships is critical, recent history suggests we are much more likely to need to hit inland targets than attack shipping. The RN’s limited stock of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) can only be fired from submarines. On a good day, the RN is able to put only 2 or 3 SSNs to sea and they have a multitude of other pressing tasks. The RN’s land-attack capability has been used in several conflicts and is a powerful tool but may require the SSN to loiter in suitable firing area for some time. Frigates able to attack land targets offers greater flexibility and an alternative, if less stealthy, option. Many modern AShM feature land-attack modes already so this would be a big gain for little extra cost.
It should be noted that TLAM is more powerful than the AShM hybrids and has a 1,000lb warhead and a range of about 900nm. The RAF’s Storm Shadow has a 450kg warhead optimised for bunker-busting so I-SSGW would complete a suite of UK land-attack weapons, each with its own advantages.
Mind the gap. It appears the four Type 45 destroyers currently fitted with Harpoon will revert to empty decks forward of the bridge when Harpoon is retired. (The space forward of the Sea Viper silo and behind the 4.5″ gun is designed to accommodate 16 x Mk41 VLS cells and all the goodies that would offer).
To keep the good news in perspective, the CN states that the MoD only expects to equip just 5 towed array Type 23 frigates with the I-SSGW and their main role would be “protection of a Maritime Task Group”. It is likely the missiles would be shared around the frigates as they deploy. To accommodate the new weapon on the Type 23, they will have to be canister-launched and have the same approximate footprint of the Harpoons they replace. Although essentially a bolt-on system in needs to interface with the combat management system and the ship or other platforms may need to exchange data with the missile in flight.
Saab RBS15 Mk 3 AShM canisters being loaded onto a Polish warship (Photo: Saab)
Given that the I-SSGW must be fitted to Type 23 frigates (without massive modifications) and have terrain-following land attack capability, the possible candidates are being narrowed down to three likely options. All three of these potential candidates are subsonic, optimised for use in cluttered littoral environments, can follow complex attack profiles, use stealthy composite materials and are resistant to electronic countermeasures.
The Lockheed Martin Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) AGM-158C is the largest, most capable but expensive option, thought to be around $4M per missile. It has a range of over 200nm and a 1,000lb warhead. LM have demonstrated a canister-launched vision but it will be launched from Mk 41 VLS cells or aircraft by the USN, its only confirmed customer so far.
Developed in Norway, the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) has about 100 nm range and a small 125Kg warhead. At 410 lbs total weight it is the smallest of the options by some margin. Although more accurate, it has about half the hitting power of the Harpoon it might replace. It has been in service since 2012 and successfully exported to several navies, notably bought by the USN for its Littoral Combat Ships.
RBS15 Mk 4
The latest version of the Saab RBS15 Mk 4 ‘Gungnir’ (Odin’s Spear) looks closest to hitting the RN’s ‘sweet spot’ for price, size and punch. Although the RBS15 can trace its heritage back to the 1980s, the Gungnir is a completely refreshed design that only came on the market in 2018 and will be in service with the Swedish navy by mid-2020. It has as a range of about 160nm and a 200kg warhead. (The CGI at the top of the article shows the Gungnir being fired from a shipboard canister in a littoral environment. The two boosters fall away soon after launch).
The MoD wants the first shipboard equipment for I-SSGW installed by December 2022 with delivery of missiles following a year later. The contract with the weapon supplier would be for at least 4 years, probably extended for a further 9 years. This would include manufacture, delivery and installation as well as training, maintenance and technical support. The towed array type 23 frigates are scheduled to leave service between 2028 and 2035 which would fit with a total 13-year contract. It also is possible that the I-SSGW could also eventually be fitted to the Type 31e frigates.
It is encouraging to see the RN will acquire a modern anti-ship missile and land-attack capability to a defined timetable and budget. Stocks are likely to be small and really represents a bare-minimum for a fleet of the Royal Navy’s stature and ambition.
Failure to replace the Harpoon anti-ship missile would be inexcusable
Is the Royal Navy surface fleet losing the ability to sink other warships?
How vulnerable is the Royal Navy’s surface fleet to a new generation of weapons?
From Sea Wolf to Sea Ceptor – the Royal Navy’s defensive shield
in Analysis 98 comments
Post tagsAnti ship missilesFrigatesFuture Royal Navy
So lets get this right the T45 and the new T26 will have no anti ship capability until 2030 with Perseus if that comes into production. What are the ships meant to do if it comes to a hot situation throw snowballs. Why can’t the 1C be upgraded to the II+ as the US navy was thinking about in 2018?
Yes I agree that a smaller missile such as the NSM or RBS 15 is needed, five sets of eight makes sense as they can be reallocated to the T31 but surley the upgrade package to the Harpoon 1C to the II+ configuration is affordable until Perseus becomes available. Would it not also be a good idea if the RN would be able to have one set of all NATO anti-ship missiles so that they can be tested and intergrated into the RN electronics. That way they can use whatever a NATO partner has.
When is the T45 going to get its Mk41Launchers, why spend money on designing and fitting for something when it is not going to be used its like designing a Farrari and giving it a Mondeo engine, pointless.
Warships are designed and built for one reason “war” what does the government think will happen ‘dear enemy, can you wait a few months whilst I take my ships back to port so that I can have time to equip them fully’ Oh, I need a bit more time to test to make sure that it all works, I don’t think so.
Every time that a warship is deployed it must be ready for the worst case scenario, she cannot just nip into port and be loaded for bear, port could be 10,000 miles away. In that initial situation she must fight with what she has
Ben Bithell
Well, if they go for LRASM, it can be fitted in the T26 Mk41 VLS, and in theorem the same could be done to a T45 with the same VLS. But, the other missiles may be a better choice, and, besides, the T45 getting the Mk41 is about as likely as anybody in the higher ups deciding to do something about the terrible readiness state of the Navy
If everything goes according to plans, the RN will receive the first T26 in 2025, IOC in 2027, not much chance of being thrown into a hot scenario before 2030…
Simon m
I would like t45 to get mk41, but Anti-ship missile is not a priority for this class as they will more or less be tied to the carriers which will carry f35b. I would much rather look at getting aster 30 nbt, sm6, and camm missiles as with hypersonic missiles several missiles maybe needed to destroy threats, also t45 now has an Anti-ballistic missile role, I would reserve some space for Anti-ship, but it wouldn’t be my justification for mk41 on t45.
I would very much like to see 8-12 cell be bought for t31 in fact if this was purchased then it would allow more of the fleet to be armed with interim missile (as long as we buy enough).
Max Jones
LRASM can be launched from the same canisters as the Harpoon. Additionally, there’s still going to be Martlet and Sea Venom deployed by helicopter and, for the latter, on 30mm gun mounts.
JohnHartley
I read that old Harpoon missiles can be upgraded to block II+ for half the price of a new missile. Is that true? Might be an easy/cheap way of keeping RN ships with an AShM until the 2030s.
Depends how old.
Blue Fuzz
Canister launched RBS15 transferred from 5x T23 to 5x T31e as the former are retired from service – that makes so much sense it’ll never happen 😜
T23 towed array is not scheduled to retire until 2036 when all the T26 are in service. So the t23 towed array and t31e will be working alongside either other for 13 years.
So this wouldn’t be able to take place until 2028ish at the earliest and would mean t31e would not have missiles until then.
If they do get them the integration costs maybe too high considering in 2 years a new system would be available.
I don’t know what you mean by RBS.15 since the Royal Navy doesn’t use it but it seems possible. The four Type 45s with Harpoons took them from decommissioned Type 22s. The only concern is that by the time the Type 23s are being decommissioned, the missiles will be getting pretty old not necessarily due to technology but simply on the basis that they would be reaching the end of their service life.
The UK should procure the NSM or RBS15 MkIV as soon as possible, they are both great ASM.
If NSM is good enough for the Cousins on their LCS then I would go with that. Also we should get a few air-launched versions for Typhoon and external carry on F35Bs.
The LRASM is really good but more expensive and would overlap capabilities with the upcoming Anglo-Franco FCASW aka Perseus .
The UK should stop dragging their feet and give the RN the capability to fight a war and have sufficient for all Type 23, 26 and 31. Hell I would put a couple on the OPVs especially the Falklands guardship HMS Forth. Think how we put missiles on the Hawk trainers to beef up the RAF air defence back in the 90s.
The issue with Anti Ship Missiles is that they are seen as a provocative weapon which are never used.
The potential flash points in South China Seas and the Persian Gulf/Straits of Hormuz mean the RN needs a capable weapon ASAP!
Perseus is not FCASW.
Perseus was a 2010 design study done by a handfull of MBDA interns coming straight out of the University. It did provide some good CGI´s.
The most recent MBDA concept that has a direct relation with FCASW his this (the one on the photo):
https://www.janes.com/article/89751/mbda-unveils-future-air-combat-weapon-systems-concepts
Has it been described anywhere what the capability of these missiles must be? For example must they be stealthy, supersonic, large warhead etc. Or has the intended target (fishing boat, fast attack craft, destroyer, etc) been defined?
I would say that things are shaping up well, with Martlet for Boghammers (<50t) and the like, Sea Venom for FACs (50-500t range) or corvettes (in selective targetting mode) and the future Anglo-French missile for larger targets and land attack. All intended to be used from multiple platform types. A surface-launched Spear 3 would add a lighter, precision land-attack missile, as well, possibly quad-packable in a Mk41.
Yes, there’s plenty in the UK pipeline, most of which are broadly from the same family, and thus relatively easy to produce and introduce as required. I find this demonstrates good forward thinking with regard to efficiency on the part of the UK, to which can now added the above snippet.
“Given that the I-SSGW must be fitted to Type 23 frigates (without massive modifications) and have terrain-following land attack capability, the possible candidates are being narrowed down to three likely options. ”
EH?!
What particular capability the Harpoon Block II+ lacks that leaves it out of this list?
Paul.P
I think its terrain following capability – a database of maps which in conjunction with GPS allows the missile to follow the contours of the land. Maybe even plot a an indirect course to target via valleys etc. Stay below the radar horizon for longer. Happy to defer to any experts on this. Don’t believe any version of Harpoon has this.
Can the rbs15 mk4 be fired from mk41 vls? As we’re purchasing mk41 for for t26 and hopefully a smaller launcher 8ish cells would be purchased for t31. A vls missile would likely just slot in to these vessels meaning the limited number of 5 conventional launchers wouldn’t have such an impact on the fleet.
No, the RBS15 is not MK41 compatible
To me that rules it out. I think NSM/JSM is as is lrasm which would mean as long as we purchased enough stocks we would be able to add to the mk41 vls vessels as well the t23 towed array.
Coincidentally the possible OSD of the interim missile could actually be the approximately the same as t23 towed array 2036-as I think there a 3 to 4 year option on top of the 10 year. Maybe there’s a plan ??
D J
JSM can be made mk41 compatible (as in it fits & Konsberg are working on it), but NSM is not (canister only). It appears the ability to fit in a mk41 was accidental & was due to changes to JSM shape & size to enable it to fit inside the weapons bay of F35A & C. I believe it is also the JSM variant they are looking at for a sub launch version.
DaveyB
There are a number of thoughts on the missile’s capability requirements. For instance the current Harpoon will sink a Frigate sized vessel. When the US Navy used a Tomahawk against an old Fletcher class, the ship was cut in two and sank in seconds. So would be overkill for a Frigate or anything smaller, but suitable against a Carrier, whereas you would need quite a few Harpoons to sink a carrier.
The NSM has a imaging infra red seeker and is paired with a data-link, so the correct vessel is targeted allowing it to ignore countermeasures or other nearby vessels. It also allows the missile to target specific areas on a ship which could compensate for its smaller warhead. The new RBS15 Gungnir uses a J band radar seeker and is data-linked like the NSM. It doesn’t have the ability to target specific parts of a ship, as the J band radar won’t provide a high enough resolution. It may be more susceptible to active countermeasures. The RBS15 is very similar to the Harpoon Block II in capabilities and size of warhead and range. All these missile have a very good land attack capability. The NSM has even proven itself in trials targeting slow moving vehicles.
For operations where the rules of engagement are very tight or there’s a lot of additional “innocent” shipping, the NSM is probably the best option. For an out an out ship killer, where collateral damage is accepted the RBS15 would be the choice.
Interesting angle, Davey. I take it that’s inclusive of the 2018 update? With their coherence regarding other new-generation missiles, I’d think that would weight heavily as a consideration with the Naval Staff.
The NSM is completely passive, making it harder to detect. There is also talk of Konsberg back fitting the new Australian passive RF seeker being added to its JSM variant to give a dual IR/RF passive seeking capability. This would give better all weather ability & make countermeasures extremely difficult. NSM is a recognition that you don’t need to sink a modern warship to take it out of action, you just need to hit it in the right place.
The NSM/JSM solution seems to be ideal for both what it is and what it isn’t.
What it isn’t: NSM/JSM weight, warhead size and range put it a class below Storm Shadow/Harpoon and two classes below Tomahawk (and a class above Sea Venom). The FCASW program is intended to replace Storm Shadow/Scalp as well as France’s ship launched version; FCASW might also produce a Tomahawk class weapon by leveraging the development and component commonality. Neither directly compete with NSM/JSM so the joint UK-French development should not be threatened. Indeed if FCASW did compete more directly with NSM/JSM then it would have to significantly increase its capabilities to overcome a decade plus market lead by the time its available, and to avoid reinventing the wheel. FCASW needs to deliver game changing capabilities similar to those achieved with Meteor.
Conversely what it is: NSM/JSM offers an air, sea (surface and potentially sub-surface), land missile launch platform with land and sea attack capability, that is already widely adopted in NSM form and also seeing significant uptake in JSM form. This offers lower procurement and integration costs, commonality across launch platforms and commonality with allies for the UK, with a modern very capable platform.
NSM/JSM may be positioned as an interim but would be very complementary to higher end FCASW solutions longer term too.
Bring back the sea Slug it would terrorise the enemy nearly as much as it terrorised the sailors who use to operate it .
Apparently when you loaded it on to its launcher there was a bit if you wearnt careful would take out your wedding tackle.
During a test firing it missed it’s intended target by 7 miles and destroyed a hay barn, 1 tractor several chickens and caused a large deposit in the farmers undergarments.
How the navy ever thought that the Sea Slug could be used as a cruise missile makes you wonder how much gin they drink.
donald_of_tokyo
If Harpoon Blk.II+ cannot be selected, I think NSM will be the best solution, as it will be the cheapest solution.
With the “200M GBP”, RN will be able to buy the largest amount of control kits and missiles. May be even ~10 sets with more than 100 missiles. If so, it can arm not only 5 of the 8 T23ASWs, but also the ~6 T45s. If not on T31e, it can even be used on T26 as a interim solution, because NSM launcher is light weight and small. We can find many place on T26 to fit it.
The Perseus missile is very ambitious project, and it will naturally delay. Betting it will come on 2030 is too optimistic view. At the same time, I’m afraid RN may not be able to prepare money more than 200M GBP. So, the cheapest = the largest amount option is the best, I guess.
The elephant in the room with regard to equipment introduction is how significant the MOD judge the rise of the threat level. Lurking behind the commendation we may give with regard to ‘coherence of planning’, is the surprise that such is taking place anyway during the present political climate in the UK. Even during Chamberlain’s pre-war time – a much malined individual, evidently, who will nevertheless be grateful we’ve seen fit to forgive him now, I’m sure – acted prety fast while talking slow. We may yet find cause to regret the glee with which defence procurement is gradually ramping up: but it was ever thus.
Chamberlain played for time he knew war was coming but he also knew the armed forces needed more time to prepare.
He is a much maligned individual.
Chamberlain honestly believed that war could be averted right up to his first meeting with Hitler. His diaries have been released. In them they show how quickly despondent he became after the first meeting, recognising Hitler for what he was. Its a shame that his behind the scenes work isn’t more well known, especially the clandestine work with industry started in planning for war.
The FMS offer for the Finnish Navy was one hundred surface launched Harpoons, twelve land launched Harpoons, eight exercise airframes, cannisters, manuals, training, for 622 million US.
Values for the NSM (either coming from Kongsberg or Raytheon) will be roughly similar.
Those two hundred million quids will buy five sets of cannisters, a handful of missiles and not much more. They will also have to pay the integration of a new missile with an entirely new CMS…
John Pattullo
5 LRASM canister launcher setups for the t23 that can be moved to the t31 – stockpile of missiles can be also used in the t26 as it comes into service from the mk41 vls – best missile on offer with enough punch to seriously hurt enemy warships
and lets face it FCASW is in collaboration with the french – its doomed to be canceled so might as well get a good missile now and one that can be used on as wide a range of our ships as possible – maybe even the t45’s if they would get the mk41 upgrade
“and lets face it FCASW is in collaboration with the french – its doomed to be canceled so might as well get a good missile now”
Dont quite remember Aster, CAAM (the seeker is french, a variation on what you find in Aster…), Martlet, Meteor, Storm Shadow and Sea Venon being canceled, do you?
Plus the t23 towed array ships will be in service until 2030 to 2036 so they will be using the sets until then meaning t31 cannot get the missiles unless it gets the canisters as part of the build (which maybe difficult unless missile is known shortly pre-December) or mk41 which is unlikely due to costs. It is likely wildcat will provide anti-ship for T31
Captain Nemo
Why not the block V Tomahawk? I think an 8 cell Mk41 retails at £10m; given the requirement is “protection of a Maritime Task Group” you would assume T45 would be present, the £200m would upgrade T45 and provide a provide a stock of missiles compatible with T26 and (hopefully) T31, it would also provide a heavyweight overlap to FCASW out to 2040.
Failing that, what about certifying Merlin for JSM? Then every ship would have the potential.
doubt the type 31 will get mk 41 vls – 8 canister launched anti ship missiles and sea ceptor is the best you can hope for
Rob N
Once again we are stuck with subsonic offerings while India, China, Russia, Brazil all have supersonic ASMs…
Why not buy the Brazilian ASM it is Harpoon sized and is supersonic….
We will not win future battles by just buying slightly better variants of old kit. I do not believe stealth is the trump cad it once was and the West’s love affair with it has left us with slow ASMs that may be very vulnerable to S400 class SAM systems.
If the Anglo-Franco ASM is aiming at “world’s best” high-speed ASM, the interim ASM can rightly be a modern sub-sonic ASM?
Those missiles, like NSM, is not only stealthy, but also very agile.
NSM and LRASM does high-G manuever to avoid SAM and CIWS. (Also has an hop-up and dive option, like Harpoon). With high-G maneuver and good IR camera to identify the targets, it can first pretend aiming at a tanker in the task force, but suddenly turn to the high-value unit at the last moment.
Also, it can fly at much lower altitude than existing sea-skimmers.
What is the most important, I think, is that it is cheaper and light-weight than any other modern super-sonic missiles. RN can buy in number, with the pretty limited 200M GBP total project cost.
The high-end super-sonic missile (surely expensive and heavy), will come as Anglo-Franco ASM in late 2030s (I think it will naturally see a few years delay, because of very ambitious design).
Some SAMS are much more agile then an ASM. Also subsonic missiles spend longer in the missile zone. Having many cheep missiles is fine but this is useless if they cannot beat the defensive SAMS/CIWS. Sophisticated targeting is fine but the test is actually getting the warhead to the target.
Defensive SAM systems and radars are getting more capable that is why Russia, China, India etc have all upped their game. NATO has just produced more of the same.
Pegasus looks great but we should have it now not in 2030, NATO has dropped dropped the ball and we are playing catch-up slowly.
No big objection, but
In principle
– SAM need to be 2-3 times more agile than ASM, to kill it. If NSM/LRASM is capable of 7-9G (I do not know the exact number), 14-20G SAM will be needed? In other words, “agile” ASMs can also be “more agile”.
– Even looking at those super-sonic missiles, US Navy is going on with LRASM, kind of large sister of NSM/JSM. So I do not think modern sub-sonic agile ASM is completely outdated.
– In many case, what enemy RN escort will engage in singleton (using their ASM) is NOT super-power nations, but more normal nations.
– 10-12 (5 initial + more) RN escorts with modern-agile subsonic ASM vs 5 escorts (5 initial will eat all the 200M GBP) with super-sonic ASM until mid-2030s. I think this is the choice now RN is facing. Which is better?
– Especially as Anglo-French super-sonic ASM to be introduced around mid-2030 and ubiquitous around 2040s, 10-12 sets of modern-agile subsonic ASM could be better?
I have see 60G quoted for Aster that is more than enough to take out an ASM other SAM might not be as good but the point is ASM are up against it in agility turns, that is before we get into proximity kills.
My point is stealth and agility might not be enough, hence the need for speed.
Yes, 60G. But, we also know all Anti Air missile can provide such high-G only when they have high kinetic energy. But, yes I think Aster can hit-down NSM/LRASM (if not, I would be very worried about T45).
But, T45 is a high-end AAW escort, and normal escort like FREMM carries only 16 Aster 15. As NSM is cheaper, aiming “more than 16 NSM to a single target” will be relatively easy. As NSM is clever, ECM/softkill may not work (this is the big difference to the old ASMs, which were neutralized by soft kill in most cases). And, 125 kg warhead is enough to kill an escort.
I understand future Anglo-French ASM and NSM lives in different class. Former is very high-end and very expensive, latter is good and cheap. Both types has a place to live.
As this project budget is only 200M GBP suited for latter, former will need 1B GBP or more (= can easily kill T31e program as a whole, or ban ~2 T26 hulls. )
This is why I think 200M GBP for NSM (or possible RBS-15) is not bad.
Virtually all SAMS will be more agile than anti ship missiles. But if a missile is stealthy and sea skimming it won’t be seen until last minute.
Fast supersonic missiles stick out like a sore thumb, fast missiles may struggle to manoeuvre at supersonic speeds even if they do, as already stated they won’t outmanoeuvre at SAM than can pull 30-50g. I would imagine almost all western systems could engage supersonic missiles. Hypersonic may push Defenses harder but as long as computer systems are quick enough to calculate an interception point missiles should be able to hit it though due to high speed several intercept points and missiles would be needed as if a miss there will be little time to launch another after the miss.
I think there are currently two trains of thought, the British want stealthy and the French want supersonic.
GlynH
The supersonic AShW angle isn’t as clear cut, its not automatically superior, otherwise the West would have invested in them at the height of the cold war when CCCP was producing a dozen such weapons. The weapons doctrine is fundamentally different, with the West wanted precision strike and “others” wanting hit anything ASAP.
There are frequently disadvantages to supersonic AShW such as manoeuvrability, skimming altitude, target analysis, ECCM, IR/IRR profile & range. Case in point, take Zircon. Assuming it does actually work. The marketed speeds of Mach 7-8 etc. might look overwhelming on paper but that is the high altitude mid-flight phase in a low-high-low profile. Zircon must drop to low altitude in the terminal phase, with very little time for target analysis & ECCM and very little manoeuvrability, what’s more it must drop to about Mach 2-3 tops less it be vaporised since nothing can move that fast in dense air, especially dense marine air. I doubt Zircon has a re-attack option and certainly will not have time to conduct ECCM and plan an optimum route. What Zircon does do is massively reduce response time, but with suitable automation of defences that can be at least partially mitigated. I was tickled by the Russian’s announcing that Zircon’s plasma cone at those speeds prevented any EM signals getting through . . . hmmm then how about its own on board targeting sensors . . . ?
LRASMs are jolly expensive but very smart and being able to launch them from VLS and drop them from F-35s (at some point) makes for an attractive capability. Stealth may be detectable but we must understand how. A long range, long wave length beam will tell you that “something might be over there” but that is a far cry from high resolution targeting required for a SAM to intercept. The S-400 will probably detect F-22s and F-35s but engaging them is a whole different issue.
But, for now let’s just go with NSM, we are more likely to shooting at small frigate/corvette size ships (think Persian Gulf and Black Sea) than aircraft carriers (think China) . . after all carriers are what Spearfish is for he he he.
Also worth reflecting on is that hypersonic missiles become less effective at reducing response time in the presence of AEW assets that can detect them. Consequently I expect we will see development of persistent AEW for more than just carriers, the USMC already see organic AEW as their highest priority for their MUX program, using something like the V-247 platform. Or even just some tethered aerial capability to push out the radar horizon.
Another reason as to why merlin should not be doing the crowsnest role
I agree, that the so called hypersonic missiles are quick, but I believe stupid. If the performance is like other Russian made missiles they can be easily decoyed by both passive and active countermeasures. Unless fired blind they will require the launch aircraft or 3rd party to illuminate the target, thus giving the target an early warning of being targeted. As the missile is fired it will quickly accelerate up to its cruise speed of over Mach 3. All aircraft operating at this speed heat up, with the nose and wing leading edges heating up the most. For systems such as Typhoon’s Pirate or the F35’s EOTS, a missile will glow like a candle operating at these speeds. I also suspect that the majority of the flight will be conducted at a height over a 1000m due to the air density at sea level. making them easier to track by the aircraft’s radar.
As you pointed out a plasma field will stop any RF getting through, so how will the missile track the target? so will it need to slow down so that it can use its radar in active or passive modes? The problem is there is no real data on this missile only conjecture. Therefore, I think this requires the SBS to be tasked with acquiring one of these missiles for testing.
That’s a big gamble I’d rather have all bases covered with LRASM.
For me it would be because we already operate Tomahawk and this is a gapping purchase, but USN will have Tomahawk out to 2040 which gives overlap against an FCASW delay and offers a heavyweight solution to unforeseeable problems, a 1000ib warhead at 1000 miles when FCASW will probably come in lighter.
A) The “Brazilian ASM”, the Avibras Mansup is an Exocet copy.
B) There´s no Western ship launched supersonic Ashm on the market
Eight canister launched asm x 5 for £200m, how’s that even a thing?
Mk41 would be a recoverable asset and the T45 are going into refit, if this is a stop gap purchase why spend £200m to bin that money at FCASW?
Meirion X
It is not worthwhile fitting Mk. 41 to the T45. The RN will not have any warpons Integrated and tested on T26 for Mk. 41 until about 2027, by that time T45 will have less than a decade of lifetime. T45’s successors start entering service from maybe 2035, driven by the need for greater energy generation capacity, so DDG’s will become larger.
Most SAM’s will be made obsolete, and even some anti ship missiles, by mega watt lasers and functional rail guns by mid 2030’s.
The RN is not making enough uses of the existing Sylver system as it is, some A-70 cells could be fitted now on the T45s. Warpons for A-70 cells have already been integrated by the French.
I would say the Mk. 41 is more essential for the T26 to deploy ASROC anti sub warpon.
I guess the last T45 will stay until late 2040s. If not, escort building will be gapped, and UK will lose its capability.
But, for me T45’s Mk 41, if ever to be added, is NOT for ASM. Canistered ASM is good enough. On the other hand, ballistic missile defense and/or high-grade SAM missile for hyper-sonic ASM shall be added.
If RN can buy 11-sets of NSM within 200M GBP, 6 can go directly to T45, while 5 sets for T23ASW can eventually go to 5 T31s.
Hms Darling, 1st T45, will Be 30 Years old by 2039! The RN will have learned the lessons of keeping the T23s in service for so long, as very costly. The T45s will struggle to provide power for new warpon systems coming into service in mid 2030s, with No further upgrades possible due to lack of capacity.
A successor DDG will start to be built in 2035.
It is highly unlikely that Mk. 41 will be fitted for just Tomahawk, of which it will become obsolete by 2030s.
The UK does not use any other warpon compatible with Mk. 41.
A successor destroyer is not a necessity T45/sea viper is acknowledged as better than aegis and the arleigh Burke class are still being built and are likely to be in service at the very least another 20 years. At the end of the day t45 is the platform not the weapon system which can be updated. The question is how much growth potential does Sampson/sea viper have. I’d rather have upgraded t45 (and/or possible new builds) than potentially waste money on a new design. With the money saved more T26 could be built. The only real advancement in ship building see t45 seems to be the flexible mission bay which is not really needed for it’s role
You’re taking the mk41 comment in isolation, my argument was for it to be in concert with block V tomahawk to be the gapping pick as Tomahawk offers a long range land attack capability, a demolition size warhead, we’re already familiar with it, have contracts on it and it offers overlap out to 2040.
The Mk41 is as I say a recoverable asset and could eventually be moved to another ship during refit, these little cannister options are going to be conflicting with FCASW in a decade, frankly it just shows a lack of respect for two hundred million quid.
How is fitting A70 a better option than Mk41? It would have been pertinent to this situation if Storm Shadow had been designed with anti ship capability and SCALP was an option but that’s not the case and overall most people are designing and testing for Mk41, not Sylver.
I would observe that there’s an opportunity here because £200m has miraculously appeared, T45 is due refit and the Americans are restarting Tomahawk production with shipping in mind. I would argue that the economies of scale in choosing a missile we already use possibly allows for a Mk41 purchase and I must admit to being mystified as to how the navy does not view these planets as being in alignment.
So you are proposing to cancel this interim ASM program and shift the 200M GBP for TLAM+Mk.41 VLS on T45? I agree it is an attractive proposal. I myself was also thinking about that.
1: But, looking into the PIN, it can be politically not easy now.
2: Technically, one problem here is that, even though TLAM is good at land attack, it is not good at anti-ship because not being survivable against enemy air-defense (not stealthy, not agile, not very-low altitude like NSM/LRASM). TLAM is a land attack missile, with anti-ship option against lightly defended vessels.
3: Taking into account the very limited 200M GBP money, I think NSM/RBS15-like options (but not LRASM) is good. FCASW will be very expensive. TLAM –> FCASW option means, both T23 (active until 2035) and T31e (until ~2060) will lack ASM capability. Also, if it is NSM, it is NOT conflicting with FCASW that much, because its land attack capability is limited (small warhead).
So it is pro and con. Not one side game.
TLAM options is worth considering, I agree. But at this stage, I think it is NOT worth resetting the program.
Hello Donald.
No, I’m suggesting that Tomahawk on a T45 BE the interim ASM programme, if the main role is protection of a maritime task force then T45 wouldn’t be far away, so why the T23 specifically?
I’m not wild about Tomahawk for attacking ships, but on balance I think it’s a better use of our money as I think these canister options will be immediately redundant once FCASW comes into service and that £200m is lost, at least by choosing MK41/Tomahawk we get some Mk41 and some Tomahawk; we’re far more likely to be using these to attack land targets and Tomahawk would be a valuable addition to a carrier group to help kick the door in, they just offer a supplementary anti ship capability we’ll probably never use.
We already use Tomahawk and can add to the stockpile for £2m a piece and maybe buy Mk41. Maybe.
The French will Integrate FCASW into their Sylver VLS, to deploy on Horizon/FREMM, or successor warships.
Yes, in the 2030’s. I read your posts and understand that you’re a fan of Sylver but it’s not really relevant to the argument . The job at hand is an anti ship/land attack capability right now for £200m, I was merely proposing that an opportunity possibly exists to get some lasting capability on a T45 against a disposable one on a T23 by choosing a missile we already use.
Could you at least destroy my argument? For a start there’s the fact that though we save money folding more tomahawks into our existing infrastructure we still end up paying for through life costs for the increased stock, or that it would mean earlier introduction of the Mk41, support for which probably isn’t a consideration yet. Or that it would mean restructuring the T45 refits. The list goes on.
@Captain Nemo
I agree, there are difficult choices to be made on ASM. But I think Tomahawk could become obsolete sooner, by S400. Need to keep watch on this issue!
Does anyone actually know that the s400 is that good? Everyone seems to talk about it like it’s a magic bullet and can shoot entire airforces down with a press of a button. It defeats stealth can shoot aircraft whilst on the runway etc. etc. The Russians have really gone to town with the PR on this system! Before the 1st gulf war the feared T72 was one of the best tanks in the world massive 125mm gun then it went up against Challenger and Abrahams and turned into scrap!
TLAM is not good at anti-ship tasks. It is large, slow, not agile, not low altitude = very easy target to kill for modern escort-class vessels. Also, 200M GBP is not enough for TLAM, I’m afraid. In addition to Mk.41 VLS, we need TLAM control electronics and their integration into CMS, which may easily cost more than 200M GBP if for 6 T45s.
I also DO NOT think “NSM/RBS15 will be immediately redundant with FCASW introduction”. FCASW will be very expensive missile, and will not be carried on all RN escorts. In addition, FCASW may not “be onboard RN escorts” until late 2030s or 2040, I’m afraid (because of its high-tech). If RN can (virtually) gap ASM capability for ~15 years, it means RN do not need it = rationale for FCASW even DISAPPEARS for me.
NSM with good commonality with JSM, also has commonality with Norway, US Navy and German Navy. Malaysian Navy baught 6-sets of 8-missiles unit for their Gowind-class with ~110M GBP. This means, 200M GBP is large enough for NSM to fill anti-ship role on both 6 T45 and 5 T31.
At least, it will work very nice as primary ASM for RN for ~15 years, and then as a secondary ASM for another ~15 years.
Please note I love to see TLAM as an interim land attack missile, before FCASW comes into reality. But, I think it is >500M GBP program, and even relatively independent from ASM issues.
I agree I might be wrong, but my point is, the current RN/MOD approach does not look so bad to me.
– JSM would be a good choice.
– Tomahawk is peculiar isn’t it? Everything about it says it should have retired by now, yet the US is restarting production and ordering block V “allowing the missile to hit time critical high-value moving targets at sea and/or on shore” and pushing retirement into the 2040’s. I would dismiss it but how can I when the US navy doesn’t? Then there’s the 66 that got into Syria last year.
– Taking a 2018 US Foreign Military Sales request from Finland as a baseline, four VLS systems to equip four corvettes for $70m, you could possibly add Mk41 to T45 for about a hundred million pounds.
– I personally think FCASW will be available in numbers, to the point where maintaining a separate stock of inferior missiles at cost would be unthinkable, UK took 900 Storm Shadow and France a combined 650 Strom Shadow/SCALP.
That’s why I concluded Tomahawk, it offers something different, you must presume that the UK is pushing for internal carriage in an F35b, which is going to make FCASW slightly smaller than NSM/JSM and with a similar sized warhead, setting Tomahawk aside as a wrecking ball.
– But I think it will be JSM
Regards, Nemo
Thanks Captain Nemo-san
> – Taking a 2018 US Foreign Military Sales request from Finland as a baseline, four VLS systems to equip four corvettes for $70m, you could possibly add Mk41 to T45 for about a hundred million pounds.
But this do not include
– 6-sets of Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS)
– 6-set of physical integration and wiring
– software integration to CMS
which will make the cost nearing 200M GBP. This was my point.
On the FCASW, problem is no one knows how it will come about. If 300+ nm range and super-sonic and stealth is needed, as well as good warhead to replace StormShadow, it will be very large and expensive missile. Only if more modest the requirement is, it can be as compact as JSM.
I agree all my comment assumes FCASW be the former option; much lethal (larger warhead) in land attack (as well as anti-ship), greater penetrating power (not easy to shoot down), with sufficient long leg to replace StormShadow or TLAM. May be this is one of the reason we differ in assesment for this interim ASM, I guess.
Anyway, thanks a lot.
I wonder, when will we see a FCASW demonstrator?
T45 benefits (I think) from essentially having been waiting for Mk41 all its life (it’s a sad story).
With the British wanting Stealth and the French wanting speed on FCASW I wonder whether a compromise might be reached whereby we see a small stealthy vehicle for aircraft release with a hypersonic booster for surface launch.
I think the synergy will see us get something the services can reach for as readily as they will Spear 3, just for a heavier target set.
Another advantage of something like NSM is it’s much easier to fit onto ships that cannot take or does not have VLS systems like mk41. It should be possible to fit NSM to B2 Rivers if you needed to or wanted to. Brunei’s 80m OPV’s carry 4 mk3 Exocet canister launch missiles. LM’s new ExLS bolt on vls are 3 x cells quad packable with CAMM. One set = 12 missiles, 2 sets = 24. Swap out the rather pointless 30mm main gun for say 35mm with Ahead ammo or 40mm with P3 ammo & you have yourself a pretty cheap basic corvette.
Options such as Tomahawk require strike length cells. These take up a lot of room through multiple decks. Retro fitting them takes a lot of work (months), even on ships where the possibility was planned for. Some of the T31 options would struggle to handle more than a single set if at all. All vls capable AShM’s require at least tactical length cells. T23’s were never intended to have mk41 at all? & RN will still be operating T23 for some time to come (till the last T26 comes online).
While you do need to fit the electronics on each ship, canister launched missiles themselves are easily removed, reduced, added or swapped within a few hours. The ability to fit them is a minor refit (wiring & firing electronics). The only advantages to VLS AShM missiles is somewhat better protection (not out on deck) & no-one knows what you really are carrying. Then again, sometimes it’s an advantage to advertise.
Mk41 on a T45 would actually sit in the space for the gymnasium I believe, or would that be that the gymnasium actually sits in the space for the Mk41? It’s one of the two. Nemo
Please see my post bottom of page,
on issue of FCASW with Mk. 41.
Talking about Storm Shadow and SCALP surely adding data links updated INS etc. Could be done for 200 million? Why can’t it be the interim missile?
The Royal Navy’s tomahawks are not suitable for the anti-ship role. Newer variants do have anti-ship but that would require another purchase probably using the 200 million, this would also likely upset the French especially as we want subsonic and they want supersonic
6 other Nations are using Sylver VLS, including Singapore Navy.
It’s also worth noting that there is a strong likelihood that NSM will arm the US Navy’s 20 new FFG(X) frigates. It seems to be the best option for the RN seeing as our closest ally will have a large stockpile of them for use on potentially upwards of 40 ships, and its made specifically for use in cramped, littoral environments where RN ships are more frequently deploying to.
Also, if we do somehow manage to procure some LRASM for the F-35s, then maybe we could use some to fill the Type 26 Mk41 VLS, and the Type 45’s when/if they are fitted with them. That way the entire surface fleet will be better armed for surface warfare with 2 missiles that complement each other, 1 suited for littoral environments (NMS) and the other for open-ocean (LRASM).
LRASM is not integrated with the F-35, actually there´s no plan to integrate it on Dave “B”.
The future of the RN Ashm force will be something coming out of MBDA, the “Interin” buy of a handfull of missiles, is just that, “Interin”
Might also be worth mentioning that given the UK has gotten in bed with Sweden over Typhoon’s replacement. It might be a handy to throw some money SaaB’s way and invest in the Gungnir. I was tickled by France & Germany snubbing UK involvement in “their” next gen fighter. When it comes to defence, France & Germany can’t decide the shade of paint primer to use, let alone the systems to develop.
I’m also curious about what became of LRASM-B. The AGM-158C (or LRASM-A as it used to be known) was originally meant as a stop-gap until the -B arrived, possibly a P-800 Oniks style weapon with all the -A sensors. Yet everything has gone quiet on that front. Is it possible that AGM-158C has exceeded its design so well that the pressing need for -B has faded?
Phillip Johnson
As usual the money seems to loom large. The idea of moving the missiles between ships to provide task force defence seems to depend on all the combat systems having been upgraded to integrate the new missile. Are any of the T23 combat systems open architecture? I would guess not.
That could end up being as expensive as the missiles themselves.
John Melvin
An Anglo-French project not a Franco-British project? So Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish taxpayers won’t be billed for it?
I only wish that most posters will Look to the future, and see what warpon technologies wiil be available in 10,15 or 20 years into the future!
Britain needs to stay head in technical developments for us to be still be a viable milltary power.
Does anyone know if there are any plans to create a Spear 3 canister launch system? Obviously would need a booster. Now I know the warhead is too small to be a medium ASM, but the missile could be launched in multiples with each targeting different areas of the enemy ship and is slated to have a naval attack capability. The missile has reasonable legs and will already used for our F35’s. Could this not fill our requirement and become our main ship launched asm on our smaller platforms, and interim on our largest ones too?
Spend the money on a compact box launcher to get as many missiles to fit as possible to allow the numbers to launch multiples at a target, say 16-24.
This would allow us to use a missile we will have in service anyway and get greater economies of scale and spend the £200 million on development of the box launch version.
Might not be doable but worth a thought?
I think the community was quite excited at the prospect of using the CAMM launchers for that, but that allegiance seems to have switched to a possible Brimstone/CAMM mashup they’ve been showing for Boxer and maybe using that out to 30/40km instead.
Please see my latest post below.
What do you think Nemo?
From the sounds of it, NSM/JSM would be my pick; whichever can be canister and VLS launched, with some potential scope for carriage on F-35 and maybe even Typhoon (air launch for the base missile, obviously, less the booster). I’m guessing it could even be launched from a Merlin or Wildcat if we felt like paying for the integration. Even if it’s a bit smaller warhead-wise, not sure who we’ll be fighting that we won’t achieve a mission kill on a target with an NSM.
That way there’s scope to add it to T45 (cannister), T23 (cannister), T26 (VLS) and T31 (cannister/VLS depending on eventual fitout) in a pinch. I know they say they’ll have the next-gen missile by then, but best have a fall-back.
I do agree with a cannister solution for NSM, but I can not see Mk. 41 to be worthwhile on Type 26 frigates any more. Due to the fact that only RUM-139 VL-ASROC out of the USN warpons available for Mk. 41, would be of any use to the RN, at this time. And the UK only uses the submarine version of TLAM, which will become increasingly obsolete at end of 2020s.
A big question is, will the RN ever integrate FCASW with Mk. 41? The French will Not do so, but integrate with Sylver VLS on their frigates.
So would a alternative VLS setup for Type 26 frigates be a better preposition?
Which would be, Sylver A-70 cells for SCALP and FC/ASW, A30 NT. And have standalone ExLS units for VL-ASROC. Plus Sea Ceptor.
Any one who wants to convince me
otherwise, please post!
If the MoD where to commit now to integrate FCASW with Mk. 41, this would change the picture, and Mk 41 would be worth while on T26.
. I think I would fall off my chair!!
I take your point, although considering the number of export buyers tied into T26 so far it may well be worth integrating FCASW to give them a non-US option for their future weapons needs?
ExLS stand-alone is unsuitable for ASROC. There are only a small number of compatible missiles. They include standard CAMM-M (Sea Ceptor), Nulka, RAM & I think a couple of others. It’s more like a light weight version of the mk41 self defence length VLS, but not identical missile options. Even ESSM is not on the list. ie it is for light, short range missiles. It’s highly likely any soft launch missile that physically fits in ExLS can be made work. Hot launch need to bring their own exhaust port setup in their drop in canister configuration. ASROC I believe requires Tactical length cells.
So Mk. 41 will be essential for VL-ASROC to be launched ftom a Type 26 frigate, so MoD will have to Integrate FCASW with Mk. 41.
Meirion, we agree, I’m just on the other side, I favour Mk41.
I think we need to operate one VLS for basic efficiency and you could probably argue that Sylver is the better system, but I prefer Mk41 because it has more users, but critically it has the US and their tremendous R&D and procurement budgets offering us some futureproofing. off the shelf options and (as friends and allies) access to their stockpiles.
I did dig up an old article (2013) from Think Defence stating that MBDA came to an agreement with Lockheed Martin that all their missiles would be compatible with MK41, I don’t know if that held true, but I’ve seen reference to that even being the case with Aster.
Mk41 is about more than just ASROC, VLS in general offer flexible options both now and in the future and it shows your competitors that you’re serious about that days business. I’d like to see more Mk41 on T26 if anything, you could envisage a task group where it in addition to its own weapons it would carry some Aster 30 and act as a spare magazine for the T45, or where it would favour land attack with FCASW, or where it would be quad packing CAMM ER and Brimstone while transiting some God forbidden strait.
In short, yes, Mk41or Sylver, but one or the other and for me Mk41.
@Nemo
I do agree with you on the issue of compatibility of both Mk. 41 and Sylver able to launch each others missiles. And Integrating new missiles to both VLS systems.
But I would Not be reliant on just one VLS system, because the yanks have been awkward the past, and could be again in the future.
Just think what side a Latino US president would take on the Falklands!
Thanks for your opinion Nemo!
“It’s a cigarillo case engraved with the regimental crest of two crossed dead Frenchmen, emblazoned on a mound of dead Frenchmen motif” – General Melchett
Kind regards, Nemo
Damn that’s Wellington not Melchett, Blackadder 3 not 4. Apologies.
The Gungnir is no advance, really, on Harpoon. Buying new Harpoon BlkII rounds and using existing infrastructure is more sensible. Unless of course its already been nudged-and-winked to the Swedes as part payment for interest in Typhoon. Chances of finding out on that are slim but it would be a curious tradeoff seeing Typhoon is very unlikely to stay the distance without a bigger partner than Sweden aboard (no disrespect to the Swedes here!).
NSM is a great capability and, in my view, the nastiest antiship weapon out there at the moment. Unless we can ride on the back of the big USN options takeup, if that happens, and grab a bit of volume discount £200mn isnt going far though. You could also argue that with Wildcat/Sea Venom we have a long range lightwieght precision IIR capability….just its first stage (the chopper) is a bit slower than most missiles!.
LRASM, to me, looks the only real option here. We aren’t saturating an enemy AAW destroyer with 8 RBS15’s or NSMs any more than we would with 4 LRASM. So if the SSGW missile fit on a T-23 is 2×2 LRASM realistically its no less usable than 8 smaller/cheaper weapons. LRASM has, however, got the wonderful party trick of having a 1000lb BROACH-like warhead. For shooting at hardened targets ashore it will do a job where none of the other options will. I agree with the earlier sentiment that dual role antiship/land attack is a crucial element here. Most importantly, with LRASM, however is that, once in service, it lends itself to introduction on T26. Reconfigure ‘topside launcher’ rounds into VLS cannister rounds and Type23 weapons slot into Type26. A battery of 16-24 dual role antiship/landattack LRASMs on a Type26 would be noteworthy. Thats the goal – not worrying about long ranged missiles on a cheapo T31 that will get more off Wildcat/Venom.
A crazy scenario which goes further to lower faith in the MOD/RN. Any interim system should be fitted to every Type 23 and Type 45 initially plus the Type 26 & 31e as they come online. The RN has known for years that it need a new modern SSM to kit out the surface vessels – doiing half a job is not acceptable. Being stuck in a contract with the French for something that won’t appear for god knows how many years is senseless!! Its about time somebody took charge who actually understands what naval warfare actually means.
At the end of the day, the RN needs a capable ASM that can be fitted or integrated into all our major surface escorts. LRASM fits the bill for each aspect of the requirement and launched from Cannisters and Mk41 Vls. It is without doubt the best solution.
I really think the RNs logic is completely wrong on this, the T23 towed array vessels are going to be close to a carrier carrying F35s, with an SSN likely in the task group as well! It is the vessel least likely to require Anti ship missiles.
Why not invest the money in MK41 for T31s instead £200 million would buy a number of launchers then either buy less of the cheapest missile that fits or look to fit it with SPEAR 3?
The other option is why not go to an all air launched system these are more likely to be used anyway? JSM could be ideal as it is likely to be electronically integrated with F35 & the b should be able to use on pylons, kongsberg are also developing a helicopter launched version that could be integrated on the Merlin. The missiles could then be kept in role post FCASW?
Either of these options means you’re £200 million will go further.
If the T31 is used for forward deployment it may not be available to work with the carriers. The T23 will form a key part of the carriers defence.
The site is run on a voluntary basis. Donations via PayPal towards running costs would be most welcome. Thank you.
More details of the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate emerge
The plan for a British hospital ship gains political support
Understanding and responding to the Russian naval threat
Infographic: Timeline for delivering carrier strike
Taking down the arguments against Trident
In focus: the Royal Navy presence in the Caribbean
From Sea Dart to Sea Viper – area air defence for the Royal Navy
What have aircraft carriers ever done for us?
A year in review – the Royal Navy in 2019
Under Pressure – Book Review
Random Article:
A tale of two exercises – Royal Navy reaching its operational peak for 2018 October 18, 2018
Archives Select Month January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 January 2013 November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 June 2008
Aircraft Carriers Amphibious capability Anti ship missiles Arabian Gulf Babcock BAE Systems Defence Cuts Devonport Disaster Relief Dreadnought class submarines F-35 Falklands War Fleet Air Arm Frigates Future Royal Navy HMS Queen Elizabeth Manpower Maritime Autonomous Systems Modernising Defence Program 2018 National Shipbuilding Strategy Naval Infrastructure Nuclear Deterrent OPV Overstretch Politics Portsmouth Queen Elizabeth Class Queen Elizabeth Class Design RAF Remembrance Royal Fleet Auxiliary Royal Marines Royal Navy History Shipbuilding SSBN SSN Strategic Defence & Security Review 2010 Strategic Defence & Security Review 2015 Submarines Trident Type 26 Frigate Type 31 Frigate Type 45 Destroyer warship numbers Westlant 18
An independent online campaign to promote the Royal Navy.
This site has no official endorsement by the Royal Navy or MoD.
Unless otherwise credited, images used under
Creative Commons License from:
Ministry of Defence images - ©Crown Copyright
NavyLookout (Flickr)
All written content © Save the Royal Navy 2020
Site Design: 3Sixty Creative.com
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407926
|
__label__wiki
| 0.628363
| 0.628363
|
CurseForge Register Sign In
SC2Mapster
SC2 Mapster Forums
Trigger Libraries & Scripts
World of Starcraft - Public Engine Released
#1 Apr 27, 2010
_ForgeUser4347489
Join Date: 4/23/2010
http:www.sc2mapster.com/maps/smooth-3rd-person-movement/
This is a full conversion project I am working on and I am creating this thread to get its name out there and to also take in any suggestions the community might have, in return I will be willing to go in depth how I achieved any of the things you spot in the video, and can also serve as a general person to answer any trigger related questions you might have. So far my plans are to include the data editor as little as possible until I hit a coding roadblock. That may also change in the future. I will need some volunteers to beta test once publishing goes live so I can tweak settings to play well with networking and such. For now this project brainstorm thread will just serve as a place where you guys can ask me questions and also give suggestions.
Last edited by _ForgeUser9: Apr 27, 2010
Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
<center>SCMapper.687 ...
_ForgeUser826567
Sadly there are limited player slots, So it will feel like diablo when joining a game.
The feature to link maps together will allow you to make massive amounts of content / expansions though so that's cool =D.
Do you plan to make scripted boss encounters?
- Galaxy Editor Facebook Page | DjEphixa Youtube Music Channel | My Website | My Twitter | Do not click me! -
@ephixa: Go
Yes I plan to work towards creating the full experience, I don't expect to make instances per say, but there will be world bosses with their own fights.
@SCMapper:
It's possible to have a larger player limits, but not known how to do so until the game is released, so the full editor can be used entirely for modding.
Possible that, if fits in a premium standard, can use a 3rd party client to connect to the server, using the SC2 game as a in between engine.
@dra6o0n: Go
That would be very exciting, if an alternative connection server is made possible that will completely change the way I design this game.
I would really change camera to normal isometric type. The 3rd person OTS camera is simply unplayable and not really fun.
Wow really?
Quote from SCMapper: Go
Joining a game is like joining an instance, so dungeon instances inside the main map aren't needed.
Maps dedicated to certain things or tiers of content might be a good idea. For example, you create a dungeon map for higher level characters that people can host a game of. When they join it loads their world of starcraft profile and their characters are loaded into the new map. That way people can start a B.net game like " WOS - Dungeon map name lvl 10+" " WOS - PvP Arena " " WOS - Normal enviroment " This is more battle.net friendly.
Last edited by _ForgeUser826567: Apr 27, 2010
This was the direction I was aiming in for my design, but every time I think about it I keep coming back to the problem of eventually having people only playing the higher end maps, snuffing out any chance for new people to get a start up so If i do take the route of just having a map be a section of the game and people picking and choosing what they play I will need to find a sweet spot of how much content is in a map to make it playable for a large percentage of players. Right now the actual challenge will be to create my own encryption methods for the data that will be going from map to map. The banks unfortunately only put the data into an XML file, without putting in any safeguards against tampering, so all data that will be stored will have to be scrambled.
@xeavien: Go
User has full control over the camera angle he views his character from using the mouse, but more importantly not every style of game is for everyone lol.
#10 Apr 27, 2010
Join Date: 9/9/2009
How are you going to keep the data from game to game? It wouldn't make sense to have these instances and everything if you consider some more "high end" than the others if you aren't able to keep gear from game to game. The only way I could think of solving that issue is as follows: you can generate a code at the end of the game or when you're leaving which will be a combination of all of your gear. You then at the start of another game have the ability to enter said code to get your gear back to what it was at the previous game.
Starcraft 2 Team Fortress Mod
In the lines of computer programming, and from what I've have seen... Nothing is impossible when your talking about a video game...
Just depends on how much you can endure when they throw tons of information at you... Can your brain handle all that?
Well, you could put important features like the auction house, pvp zones, professions in the main map only.
@helixdnb: Go
I will be using the bank storage feature to transfer everything about a person's characters between maps, its a functionality that writes XML files with categories and variables to a persons documents and I will be creating an encryption/decryption back-end that will make sure that no one can tamper with the details to the banks for my game. Save/Load codes are a hassle, both for the creator and the user to deal with, and they store little to no information because of size constraints. This type of storage will restrict a person from playing from the same computer unless they carry a disk drive with the bank with them, but it is a small inconvenience for the powerful game changing storage capabilities it opens up.
Player's banks will be accounts, and those accounts will store every detail of information needed about the characters.
Last edited by _ForgeUser4347489: Apr 27, 2010
And not to mention a good way to store data for Zombie shooting mmorpgs too.
I have three things to say.
First, this looks great!
Second, even if XML data is encrypted, there is still potential for abuse. Unless the game automatically saves an XML every time an item or money is transfered, I can make a game, give my money to a friend, leave without saving, and then he can save. I can reload and I have all of my money back but my friend still has my money too. I'm not sure if saving after every transaction is feasible, and even if it is, the user can presumably copy the XML file and rename it, so that even if you overwrite the first XML after he gives away his money, he can just put the other XML back in. I know it's just a game, but given the scope of this project, I would give some thought regarding whether there is any way to prevent this.
Finally, on the issue of "instances" and maps specifically for higher leveled characters, I think it may be best overall not to make leveling up a huge grind in this game. Take a lesson from Guild Wars, where reaching level 20 and getting good gear was not difficult, but there were still plenty of things to unlock and tons of content to explore once you got there. It was very good for keeping players on equal footing, and allowing players even with vastly different amounts of time spent in the game to enjoy content together. I think one of the popular WarCraft 3 ORPGs did this. They basically had a single map for "leveling up" with a vast diversity of encounters available, and then made dozens of maps for maximum level characters to enjoy. If you are worried about "level up" content becoming unpopular, I feel that the key is in not making the "level up" content too lengthy. Just my two cents.
@MasterDinadan: Go
Okay, four things.
"Instance" maps would be a great way to do PvP. I know World PvP was mentioned, but it would be great to have a PvP instance i.e. a battleground, where teams of high level characters and go face to face with specific objectives and such. WoW meets DotA!
I don't think guild wars servers as a great example, their leveling system basically handed out max level characters to anyone and when that happens, a persons pride in their own character becomes diminished. The pacing has to be just right, not too long and tedious to never finish, not to short so as to create a sense of accomplishment when you finally reach the goal. As for the XML issue, this game isn't an mmorpg, there is no economy to worry about, If a player decides to abuse the game and give themselves enormous tons of currency (If I even decide to have such a thing in the end design), they wont find much to spend it on. Gear will not be purchasable, it must be earned through playing. The only possible XML abuse that could be gamebreaking is if some cryptologist deciphered my key for the XML encryption and decided to release it and let everyone remove the aspects of the game that are actually the fun parts. As for BGs I plan to have them as an alternative to PVE leveling in terms of getting gear and experience, I am still heavily weighing pros and cons of a single map as opposed to multiple maps to be able to really make any decision about it.
It really comes down to what kind of options will be made available in the coming weeks before the end of beta and the soon after release.
@SCMapper: Go
I guess it depends on whether or not you consider max level the "goal." Most games that follow this paradigm are tedious grind fests with nonexistent end-game. I think WoW is so successful because it focuses more on the end-game and less on the leveling part. The fact that you are making a StarCraft map that cuts out a significant social aspect (no economy plus 8 players per "server") makes me feel like shifting it even further in that direction will be more successful.
But that's just my opinion! It is your game and I will probably play it regardless =) I'm just saying Guild Wars is definitely less social than WoW, and leveling is definitely not as much fun, but the endgame is very rich!
It sounds like a big project. You'll need lots of people helping. Me? You want me to help? Sorry, I'm no good at collaborating on one big thing online.
When you have a big project, you'll need lots of people helping. And the more people you have helping, the more people you'll have looking to you for answers. And that can be stressful. And that's why I don't plan huge projects that require lots of helpers. Just a word of caution.
Did you start working on banks/saving yet? If you save a unit in a bank it doesn't save the experience/kills/items, just the current HP, energy and unit type, which is useless for rpg maps, and there doesn't seem to be a way to get/set the experience of a unit, or the items. Seems like saving your hero with the exp and items is not possible right now, with banks at least.
Posts Quoted:
Clear All Quotes
© 2020 Twitch Interactive, Inc
About Careers Blog Press
Brand Music Advertise Ad Choices
Prime Partners Affiliates
Developers Help Feedback
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Cookie Policy
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407928
|
__label__cc
| 0.64384
| 0.35616
|
Identifying small songbirds by flight style
March 11, 2011 March 11, 2011 / By David Sibley / 10 Comments
→ Last Updated on March 11, 2011
It’s easy. Experienced birders do it subconsciously, using clues from the wingbeats, rhythm, and path of a bird’s flight. These are usually described in vague terms – the roller-coaster flight of a goldfinch, the slightly undulating flight of a blackbird – but I don’t know of any published effort to really define what is different about each species. To remedy that I thought I would make a start here on a more objective and detailed description of bird flight.
There are several things to watch for:
The path of the bird through the air, does it travel in a straight line, swoop up and down with bursts of wingbeats, or dart about on an erratic path?
How many wingbeats are in each burst, and how long is the subsequent pause? Try to get a rough sense of how much of the bird’s time in the air is spent flapping.
How does it approach the landing? Different species deal with braking and landing in different ways, and this can offer some really good clues for identification.
Three species are shown here as examples, watch for these differences and more, and you’ll discover a wealth of new identification clues.
Song Sparrow flight path. Gouache, pencil, and digital drawing copyright David Sibley.
Song Sparrow (like all Emberizine sparrows) has a flowing and bounding flight style, a few irregular quick wingbeats are followed by a short swooping glide without fully closing the wings. On short flights the tail is pumped vigorously up and down along with each set of wingbeats. As it approaches the landing the bird simply swoops up, swings the tail forward to brake, reaches out with the feet and grabs the perch. A flock of Song, White-throated, White-crowned, etc sparrows all “dive” straight into cover very quickly.
House Sparrow flight path. Gouache, pencil, and digital drawing copyright David Sibley.
House Sparrow has a more labored and direct flight, with bursts of quick wingbeats and relatively short freefalls. It follows a path with little undualtion and none of the swooping and tail-pumping of Song. When approaching its landing a House Sparrow flaps more quickly and almost hovers before stalling onto the perch. Almost as if the feet are useless and it has to set itself on the perch using just its wings. When a flock flies up into a hedge they hover and buzz around the perches momentarily like a swarm of bees, rather than diving straight in.
Common Redpoll flight path. Gouache, pencil, and digital drawing copyright David Sibley.
Common Redpoll (like all the small finches) has a strongly undulating flight often described as “bounding” or a “rollercoaster”. This path results from the bird giving a very short burst of wingbeats and rising quickly, then folding the wings into a relatively long freefall. Slight changes of direction with each burst of wingbeats give it a subtle zigzag path very different from the straight-ahead path of House Sparrow and some others. When approaching a landing the redpoll swoops, gives just one or two correcting or braking wing flaps, and grabs the perch.
Probability in bird identification → Last Updated on September 26, 2015 One of my regular birding spots...
Vocal copying by Pine Siskins → Last Updated on September 26, 2015[10 July 2009 – update added at...
Quiz 6: Bird weight → Last Updated on August 20, 2012Below is a chance to test your...
Identifying songbirds by flocking behavior → Last Updated on March 16, 2011It’s early morning and you’re out on...
My trick to finding Rusty Blackbirds → Last Updated on November 5, 2012Almost every Rusty Blackbird that I see...
Quiz 54: Head patterns → Last Updated on April 9, 2015The three photos below show a Song...
10 thoughts on “Identifying small songbirds by flight style”
This is fun. When I was a young birder and learning things from those more experienced, it was explained to me that Song Sparrows have a very long tail and fly like it gets in the way, pumping it, as you say, in flight as if it’s a burden for them to drag it along behind them.
It’s a simple silly sort of explanation, but it’s always stuck with me such that I always bring it up when leading bird walks and such to great affect. By the end several people are usually able to recognize Song Sparrows at a distance as they’re flushed. Great stuff.
David Sibley
Thanks for passing that along Nate, those sorts of descriptions are so helpful for learning and for describing subjective things, it would make a fun book – a field guide using colorful descriptions and metaphors. Come to think of it, that’s just the sort of content Pete Dunne was trying for in his Field Guide Companion, so there already is a book!
Greg Gillson
Great stuff! I always threaten that I’m going to write a field guide to birds in flight. If only I had an advance from a publisher…
As a pelagic birder I became intimately familiar with the flight style of West Coast seabirds, and learned how to describe the flight so that others could learn (my other partially completed and abandoned book–“Seabirds in flight: tails of fleeing alcids”).
As an example of separating starlings and cedar waxwings in flight, as well as the terms for describing flight style for ID, please see: “Nature Journal: Separating Cedar Waxwings from European Starlings in flight”:
http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/2010/08/nature-journal-separating-cedar.html
Hi Greg, Thanks for sending the link to your excellent discussion of waxwings and starlings. It’s obvious that we are thinking along very similar lines! I hope to add more species to this topic over time, so maybe the “field guide to birds in flight” will develop slowly.
Kirby Adams
As a relatively inexperienced birder, I decided to spend the winter studying the local birds for all ID clues that aren’t color, shape, or size. I found I picked up on flight behavior pretty quickly when I was concentrating on ignoring “field marks” for a change. So, when can I pre-order the “Sibley Guide to Bird Flight”? 🙂
Well done Kirby! I remember meeting Swedish birder Per Alstrom at Cape May many years ago, when we were both barely out of our teens, and he told me he was consciously trying not to use his binoculars to identify birds. I was stunned, since as an artist I always wanted to try to see as much detail as possible, but then I understood his point, and since then I’ve tried to keep that in mind. You see different things when you look from a distance, and, paradoxically, it can be very revealing to see something in less detail.
Wim van Dam
No, no, no, it should not be a “guide”, it should be an electronic guide. Seriously, imagine an app that has little, stylized black and white animations of raptors, petrels, shearwaters, etc, showing their typical wingbeats and flight patters. Just as with songs and sounds, we now have the possibility to do away with ambiguous descriptions and instead directly show what is meant. I would be willing to pay big bucks for such an eguide.
Tauheed Ullah
Very helpful information and milky discussion about birds identification for a student like me having no field guide, binocular and other necessary accessories for proper bird watching. Sir! can you please add some more about birds?
Pingback: Pedga Blog
christopher wheeler
what birds are these
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407929
|
__label__wiki
| 0.727474
| 0.727474
|
Pour que votre expérience soit optimale, l'établissement Beijing No 5 Courtyard utilise ses propres cookies et des cookies tiers sur son site Internet, à des fins techniques, analytiques et marketing. En continuant à utiliser notre site, vous acceptez l'utilisation de nos cookies. Veuillez consulter notre Charte sur les Cookies pour plus d'informations.
Offres d'hôtels
100010 Pékin
Beijing Courtyard, as the old Beijing people living in the main building mode, well-known at home and abroad, the world is known!
Courtyard, also known as Sihefang, is a Han traditional courtyard-style building with a pattern of houses built on four sides of a courtyard, usually composed of the main house, east-west wing and upstairs houses, surrounded by courtyards from the four sides, hence the name Courtyard Since the official capital of Yuan Dynasty, Beijing, large-scale planning and construction of the capital city, the courtyard and Beijing's palace, office, neighborhood, Square Lane and alley appeared at the same time. According to Yuan Meng Xiong Mengxiang, "Analysis of Jin Chi" contains: "Street system, since the South as the North that the scriptures, from east to west that latitude. Street twenty-four step wide, 384 fire Lane, two Nineteenth Street pass. "Here the so-called" street "that we now call alley, alley, alley and alley is for the subjects to build residential land. At that time, Kublai Kublai, the elders of the Yuan Shizu, who had lived in the old capital of the capital for a long time, first paid high (rich people) and resided for office (serving in the court) Jia Jing moved to Beijing to build houses, Beijing's traditional courtyard houses large-scale formation that started. Therefore, the Beijing Siheyuan bird's-eye view from the air, like four separate small box enclosing a courtyard. Although Siheyuan is a residential building, it contains profound cultural connotations and is a carrier of Chinese traditional culture. The construction of the courtyard is very feng shui, feng shui theory, is actually the ancient Chinese architectural environment, is an important part of the traditional Chinese architectural theory; courtyard decoration, carving, painting is also embodies the folk customs and traditional culture everywhere, showing that people Happy, wealthy, auspicious pursuit and yearning.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407931
|
__label__cc
| 0.615812
| 0.384188
|
Silicon Europe
Finalists Announced for the Startup Nations Award
Finalists Announced for the Startup Nations Award for Groundbreaking Policy Thinking
The Global Entrepreneurship Network announced five finalists for the Startup Nations Award for Groundbreaking Policy Thinking. The award recognizes individuals or organizations for their instrumental analysis, innovative policy approaches or groundbreaking program concepts that significantly expand the frontier of entrepreneurship policy thinking around the world.
Posted by Editor in Chief at 06:12
Labels: Finalists Announced for the Startup Nations Award
Blog Archive January 2019 (4) December 2018 (1) November 2018 (3) May 2018 (14) April 2018 (22) March 2018 (29) February 2018 (30) January 2018 (28) December 2017 (14) November 2017 (17) October 2017 (27) September 2017 (10) August 2017 (26) July 2017 (19) June 2017 (28) May 2017 (35) April 2017 (31) March 2017 (34) February 2017 (30) January 2017 (28) December 2016 (29) November 2016 (38) October 2016 (32) September 2016 (28) August 2016 (32) July 2016 (37) June 2016 (41) May 2016 (34) April 2016 (37) March 2016 (36) February 2016 (40) January 2016 (36) December 2015 (39) November 2015 (37) October 2015 (40) September 2015 (41) August 2015 (32) July 2015 (39) June 2015 (49) May 2015 (43) April 2015 (38) March 2015 (44) February 2015 (41) January 2015 (46) December 2014 (45) November 2014 (48) October 2014 (43) September 2014 (46) August 2014 (40) July 2014 (41) June 2014 (40) May 2014 (41) April 2014 (51) March 2014 (64) February 2014 (80) January 2014 (63) December 2013 (47) November 2013 (55) October 2013 (56) September 2013 (44) August 2013 (47) July 2013 (57) June 2013 (72) May 2013 (79) April 2013 (70) March 2013 (66) February 2013 (56) January 2013 (55) December 2012 (34) November 2012 (41) October 2012 (57) September 2012 (53) August 2012 (38) July 2012 (36) June 2012 (44) May 2012 (52) April 2012 (47) March 2012 (53) February 2012 (43) January 2012 (47) December 2011 (43) November 2011 (58) October 2011 (49) September 2011 (49) August 2011 (46) July 2011 (6) June 2011 (53) May 2011 (28) April 2011 (34) March 2011 (60) February 2011 (12) January 2011 (5) December 2010 (3) November 2010 (2) September 2010 (3) August 2010 (1) July 2010 (1) June 2010 (2) April 2010 (1) March 2010 (1) January 2010 (3) December 2009 (1) October 2009 (3) August 2009 (2) April 2009 (4) March 2009 (2) February 2009 (3) January 2009 (3) December 2008 (2) November 2008 (5) October 2008 (12) September 2008 (13) August 2008 (9) July 2008 (35) June 2008 (46) May 2008 (12)
Cyberia Ireland
Cyber Security for Ireland
Welcome to Silicon Ireland
We are a nominated Daily Irish Tech blog started in 2008, We focus on Irish Tech news, SME's ,we love Irish start-ups,we love looking at new ideas & we love to feature all that is great in the Irish Tech community.
We have had over 5 Million page views to our blogs .
We thank you for visiting and hope you enjoy our coverage.
Annual Sponsors 2018
Build your business website
Own.ie
Free Tech Advice
YourTechSOS
Data Solutions in Ireland
Managing large scale data
Startup Stories Sponsored by
Startup Stories 2014/15
siliconireland
@siliconireland
@silirenewswire
nwz@siliconirelandnews.com
siliconirelandnewswire.com
Silicon Ireland Team:
Editor: C OConnor
North W Ed: C Gordon
Dublin E Ed : N Hussain
Galway W Ed: P Higgins
Startup Ed: M Grainger
Features Ed: Una Martin
Accounts : R Mcquire
Based in Dublin, Ireland:
Silicon Ireland Menu
Silicon Ireland Twitter Ireland
Silicon Ireland You Tube Channel
Silicon Ireland Facebook
Dublin Jobs Site
V Blog Awards 2017
Irish Blog Awards Short List 2016
Nominated Tech Blog
E Blog 14
Shorty Award Nominated 12
Best Business Twitter Account
Social Media Awards 2011
Nominated Irish Blog Awards 2011
Tech Blog Shortlist 2010
Silicon Ireland News
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors, employees and guest writers on this web site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Silicon Ireland News.
Copyright Silicon Ireland News 2008-2018
We have updated our Privacy Notice to reflect GDPR Regulation - Read Here
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407932
|
__label__cc
| 0.515973
| 0.484027
|
Purple Darts (1969)
-By Will, on February 17, 2015, 7:00 am
Purple Darts [紫金鏢] (1969)
Starring Wang Ling, Tung Li, Ou Wei, Cho Kin, Li Kuan-Chang, Lee Fung, Cheung Sai-Sai, Chow Siu-Hing, Tai Leung, Cheung Ching-Fung
Directed by Pan Lei
Expectations: Fairly low.
It’s a shame that Purple Darts is one of the Shaw Brothers films that never received a DVD release from Celestial, because it’s a great wuxia full of fun characters and tense fights. Its story isn’t always the slickest, the characters’ motivations are usually somewhat cloudy and unexplained, there are “important” things that ultimately mean nothing, and the choreography leaves a lot to be desired, but Purple Darts finds ways to make those discrepancies fly away like a slick wuxia hero. It’s by far the best film I’ve seen from Pan Lei, and I’m sad that his final martial arts film for the Shaw Brothers, 1971’s The Merciful Sword, is currently MIA. Maybe it’ll eventually turn up like Purple Darts.
Like many Shaw martial arts films from the 1960s, Purple Darts opens with an infant in peril. Her parents are under assault from four villainous figures of the martial world: Bai Feng the Butcher, Lu Dachao the Bull Demon, Gu Miaozhen the Seducer, and Wang Yizhou The Wind Waving Scholar. Together they seek the Great Mystery Scriptures, a kung fu manual with unexplained power and importance. The infant’s mother manages to smuggle her out through a hidden tunnel, and an old man takes the baby in. Cue the credits! And now, just as in a good majority of these ’60s wuxias, the credits end and the infant is now a 20-something adult in search of vengeance for the crimes against her parents!
Storywise, the revenge aspect is handled directly and without any extraneous material. Our heroine Xia Lu (Wang Ling) goes from one battle to the next without much in the way of drama in-between. Someone just whisks her to safety and helps her patch herself up before she runs out the door to fight the next evildoer on her list. The first of her helpers is Wang Guangyu (Cho Kin), a mysterious older man who seems to know everything about Xia Lu when he first meets her, and always happens to be around whenever she needs him. His character does some things that are ridiculous and stink fairly badly of the writers writing themselves into a jam and needing a quick fix, but I liked his character a lot. His quiet demeanor seems to exude a strong martial ability which made him very intriguing to me. I’m unsure that others would fall on my side of the issue, but I liked him and I don’t care.
Xia Lu picks up her other companion, Bai Jiang (Tung Li), after she takes out Bai Feng the Butcher very early in the film. He’s Bai Feng’s son and he’s on his own quest of vengeance to kill Xia Lu. They have a tense confrontation in the forest, but before he makes the final thrust to end Xia Lu’s life she makes a bargain with him to allow her the time to finish her own quest of vengeance. He’s a nice guy so he agrees, and then inexplicably he also decides to help her on her quest. I guess she made an impression. His character does quite a few things that made little sense to me, but as they all seemed to involve fights I didn’t really mind these lapses of logic much.
As it’s probably clear by now, Purple Darts is pretty stuffed with fights. Being a lower-tier title from 1969, the choreography is noticeably lacking compared to the better films of the year (such as the Chang Cheh stuff like Have Sword, Will Travel or The Invincible Fist). But where this usually sinks other films, director Pan Lei has quite a few excellent tricks up his sleeve. The fights are all edited quite well, with lots of moments where we see the action from a high, far-away vantage point. Here we are able to see the vast countryside surrounding our fighters, and suddenly simple, mediocre fights are given a power that staying in close would not have provided. The introductory fight also plays out without the aid of music, so all we hear is the clashing of blades, labored grunts, and the painful cries of the fallen. This does feel kinda “low-budget” at first, but as it goes on it also ratchets up the brutality. Nothing is hidden as dozens of people are slaughtered; we see their struggle, we see their blood, we hear their cries. Suddenly the “fun” of a violent movie seemed wrong and dirty.
The villains are also quite well-realized. Each one carries a distinct weapon that gives them their own unique fighting styles, and each actor seems to be having a great time bringing their evil character to life. Gu Miaozhen the Seducer’s special technique allows her to instantly teleport herself across the room, which makes fighting her a challenge. This effect is achieved in probably the simplest camera trick of all time, just cutting and relocating the actor before rolling the camera again, but once again I’m in awe of how well the Shaw Studio was at making this kind of effect look virtually seamless. Bai Jiang is mid-strike when Gu Miaozhen the Seducer teleports from the back of the frame to right in front of the camera, but it’s still very hard to detect the cut. Amazing, simple stuff.
If you couldn’t already tell, I loved Purple Darts. It definitely has its issues, and fans of later genre films won’t necessarily like it as much as I did, but I had a grand ol’ time with all the fun wuxia feats on display throughout the film.
Next up in this chronological journey through the Shaw Brothers Martial Arts catalog: the mop-up continues with the non-Shaw but very influential 1970 hand-to-hand film From the Highway, from director Chang Tseng-Chai! See ya then! (Hopefully sooner rather than later.)
1960s, Action, Fantasy, Foreign, Martial Arts, Movie Reviews, Rating: 3.5 Stars, Will's Reviews 1969, Cheung Ching-Fung, Cheung Sai-Sai, Cho Kin, Chow Siu-Hing, Lee Fung, Li Kuan-Chang, Ou Wei, Pan Lei, Shaw Brothers, Tai Leung, Tung Li, Wang Ling
« Chinese New Year Special: My Top 10 Favorite Shaw Brothers Films (as of Feb 2015)
The Command (1954) »
1 comment to Purple Darts (1969)
Saw this today. I thought the fighting moves were cool, especially the evil villain at the end that can do awesome things with the wind, and leading actress was also quite pretty. Overall, it gives a foretaste to LADY SNOWBLOOD.
Leave a Reply! Comments are always much appreciated! Cancel reply
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407933
|
__label__wiki
| 0.702897
| 0.702897
|
Jessica Burkhart: Best Quality Jessica Burkhart: Anywhere in the World Jessica Burkhart: Movie
The Canterwood Crest Stable of Books
Take the Reins; Chasing Blue; Behind the Bit; Triple Fault
Part of Canterwood Crest
By Jessica Burkhart
The first four titles in the popular Canterwood Crest series are now available as an eBook boxed set.
In Take the Reins, Sasha Silver and her thoroughbred, Charm, arrive on the campus of elite Canterwood Crest Academy. Sasha knows immediately that she's not in her home town anymore. Surrounded by the trappings of privilege, Sasha feels inadequate. But she's determined to prove to others--and herself--that she isn’t just a big fish rider from a small town. She belongs on the Canterwood equestrian team—after all, she was recruited. But it turns out that her talent might be harder to prove then she thought.
In Chasing Blue, Sasha and Charm have proven that they're worthy competitors for any girl on the elite Canterwood Crest equestrian team. Now Sasha must prove herself again when she finds out that she'll be working with her arch-nemesis, Queen Bee Heather, on the advanced riding team to win their school the blue ribbon-- first place-- in the national competition. Will Sasha and Heather be able to put their differences aside and work together to put Canterwood Equestrian on the map?
In Behind the Bit, Sasha and her team have been accepted to the Mr. Conner's prestigious clinic, on campus over mid-winter break. Even better, they find out that scouts from the Youth Equestrian National Team will be there looking for new members. But, to make it the girls must work together as team--which might be hard to do given the state of the "team"...
In Triple Fault, Sasha has had it. First, Heather pretends to date Sasha’s boyfriend behind her back, just to mess with her. Strike One. Then, Callie cops an attitude because a guy she has a crush on starts crushing on Sasha. Strike Two. Add to that a former BFF who steals your boyfriend? Strike. Three.
No photo credit
Jessica Burkhart
Jessica Burkhart (a.k.a. Jessica Ashley) is the author of the Unicorn Magic and Canterwood Crest series, which you can learn more about at CanterwoodCrest.com. She is a former equestrian who writes from her apartment in Tennessee. (It’s not the size of Crystal Castle, but Jess tries to decorate like a princess!) Jess’s aura would be hot pink and she loves glittery things. If she had a unicorn, it would be named Sparkle. Visit Jess at JessicaBurkhart.com.
Publisher: Aladdin (July 26, 2011)
Length: 1088 pages
Book Cover Image (jpg): The Canterwood Crest Stable of Books
Author Photo (jpg): Jessica Burkhart
More books from this author: Jessica Burkhart
See more by Jessica Burkhart
More books in this series: Canterwood Crest
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407934
|
__label__wiki
| 0.700715
| 0.700715
|
Avenue 5 new trailer is funny chaos
Everything is not fine in this new trailer for Armando Iannucci’s sci-fi comedy Avenue 5
By Poppy-Jay Palmer 09-12-19 55,207
If you’ve always thought The Thick Of It could use a few more spaceship, Armando Iannucci’s new sci-fi comedy Avenue 5 is the show for you. Check out this fun new trailer:
From Armando Iannucci, the creator of The Thick Of It and VEEP, comes Avenue 5, a space tourism comedy set 40 years into the future when the solar system is everyone’s oyster. Avenue 5 is a new Sky original series co-produced with HBO and will air on Sky One and streaming services NOW TV on Wednesday 22 January 10pm, with episodes airing weekly.
Set 40 years in the future when travelling the solar system is no longer the stuff of sci-fi fantasy but a booming, multibillion-dollar business. The series stars Hugh Laurie as Ryan Clark, the confident and suave captain of Avenue 5 – a space cruise ship with luxury amenities like gourmet buffets, a spa, an observation deck and yoga classes.
Among the 5,000 passengers and crew on board are billionaire Herman Judd (Josh Gad), the mercurial face and name behind Avenue 5; Judd’s right-hand-woman Iris Kimura (Suzy Nakamura); head of customer relations Matt Spencer (Zach Woods); engineer Billie McEvoy (Lenora Crichlow); and strong-willed passenger Karen Kelly (Rebecca Front). Monitoring Avenue 5 from the ground is Rav Mulcair (Nikki Amuka-Bird), the seen-it-all head of Judd Mission Control.
As the series begins, Avenue 5’s eight-week journey around Saturn is underway and its systems are optimal. But when the ship suddenly encounters technical difficulties, it’s up to Ryan and his crew to calm the disgruntled passengers and find a way to deal with unexpected events onboard – though they may or may not be equipped for the task.
Avenue 5 premieres on Sky One and NOW TV on Wednesday 22 January at 10pm. Get all the latest sci-fi news with every issue of SciFiNow.
Tags: Avenue 5
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407938
|
__label__cc
| 0.572627
| 0.427373
|
Bloodshot new international trailer pushes Vin Diesel to the limit
Vin Diesel is out to eff things up in this new trailer for Bloodshot
By SciFiNow Team 14-01-20 10,104
There’s a lot going on – fight sequences, secrets, slow-mo punches – in this action-packed new trailer for Bloodshot. Check it out:
Here’s a synopsis for the film:
Based on the bestselling comic book, Vin Diesel stars as Ray Garrison, a soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation. With an army of nanotechnology in his veins, he’s an unstoppable force – stronger than ever and able to heal instantly. But in controlling his body, the company has sway over his mind and memories, too. Now, Ray doesn’t know what’s real and what’s not – but he’s on a mission to find out.
Bloodshot is directed by David S. F. Wilson from a script written by Jeff Wadlow and Eric Heisserer, and stars Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell and Guy Pearce.
Bloodshot is in UK and Ireland cinemas from 13 March 2020. Get all the latest sci-fi news with every issue of SciFiNow.
Tags: Bloodshot
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407939
|
__label__wiki
| 0.848489
| 0.848489
|
Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search
Scoop Politics
LGNZ call to end Maori wards vote out of touch
Tuesday, 27 March 2018, 12:56 pm
Press Release: Hobson's Pledge
In calling on Parliament to deny ratepayers the right to veto council decisions to create racially-based political structures, Local Government New Zealand reveals just how totally out of touch they are with the views of the overwhelming majority of ratepayers, Don Brash said today in response to a press release from LGNZ.
In every one of the districts whose councils decided to impose Maori wards – Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatane, Palmerston North, Manawatu and Kaikoura – large numbers of ratepayers petitioned for a poll, showing clearly that very many do not want race-based wards, Dr Brash said.
“Most councilors know this, which is why they are trying to prevent those views being expressed,” Dr Brash said.
“LGNZ argues that allowing ratepayers to have a vote when councils propose to create Maori wards is somehow a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi because ratepayers have no right to have a vote when general wards are created, or reconfigured,” Dr Brash said.
“But it is surely Councils which breach the Treaty by proposing racially-based political structures. The Treaty gave all New Zealanders equal rights, and certainly did not envisage racially-based political structures nearly 200 years later,” Dr Brash said.
“The patronizing suggestion that Maori New Zealanders are incapable of being elected to local councils unless special Maori wards are created is surely shown for the nonsense it is by the 29 Maori New Zealanders currently in Parliament, including the Leaders or Deputy Leaders of every party in Parliament, none of them dependent on the anachronistic Maori electorates to be there.”
Parliament voted on this issue in June last year, and decisively rejected a move which would have denied ratepayers the right to express a view on this issue.
Casey Costello and Don Brash, spokespeople for the Hobson’s Pledge Trust, wrote to the President of LGNZ yesterday and their letter is reproduced below.
Mr David Cull
Dear Mr Cull,
It has come to our attention that you wrote to the leaders of Labour, New Zealand First and the Greens last Friday on behalf of the members of Local Government New Zealand urging them to remove those sections of the Local Electoral Act 2001 that allow for polls of electors on whether or not a city, district or region can establish Maori wards.
Your letter noted that the binding poll only applies to Maori wards and constituencies, and not to other wards and constituencies, “marking the provision as discriminatory to Maori and inconsistent with the principle of equal treatment enshrined in the Treaty of Waitangi. It is the view that either the poll provisions should apply to all wards or they should apply to none”.
Writing on behalf of the Hobson’s Pledge Trust, we could see merit in having the poll provision extend to all wards but are strongly opposed to abolishing the right of ratepayers to demand a poll when councils vote to establish Maori wards.
Creating racially-based political systems is directly contrary to what the Treaty of Waitangi proposed where, in Article III, it promised that all New Zealanders would have the rights and privileges of British subjects. While we are strongly opposed to such racially-based wards and see them as totally inconsistent with the Treaty, at very least, if councils do vote to establish such wards, ratepayers should have a right to express a view on the matter.
It has been suggested that Maori wards are necessary to ensure Maori New Zealanders are elected to local government. This is surely patronizing nonsense, as shown by the 29 Maori New Zealanders who are now in Parliament, only seven of them elected in the anachronistic Maori electorates.
When the Deputy Prime Minister, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, the Leader and Deputy Leader of the National Party, the Deputy Leader of NZ First, and one of the co-Leaders of the Green Party are all Maori, any suggestion that Maori New Zealanders are somehow incapable of being elected to local government is offensive.
(It’s worth observing that none of the Maori MPs mentioned depended for their election on the Maori electorates. While Mr Kelvin Davis was elected in a Maori electorate, being #2 on the Labour Party list ensured that he would have been elected to Parliament even if he had not won that electorate.)
In some parts of the country there are more Asian New Zealanders than Maori New Zealanders, and yet nobody is arguing for Asian wards in local government to ensure adequate Asian representation in local councils. And if somebody did argue for Asian wards, they would be rightly denounced as racist or laughed out of the room.
Similarly, in some parts of the country there are very few if any women elected to local councils, yet nobody is arguing that there should be special wards for women.
You may not be aware that Parliament debated this specific issue in June last year when Marama Davison had her Member’s Bill drawn from the ballot (the Local Electoral (Equitable Process for establishing Maori Wards and Maori Constituencies) Amendment Bill).
It was overwhelming rejected by Parliament when the National, NZ First and ACT party MPs unanimously voted it down. There can be no valid reason for any different outcome now.
Casey Costello
On behalf of Hobson’s Pledge Trust
Hobson's Pledge Trust
Find more from Hobson's Pledge on InfoPages.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407941
|
__label__cc
| 0.653866
| 0.346134
|
Employers reminded about the change in rules regarding PAYE
Businesses are reminded that they will no longer be automatically penalised for failing to file PAYE information under new changes to the legislation.
Under the new rules HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has said that they will not impose PAYE filing penalties for short delays of up to three days and that they will now review late payment penalties on a risk-assessed basis, rather than issue automatic on the spot fines.
Deadlines for businesses will remain the same and they will still be expected to file on, or before, each payment date. The new rules will come into effect from 6 March 2015 and are seen as a more lenient approach than that held in the past by the department.
This will be a welcome break to businesses who have been worrying about potential penalties following the introduction of the new scheme.
This leniency marks a significant change in HMRC’s approach to PAYE penalties, but businesses should still be mindful of their requirement to file information within their deadline.
Those who have already received an in-year late filing penalty for period 6 October 2014 until 5 January 2015 and were three days late or less should file an appeal immediately as they may be entitled to a refund.
HMRC will also be closing around 15,000 PAYE schemes which have not filed a report since April 2013 and which appeared to have ceased. Those schemes affected will be contacted prior to their closure on 6 March by HMRC and given advice about the changes and the impact it will have on their business.
For further details please contact Lorraine Wilkinson at the office.
Author: Lorraine Wilkinson
Lorraine joined Scott & Wilkinson in 2001 bringing with her over 20 years payroll experience. As payroll manager, she oversees the smooth running of the firms payroll bureau which includes all aspects of day to day payroll. Lorraine is...
Be prepared for changes to prompt payment discounts
Employers to reveal gender pay gap
TTIP of the Iceberg
Budget 2015 - SME's recognised as backbone of Britain
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407942
|
__label__cc
| 0.577793
| 0.422207
|
In Practice: Vide-Poche
Jan 23–Mar 28, 2011
Michele Abeles, Samuel Clagnaz, Isabelle Cornaro, Miles Huston, Charles Mayton, and Valerie Snobeck
Foreground: Charles Mayton, ro/om (diptych), 2010. Background: Charles Mayton, Indentation for space between _____, 2011.
Presented through SculptureCenter's In Practice program, this group exhibition explores what arises from the gesture of emptying out form and content. The French phrase vide-poche literally translates to "empty pocket" but also describes a tray or pouch that can hold the miscellany of daily life, personal affects, and tokens of transaction. The exhibition will be on view January 24 - March 28, 2011. An opening reception will take place Sunday January 23rd 5-7 pm and is open to the public. The artists will be present.
Existing as a place where systems of signification collapse, or fragment, a vide-poche can also become a site of re-interpretation, and the assembly of unlikely affinities. Isabelle Cornaro questions how the act of representation endows objects with use value and cultural sentiment as her films, photos, and sculptures subvert distinctions between the unique, readymade, and copied. Cornaro's Moulages sur le vif (vide-poches), 2008-10, proceeds from large-format scans of objects displayed on colored backgrounds. Subsequent edits or "cuts" from the original index reveal objects gathered from contradictory contexts--the domestic and decorative but also the linguistic and monetary--offering the viewer a new hybrid taxonomy. The works of Valerie Snobeck and Charles Mayton dismantle divisions between singular mark-making and commercial procedures of image transfer, fabrication, and design. Mayton's recent work, for example, reflects upon the studio as a place to be inhabited and re-sequenced despite interruptions and gaps in production, choreographing drawing, painting, and modular architectural forms.
Portraiture and persona is taken up through partial views and unexpected guises in the work of Michele Abeles, Samuel Clagnaz, and Miles Huston. Adopting still-life conventions, Abeles photographs the body and its stand-in as if it were an object, conflating gesture, props, lighting, and natural forms into deadpan tableaux. The video and sculpture installations of Samuel Clagnaz and Miles Huston conjure narratives of symbolic exchange, alchemy, and transference. Huston pursues a circuitous and indirect portrait of his subject Sam Green while Clagnaz initiates ritualized scenes of becoming other. Occupying the unfinished place of transformation, Vide-Poche presents translations and perceptual remainders culled from the in between.
SculptureCenter's In Practice program supports the creation and presentation of innovative work by emerging artists and reflects diverse approaches to contemporary sculpture. Artists are selected through a call for proposals and are provided with an honoraria, a production budget, fabrication and installation assistance, as well as invaluable curatorial and administrative support.
SculptureCenter's exhibition program is generously supported by grants from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; the Kraus Family Foundation; the New York State Council on the Arts, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Peter Jay Sharp Foundation; the Foundation for Contemporary Arts; The Greenwall Foundation; The Tides Foundation, advised by the Lambent Foundation, Pollock Krasner Foundation, and contributions from our Board of Trustees and many generous individuals.
The In Practice program is funded by generous grant from the Pollock Krasner Foundation.
In Practice: Material Deviance
Event, Lucky Draw
Wed, Apr 4, 2012
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407943
|
__label__cc
| 0.552678
| 0.447322
|
At Sitaram Bhartia, we focus on two major quality indicators to measure our outcomes – our caesarean rates and the feedback we receive from our patients. Because following ethical and evidence-based medical practice is a core belief for us and our gynaecology team, we are always happy to disclose our caesarean-section rates.
In 2016, our caesarean-section rate for low-risk, first-birth moms delivered by our staff consultants was 12%; this caesarean rate is possibly the lowest for a private hospital in Delhi/NCR and compares favourably with renowned international hospitals.
Our caesarean rates for moms with a prior normal delivery, with a single baby in the head-down position who cross 37 weeks is < 2%.
87% of women attempting a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) had successful normal deliveries in 2016.
Cesarean Section rates in 2018 are similar to 2017.
View Caesarean Section Rate in 2017
Caesarean Section Rates in 2017
Total Caesarean Section Rate: 18%
Caesarean Rate for low-risk, first-birth mothers*: 10%
Normal delivery rate for low-risk, first-birth mothers*: 90%
*this group refers to mothers who had crossed 37 weeks and had a single baby in the head down position
Watch some of our video testimonials for a preview of the quality of services we offer. You could also check out our estimated delivery charges to make an informed decision.
Excellent (64%)
Good (34%)
Fair (2%)
Poor (0%)
No Comment (0%)
Caesarean Section – Frequently Asked Questions
How should I interpret a reported Caesarean section rate?
While one caesarean section rate is difficult to interpret, the risk of a caesarean section varies by many factors such as whether the woman has had a prior normal delivery or caesarean, whether the baby is in breech or abnormal position, whether labour starts prematurely and whether a woman is expecting twins.
Is it possible to have a normal delivery after a Caesarean section?
Once a caesarean, always a caesarean is a commonly held misconception. Most women with a prior caesarean can attempt a normal delivery. Your doctor can guide you through the best course of action for your delivery.
Does a Caesarean section have any risks?
The global rise in caesarean rates is a major cause of concern and recognising this fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) has issued a statement saying that “Pregnant women [should] plan for a vaginal birth unless there is a medical reason for a caesarean.”
According to the ACOG, caesarean deliveries carry the following risks:
Risks of injury during surgery
Longer hospital stays
Serious complications in future pregnancies, and
Health complications in babies born via caesarean-section
What benefits does a vaginal birth have?
According to the ACOG, babies born by vaginal delivery have fewer respiratory problems. New research has emerged that provides tantalising evidence on the possible benefits of a vaginal birth that includes protection from allergies, excessive weight gain and Type 1 Diabetes.
Why should a cesarean section be avoided?
A cesarean section should be avoided as it might have some long term implications on the mother’s body. It shouldn’t be done until needed.
Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about Caesarean sections or speak to a doctor about them.
How to Confirm Pregnancy in Hindi – लक्षण और अन्य तरीके Jan 16, 2020
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407949
|
__label__wiki
| 0.52755
| 0.52755
|
Exclusive! The Most Popular Benjamin Moore Colors Across the US
No two individuals are alike. Similarly, each region in the U.S. has distinct styles in fashion, food and music. “These traditions and trademarks permeate all elements of the region’s culture, including into the homes of its residents,” Hannah Yeo, Color & Design Expert at Benjamin Moore, tells Freshome.
In fact, Yeo says Benjamin Moore has been able to spot a geographic design trend in how colors are being used. These are the most popular paint hues in eight cities across the U.S.
Benjamin Moore: Simply White. All images courtesy of Benjamin Moore.
“Lighter colors are favored in the interior of the home across the nation and Los Angeles leads this trend,” Yeo says. As a hub for great design, she says white becomes an essential color in this area. “From warm pinkish white to the palest blue — or even the combination of whites — the soft nuances of whites enhance LA homes.”
On the home’s exterior, Yeo says homeowners often use richer colors to add curb appeal. In the photo above, you’ll see a top pick: Simply White. It’s a clean, crisp, multi-purpose white. Simply White is a favorite for ceilings, trim and walls. Iceberg, Swiss Coffee, and Revere Pewter are some of the other popular colors in the area.
Benjamin Moore: Black HC-190
With over 39 million residents, California is the most populous state in the U.S. Although San Diego is only 120 miles away from Los Angeles, the state is so large that it could be considered a separate region. And San Diego also has a different color palette. While Los Angeles embraces shades of white, San Diego leans toward the most stylish color of every year: black.
“San Diego isn’t afraid of color,” Yeo says. “Dark, neutral colors, like black, are balanced with light yellows, blues and pinks.” Black HC-190 is part of the Historical Collection inspired by America’s historic landmarks and works well in traditional and contemporary spaces. Other popular colors in this area include Eagle Rock, Sidewalk Gray, Butterfly Kisses and Love & Happiness.
Benjamin Moore: Van Cortland Blue
“In Denver, nature-inspired hues such as blues, greens and cool neutrals complement the surrounding landscape,” Yeo says. Van Courtland Blue is a decorative old-world blue that also works well in contemporary spaces. Plus, it mimics the city’s mountainous views. Other popular colors in this part of the country include Kendall Charcoal, Pale Oak, Decorator’s White and Silver Marlin.
Benjamin Moore: Balboa Mist
“From off whites to light grays, soft neutrals dominate Chicago,” Yeo says. “Blues with gray undertones are fresh additions to the soft, neutral palette.” Balboa Mist, a part of the Classic Color Collection, is a timeless, elegant color that is always a favorite among consumers and professionals in the Windy City. Other popular colors include Edgecomb Gray, Sea Haze, Gray Owl and Beach Glass.
If you’re selling your home, take a note from Chicago. Soft, neutral colors are recommended by many realtors when your home is on the market.
Benjamin Moore: Toronto Blue door
“Florida also has a distinct color palette,” Yeo says. “Due to the warm temperature, cool whites are often used on the exterior of the home to keep the heat away. Bright blue accents are used to bring a nice breeze indoors.” Toronto Blue is a bold, saturated hue that excites and inspires, adding pops of color. Mountain Peak White, Collingwood, Evening Blue and Pale Oak are other popular colors in this area of the U.S.
Benjamin Moore: Shaker Beige
“Philadelphia’s palette is comforting yet sophisticated,” Yeo says. “From cool grays to warm neutrals, these versatile hues provide a soothing backdrop to any space.” Shaker Beige is an inviting mid-toned tan with a beachy vibe. Other popular colors in Philadelphia include Stonington Gray, Pleasant Pink, Buckland Blue and Woodlawn Blue.
Benjamin Moore: Caliente door
“Red, white and blue colors best represent Dallas,” Yeo says. “Off-whites and pale neutrals provide a soft backdrop for bold reds and blues to pop.” Caliente is a vibrant, charismatic shade of red — radiant, strong and full of energy. Other popular colors in this part of the country include Bermuda Turquoise, Icicle, Chantilly Lace and Iron Mountain.
Benjamin Moore: Raccoon Fur
“Nashville also embraces colors from the Benjamin Moore Historical Collection, which was inspired by 18th– and 19th-century architecture,” Yeo says. “Neutrals and blues feel calm and composed for an updated traditional look.” Raccoon Fur is a pure gray color that can be used in a variety of color combinations. Other popular colors in Nashville include Manchester Tan, Palladian Blue, Wickham Gray and Shaker Beige.
Benjamin Moore: Touch of Pink and Sunlit Coral
Tips for homeowners trying to choose paint colors
Selecting colors for your home can be overwhelming, but Yeo provides a few tricks to make the process easier.
“First, start by finding a point of inspiration. This can be anything from a favorite fabric to the colors in your kitchen countertops,” Yeo says. “Even a color drawn from a piece of wall art, a page torn out of a magazine or a picture found online can be a great source of inspiration.” This can be a helpful first step in narrowing down the color choices you consider.
Benjamin Moore: Hale Navy
“Once you’ve figured out which general color families appeal to you, set your focus on that portion of the display at the store or that section of the fan deck,” she explains. “Within each color family, you will see a wide range of colors, so go with your instincts. Chances are you will be drawn to a few colors that will help you narrow down the choices.”
Yeo also recommends thinking about the existing dominant color in your space. “This can help you to further narrow down your selection,” she says. “For example, if you have cherry wood kitchen cabinets, you should consider that in making your color choice.”
Benjamin Moore: Beach Glass
Before making a final selection, Yeo recommends buying a pint sample to fully understand how the color will look in your home. “Remember that the light in the store will be different from the light in your home,” she says. “So the best way to make an informed decision is by painting a sample in the room where you’ll be using the color.”
Be sure to view the sample during the day to determine if you like it. Also, consider the different types of paint sheen — flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss and gloss — to ensure you pick the right finish for your project.
The post Exclusive! The Most Popular Benjamin Moore Colors Across the US appeared first on Freshome.com.
Categories benjamin moore, Blog, Color, Color trends, Decorating Ideas, Design & Decor, Design and Decorate, Learning Center, Paint
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407950
|
__label__wiki
| 0.827501
| 0.827501
|
Skynet Today Putting AI News In Perspective
All Briefs Editorials Digests By Topics By Authors
Last Week in AI #27
digests /
Analysis of Deepmind's losses, alternatives to facial recognition tracking and more!
Image credit: Nathan Hayflick / Scale
Mini Briefs
DeepMind’s Losses and the Future of Artificial Intelligence
It’s not fresh news that Deepmind had an expensive 2018. Gary Marcus, in an Opinion piece for the Wired, looks at what it means, for Deepmind and AI in general.
He looks at three central questions:
Is DeepMind on the right track scientifically? Are investments of this magnitude sound from Alphabet’s perspective? And how will the losses affect AI in general?
It’s 2043. We Need a New American Dream for the A.I. Revolution.
The NY times is running an Op-Eds from the future series. This week, they had Baobao Zhang from the University of Oxford pen an Op-Ed from the 2040s about how AI has changed the American dream and what policy changes can be made to renew the American dream.
The A.I. Revolution should be an age of plenty for all, not a Gilded Age with no end in sight.
Advances & Business
UPS Has Been Delivering Cargo in Self-Driving Trucks for Months And No One Knew - The self-driving freight truck startup TuSimple has been carrying mail across the state of Arizona for several weeks. UPS announced on Thursday that its venture capital arm has made a minority investment in TuSimple.
Traces AI is building a less invasive alternative to facial recognition tracking - Traces AI is a new computer vision startup, in Y Combinator’s latest batch of bets, that’s focused on helping cameras track people without relying on facial recognition data, something the founders believe is too invasive of the public’s privacy.
Having mastered Space Invaders, chess, and Go, AI tackles video soccer - Not content to sit on its laurels, Google Deepmind is now turning its attention to more open-ended games where unpredictability plays a more important role. And its next target is video soccer.
Nvidia just made it easier to build smarter chatbots and slicker fake news - Chip maker Nvidia is betting that AI’s language skills will advance rapidly—it’s releasing a powerful tool for putting together chatty programs.
It’s official – Google AI gives you cancer …diagnosis in real time: Neural net can spot breast, prostate tumors - Google Health’s so-called augmented-reality microscope has proven surprisingly accurate at detecting and diagnosing cancerous tumors in real time.
Inside Voyage’s plan to deliver a driverless future - In two years, Voyage has gone from a tiny self-driving car upstart spun out of Udacity to a company able to operate on 200 miles of roads in retirement communities.
Concerns & Hype
Social care robots privatise loneliness, and erode the pleasure of being truly known - If society continues devaluing social care, we may depend on automated smiles to break the isolation of the chronically lonely.
The Democratic Party deepfaked its own chairman to highlight 2020 concerns - The Democratic National Committee wanted to demonstrate the potential threat to the 2020 election posed by deepfake videos — clips created with artificial intelligence that can make people appear to do or say things they never did.
Google’s Artificial Intelligence Hate Speech Detector Is ‘Racially Biased,’ Study Finds - Google created an artificial intelligence algorithm in 2016 meant to monitor and prevent hate speech on social media platforms and websites. However, the machine learning tool may be having the opposite outcome as it seems to be biased against black people.
This AI startup claims to automate app making but actually just uses humans - Engineer.ai, an Indian startup claiming to have built an artificial intelligence-assisted app development platform, is not in fact using AI to literally build apps, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Facebook’s human-AI blend for audio transcription is now facing privacy scrutiny in Europe - Facebook’s lead privacy regulator in Europe is now asking the company for detailed information about the operation of a voice-to-text feature in Facebook’s Messenger app and how it complies with EU law.
A new clothing line confuses automated license plate readers - Garments from Adversarial Fashion feed junk data into surveillance cameras, in an effort to make their databases less effective.
Analysis & Policy
Artificial intelligence can contribute to a safer world - It is time to look past traditional defense technologies and see if newer approaches can tilt the pendulum back in the defender’s favor. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can play a critical role here, helping to identify, classify and promulgate counteractions on potential threats faster than any security personnel.
I’m a writer who went to work at an Amazon warehouse, a call center, and a McDonald’s. I saw firsthand how low-wage work is driving America over the edge.
AG Yost suspends access to facial-recognition database - Attorney General Dave Yost suspended access to Ohio’s facial-recognition databases for 4,500 law enforcement officers following a national report that revealed federal agencies are mining state databases without people’s consent.
Artificial intelligence is no silver bullet for governance
A.I. Is Learning From Humans. Many Humans. - Artificial intelligence is being taught by thousands of office workers around the world. It is not exactly futuristic work.
Expert Opinions & Discussion within the field
Robots need a new philosophy to get a grip - Robots need to know the reason why they are doing a job if they are to effectively and safely work alongside people in the near future. In simple terms, this means machines need to understand motive the way humans do, and not just perform tasks blindly, without context.
Stop asking AI researchers to build products, please.
Frameworks for estimating large-scale Autonomous Vehicle deployments - A set of frameworks aimed to help answer the question: “When will I be able to call an AV to pick me up from wherever I am and drive me wherever I want to go?”
NLP’s Clever Hans Moment has Arrived - A recent paper present quite an egregious case of a neural network, specifically a NLP model called BERT, not learning what we think it learns.
Is Elon Wrong About LiDAR? - Elon Musk recently made headlines when he took a high-profile swipe at LiDAR technology, predicting that “anyone relying on LiDAR is doomed”. Scale has a suite of data labeling products built for AV developers, which they used to put the two self-driving philosophies to the test.
How Do Algorithms Become Biased? - What can a mistake in a computer program from 1843 tell us about modern-day biases in software algorithms?
That’s all for this week! If you are not subscribed and liked this, feel free to subscribe below!
AI Export Limits, Politics Bots, and more!
Ethics, AI for breast cancer screening, and more!
AI news coverage, Deepfake bots, and more!
Get more AI news in your inbox:
Subscribe & follow Skynet Today for the latest AI news and trends
Suggest coverage
Express interest in helping
We would like to thank Stanford HAI for its support.
© 2020 Andrey Kurenkov Privacy Policy / Contact
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407952
|
__label__cc
| 0.70438
| 0.29562
|
The 3-minute interview with E. Doctor Smith
A San Francisco musician and a director of biodiesel nonprofit Green Depot, Smith is the inventor of the Drummstick, his not-for-sale signature percussion device. This year, he released Drummstick 2 on Edgetone Records, and played on a second newly released album called “Robert Anbian and UFQ: the Unidentified Flying Quartet.” Meanwhile, Green Depot is trying to bring a biodiesel station to the Bayview.
What is a Drummstick? The Drummstick is an instrument I invented in 1995. It’s a two-by-six piece of wood that has 16 triggers on it. It works just like an electronic drum kit, like the things Mickey Hart drums on, except instead of using drumsticks, I use my fingers.
Why did you invent it? I had a friend who was with a folk duo … they had opened for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones once. The Flecktones liked them, and they couldn’t believe that Future Man [the Flecktones’ percussionist] did all these things from a drum guitar with triggers all over it. They said, “Have you ever thought about making a drum guitar?” I tried to think about what it would be like. It took on a life of its own.
How did you get involved with biodiesel? My wife went to an Earth Day sort of thing in Potrero. We had thought about buying a Prius … but I hated therear window and I hated that I was still buying gas. We started doing some research [on biodiesel] and we found out about it, and we started looking for them, and we found ou they were really hard to find. But we found one in Oakland … and we got it. For the last couple years, I’ve been running biodiesel and driving it. It’s been wonderful.
kwilliamson@examiner.com
Check out more 3-minute interviews from our San Francisco newsroom.
Foster City official: School not a good fit
Burlingame housing squall heats up
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407953
|
__label__wiki
| 0.933256
| 0.933256
|
Head honcho of watchmaker Audemars Piguet unfazed by strong reaction to its new Code 11.59 collection
By Wong Kim Hoh
Audemars Piguet CEO Francois-Henry Bennahmias says neither he nor the company responded to any of the comments on the luxury watchmaker's new Code 11.59 collection.
SINGAPORE - Mr Francois-Henry Bennahmias straightens up in his seat, squares his shoulders and thrusts out his chest.
"How would you describe me as a person? Would you describe me as somebody who is weak or a fighter?" asks the flamboyant head honcho of luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet at the brand's two-storey boutique in Liat Towers in Orchard Road.
Clad in a snazzy blue leather jacket, he is responding to a question about the brouhaha which surrounded the launch of the Code 11.59 collection of watches at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Geneve (SIHH) watch fair earlier this year.
Audemar Piguet's first new collection in more than two decades, the Code 11.59 - comprising 13 models and six movements, three of which are new - provoked a reaction so strong that some pundits called it a s***storm.
It was unusual for the independent watch titan, which has an annual revenue exceeding 1 billion Swiss francs (S$1.4 billion) and is synonymous with the Royal Oak, one of the world's most iconic timepieces (buying one entails getting on a wait list).
The derision extended beyond the watches, with naysayers telling the 55-year-old Frenchman he should quit.
"We were expecting a reaction, but did not expect it to be that strong and that bad. You know when you start to see things which basically goes up to my mother... Come on, guys. Really? That's when you draw the line and say, 'It's okay. If you guys want to have fun...'"
Proudly, he says neither he nor the company responded to any of the comments - not even one.
"The good news is our clients, people who bought the watches, took over. 'I bought the watch, I'm wearing the watch, it grows on me more and more.' Or 'I've finally found a piece I like'. They said so many good things."
He holds out his right hand, using his thumb to press against the tip of his pinky.
"In the end, the brouhaha that you're describing is a brouhaha in a very, very tiny island called the watch-making world."
A real brouhaha, he says cheekily, is Canadian pop star Justin Bieber flashing his Audemars Piguet at his wedding to American model Hailey Baldwin recently.
Bieber bought the gold vintage Royal Oak as a wedding present to himself and proudly flashed his new acquisition in wedding photos he posted on Instagram. Each of the photos attracted more than eight million likes.
Got my self a lil wedding gift ... thanks @jadellebh
A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Sep 30, 2019 at 3:27pm PDT
Taking root with Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak
In sign of times, luxury watchmaker Audemars embraces second-hand
The personal insults were distasteful, but did not shake Mr Bennahmias' confidence.
Comparing himself to a fighter and the episode to a match, he says: "Before a boxing match, it's not unusual to see the two opponents going at and insulting each other.
"But at the end of the match, there's always one guy standing and raising his hand. I'm a firm believer that only time will tell if the collection is such a complete disaster or if it actually is genuinely good.
"If people come at us in any way, shape or form, let them. It's okay. Today, there's not a single brand, even the top ones, which has not been crushed when they launch something. But how long is a crush? Months? Weeks? Days? Hours? And then people will move on to the next one."
The ruckus has died down, he adds, and what matters is that people are buying the Code 11.59.
"We are selling the watches and pretty well globally, not just one specific region. In fact, we're doubling the (production) volume for next year, from 2,000 to 4,000."
While it is by no means a success ("we won't talk about success before three or four years anyway"), it is a good start.
Sales of the new collection over the last 10 months have also given the company new insights into their customers.
"One, more than 50 per cent of the clients are those we didn't know before. They are aged between 25 and 35," Mr Bennahmias says.
Another insight? Of this new group of clients, only 15 per cent are women even though the watches are meant to appeal to both sexes.
"That is not so good. We made a mistake. The straps in special colours for women only arrived in June," he says with a grimace.
The company will continue building the Code 11.59 collection.
Mr Bennahmias is coy about details, but lets on that new references, new colours and a new calibre will be added to the collection next year.
Meanwhile, other things have been keeping the chatty chief executive, who cut his professional teeth as a golfer, busy.
One is the opening of the new Audemars Piguet Museum at its home in Le Brassus, a small Swiss town in the picturesque Vallee du Joux, next April.
"It's going to be spectacular. It's 1,200 sq m with not a single wall and the whole roof is held by glass. It's an achievement because it's extremely complicated to put together," Mr Bennahmias says, referring to the futuristic spiral building designed by Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group. "We will have a new watch to celebrate the occasion."
Then there are launches of new models in different parts of the globe.
After nearly 20 years, Audemars Piguet left the SIHH this year because it felt the trade fair was no longer relevant to its new business strategies.
The company is doing away with third-party retailers and will sell to consumers directly through its boutiques and a new retail concept called AP House, essentially beautifully appointed luxury apartments where customers can chill, dine and hold business meetings.
"It's a really nice evolution to retail," he says, adding that clients are likely to spend nearly three times more in a home setting than a store.
There are now AP Houses in several cities, including Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, Hong Kong and Munich. The one in London officially opens next month, while one is planned for Bangkok next year.
Mr Bennahmias adds: "We're working on New York and, at some point, I wouldn't be surprised if we see one coming here."
RETAILLUXURY BRANDS
ST_20200116_BIZMALL_5384608.jpg
Malls dying? These in US have found a way to thrive
yq-jeffbezos-15012020.jpg
Amazon offers India's small business owners US$1 billion olive branch
ST_20200113_VNJEWEL_5376452.jpg
Retail sales not all sparkling at Jewel Changi Airport despite the crowds
BT_20200107_JRCM7_3997123.jpg
sgCarMart: Singapore's ebay of cars
HOME-GROWN vehicle trading portal sgCarMart (SGCM) has come a long way in scrubbing clean the stereotypes of persuasive but dishonest salesmen....
BT_20200107_SME7_3997118.jpg
MVI Technologies works to remain future-proof
AFTER clinching its first Enterprise 50 (E50) award in 2018, homegrown software developer MVI Technologies (MVI) Pte Ltd has set its sights even...
BT_20200104_VTIFAST4_3995421.jpg
More China tech companies eyeing Singapore banks' lunch
CHINA tech firms are circling Singapore's banking sector, with top names having joined the race for digital wholesale bank licences here.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407954
|
__label__cc
| 0.693116
| 0.306884
|
Sherborne Motor Lodge
Skip past navigation
Christchurch Transitional Cathedral and the 185 Empty White Chairs
Christchurch Transitional Cathedral 234 Hereford St, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand .
The Cardboard Cathedral, formally called the Transitional Cathedral, in Christchurch, New Zealand, is the transitional pro-cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch, replacing ChristChurch Cathedral, which was significantly damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
The Transitional Cathedral is a beautiful place to come and visit, so please come on in. Whether you are a visitor, a pilgrim searching for God, or needing a place to pray, the door is open and you are welcome.
Across the road is the 185 White Empty Chairs, each one different, representing the individuality of those who died as a result of the Christchurch earthquake on 22nd February 2011."One of its strengths is that it transcends the earthquakes – it speaks widely to people who have suffered loss in all sorts of situations."
Punting on the Avon River
2 Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand .
An iconic Christchurch activity not to be missed. Admire the beautiful Christchurch Botanic Gardens or the changing face of the city centre as you are expertly guided gently along the Avon River from one of our two sites on our Edwardian-style Punting tours.
Choose from the Antigua Boat Sheds departure point to glide through the tranquil Botanic Gardens, or the Worcester Bridge departure point (with real time booking inventory) to view the inner city’s revitalised Avon River Precinct.
Our Punting tours are set aboard handcrafted flat-bottomed boats, poled along by your Punter from the platformed till at the rear end of the boat. An ideal group or family activity, Punting on the Avon is an eco-friendly way to relax and enjoy Christchurch from a different perspective.
Please note that all standard Punt rides are shared 30-minute rides. For customers wishing to take a private Punt ride, our 45-minute private tours are available to book from the Antigua Boat Sheds departure point
2 Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch, New Zealand .
The Arts Centre is an iconic landmark, a precious taonga in Christchurch. After being extensively damaged during the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, the stunning Gothic Revival style centre which dates back to 1877 is slowly being brought back to life through a massive $290m post-earthquake restoration programme and the team at the Arts Centre are restoring memories to pave the way for new experiences with culture, creativity and education. As you might imagine, all this change is bringing a lot of excitement with it.
Excitement in the form of:
– From Ancient Greece to Contemporary New Zealand Art and artisan craft – you can visit the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, the Central Art Gallery, the Pūmanawa community exhibition space which has rotating art, heritage and social science exhibitions. Take a sneak peak at rehearsals underway in the Common Room with innovative theatre company Two Productions.
– Food and drink venues such as Bunsen cafe, the Curator’s Deli, Zen Sushi & Dumplings, Fudge Cottage, Rollickin’ Gelato and The Rolling Om.
– Rutherford’s Den – a hands on interactive science learning space which is the actual rooms where Nobel prize-winning scientist Ernest, Lord Rutherford studied.
– Public spaces such as the Great Hall and North and South Quadrangles which are open to the public following their respective restorations and feature public art thanks to SCAPE.
– A growing dynamic events programme that includes markets and carnivals, outdoor summer cinemas, lunchtime concerts and workshops throughout the year (check their website for more details)
Enticing internal features aside, The Arts Centre is a great place to visit purely for a wander around to soak up some of its rich history – there are 23 separate buildings on site, of which 21 are listed by Heritage New Zealand as Historic Place Category 1 and each with their own story to tell.
The Christchurch Arts Centre is a truly special treasure for The Garden City and a must-do for all visitors and Christchurch locals.https://www.artscentre.org.nz/
96 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch, New Zealand .
IN THE HEART OF CHRISTCHURCH, OVERLOOKING THE AVON RIVER
An exciting new development consisting of a 7-day-trading, indoor market, linked to a vibrant network of boutique retail, restaurants, cafes & bars - Riverside is a unique inner-city shopping experience for the local community and visitors to enjoy.
Providing a reliable source of fresh, organic, locally grown food Riverside Market supports small businesses, community and the environment by reducing carbon footprint and minimising packaging and waste. https://riverside.nz/home
Contributing to this inner city experience, Riverside Lanes provides a range of high quality retail including major fashion brands already confirmed.
Eateries at both the Market and Lanes offer unparalleled options for visitors with a wide range of bakeries / cafes / restaurants and bars.
Open 7 Days a Week ● Mon-Wed 9am-6pm ● Thu-Sat 9am-9pm ● Sun 10am-4pm
Margaret Mahy Playground
Armagh Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch, New Zealand .
The Margaret Mahy Playground is a playground in the Christchurch Central City on the banks of the Avon River.
This is the largest playground in the Southern Hemisphere so there has to be something for everyone! There’s lots of different equipment for all age groups – sliding, swinging, balancing, climbing, jumping – your kids will only be limited by their imaginations.
There’s a separate toddler area as well as a water play/paddling area (if your child likes water and you don’t want them getting wet, either take precautions like gumboots or a change of clothes or stay well away from that area!).
Shade for some areas has been added and the trees will eventually grow, in the mean time take hats and sun block on sunny days and/or go early in the morning/late afternoon. Toilets (that talk to you!), parking, coffee and some food available onsite.
Christchurch Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch, New Zealand .
Welcome to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. From the spring drifts of daffodils, spectacular summer roses, stunning autumn leaf displays and cosy conservatories to explore over winter, there's something to delight in every season.
As there is so much to see in the Botanic Gardens you might like to consider taking a tour. There are a number of different options for tours.
Volunteer guides from the Friends of the Botanic Gardens conduct 1.5 hour guided tours of Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
Tours cost $10
Departs at 1.30pm from the museum gates daily
A fantastic guided tour by knowledgeable and friendly guides who will tailor to your interests or showcase the best of the Botanic Gardens. See what is possibly the longest herbaceous border in the Southern Hemisphere, the famous silver fern, the rediscovered wollemi pine, prizewinning roses, a jungle like conservatory, avenues of sequoia, fir, kauri and cedar, and much more.
Botanic Garden Tours(external link) operate a guided audio tour of the Gardens in electric shuttles.
Tour times:
Summer (October to March): 10am to 3.30pm daily
Winter (April to September): 11am to 3.30pm daily
For more information or to book, contact Botanic Gardens Tours on (03) 366 7830 or info@christchurchattractions.nz.
New Regent Street
New Regent Street Precinct New Regent Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand .
Opened in 1932, New Regent Street is Christchurch’s only complete heritage streetscape. With beautiful Spanish Mission architecture, and a distinctive pastel colour scheme, it’s long been popular with locals and tourists alike.
There are few streets as iconic as new New Regent street Christchurch. It originally opened in 1932 and houses a range of exciting businesses and services in a picturesque heritage setting.
The Christchurch tramway runs through New Regent street, giving it an identity and character uniquely its own. The street is right across the road from cathedral junction, the inspiration of John Brittan, a Christchurch engineer.
Cathedral junction is where Christchurch’s rich cultural past and present converge. While there are plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes in and around the street, it is advisable to make a booking before you head down to any of these as they are usually quite busy, with Regent street being a prime tourist attraction.
The Cardboard Cathedral, formally called the Transitional Cathedral, in Christchurch, New Zealand, is the transitional pro-cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch, replacing ChristChurch Cathedral, which was significantly damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.The Transitional Cathedral is a beautiful place to come and visit, so please come on in. Whether you are a visitor, a pilgrim searching for God, or needing a place to pray, the door is open and you are welcome.Across the road is the 185 White Empty Chairs, each one different, representing the individuality of those who died as a result of the Christchurch earthquake on 22nd February 2011."One of its strengths is that it transcends the earthquakes – it speaks widely to people who have suffered loss in all sorts of situations."
An iconic Christchurch activity not to be missed. Admire the beautiful Christchurch Botanic Gardens or the changing face of the city centre as you are expertly guided gently along the Avon River from one of our two sites on our Edwardian-style Punting tours.Choose from the Antigua Boat Sheds departure point to glide through the tranquil Botanic Gardens, or the Worcester Bridge departure point (with real time booking inventory) to view the inner city’s revitalised Avon River Precinct.Our Punting tours are set aboard handcrafted flat-bottomed boats, poled along by your Punter from the platformed till at the rear end of the boat. An ideal group or family activity, Punting on the Avon is an eco-friendly way to relax and enjoy Christchurch from a different perspective.Please note that all standard Punt rides are shared 30-minute rides. For customers wishing to take a private Punt ride, our 45-minute private tours are available to book from the Antigua Boat Sheds departure point
The Arts Centre is an iconic landmark, a precious taonga in Christchurch. After being extensively damaged during the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, the stunning Gothic Revival style centre which dates back to 1877 is slowly being brought back to life through a massive $290m post-earthquake restoration programme and the team at the Arts Centre are restoring memories to pave the way for new experiences with culture, creativity and education. As you might imagine, all this change is bringing a lot of excitement with it.Excitement in the form of:– From Ancient Greece to Contemporary New Zealand Art and artisan craft – you can visit the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, the Central Art Gallery, the Pūmanawa community exhibition space which has rotating art, heritage and social science exhibitions. Take a sneak peak at rehearsals underway in the Common Room with innovative theatre company Two Productions.– Food and drink venues such as Bunsen cafe, the Curator’s Deli, Zen Sushi & Dumplings, Fudge Cottage, Rollickin’ Gelato and The Rolling Om.– Rutherford’s Den – a hands on interactive science learning space which is the actual rooms where Nobel prize-winning scientist Ernest, Lord Rutherford studied.– Public spaces such as the Great Hall and North and South Quadrangles which are open to the public following their respective restorations and feature public art thanks to SCAPE.– A growing dynamic events programme that includes markets and carnivals, outdoor summer cinemas, lunchtime concerts and workshops throughout the year (check their website for more details)Enticing internal features aside, The Arts Centre is a great place to visit purely for a wander around to soak up some of its rich history – there are 23 separate buildings on site, of which 21 are listed by Heritage New Zealand as Historic Place Category 1 and each with their own story to tell.The Christchurch Arts Centre is a truly special treasure for The Garden City and a must-do for all visitors and Christchurch locals.https://www.artscentre.org.nz/
IN THE HEART OF CHRISTCHURCH, OVERLOOKING THE AVON RIVERAn exciting new development consisting of a 7-day-trading, indoor market, linked to a vibrant network of boutique retail, restaurants, cafes & bars - Riverside is a unique inner-city shopping experience for the local community and visitors to enjoy.Providing a reliable source of fresh, organic, locally grown food Riverside Market supports small businesses, community and the environment by reducing carbon footprint and minimising packaging and waste. https://riverside.nz/homeContributing to this inner city experience, Riverside Lanes provides a range of high quality retail including major fashion brands already confirmed.Eateries at both the Market and Lanes offer unparalleled options for visitors with a wide range of bakeries / cafes / restaurants and bars.Open 7 Days a Week ● Mon-Wed 9am-6pm ● Thu-Sat 9am-9pm ● Sun 10am-4pm
The Margaret Mahy Playground is a playground in the Christchurch Central City on the banks of the Avon River.This is the largest playground in the Southern Hemisphere so there has to be something for everyone! There’s lots of different equipment for all age groups – sliding, swinging, balancing, climbing, jumping – your kids will only be limited by their imaginations.There’s a separate toddler area as well as a water play/paddling area (if your child likes water and you don’t want them getting wet, either take precautions like gumboots or a change of clothes or stay well away from that area!).Shade for some areas has been added and the trees will eventually grow, in the mean time take hats and sun block on sunny days and/or go early in the morning/late afternoon. Toilets (that talk to you!), parking, coffee and some food available onsite.
Welcome to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. From the spring drifts of daffodils, spectacular summer roses, stunning autumn leaf displays and cosy conservatories to explore over winter, there's something to delight in every season.As there is so much to see in the Botanic Gardens you might like to consider taking a tour. There are a number of different options for tours.Volunteer guides from the Friends of the Botanic Gardens conduct 1.5 hour guided tours of Christchurch Botanic Gardens.Tours cost $10No bookings requiredDeparts at 1.30pm from the museum gates dailyA fantastic guided tour by knowledgeable and friendly guides who will tailor to your interests or showcase the best of the Botanic Gardens. See what is possibly the longest herbaceous border in the Southern Hemisphere, the famous silver fern, the rediscovered wollemi pine, prizewinning roses, a jungle like conservatory, avenues of sequoia, fir, kauri and cedar, and much more.Botanic Garden Tours(external link) operate a guided audio tour of the Gardens in electric shuttles. Tour times:Summer (October to March): 10am to 3.30pm daily Winter (April to September): 11am to 3.30pm daily For more information or to book, contact Botanic Gardens Tours on (03) 366 7830 or info@christchurchattractions.nz.
Opened in 1932, New Regent Street is Christchurch’s only complete heritage streetscape. With beautiful Spanish Mission architecture, and a distinctive pastel colour scheme, it’s long been popular with locals and tourists alike.There are few streets as iconic as new New Regent street Christchurch. It originally opened in 1932 and houses a range of exciting businesses and services in a picturesque heritage setting. The Christchurch tramway runs through New Regent street, giving it an identity and character uniquely its own. The street is right across the road from cathedral junction, the inspiration of John Brittan, a Christchurch engineer.Cathedral junction is where Christchurch’s rich cultural past and present converge. While there are plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes in and around the street, it is advisable to make a booking before you head down to any of these as they are usually quite busy, with Regent street being a prime tourist attraction.
$PLACE_NAME$
94 Sherborne Street
Christchurch Canterbury 8014
stay@sherbornemotorlodge.co.nz
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407956
|
__label__wiki
| 0.889179
| 0.889179
|
Sania Mirza World No. 1 in Women’s Doubles for 2nd Successive Year
India’s tennis ace Sania Mirza may have failed to defend the WTA Finals Singapore title with partner Martina Hingis, but she is successfully retaining her World No.1 doubles player status for the second straight year.
“I am very happy. It’s an amazing honour to be number one for the second year. It has been an amazing journey for me,” Sania told PTI on Sunday from Singapore, as reported by Indian Express.
.@MirzaSania secures #WTA Year-End Doubles World No.1 presented by #DubaiDutyFree! pic.twitter.com/rCCtVtAIFB
— WTA (@WTA) October 30, 2016
On Saturday, SanTina had crashed out by Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals. In the final match, Makarova and Vesnina then defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova and lifted the doubles title on Sunday. The Russian pairing’s first victory in the WTA Finals confirmed Mirza’s top ranking in the year once again.
We Wanted To Change The Narrative Around Menstruation: Aditi Gupta
Also read: Ace Against Odds: The Sania Mirza Story
Mirza’s made history in the tennis world by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the No.1 ranking in doubles, back on April 13, 2015. Recently, she celebrated her No.1 ranking for 81 consecutive weeks with her fans.
“For me, this has been an unbelievable journey and the kind of stuff that dreams are made of! I’ve always felt that reaching the pinnacle in any sphere of activity is a huge achievement but staying there for a prolonged period is even more difficult than getting there for the first time,” an elated Sania said, as quoted by the Express.
After over a month of controversy, Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis reunited again for one last time to play the season finale after the split in August. This year, Sania has won titles, including Australian Open with Hingis, Cincinnati Masters with Barbora Strycova.
Also read: Are women rewriting India’s sports history?
“The fact that only 3 legends of the women’s game – Navratilova, Black and Huber – have had a longer consecutive stint at the top in the history of women’s doubles tennis makes it even more satisfying for me,” she had said after celebrating her 80 consecutive weeks as the women’s doubles World Number one.
While the Indian will team up with Czech Strycova, Hingis will likely continue with American Coco Vandeweghe, with who she made the US Open semifinals.
Feature Image Credit: wtatennis
Read More Stories By Ria Das
Join Us on https://www.facebook.com/SheThePeoplePage
Follow Us on https://twitter.com/SheThePeopleTV
Martina Hingis
women tennis players in india
world's no 1
Sania Mirza To Make Comeback In Brisbane 2020 After Maternity Break
Ranked Number Two Riya Bhatia Is The Fresh Face Of Indian Tennis
Being A Girl Is Privilege, Not Disadvantage: Tennis Champ Sravya Shivani
Nothing To Prove: Sania Mirza On Her Comeback After Maternity Break
Seems Like Everyone Knows How To Raise Your Kid Better Than You
Come Out And Condemn Violence: Jwala Gutta Asks Athletes To Speak Up
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407957
|
__label__wiki
| 0.903972
| 0.903972
|
Doune Motor Racing Hill Climb
Bothwellhaugh
ICI Ardeer
RAF Tealing
Fort Matilda Greenock
HMS Scotia
Navy Buildings Greenock
Royal Naval Torpedo Factories
HMS Dalriada
HMS Dalriada is a Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) training facility based at the Royal Marines Reserve Scotland Headquarters, 37-51 Birkmyre Road, Govan.[1]
Navy Buildings
� Thomas Nugent
The facility was previously located within Navy Buildings off Eldon Street, Greenock, until this was put up for sale by the MoD in September 2012,[2] following the closure of the coastguard unit which had been based there. The building had served as the West Coast Reserve Training Centre (RTC), and had been home to the Inverclyde Reserve Unit since 1981. Members held their final drill night there on 21 December, 2012.[3]
HMS Dalriada had first been commissioned as RNR Headquarters in Navy Buildings in 1965, but was relocated to the postwar Anti-Aircraft Operations Room AAOR Inverkip in the woods to the east of Inverkip from 1965 to 1969. Later re-established in Navy Building since October 1993 in the Navy Buildings, HMS Dalriada moved once again in 2013, to become established in Govan.
1 ⇑ Glasgow - HMS Dalriada | Royal Navy Retrieved February 03, 2013.
2 ⇑ GVA | Property 5461 | Navy Buildings, Eldon Street, Greenock, PA16 7SL Retrieved February 03, 2013.
3 ⇑ Fond farewell for HMS Dalriada Reserves | Royal Navy Retrieved February 03, 2013.
Categories: Training Area
Page last modified on Sunday, 03 February 2013, at 23:58
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407965
|
__label__cc
| 0.729099
| 0.270901
|
Home > Government
Alarm Systems for Courthouses and Other Municipal Buildings
Keeping judges and other courthouse personnel safe presents many challenges. The WAVE Plus system instantly transmits a detailed alarm message over the radios carried by the law enforcement officers assigned to courthouse security. Officers can respond immediately without any dispatch delay.
Any municipal building, from city hall to the housing office, that is protected by law enforcement officers who carry radios can utilize the WAVE Plus system.
Why The Wave is the Best Instant Alarm System
Violence in courts and other public places is increasing.
The WAVE Plus is the fastest way to notify law enforcement of an emergency.
Other security systems, such as cameras, access control and public address systems, can be integrated with the WAVE Plus to provide a complete security solution.
This notification is significantly faster than having a monitoring station make a phone call and can dramatically improve response times at the onset of an emergency when seconds count. There WAVE Plus system also supports door/window contacts, pressure mats and motion sensors that can be used to secure sensitive areas after hours and protect expensive equipment such as projectors and printers.
The system will notify officers when there is unauthorized access to a restricted area. The system is almost completely wireless making installation and expansion easy. Wireless weather resistant buttons can be placed in parking lots without the expense of running wire.
The WAVE can also send emails and text messages as secondary alarms to personnel who do not carry radios.
WAVE PLUS MAKES FACILITIES SAFER IN ACTIVE SHOOTER OR CRITICAL SITUATIONS
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407967
|
__label__cc
| 0.662377
| 0.337623
|
SEMA eNews Vol. 14, No. 23, June 9, 2011
European Vehicle Sales Strong in China: Customization Popular for These German Brands
in Global Update China International CIAPE
Car ownership in China is growing, and just like auto enthusiasts everywhere, Chinese drivers like to make their cars stand out. From expensive sports cars to off-road warriors, customization is increasingly popular among a wide segment of consumers in China.
Owners of expensive, imported super-luxury sports cars, such as Ferrari and Porsche, like to hang out with other owners and show off how they have customized their wheels, according to Figer Liu, founder of an automotive lifestyle website.
“We have a club for Ferrari and Porsche owners with hundreds of member,” he said. And membership is growing, which is not surprising, considering the rapid sales growth of those luxury brands in China.
Liu says that the most popular domestically produced models to customize are the Mercedes C- and E-classes, the BMW 3-Series and the Audi A4. In the first four months of 2011, sales of the domestically produced Mercedes E-class were 12,469 units, according to J.D. Power and Associates. C-class sales were 8,350 units. Audi A4 sales were 19,383. For all of 2010, the Mercedes C-class sold 28,287 units—up 79%. E-class sales more than tripled to 39,835 units. Audi A4 sales grew 43% to 58,466. BMW 3-Series sales rose 67% to 34,215 units.
To learn more about the Chinese market, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/china.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407969
|
__label__wiki
| 0.524855
| 0.524855
|
Home > Tools for Freelancers > Members > Freelance Directory > Jonathan Peters
Jonathan Peters
Specializes in: Government, Sports, Education, Legal Affairs, Journalism and Media
, MO
Work has previously appeared: Daily Newspaper, National Magazine
Jonathan Peters is a media lawyer and the Frank Martin Fellow at the Missouri School
of Journalism, where he is working on his Ph.D. and specializing in the First Amendment.
He blogs weekly for the Harvard Law & Policy Review, and he has written on legal
issues for a variety of news outlets, most recently Slate, the Columbia Journalism
Review, Wired, The Nation and PBS. Peters has published scholarly articles in leading law
journals, and he teaches courses in media law and news reporting. Follow him
@jonathanwpeters on Twitter. Email him at jonathan.w.peters@gmail.com.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407979
|
__label__wiki
| 0.957601
| 0.957601
|
Rashford, Martial and James similar to Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez - Solskjaer
Getty Images https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/GOAL/fd/4b/anthony-martial-marcus-rashford-daniel-james-manchester-united-2019-20_1m5y04bdln6ui18d6x3v0kzb6u.jpg?t=315037326&w=500&quality=80
Manchester United v Everton
O. Solskjær
W. Rooney
A. Martial
M. Rashford
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer compared Manchester United's current strike force to the combination of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez as he hailed the versatility of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Daniel James.
Rashford and Martial were on target as United beat Manchester City in last weekend's derby at the Etihad Stadium, and Solskjaer believes the young England forward is showing signs he can follow in the footsteps of five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo.
Solskjaer and Ronaldo spent four years together as players at Old Trafford, before the Norwegian worked with his former team-mate as a forwards coach, and few people are better placed to compare the Juventus star with Rashford.
Speaking about the fluid movement and interchanging positional play of Rashford, Martial and James, Solskjaer told Sky Sports: "I think that's a big strength of ours as a team.
"If Marcus runs in behind, Anthony will get some space because it stretches the opponent. It can be the opposite way around too, with Anthony and Dan running in behind and Marcus coming to feet to get on the ball.
"I see this attack as being quite similar to the one we had with Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, with the interchanging of positions and the fast, flowing football."
Under Solskjaer, Rashford has equalled his best Premier League goal return in a single season within the first half of the 2019-20 campaign.
https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/GOAL/d1/b6/marcus-rashford-manchester-united-city-071219_senidn19qayj1lloo758kx88s.jpg?t=-510991458&w=500&quality=80
Rashford's 10th league goal of the season came from the penalty spot against City and Solskjaer praised the 22-year-old's versatility while drawing comparisons with Ronaldo, who played on the wing and as a striker during his time in Manchester.
"Of course it's hard to say with certainty that he's going to be as good as Cristiano, but you can see the similarities more and more in terms of Marcus' traits on the pitch," said Solskjaer.
"He can play through the middle, he can play as a number nine, he can cut inside from the left and finish. He can even play on the right, as Cristiano did when he came here. He's got the same physical stature and more or less all of his attributes are very, very similar. Even their stats are similar, in terms of goals scored after a certain amount of games."
He added: "You have to remember that, as well as playing with Cristiano, I coached him in my first year as a forwards coach here.
"Both players are very professional, very dedicated, very in love with football. And you can see that Marcus is getting more of a taste for that now, both with us and with England. He is pushing himself and seeing the results."
United will be back in Premier League action when they play host to Everton on Sunday, four days before a Carabao Cup quarterfinal tie against Colchester.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407980
|
__label__cc
| 0.664827
| 0.335173
|
Home > Guides > How to Bet > Horse Racing Betting Tips
SEE ALL SPORTS BETTING GUIDES
The Different Types of Horse Races and How to Handicap Them
Updated September 4th, 2019
Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes
Betting on sports ultimately requires you to act on an opinion. Whether you are a fan of a particular team, if you rely heavily on analytics, or always put your money on superstars, everyone ultimately bets on the factors they believe will dictate the outcome of the game.
Horse racing is ultimately the same as conventional sports in that you need to be successfully predicting the winners in order to make a profit. But what are the key factors of betting on horse racing?
In this guide, you’ll learn the key horse racing betting tips based on the type of horse race.
Types of Horse Races
Perhaps the best way to look at the various different types of horses races is to compare it to track and field. In track and field, there are sprints performed over varying distances and on a wide range of surfaces. For example, Usain Bolt might perform well in a marathon, but we know his specialty is the 100-meter race.
As for the various types of horse races, let’s go through a few of the big categories and try to make sense of them.
Horse Races Vary by Their Length
Thoroughbred races can be run in as quickly as 45 seconds or as long as a few minutes depending upon the length of the race and quality of the horses. The shortest races are run at four furlongs, and often are contested by horses just starting their career. A furlong is one-eighth of a mile. Rarely are races run at more than a mile and a half.
The Most Popular Race: Sprints
The most popular horse race length is a sprint. Races at seven furlongs or less are considered sprints. The huge majority of sprints are run at six furlongs, three-quarters of a mile.
While there is a strategy to sprints, of course, it’s essential that horses get off to a good start. Sprint races have just one turn, so getting a good position (not too wide and with enough space to make a move) around the bend is vital.
Exercise caution when betting on horses that are moving from a longer race into a sprint. Tactical early speed in a longer event where you need to pace yourself is not necessarily the same as the blazing speed you need from the get-go to win a sprint.
Distance Contests or Route Races
Route races, or distance contests, almost always have two turns or more, and involve more finesse and strategy. It is important to know where the starting gate is placed for these races because sometimes it can be pretty close to the first turn, a major challenge for horses on the outside. A horse that gets stuck three or four wide on a turn means that they’re forced to cover more distance during the race.
The pace of a route race is extremely important. If things are slow early on, it allows front runners to save their kick for the end, making it hard to pass them. A quick tempo benefits horses trying to come from behind because the pacesetters tire themselves out.
The Surface That Horses Race on Matters
There are three types of racing surfaces: dirt tracks, grass (turf) tracks, and synthetic (artificial) tracks. Each of them presents unique considerations for bettors.
Dirt Races Are Predictable
While dirt races are the most predictable, not every dirt surface is the same. Some dirt tracks are very hard, almost like cement, and that tends to make them fast and good for front runners.
Other dirt tracks are deep and moist. Different horses prefer different courses because each can cater to their particular running style.
If a horse is going to win wire-to-wire, taking the lead from the start and never looking back, will generally benefit from hard service they can glide over. Horses coming from behind, particularly those coming from the rear of the field, appreciate softer surfaces that tire out the early pacesetters. Because dirt is the most frequent venue for racing, we have the most information about dirt racing and it is more predictable and consistent.
Front runners, or at least horses near the leader through most of the race, tend to win the majority of dirt contests. Horses trying to make up a ton of ground often fair better on grass.
Turf or Grass Isn’t as Prominent Stateside
Grass (turf) racing, which is incredibly popular in Europe, is more of a niche in North America. Turf racing often starts at a snail’s pace and is a cavalry charge down the stretch. In other words, everyone takes it easy at the start, jockeys for position, and tries to set up a sprint to see who wins down the stretch.
Looking at a horses lineage is a great strategy to apply on the turf, as families that do well on the grass tend to repeat that preference generation after generation.
You can apply the same logic to jockeys, as certain jockeys excel on turf.
Synthetic or Artificial Aren’t as Common
Artificial tracks were all the rage about a decade ago, with the thought being that they were safer for horses to race on. However, that concept has proven to be inconsistent, and the number of tracks that employ synthetic tracks is small.
Each type of synthetic track, of which there are several, play differently. All of them from time to time produce bizarre results that end in huge payouts. Make sure to study whatever track you are betting carefully.
The Different Conditions of Horse Racing
Very few races are open to any horse who wants to enter. Often boys run against boys and girls against girls, and frequently two-year-olds run against each other, three-year-olds battle each other, and everyone else (four-year-olds and up) compete. Of course, each of these scenarios presents new factors for bettors to take into consideration.
There are a variety of different types of races that try to group horses who are relatively speaking on an even playing field.
Maidens Have Never Won Before
Horses who have never won a race are called maidens. Once you have won a race you are no longer eligible for competition against maidens. Because maidens can be debuting or often have run in a small number of races, paying close attention to bloodlines and human connections (owners, jockeys, trainers) can be a wise way of handicapping these races.
Claimers Can Be Purchased
A horse running in a claiming race is available to be purchased.
If a prospective owner puts in a claim and it is accepted (it will be accepted if an owner is the only one who puts in a bid for the horse or if there are multiple bids if he wins a coin flip or roll of the dice) the horse will run under the old ownership in the race he is entered in that day. Thereafter, the horse becomes the property of the new owner following the race in which he was claimed.
An angle to look for in claiming races is “first-time claimers.” These are horses that have never been available for purchase before, but now the ownership group is risking that someone will buy them. The ownership group does this in an attempt to win a race against what usually is a somewhat less accomplished field than horses not available for purchase.
Conversely, horses stepping into a higher priced claiming race, where the cost to buy the horse has gone up, are generally facing tougher horses. Therefore, the challenge of winning is greater for these horses than in their prior races.
Allowance Races
Horses who have broken their maiden (won one or more races) and are not for sale run in allowance races.
These races have a set purse and often come with restrictions in an effort to make the race competitive.
The fine print that helps to make similar horses run against each other often times makes specific stipulations about which horses can compete against each other. These regulations include races only open to horses who have won fewer than a set amount of races in their life which places a cap the amount of money individual horses have earned racing over their racing careers, or sets restrictions on the sort or races they have previously competed in. Horse racing organizers use these metrics as a way to measure a horse’s quality and capability in races, ensuring fair competition
Horses that previously ran against only three-year-olds, but are now racing against older horses are going to find the new category more challenging. Female horses that usually run against other females, but are suddenly facing males may also encounter a similar increase in difficulty.
The Elite: Stakes Races
The best horses run in stakes races. The best of the best run in Grade 1 races, while Grade 2 and Grade 3 races are also contested among high-tier horses.
Listed stakes have large purses and are for horses running against the best of non-graded competition.
A Tip a Day Keeps the Sportsbooks at Bay!
Sports betting is always a learning experience (whether good or bad), and with the right research and preparation, it can be a highly profitable enterprise.
The more you know the better your chances of success. Brush up on all the information on whatever sport you are interested in and learn how to bet on sports!
Dave F.
NFL NBA Golf Sports Writer
Dave has been working in sports journalism for over 16 years. He has broadcast, written about, and reported on the NFL, NBA, MLB, the Olympics, horse racing, golf, tennis, and college sports. Dave has created content for the Associate Press, Metro Networks, ESPN, and numerous local publications.
NFL NBA Golf
Let's have fun and keep it civil.
Most Recent Betting Guides
4 Baseball Betting Tips for Easy Profits This Season
Use Advanced College Football Stats for Sharper CFB Bets
Baseball Stat Abbreviations - The Ultimate MLB Glossary
How to Calculate WAR for Smarter Baseball Bets
Use NBA Win Share Stats to Win Your Basketball Wagers
Top Trending Betting Articles
11 Top Gambling Quotes to Live (and Bet) By
7 Must See Sports Betting Documentaries
Calcutta Auctions: A Brainy Spin on a March Madness Bracket
Find the Best Sportsbook Customer Service for You
How to Avoid Getting Kicked Out of Your Sportsbook
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407981
|
__label__cc
| 0.607657
| 0.392343
|
Fashion North
Spark Sunderland
Contact/Study
Interactive map: The North East’s new political landscape
Vogue-featured fashion designer launches North East sustainable clothing brand
Metro Strike: No Metros to run for two days up to Christmas
Scrooge councils cut back on Christmas light spend
Opinion Piece: Temporary doom and continuous gloom under a Tory majority
Fire service offers opportunity to unemployed
Written by Joe Pennington on 17th April 2014
More in Community:
‘Sound lass’ creates Soundlass, a barrier-breaking music initiative for North East women 13th January 2020
Is Jesmond getting noisier? A rise in complaints say yes 19th December 2019
Areas of Metro Map with the most fare dodgers revealed 17th December 2019
Young people who are unemployed in Sunderland could learn new skills to help them get a job by signing up to a Prince’s Trust Team course run by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.
The course, starting on May 6, gives up to 15 young people the opportunity to meet other people, try out new skills and get a taste of the workplace and plan for the future – all in a specially designed 12-week course.
Princes Trust Team Leader, Alan D’Arcy from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said: “This is a great opportunity. Not only does it provide young people in Sunderland with vital skills to equip them for the future, but it’s also great fun.
“I would encourage anyone interested to pop down and have a chat with us or to contact us to find out more about the course. The Service has been running the Princes Trust Programme for a number of years now and it’s helped many go on to gain further qualifications and a great career.”
If you are aged 16 to 25 and unemployed and would like to find out more about the course, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service is holding an Open Day at Farringdon Community Fire Station on Thursday 24 April, 10am until 4pm.
The 12-week course includes a team-building residential session, a community fundraising project, a work placement, CV writing skills and interview technique training, and a team challenge involving helping others in the local community.
If you want to find out more about the course or about the Open Day, please contact the Princes Trust Team, on 0191 444 1175 or text FIRE to 07584006915.
Joe Pennington
‘Sound lass’ creates Soundlass, a barrier-breaking music initiative for North East women
Opinion piece: The Death of Socialism – Labour’s return to appeasing the centre
BBC Music Introducing in the North East Reveal Their 2020 Tips List
Is Jesmond getting noisier? A rise in complaints say yes
South Shields YouTubers take the online world by storm
Study @ Sunderland
Journalism and PR courses
SR News
Copyright © 2020 SR News. Designed by WPZOOM
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407983
|
__label__wiki
| 0.779707
| 0.779707
|
StubHub Selects Google Cloud and Pivotal as Cloud Service Providers
This article originally appeared on StubHub's Press Box. Written by Alison Salcedo from StubHub's Comms and PR team.
StubHub, the world’s largest ticket marketplace, today announced Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Pivotal Software, Inc.as its public cloud infrastructure providers.
StubHub is going all-in on Google Cloud and Pivotal and will leverage the breadth and depth of their services—including machine learning, analytics, databases, serverless computing, and developer tools—to innovate faster than ever before and to meet the demands of its growth around the world. This collaboration lays the foundationfor StubHub to pioneer the next generation of digital products and inspiring event experiences.
“StubHub is all about the customer. Everything we create, from our mobile products to our customer service, reflects a deep desire to put the needs of fans first,” said StubHub CTO Matt Swann. “We intend to set the bar for what highly curated fan experiences can be at scale before, during and after the event, everywhere fans expect us to be. We have bold plans for innovation in the years ahead.”
StubHub is changing the way the company innovates by increasing its focus on mobile products and artificial intelligence while replacing legacy infrastructure to speed developer productivity. Pivotal and Google will empower StubHub to get to market quickly, at massive scale, and expand its global footprint. StubHub can now build new services and experiments once and deploy them globally in minutes, surfacing insights to fans in real-time.
“Digital transformation is on the mind of every technology leader, especially in industries requiring the capability to rapidly respond to changing consumer expectations. To adapt, enterprises need to bring together the best of modern developer environments with software-driven customer experiences designed to drive richer engagement,” said Bill Cook, President of Pivotal. “We’re excited to collaborate with StubHub to help them transform the event experience by leveraging Pivotal Cloud Foundry (“PCF”) and Google Cloud to unleash software-developer productivity, as well as Pivotal Labs to help build next-generation applications and user experiences.”
“There is strong alignment between StubHub’s technology journey and the strengths of Google’s partnership with Pivotal,” said Brian Stevens, CTO of Google Cloud. “Google Cloud Platform’s global presence, scale, and world-class AI and data solutions, coupled with Pivotal’s services and platform will help StubHub offer the best customer experience.”
As part of this journey, StubHub will put cutting edge tools and capabilities into the hands of its product, engineering and operations team members to create intelligent products, automate processes, and innovate new ways for fans to connect with live events:
Operating in 48 countries across the globe, with a diverse set of languages and currencies, StubHub’s priority is evolving its platform, by leveraging the tools of Pivotal and Google to scale hardware and automate software builds.
StubHub has been an industry leader in product and technology since it opened its doors in 2000. To continue to exceed fans’ expectations with innovative firsts, the company will lean into input from fans to radically advance its product experiences.
Data and machine learning will bring together the power of machines and StubHub’s more than 17 years of ticket marketplace data to play an important role in predicting when, where and how to best serve fans.
As StubHub focuses squarely on fans, it is actively growing its product and technology organization.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407988
|
__label__cc
| 0.74984
| 0.25016
|
SomaliNet Forums
Largest online Somali community!
http://www.somalinet.com/forums/
City Drop Points Thanks To Controversial Goal At Wolves
http://www.somalinet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=392621
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 1:42 am
by BoySmile
Manchester City were unable to maintain their perfect start to agent sbobet the season after drawing with Wolverhampton Wanderers, who scored a controversial goal.Kyle Walker made a return to the City line up at the expense of John Stones, while Leroy Sane was once again left on the bench.There was a good tempo to the encounter, with Wolves looking threatening on the counter attack as City dominated the opening stages of the clash, while Sergio Aguero rattled the upright early on.Wolves had the ball in the back of the net in the 20th minute through Raul Jimenez, whose strike at the far post was ruled out for offside.Rui Patricio was the busier of the two goalkeepers, with the Wolves stopper producing a number of superb saves to keep out Aguero and Raheem Sterling.The hosts did manage to carve out an opening in the 38th minute when Ruben Neves' cross found Jimenez at the far post, but the Mexican forward fired horribly wide from close range.Ten minutes into the second half, the agent sbobet home side broke the deadlock as Joao Moutinho's cross was turned home by Willy Boly. Although replays showed the ball went in via the defender's hand.City pushed for an equaliser and they were rewarded after 68 minutes, with Aymeric Laporte powering home a header from six-yards out. His first goal in the colours of City.Guardiola threw on Sane and Riyad Mahrez in the final 15 minutes of the second half as the visitors went in search of a winning goal.Both sides pushed for a winning goal in the closing stages, with City going agent sbobet closest with a free-kick from Aguero that hit the woodwork as the sides settled for a share of the spoils.
Re: City Drop Points Thanks To Controversial Goal At Wolves
by CaliBurco
You must be a robot.
by barbarossa
Waryaa has got to eat.
by Nubis
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1407994
|
__label__cc
| 0.651689
| 0.348311
|
BLUE ELECTRIC EAGLE
Huw Thomas Edwards, Birth
Welsh trade unionist and politician
Date: 11/19/1892 AD
Elapsed: 127 Years 1 Months 29 Days
Profession: Politics
Death: 1970-11-08 WHITE-OVERTONE-WIZARD
Huw Thomas Edwards at Wikipedia
Famous Groups on Blue Electric Eagle (1)
Stray Cats The Stray Cats are an American rockabilly band formed in 1979 by guitarist and vocalist Brian Setzer -more-
, double bassist Lee Rocker, and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York.
Music on Blue Electric Eagle (32)
David Bowie 1/8/1947 Birth English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, ...
Bobby Womack 3/4/1944 Birth US singer
James Young 11/14/1949 Birth US guitarist (Styx)
Cow Cow Davenport 4/23/1894 Birth US pianist
Ronnie Scott 1/28/1927 Birth British tenor saxophonist and club owner
Arnel Pineda 9/5/1967 Birth Filipino singer-songwriter who has served as the le...
Bobby Rondinelli 7/27/1955 Birth Rock drummer
Johnny Clegg 6/7/1953 Birth British-born musician and anthropologist from South ...
Chuckii Booker 12/19/1966 Birth US singer, musician and producer
Coby Linder 6/27/1985 Birth US musician (Say Anything)
Craig Morgan 7/17/1965 Birth US singer
Fanny Crosby 3/24/1820 Birth US hymnist
Frankie Lymon 9/30/1942 Birth US singer
Jon Oliva 7/22/1960 Birth US musician (Savatage)
Tia Texada 12/14/1971 Birth US actress and singer
Dennis Stratton 11/9/1954 Birth British musician, (Iron Maiden, Praying Mantis),
Gavin Harrison 5/28/1963 Birth British drummer (Porcupine Tree)
Matt Willis 5/8/1983 Birth British singer
Terry Sylvester 1/8/1947 Birth British singer and musician
Kei Inoo 6/22/1990 Birth Japanese Actor and Singer
Stephanie Cheng 10/10/1984 Birth Hong Kong singer
Agnes Baltsa 11/19/1944 Birth Greek mezzo-soprano
Gottfried August Homilius 2/2/1714 Birth German composer
Ulrich Roski 3/4/1944 Birth German singer-songwriter
Michael "Mick" Wilson 3/4/1944 Birth drummer (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich)
Freddie Mercury 11/24/1991 Death Zanzibar-born singer (Queen)
Anthony Burger 2/22/2006 Death US musician and singer
Eric Carr 11/24/1991 Death US drummer (KISS)
Freddie Hubbard 12/29/2008 Death US jazz trumpet player
Bernard Zweers 12/9/1924 Death Dutch composer and music teacher
Ferdinand Ries 1/13/1838 Death German composer
Thomas Baltzar 7/7/1663 Death German violinist
Entertainment on Blue Electric Eagle (49)
Ann-Margret 4/28/1941 Birth Swedish-born actress
Michaela Watkins 12/14/1971 Birth US comic actress (Saturday Night Live)
Amber Scott 10/10/1984 Birth US child actress
Cheryl Tiegs 9/25/1947 Birth US model
Chris Tucker 8/31/1972 Birth US actor
Courtney Cummz 12/4/1981 Birth US pornographic actress
Eileen Heckart 3/29/1919 Birth US actress
Frank Perry 8/21/1930 Birth US film director
Gary Grubbs 11/14/1949 Birth US actor
Guinevere Turner 5/23/1968 Birth US actress
Jim Carroll 8/1/1950 Birth US poet and actor
John Anderson 10/20/1922 Birth US actor
Nicole Manske 7/2/1980 Birth US beauty queen and motorsports television commentator
Nika Futterman 10/25/1969 Birth US voice actress
Norman Fell 3/24/1924 Birth US actor
Richard Hatch 4/8/1961 Birth US reality television personality
Robert MacNaughton 12/19/1966 Birth US stage and screen actor
Alex Winter 7/17/1965 Birth English film director
Anthony Asquith 11/9/1902 Birth British film director
Dougie Donnelly 6/7/1953 Birth Scottish television broadcaster
Fred MacAulay 12/29/1956 Birth Scottish comedian
India Hicks 9/5/1967 Birth English model
Jamie Bell 3/14/1986 Birth British actor
Natascha McElhone 12/14/1971 Birth English actress
Ron Jones 8/6/1945 Birth British TV director
Sue Upton 11/9/1954 Birth English actress and dancer
Thora Hird 5/28/1911 Birth British actress
Nikolai Cherkasov 7/27/1903 Birth Russian actor
Allison Lozano 8/11/1992 Birth Mexican actress
Brian Lee Byung-Hun 7/12/1970 Birth South Korean actor
Kim Rae Won 3/19/1981 Birth South Korean actor and model
Chiaki Kuriyama 10/10/1984 Birth Japanese actress
Hiroshi Teshigahara 1/28/1927 Birth Japanese director
Mina Tominaga 4/3/1966 Birth Japanese seiyu (voice actress)
Santiago Segura 7/17/1965 Birth Spanish film director and actor
Kyal Marsh 8/16/1987 Birth Australian actor
Cary Grant 11/29/1986 Death British-born US actor
Johnny Sauer 3/4/1996 Death US football player, coach, and broadcaster
Minnie Pearl 3/4/1996 Death US comedian
Charlotte Coleman 11/14/2001 Death British actress
William Desmond Taylor 2/2/1922 Death Irish film director
Lucky Grills 7/27/2007 Death Australian actor
* 7/27/2007 - Phoenix News Helicopter Collision: News helicopters from Phoenix, Arizona television stations KNXV and...
* 8/31/1920 - First radio news program broadcast by station 8MK in Detroit, Michigan.
* 6/12/2000 - Sandro Rosa do Nascimento takes hostages while robbing Bus #174 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the highly-...
* 11/29/1934 - The Chicago Bears defeat the Detroit Lions 19-16 in the first nationally broadcast game.
Politics on Blue Electric Eagle (57)
John H. Moffitt 1/8/1843 Birth US politician
Juba Kalamka 7/12/1970 Birth US artist/activist
Newt Gingrich 6/17/1943 Birth US politician
Samuel J. Randall 10/10/1828 Birth Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Warren Brown 8/11/1836 Birth US politician
Wright Patman 8/6/1893 Birth US politician
Huw Thomas Edwards 11/19/1892 Birth Welsh trade unionist and politician
António de Oliveira Salazar 4/28/1889 Birth dictator of Portugal
Waclaw Sierpinski 3/14/1882 Birth Polish mathematician
Aryeh Deri 2/17/1959 Birth Israeli rabbi and politician
John Hume 1/18/1937 Birth Northern Irish politician, recipient of the Nobel Pe...
Michail Stasinopoulos 7/27/1903 Birth Greek politician
James FitzJames, 1st Duke o... 8/21/1670 Birth French military leader
John VI, Duke of Brittany 12/24/1389 Birth
Alain Peyrefitte 8/26/1925 Birth French politician and writer
Francis of Assisi of Bourbon 5/13/1822 Birth King Consort of Spain
Louis VIII of France 9/5/1187 Birth
René de Birague 2/2/1506 Birth French cardinal and chancellor
Jüri Uluots 1/13/1890 Birth Estonian Prime Minister
Wilhelm Cuno 7/2/1876 Birth Chancellor of Germany
Samuel Schmid 1/8/1947 Birth Swiss politician
Pierre Pettigrew 4/18/1951 Birth Canadian politician
Ilham Aliyev 12/24/1961 Birth President of Azerbaijan Republic
John Jones Ross 8/16/1831 Birth Quebec politician
Princess Margaret, Countess... 8/21/1930 Birth
Fannie Barrier Williams 3/4/1944 Death US educator and political activist
Hiram Johnson 8/6/1945 Death US politician
James S. Sherman 10/30/1912 Death Vice President of the United States
Jeannette Rankin 5/18/1973 Death first U.S. Congresswoman
Townsend Hoopes 9/20/2004 Death US politician
Robert the Bruce 6/7/1329 Death King of Scotland
Sobhuza II 8/21/1982 Death King of Swaziland
António Óscar Carmona 4/18/1951 Death 97th Prime Minister of Portugal and 11th President o...
Władysław Opolczyk ... 5/18/1401 Death count palatine of Hungary 1367-1372, governor of Ha...
Gaius Marius 1/13/0086 Death Roman general and politician
Konstantinos Karamanlis 4/23/1998 Death Greek politician
Markus Wolf 11/9/2006 Death East German Intelligence Director
Dhirendranath Datta 3/29/1971 Death Bangladeshi politician
Des Corcoran 1/3/2004 Death Premier of South Australia
Prince Wu of Korea 8/6/1945 Death
* 12/4/1981 - South Africa grants independence to the Ciskei "homeland" (not recognized by any government outside So...
* 6/17/1839 - In the Kingdom of Hawaii Kamehameha III issues the Edict of toleration which gives Roman Catholics th...
* 10/20/1818 - The Convention of 1818 signed between the United States and the United Kingdom which, among other thin...
* 11/19/1944 - World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announces the 6th War Loan Drive, aimed at selling ...
* 12/9/1872 - In Louisiana P. B. S. Pinchback becomes the first serving African-US governor of a U.S. state.
* 3/29/1867 - Queen Victoria gives Royal Assent to the British North America Act which establishes the Dominion of C...
* 11/29/1830 - November Uprising: An armed rebellion against Russia's rule in Poland begins.
* 1/3/1848 - Joseph Jenkins Roberts is sworn in as the first president of the independent African Republic of Liber...
* 3/4/0852 - Croatian Duke Trpimir I issues a statute a document with the first known written mention of the Croat...
* 11/14/1533 - Conquistadors from Spain under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro arrive in Cajamarca Inca empire
* 9/15/1957 - West Germany holds its third parliamentary election. Konrad Adenauer remains chancellor.
* 2/12/1912 - Xuantong Emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty the last Emperor of China, abdicates.
* 3/24/1976 - Argentina's military forces depose president Isabel Perón and start the National Reorganization Proce...
* 4/18/1899 - The St. Andrew's Ambulance Association is granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria.
* 6/12/1896 - J.T. Hearne sets a cricket record for the earliest date of taking 100 first-class wickets in a season.
* 6/17/1631 - Mumtaz Mahal dies during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I then spends more than 2...
* 9/5/1915 - The pacifist Zimmerwald Conference begins.
Writing on Blue Electric Eagle (25)
Amy Vanderbilt 7/22/1908 Birth US author
Cat Bauer 7/27/1955 Birth US novelist
Don Bendell 1/8/1947 Birth US author & karate master
John Fante 4/8/1909 Birth US novelist
R. F. Delderfield 2/12/1912 Birth English author
Tobias Smollett 3/19/1721 Birth Scottish novelist
Wallace Breem 5/13/1926 Birth British author
Iryna Zhylenko 4/28/1941 Birth Ukrainian poet
Charles Pinot Duclos 2/12/1704 Birth French writer
Johann Elias Schlegel 1/28/1719 Birth German critic and poet
Humayun Kabir Dhali 10/30/1964 Birth Bangladeshi Writer & Journalist
Fritz Hochwälder 5/28/1911 Birth Austrian author
Lara Logan 3/29/1971 Birth South-African born journalist and reporter
Ed Bradley 11/9/2006 Death US journalist
Ellen Willis 11/9/2006 Death US journalist
Marion Zimmer Bradley 9/25/1999 Death US writer
Bruce Chatwin 1/18/1989 Death English novelist
Show remaining 5 events in Writing
Eileen Shanahan 1/28/1979 Death Irish Poet
C.J. Dennis 6/22/1938 Death Australian writer and poet
Mu'in Bseiso 1/23/1984 Death Palestinian poet
P. L. Deshpande 6/12/2000 Death Marathi writer
* 2/2/1922 - Ulysses by James Joyce is published.
Art on Blue Electric Eagle (1)
Religion on Blue Electric Eagle (13)
Luis Manuel Fernández de P... 1/8/1635 Birth Spanish Archbishop
Simon Episcopius 1/8/1583 Birth Dutch theologian
Bernard Bolzano 10/5/1781 Birth Czech mathematician and philosopher
Sangharakshita 8/26/1925 Birth Buddhist Philosopher, Founder of the Western Buddhis...
John Sharp 2/2/1714 Death English Archbishop of York
Libert H. Boeynaems 5/13/1926 Death Belgian Catholic prelate
Pope Clement XI 3/19/1721 Death
* 8/16/1987 - The Harmonic Convergence was one of the world's first globally synchronized meditation events, which o...
* 5/28/0585 - A solar eclipse occurs, as predicted by Greek philosopher and scientist Thales while Alyattes is batt...
Science on Blue Electric Eagle (30)
Nostradamus 12/14/1503 Birth French astrologer
Charles Goodyear 12/29/1800 Birth US inventor
Eugene Cernan 3/14/1934 Birth US astronaut
Jack Hirshleifer 8/26/1925 Birth US economist
K. Barry Sharpless 4/28/1941 Birth US chemist, Nobel laureate
Lee DeForest 8/26/1873 Birth US inventor
Houman Younessi 5/28/1963 Birth Iranian-born scientist
A. E. Becquerel 3/24/1820 Birth French physicist
Gemma Frisius 12/9/1508 Birth Dutch mathematician and cartographer
Fritz Lenz 3/9/1887 Birth German geneticist
Fritz Strassmann 2/22/1902 Birth German physicist
Louis Agassiz 5/28/1807 Birth Swiss-born zoologist and geologist
John Wheeler 4/13/2008 Death US physicist and educator
Bernard Montgomery 3/24/1976 Death British field marshal
Edgar F. Codd 4/18/2003 Death English computer scientist
James Smithson 6/27/1829 Death English scientist and philanthropist
Ilya Frank 6/22/1990 Death Russian physicist, Nobel Prize laureate
Lev Semenovich Pontryagin 5/3/1988 Death Russian mathematician
Dragutin Lerman 7/12/1918 Death Croatian explorer
Andre Michael Lwoff 9/30/1994 Death French microbiologist, Nobel laureate
Hans-Joachim Marseille 9/30/1942 Death German fighter pilot
Wilhelm Wundt 8/31/1920 Death German psychologist
* 8/6/1945 - World War II: Hiroshima is devastated when an atomic bomb "Little Boy", is dropped by the United Stat...
* 9/20/1848 - The US Association for the Advancement of Science is created.
* 9/10/1858 - George Mary Searle discovers the asteroid 55 Pandora.
War on Blue Electric Eagle (29)
Thomas Grosvenor 9/20/1744 Birth US Revolutionary War hero
Erich von Manstein 11/24/1887 Birth German military commander
Paul Rader 3/14/1934 Birth the 15th General of The Salvation Army
James Earl Ray 4/23/1998 Death US assassin
Louis Buchalter 3/4/1944 Death Jewish US mobster
Louis Capone 3/4/1944 Death New York organized crime figure
Richard Bong 8/6/1945 Death US ace fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient
Mangal Pandey 4/8/1857 Death Indian soldier
Yuan Chonghuan 1/13/1630 Death Chinese military commander
* 3/4/1944 - World War II: After the success of Big Week the USAAF begins a daylight bombing campaign of Berlin.
* 10/25/1813 - War of 1812: Canadians and Mohawks defeat the Americans in the Battle of Chateauguay.
* 2/22/2006 - At least six men stage Britain's biggest robbery ever stealing £53m (about $92.5 million or 78â�...
* 10/25/1917 - Traditionally understood date of the October Revolution involving the capture of the Winter Palace, ...
* 8/31/1920 - Polish-Bolshevik War: A decisive Polish victory in the Battle of Komarów.
* 7/12/1918 - The Japanese Imperial Navy battle ship Kawachi blows up at Shunan western Honshu, Japan, killing at...
* 11/9/1330 - Battle of Posada Wallachian Voievode Basarab I defeats the Hungarian army in an ambush
* 1/13/1942 - World War II: First use of aircraft ejection seat by a German test pilot in a Heinkel He 280 jet fight...
* 7/27/1955 - The Allied occupation of Austria stemming from World War II ends (started on May 9, 1945).
* 3/29/1971 - My Lai massacre: Lt. William Calley is convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison.
* 10/30/1340 - Battle of Rio Salado.
Sports on Blue Electric Eagle (70)
Peyton Manning 3/24/1976 Birth US football player
Nico Rosberg 6/27/1985 Birth German race car driver
Arjen Robben 1/23/1984 Birth Dutch footballer
Elton Chigumbura 3/14/1986 Birth Zimbabwean cricketer
Aaron Brooks 3/24/1976 Birth US football player
Andy Messersmith 8/6/1945 Birth US baseball player
Barry Switzer 10/5/1937 Birth US football coach
Barry Zito 5/13/1978 Birth US baseball player
Blue Adams 10/15/1979 Birth US Football Player
Bunkhouse Buck 8/1/1950 Birth US professional wrestler
Chris Booker 12/9/1976 Birth US baseball player
Cy Young 3/29/1867 Birth US baseball player
Eric Weinrich 12/19/1966 Birth US ice hockey player
Greg Weld 3/4/1944 Birth US racecar driver
Jay Wright 12/24/1961 Birth US basketball coach
Jim Ross 1/3/1952 Birth US wrestling announcer
Lawrence Pfohl 6/2/1958 Birth US professional wrestler
Lee MacPhail 10/25/1917 Birth US baseball manager and league executive
Lennie Pond 8/11/1940 Birth US racing driver
Mike Bibby 5/13/1978 Birth US basketball player
Morris Peterson 8/26/1977 Birth US basketball player
Neil Lomax 2/17/1959 Birth US football player
Paul Posluszny 10/10/1984 Birth US football player
Rod Benson 10/10/1984 Birth US basketball player
Ryan Bukvich 5/13/1978 Birth US baseball player
Tony Benshoof 7/7/1975 Birth US luger
Troy Tulowitzki 10/10/1984 Birth US baseball player
Dario Franchitti 5/18/1973 Birth Scottish racecar driver
Harry Smith 10/10/1932 Birth English footballer
James Hook 6/27/1985 Birth Welsh rugby player
Jane Sixsmith 9/5/1967 Birth English field hockey player
Paul Robinson 10/15/1979 Birth English football player
Phil Mead 3/9/1887 Birth English cricketer
Steve Mildenhall 5/13/1978 Birth English football player
Oleg Salenko 10/25/1969 Birth Russian footballer
Svetlana Kuznetsova 6/27/1985 Birth Russian tennis player
Aliou Cissé 3/24/1976 Birth Senegalese footballer
Ali Boulala 1/28/1979 Birth Swedish skateboarder
Peter 'Possum' Bourne 4/13/1956 Birth New Zealand rally driver
Māris Verpakovskis 10/15/1979 Birth Latvian football player as a striker currently playi...
Dilshan Vitharana 5/13/1978 Birth Sri Lankan cricketer
Alberto Tomba 12/19/1966 Birth Italian alpine skier
Andreas Stamatiadis 8/16/1935 Birth Greek footballer and coach
Athanasios Kostoulas 3/24/1976 Birth Greek footballer
Lucien Aimar 4/28/1941 Birth French cyclist
Josef Beranek 10/25/1969 Birth Czech ice hockey player
Cliff Fletcher 8/16/1935 Birth Canadian National Hockey League executive
Dennis Hull 11/19/1944 Birth Canadian ice hockey player
Yves Racine 2/7/1969 Birth Canadian ice hockey player
Allan Border 7/27/1955 Birth Australian cricketer
Evan Berger 8/16/1987 Birth Australian footballer
John de Vries 4/3/1966 Birth Australian racing driver
Michael Voss 7/7/1975 Birth Australian rules footballer
Ricardo Fortaleza 4/18/1951 Birth Australian-Filipino boxer
Hans Binder 6/12/1948 Birth Austrian racing driver
Kolo Touré 3/19/1981 Birth Ivorian footballer
Liam Botham 8/26/1977 Birth Hampshire cricketer and rugby league player
Jim Valvano 4/28/1993 Death US basketball coach
Leon Wagner 1/3/2004 Death US baseball player
Ruffian 7/7/1975 Death US thoroughbred racehorse
Brian Clough 9/20/2004 Death English footballer and football manager
Dick Tiger 12/14/1971 Death Nigerian-born boxer
Juan Carlos Lorenzo 11/14/2001 Death Argentine footballer
* 11/14/2001 - War in Afghanistan: Afghan Northern Alliance fighters take over the capital Kabul.
Education on Blue Electric Eagle (3)
Nature on Blue Electric Eagle (0)
Business on Blue Electric Eagle (10)
Bertrand Goldberg 7/17/1913 Birth US architect
Burt Rutan 6/17/1943 Birth US aerospace engineer
F.W. Woolworth 4/13/1852 Birth US businessman
Harvey Postlethwaite 3/4/1944 Birth English automotive engineer
Sir David Robinson 4/13/1904 Birth British philanthropist and entrepreneur
Accidents on Blue Electric Eagle (2)
* 8/6/1997 - Korean Air Flight 801 a Boeing 747-300, crashes into the jungle on Guam on approach to airport, killi...
* 8/16/1987 - A McDonnell Douglas MD-82 carrying Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes on take-off from Detroit Metr...
Other on Blue Electric Eagle (30)
Howard Lederer 10/30/1964 Birth US poker player
Marian Anderson 2/27/1897 Birth US contralto
Arthur Tooth 6/17/1839 Birth English Anglican Clergyman
Frederick Abberline 1/8/1843 Birth British police investigator
Saeko Chiba 8/26/1977 Birth Japanese seiyu
Karl Gegenbaur 8/21/1826 Birth German anatomist
Robert Gibbs 3/29/1971 Birth US White House Press Secretary
Emanuel Weiss 3/4/1944 Death US hitman
Jim Hardin 3/9/1991 Death former Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees and Atla...
William Bradford 9/25/1791 Death US printer
René Lefebvre 3/4/1944 Death martyr of the French Resistance
Jan van Riebeeck 1/18/1677 Death Dutch merchant
Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel 8/6/1893 Death member of the Swiss Federal Council
William Randal Cremer 7/22/1908 Death Nobel Peace Prize laureate
* 11/19/1996 - Lt. Gen. Maurice Baril of Canada arrives in Africa to lead a multi-national policing force in Zaire.
* 3/29/1971 - A Los Angeles, California jury recommends the death penalty for Charles Manson and three female follow...
* 6/17/1579 - Sir Francis Drake claims a land he calls Nova Albion (modern California) for England.
* 6/27/1985 - U.S. Route 66 ceases to be an official U.S. highway.
* 8/21/1878 - The US Bar Association is founded.
* 5/18/1869 - Surrender and dissolution of the Ezo Republic to Japan.
* 9/30/1994 - Aldwych tube station (originally Strand Station) of the London Underground closed upon September 30th,...
* 8/26/1977 - The Charter of the French Language is adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec
* 1/3/2004 - Flight 604 a Boeing 737 owned by Flash Airlines, an Egyptian airliner, plunges into the Red Sea, ki...
* 2/12/1912 - The Republic of China adopts the Gregorian calendar.
* 1/13/1942 - Henry Ford patents a plastic automobile which is 30% lighter than a regular car.
* 2/17/1959 - Project Vanguard: Vanguard 2 The first weather satellite is launched to measure cloud-cover distribu...
* 2/7/1969 - The original Hetch Hetchy Moccasin Powerhouse is removed from service.
* 2/2/1974 - The F-16 Fighting Falcon flies for the first time.
* 3/9/1991 - Massive demonstrations are held against Slobodan MiloÅevic in Belgrade. Two people are killed and tan...
* 5/18/1765 - Fire destroys a large part of Montreal Quebec.
Tone 3 Electric
Bonding * Service * Activate
Tribe 15 Eagle
Create * Mind * Vision
Affirmation for: Blue Electric Eagle I Activate in order to Create
Bonding Mind
I seal the output of vision
With the Electric tone of Service
I am guided by the power of Self-Generation
Reading for: Blue Electric Eagle
Reading for Blue Electric Eagle
Blue Eagle is your Conscious Self - who you are and who you are becoming. Blue Eagle reminds you to step powerfully into your commitment as a planetary server! Your assignment includes whatever furthers your personal evolution and the evolution of global mind. You are an awakener, a transformer, an empowered gloal visionary. In your vision, you have compassion for others, and your decisions are made in the light of global consciousness. Ask yourself how you might experience compassion toward self, the Earth, and others. Be guided towards types of work, relationships, places to live, and projects that will benefit the Earth and her creatures. Allow your spirit to expand. Soar on your spreading wings and planetary perspective. Affirm: "Through your, Gaia, I am also transformed! I am awakening as the return of divine love and light. We are all one. Gaia, as you awaken, I heal myself. As I awaken, you are healed, and together our petals open ecstatically to the new Sun of Flowers."
You are a member of the one global family, a planetary server and transformer. Blue Eagle asks you to join in lifting the collective mind. It is up to each one of us to hold a positive vision and affirmation, for the means by which this miracle will occur is through changes in the one affecting the greater whole.
Imagine the profound impact your loving thoughts have on planetary mind. You do make a difference! As you connect individually with the larger crystal grid network, your power is multiplied exponentially. This galactic grid is also known as the Mayan cobweb.
The greatest gift you can offer to the planet is to simply be the love. Believe in yourself and your dreams and visions! Remember your special gifts, your path of service on Earth, your promise to serve the light. Everything you are connects to the greater whole. You are starseeded! You have the vision of the eagle. Believe in your dreams. You are the hope and the vision revealed.
Blue Storm is your Higher Self & Guide.Blue Storm is the initiation by fire, the lightning path, the arrival of the thunderbeings who bring the final transformation. To the Maya, Blue Storm represents the storm, the thundercloud full of purifying rain, and the lightning that shatters any false structuring of reality. Blue Storm is the purification of the 'body temple' and the ignition of the light body. In these last years of a twenty-six-thousand-year Mayan grand cycle, Blue Storm comes to help you in the disintegration process that moves you from separation to ascension. This initiation by fire breaks any false containers of self that cannot withstand the flame of transmutation. Only your true identity will live through these fires, for you will be reborn in the heart of All That Is.
Blue Storm provides the water that purifies and quenches your spiritual thirst. In this state of consciousness, you stand willing to surrender everything. You give up what you seem to be in order to become fully what you are. You step into the fires of the unknown, and you are changed forever.
Allow Blue Storm's storm to purify and cleanse you.
Blue Storm catalyzes and prepares your nervous system and circuitry for complete transformation. It is the electromagnetic storm of transmutation, the clearing and quickening of your physical, mental, emotional, and etheric bodies. As you become aligned with the descending energies, and evolve in consciousness, you body's vibration is raised, becoming less 'dense'. Your new alignment ignites the quickening process that transmutes the shadows of the past, including experiences, judgements, thoughtforms, and old patterns that have held you back.
As you move into this new vibration, you may feel off balance. In this transformational shift, you will feel unusual quickenings on every level of your being. You will sense emotional and physical 'imbalances' and restructuring. Your issues will be catalyzed and brought out for you to address. By being present with your old patterns you have a unique opportunity to access the energy of Blue Storm, which is experienced as an inner transformational 'storm', a natural part of the process of vibrational shift and quickening.
Whether you are experiencing these changes consciously or unconsicously, the vibrational change is adjusting your energy pattern to accomodate the flow of the language of light. These new frequencies feed you on every level of your being. As your transformation progresses, you quickly become aware of the unconscious material you still need to process. No longer can you escape the effects of your belief systems. Fears and negative images can all be felt very quickly. The transformation is experienced as if it were happening 'from the inside out'. Things seem to 'cook' inside you.
Remember that you have chosen to take part in this rebirth, both on a planetary and a personal level - the planetary dream, the miracle on Earth, is what brought you here! You are becoming the living model of the new reality. As an emissary of the great change, you are a transformer of the collective myth. Riding the crest of the wave, you are travelling both outward and inward on your journey home - for yourself and for all those who will follow after you.
A simple catalyst for this catapulting force is the integration of duality within. The personal integration of shadow is what will create the miracle! Personal shadow is simply that which is separated from the full light of consciousness. By integrating shadow, you are freed from delusions of right or wrong, good and evil. Shadow provides an opportunity for you to bring in all of your expanded essence.
Consciousness is a structural metaphor that is calling for transformation. As your consciousness becomes crystallized, narrow, and complex, it invites the process of dissipaton to 'unravel' and break it free. As you travel the spiral vortex of light, expanding into ever-widening realms of truth, your crystallized energy breaks down and trasncends form. This process can be very intense, but if you embrace it, you can be transformed into a freed adventurer - a divine actor who can play any part without becoming attached to it.
White World-Bridger is your Subconscious Self and Hidden Helper.In this life-time you are being asked to release and surrender. Surrender is the opposite of giving up. It is freeing yourself from the desire to be in control, letting go of how you think things should be. Surrender is freedom. You are being invited to release yourself from the bondage of preconceived action, to let everything be all right as it is, so that you can live a more inspired life in the moment!
You are being asked to take action in the process of surrender and release. You are requested to die a symbolic death, to surrender your limiting beliefs. Symbolic death unveils the self by cutting away the outgrown parts of yourself that no longer serve you. In such death, ego structures fall away to reveal the garden of the true self. Look for new ways of being, new people, new ideas, and new directions that will move into the vacuum created through surrender and release. Like yeast, surrender enlivens and empowers you to experience more of life's fullness.
Holding on to past patterns and grievances only limits the possibilities. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Let go. Surrender whatever limits you. Face whatever you are resisting. In the experience of any loss, it is never too late to complete. Through your willingness to walk in the dark forest, insights and revelations will naturally emerge.
Red Serpent represents your Challenge and Gift. With maturity and awareness this challenge will turn into a Focus. This is what you desire to learn in this lifetime.Red Serpent represents the reptilian brain. This part of the brain thrives on routine, pattern and predictability. If you are in the shadow of Red Serpent, you may be living your life on "automatic pilot," appearing to be separated from choices motivated by your Essence Self. Utilitze the power of Red Serpent to create spontaneity and novelty, freeing the predictability of the routine and habitual.The shadow of Red Serpent can also be seen as adherence to cultural beliefs. One example of this is having the "right" diet, car, house, meditation practice, and so on. Another is wanting others to fit your picture of desirability or fulfill your desires, in order to create a feeling of security and self-worth. Transform these patterns. Discover your own intrinsic motives. Sense the novel choices available to you. Practice making decisions intuitively and spontaneously. You are being asked to connect instinct with essence.Another shadow of Red Serpent is being attached to the physical body or being enmeshed in sensual desires. Perhaps you identify so much with your body and how it looks that you think your body is you. This can support the illusion of separation from your Essence Self. Work with the issues and physical desires held within your body. Step aside from your self-judgements and issues of sexual expression. Utiltize Red Serpent to fully experience sexuality in alignment with love. See the body as a sacred tool for transformation. Step aside from judging the sexual preferences and expressions of yourself and others.Hidden in the dark recesses of this shadow are issues of sexual dysfunction, sexual harassment, rape, sexual abuse, and the fear around AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. Red Serpent offers transformation and healing. Revealed in these shadow issues of sexuality is a desire for deeper union, love, and intimacy. Some people feel intimacy only during infatuation or romantic interludes and lovemaking; however, intimacy is the mutual connection between essences. It is the ability to acknowledge the depths of another person, and it can be fostered through many kinds of sharing, including that of feelings and vulnerabilities, warmth and affection, and hopes and fears. Explore what it means to be intimate with another, remembering that intimacy is an open door to higher state of consciousness.The transformation offered in this shadow is found in learning to love yourself and others unconditionally.
Yellow Seed is your Compliment - something that comes naturally to you. Yellow Seed is the ordered pattern of growth. You and your life are the fertile soil, and the mystery blooms within you through the power of your intention or seed thoughts. Just as a seed contains the hologram of its completion, the process of manifestation follows a natural order. In this gestation process, your intention is quickened by Spirit. The charged seed, your true desire or vision, becomes the focus for germination.What can you open that will support receptivity and assist the germination of your seed intentions? Envision the seed receiving the invitation to grow in the openness of your world. Viscerally feel the possibility of your heart's dream emerging. Your true desires and dreams contain an innate intelligence that can break through even the rigidity of fixed expectations. Planting a new seed, even in the hard soil of old belief systems, can bring unexpected magic and growth.Be willing to break open the constraining shells of past patterns, the shackles of belief structures. Call forth your creative involvement with life. This involvement frees and awakens the powerful energy of the life force, shifting your perceptions and experience, catalyzing the manifestation of your dreams. Participate spontaneously in your growth, unrestricted by the illusion of old structures that once provided safety. Move forward into the light of new possibilities.Offer your dream-seed to the universe. In the ordered patterning of the light, align with your heart's greater purpose. In gratitude, surrender and release the seed to the benefit of your growth and its own pattern of perfection.The number for Yellow Seed is four, the vibration of measure. This is the number of cycles and seasons. It represents the ordered patterning of the light wherein, as Jose Arguelles says, "form learns to generate its own seed." The number four represents the freed pattern of form, the germination of specific seeds co-created with Spirit. If you are in the process of seeding something, meditate with the number four and the energy of Yellow Seed to assist you.
Your Tone is Tone 3 - ElectricMovement, change, flow, current, creativity, integration, sacred trinity.
Three is the ray of Rhythm, the galactic heartbeat of natural flow. This universal river offers you movement, and all possibilities flow within its pulse. Open yourself to its current of change!
The Electric Tone of 3 suggests that there is something you desire to change or integrate into the natural flow of your life. Become the 'third point of light,' created from the integration of polarity. Feel the pulse of the sacred trinity within you, revealing a new creation. Allow it to integrate that which has seemingly been lost, separated, or obscured from your sight.
If you have a tendency to be scattered in your creativity, make an extra effort to focus your energy. Align with your intention to express the truth. Now is the time for the Great Mystery to reveal itself through you. Know yourself as the capstone of light. Allow your creativity to express your spiritual journey.
Blue Electric Eagle is in the Skywalker wavespell
Kin: 55 Blue Electric Eagle
Be the 1st PASSENGER to add to Huw Thomas Edwards's page!
Josh Camarco
East Hampton CT USA
bowm
Hanoi 44 Viet Nam
poetpiet
Utrecht 09 Netherlands
cloelsatala
Auburn WA USA
cloel
Burnaby BC Canada
Sunderland MA USA
Youza
Panacea FL USA
Deamster
Pflugerville TX USA
Atlanta GA USA
traian stan
Mangalia 14 Romania
Lugo 58 Spain
Pinole California USA
Rock Hill South Carolina USA
Amsterdam North Holland Netherlands
Huw Thomas Edwards is a Yang Water Dragon
Yang Water Dragon
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408000
|
__label__wiki
| 0.656498
| 0.656498
|
Switch Now Home Loans make an impressive entrance into the Top 25 brokers list. - Switch Now Home Loans currently has six brokers who settled 462 loans over the last 12 months. The franchise group ranked 23rd in both business growth (years in business over loan book size) and total volumes for 2014 at $227,000,000. With their goal set firmly on delivering a positive experience to their clients, Switch Now Home Loans’ figures are set to increase even further.
Previous ranking: New entry
Ranked 7th for broker productivity (volume per broker)
On average each broker wrote $37.8 million in 2014
In business for 11 years and has a loan book worth $618,000,000
Elite Business Writers - highest industry accolade with the Australian Broking Awards awarded to Mortgage brokers who can continue to deliver a full banking experience to customers – as well as personalised service and show consistent growth.
MPA Top 100 - Mortgage Professionals Australia has a proud tradition of acknowledging the achievements of the nation's premiere finance brokers. This year, Switch Now Home Loans Richard Pusey was honoured to be named again in MPA's Top 100 Brokers Hall of Fame for 2013. That's an amazing 3 years in a row!
Australian Broking Awards 2011 Finalist - The Australian Broking Awards are the only industry awards focusing solely on the leading brokers and brokerages in the Australian mortgage industry. The awards recognise the very best brokers and brokerages in the industry. Switch Now Home Loans were very proud to see Richard Pusey come runner up in 2011.
PLAN Australia's Sales Masters Award
PLAN Australia appreciates their members' hard work and achievements and through the Sales Masters Award, acknowledgement and recognition is given to these top achievers. PLAN Australia's Sales Masters are the top 200 individual member loan consultants, measured by settled loans in a given period. Richard Pusey achieved the following awards whilst a member of the PLAN Australia Group.
Sales Master 2007, 2008 and 2009
Platinum Sales Master 2010, 2011 and 2012.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408001
|
__label__cc
| 0.717984
| 0.282016
|
Showing posts with label judge. Show all posts
Goes Unpublished
by Leigh Lundin
I detest being lied to, I really do. Worse, I sometimes can’t tell when I’m lied to. Take the following case in which a tenant spun fanciful stories I found all too believable. Eventually, her tales grew so fantastic, they gave even me pause. The fact women could see through her when I couldn’t gave me greater appreciation. It’s undoubtedly the reason female defendants prefer all-male (and very gullible) juries.
Come to think of it, I had a problem with a previous tenant, a stripper who’d wrap males around her little finger. Those problems came to a close when a female deputy, immune to her abundant charms, took her in hand.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, I discovered my internal lie-detector is broken.
Typical Landlord
The Never-Ending (First) Storey
After 22 months, I’ve finally succeeded in an eviction. Almost… the deputy hasn’t yet executed the Writ of Possession, so it’s still possible the tenant may pull off another coup.
Part of it’s my own fault– I was out of state for lengthy periods. The tenant fought vacating the property with everything she had. I’d been contracting kitchen and bathroom renovations– new oak cabinets, new granite counters renters might find hard to damage, and new flooring. This coincided with Hurricane Irma (life in Florida’s defined by hurricanes) when subcontractors proved hard to find.
Peculiarly, replacing cabinets and counters requires four distinct kinds of workmen and ne’er the twain shall meet. Cabinet installers won’t work with wiring, plumbing, or (shudder) cabinet tops. The granite and marble people won’t touch electrical, plumbing, or God forbid, cabinets. Needless to say, electricians and plumbers don’t handle the other stuff either.
The tenant disliked that I was permanently removing the garbage disposal, a practice I began long ago in response to abuse by renters. Mats of hair and buckets of bacon grease don’t work well inside pipes… and disposals. Tenant insisted a garbage grinder, along with air, water, and cable television, constituted an essential human right.
We also underwent a conflict with the dishwasher. I don’t know why, but more than one tenant eschews using dishwashers. The machines need to be used every week or so to keep seals moist and the mechanism working. In this case, the tenant wanted to store dishes in her machine and complained about water pooled around the central pump.
I explained that was normal; she disagreed. She argued it was a health hazard. What might happen, she said, if water should leap out on the floor. I know, I know– weird, huh. I stated I’d much rather she follow the terms of the lease by changing air conditioning filters once a month so our new a/c wouldn’t break down and maybe dump water on the floor.
As the lease was expiring, new cabinets went in, new counters went in, wiring was finished, and new plumbing… never happened. Plumber A reported he tried several times to schedule an appointment and she refused. Plumber B reported he tried several times to schedule an appointment and she refused. WTF? as the blogger wrote.
Typical Tenant Victim
Hook, Line, and Sink
Most strangely, the original kitchen sink and its new faucet went missing. Oh, said the tenant, the cabinet people put it on the curb for trash pickup. WTF? The tenant claimed installers wouldn’t put discarded cabinets on the curb, but they specifically toted out the sink they were supposed to reuse?
We wouldn’t do that, said the cabinet folks. We wouldn’t do that either, said the granite people. Both said the tenant told them not to reuse the sink and faucet.
Belatedly sensing I’d been lied to, I asked the tenant if her boyfriend/caretaker took the sink and faucet for his flea market business. Lo, a miracle happened. Said boyfriend found a matching sink complete with identical faucet on a neighborhood curb and brought it home, too late, of course, to be inset and sealed by the counter workmen.
Trashing in Public
The homeowner’s association complained about junk in the front yard. The cabinet installers said the tenant told them not to put the old cabinets and refuse on the curb. Once again, WTF?
The tenant told me HUD Section 8 called in her friends in Code Enforcement, aka the decorating police. That seemed peculiar since the house recently passed inspection predicated upon finishing the plumbing.
The tenant told me the electric company turned off the power because her electrical cords were sparking, and oh yes, she needed new light bulbs. I explained I kindly replaced bulbs during my visits, but electrical cords, light bulbs, and taking out the trash were the tenant’s responsibility, as explained in the lease. The tenant disagreed.
In fact, the tenant disagreed so much she stopped paying rent. Ma’am, I said, you can’t live here if you don’t pay rent. The tenant disagreed.
The tenant announced because I’ve been such a bad landlord, light bulbs didn’t work, the electrical cord for her television didn’t work, the garbage disposal didn’t work and, thanks to unfinished plumbing, the kitchen sink didn’t work. Oh, and according to her, Code Enforcement was coming after me for all of the above plus piles of trash in the yard.
“You try make me move,” she said. “I own your ass. My friends want me sue you,” she said, “but I tell them you’re a nice man. Bad landlord, but nice man.”
Tenant for months refused to take my calls. Tenant also refused the property manager’s calls. The property manager, a wise woman I trust, told me the tenant had been lying her ass off to me.
I posted 3-day pay or vacate notices and 7-day notices to cure. The latter included an extensive list of property and lease violations, much of it related to her boyfriend/caretaker wrecking the back yard and cutting down trees from a lovely grove to further his lawnmower, appliance, and car engine repair business.
Typical Code Enforcement Officer
Dennis Rader
Tenant complained I’m such a bad landlord, the air conditioner no longer worked. She claimed Section 8 yet again called in Code Enforcement because shower heads went missing. Likewise, electrical switch plates someway disappeared. A tiny corner of linoleum under the cabinets’ kickplate curled ever so minutely, constituting a dastardly dangerous hazard to life and limb. If I took her to court, she said she’d bring Code Enforcement, whom mortals fear more than Lord Voldemort on a bad hair day.
As a landlord, as a male, I’ve learned to be leery. My reasons not to visit an XX chromosome tenant alone are a little different from persnickety Mike Pence’s, but it pays to be cautious. This time I took my friend Geri. After that meeting, she said, “I’m too much of a Southern lady to say she’s lying, but she doesn’t have a Godly relationship with the truth.”
For the first time we learned Section 8 was paying for another apartment in a nice downtown building while the tenant simultaneously hung onto my property with all her devious might.
I’d divined two reasons the tenant refused to move. She’d piled the house full of her treasures from hoarding. The living room housed a half dozen washers and dryers from her boyfriend’s business, suggesting another primary reason for clinging to the property. Where could he house and practice his lawnmower and appliance repair business?
Geri, a teacher, figured out a third and possible principal reason. By keeping my address, the tenant was able to keep her girls in the well-regarded school next door, and not send them to the inner city school that went along with her new apartment. In Florida, enrolling children in schools outside the tax district is considered fraud.
The property manager, calling from a different phone number, made one last stab at getting the tenant out, specifying a cutoff date. The tenant refused but, armed with the our target date, phoned me the morning of.
“Are you really going to court today?”
“This afternoon, yes, I am. You have a final chance to leave quietly.”
Unsurprisingly, she declined, but phoned me minutes before I departed for the courthouse.
“I slipped and fell. The lawyers for the clinic want an initial $50,000 to treat me.”
“What? Where? How did you fall?”
“In the kitchen, that curled piece of linoleum.”
“How could your toe reach it? It’s under the cabinets. Did a seizure cause the fall? Wait… Lawyers for the clinic? Don’t you have Medicare or Medicaid?”
“Yes, but I no use it for this. I need $50,000.”
“Convenient it happens on the day I file the paperwork.”
“Did I say today? I mean recently, since I saw you last.”
“After you were asked to leave?”
“Um, maybe a year ago, yes, that’s it. You know my seizures cause memory problems.”
“Last year after your lease expired and you were supposed to move out?”
“I mean two years ago, yes, two years.”
Instead of filing that day, I made an appointment to see a lawyer. He said dryly, “A surprising number of slip ’n’ falls happen during evictions. If she persists, come back and see me.”
A-Courting We Will Go
Finally, I spent a small pot of money to fund the eviction in court. The clerk of court’s rules lay out four requirements a tenant must follow to contest an eviction.
My tenant did none of them.
Instead, she wrote a 37-page letter to the judge that was shielded from public view (including my own) under a lock called VoR… view on request. That meant I had to execute a number of steps including a notarized affidavit and then wait for the clerk to determine if I was a deserving lad allowed to read it. When I finally found I could peep at it, all I could download was the first page. (The judge later kindly explained the remaining 36 pages were made up of letters and notices from various government agencies.) Curiously, that first page contained yet another version of the slip ’n’ fall, this time in the bathroom on a wet floor caused by a missing shower head.
At the end of page 1, the tenant advanced an innovative argument that the landlord owes her money for taking care of the property for him.
The morning of the hearing, my friend Thrush suggested I drive by the property to photograph the tenant’s trash. To my surprise, a white cargo van and a large trailer sat parked in front, doors open for loading. Another friend snapped photos for me.
With friends and witnesses, Darlene and Geri, I girded our loins and set forth to wage righteous battle in the courthouse.
I hardly said a word. I didn’t need to.
The judge was a smart lady, very, very astute. She asked the tenant and her boyfriend/caretaker if they still lived at my rental address.
The tenant said no, she’d moved to a new apartment paid for by Section 8. The judge cocked an eye at me.
I said, “As we speak, Judge, a cargo van and extended trailer are loading goods from the house. I brought photos.”
The tenant hadn’t expected that. Quite unconscious of her previous contention, she proceeded to justify why she still lived at my address, mainly that I was a bad landlord but, she insisted, she didn’t live there.
“Did you give the landlord the keys?” asked the judge.
“No, I changed the locks. He’s a bad landlord. He won’t take our trash to the curb and…”
Time and again, the judge brought her back to the subject at hand. “So you do live there?”
“No, Your Honor, I just stay here so my girls can go to school. I keep it as my residence.” (Geri nailed the student residency issue.) “And Mr Leigh complains about our cutting trees down and he don’t want my boyfriend, I mean caretaker, working no more on cars and lawnmowers and he no fix my light bulbs and plumbing and he took away my disposal and I slip on the wet kitchen floor and I no wear my arm sling in public but I hurt my wrist and no use my Medicare so I call Code Enforcement who say he’s a bad landlord and…”
The tenant had just told yet another version of slip ’n’ fall. I wondered if the judge caught the differences between her testimony and the version she gave the judge in the letter. I need not have worried.
“Stop.” The judge gave the basketball timeout T-signal. “I find you do live there.”
“No, Your Honor, He’s mean to say that. I only…”
“Stop right there. I’m granting the plaintiff a Writ of Possession.”
“How long does that give me before I must move, Your Honor?” asked the tenant.
“Once a deputy executes it, you have 24-hours to depart.” With the upcoming weekend plus assignment to a deputy, the tenant had a few days grace period.
The unhappy tenants departed.
As I packed up, the judge leaned to the clerk and said, “That woman lied from the moment she opened her mouth and never stopped. I hate being lied to.”
Damn, every woman sensed her lying. Score: Women 6, Leigh 0. I’m not a bad landlord, but I am a terrible lie detector.
Oh, wanna buy a house? Sandwiched between two schools, it’s a great rental unit.
Posted by Leigh Lundin at 00:00 10 comments
Labels: court, judge, Leigh Lundin, lying
Location: Orlando, FL 32860, USA
Reptilian Florida
Albert and Pogo
A couple of incidences have caused me to connect again with my first published story, ‘Swamped’.
For one thing, I caught an alligator. Over my dock spreads a marvelous shade tree. I enjoy meals there watching the animals and the birds– herons, anhingas (snake birds), ducks and egrets. An amazing delegation of white pelicans visited, first combing the lake in a straight line and then moving into the canal, tightly bunched, fishing as a coordinated group. Not long ago, a fish eagle, an osprey plunged into the water a few feet from me, carrying off a bream for lunch.
I flip scraps to the fish, especially the minnows, although bigger fish and turtles pull themselves up to the table. Recently, an uninvited visitor began showing up whenever I stepped out on the dock.
It was an alligator, a juvenile a little less than four feet long. A couple of people suggested my neighbor was feeding gators and others said teens flipped them food near the bridge. Someone obviously was feeding the beast because it not only showed no fear, it arrived with a dinner napkin.
Floridians are instructed never to feed gators because they come to associate people with food. An alligator fifteen inches long might seem cute, but when it’s fifteen feet and hungry, that’s another matter. Pets and people have been killed by gators that lost their instinctive fear of humans. Unchallenged backyard gators could cause bigger problems later.
The alligator continued to visit and aggressively shouldered aside turtles to get close to the pier. On Mother’s Day, I carried lunch out to the dock and there he lounged, serviette tucked under his chin ready to celebrate.
Setting down my tray, I picked up a rope. I lassoed the guy and pulled him out of the water despite unpleasant protests and naughty words about my ancestry.
For those who haven’t had the pleasure of handling alligators, one has to be careful of both ends– the powerful jaws are only half the story. The tail is armored muscle, part whip, part club. In or out of the water, a twist of the tail can roll a gator faster than a person can move. The claws can be nasty too, so one has to act with certainty.
A guy who should have known better.
With the help of the lasso, I grabbed him behind the shoulders, letting him thrash his tail until he tired. Opening a large trash can, I lowered Fuzzy inside. I poured in a couple of litres of water so he wouldn’t dehydrate and phoned Wildlife Services.
Pausing for a moment, readers of the Dell Magazine Forum may remember my saga with my pet reptile, Albert. When I was a teen, I brought home an alligator and it lived in our living room for twenty-five years. Named after a character in Walt Kelly's Pogo comic strip, he was a good pet and really loved my dad. Albert proved particularly beneficial keeping salesmen away from the door. Over the years, he appeared in ads and our high school play. I hasten to add this was up north and not in Florida.
Actually, I called Animal Control first, the cat and dog people. They said, “You got a what? Really? On purpose? What’s it’s name?”
“Fuzzy,” I said. Apparently their forms have a slot that require a pet’s name.
“Really? How big is he?” she said. “Does he bite? We don’t handle alligators. You’ve got to call Wildlife Services.”
So I phoned Wildlife Services. To my surprise, they sent an earnest, very competent officer on Mother’s Day to pick up Fuzzy. He taped Fuzzy’s mouth shut, which muffled the cursing. He seated Fuzzy in the back of his truck. I like to think Fuzzy is basking in the sun in a secluded marsh with lots of girlie gators to flirt with.
And then… and then about a week later, TWO of Fuzzy’s siblings showed up for breakfast. I’d like to say they wore fedoras and shoulder holsters, but they were about the same size as Fuzzy, a little over a metre long. I spotted a five-footer cruising the middle of the canal although it ignored the local hospitality. He could have been smoking a ‘see-gar’ like Pogo’s Albert. I’m certain I’m in an alligator reality show.
If you think Fuzzy might have been a scary creature…
Judge: If I had a rock, I would throw it at you right now. Stop pissing me off! Just sit down! I’ll take care of it. I don’t need your help. Sit… down!
P.D. : I’m the public defender, I have the right to be here and I have a right to stand and represent my clients.
Judge: Sit down. If you want to fight, let’s go out back and I’ll just beat your ass.
P.D. : Let’s go right now.[In corridor, judge sucker-punches PD; scuffle]
Judge: You wanna ƒ with me? Do ya?
When I wrote the story ‘Swamped’, I worried readers might not think the mad judge was realistic. He was based on an actual Orange County judge whose bizarre behavior made the news. The actual incidences of citing people in a diner for contempt and ordering a cop who stopped the judge for DUI to appear before him in court actually happened. Throughout, the powers that be seemed powerless to stop him.
Although that situation proved weirder than most, other judges have slipped the rails including one who harangued jurors and threatened them with jail. Often other judges will set matters right after the fact, but it shouldn’t have to be that way. With a state as punitive as Florida, who wants to take chances?
Now another central Florida judge has lost it, swearing at and slugging a lawyer. I hear some of you applauding the judge for pummeling the lawyer, doing what most of us want to do at one time or another, but remember virtually all judges are lawyers. Anyone other than a judge would be arrested for punching and verbally abusing any citizen. But in Florida, at least, judges act as if they're immune from such mundane concerns, merely cajoled to seek treatment for 'anger management'. Ironically, the defendant was in court for assault charges.
I doubt the applause in the courtroom will get defendants very far.
A judge who should have known better.
Reporting from Florida…
Labels: Albert, alligator, Churchy, judge, lawyers, Leigh Lundin, Pogo, Walt Kelly
The Circuit Administrator's Tale
by Eve Fisher
Here's another story from the old days when I was a circuit administrator:
I was driving home from work, from the courthouse, going down Main Street, and I saw an old battered car sitting in a church’s parking lot to the right of me. It was angled funny, and as I got nearer, it started to move. My sixth sense clicked in, and somehow I knew he wasn’t going to stop coming out, even though I had the right of way, being on the main drag. So I stopped just before the corner of this parking lot, and he came out, gunning the engine, burning rubber: and coming right AT me. Head on, without stopping, a fixed look on his face. And there I was stuck, while this maniac played chicken with me with no place for me to even get out of his way. At the very last minute he swerved, missing me and my front bumper by about an inch, and got on his side of the road. But he was still so close he drove over the base of the lamppost in the center of the street, and nicked another one, and I watched his hub cap or wheel rim fly off.
And then he was gone. Now I'd memorized his license plate - I had nothing else to do and nowhere to go while he was gunning his car at me, other than try to keep breathing and not pee my pants - so I went straight home and called the police. I knew every cop in town - and in about 14 counties at the time - so it didn't take long for one to come by. I told him what had happened, gave him the license plate number, and they found him in about fifteen minutes. There are perks to being a circuit administrator in a small town in a rural state... :)
When they found him, he admitted the whole thing. He’d just had a huge fight with his wife and before he left home he’d busted out all the windows in his house and maybe some other stuff. Then he was still so angry he decided to use his car as a weapon against the first woman he saw: me. His license was revoked, so he wasn't even supposed to be driving in the first place, but that was irrelevant to his thinking.
That happened on Friday afternoon. Monday morning, I told the Judge about what had happened. Later, the State's Attorney came to run over the court calendar, and the Judge brought up the incident.
The Judge asked "What did you charge him with?"
"Reckless driving and reckless driving with a revoked license." Two misdemeanors, very standard.
"What about aggravated assault?"
The SA shrugged. "Nah."
"I think you should charge him with aggravated assault."
"Mm hmm."
"I said," (That got the SA's attention) "I think you should charge him with aggravated assault. Or attempted murder."
"You're kidding."
"No, I'm not. He tried to kill her. I want him charged with aggravated assault at least."
So the SA charged the guy with aggravated assault, which is a Class 1 Felony. The guy - who finally figured out that he'd aimed his car at the wrong woman ("Man, you tried to kill the judge's CA!") - packed his bags and left town in the middle of the night, and was never heard of again.
As you can imagine, it felt good to have the judge stand up for me and protect me and all that. Until I found out from the sheriff's department that the guy had been driving them nuts for a while. They knew he was dealing drugs, but they couldn't ever quite catch him. Having him leave town was just as good as having him arrested. And he'd never dare come back, because that charge would be waiting for him for - well, for a meth guy, which he was, basically forever.
So, was the judge standing up for me, or being diabolically clever on getting rid of a standing nuisance? Or both? Another day in the life...
Posted by Eve Fisher at 00:01 7 comments
Labels: aggravated assault, circuit administrator, judge, meth, reckless driving
Location: Madison, SD 57042, USA
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408007
|
__label__wiki
| 0.643535
| 0.643535
|
TSA Foils Alleged Kidnapping
Airfare Deals Aug 3, 2012
Caroline Morse Teel
Unfortunately for her bank account, Senior Editor Caroline Morse Teel is powerless to resist a good flight deal. Follow her on Twitter @CarolineMorse1 and Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.
Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.
Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.
The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"
Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.
Travel Motto: "Don't be boring."
Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."
E-mail her at cmorse@smartertravel.com.
See recent posts by Caroline Morse Teel
cmorse@smartertravel.com
Sure, we’ve been a little harsh on the TSA at times, but we’re also happy to note when the agency do something good. Or in this case, something pretty awesome.
CNN reports that two of the TSA’s behavior detection officers helped rescue an allegedly kidnapped woman at Miami International Airport. The officers apparently noticed that something was not right with the 25-year old woman, and separated her from her four travel partners. The woman reportedly first told the officers that she was okay, but after further questioning admitted that she had been kidnapped by her travel companions.
Two of the women, a 19-year-old and a 25-year-old, both from New Jersey, were charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, strong-arm robbery, aggravated assault, and petty theft.
CNN cites a police report which detailed the kidnapping, saying that the two women picked a fight with the victim, beat her, and then stole money from her bank account, before taking her to the airport. There, the TSA workers noticed that the victim seemed afraid of her travel group, and questioned her.
Are you surprised to see the TSA do something good? Tell us in the comments, or share your own feel-good TSA stories.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408009
|
__label__cc
| 0.700816
| 0.299184
|
Home » Strength In Sandwiches
Strength In Sandwiches
By Pat Dando
Healthier Image, Greater Variety Sustain Sandwich Popularity
Which came first, the decline of the reign of the hamburger or consumers’ new allegiance to the sandwich?
About the same time that McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s started to stumble, the fast casual masters such as Panera and Corner Bakery were coming on strong.
Subway started emphasizing a health and “good for you (and your waistline, too)” positioning. And Quizno’s positioned itself for rapid expansion, opening 1,500 units since 2000, with a current total of 2,500. Of course, that doesn’t come close to Subway’s 25,000-plus units or even Arby’s 3,500-plus.
Everyone is fighting for a bigger share of our stomachs, and the folks in the sandwich/bakery area are doing a very fine job indeed. When obesity and unhealthy eating came to the forefront nearly three years ago, the hamburger was socially correct, fast, convenient and a good value. Now, after all of the focus and threats of lawsuits, the hamburger is questionable as our food of choice.
According to a recent study conducted by Technomic Consultants, $105 billion is spent annually on hand-held food items. That is roughly 25% of the $430 million total foodservice sales. David Henkes of Technomic explains that the study concludes that hamburgers will grow at only 0.5% per year for the next three years while deli, sub and hoagie sandwiches are expected to grow at a very healthy 6% per year.
Hot sandwiches and the taco/burrito categories are anticipated to have an attractive 4.5% growth rate. We are already seeing that the big-three hamburger chains’ current growth is coming from new salad and sandwich offerings — not hamburgers.
The sandwich players have the luxury of having a lot of foods to play with. First there is the bread (or bread alternative). Everything must be fresh and that is why almost all chains bake their bread on-premises. Ordinary white or wheat just won’t cut it today.
Panera offers sandwiches on Ciabatta, three types of Focaccia (Asiago cheese, Rosemary & Onion and Basil Pesto), Asiago cheese, Artisan Three Cheese and a host of other upscale bread selections.
According to Foodbeat Inc., a Wheaton, Ill.-based firm that tracks menu changes for the 200 largest restaurant chains, the mention of panini on chain menus has more than doubled over the past four years. Many more are termed as warmed, grilled or toasted. Hot sandwiches (other than hamburgers) are in a definite growth mode.
As consumers seek higher taste profiles in everything they eat, sandwiches are no exception. Often the overall flavor is achieved through the sauces or condiments used to permeate all of the other ingredients. The days of strictly ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise are probably gone forever.
Subway and other sandwich chains have upgraded their meats as well as their display areas. Customers want their food fast, but they also like to see their sandwich being assembled and provide instructions to the sandwich maker.
Cosi Inc., New York, (soon moving its headquarters to Chicago) holds 80-plus units and was built on a concept developed in Paris. A “crackly crust” bread baked throughout the day in an open-flame, stone-hearth oven is the “star” of the operation.
Cosi ran into some rather serious problems, largely due to mismanagement. Now a turnaround appears to be in sight and the company is ready for further expansion.
According to Paul Seidman, vice president, Food & Beverage, Cosi’s typical customer is described as “Metro Elite” 18-34 year-olds, with no children. The average check falls in the $8 to $9 range.
The most popular sandwich is the Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella, with or without chicken. Limited-time-offer sandwiches are also popular, accounting for 15% of sales.
Seidman explains that “aggressive flavor builders are very popular. You have to present them with balance, such as in our roast beef with wasabi mayonnaise and pickled ginger, for a touch of sweetness. There are subtleties in how you can obtain layered flavors and complex flavors.”
All this makes the sandwich category of the foodservice industry the right place to be at this time.
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in a previous issue of Stagnito’s New Products magazine.
Top U.S. foodservice trends
State of the Industry 2016: Breakfast standbys hold their ground
Bruegger's Bagels joins effort to end childhood hunger in America
Hygiene, flexibility among top priorities for belt, conveyor customers
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408013
|
__label__cc
| 0.565701
| 0.434299
|
Home » Ingredient Showcase
Ingredient Showcase
Commercial Creamery offers No-trans fat Snack Seasonings, Giving Snacks Flavor but no Hydrogenated Fat. Among its Seasonings Are: Cheddar Cheese, bbq & Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream & Green Onion, Yogurt & Onion, Asiago, Mango Chutney, Cheddar & Gorgonzola, Fish & Chip, Prime Rib, Chicken Curry, English Toffee and Many, Many More. 1-510-257-7200.
www.cheesepowder.com
The power of Pizzey’s Milling flaxseed ingredient claims on product lines is beneficial. Its ingredients are easy to blend into existing operations, are available at a low cost to include in formulations, provide strong label copy and add to the overall nutritional enhancement of product with vital amounts of Omega-3, protein, increased fiber. All are non-GMO. 1-877-804-6444.
www.pizzeys.com
Astaris’ comprehensive portfolio of food phosphates greatly improves the texture, appearance and flavor of a broad range of food and beverage products. Its leavening phosphates targeted to the baking industry include Levn-Lite SALP, which adds excellent volume, texture, color and lightness to chemically leavened baked goods. Phosphates also can function as dough conditioners and nutrients for yeast. 1-800-244-6169.
www.astaris.com
Fiberstar, Inc. developed a unique, patented, all-natural food fiber made from fresh citrus pulp. Citri-Fi mimics shortening, functions like a fat and transforms the properties of baked goods when added to existing formulas. Citri-Fi reduces both trans and saturated fats, cuts calories and net carbs, adds dietary fiber, expands shelf life, and most importantly, does not compromise taste. Citri-Fi is a moisture management tool, and has the ability to attract, bind and manage high levels of water up to 12 times its weight. Citri-Fi helps to produce a product that is equal or better in volume, that has better mouthfeel, and a moist, soft texture. 1-320-231-1829.
www.fiberstar.net
New dietary guidelines issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) suggest consuming 1.5 oz. of healthy nuts, such as hazelnuts four to five times per week, depending on caloric intake. According to the Hazelnut Council, hazelnuts deliver a good balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats, but also are a healthy source of nutrients such as Vitamin E, folate, heart healthy B vitamins and blood pressure lowering minerals. Nuts also are a rich source of energy, magnesium, potassium, protein and fiber. 1-206-270-HNUT.
www.hazelnutcouncil.org
Danisco USA Inc., is revolutionizing the snack industry with its introduction of the Grindsted Barrier System, designed for superior moisture management in a variety of applications. The system is designed to allow any cracker, biscuit, cookie or wafer to stay dry and maintain crispiness despite being close to fillings and other components with high moisture content. The system is a combination of beeswax and an emulsifier, which is sprayed on to form a watertight film between fillings and solid layers. The non-brittle barrier also is able to withstand mechanical stress after its application. 1-800-255-6837.
www.danisco.com
Spectrum Foods, Inc. is rolling out new Nexsoy Extra High Fiber Low-Fat Soy Flour designed for use in high-fiber and/or reduced-carb bread, cookie and bakery products. Nexsoy ingredients are produced with a proprietary solvent-free process, resulting in a neutral taste profile. These ingredients can be incorporated at high inclusion rates without affecting flavor or texture and are available in natural, non-GMO and organic versions.
www.spectrum-foods.com
National Starch & Chemical Co.’s new brochure on NOVOMEGA encapsulated omega-3 provides information on how the product can help manufacturers meet consumer demand for its heart-healthy ingredient. NOVOMEGA can be easily added to baked goods without affecting their taste, texture or aroma while delivering important benefits to consumers. The brochure, titled: “NOVOMEGA Encapsulated Omega-3 Fatty Acids … Satisfying Consumers’ Demand for Healthy Foods with Great Taste” is free. 1-800-797-4992.
www.foodinnovation.com
New from Edlong Dairy Flavors is natural and artificial Asiago cheese type flavor #1356 powder. The ingredient delivers a full-bodied cheese flavor with aged and savory notes along with a yeasty background. The ingredient is also water dispersible and Kosher dairy. 1-888-MY-TASTE.
www.edlong.com
Today’s consumers are focused on wellness. Bunge Oils is addressing health with new Delta SL — a natural vegetable oil produced from a proprietary process. Delta SL is metabolized more rapidly than traditional oils and inhibits the body’s ability to absorb LDL cholesterol. This can help maintain desired body weights and lower bad cholesterol in consumers when used as a replacement for traditional cooking oils. Benefits are a naturally bland flavor, resulting in a cleaner taste. It can perform as a salad oil or cooking oil and is enriched to maintain a healthy lipid profile.
www.bungeoils.com
Versatility is key for Terri Lynn Inc. A natural plus for dairy, bakery and confectionery products, the company can help manufacturers match individual needs with a wide variety of food types and sizes, as well as consistent quality. Giving manufacturers a premium ingredient to fit specific formulations, Terri Lynn Inc. can also ship truckloads in a single day from its locations. 1-800-323-0775.
www.terrilynn.com
Nestlé offers morsels, miniatures and candy inclusions/toppings for manufacturers. Nestlé morsels include Toll House Chunks, white morsels, milk chocolate and peanut morsels and more for baking. Nestlé miniatures are perfect for snack packs. Favorite Nestlé candy inclusions and toppings are available in pieces for use in snack and baking products. 1-866-429-5371.
www.Nestleusa.com
Pizzey’s Milling USA’s SelectGrad line of milled flaxseed is an economical, non-allergenic, label- and consumer-friendly, vegetarian source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Pizzey’s announced that products containing flaxseed qualify for two Food & Drug Administration-approved Structure Function Claims — ALA Omega-3s are beneficial to health maintenance and ALA Omega-3s support cardiovascular health. Milled flaxseed is a rich source of fiber, phytoestrogens, and Omega-3 fatty acids. This component also qualifies milled flaxseed for both FDA-approved Nutrient Content Claims and Structure Function Claims. This level of Omega-3 is available in as little as 1.6 gm. of Pizzey’s Milled Flaxseed. 1-877-804-6444.
FP 600, a specialty wheat protein from MGP Ingredients helps create softer, more pliable flour tortillas. The addition of the protein to a moderate flour significantly improves the shelf-life stability of flour tortillas. Tortillas containing this unique wheat protein remain soft for 20 to 24 days. Also, it enhances gluten performance in weak and moderate flours while allowing the dough to be extensible. 1-800-255-0302.
www.mgpingredients.com
Blue Chip Organic from Minsa is blue organic corn processed into stoneground, corn masa flour, and is characterized by a medium-fine grind. It has a trace of lime and no additives. Shelf life of the product is four months and its flavor and odor are typical of corn. The flour is designed for the in-line production of tortilla chips, and it’s neutral pH controls blistering. 1-800-852-8291.
www.minsa.com
Cargill Dry Ingredients (DCI), a business unit of Cargill, introduces its new MaizeWise, a line of whole-grain corn and corn-bran products. The new line includes three whole-grain corn and two corn bran products suitable for use in baked goods applications such as bread, tortillas, taco shells and extruded snacks. MaizeWise whole-grain corn products can function as a replacement for existing corn meal, masa or corn flours to mesh with the Food and Drug Administration-approved whole-grain claim. It can also be blended with other ingredients. 1-952-742-7393.
www.cargilldci.com
New from the American Egg Board is a booklet entitled “Egg Products Reference Guide.” This guide is filled with exciting egg information from egg nutrient values to egg vitamins to eggs as nutraceuticals to refrigerated egg products. Typical egg specifications, functions and issues also are addressed, making this booklet a must-use, must-read for consumers who want to know what eggs can do for them. 1-877-488-6143.
www.aeb.org
Commercial Creamery Co. developed a new butter flavor, Butter Burst 8132. The enzyme modified butter powder is bursting with butter flavor, which adds mouthfeel and richness to a variety of products without adding fat. The recommended starting usage level is 1% in a variety of baked goods. 1-800-541-0850.
ADM Specialty Food Ingredients offers more than 500 high-quality ingredients. Its new baking booklet focuses on the baking industry across a wide range of products and processes. Covering everything from services to applications, cakes to cookies, snacks to cereals, pizza to pie crusts and more, this booklet provides the answers bakers are looking for. Learn more about industry challenges like carb-counting and trans fat watching to information about R&D resources listed by industry. 1-866-545-8200.
www.admworld.com
QUALISOY is a partnership of food industry representatives, including the United Soybean Board, Monsanto, ADM, Cargill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and others. The goal of this partnership is to improve the compositional traits of soybeans in order to answer the food industry’s needs for trans fat-free solutions to hydrogenated oils. Recently, several technology providers have announced the commercialization of soybean varieties with low-linolenic acid. The products include VISTIVE from Monsanto, a 1% low linolenic variety from Iowa State University, and NUTRIUM from Bunge and DuPont. 1-314-579-1583.
www.qualisoy.com
Briess Malt & Ingredients Co. introduces malted barley as a whole grain ingredient that bread and pizza makers can use to boost dietary fiber. Barley contains no additives — nothing but barley and water are used from beginning to end in the malting process. The resulting malted barley has a wide range of applications, including use in bread formulations where barley can function as an all-natural dough conditioner, a flavor and color booster, texture enhancer and more.
www.briess.com
Pennant Foods provides convenient puff pastry products for bakeries, restaurants and other foodservice and retail establishments. The product features unique dough with 142 delicate and flaky layers that bake up crispy outside and soft inside. 1-800-877-1157.
www.chefsolutions.com
Kerry Ingredients U.S. introduces its first savory functional bar concept — Chili Con Queso Crisps. The product features a unique blend of masa, sweet potato crisps, brown rice crisps and crunchy soynuts blended with a robust chili-Cheddar topping. The concept offers consumers a completely different taste sensation as well as an alternative to sweets, and is packed with protein and fiber. 1-608-363-1200.
www.kerryamericas.com
SensoryEffects, a subsidiary of the Loders Croklaan IOI Group, launched a new patented technology designed to deliver shelf-stable Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA/EPA) into food products. SensoryEffects are lipid-based inclusions and bits designed to deliver flavor, aroma, color and texture in one piece. SensoryEffects technology provides stability and protects these polyunsaturated fatty acids which have been proven to maintain cardiovascular health. In addition, they also can be used in products with a longer shelf life. Moreover, SensoryEffects do not require refrigeration and are kosher. 1-800-621-4710.
www.sensoryeffects.com
Brolite offers customers a variety of rye sours for use in baking. For example, the FFP Melba Sour produces a mellow, tangy flavor in melba toast and all types of rye breads, rolls and pumpernickel. The Super Vita Rye Sour is a naturally fermented rye flavor that contains a blend of spices, producing a high-quality rye product with “Old World” flavor and aroma. All of the rye sours are a perfect blend of ingredients and function, giving bread that distinctive taste. 1-888-BROLITE.
www.BakewithBrolite.com
To avoid tortillas that are bursting at the sides, flaking, or turning into a hard, chewy end after heating in the microwave, a new class of gum blends may be the solution. Gum Technology Coyote Brand Tortilla Conditioners add pliability and strengthen dough, retain moisture, extend shelf life and prevent freezer burn, hardening and side burst. Gum Technology’s R&D department will help you match the right stabilizer to your needs. 1-877-GUM-TECH.
www.gumtech.com
ADM/Matsutani LLC
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408014
|
__label__cc
| 0.566741
| 0.433259
|
DeGrom wants Mets World Series over Cy Young
Aug 17, 2019 | 10:57PM
Jacob deGrom wants Mets World Series over Cy Young repeat
Mets' ace is focusing on team success over his own
By Nick Wojton | Aug 17, 2019 | 10:57PM
Jacob deGrom had another Cy Young caliber start on Saturday in a 4-1 win against the Kansas City Royals, but that's not the hardware he's thinking about.
Following the game, deGrom said despite his continuing run of excellent play, he's not worried much about winning his second-straight individual award. But the World Series? That's certainly on his mind.
"Honestly I haven't thought about [the Cy Young] too much," deGrom said. "I'd like to be in the talks for it, but the main goal is to put this team in a position to win. We've been playing good baseball since the All-Star break. Individual things are great, but goal is for the team to make it to the World Series and win that."
The Mets' ace is now above .500 on the season, bringing his record to 8-7 overall following his weekend efforts. It's the first time he's above .500 since his third start of the year on April 9 when he was 2-1.
DeGrom certainly had reason to be frustrated while his win-loss record was not there. Coming into Saturday, he posted a 1.97 ERA since May 22. The Mets were only 6-9 and he was only 4-2 in that stretch. Also prior to the game, deGrom had a 0.95 ERA since the All-Star break and he only had one Royal cross home on Saturday. Instead of letting the lack of support get him down, deGrom continued his grind and now he's back at a Cy Young pace.
Not bad numbers there, Jake.
While deGrom pushed aside early Cy Young talks on Saturday, Mets manager Mickey Callaway did as well, saying he "doubts" deGrom thinks about it much as of now, but the skipper did admit that the righty deserves that chatter.
"He's getting up there," Callaway said.
Tags: Jacob deGrom
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408015
|
__label__wiki
| 0.882852
| 0.882852
|
Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/949/25473
From The Socialist newspaper, 17 May 2017
Editorial of the Socialist, issue 949
Corbyn's manifesto: An important step in the right direction
Jeremy Corbyn signing an autograph for a supporter - his policies are rightly popular, but if he wins, he will face opposition from the billionaire class, the Blairites and the state, photo by Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Mobilise to fight for socialist change
Jeremy Corbyn has launched his manifesto by declaring Labour is the "party for the many" while the Tories are the "party of the rich".
The leaking of Labour's draft manifesto broke through the right-wing media's relentless assaults on Corbyn, and brought the policies into the light. Social media was alive with enthusiastic discussion. Labour went up in the polls - up to 32% in mid-week polls by Opinium and ORB, and 35% in a ComRes poll taken after the leak.
Socialist Party members experienced more people wanting to stop and talk, take leaflets and buy our paper in the morning as people heard the news. We are confident the headline policies in the manifesto will inspire many.
A million more people have registered to vote since the election was called. 42% of those registering are young. One reason for that will be a new generation reaching voting age. The introduction of individual voter registration meant that the number of school leavers on the register dropped by a quarter, at least some of whom are now registering.
Jeremy Corbyn in Worcester, May 2017, photo by Worcester SP (Click to enlarge)
It is also likely that they are registering in order to vote for Jeremy Corbyn's programme. Labour is significantly ahead of the Tories among the under-40s.
The right-wing press immediately went on the attack, naturally. The Daily Mail screamed that Labour would take us back to the 1970s - to which many responded, better than the 1870s with the Tories! Big business and their political representatives will move might and main to prevent a Corbyn victory.
Theresa May called the leaked manifesto "disastrous socialist policies". Ordinary working class people would be "appalled".
Actually the truth is the opposite. Polling showed overwhelming public support for Corbyn's policies. 52% support public ownership of railways, 50% of Royal Mail and 49% of energy. 71% back banning zero-hour contracts. 65% support higher taxes on those earning over £80,000. 54% support building more council homes.
Popular policies
In reality the Tories and the rich they represent are terrified that these policies are very popular. Recent elections in France, in the US, and the EU referendum, have been used by working class people to rebel against the wealthy capitalist establishment. That basic class anger goes further for many, seeking out a working class alternative. This has been shown in the huge support for Bernie Sanders in the US and Melenchon in France.
Polls currently show that while people support the policies, they are sceptical about Corbyn himself. This is hardly surprising considering the offensive launched on him every minute. Those around Corbyn complain about the attacks on him by the press, but do not sufficiently rebut those coming from the right of his own party. Unfortunately, over the last year Jeremy Corbyn's anti-austerity message, which has twice swept him into the leadership of the Labour Party, has not been heard by the majority of the population. Endless attempts to compromise with the pro-capitalist Blairite wing of the Labour Party have, to put it mildly, muffled his voice. Scepticism also comes from a lack of faith in any politician to actually do what they promise.
But a bold campaign could overcome this. Corbyn and his trade union backers, like general secretary of the Unite union Len McCluskey, need to get out to mass rallies and workplaces, with fighting talk against the rich, the "rigged system". If they boldly argue for jobs, workers' rights, homes and services, they could defy the 'experts' and win.
Theresa May called the general election gambling, based on the opinion polls, that she would be able to increase the Tories' currently puny majority. But as the Socialist explained, hers is a very high-risk strategy.
Jeremy Corbyn in York, May 2017, photo by Nigel Smith
A video has gone viral of one working class woman with a learning disability managing to break through the tight control and confront Theresa May about cuts to disability benefits. This speaks volumes about the real lives and views of working class people.
So the very policies May lambasts as "disastrous", she rehashes and offers up a 'Corbyn-lite' version, with pledges on council housing, 'workers' rights' and caps on energy prices. Corbyn is setting the agenda. The debate has been pushed to the left.
While the Tory press do their utmost to discredit him on defence, Corbyn's statement that a "bomb first, talk later" strategy has failed and is a "recipe for increasing, not reducing, threats and insecurity" will chime not only with young people but also the millions who opposed Tony Blair's war in Iraq and were turned off from voting Labour. Similarly, "no more hand-holding with Donald Trump" will also be popular with the hundreds of thousands mobilised against the racist, sexist billionaire.
Unfortunately, the manifesto shows that concessions have been made to the right of the party, in a vain hope at achieving unity. Many Corbyn supporters will be disappointed, for example, that the manifesto commits to renewing Trident. While the headline renationalisation of the railways is very popular, the small print shows that actually the rail companies will be renationalised as franchises expire. While the manifesto specifies a number of benefits that will be strengthened, and pledge to reform and redesign Universal Credit, there is not a general commitment to reverse cuts to social security.
Housing campaigners are disappointed that the manifesto does not commit to repeal the 2016 Housing and Planning Act. The original announcement by Corbyn that a Labour government would build a million homes, half of them council homes, has become half of them "council and housing association homes, for genuinely affordable rent or sale". The Socialist Party argues that we need a million council homes! Similarly, on rent controls, the manifesto promises to control rent rises, rather than set a cap on rent levels.
These are retreats made in the face of Blairite opposition. But the popularity of the policies, and the shift of the whole debate leftwards in response to them, shows that in reality there has never been a need to compromise with the Labour right.
The Socialist Party fully supports Jeremy Corbyn's anti-austerity stance. Since he was first elected as Labour leader we have done all we can to support the anti-austerity party in formation in its battle against the Blairite right of the Labour Party.
Representatives of the capitalist establishment exist inside the Labour Party as well as out. As last summer's coup attempt showed, the big majority of Labour MPs are desperate to ditch Corbyn. Contrary to their claims, this isn't because he is 'unelectable' but because they fear he might be elected.
We argued for democratising the Labour Party, allowing the readmission of expelled socialists, and introducing mandatory reselection of MPs. If that had been done, the anti-austerity wing of the Labour Party would be in a much stronger position than they are today, where the Blairites are circling ready to pounce beyond the general election, whatever its outcome.
The Blairites dare to suggest that they hold the key to electoral success, yet they want to continue with the same old pro-austerity policies that have seen France's equivalent of Labour - the PS - reduced to 6% in the first round of the French presidential elections.
After seven years of Tory misery voters have no interest in voting for an 'austerity-lite' version of Tory policies, the negative consequences of which many remember from New Labour's time in office.
Disgracefully, an unnamed right-wing source described the manifesto to the Mirror: "all it amounts to is a load of freebies for every special interest group. It's all concern for the 'feckless poor' and nothing for the hardworking majority."
Blairite MP Ben Bradshaw in Exeter declared that he would have nothing to do with it, and would produce his own Exeter manifesto. This is no different from the big number of right-wing MPs who are giving out local leaflets with no mention of Corbyn or his policies. One example is Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy, who also claims on her leaflets that "I fought and won the battle for the Butterfields estate," when actually it was the brave fight of the tenants, backed by the Socialist Party, that led to victory. The likes of Wes Streeting and John Woodcock blatantly declare they couldn't support Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister.
Never before has it been clearer that this is two parties in one: a pro-capitalist Blairite party and a new anti-austerity party in formation.
In 2016 Tony Blair declared that Corbyn becoming prime minister would be "a very dangerous experiment" which he wouldn't be prepared to risk. No surprise then that he is now going all out to try and prevent it happening - even suggesting that Labour voters consider supporting Liberal Democrats or Tories if they are 'pro-remain'.
The pro-capitalist wing will never give up attempts to strangle a new anti-austerity party. No more concessions should be made to them. We need a party that stands in the interests of the working class - not the billionaires!
A clear anti-austerity programme - in the interests of the working class - should also define Labour's approach to Brexit. Workers who voted for Brexit did so primarily because they were in revolt against all the misery they have suffered over the last decade. The Socialist Party has argued that Jeremy should make clear that he is fighting for a Brexit in the interests of the working and middle class majority.
The manifesto goes some way towards this - talking about prioritising jobs and living standards, protecting workers' rights and "every community" - but still makes concessions to the right wing by not spelling out a clear challenge to the role of the EU in enforcing austerity.
The manifesto argues for retention of "the benefits of the single market and the Customs Union" without spelling out a rejection of its neoliberal rules. While it talks a lot about preserving the workplace protections in EU law, it makes no mention of the EU regulations that have driven the race to the bottom, such as the 'posted workers directive', or that attempt to enforce privatisation. Correctly, the manifesto clearly opposes racism and defends the rights of EU migrants.
The policies in the manifesto could transform the lives of the majority of people - providing a living wage, affordable housing, decent public services and more. But a socialist, anti-austerity party would need to go further to solve all the problems faced by working class people.
For example, the plan on energy is actually to achieve government control of the distribution grids in stages over time, and to "support the creation of" publicly owned energy companies in each region, operating alongside private companies. However, continuing to operate in a profit-seeking market will make it impossible to control what happens to energy supply, prices, and sustainability. To ensure stability, genuine affordability, and to plan and invest in the rapid expansion of renewables, would require democratic nationalisation of the whole industry.
The economic plans in Corbyn's manifesto on investment represent a significantly bigger role by the state in the economy than has been posed for decades. Nonetheless, the proposals are extremely modest in terms of challenging private ownership of the main parts of the economy. The Labour manifestos in 1945, 1972 and 1983 included commitments to much more widespread nationalisation.
But it is such a departure compared with what has been on offer from the Blairite Labour Party and the Tories that it has the potential to shake everything up.
It is what the manifesto opens up that is so important, which is what the Tories and the Blairites fear so much. It says "it doesn't have to be like this". It opens the door to discussion about what society could be like.
The campaign in support of Jeremy Corbyn's manifesto means standing up against not only the Tories but also the representatives of capitalism inside the Labour Party, to continue to fight for a party that is capable of implementing this programme. And it means campaigning for an extension of socialist policies.
When the Tories and the capitalist media attack these policies as 'unaffordable', they mean that they might be detrimental to the gargantuan profits of the capitalist elite. There is no lack of money in Britain. The richest thousand people in Britain own £658 billion - up £83 billion in one year! Corbyn and McDonnell's tax measures aim to raise an extra £48.6 billion.
We support Jeremy Corbyn's plans to tax the rich and big corporations. For most of the 1970s, big corporations paid 52% of their profits in tax. But that percentage has been reduced step by step to 20% today. Even with their proposed increase, big business would still be paying the lowest level of corporation tax in the G7.
But we also recognise that the 'markets' - that is capitalism - will never meekly accept dramatically increased taxation and regulation, or piecemeal takeovers of private companies.
The 'rigged system' that Jeremy Corbyn refers to is run by and for a tiny number of wealthy individuals and companies. Today a tiny group of people, in Britain and worldwide, own and control industry, science and technique, and harness them in order to maximise their own profits.
Globally eight people own as much wealth as the poorest half of humanity; the greatest polarisation between rich and poor in human history. There are around 125 major corporations that completely dominate the economy. It is the tiny elite that own those companies and their hangers on who are the real establishment and are determined to try and stop Jeremy Corbyn coming to power.
The billionaires who are already squealing about Jeremy Corbyn's profligate policies will do all they can to sabotage their implementation if he is elected. Even the modest aims in this manifesto will eat into their profits too far for their liking. But mostly they are terrified that the expectations of working class people would be raised and would push Corbyn to go further than he currently intends.
This would include attempts to remove Corbyn from the premiership. But additionally, they would try to sabotage through measures like investment strikes, and removing their money from the banks. The enormous pressure applied to the Syriza government in Greece stands as a warning to any government that challenges the interests of the rich and big business.
This is why fighting for Corbyn's policies and more needs the workers' movement to mobilise mass active support. And it means being prepared to go further with socialist measures.
It would mean nationalising the big banking and finance companies, with compensation to shareholders paid only on the basis of proven need. A crucial step towards solving the economic crisis would be to take into democratic public ownership the 125 or so big corporations that control around 80% of Britain's economy. Unlike nationalisations in the past, this time it should be based on popular democratic control involving workers, trade unions and the community.
This would provide the possibility of developing a democratic, socialist plan of production that could very quickly transform the lives of millions.
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 17 May 2017:
Kick out the Tories! Corbyn can win
Kick out the Tories: For a Corbyn-led government
Tories out! Corbyn can win with socialist policies
TUSC confirms no candidates in June
Suprise rally with Jeremy Corbyn in Morley
Corbyn's alternative for young people
Corbyn could re-win Scotland with a socialist approach to independence
Socialist Party news and analysis
One in three borrow for rent, Corbyn pledges housing revolution
Tories escape election fraud charges
NHS cyberattack: budget cuts and spy agency to blame
31,000 more kids at risk of abuse or neglect
Socialist Party workplace news
PCS election: Increased majority for Democracy Alliance
Support Corbyn's call to renationalise Royal Mail
CWU walkout wins large concessions
Blackpool deserves better - anti-austerity rally
Unison must back Corbyn's pledge to abolish zero-hour contracts with action
Workplace news in brief
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Socialist ideas are energising young people
Fund the fight against the Tories
Packed meeting sets out socialist policies needed to defeat the Tories
International socialist news and analysis
Palestinian prisoners on mass hunger strike protest
Brazil: General strike against Temer regime
Socialist Party comments and reviews
Barcelona May Days 1937 - a civil war within a civil war
Hull workers who fought in the Spanish Civil War
Home | The Socialist 17 May 2017 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
General election:
What next after the general election, for PCS and the left
Hillingdon Socialist Party: Following the General Election, what next for socialists and trade unionists?
Manchester & Salford Socialist Party: What does the general election result mean for 2020?
Teesside Socialist Party: After the general election - Stand firm for socialist policies
Manchester & Salford Socialist Party: The State and the lessons for the labour movement
Young people who voted for Corbyn's manifesto will now ask... How can we win those ideas?
Selling the Socialist
Tories launch 'non manifesto'
Labour's manifesto: fight to transform hope into a socialist society
Socialist:
Renewed protests shake Iranian leaders
Nottingham: Youth protest against Barclays £64 million fossil-fuel investments
Reverse Unison's undemocratic nomination of Blairite Starmer
Labour Party leadership contest: Fight for a mass anti-austerity, workers' party with a socialist programme
Austerity:
Ignore the hype - austerity goes on: organise to resist
Tories:
Massive Scottish independence demo marks new stage in struggle
Jeremy Corbyn:
Attacks show elite fear a Corbyn election win
Working class:
Unison national executive members challenge validity of nomination for Keir Starmer for leader of the Labour Party
Anti-austerity:
Tories out! Corbyn in with anti-austerity and socialist policies
Capitalist:
Sustainable food production and the need for socialism
Workers:
French workers demonstrating in Paris on Thursday 16 January; Now over 40 days of strike action have taken place against the government's attacks on pensions. Photo James Ivens
Rich:
Aristocrats are rich after all... and getting richer
Cladding scandal: Government steps up defence of landlords
Socialist Party:
Socialist Party national committee meeting
The Socialist:
London: Protesters return to oppose Middle East war
We need socialists in London's City Hall
Shell pays £0 corporation tax, and plans huge hike in fossil output
Stop gentrification in Newham: "We are here, you have consulted us and we're not going anywhere!"
Trouble ahead for Johnson: Brexit is far from 'done'
Right-wing:
Bolivia: Right-wing coup ousts Morales
What strategy can end the retail jobs massacre?
No free ride for the airline bosses - nationalise Flybe now!
Britain:
Lambeth & SW London Socialist Party: After the election - Britain's uncharted waters
Economy:
Life in the gig economy
Tory election campaign's dirty tricks and lies
Big business:
Low Pay, Long Hours. Bosses rip us off. Organise the fightback now!
MPs:
Tony Blair launches manifesto to sabotage a Corbyn government
PCS: Time to rebuild the left
Tony Blair:
For a socialist alternative to the EU - mobilise to kick out the Tories!
Public ownership:
Huge opposition to Barry rehab ward closure
Len McCluskey:
Durham Miners' Gala
Liberal Democrats:
Workers' movement must launch a campaign for a general election
Build for strikes to save NHS
Them & Us
Capitalism must go - fight for socialism
Tory minimum wage hike not enough
Labour leadership election
Suleimani's assassination - Middle East thrown into turmoil
Children need intensive care? We don't care!
Northern Rail franchise in question: nationalise the railways!
More News and socialist analysis articles...
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408016
|
__label__cc
| 0.510819
| 0.489181
|
Sussex's only Out and Proud Ball returns to Worthing
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
Field Place is playing host to a sumptuous night of indulgence on Saturday 7 March as it welcomes the return of Worthing's Out and Proud Ball.
A night of vintage swing and cabaret is set to get the party started with internationally acclaimed ‘alternative’ cabaret acts adding spice to the night.
The Ball will be enjoyed by all, regardless of gender, age or sexuality, and here’s a little teaser of what to expect…
The night is compared by internationally renowned swing singer Paul Roberts, former singer with The Stranglers, who will keep you entertained with some show stopping tunes. He’s joined by three fabulous burlesque acts.
The first of the talented trio is the award-winning Jolie Papillon; an exquisite dancer, choreographer and model, who trained in dance at one of Italy’s top theatre academy’s before making her mark on the glamorous world of burlesque.
Jolie and Paul are joined by two more burlesque starlets including the fabulously patriotic Elsie Diamond.
Elsie adds vintage sparkle wherever she performs! Since bursting onto the Burlesque scene in 2010, Elsie has performed all over the UK and beyond and become the darling of ‘pin up’ and vintage modelling. Zoe Ball said (via Twitter); “Elsie Diamond - loved it you’re just divine, been singing ‘Deepest Air Raid Shelter in Town’ all day!”
And finally, there’s the delightfully unique Dave the Bear, London’s biggest and best male burlesque performer, singer and compere.
Dave The Bear is no stranger to the burlesque scene and regularly performs in Central London at Proud Cabaret, Madame JoJos, Cafe de Paris and London Wonderground and recently stole the show on 8 out Of Ten Cats Does Countdown.
Tickets for the ball are just £45, which includes a welcome drink, a three course dinner (choices to be presented at time of booking), top notch cabaret and the chance to strut your stuff on the dance floor! Smart dress is a must.
Supported by both Brighton and Worthing Pride, this event has limited availability. Book now whilst tickets are still available by calling Field Place on 01903 244034.
• Discover more Sussex events here
• What’s on in 2015 - Worthing Leisure - A selection of events to enjoy throughout the year. Please note: as of 1 April, Worthing Leisure will be known as South Downs Leisure, as they become a trust leisure group, hence some differences in event descriptions below
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408026
|
__label__cc
| 0.588763
| 0.411237
|
Sustainable Nuclear ("Sustainable Nuclear") operates https://www.sustainablenuclear.org and may operate other websites. It is Sustainable Nuclear policy to respect your privacy regarding any information we may collect while operating our websites.
Like most website operators, Sustainable Nuclear collects non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. Sustainable Nuclear purpose in collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how Sustainable Nuclear visitors use its website. From time to time, Sustainable Nuclear may release non-personally-identifying information in the aggregate, e.g., by publishing a report on trends in the usage of its website.
Sustainable Nuclear also collects potentially personally-identifying information like Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for logged in users and for users leaving comments on https://www.sustainablenuclear.org blogs/sites. Sustainable Nuclear only discloses logged in user and commenter IP addresses under the same circumstances that it uses and discloses personally-identifying information as described below, except that commenter IP addresses and email addresses are visible and disclosed to the administrators of the blog/site where the comment was left.
Certain visitors to Sustainable Nuclear websites choose to interact with Sustainable Nuclear in ways that require Sustainable Nuclear to gather personally-identifying information. The amount and type of information that Sustainable Nuclear gathers depends on the nature of the interaction. For example, we ask visitors who sign up at https://www.sustainablenuclear.org to provide a username and email address. Those who engage in transactions with Sustainable Nuclear are asked to provide additional information, including as necessary the personal and financial information required to process those transactions. In each case, Sustainable Nuclear collects such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfill the purpose of the visitor's interaction with Sustainable Nuclear. Sustainable Nuclear does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below. And visitors can always refuse to supply personally-identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities.
Sustainable Nuclear may collect statistics about the behavior of visitors to its websites. Sustainable Nuclear may display this information publicly or provide it to others. However, Sustainable Nuclear does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below.
Sustainable Nuclear discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only to those of its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on Sustainable Nuclear behalf or to provide services available at Sustainable Nuclear websites, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others. Some of those employees, contractors and affiliated organizations may be located outside of your home country; by using Sustainable Nuclear websites, you consent to the transfer of such information to them. Sustainable Nuclear will not rent or sell potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information to anyone. Other than to its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations, as described above, Sustainable Nuclear discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only in response to a subpoena, court order or other governmental request, or when Sustainable Nuclear believes in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of Sustainable Nuclear, third parties or the public at large. If you are a registered user of an Sustainable Nuclear website and have supplied your email address, Sustainable Nuclear may occasionally send you an email to tell you about new features, solicit your feedback, or just keep you up to date with what's going on with Sustainable Nuclear and our products. If you send us a request (for example via email or via one of our feedback mechanisms), we reserve the right to publish it in order to help us clarify or respond to your request or to help us support other users. Sustainable Nuclear takes all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration or destruction of potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information.
A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor's computer, and that the visitor's browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. Sustainable Nuclear uses cookies to help Sustainable Nuclear identify and track visitors, their usage of Sustainable Nuclear website, and their website access preferences. Sustainable Nuclear visitors who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using Sustainable Nuclear websites, with the drawback that certain features of Sustainable Nuclear websites may not function properly without the aid of cookies.
If Sustainable Nuclear, or substantially all of its assets, were acquired, or in the unlikely event that Sustainable Nuclear goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any acquirer of Sustainable Nuclear may continue to use your personal information as set forth in this policy.
Ads appearing on any of our websites may be delivered to users by advertising partners, who may set cookies. These cookies allow the ad server to recognize your computer each time they send you an online advertisement to compile information about you or others who use your computer. This information allows ad networks to, among other things, deliver targeted advertisements that they believe will be of most interest to you. This Privacy Policy covers the use of cookies by Sustainable Nuclear and does not cover the use of cookies by any advertisers.
Although most changes are likely to be minor, Sustainable Nuclear may change its Privacy Policy from time to time, and in Sustainable Nuclear sole discretion. Sustainable Nuclear encourages visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to its Privacy Policy. If you have a https://www.sustainablenuclear.org account, you might also receive an alert informing you of these changes. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.
How to Tell If Your Dog Has a Urinary Tract Infection January 23, 2019
Foods That Are Dangerous to Dogs April 17, 2018
Ways to Ease an Arthritic Dog’s Pain and Discomfort February 9, 2018
You’ve Got A Big Dog? Find a Big Bed November 1, 2017
Why should you start your business early? October 16, 2017
Never Miss an update:
Know author of this blog:
MARY LOUISE
Writer, Model, and Small Business Owner in England, United Kingdom
Busy Mum to my Four year old Daughter and a new wife to my better half. We are an outdoorsy family and spend most of our spare time in the garden or walking our cockapoo puppy.
The countryside is our playground!
My Instagram Feeds:
A post shared by 🌷 Flower Blogger 🌷 (@mymodelmummy) on Jul 31, 2017 at 11:47am PDT
Copyright © 2020 Sustainable Nuclear
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408027
|
__label__cc
| 0.653032
| 0.346968
|
Home » Music Reviews » Jewish Broadway – A Treat for the Eyes, Ears and Soul
Amanda Green
Carolee Carmello
Chelsea Wheatley
Christine Andreas
Emma Camp
Eric Halvorson
Farah Alvin
Jewish Broadway
Mark Nadler
Ross Patterson
Sandi Durell
Scott Siegel
Streicker Centre
Temple Emanuel
Tom Hubbard
Tovah Feldshuh
What’s Daniel Fish Up to Now!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THEATER PIZZAZZ
Jewish Broadway – A Treat for the Eyes, Ears and Soul
Posted on Mar 14, 2017 in Music Reviews
Having too much fun!
By Sandi Durell
Who knew that so many of the greatest of the great American Songwriters on Broadway (and off) were Jewish (except Cole Porter) according to historian, writer, director, host and producer Scott Siegel.
And that’s what the audience at Temple Emanuel’s Streicker Center came in droves to hear – their music performed by the best of the best of Broadway.
Taking us from the 20s through the present, the evening soared with the music of Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock, Stephen Schwartz, Jerry Herman, Comden and Green, Larry Hart and Oscar Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Stephen Sondheim, William Finn (did you know he was Jewish?), Harvey Fierstein and the iconic Gershwins.
With powerful vocal expertise from the likes of Farah Alvin (“Defying Gravity” – Wicked 2003; “Don’t Rain on My Parade 1964” – Funny Girl) to the rich, poignant and nuanced baritone of Robert Cuccioli (“In My Own Lifetime” – The Rothschilds 1970; “I Am What I Am” – La Cage 1983; “Send in the Clowns” – A Little Night Music 1973) to the formidable Carolee Carmello (“God Bless America” – This is the Army 1942; “You Don’t Know This Man” – Parade 1998), the evening wound it’s way into and through our hearts and souls.
The ever loveable, uber-talented Mark Nadler, an entertainer’s entertainer, grabbed the audience with “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby” – Sinbad 1918 and proceeded to not let go, “I Love a Piano” – Stop! Look! Listen! 1915. Christine Andreas, a great interpreter of song lyrics with a stunning voice, resounded with an exciting arrangement “On A Clear Day . . . “ from that show (1965) accompanied by her composer husband Marty Silvestri as well as with “If He Walked Into My Life” – Mame 1966.
When people say it runs in the family, the perfect example is Amanda Green, daughter of Adolph Green, half of the multi award winning writing team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green; Amanda having recently received a Tony nomination for her Broadway musical Hands on a Hard Body. She sang not only “Used to Be” – Hands on a Hard Body 2013 (with back up singers Emma Camp and Chelsea Wheatley) but wowed with an animated “If You Hadn’t, But You Did” – Two on the Aisle 1951.
Straight from a benefit evening for the Actors Temple, 4-time Tony Nominee Tovah Feldshuh proceeded to mesmerize the audience with stories about her father, and how it all related to her love of the Gershwins. Let’s call this the Tovah – Terri Sue interlude in story and song, filled with humor and heart – touching and meaningful, sung in Yiddish and English and covering some of the great Gershwin classics i.e. “I Got Rhythm,” “Fascinatin’ Rhythm,” and the Torah Blessing out of which came “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” This lady is a bundle of energy (after all she did scale Mt Kilimanjaro recently) and a joyful stage presence.
A perfect way to end a perfect evening as the cast, led by Robert Cuccioli left us with “Sunrise, Sunset” – Fiddler on the Roof 1964.
Ross Patterson helmed the piano and as music director, with Tom Hubbard on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums.
Congratulations Scott Siegel on a memorable, not soon to be forgotten evening!!
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408036
|
__label__cc
| 0.712087
| 0.287913
|
Friday، 09 November 2018 09:19 PM
US grants Iraq 45-day gas, electricity sanctions waiver
An Iraqi man checks a generator supplying homes with electricity in a Baghdad neighborhood on July 26, 2018 - AFP/File
The United States has granted Iraq a waiver to allow it to keep importing electricity from neighboring Iran despite renewed American sanctions on Tehran, a US official said Wednesday.
The US State Department's representative on Iran, Brian Hook, said that Iraq had been granted a special permission.
"We granted Iraq a waiver to allow it to continue to pay for its electricity imports from Iran. We are confident that this will help Iraq limit electricity shortages in the south," Hook told reporters in Washington.
Iraq is now expected to demonstrate to the US how it would wean itself off Iranian gas, a well-informed Iraqi source told AFP.
"The US gave us 45 days to give them a plan on how we will gradually stop using Iranian gas and oil," the source said.
On Monday, the United States re-imposed tough sanctions on Iraq's financial institutions, shipping lines, energy sector, and petroleum products.
The exemption granted to Iraq came after talks between Iraqi and US officials, including from the White House and Treasury, the source said.
This week, Prime Minister Adel Abdel-Mahdi said Baghdad was in talks with both sides to protect its interests.
"Iraq is not a part of the sanctions regime. It talks to everyone, and does not want to get involved in a conflict that it's not a part of," he told reporters Tuesday.
Gutted by the international embargo of the 1990s and the US-led invasion of 2003, Iraq's industries produce little.
Instead, its markets are flooded with Iranian goods -- from canned food and yoghurt to carpets and cars.
These non-hydrocarbon imports amounted to some $6 billion (five billion euros) in 2017, making Iran the second-largest source of imported goods in Iraq.
Perhaps most consequential for Iraq's 39 million people is their dependency on Iran for electricity.
Chronic cuts, which often leave homes powerless for up to 20 hours a day, were a key driving factor behind weeks of massive protests in Iraq this summer.
To cope with shortages, Baghdad pipes in natural gas from Tehran for its plants and also directly buys 1,300 MW of Iranian-generated electricity.
Merkel invites Abdul Mahdi to visit Germany, stresses support for Iraq
Iraq to be affected by US sanctions : Allawi
US: Iran oil importers to find it harder to get waivers on sanctions
Tupras in talks with US for Iran sanctions waiver
US may allow sanctions waivers for countries reducing Iranian oil
France's Total to quit Iran gas project as Trump continues push on terror
Kurdistan Sees US Presence in Iraq Vital: President 18 January 2020 01:37 AM
Two Protesters Killed, 15 Injured in Baghdad 18 January 2020 12:26 AM
ISIS leader dubbed ‘Jabba the Jihadi’ captured in Iraq 17 January 2020 10:59 PM
Pentagon receives late notice of US injuries in Iranian strike 17 January 2020 10:45 PM
Ukrainian PM submits resignation letter 17 January 2020 10:08 PM
Activist Huda Khudeir shot dead by IMIS: Watchdog 17 January 2020 07:26 PM
Khamenei interferes in Iraq's affairs, urges US troops expulsion 17 January 2020 05:36 PM
Salih checks on Sistani's condition after recent health problem 17 January 2020 02:53 PM
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408038
|
__label__cc
| 0.634405
| 0.365595
|
Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Square Fish
Publication Date: June 2017 (first published June 5th 2012)
Source: physical copy (purchased)
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads | B&N
Published by Ana Esteves à(s) 23:23:00 No comments
Etiquetas: Review
Book Blitz | Giveaway: One True Love by Linda Kage
Linda Kage
Publication date: June 6th 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Custom demanded that Prince Urban get a love mark tattooed to the side of his left eye as an infant, just like the rest of his people, but to him, the stupid things have only brought on the scorn of his father, the misery of his siblings, and caused his entire kingdom to go broke from fighting so many wars over the irritating ink stains.
When Urban’s sister must travel to Donnelly, the kingdom within the sand, for her arranged marriage to align two realms, he goes with her. But he no sooner steps foot inside their castle than his mark starts itching like a son of a bitch, telling him his one true love is near.
It just figures, though, that the woman meant for him is completely forbidden. Now he must decide if he should ignore the persistent mark, telling him she’s the one, in order to avoid a possible war between kingdoms, or if he should discover whether she’s worth risking everything for so they can be together. Either way, his life gets sucked into chaos with threats of beheadings, dark magic lurking, castle traitors scheming, and sword fights eminent.
Who knew one little tattoo could cause so much trouble?
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Smashwords
What a peculiar place. I couldn’t decide if the entire kingdom was just that naïve or if all this pleasantry was part of the grand trap they were about to spring on us.
Allera sent me a warning glance. “Open minded, remember?”
Making a face, I clutched the sword at my side and nodded before cracking my neck from one side to the other. Open minded. Sure. Until they tried to kill us, anyway.
We came to the gateway that led into the middle bailey, and there, we were instructed by the guards to leave the carriage as we were to separate ourselves from the servants we’d brought with us and walk the rest of the way on foot.
I opened the door and glanced around for danger. Unable to spot any, I reluctantly folded down the steps and hopped to the ground before managing to somehow angle my body so I could assist Allera on her descent and not turn my back to a single guard.
A dignitary whose bangs on his blond hair were clipped far too short stepped forward, bearing a scroll under one arm. My return scowl seemed to disconcert him, making him shy a step back. After fumbling to unroll the scroll with shaking hands, he read us the greeting, then let us know he would lead us to the Throne Room where King Caulder and his brother Prince Brentley were waiting to receive us.
Allera was all smiles and patient nods, thanking the man. I stood stonily at her elbow until we set off after Short Bangs. Wrapping both hands around the front buckle of my sword belt, I strode beside her, back rigid and gaze alert, as I took in the beauty of the palace.
Everything here seemed new and clean. Spotlessly perfect, in fact. I couldn’t find a flaw anywhere in all its excellence.
Which made me itch.
Literally.
I shook my head at the insistent sensation that quite abruptly wouldn’t leave me, and I scratched my temple heartily.
Didn’t help.
When I kept scratching it, Allera shifted closer to me and hissed from the side of her mouth, “What the devil are you doing? Stop that. You’re going to make our entire clan look like deranged lunatics by the way you keep fondling your eye.”
“I can’t help it.” My fingernails raked relentlessly over the spot on the side of my left eye, unable to make the skin stop prickling. “My mark’s itching like a bastard.”
“Well, you know what that means, don’t you?” She sounded irritated. “And I said STOP scratching it already. People are staring.”
In front of us, Short Bangs glanced back curiously. Offering him a tight smile, I dropped my hand back to my belt, and he faced forward again. My smile instantly morphed into a glare, which I shot Allera’s way.
How was it that she still talked down to me as if I were a child? I’d led battles, controlled my own fleet of ships, bedded some of the most beautiful, exotic women in three realms, and gotten the king of Lowden to kneel before me because of my intimidating presence after my army had defeated his. Yet Allera wiped all that prestige away with a single, degrading glance.
Older sisters could suck the man right out of a fellow, I swear.
“What does it mean, oh wise one?” I mocked moodily, winking one eye so it would wrinkle that cheek in an effort to alleviate the sensation without actually touching it. That didn’t help either, dammit. “That I’m allergic to the kingdom of Donnelly? I could’ve told you that.”
I glanced around at the servants who’d stopped working to watch us pass. Even they looked clean and well-clothed. It was just plain weird. And suspicious. Could one kingdom really have this much wealth and good standing with their peasants and be so goddamn welcoming?
“No, you nimrod.” Allera sighed and shook her head. “It means your one true love is near.”
Forgetting about the peculiarity of my surroundings, I stopped walking and swung around to gape at my sister incredulously. “THE HELL YOU SAY!”
Linda is a contemporary romance author from the midwestern USA, where she lives with her wonderful husband, daughter, and nine cuckoo clocks. The eighth and final child of dairy farmers, she was forced into having a vivid imagination if she ever wanted to do something one of her siblings hadn't already tried. Feel free to visit her at her website: www.LindaKage.com
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Readers Group
Etiquetas: Book Blitz, Giveaway
Release Day Launch: Roar by Cora Carmack
From New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack comes her debut young adult fantasy, ROAR! Now available in paperback, ROAR takes readers on an adventure filled with charismatic characters in an enthralling world sure to keep them turning the pages. Grab your copy today!
About ROAR (Stormheart #1):
New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack's young adult debut: Roar.
In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.
Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora's been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.
To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.
Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage. She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough.
Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Book Depository
Add to your Goodreads
“This life is not glamorous,” Duke told her. “We travel constantly. We sleep on the ground most nights. When we’re not in danger from storms, we’re in danger in cities where we are considered criminals. This life is not for the faint of heart.” “There are things I do not know, things I will have to learn. But I am capable. I am familiar with sacrifice. I know what it is to make hard choices.” “Tell me you’re not considering this,” Locke said to Duke. The old man was silent for a long moment, both Locke and Roar looking to him for support. Duke rubbed at his mustache, a habit of his when he was thinking deeply. “Let’s think about this, Locke. She’s smart. And determined.” “She’s a child.” Roar’s shoulders hunched in Locke’s peripheral vision, and he swallowed back the guilt. He could apologize later. For now, it was imperative that he won this argument. “You were a child when I brought you into the fold,” Duke said. “She’s a young woman with a good head on her shoulders. And if this is what she wants, I’m inclined to at least hear her out.” Just like that, Roar’s shoulders straightened, and Locke turned to watch a devastating smile bloom across her mouth. His weakness when it came to her only made him more cross. “What skills do you have?” he snapped at Roar. “Skills?” “Yes, skills. What can you do? Or do you just plan to tag along for the ride?” A flush spread over her cheeks, and her voice was tentative when she answered, “I’m good on a horse. Very good.” Where in the world would she have learned to ride? He quickly hardened his expression. “Horses are fine for travel, but they don’t do well in storms. They, unlike you, have good survival instincts.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Locke could have sworn he felt an updraft—the first sign that bad weather could occur—and he knew that this time he had pushed too far. Roar marched toward him, spearing a finger into his chest and said, “I can read and write. I can speak Taraanese, Finlaghi, and Odilarian. I can read maps. I know enough about grassland vegetation and wildlife to survive without a market to buy food and drink. I’m good with knives and a bow. I learn quickly, and I’m not afraid of hard work. And I’ve spent my entire life reading as much about storms as I could get my hands on.” For a moment, her voice cracked under the weight of her anger, but she took a huffing breath and continued: “I’m good with numbers. It’s been a while, but I think I can probably still draw the constellations from memory, which should make me decent at navigation. I can—“ “Enough.” Locke’s voice came out in a deep rasp. He captured her long, delicate finger in his fist before she could continue poking him. He felt short of breath at the sight of her—livid and lovely. “Enough.” The old Locke might have kept arguing, and Roar would have met him toe-to-toe. But if becoming a storm hunter had taught him anything, it was that fighting head-on wasn’t always the way to win. Sometimes strategy was required. He met Duke’s eyes over her shoulder, and if he had thought Roar looked smug before, she had nothing on his mentor. The man raised his eyebrows in a challenge and asked, “You?” He hated the idea of bringing someone into this dangerous life, but if it was going to happen regardless, he sure as hell wouldn’t hand her safety over to anyone else, not even Ransom. And at the very least, it would give him the opportunity to change her mind. He gritted his teeth and nodded his acceptance.
And the Link:https://youtu.be/3fIxbHRHnGc
About Cora Carmack: Cora Carmack is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Since she was a teenager, her favorite genre to read has been fantasy, and now she’s thrilled to bring her usual compelling characters and swoon-worthy romance into worlds of magic and intrigue with her debut YA fantasy, Roar. Her previous adult romance titles include the Losing It, Rusk University, and Muse series. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages around the world. Cora splits her time between Austin, TX and New York City, and on any given day you might find her typing away at her computer, flying to various cities around the world, or just watching Netflix with her kitty Katniss. But she can always be found on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and her website www.coracarmack.com.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads
Etiquetas: Book Release, Giveaway
Review: Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore
Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Harcourt
Publication Date: October 1st, 2008
Source: Paperback
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.
She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.
Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by...
Book Blitz | Giveaway: One True Love by Linda Kage...
Review: Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin ...
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408039
|
__label__wiki
| 0.684832
| 0.684832
|
Please Choose Region
Boyzone to reunite for 25th anniversary tour
music news 30/05/2017
Boyzone will be hitting the road on a 25th anniversary tour in 2018, the group has officially announced.
Ronan Keating will be part of the tour, despite juggling his solo career and welcoming a baby boy just last month.
The group uploaded a photo of members Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham - along with Keating - on Instagram with the announcement.
"[Next year] will see Boyzone celebrate their 25th anniversary! That's something that Ronan, Keith, Mikey and Shane are incredibly proud of," reads the band's post.
"Plans are being hatched for new music and lots of touring throughout the year. But next year still seems a long way off, so in case you can't wait, the Boyz are hitting the road for some exclusive UK shows later this [northern] summer."
Further details on the concerts will be announced soon.
Late Boyzone member Stephen Gately died on October 10, 2009 of natural causes while on his holiday in the Spanish island of Majorca with his civil partner, Andrew Cowles.
The Breeze plays more music with less talk. Take it easy, with The Breeze.
Terms of Access & Privacy Policy
MediaWorks Careers
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408040
|
__label__wiki
| 0.905279
| 0.905279
|
Ex-UK ambassador to Tehran backs Corbyn’s assessment of the murder of Iranian general
Tom Coburg
This article was updated at 18:05 on 10 January. It previously stated that Boris Johnson did not respond to Jeremy Corbyn’s request for a Privy Council briefing. However, Johnson refused the request.
A former UK ambassador to Tehran has confirmed that Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was in Iraq as part of a peace mission to Saudi Arabia, with the full agreement of the Iraqi government, when he was assassinated by a US drone strike on the orders of president Donald Trump.
Richard Dalton added that the decision to assassinate the general was “reckless”, the same term used by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn when giving his assessment of what happened.
Peace mission
On 9 January, Dalton, the UK ambassador to Iran from 2003 to 2006, was interviewed on BBC Breakfast TV. When asked about Soleimani, he was forthright, stating that the general was on a peace mission with the agreement of the Iraqi government.
The episode has now expired on the BBC‘s website.
One academic is so sick of BBC bias, he’s taking legal action
The Canary , 17th January 2020
Fortunately, one Twitter user put together an (unverified) transcript of the interview with Dalton (and colonel Tim Collins) in this thread:
On 9 Jan 2020 at about 07:21 #BBCBreakfast showed an important interview with Colonel Tim Collins [TC] formerly of the British Army & Sir Richard Dalton [RD] Former #UK Ambassador to #Iran. That has just now expired from @BBCiPlayer. Luckily, I had just completed a transcript.
— Peri Hankey (@PeriHankey) January 10, 2020
And on 5 January, Washington Post reporter Mustafa Salim tweeted that Iraqi prime minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi stated that he had arranged to meet with Soleimani on the day he was assassinated:
“I was supposed to meet Soleimani at the morning the day he was killed, he came to deliver me a message from Iran responding to the message we delivered from Saudi to Iran” Iraqi PM said.
— Mustafa Salim (@Mustafa_salimb) January 5, 2020
A report by CNN also confirms Soleimani’s role in helping to crush Daesh (Isis/Isil):
pic.twitter.com/vhQb5uC7HJ
— Danny Nation (@dannynation) January 10, 2020
Later, on BBC Five Live, Dalton described the decision by Trump to kill Soleimani as “reckless”.
This also echoed Corbyn’s words. He described Trump’s decision as “reckless” and that the killing was illegal (“lawless”):
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s declaration of ‘sympathy' for Trump’s reckless and lawless killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani is craven and dangerous.
Boris Johnson’s government must oppose this escalation towards another devastating war in the Middle East.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) January 5, 2020
On 3 January, Corbyn formally requested a briefing from the Privy Council on the crisis:
I've written to Boris Johnson requesting an urgent Privy Council briefing and answers to questions following the US assassination of Qassem Suleimani. pic.twitter.com/kOw36b6Ex2
Johnson refused the request.
Daesh will be celebrating the death of not only the general but also Abu Mahdi, deputy head of the PMF (Iraqi militias who fought Daesh). This analysis by the Grayzone explains why:
But perhaps the most immediate consequence is the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane not long after leaving Tehran, with all people onboard killed. There are now claims that the plane was hit by a missile.
Importantly, as Fréa Lockley argued previously in The Canary, It’s crucial not to lionise Soleimani (or Mahdi):
Because some called him “a genocidal man” responsible for killing “thousands of men, women, and children in the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen”. Equally, Iran’s human rights record is appalling, particularly for women. And according to Reporters Without Borders, Iran is one of the world’s “five biggest prisons” for journalists and internet activists.
Meanwhile, the world awaits the wider consequences of Trump’s “reckless” decision. Though one thing is certain: Corbyn’s assessment of the situation was, once again, spot on.
Featured image via screenshot
Hunt monitors say right-wing media coverage of their arrest is ‘absolutely’ blown out of proportion
The Tories have backtracked on yet another pledge, and this time it’s children who’ll suffer
Qassam Soleimani
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408042
|
__label__wiki
| 0.602846
| 0.602846
|
The DWP has gone full passive-aggressive with Universal Credit
Steve Topple
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is once again in the firing line. This time, it’s over rules surrounding Universal Credit. The SNP has said the DWP and the government are trying to “lock people out” from their entitlements. But as is always the case, it’s claimants who will suffer the most.
The DWP: under fire again
As Welfare Weekly reported, SNP MSP Linda Fabiani has brought to light DWP rules about politicians acting on behalf of claimants. Currently, if someone is having trouble with the DWP and they go to their MP for help, the rule of “implicit consent” applies.
In layman’s terms, that means that the DWP assumes the claimant has legally agreed the MP can have access to their relevant personal data. The claimant doesn’t need to do anything. The rules let the MP automatically act on their behalf. This was put in place by former work and pensions secretary Damian Green in March 2017.
But what Fabiani has highlighted is that the rules for MSPs are different. This process is called “explicit consent“. So, if claimants go to their MSP for help, they have to first go through data protection red tape. Only after that can the MSP support them.
‘Locking’ claimants out of Universal Credit
An SNP press release, reported on by Welfare Weekly and seen by The Canary, claims that the DWP:
The outrageous new audience selection policy BBC Question Time revealed last night
Tracy Keeling , 17th January 2020
DWP chaos as a major row erupts with the SNP
Steve Topple , 17th January 2020
requires claimants to sign a waiver form explaining why they have approached a politician for support – rather than going directly to the Job Centre [sic].
It also says that the DWP requires:
claimants to state exactly what they have discussed with their elected representative before information can be disclosed regarding an appeal.
The press release slammed the Conservatives for creating another “extension of the hostile environment” with the policy. It accused the DWP of creating a system designed to “lock people out” of getting their entitlements.
Fabiani is furious. She told The Canary:
Many of those who come to the MSP for assistance are at the end of their tether, with no income coming in. It’s ridiculous that barriers are put in the way of elected representatives trying to help.
The DWP says…
Meanwhile, the DWP told The Canary:
Before giving out sensitive and personal data about people’s benefit claims, we simply ask MSPs to prove that they have the claimant’s consent. This is a simple process for the safety of people’s personal data and it’s been in place since 2017.
It directed The Canary to a document which partly contradicts the SNP’s claims. It outlines rules surrounding “consent and disclosure”. DWP guidelines state claimants have to do the following to satisfy explicit consent:
“Give [the DWP] consent for their personal information to be disclosed”.
Say “what information they want to be disclosed”.
Also tell the DWP “why” they need the information.
Give “the name of the representative and the organisation”.
It says this can be done “using the [Universal Credit online] journal, face to face or by phone” and in writing. Also, it specifically states that:
Members of Scottish Parliament and assembly members in Wales can still represent claimants using explicit consent.
So, it seems the DWP does not officially require a waiver form to be filled out. Nor does the document say claimants have to tell the DWP what they’ve discussed with MSPs. But it does require claimants to say why they want it to give their personal data to them.
But, according to Fabiani this is not what’s happening on the ground. She told The Canary:
We have been told locally that the rules covering ‘explicit consent’ have been changed and additional information is now required. Previously the claimant placing an entry on their journal or calling to confirm that we were acting on their behalf was enough. Not any more it seems. The whole system is flawed – the proof of that is the fact that over 50% of appeals are successful.
Moreover, the consequences of this are national. Implicit consent only covers MPs. Therefore, Welsh AMs and Northern Irish MLAs would be subject to the same rules as MSPs. Also, local councillors in all of the four nations would have to abide by explicit consent.
Plaid Cymru say…
Rhondda AM and former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood told The Canary:
This has all the hallmarks of a deliberate Tory ploy to prevent people in desperate situations as a result of the pernicious Universal Credit system accessing the help they need. I’ve had many people come to my office in dire straits because they have nothing to live on because of unfair changes to the income they receive through the state. It can be absolutely heart-breaking, especially when kids are involved. Thankfully, we have been able to help many of these people get justice – and perhaps that is the problem for the Tories. They obviously don’t like the fact that so many people are exposing the many flaws in Universal Credit through successful appeals.
This change, making it harder for people to seek support – and indeed the whole Universal Credit system – needs to be kicked out if there is to be a shred of compassion and credibility from this UK Government.
DWP passive-aggressiveness
It seems right that politicians from the devolved parliaments should be able to help constituents in the same way MPs can. But with the DWP and Universal Credit, there’s apparently hoops they have to jump through before they can do so. What’s more, the fact that claimants must disclose to the DWP why they want their MSP/AM/MLA to get involved reeks of passive-aggressiveness. As one disabled person told The Canary:
Under what other circumstance would a victim be required to explain to their abuser why they’re trying to get help to stop the abuse?
The DWP needs to level up the rules for MPs and devolved politicians. Quickly. Because once again, claimants are the ones ultimately suffering.
Featured image via Disabled People Against Cuts and Wikimedia – UK government
Watch The Canary‘s film on Universal Credit.
National Trust plans massive woodland expansion to offset emissions
Winter has hardly started but already A&E figures have hit an all time low
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408043
|
__label__wiki
| 0.653047
| 0.653047
|
Arts & Culture Conversations, Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Television Series May 17, 2019
The Durrells: Final Season 4 – Review, Episodes 3 to 6
While trying to be ordinary The Durrells proved unique and quite extraordinary, and many would have shed a tear at the end of Season 4 as we finally let them go
Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Television Series, Travel April 23, 2019
The Durrells: Final Season 4 – Review, Episodes 1 and 2
The endearing characters, captured enjoying life on the glorious island of Corfu in the iTV Series The Durrells, are back gain for their fourth and final season
Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Television Series February 2, 2019
Outlander: Series 4, Ep 7 – 13, Is Hope at the Heart of Love
Starz Outlander Ep 7-13 of Series 4, the focus is on Brianna Claire and Jamie’s daughter who travels in time seeking to discover if hope is at the heart of love
Arts & Culture Conversations, Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Television Series January 11, 2019
Outlander: Season 4, Episodes 5 & 6 – Looking Towards Hope
In Starz Outlander Season 4 Episodes 5 & 6, Jamie and Claire Fraser living on Fraser’s Ridge, North Carolina, are looking towards hope and what the future holds
Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Television Series November 28, 2018
Outlander: Season 4 Ep 4 – My Country, Sweet Land of Liberty
Jamie, Claire and their nephew Ian Murray are camped out in the woods on Fraser’s Ridge, North Carolina, where they are determined to make a home for themselves
Outlander: Season 4, Episode 3 – Fraser’s Ridge Home at Last
Saying goodbye to Jamie’s aunt Jocasta Cameron at River Run is for Jamie and Claire a painful affair as they set out to find a home to begin a new life together
Arts & Culture Conversations, Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Cultural Development, Historic Costume, Social History, Television Series November 13, 2018
Outlander: Series 4, Episode 2 – Freedom Comes at a Price
North Carolina, America is a long way from Skye as Starz Outlander: Series Four delivers Episode 2 in the land of promise at the beginning of an enlightened age
Arts & Culture Conversations, Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Cultural Development, Historic Costume, Social History, Television Series November 6, 2018
Outlander, Series 4 – America, a Land of Hope and Promise?
Outlander Series 4 begins with Jamie and Claire discovering, through dramatic events, how difficult life as an immigrant really is when past and present collide
Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Creativity, Television Series October 29, 2018
Bodyguard – Netflix Original Series – A Thriller to Die For
Bodyguard, a Netflix Original Series is a thriller to die for; an action packed series over six episodes it took the UK by storm recently when viewed on BBC One
Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Television Series August 3, 2018
Jack Irish: Guy Pearce – ABC’s Classy, Subtle, Hit TV Series
Jack Irish, screened on the ABC since 2012, is now in its second series and delivers a class act par excellence, truly five-star television, starring Guy Pearce
Poldark, Series 4: Episode 8 – Events of Life Present & Past
All the events of life in the present and past, contribute to the distressing events taking place in the final episode of Series 4, Episode 8 of BBC One POLDARK
Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Television Series July 27, 2018
Poldark, Series 4: 6 & 7 – Great Expectations of London Life
BBC One Poldark Series 4 has passed half way now, and we are well on the way to building suspense and drama in Episodes 6 and 7, on the way to the season finale
Poldark Season 4 Episode 5 – Tears Must Fall
POLDARK is set when the centre of power began moving down the social scale from Gentry to Middle Class because of the struggle of the few good men in Parliament
Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Television Series July 6, 2018
Poldark Series 4, Episode 4 – Doubt, Distrust and High Drama
BBC One’s POLDARK, Series 4 Episode 4 has Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) declare to his wife Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) she deserves better than doubts & mistrust
Arts & Entertainment News & Reviews, Television Series June 29, 2018
Poldark: Series 4 Episode 3 – Warleggan’s Do Not Like Defeat
At the beginning of the BBC One TV Series 4, Episode 3 of POLDARK, Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) arrives in London town to take his place in the House of Commons
POLDARK: Series 4, Episode 2 – Life, Changing for the Better
POLDARK, BBC One Series 4 Episode 2 directed by Joss Agnew, asks our hero Ross many hard questions, including how he will change life for the people of Cornwall
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408046
|
__label__wiki
| 0.965394
| 0.965394
|
AUBURN -- About 1,000 National Grid customers in the Washington Street (Route 20) area lost power last night, according to a company spokesman.
The outage occurred sometime before 8 p.m. Crews were dispatched to the area last night. According to the spokesman, 1,039 customers were without power due to the outage, and no cause had been determined. State police reported last night that the traffic light at the South Street intersection was not functioning properly due to the outage.
SPENCER � A Wilson Street man was arrested yesterday after federal, state and local law enforcement officials raided his home and allegedly discovered child pornography, marijuana and the prescription numbing agent Xylocaine.
Robert M. Abood, 64, of 96 Wilson St., was ordered held in lieu of $10,000 bail at his arraignment in Western Worcester District Court in East Brookfield on charges of possession of child pornography, distribution of obscene material, possession of marijuana and possession of a prescription medication.
Officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have kept Spencer police apprised of their investigation of Mr. Abood, Spencer Police Chief David B. Darrin said. State police also assisted yesterday, Chief Darrin said.
Federal agents became interested in Mr. Abood after a January raid in Brockton led them to believe he was trading pornography, Chief Darrin said.
Police seized 127 pornographic images, Assistant District Attorney Brett Dillon said. Mr. Dillon argued for a high bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations.
Court-appointed lawyer Albert G. Hayeck asked Judge Robert Calgione to release Mr. Abood on personal recognizance because he has no criminal record.
Police were concerned because Mr. Abood had custody of three children ages 12, 10 and 6. The children were not at home when the raid took place yesterday and were taken into Department of Social Services custody.
Chief Darrin said Spencer police filed the initial charges but federal investigators seized a computer and are continuing their investigation. He said he expects they will file additional charges.
Mr. Abood is due back in court Oct. 8 for a pretrial hearing.
WARREN � Police were checking areas along the Quaboag River yesterday after a swamped kayak was found about one mile over the town line in Palmer early in the afternoon.
The orange-colored kayak was empty, prompting concern over whether someone had been swept downstream. Police and firefighters from Palmer pulled the boat from the water and began checking rest areas and pull-offs where someone may have parked to enter the river, Warren police said.
Early last night, they had found nothing, Warren Officer Mark Chase said, and were continuing to investigate whether the craft was one reported missing several weeks ago. Recent heavy rains, including yesterday�s storm, have left the water level in the river high and the current quite swift, police said.
Police said last night the owner of the kayak can call the Palmer Fire Department to claim it. Police said last night they were no longer looking for an individual.
Gov. Deval L. Patrick announced yesterday the judicial nomination of local lawyer Richard T. Tucker to Worcester Superior Court.
If the nomination goes through, Mr. Tucker of Northboro is slated to fill the vacancy on the court created by the elevation of Judge Francis R. Fecteau to the state Appeals Court. The Governor�s Council confirms or denies judicial nominations.
Reached by telephone yesterday afternoon, Mr. Tucker said he was happy to be nominated.
�I�m very happy with the nomination,� Mr. Tucker said. �It�s something I�ve strived for.�
He said he currently practices mostly in the area of civil trials, and said he has spent most of his career in the same court to which he has been nominated.
�I just wanted a chance to serve,� Mr. Tucker said. �I wanted to do this. I have an affection for the Superior Court, and I�d like to help it.�
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408050
|
__label__wiki
| 0.986676
| 0.986676
|
Israel announces hundreds of new settlement homes as new US administration begins discussions to move embassy to Jerusalem
The Israeli settlement of Maaleh Adumim looms over Arab Bedouin shacks in the West Bank Credit: AP
Sara Elizabeth Williams, Amman
23 January 2017 • 12:37am
Sara Elizabeth Williams
Israeli authorities have approved permits for 566 new settler homes in East Jerusalem that had been postponed until the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.
The announcement came as the White House said it was "in the beginning stages" of discussions to fulfill Mr Trump's pledge to relocate the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a move that Palestinian leaders have said will mean the end of the two-state solution.
Mr Trump invited Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, to visit Washington in early February during a phone call in which they discussed the importance of strengthening the US-Israeli relationship, the White House said last night.
I had a very warm conversation on the phone tonight with President Donald Trump. He invited me to meet him in February. pic.twitter.com/wEbVZPmTIa
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) 22 January 2017
In his first call with Mr Netanyahu since taking office on Friday, Mr Trump stressed his "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security."
"The president and the prime minister agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran," the White House said in a statement.
Mr Trump also said peace between Israel and the Palestinians could only be negotiated between the two parties, but that the United States would work with Israel to achieve that goal.
Workers carry material at a construction site in the West bank settlement of Maaleh Adumim Credit: AP
"The rules of the game have changed with Donald Trump's arrival as president," Jerusalem’s deputy mayor Meir Turjeman said after the announcement of the settler homes in the neighbourhoods of of Pisgat Zeev, Ramot and Ramat Shlomo . "We no longer have our hands tied as in the time of Barack Obama. Now we can finally build."
Plans for some 11,000 other homes were in process in east Jerusalem, Mr Turjeman said, though he did not provide details on timing.
Alongside the 566 settler homes, the construction of 105 Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem were also approved.
Mr Obama has long been a sharp critic of Israeli policy backing settlements in occupied territory.
Earth moving equipment building infrastructure of Ramat Shlomo with the French Hill area of Jerusalem seen behind Credit: EPA
On December 22 his administration enraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when it refused to veto a United Nations Security Council motion demanding an end to settlements.
Conversely, Mr Trump has challenged the idea that halting settlement expansion is a prerequisite for peace negotiations.
In a May 2016 interview, he said Israel “[had] to keep moving forward” with the project.
At his weekly Cabinet meeting, Mr Netanyahu indicated a new tone in US-Israel relations by thanking Mr Trump for his friendship and his inauguration speech pledge to battle radical Islamic militants.
Mr Netanyahu said he intended to discuss the Palestinian issue, the situation in Syria and the Iranian threat with his first call with the new US president.
Mr Trump’s support for Israel and settlements, and his campaign vow to recognise Jerusalem as the Jewish state's capital, has curried favour with Israel’s right.
'Phantom effect' of bobbies on beat cuts crime by a fifth
Late passenger who phoned in bomb threat to delay his flight is jailed for 16 months
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408051
|
__label__wiki
| 0.555315
| 0.555315
|
Winter Seminar: The Lives of Artists
Katy Fitzpatrick
katy@templebargallery.com
Are you curious about art and artists? Have you ever wondered why do artists make art? In what ways do artists work today? Is the art world today so different to the Renaissance period? Have you ever wanted to visit an artist in their studio? This exciting two-day event will answer the above questions and more.
Dates: Friday 16 and Saturday 17 November 2018
Times: Friday 5.50-9pm & Saturday 9.30am-6pm
Tickets: €33 | Student: €26.52 (inlcuding booking fee). Book Tickets HERE.
Tickets for this exciting, 2-day, cross site seminar includes two drinks receptions & tea/coffee on Saturday morning.
Download the full schedule of events.
Are you curious about art and artists? Have you ever wondered why do artists make art? In what ways do artists work today? Is the art world today so different to the Renaissance period? Have you ever wanted to visit an artist in their studio?
This exciting two-day event will answer the above questions and more, looking at both an international and national context with an exciting keynote from US based writer and cultural sociologist, Dr Sarah Thornton author of; Seven Days in the Art World and 33 Artists in 3 Acts. With panel discussions, walking tours and studio visits with a range of Ireland’s leading artists, The Lives of Artists will celebrate the many ways that artists work, across art forms and career stages, while taking in a range of cultural sites across the city.
This engaging, cross-site seminar is a novel collaboration between Temple Bar Gallery + Studios (TBG+S) and the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA). The title for the seminar is taken from Giorgio Vasari’s tome The Lives of the Artists, which was one of the first art historical books that brought together a reflection on artists from one period in time, that of the Renaissance, albeit a personal and biased one. The seminar will give a snapshot of the international and Irish art scene, connecting directly with the artists of today.
This seminar is open to all and gives a unique opportunity to meet with artists and art commentators in a relaxed environment. The weekend will comprise of a keynote address, a meet and greet drinks reception and performance on Friday evening, two compelling panel discussions on the Saturday morning and a menu of artist studio visits, walking tours, gallery visits and intimate talks on Saturday afternoon, with a lively closing reception, not to be missed!
The Lives of Artists Seminar Outline:
Keynote | Dr. Sarah Thornton
"True Artists" in "False Worlds": Exploring the Myths and Realities of the Art Game
Ethnographer and sociologist of culture, Sarah Thornton will open the seminar by examining the way artists play the game of the international art world. Based on research for her celebrated books, Seven Days in the Art World and 33 Artists in 3 Acts, Thornton will look at how artists with high levels of recognition view their social role and create myths that give their work clout. Indeed, in an era when anything can be art and there are no objective measurements of quality, how do artists assert relevance and command authority? Over the past 15 years, Thornton has interviewed hundreds of artists including Ai Weiwei, Andrea Fraser, Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, Grayson Perry and Cindy Sherman, in pursuit of answers. www.sarah-thornton.com
The Talk That Talks, a performance by Lisa Freeman
The Talk That Talks is performed by three performers, and is centred on a soundtrack and script. It is framed by gender and politics and how they intersect and bring into play modes of social exchange. The performers will move through and around the audience members, opening up conversations around the construction of power in society.
Saturday morning will comprise two panel discussions taking place in the National Gallery of Ireland.
Panel 1: Chaired by Patrick T Murphy, this interdisciplinary panel, including Ronan McCrea (artist), Caoimhe Kilfeather (artist), Eithne Jordan (artist), art historian Philip Cottrell (UCD, Art History) and psychologist Ciaran Benson (Professor Emeritus of Psychology, UCD), will reflect in conversation on the following questions: The Renaissance versus the Contemporary, what has changed? What drives artists to make work? Who are artists making work for? What mediums do artists work in and why? Why are we so interested in the stories of artists? What makes an artist?
Panel 2: ‘Credibility, Femininity, Legacy’. This panel will address the patriarchal outlook of Vasari’s Renaissance text and reflect on the diverse experiences of artists today by inviting different generations of Irish artists to debate the tensions between femininity, credibility and artistic legacy. Through images and directed inquiry, the panel will discuss the impact of gender and sexuality on art and art world perceptions, on what and who gets taken seriously, on who is remembered and why, and on the inequalities of various legitimization processes, including the art market. The panel will be moderated by Lisa Godson and participants include artists Eimear Walshe, Dragana Jurisic and Vivienne Dick.
Behind the Scenes, Studio Visits, Walking Tours, Gallery Visits, and Intimate Talks
During Saturday afternoon there will be a menu of activities for people to choose from taking place at the RHA, TBG+S and across the city. This will include studio visits in both venues, smaller intimate talks (including exhibition introductions, discussions on the techniques of art and two intimate performances), and two walking tours discovering other cultural spaces. Saturday will conclude with a closing reception at TBG+S.
About Dr. Sarah Thornton, keynote speaker:
Described by the Washington Post as "the Jane Goodall of the art world,” Dr. Sarah Thornton is a writer and ethnographer with a BA in Art History and a PhD in Sociology of Culture. She is the author of three books: Seven Days in the Art World, 33 Artists in 3 Acts and Club Cultures: Music, Media and Subcultural Capital. Thornton lived in London for many years and was, for four years, chief writer on contemporary art for The Economist. She now lives in San Francisco where she writes about art, design and tech culture. One day, she may finish a book titled Eight Days in Silicon Valley. www.sarah-thornton.com
Contributors include: Bassam Al Sabbah (artist), Robert Armstrong (artist), Ciaran Benson (Professor Emeritus of Psychology, UCD), Ella Bertilsson & Ulla Juske (artist), Ruth Carroll (RHA, Exhibitions Curator), Philip Cottrell (UCD Art History), Vivienne Dick (artist), Stephen Dunne (artist), Isadora Epstein (artist), Lisa Freeman (artist), Lisa Godson (Lecturer NCAD), Arran Henderson of Dublin Decoded (Art Historian), Michael Hill (TBG+S, Exhibitions Curator), Eithne Jordan RHA (artist), Dragana Jurisic (artist), Caoimhe Kilfeather (artist), Colin Martin RHA (artist), Aisling McCoy (artist), Ronan McCrea (artist), Patrick T Murphy (Director, RHA), Isabel Nolan (artist), Alan Phelan (artist), Alison Pilkington (artist,) Tamsin Snow (artist), Sarah Thornton (cultural sociologist and author), Charles Tyrrell (artist), Eimear Walshe (artist).
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408053
|
__label__wiki
| 0.613387
| 0.613387
|
Reduced Sentence
Causing Serious Injury By Dangerous Driving
Airdrie Sheriff Court
Our client was initially accused of causing serious injury by driving dangerously and refusing to provide a blood specimen when requested to do so. There were s ..
Section 1A Road Traffic Act 1988 Found Not Guilty Glasgow
Our client was a taxi driver and was charged with a contravention ofSection 1A of the Road Traffic Act 1988(causingserious injury bydangerous driving). This is ..
Party Bus Hen Party Paisley Sheriff Court
Paisley Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
The Hen Party hiredThe Boogie Bus (Stan's Party Bus)to take them from Linwood to Glasgow. They didn't make it out of Linwood as when the bus was going around a ..
Causing Serious Injury By Dangerous Driving Glasgow
Causing serious injury by dangerous driving contrary to section 1A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 is a very serious offence and conviction incurs a minimumban of ..
Serious Injury By Dangerous Driving Sentence
Our client was driving in rush hour traffic through road works at Hyndland Road, Glasgow and failed to see a red light. Ordinarily this type of offence would be ..
Serious Injury Dangerous Driving Found Not Guilty
Our client was accused of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in Clydebank contrary to section 1A of the Road Traffic Act 1988. He had failed to see a m ..
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408059
|
__label__wiki
| 0.763948
| 0.763948
|
Proud Boy-in-Chief Threatens to Make Antifa a Terrorist Organization After Weekend Protests in Portland, Oregon
Filed to:Penis Banditos
An alt-right demonstrator is covered in mayonnaise after being chased by a group of counter-protesters during an alt-right rally on August 17, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Anti-fascism demonstrators gathered to counter-protest a rally held by far-right, extremist groups.
Photo: Stephanie Keith (Getty Images)
The far-right Proud Boys, the wandering group of mostly white men who you can spot wearing their “PB” branded polos, vow to continue their inbred form of American terrorism every month in Portland, Ore., after what they claimed was a successful rally this weekend, USA Today reports.
The mayonnaise-smothered clan—which is totally tied to white nationalism, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center—would, of course, consider its “End Domestic Terrorism” rally a success, considering the white nationalist-in-chief took to Twitter to condemn the anti-fascist counterprotesters, aka “Antifa,” which is basically made up of all kinds of people (mostly a bunch of white men, but they are the good guys. Think really skinny vegan X-Men).
From USA Today:
Portland Police Lieutenant Tina Jones said 1,200 people representing both sides took to downtown streets and that least 13 arrests were made. Authorities were mostly able to keep the conflicting groups apart through a series of protests and counterprotests lasting about nine hours.
Six people suffered minor injuries, Jones said.
“We know there is the possibility that assaults or other crimes occurred outside of the view of officers,” police said in a statement. “Officers and detectives will be spending the hours and days ahead writing reports, conducting interviews and pursuing investigations.”
Penis Ballerina organizer Joe Biggs claimed that his group wanted national attention, as they are stunt dummies who will do anything for the ’gram.
Phlegm Backwash’s biggest supporter, Trump, not only gave them national shine but his bitch ass took to Twitter to point out that Portland was “being watched very closely” and that his administration was considering naming the skinny vegans a terror group, something usually reserved for foreign organizations, USA Today reports.
“Look at President Trump’s Twitter,” Biggs said in a tweet that went viral, USA Today reports. “He talked about Portland, said he’s watching [A]ntifa. That’s all we wanted. We wanted national attention, and we got it. Mission success.”
The president’s favorite house slippers, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), also pitched this idea last month in a Senate resolution he c0-sponsored, which would designate Antifa and groups like them as domestic terrorist organizations.
Pubic Buttcheeks chairman Enrique Tarrio promised to bring his special brand of milk-saturated protest to Portland until the city is freed from the vegan X-Men’s “grip.”
Leaked Memo Reveals GOP Strategy for Mass Shootings: Minimize White Supremacy, Blame Left
Remember That Trump Speech at the Pennsylvania Plant? Workers Had to Attend, Take Paid Time Off or Lose a Day of Pay
This Is America: Dayton, Ohio, Mayor Had Security Increased After Public Fallout With Trump
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408060
|
__label__wiki
| 0.695459
| 0.695459
|
Businesses urged to plan for no-deal Brexit
By Annette McIntyre Reporter
A Horsforth-based logistics expert is urging businesses to continue preparing for a no-deal Brexit.
Adam Johnson, director of Tudor International Freight welcomed the law which will force the Prime Minister to seek a deferral of the UK’s departure from the EU, if no withdrawal agreement is in place or MPs haven’t authorised a no-deal Brexit by October 19.
But he warned: “Even in the absence of a General Election, a UK departure without a withdrawal agreement could still occur as early as October 31, as any application for an extension has to be approved by all 27 other EU member states, which is not a certain outcome.”
He urged businesses to continue plans for a no-deal Brexit, even though they might be time-consuming and expensive.
Tour de Yorkshire route joy for Wharfedale fans
Harry Corbett’s gift to girl who hit him on head with hammer
Full Circle expansion
Businesses warned to keep an eye on Brexit
MP pledges support for local pubs
People asked for views on local GP practices
Half-marathon will be eco-friendly event
Award for dedicated college teacher
FINANCIAL ADVICE: Gender gap in retirement savings revealed
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408062
|
__label__wiki
| 0.86056
| 0.86056
|
Tony Cunningham
Former Labour MP for Workington
Crowdfunder – only a few days to go
We’re trying to raise £25,000 to support TheyWorkForYou into the future.
Please take a minute to donate to TheyWorkForYou so we can bring you voting summaries like this for years to come.
A selection of Tony Cunningham's votes
See full list of topics voted on
Generally voted against increasing the rate of VAT Show votes 0 votes for, 16 votes against, 6 absences, between 2008–2013
Consistently voted against greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties, such as charities, during elections Show votes 0 votes for, 11 votes against, between 2013–2014
Generally voted against encouraging occupational pensions Show votes 2 votes for, 3 votes against, between 2004–2011
Almost always voted against reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes 0 votes for, 15 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011–2014
Consistently voted against an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes 0 votes for, 10 votes against, between 2010–2013
Almost always voted for paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes 6 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2012
We have lots more plain English analysis of Tony Cunningham’s voting record on issues like health, welfare, taxation and more. Visit Tony Cunningham’s full vote analysis page for more.
Recent appearances
Vaccine Damage Payments Act — [Mr Martin Caton in the Chair] 24 Mar 2015
To emphasise just how serious the consequences are, I point out that Steve Hinks’s daughter, to whom my hon. Friend may be referring, is often asleep for 23 hours a day. That is how serious the consequences are.
Written Answers — Department for Energy and Climate Change: Green Deal Scheme 17 Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether he plans that upgrading of (a) oil boilers and (b) LPG boilers will be mandated to installing energy companies as being available to qualifying householders under the revised Green Deal Home Improvement Fund.
Written Answers — Department for International Development: Training 11 Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what accreditation staff in her Department undertaking professional programme management training receive; and how many people at each grade in her Department have received such training.
More of Tony Cunningham’s recent appearances
Entered the House of Commons on 7 June 2001 — General election
Left the House of Commons on 30 March 2015 — General election
Wikipedia page
BBC News profile
Early Day Motions signed by this MP
Expenses from 2004 to 2009
Expenses from 2010 onwards
Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Work and Pensions
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Meningitis: Vaccination
Developing Countries: Health Services
Plastics: Recycling
Other offices held in the past
Member, International Development Committee (4 Nov 2013 to 30 Mar 2015)
Shadow Minister (International Development) (7 Oct 2011 to 7 Oct 2013)
Opposition Pairing Whip (Commons) (8 Oct 2010 to 7 Oct 2011)
Government Whip (5 Oct 2008 to 6 May 2010)
Member, Committee of Selection (10 May 2006 to 9 May 2013)
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury) (10 May 2005 to 5 Oct 2008)
Member, Catering Committee (28 May 2004 to 11 Apr 2005)
PPS (Mr Elliot Morley, Minister of State), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (13 May 2004 to 11 Apr 2005)
Member, European Scrutiny Committee (16 Jul 2001 to 26 Apr 2004)
Member, Human Rights (Joint Committee) (7 Jun 2001 to 19 Jul 2001)
Previous MPs in this constituency
Dale Campbell-Savours
Thomas Peart
Thomas Cape
Future MPs in this constituency
Sue Hayman
Mark Jenkinson
Public bill committees (Sittings attended)
Commons Bill Committee (4 out of 4)
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill Committee (9 out of 9)
Animal Welfare Bill Committee (8 out of 8)
National Insurance Contributions and Statutory Payments Bill Committee (1 out of 2)
Police (Northern Ireland) Bill Committee (9 out of 9)
Finance Bill Committee (10 out of 16)
European Parliament (Representation) Bill Committee (4 out of 6)
Water Bill Committee (10 out of 11)
International Development Bill Committee (4 out of 4)
Animal Health Bill Committee (5 out of 6)
Please note that numbers do not measure quality. Also, representatives may do other things not currently covered by this site. More about this
Has spoken in 6 debates in the last year — well below average amongst MPs. See all Tony Cunningham’s speeches
Has received answers to 17 written questions in the last year — average amongst MPs.
Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a very high number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2014, according to constituents.
Has voted in 68.68% of votes in this Parliament with this affiliation — below average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
This MP’s speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 16–17 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
48 people are tracking this MP
Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 84 times in debates — well below average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)
Register of Members’ Interests
Last updated: 30 Mar 2015.
4. Sponsorships
(a) Donations to my constituency party or association, which have been or will be reported by the party to the Electoral Commission:
(a) Name of donor: Unite the Union
(a) Address of donor: Unite House, 128 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8TN
(a) Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £3,000
(a) Donor status: trade union
(a) (Registered 28 April 2014)
View the history of this MP’s entries in the Register
More about the register
Note for journalists and researchers: The data on this page may be used freely, on condition that TheyWorkForYou.com is cited as the source.
This data was produced by TheyWorkForYou from a variety of sources. Voting information from Public Whip.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408064
|
__label__wiki
| 0.857529
| 0.857529
|
Lord Abbett Names International Large-Cap Equity Team
December 16, 2003 -- Lord Abbett & Co. LLC named a five-person international large-cap equity investment management team which will run the company's new international...
By Staff Writer | December 17, 2003 at 07:00 PM
December 16, 2003 — Lord Abbett & Co. LLC named a five-person international large-cap equity investment management team which will run the company’s new international core equity fund.
Harold Sharon and Vincent J. McBride will head the investment management team as director of international core equity and senior portfolio manager, respectively.
Sharon joined Lord Abbett in 2003 from the consulting industry where he worked with various financial and venture capital companies from 2001 to 2003. Previously, Sharon served as a managing director of Warburg Pincus Asset Management/Credit Suisse Asset Management.
McBride joined Lord Abbett in 2003 from Warburg Pincus Asset Management/Credit Suisse Asset Management.
The other members of the team are Todd D. Jacobson, Todor Petrov, and Yarek Aranowicz.
Jacobson was recently a co-manager for international funds at Warburg Pincus/CSAM and had been the head of Japanese equities for Credit Suisse in Tokyo. Petrov worked on the international equity team at Credit Suisse and was co-manager of a global sector fund. Aranowicz was recently lead portfolio manager for a number of Credit Suisse global equity funds.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408065
|
__label__cc
| 0.655294
| 0.344706
|
Newborn Baby with Sturge Weber Glaucoma Saved from Permanent Eye Damage through Timely Surgeries
A newborn baby was diagnosed with Sturge Weber Syndrome – a rare genetic disorder affecting 1 in every 50,000 newborns – by the doctors at Thumbay Hospital Ajman and successfully underwent two surgeries each in both the eyes
A 7-day-old newborn baby with Sturge Weber Syndrome underwent multiple eye surgeries at Thumbay Hospital – Ajman, to escape permanent eye damage. The surgeries were performed by a team led by Dr. Ahmed Atef Abdelhamid Shabana, Specialist – Ophthalmology.
A rare disorder believed to affect 1 in 50,000 newborns, Sturge Weber Syndrome’s exact cause is not known, but it is related to gene mutation. It usually causes dermatological effects like a mark of the face usually referred to port wine stain, neurological effects usually in the form of seizures and eye disorder usually linked to glaucoma.
The one week old baby’s condition was first detected by doctors of Thumbay Hospital’s NICU, who alerted Dr. Ahmed as soon as they noticed clouding of the cornea, with symptoms indicating Sturge Weber Syndrome.
Detailed examinations revealed that the baby had stains on both sides of the face and the body, not a typical symptom of Sturge Weber Syndrome. What was even more alarming was that both the eyes of the newborn had elevated pressure inside, causing clouding of the eye. This too wasn’t like the typical glaucoma that comes with Sturge Weber, usually affecting only one eye.
After discussions with the pediatric neonatologist and the neurology specialists, and after performing all the necessary investigations to confirm the diagnosis, the team led by Dr. Ahmed decided to examine the newborn under general anesthesia to detect the exact pressure and the degree of glaucoma. At the same time, the parents were counseled and informed that if the examinations revealed manifestations of glaucoma, surgery would be performed to treat it and to try and preserve as much vision as possible, as waiting without taking action could result in severe impairment of the newborn’s vision.
After getting the parents’ consent, doctors of different departments of Thumbay Hospital, Ajman met and planned the surgery. The team examined the baby and confirmed high pressure in both eyes, with the typical symptoms of Sturge Weber glaucoma. Subsequently, two glaucoma surgeries each – trabeculotomy and trabeculectomy – were performed in both eyes. The patient was admitted for the next few days and kept under close observation until the pressure in the eyes normalized and the cornea started to clear again.
“Performing four surgeries (two on each eye) in one go, on a 7-day-old baby was a very tough decision to take and needed a lot of confidence from everyone; from the parents to begin with and from the pediatric neonatology team and the anesthesia and surgical teams. We had never seen a similar case before, where bilateral Sturge Weber induced glaucoma had to be operated on at such an early age. I am glad we could help this baby pass this very rough and critical time,” said Dr. Ahmed, commenting on the case and the complex procedure.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408067
|
__label__cc
| 0.530073
| 0.469927
|
– troubled teen schools and residential schools.
Free Enrollment Help! Call Toll-Free
★ Recommended ★
Jeannine Reeves, M.A.
5005 Texas St, Ste 203, San Diego, CA 92108-3723
Please contact us at Inquiry@BestChoiceNetwork if you are this counselor and would like to have a full listing to highlight your services.
Quick Search Here
Choose the Type of Program you are looking for and then search by Keyword or Location
Inpatient Outpatient
Program Type Addiction Treatment Adventure Therapy Boarding Schools Boys Only Boarding Schools Camping Programs Christian Boarding Schools Eating Disorder Treatment Fine-Arts Focused Schools Girls Only Boarding Schools Group Homes Leadership Program Mentoring Programs Military Schools Other Outdoor Therapy Prep for Independent Living Preparatory School Programs for Pregnant Teens Ranches Residential Child Care Facility Residential Treatment School for Learning Disabilities Sexual Issues Special Needs Therapeutic Boarding Schools Transition Programs Transport Services Wilderness Therapy
State Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington DC West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland Nova Scotia Northwest Territories Nunavut Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Territory Puerto Rico Costa Rica Alabama jamaica Northern Ireland zambia
5 miles 25 miles 50 miles 100 miles 500 miles from
Please Select Program Location
Please Select Program Type
Enter Valid Keyword
No Result Found - Please Widen Your Search
Programs by Type
We’re a service that provides the parents of troubled teens with help finding counseling or residential boarding schools. If you need help finding such a program, please call us toll-free at 888-218-2125, anytime. We offer free placement assistance.
Best Therapeutic Schools
Military Boarding Schools
Best Boys Homes/Ranches
U.S. Boarding Schools
Christian Boarding Schools
Therapeutic Boarding Schools
Troubled Teen Schools
Best Therapeutic Programs
© 2020 troubledteenhelpfinder.com – a Service of Exceed Marketing Solutions LLC. All Rights reserved | Sitemap | Privacy Policy
Should you need help finding boarding schools, traditional schools, private boarding schools or boarding schools, please let us know. As the parent of a troubled teen, you’re faced with even greater challenges. This is especially true if your teen is abusing drugs or alcohol. A troubled teen faces behavioral, emotional, or learning problems beyond the normal teenage issues. While any negative behavior repeated over and over can be a sign of underlying trouble, it’s important for parents to understand which behaviors are normal during adolescent development, and which can point to more serious problems. Teenagers want to feel independent – that’s normal. But that doesn’t include acting out in dangerous ways (danger to them, you or others). If your teenager is creating self-destructive situations, you can’t afford not to intervene. Teenagers don’t make severe switches in personality just out of the blue. If they’re making drastic behavioral changes, there’s a reason. It’s a cause-and-effect situation. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to identify what’s behind the change. It may be a recent event, or it may be something deep-rooted. Negative events that happened in earlier years will shape a child’s personality. By the time they become teenagers, they’ve been living with the resulting pain for most of their lives. Teenagers will act on these feelings with more lasting — and harmful — consequences. So, listen to him or her and resist the urge to judge or advise; sometimes just being heard helps. Even though they’re often reluctant to admit it, they seek approval, love, and a “soft place to fall” in their parents. If they don’t feel valued, loved and understood at home, they’ll turn elsewhere to get the acceptance they so deeply need. Your responsibility is to ensure the well-being and safety of your child. Intervening in a dangerous situation (like ones involving drugs, abuse or truancy) might make your child dislike you temporarily, but it will also save his or her life. Don’t “go along just to get along;” do what’s best for your child.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408072
|
__label__cc
| 0.583216
| 0.416784
|
3 Tech Races that are Shaping the Customer Experience
February 21, 2018 by Jeff Marcoux,
Vice President, Product Strategy & Marketing
Digital Transformation, CX Innovation, Automation and AI
Blog updates via Email
In the ongoing race to surpass customer expectations, there are market leaders and laggards. The leaders dominate their competitors in mindshare, number of applications, and perceived value, among other factors. At the same time, these are incredibly tight races and today's laggard could be next month's leader when it comes to captivating customers.
Here are three key technology races-and their respective leaders and laggards-that are poised to have a significant influence on the customer experience.
1. Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality
Leader: AR
Laggard: VR
AR and VR technology have both received a lot of media attention for their ability to enhance the customer engagement, but AR is pulling ahead. Why is that? The answer is mundane chores. From an end-user perspective, augmented reality has far more practical applications than virtual reality, which faces a number of obstacles.
For example, at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES), developers demonstrated myriad ways that AR can be used as a self-service tool via a mobile app. We can use it to place virtual furniture in our living room; install a car engine with overlaid instructions; examine virtual merchandise from all angles-the ideas are endless.
Before people can experience the immersive worlds of virtual reality, they need expensive headsets and software. VR is also isolating, which further limits its usefulness. While VR could be valuable for specific purposes-like gaming and training-expect to see more examples of AR designed with a daily user in mind.
2. Smart Home
Leader: Amazon Alexa
Laggard: Google Home
Amazon's Alexa may have lost her voice in a Super Bowl commercial, but the voice-enabled virtual assistant is winning the ecosystem battle. From voice-activated mirrors and toilets to the dishwasher, Alexa already has near-ubiquitous adoption among home devices. Last month, Google announced Google Assistant was compatible with 1,500 smart home devices. Alexa, however, was compatible with more than 4,000 smart home devices.
What does this mean for customer service and customer engagement? Regardless of whether Amazon maintains its lead over Google (or the dark horse, Apple), smart assistants like Alexa and Google Home have huge implications for AI customer service.
Instead of calling the contact center to schedule a repair for the dishwasher, for example, the dishwasher via Alexa might schedule the repair itself or proactively order a part that needs to be replaced. Human associates will still be needed for cases that are too complicated for Alexa to solve, and so companies need to start integrating artificial intelligence with humans in the contact center if they aren't already.
3. User Data
Leader: Telecommunications companies
Laggard: TBA
The Federal Communications Commission voted in December to eliminate net neutrality rules that prohibit Internet service providers from blocking and throttling online traffic. The FCC also lifted a ban on paid prioritization, rules requiring greater disclosure of hidden fees for exceeding data caps, and other consumer protections.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was scheduled to speak on a panel at CES but reportedly canceled his appearance due to death threats. Even without Pai admitting it, telecommunications companies now have the upper hand in controlling user data and user experiences.
As internet providers, telecommunication companies are the glue between internet users and publishers. Telco companies like Verizon also own content platforms like AOL and Yahoo that generate ad dollars from the data of internet users.
It remains to be seen how this conflict of interest will play out (will telcos impede the data pipeline of their competitors?) and whether consumers will end up paying more to access certain sites. Corporations and consumer advocates will be keeping a close watch.
And while these are the tech trends/companies that are on top right now, unforeseen factors could easily change the pecking order. Companies that meet the fundamentals-providing fast, convenient services for the right price-will be the ones that consistently pull away from the competition. Stay tuned as we continue to track the rise of consumer technology and the evolution of customer engagement.
Do you agree with these projections? Which tech races are you following?
Customer Journey Maps as a Customer Experience Tool
How Is That New Year's Resolution Going?
10 Buckets to Dig Your Way Out of Subpar Customer Experiences
Tell a Story With IoT
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408073
|
__label__wiki
| 0.917181
| 0.917181
|
Joseph Manuel
Joseph Manuel was raised on the West Coast and has spent the majority of his life in Oregon. Read More
Visit Matt Groening’s alma mater to find this hidden work of art.
Credit: Dustin Beck
“The Simpsons” Landmarks in Portland
These local spots inspired the world of Springfield’s favorite family.
Updated Nov. 27, 2019 3 min read
Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, grew up in Portland on a street called Evergreen Terrace (which he would later use as the name of the street the Simpsons live on). When creating The Simpsons, he borrowed titles from select Portland landmarks to name several of his cast of goofy characters. So get those cameras ready — the following is a list of locations that provided inspiration for The Simpsons.
At this high school near downtown, you can find a familiar picture signed by a familiar name. Matt Groening drew Bart Simpson onto wet cement here and signed it with that signature Simpsons scrawl. The sketch features Bart in all his spikey-headed glory, complete with his classic attire of T-shirt and shorts. Groening added the words “Class of 1972” to memorialize his status as a Lincoln High alum. While you won’t find Mrs. Krabappel or Principal Skinner at Lincoln, Groening surely drew inspiration for Springfield Elementary here.
Burnside Street/Montgomery Park
Charles Montgomery Burns, the richest man in Springfield, was named after both historic Montgomery Park and Burnside Street. On Burnside, which runs east-west through the city, you’ll find the famous Powell’s bookstore (on the west side) and Southern brunch spot Screen Door (on the east side), among other favorites. (Unfortunately, you won’t find Burns Manor and its room of 1,000 monkeys on typewriters, crafting the greatest novel ever written.)
Flanders Street
Ned Flanders, devout family man of Springfield, was named after Flanders Street, which runs through Northwest Portland and Northeast Portland. (In fact, at one time, some “NE” street signs featured an illegally drawn “D” to spell out “NED FLANDERS.”) Ol’ Neddy probably wouldn’t approve of that vandalism (he doesn’t even believe in insurance), but Simpsons fans were amused.
Kearney Street
Kearney Street’s namesake is overgrown bully extraordinaire Kearney, who drives a Hyundai and pummels classmates until they lick their wounds. Visit Salt & Straw at NW 23rd Ave. and Kearney St. to lick gourmet ice cream — instead of scrapes or bruises. Just don’t smuggle out ice cream cones the way Kearney shoplifted ice cream sandwiches from the Kwik-E-Mart (in his armpits).
More PDX pop culture
Diverse dining options, gorgeous gardens and unexpected attractions make Portland one of a kind.
Let local experts — and our targeted itineraries — offer inspiration for your time in and around Portland.
The home of acclaimed directors Gus Van Sant and Todd Haynes boasts many movie houses and festivals.
Lovejoy Street
Droning Reverend Lovejoy got his moniker from this street in Northwest Portland. The Rev, who has a fondness for trains, would appreciate that the Portland Streetcar runs along NW Lovejoy St. Hop aboard and visit delicious local businesses Lovejoy Bakers and Jim and Patty’s Coffee People. (Note: The Patty of Jim & Patty’s is not Marge Simpson’s sister, Patty Bouvier… as far as we know.)
Quimby Street
Hedonistic Mayor “Diamond” Joe Quimby was named after Northwest Quimby Street. Maybe one day someone will emblazon his campaign slogan (“Quimby — If you were running for mayor, he’d vote for you.” somewhere). Until then, places of interest on the street include Stepping Stone Cafe, Bull Run Distilling and Lucky Labrador Beer Hall.
Terwilliger Curves
Treacherously twisted criminal “Sideshow” Bob Terwilliger happens to have the same name as the treacherously twisted Terwilliger curves. This stretch of highway in Southwest Portland is considered one of Oregon’s most dangerous, so it’s a fitting name for a character whose life goal is to kill Bart Simpson.
Van Houten Avenue
The mostly residential Van Houten Avenue in North Portland shares its name with Bart’s bestie, Milhouse Van Houten. Groenig has allegedly said that this is a coincidence, but we’re not buying it. (How many Van Houtens do you know?)
Comedy, Weird
Comedy in Portland
Check out plenty of in-demand comedians in a classic format for sidesplitting humor — live and in person.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408089
|
__label__wiki
| 0.914133
| 0.914133
|
Hong Kong police shoot protester as flashmob rallies target rush hour
A Hong Kong police officer shot at masked protesters on Monday morning, hitting at least one in the torso, as anger sparked by the recent death of a student spilled into the rush hour commute.
The shooting, which was broadcast live on Facebook, is the latest escalation in more than five months of seething pro-democracy protests that have engulfed the international financial hub and battered its reputation.
Footage showed a police officer drawing his sidearm in the district of Sai Wan Ho as he tried to detain a masked person at a junction that had been blocked by protesters.
Another masked individual then approached the officer and was shot in the chest area, quickly falling to the ground, clutching their left side.
Seconds later, two more live rounds were fired by the officer during a scuffle and another masked protester went to ground, although the footage was less clear as to whether he was struck.
Police then detained the two people on the ground.
A pool of blood could be seen near the first individual whose body initially appeared limp, although the person was later filmed conscious and even trying to make a run for it.
The second man was conscious, shouting his name to reporters as he was handcuffed.
A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to AFP that live rounds were fired at more than one protester in Sai Wan Ho and that a statement would be issued.
Hospital authorities said three people were admitted from the incident, one with a gunshot wound.
Hong Kong has been upended by 24 consecutive weeks of huge and increasingly violent rallies, but Beijing has refused to give in to a movement calling for greater democratic rights and police accountability.
Tensions have soared in recent days following the death on Friday of a 22-year-old student who succumbed to injuries sustained from a fall in the vicinity of a police clearance operation the weekend before.
The city has seen four days of violent protests since Alex Chow”s death as well as tens of thousands attending peaceful mass vigils.
Using online messaging forums, activists had called for a general strike on Monday morning.
Flashmob protests sprung up in multiple districts during the commuter period, with small groups of masked protesters targeting subway stations and building barricades on road junctions.
Even before the shooting in Sai Wan Ho, tear gas had been fired in at least two other locations.
One video circulated by protesters on messaging channels from Kwai Fong district showed a police officer trying to drive his motorbike multiple times into protesters who had gathered on a road.
Monday”s shooting is the third time protesters have been shot with live rounds by police. The two previous instances last month came as protesters attacked police officers and the victims, both teenagers, survived their wounds.
With no political solution on the table, officers have been left to battle violent protesters and are now loathed by large chunks of the deeply polarised population.
Immediately after Monday”s shooting, crowds of locals gathered to hurl insults at officers who responded with pepper spray and made multiple arrests.
Police have defended their tactics as a proportionate response to protesters who have embraced throwing bricks and petrol bombs as well as vandalising pro-China businesses and beating opponents.
But an independent inquiry into the police has become a core demand of the protest movement, with public anger fuelled by weekly videos of controversial police tactics and aggressive interactions with locals.
In one incident which sparked uproar, a police officer on Friday evening shouting at protesters that he and his colleagues were “opening a bottle of champagne” after the death of the student.
The force said the officer was later reprimanded for his language.
Both Beijing and Hong Kong”s unelected leader Carrie Lam have rejected an independent inquiry, saying the city”s current police watchdog is up to the task.
But last week, in an embarrassing setback, an international panel of experts appointed by authorities to advise the watchdog said it did not currently have the capability or resources to carry out such a huge probe.
Hong Kong activist stabbed as protesters gird for march
28 die,12 missing in Philippines typhoon
Karnataka assembly trust vote by 6 pm today
Sindhu, Saina to take part in Senior National Badminton
Devotees throng Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya
SC directive to Govt on Aadhar
PM launches Rs1100 cr projects in Raebareli
Kerber, Sharapova stunned as debutant Barty muscles past into quarters
Trump plans to scrap trade status for India, Turkey
Over 1,100 adopted children returned to child care institutions in last five years
King, Queen of Sweden arrive in Delhi on five-day India visit
Istanbul police fire tear gas at banned women’s day rally
Mexico uncovers 10 more bodies from mass grave in Sonora
Cheering crowds greet Japan’s new emperor in rare parade
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408093
|
__label__wiki
| 0.795671
| 0.795671
|
256 results for toronto ont
Harry McGregor House, Riverview Drive, north side, west of Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
Stores, Yonge Street, east side, between Keewatin Avenue and Sherwood Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
W. Gordon Mills House, Riverview Drive, north side, east of Snowden Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
Stores, Yonge Street, southeast corner of Keewatin Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
House, Oriole Parkway, west side, between Tranmer Avenue and College View Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
Barry B. Hayes House, Riverview Drive, north side, , Toronto, Ont.
21 Deloraine
Tropical fish store and printing shop, Yonge Street, west side, north of Imperial Street, Toronto, Ont.
Bedford Park Chapel, Bedford Park Avenue, south side, west of Yonge Street, Toronto, Ont.
House, Weybourne Crescent, west side, between Lawrence Avenue East and Lympstone Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
Postal Station K, Yonge Street, west side, between Helendale Avenue and Montgomery Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
Houses, Soudan Avenue, south side, west of Redpath Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
Glencairn Gardens Apartments, Yonge Street, northwest corner of Glencairn Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
House, Keewatin Avenue, north side, east of Yonge Street, Toronto, Ont.
Bolton Reade House, Glencairn Avenue, southeast corner of Duplex Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
335 Riverview - Lanesend
House, Lawrence Avenue East, north side, between Ronan Avenue and Wanless Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
Chaplin Crescent, looking east from Oriole Parkway, Toronto, Ont.
House, Snowdon Avenue, north side, between Yonge Street and Bocastle Avenue, Toronto, Ont.
North Toronto (Toronto, Ont.) (255)
Davisville (Toronto, Ont.) (53)
Northern District Local History
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408096
|
__label__cc
| 0.50945
| 0.49055
|
Featured Game Reviews
On Thursday, November 21, 2019, by Ishan Sardar
We all know first impression matters right? Well, this game is all about that first impression. I didn’t have any expectation from the game before I started playing it because of well, we didn’t have a good Star War game in ages and whatever we had only managed to brought my hope down and I gave up thinking that we can ever have a good Star Wars game.
Anyway, so I started playing it with a feeling that I’d be put off in under an hour and maybe just avoid doing a review for this game altogether. So, an hour passed I’ve finished the prologue and I was like what the hell did I just play (in a good way). The first impression of the game had me blown away and I was literally craving for more but unfortunately the rest of the journey didn’t go too well (I’ll explain)
Let’s start with the graphics first, you have a very limited number of graphical settings on pc and I can only think of one reason for that and that is the game was designed for consoles but as long as the game looks and runs great I don’t care what it was designed for. The game runs great on 2K 60fps on my 8700K & 1080 Ti but it has massive optimization issue that needs to be fixed. The game runs smoothly but it has massive stutters while going to a new area or just randomly, it isn’t anything game breaking but when it happens damn it happens badly but the game itself looks amazing.
Story wise it’s not amazing but it’s not bad either. You start off as a Jedi who has been supressing his force and living under the radar then one day the inquisitors finds out about him attacks him and then he gets saved by good guys and then the protagonist and their journey starts and he and his team travels around planet to planet to restore the Jedi Empire. The problem with the story though it starts with a bang and then slows down tremendously and then when it starts to get interesting again it ends. The NPCs are boring and there’s limited amount of cutscenes in the game, the most interesting NPC in the game is the little droid I have as an companion.
The gameplay is a refreshing new take, it’s not like dark souls or sekiro but it could have been so much better. The game has more of a Tomb Raider or Uncharted feelings to it. To me the combat felt really dull and boring because there are very limited amount of enemies, a few more enemy variety would have been so much better. Combat is very limited and simple, its much more button mashing than tactical approach. Now because I’m a Jedi I expected to have a lot of powers and ways to defeat my enemies but in this game all you have is push, pull and slow down as your force power and that’s all. You do get to unlock dual lightsaber at some point but there’s no backstory to it also the game missed an great opportunity here as the single lightsaber and the dual one has completely different combos and the sad thing about it is you can’t mix them up in fight. I would’ve loved a few more force power like mind control, lightening and stuff like that to mix it up in combat along with more special combos coming from single and dual lightsaber to apply to more enemy varieties.
Level design is really clever here and its really fun exploring. You will find yourself coming back to same planet again and again after unlocking new powers as you will need different force power to unlock different areas in a planet. There are no microtransaction in the game so all the unlockables in the game can be found by exploring hidden areas. You can find tons of skins for your droid, lightsaber and poncho. You can also find health stem which you can put inside your droid and use it in combat.
There game has 4 difficulty level which goes from piss easy to impossible. At the highest difficulty level enemies can basically one hit kill you and parry timing is minimum. You can save your game in meditation point which is very similar to Dark souls bonfire & Tomb Raiders camp. You can also spend your skill point here which you earn by killing enemies or finding force echos in hidden areas.
There are puzzles in the game which are simple enough but there are always people like me who can’t solve even the easiest puzzle to save their life so if you are someone like me, there is nothing to worry about as if you spend sometime and can’t figure out the puzzle you can ask your droid to help and he will give you a hint about how to solve the puzzle.
Now the question stands, how good is the game? Is it forced unleased good? Is it Jedi Academy good? NO but it isn’t bad either, this is basically tomb raider or uncharted with lightsaber and it works for me just fine.
The review copy of the game has been provided by the publishers
The game has potential to be a lot more than it already is, add a bit more to the story, tweak the combat system and I think Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order 2 will be a great game.
Gameplay:
WOW Factor:
Terminator Resistance Review
Razer Seiren X Review
Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E 2 Review
Copyright 2018 GameTime - All Rights Reserved.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408099
|
__label__wiki
| 0.836135
| 0.836135
|
Listen To Chip’s Believe & Achieve EPisode 2 In Full
The prolific U.K. MC proves he can’t run out of bars.
By Aimee Cliff
Earlier this year, U.K. MC Chip was at the eye of a storm in the grime scene. Scores of MCs got pulled into the debate about the origins of the genre, and who's got the right to claim it, reigniting old feuds along the way. In the furore, Chip faced accusations that his past in mainstream pop in the U.K. means he can't lay claim to grime (an accusation he responded to movingly and passionately on Radar Radio last week).
But musically, he's been rising above all that chaos. His Believe & Achieve EP, released in May, was met with acclaim; he's put out a steady stream of songs and videos at an almost weekly rate ever since, and is already gearing up to release the follow-up Believe & Achieve EPisode 2.
The EP is wall-to-wall with lyrical fire, and is a showcase of Chip's versatility, from the unquestionable party anthem that's the Wiley and Frisco-featuring "My Bruddaz," to the finger-snapping slow jam "Connected." After all, as he puts it: Chip can't run out of bars. If you're not a believer yet, hit play below—where the EP is streaming in full to celebrate Chip's 25th birthday today—and scroll on for The FADER's chat with the man himself.
Read Next: Listen To Grime MC Chip’s New Album League Of My Own II
What's the mission statement behind Believe & Achieve EPisode 2?
CHIP: The mission statement is pretty self explanatory, just gotta believe and achieve. Keep going, even when the odds are against you.
New tracks like "Bookey" sound like you're in a comfortable and happy place with the music you're making today. Is that the mindset you went into this EP with?
I'm glad that you think that track shows where my mind is at. As hard hitting as it is, I wouldn't say there is any one track that could represent my whole mindset, but this record definitely feels true to the energies and what’s going on in my life since growing into a young man. It feels like as I'm getting older you get more aware of your surroundings.
On "96 Bars of Revenge" you criticized the MOBOs for nominating longstanding artists as "newcomers." How can the U.K. media and music industry improve in their representation of grime and British rap?
In regards to that lyric I didn't criticize [the MOBOs] I just said what a lot of people were thinking. I think it will help the world if we don't shun from the truth…I just feel like in a few years' time, more people are going to understand what I've been trying to say.
You've been so prolific this year. If you can choose, which tracks and videos were most meaningful to you to make?
This year I honestly have to say every single song that I have put a visual to has paid a valid part in the messages I've wanted people to take from me this year. The pace some of these songs have been coming out, I honestly haven't been able to digest them all to be able to pick my fave…but I do really love "Coward" right now.
It's your 25th birthday today—compared to most 25 year olds, you've been through so much as an artist and a public persona already. What are the most important lessons you've learned?
- You need a lot less than you think.
- The most important thing to have around you is real love.
- The moments you think are defining, years can go go by and then you look back and feel different; so just fill your heart with love, take time and take each day as it comes. The main lesson is.. you need real love around you!
What are you planning for 2016?
Come on now guys that would be telling ;)
Believe & Achieve EPisode 2 is out tomorrow, Friday November 27. Pre-order it here.
Chip, grime, Hip-Hop
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408100
|
__label__wiki
| 0.847182
| 0.847182
|
Whole Foods accused of overcharging customers for prepackaged foods
The investigation, which began las fall, checked the eight Whole Foods markets then open in New York. A ninth has since opened.
Julie Jacobson/AP
JIM FITZGERALD
Published June 24, 2015 Updated May 15, 2018
Whole Foods supermarkets have been routinely overcharging customers by overstating the weight of prepackaged meat, dairy and baked goods, New York's consumer chief said Wednesday.
The price on a package of coconut shrimp at the upscale market was too high by $14.84 (U.S.), said Department of Consumer Affairs commissioner Julie Menin. A package of chicken tenders was overpriced by $4.85, and a vegetable platter by $6.15, the department said.
"These overcharges are incredibly troubling," Ms. Menin said, alleging they continued even after Whole Foods was informed of the city investigation, which began in the fall. The investigation checked the eight Whole Foods markets then open in the city. A ninth has since opened. In all, the Austin, Tex.-based chain has 422 stores in the United States, Canada and Britain.
"We have been meeting with Whole Foods for months," the commissioner said, "but we repeatedly found problems that were incredibly pervasive."
In e-mailed statements, Whole Foods said, "We disagree with the DCA's overreaching allegations." It said the department had made "grossly excessive monetary demands" to settle the dispute, but it would not disclose the amount.
Because the city's investigation of Whole Foods is ongoing, penalties have not yet been assessed, Ms. Menin said. Fines for falsely labelling a package can be as much as $950 for the first violation and up to $1,700 for subsequent violations. The department said Whole Foods had thousands of potential violations.
Last year, Whole Foods agreed to pay $800,000 in penalties – and improve pricing accuracy – after an investigation into alleged pricing irregularities in California.
The Consumer Affairs Department said it tested 80 different types of prepackaged products and found mislabelled weights for each, with overcharges ranging from 80 cents for a package of pecan panko to the $14.84 markup on the shrimp.
Wal-Mart adding fresh food to e-commerce offerings
Eataly eyes Toronto for its first Canadian location
Deal creates U.S. grocer that poses threat to Wal-Mart, other discounters
Tickers mentioned in this story
Data Update Unchecking box will stop auto data updates
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408105
|
__label__wiki
| 0.96033
| 0.96033
|
Robson picks up the thread as Rangers' season begins to unravel
Ewan Murray
@mrewanmurray
Sun 27 Apr 2008 08.29 EDT First published on Sun 27 Apr 2008 08.29 EDT
Barry Robson dispatches the match-winning penalty. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
It may take the kind of space normally afforded to an encyclopedia to catalogue the season's final Old Firm encounter but stark assessments are easier to deduce.
Rangers, from an apparently unassailable position at the summit of the Scottish Premier League at the start of April, are steadily watching their season unravel in front of their very eyes. Walter Smith's side may have three games in hand over their oldest rivals – sufficient scope, therefore, to overhaul a five-point deficit – yet momentum has unquestionably swung Celtic's way. Two derby victories in the space of 11 days have ensured that much, and also that Smith has, for the first time in a combined eight-year stint at the Ibrox helm, suffered back-to-back losses to Celtic.
To add to the Rangers manager's personnel worries, David Weir and Steven Davis suffered groin strains here. Both are now rated as highly doubtful for the second leg of the Uefa Cup semi-final against Fiorentina on Thursday.
Steven Whittaker, dismissed in stoppage time after a tired lunge on Shunsuke Nakamura that merited a second yellow card, will certainly miss the potentially troublesome visit to Hibernian three days later. Queen's 'Under Pressure', rather aptly, was the verse of choice for the Celtic Park Tannoy announcer at full-time.
Controversy is seldom far from the agenda when these adversaries meet and such was the case again, with the Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc wearing a t-shirt with the slogan 'God bless the Pope' and a picture of the religious leader as he left the field. "He [the Pope] is not a bad lad, to be fair," shrugged Boruc's manager, Gordon Strachan. "If it said 'God bless Myra Hindley', I might have a problem."
While Boruc, never shy of displaying his faith but a player who has been warned for his Old Firm antics in the past, did nothing overtly provocative and it is almost certain that the matter will go no further, the wisdom of Pole's choice of attire for a volatile fixture is open to question.
Strachan, whose hopes of claiming a third title in succession have been boosted by recent events, unwittingly also alluded to Freddie Mercury once the dust had settled. "We are the champions and we will be until someone takes that from us," said Celtic's manager.
Strachan's opposite number was more circumspect, aware that injuries and suspensions are playing an ever-more prominent role in Rangers' bid for glory at home and abroad. "We are not going to win it by 16, 10 or even eight points," Smith said. "I think I was the only person who emphasised that the league wasn't over when we beat Celtic at Ibrox [on March 29]."
Rangers fans used to hail Scott McDonald as the player, then at Motherwell, who ended Celtic's championship dreams in 2005 with two goals against the Parkhead outfit in the dying moments of the season. The Australian went up even higher in the estimations of the light blue legions by missing a penalty against their team earlier this month.
Yesterday, McDonald secured his first two Old Firm goals and had a hand in another to send the vast majority of a 58,662 crowd into raptures. The opener arrived within four minutes, the diminutive striker evading both the Rangers central defence – and the attentions of Tom Murphy, the assistant referee, who failed to realise McDonald was offside – to collect a Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink header and slot beyond Neil Alexander.
It was harsh on Rangers, who had been adventurous during the opening exchanges, so there was little surprise that parity was soon restored, Weir heading a Davis corner home from six yards. Another set-piece from the Ulsterman created havoc in the home defence 12 minutes later, Daniel Cousin this time connecting with a header to send Smith's team in front.
A slight deflection from Christian Dailly aided McDonald as he claimed his 29th goal of the campaign, the culmination of an utterly pulsating opening half. Both teams had reasonable penalty claims – both for hand-ball – turned down while Alexander clawed away Nakamura's latest sublime free-kick effort.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the second 45 minutes failed to reach such a lofty tempo. Not that it troubled Celtic, who were increasingly potent in attack. Kirk Broadfoot became the fall guy, hauling down McDonald with the forward bearing down on goal; Barry Robson dispatched the resultant spot-kick and onlookers were left puzzled as to why the referee, Craig Thomson, failed to send the Rangers defender off. Thomson was similarly lenient towards Vennegoor of Hesselink, who jumped into a high and reckless lunge on Amdy Faye in midfield.
Such a fate was bestowed on Whittaker, nonetheless, who took out his frustrations on Nakamura having received an earlier caution for a similar challenge on Lee Naylor.
Man of the match: Scott McDonald (Celtic)
Scottish Premier League 2007-08
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408106
|
__label__wiki
| 0.993843
| 0.993843
|
Olympic security chaos: depth of G4S security crisis revealed
Recruits tell of chaos over schedules, uniforms and training while ex-police officers asked to help out
Robert Booth and Nick Hopkins
Fri 13 Jul 2012 03.20 EDT First published on Fri 13 Jul 2012 03.20 EDT
A soldier at the Olympic Park where preparations for London 2012 are taking place. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA
The depth of the crisis over G4S's Olympic security preparations became increasingly clear on Thursday as recruits revealed details of a "totally chaotic" selection process and police joined the military in bracing themselves to fill the void left by the private security contractor.
Guards told how, with 14 days to go until the Olympics opening ceremony, they had received no schedules, uniforms or training on x-ray machines. Others said they had been allocated to venues hundreds of miles from where they lived, been sent rotas intended for other employees, and offered shifts after they had failed G4S's own vetting.
The West Midlands Police Federation reported that its officers were being prepared to guard the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, which will host the football tournament, amid concerns G4S would not be able to cover the security requirements.
"We have to find officers until the army arrives and we don't know where we are going to find them from," said Chris Jones, secretary of the federation.
G4S has got a £284m contract to provide 13,700 guards, but only has 4,000 in place. It says a further 9,000 are in the pipeline.
G4S sent an urgent request on Thursday to retired police asking them to help. A memo to the National Association of Retired Police Officers said: "G4S Policing Solutions are currently and urgently recruiting for extra support for the Olympics. These are immediate starts with this Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday available. We require ex-police officers ideally with some level of security clearance and with a Security Industry Association [accreditation], however neither is compulsory."
Robert Brown, a former police sergeant, told the Guardian that he pulled out of the recruitment process for the Games after seeing it close at hand.
He said: "They were trying to process hundreds of people and we had to fill out endless forms. It was totally chaotic and it was obvious to me that this was being done too quickly and too late."
Another G4S trainee, an ex-policeman, described the process as "an utter farce".
He added: "There were people who couldn't spell their own name. The staff were having to help them. Most people hadn't filled in their application forms correctly. Some didn't know what references were and others said they didn't have anyone who could act as a referee. The G4S people were having to prompt them, saying things like "what about your uncle?"
Tim Steward, a former prison officer, said he was recruited by G4S in March as a team leader but said he would not be working at the Games because of a series of blunders.
Steward said he provided documentation for vetting but G4S had said it did not have the information on record and so closed his file. The security firm then offered him a training session at short notice, which he could not attend, but it did not offer an alternative.
A recruit who was interviewed in March and completed training last month, said: "There are people like me that are vetted and trained in security and would be happy to work, but can't. Some of the classes were of around 200 in size with only two trainers accommodating the training for a class of this size.
"I am yet to hear from G4S regarding my screening, accreditation, uniform or even a rough start date. I know many people also who will be commencing work on 27 July who have had absolutely no scheduled on-site training. They are simply being chucked into their role on x-ray machines, public screening areas and even athlete screening areas."
Another guard who has been trained as an x-ray operator, complained that he was unable to get through to G4S to find out when and where he was meant to be working, and was once left on hold on the phone for 38 minutes.
One student applicant said he had already spent £650 on travel and hotel bills to attend training and was now worried that, because he had not received any accreditation or rota from G4S, he might not be given the shifts that would enable him to cover those costs. He said he had expected to earn about £2,000 over the period of the Games.
G4S's own Facebook page for new recruits is littered with similar complaints.
"They've placed me in Manchester and I want to work in London," wrote Glenn Roseman. "Some idiot has changed my location, I'm never going to get any work now."
Christian Smith complained: "I did the training course, passed, and got my own security industry association licence, only to fail G4S vetting. Two days after I got their letter, they rang me, and asked me what days I could work."
Rickie Hill reported that he had been sent someone else's schedule.
Billy Edmunds said that he had been told on the telephone that he was to work four day shifts at the ExCel Centre, only to find when he checked the system later that he had been allocated three night shifts at a different location which he could not attend. "I give up," he said. "Thanks for wasting my time for eight months G4S."
The Guardian put the allegations to G4S. A spokesman for the company responded: "We are unable to respond to the specific questions you raise because to do so would involve pulling staff, who are working hard to mobilise the 2012 workforce, off the work they are doing.
"We will enquire into the claims that are made and we take very seriously any allegation of poor standards on our part."
Olympic security
New security fears as Heathrow checks miss terror suspects
After fiasco over G4S Olympic stewarding, frontline staff say that five alerts were missed in one day
London 2012 Olympics: 11 days to go – live blog
The first wave of athletes and officials descends on London
Olympics: will Theresa May pay for choosing politics over pragmatism?
Mark Townsend
At the root of home secretary's troubles is a mixture of populism and cuts
G4S assured us they would 'overshoot' Olympic staffing, says Theresa May
Home secretary, under fire from MPs over security shortfall, rejects Labour claims that firm deliberately deceived government
G4S shares slump after Olympic security furore
G4S boss discovered Olympic security guard shortfall only a few days ago
Olympic security not compromised by G4S shortfall, says Lord Coe
G4S could lose £50m due to Olympic Games security shambles
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408107
|
__label__cc
| 0.586457
| 0.413543
|
1hr India starts Olympic preparations in right earnest
1hr Piramal Enterprises sells overseas arm for $950 million
Confessions of a woman World Cup football fan
Anmol Sherpa
July 20, 2014 01:58 IST
Of balancing work, life, child and late-night game schedules
The FIFA World Cup tournament that happens every four years is the only sport I follow — that’s a big confession I wish to make at the outset. I do not follow club football and have no idea about the celebrity players or the prices they command for a Manchester United or a Liverpool. My love for the gentleman’s game lasted till Sourav Ganguly was playing, including IPL. I keep track of big tennis and chess tournaments to the extent that I am up-to-date on my current affairs. That says a lot about my interest in sports and my association with it.
However, every four years I get metamorphosed into an ardent football fan for the one month that tournament lasts. My journey starts with a colourful fixture, a large newspaper cutting going up on my bedroom wall. Throughout the event, I refer to this piece of paper as I write little notes around it — who won, who lost; mark a cross on teams that got knocked out, and so on.
Once the tournament kicks off, my daily routine changes. I rush home early from work to make sure the dinner is served and my eight-year-old is put to bed latest by 9.30 p.m. I then settle in my couch with a blanket, TV remote and my phone within my reach and feel like a reigning queen. With the headset on, I can listen to the commentary at whatever sound levels I want without disturbing the other occupants of the bedroom who are asleep — my husband and daughter.
Life changes in other ways too when the World Cup is on. This is the only time I turn to the sports pages each morning trying to read everything covered on the game. Online browsing is mostly restricted to the FIFA website or sites that throw up football statistics. Before a match, I am always ready with some trivia like history of how many times the two teams have met in the past and the winning statistics. When the match gets a little boring, I grab my phone and start googling for silly things.
One such search led me to some embarrassing websites as I was trying to google the images of Sergio Romero, the Argentina goalkeeper who looked like a friend. Discovered he was married to a hot model called Eliana Guercio. One day, after watching Messi play and observing how down-to-earth and bashful he appeared in front of some of the other flamboyant players, I suddenly had the urge to find out if Messi had ever waved a T-shirt after a win and to my surprise — I found only one.
On the day of the Uruguay vs. Italy match that saw the infamous ‘Suarez bite’, I was reading up on Uruguay and found that a quarter of the population of Uruguay is of Italian descent, and as per their 2011 census about 90.7 per cent of the population claim European descent.
Late-night games were a good time to exchange notes and post updates on social network debating prediction that often led to long virtual discussion threads. Football fans are emotional, which means they fight, argue and praise pretty easily, oblivious of the fact that a large majority of their friends do not follow the game like a religion and they must hate to see these posts in their newsfeed next morning.
I had a realisation of this kind, though late in the day, when I went to pick up my daughter from school one day. I encountered moms who either gave me strange looks — may be because I was looking too groggy and unkempt due to my late nights — or greeted me with “how do you manage to watch the matches so late” or “oh, I love reading your football match updates every morning to know who won last night’s match”.
At work, our conference calls during the month often started with “Did you watch the game last night?”, “Who were you rooting for?” and so on. We soon had a network of football followers and a whatsapp group called WC Fan Club was born with my colleagues from India, Dubai, Jakarta and Johannesburg. All of us in different time zones were able to connect during the matches for great banter.
This year I observed a growing female fan following of the game among my social circle. At the start of the tournament, I saw some stereotypical, sexist jokes conveying the idea that it is a man’s game and that wives should leave them alone. I was planning to counter these jokes with pictures of Chancellor Angela Merkel cheering for Germany but didn’t have to — these jokes disappeared quickly.
As they say, all good things must come to an end. The World Cup season came to a close ending my one month of excitement when I looked forward to each night with great anticipation. I endured an increase in drowsy mornings and domestic disputes for the sake of a fantastic sport that is full of vigour and emotion. After all, in which other game do you see tattooed, grown-up men crying like babies in the field. Viva La Football.
>anmol.sherpa@gmail.com
Related Topics Open Page
Printable version | Jan 18, 2020 5:52:28 AM | https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/confessions-of-a-woman-world-cup-football-fan/article6229348.ece
Mend fences, keep the conversation going
There is no better time than the present to renew broken relations
Rishi Kanna
Let the mind fly, take the train
A flight cuts travel time, but takes away the charm of travel on terra firma
Amar Nath Singh
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408109
|
__label__cc
| 0.718302
| 0.281698
|
Trustee Code of Conduct adopted by Kingston Educational Trust 2019/20
The trust’s core values are:
An expectation of the highest possible standards of ethical behaviour
An appreciation of the importance of localism, partnership and collaboration
A determination to being fully inclusive
A constant striving for excellence
A commitment to the wellbeing of every member of its community of learners, staff and volunteers
The trust board has the following core strategic functions:
Establishing the strategic direction, by:
Setting and ensuring clarity of the vision, values, and objectives for the trust and its schools
Agreeing the school improvement strategy with priorities and targets
Meeting statutory duties
Ensuring accountability, by:
Appointing senior and executive leaders
Monitoring the educational performance of its schools and their progress towards targets
Conducting performance managing of senior and executive leaders
Engaging with stakeholders
Contributing to school self-evaluation
Ensuring financial performance, by:
Setting the budget
Monitoring spending against the budget
Ensuring money is well spent and value for money is obtained
Ensuring risks to the organisation are managed
As individuals on the board we agree to the following:
Standards of behaviour
We will at all times expect the highest ethical standards of ourselves and all others engaged in the governance and leadership of the trust and its schools, in line with the Framework for Ethical Leadership in Education (Annex A) which includes the Seven Principles of Public Life (“The Nolan Principles”)
We will at all times operate in ways that are consistent with and which help to promote the trust’s values
We understand the purpose of the board and the role of the headteacher.
We accept that we have no legal authority to act individually, except when the board has given us delegated authority to do so, and therefore we will only speak on behalf of the trust board when we have been specifically authorised to do so.
We accept collective responsibility for all decisions made by the board or its delegated agents. This means that we will not speak against majority decisions outside the trust board meeting.
We have a duty to act fairly and without prejudice, and in so far as we have responsibility for staff, we will fulfil all that is expected of a good employer.
We will encourage open governance and will act appropriately.
We will consider carefully how our decisions may affect the community and other schools.
We will always be mindful of our responsibility to maintain and develop the ethos and reputation of our school. Our actions within the school and the local community will reflect this.
In making or responding to criticism or complaints affecting the school we will follow the procedures established by the trust board.
We will actively support and challenge the headteacher.
We will accept and respect the difference in roles between the board and staff, ensuring that we work collectively for the benefit of the organisation.
We will respect the role of the headteacher and their responsibility for the day to day management of the school and avoid any actions that might undermine such arrangements.
We agree to adhere to the school’s rules and policies and the procedures of the trust board as set out by the relevant governing documents and law.
When formally speaking or writing in our governing role we will ensure our comments reflect current organisational policy even if they might be different to our personal views.
When communicating in our private capacity (including on social media) we will be mindful of and strive to uphold the reputation of the organisation.
We commit to work collectively to embed a culture of effective succession planning. This will be achieved by identifying successors, nurturing and mentoring talent to ensure smooth transition of leadership roles i.e. chair, vice chair, chairs of committees and link trustee positions. As individuals we will complete an annual evaluation and skills audit to identify strengths or areas for leadership development within the board.
We acknowledge that accepting office as a trustee involves the commitment of significant amounts of time and energy.
We will each involve ourselves actively in the work of the trust board, and accept our fair share of responsibilities, including service on committees or working groups.
We will commit to attend all meetings and where we cannot attend explain in advance to the clerk or the chair why we are unable to.
We will get to know the school well and respond to opportunities to involve ourselves in school activities.
We will visit the school, during the school day, at least once each academic year, with all visits to school arranged in advance with the applicable staff, undertaken within the framework established by the trust board and agreed with the headteacher.
When visiting the school in a personal capacity (ie as a parent or carer), we will maintain our underlying responsibility as a trustee.
We will consider seriously our individual and collective needs for training and development, and will all undertake to attend the ‘Getting to Grips with Governance’ CPD session within the first 3-6 months of appointment.
To ensure our safeguarding responsibilities are adhered to we will all commit to read the ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance. We collectively acknowledge the requirement for two designated safeguarding link trustees to be in place at all times. The expectation placed on the safeguarding link trustees is to familiarise themselves with the whole guidance document and commit to Level 1 safeguarding training – (pre-course e learning safeguarding awareness programme, followed by face to face AfC Role of the Safeguarding Governor’). We acknowledge that best practice would be for all trustees to commit to address this training.
We acknowledge that if, as individuals we do not comply with training expectations this could lead to possible suspension from the board.
We will commit to refresh relevant training every three years (2 to 3 years in the case of safer recruitment) to keep abreast of current changes in governance legislation.
We accept that in the best interests of open governance, our full names, date of appointment, term of office, roles on the board, attendance records, relevant business and pecuniary interests, category of trustee, date of resignation and applicable appointing body will be published on the school website.
In the interests of transparency we accept that information relating to trustees will be collected and logged on the DfE’s national database of governors – Get Information about Schools (formally Edubase).
We acknowledge that in accordance with government legislation we will comply with the school to instigate the application of an enhanced criminal records certificate within 21 days of appointment to the Board.
(For new trustees) we acknowledge and agree to note our application form number and register without delay with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Update Service (free to volunteers) at www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service. We acknowledge that by registering to the Update Service an annual DBS check will be electronically renewed, free of charge, in my capacity as a trustee on this Board.
We will strive to work as a team in which constructive working relationships are actively promoted.
We will express views openly, courteously and respectfully in all our communications with other trustees the clerk to the trust board and school staff both inside and outside of meetings.
We will support the chair in their role of ensuring appropriate conduct both at meetings and at all times.
We are prepared to answer queries from other trustees in relation to delegated functions and take into account any concerns expressed, and we will acknowledge the time, effort and skills that have been committed to the delegated function by those involved.
We will seek to develop effective working relationships with the headteacher, staff and parents, the local authority and other relevant stakeholders within our community.
We will acknowledge that as trustees we are representatives of our category of governorship, as opposed to representatives for parents or staff and are primarily appointed due to the skills that we bring to the board.
Proceedings of the trust board
As a corporate body, we agree to make unanimous decisions by email, if deemed necessary/urgent and such decisions will subsequently be ratified and minuted at the next scheduled meeting.
Trustees may participate or vote at meetings by telephone or video conference provided at least 48 hours notice has been given to the clerk or chair..
We agree to follow the Guidance on the Conduct of Meetings (Annex B)
We agree to conduct all electronic correspondence within the kingstoneducationaltrust.org domain.
We will observe complete confidentiality when matters are deemed confidential or where they concern specific members of staff or pupils, both inside or outside school.
We will exercise the greatest prudence at all times when discussions regarding school business arise outside a trust board or committee meeting.
We will not reveal the details of any trust board or committee vote.
We will comply with the Trustee Data Protection Guidelines adopted by the Trust (Annex C).
We will use the Trust domain email account issued to us for all correspondence in relation to Trust business and to access Trust papers held in the Trust’s Google Drive.
We will record any pecuniary or other business interests (including those related to people we are connected with) that we have in connection with the trust board’s business in the Register of Business Interests, and if any such conflicted matter arises in a meeting we will offer to leave the meeting for the appropriate length of time.
We accept that the Register of Business and trustees’ details will be published on the school website. Any trustee failing to provide information to enable the trust board to fulfil their responsibilities may be in breach of the code of conduct and as a result be bringing the trust board into disrepute.
We will also declare any conflict of loyalty at the start of any meeting should the situation arise.
We will act in the best interests of the school as a whole and not as a representative of any group, even if elected to the trust board.
Ceaing to be a governor/trustee/academy committee member
We understand that the requirements relating to confidentiality will continue to apply after a governor/trustee/academy committee member leaves office
Breach of this code of conduct
If we believe this code has been breached, we will raise this issue with the chair and the chair will investigate; the trust board will only use suspension/removal as a last resort after seeking to resolve any difficulties or disputes in more constructive ways.
Should it be the chair that we believe has breached this code, another trustee, such as the vice chair will investigate.
This Code of Conduct was formally adopted by the trust board of Kingston Educational Trust on 7 October 2019
Annex A: The Framework for Ethical Leadership in Education
The Ethical Framework for Educational Leadership is based upon the seven principles of public life (The Nolan Principles). The Committee on Standards in Public Life was established by the then Prime Minister in October 1994, under the Chairmanship of Lord Nolan, to consider standards of conduct in various areas of public life, and to make recommendations.
Selflessness: School and college leaders should act solely in the interest of children and young people.
Integrity: School and college leaders must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. Before acting and taking decisions, they must declare and resolve openly any perceived conflict of interest and relationships.
Objectivity: School and college leaders must act and take decisions impartially and fairly, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias. Leaders should be dispassionate, exercising judgement and analysis for the good of children and young people.
Accountability: School and college leaders are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
Openness: School and college leaders should expect to act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from scrutiny unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
Honesty: School and college leaders should be truthful.
Leadership: School and college leaders should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles, and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs. Leaders include both those who are paid to lead schools and colleges and those who volunteer to govern them.
Schools and colleges serve children and young people and help them grow into fulfilled and valued citizens. As role models for the young, how we behave as leaders is as important as what we do. Leaders should show leadership through the following personal characteristics or virtues:
Trust: leaders are trustworthy and reliable
We hold trust on behalf of children and should be beyond reproach. We are honest about
our motivations.
Wisdom: leaders use experience, knowledge and insight
We use experience, knowledge, insight, understanding and good sense to make sound
judgements. We demonstrate restraint and self-awareness, act calmly and rationally,
exercise moderation and propriety as we serve our schools and colleges wisely.
Kindness: leaders demonstrate respect, generosity of spirit, understanding and good temper
We give difficult messages humanely where conflict is unavoidable.
Justice: leaders are fair and work for the good of all children
We work fairly for the good of children from all backgrounds. We seek to enable all young
people to lead useful, happy and fulfilling lives.
Service: leaders are conscientious and dutiful
We demonstrate humility and self-control, supporting the structures and rules which
safeguard quality. Our actions protect high-quality education.
Courage: leaders work courageously in the best interests of children and young people
We protect their safety and their right to a broad, effective and creative education. We hold
one another to account courageously.
Optimism: leaders are positive and encouraging
Despite difficulties and pressures, we are developing excellent education to change the
world for the better.
Annex B: Guidance on conduct of meetings
Meetings of the Trust Board and its various sub-committees are the primary means by which the Trust’s governance is enacted. As such these are important and significant events and all participants are expected to engage with them in as professional a manner as possible. It is essential that all trustees are clear as to their role and the expectations of them.
The purpose of this guidance is to describe the approach to conducting meetings that has been agreed by the full Trust Board and adopted as part of its working practice.
The role of trustees and other participants in meetings is to contribute to the strategic oversight and accountability of the Trust’s operations and to provide challenge and support as appropriate.
Trustees are expected to approach these activities in a way that may be described as “eyes on, hands off” with regard to the balance between strategic and operational involvement.
Trustees are expected to be sufficiently prepared for meetings to ensure that they are able to contribute and that those contributions are well-informed and appropriate.
To aid this:
trustees are encouraged to attend whatever training (or to seek advice from others) they deem as necessary to develop their knowledge of the topics under discussion;
papers should be available one week in advance of the meeting;
papers should be prepared in such a way as to minimise the use of acronyms and technical language as far as is possible.
Chairs should ensure that all meetings are conducted in such a way as to enable all trustees (and other participants) to feel confident to speak up and to contribute. Chairs should seek to draw all participants into discussions.
The time available for meetings is constrained and limited. As a consequence, all participants are expected to ensure that the available time is used to the maximum benefit of all.
Meetings should always start promptly at the appointed time, regardless of the non-attendance of latecomers, unless there are exceptional reasons not to do so.
The Chairs of all meetings should aim to ensure that time-keeping is sufficiently robust to ensure that meetings end by the appointed time.
To aid this Chairs should:
aim for as few items on agendas as are necessary, which will also ensure the maximum amount of time for discussion;
ensure that agenda items have provisional timings;
devote no more time than is essential for considering outstanding actions and reviewing previous meetings;
prevent the repetition of material that has been circulated in advance, concentrating instead on discussion of it;
feel able to close a discussion down and suggest that specific points are developed outside of meetings if they feel a real need to do so;
ensure that all points for further action are noted by those responsible.
Attendance at meetings by staff (and other participants) is sometimes necessary and often helpful. Chairs will decide how this engagement is to be organised to maximise the contribution to the meeting while being mindful of the need not to occupy staff and visitors for longer than is necessary.
The draft minutes of the meeting will be circulated by the Clerk to the Chair for checking within 7 days of the meeting.
The draft minutes will be checked, amended as necessary and returned to the Clerk by the Chair within 7 days of receipt.
The finalised minutes of the meeting will be circulated to all who should receive them by the Clerk within 2 days of receipt from the Chair.
Actions arising from the meeting should be followed up by those responsible as soon as possible, with updates on progress expected at the next meeting.
Annex C:Trustee Data Protection Guidelines
The data protection officer (DPO) is: Zara Gallagher
Personal data: is any information relating to an identified, or identifiable person, e.g. name, contact details, email address, attendance and assessment information, financial information.
The definition is extremely wide and includes any references to an identifiable person in emails.
Sensitive personal data: is special categories of personal data that require a higher level of protection including information that reveals someone’s ethnic origin, political opinions, religion, sexuality or health. In schools, it also means safeguarding information, whether a child is looked-after, has SEN, or is eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant
As the Data Controller, the Trust has a responsibility to manage and safeguard personal data.
Trustee Access to Personal Data
Under data protection regulations, personal data should only be shared with those who need that data to perform their roles. Information that is collected and shared should be no wider than that required and held no longer than necessary.
Whilst the school collects a wealth of personal data to perform its functions, trustees should only have access to this data if they need the information to carry out their duties. This means that:
Data shared with trustees for monitoring purposes must always be anonymised.
Generally, personal data will only be shared with trustees in the following limited circumstances, where:
they are sitting on a panel to review the head teacher’s decision to exclude a pupil
they are sitting on an Admissions Panel
they are sitting on an appeal panel (disciplinary, capability, grievance, pay)
a complaint has been escalated to the Trust (in accordance with the school’s complaints procedures)
a member of staff or pupil becomes identifiable or is identified during a meeting and this discussion is captured in confidential minutes.
Documents containing personal data must be treated as confidential and held securely.
How Personal Data is Shared with Trustees
Where documents containing personal data need to be shared with trustees, these will be made available by sharing them in a confidential folder in Google Drive. Only trustees or members of staff who require that information to carry out their duties will be given access to that folder.
Confidential folders will only be shared with trustees’ school Google Accounts. These documents must not be downloaded or shared and trustees must ensure that any documents that are inadvertently downloaded from confidential folders are deleted from their own private device without delay.
Trustees must use a strong password for their school Google Account and hold this securely.
Where hard copies of papers are prepared for a hearing or meeting, these will be placed in a secure envelope marked ‘Confidential’ and either delivered by hand or sent by registered post. These hard copies should be returned to the Clerk at the end of the hearing or meeting to be shredded.
Keeping Personal Data secure
Trustees must ensure that any hard copy personal data held is stored securely and returned to the Clerk for shredding when no longer required.
When accessing documents containing personal data via Google Drive Trustees must:
ensure personal data on a screen cannot be read by unauthorised persons, for example in a public area;
log out of the account when they have finished, if Google Drive is accessed on a shared device or if their private device is not password protected;
lock the screen if the device is left unattended whilst logged on to Google Drive;
3. Private email addresses must not be used to share personal data. If at any time personal data is sent to your personal email address, the email and any downloaded documents should be deleted as soon as possible.
Data Protection Breaches
Personal data that has been been lost, stolen or wrongly disclosed, must be immediately reported to the DPO so that steps can be taken to mitigate the impact of the breach. In addition, all breaches are required to be logged and in some cases reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office within 72 hours.
Trustees should also speak to the DPO if they have any concerns at all about keeping personal data safe.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408112
|
__label__wiki
| 0.772784
| 0.772784
|
Ditching Dickensian
By Matthew Sherrill
On Language
Giving the lie to a critical crutch.
Copies of Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch now bear an impressive gold foil sticker declaring it the “WINNER of the PULITZER PRIZE.” Before that accolade, though, critics had already branded the novel by using and abusing the adjective that’s launched a thousand blurbs—Dickensian. Despite, or perhaps because of, the ubiquity of the word in appraisals of the novel, such assessments are rarely issued without caveats. NPR’s Maureen Corrigan apologetically notes that the term “is one of those literary modifiers that’s overused”; in the New York Times Book Review, Stephen King somewhat ruefully acknowledged that he wouldn’t be the last to employ Dickensian to describe Tartt’s novel. He was right.
For all this critical concurrence, it’s less than clear what we mean by Dickensian, or, for that matter, by any adjective with a particular author at its root. Francine Prose leads her review of The Goldfinch with this very question: “What do people mean when they call a novel ‘Dickensian’?” As Prose notes, a number of answers present themselves—Dickensian can signify sentimentality, an attentiveness to the social conditions, a cast of comically hyperbolic characters, a reliance on plot contrivances, or even simply a book’s sheer length. (I suspect one rarely means the relatively slim A Tale of Two Cities or Hard Times when one labels a novel Dickensian.) In other words, the proliferation of the senses of Dickensian makes one wonder if it, or other such words, are critically useful at all. As Cynthia Ozick has recently complained with regard to Kafkaesque—another perennial—the word “has by now escaped the body of work it is meant to evoke.”
Dickensian and its variations have been with us since at least 1856, when the OED identified the Saturday Review as referring to a “Dickensian description of an execution.” Variants of the term blossomed throughout the nineteenth century: Dickenesque, Dickensy, Dickensish, Dickeny. And their uses, unsurprisingly, run the gamut. Sometimes they indicate a certain comic sensibility; sometimes they refer to sordid working conditions, or to grotesque characterizations, or to acuity of social observation. And the implications of such words were not always positive or even value-neutral: the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell laments that a story of hers is to be published in a “new Dickensy periodical.” But if these senses of the Dickensian often ran counter to one another, they came, at least, at a time before Dickens had been fully packaged into an available cultural touchstone, when his reputation had yet to be established critically and in language itself.
Of course, we confer a special kind of canonical status when we adjectivize an author’s name. It’s an acknowledgment that his or her work has broadened the collective cultural imagination to the point where a new way of seeing or describing the world needs to be monumentalized in language. But in time, these coinages inevitably obscure or diminish a writer’s achievement. Regardless of how sophisticated one’s sense of Dickens’s oeuvre might be, the popular use of Dickensian conjures, whether we like it or not, shivering orphans, cloying sentimentality, fortuitous coincidence, and virtue rewarded.
At the same time, and more interestingly, it delimits and cheapens the work of the alleged Dickensian. Donna Tartt does salt The Goldfinch with references to very specific Dickens novels, at which moments she might as well be proleptically writing the headlines of The Goldfinch’s reviews. But to lean on Dickensian is to deflect attention from, for instance, the horrific realism with which Tartt treats the central violent trauma of The Goldfinch, and the fallout of its psychic afterlife. In this specifically, she departs from Dickensian models, which more often than not promise recoveries and prosperity for his formerly unlucky protagonists. Dickensian denies, then, as it must, a certain amount of Tarttness. And isn’t it in part the critic’s job to suss out what that Tarttness might be?
This is not to say there’s no place for comparative claims in reviews. But to title a review “Donna Tartt’s twenty-first-century Dickens” runs the risk of overdetermining a reader’s expectations. When we conflate Tartt’s playful Dickens references with imitative artistic ambition, the so-called “Dickensian” aspects of the novel might command our attention, or weigh on us more heavily than the text wants.
Even if we grant that Dickensian isn’t a particularly productive word—even if we admit it be inimical at some level—what can explain the sense of joy or relief that accompanies many of these reviews, charting Tartt’s Dickensian affinities? Reading over my own cursory list of Dickensian attributes, I’m struck by how directly some of them respond to contemporary questions of both reading and culture more broadly. To those fretting over the supposedly stultifying effects of digital media, a Dickensian novel promises to repay sustained, readerly attention—promises to help us rediscover the joys inherent in narrative, the joys supposedly known to nineteenth-century readers. To those concerned with the insularity of literary culture, anything Dickensian is an invitation to a broader, more demotic readership. To those irritated by the preponderance of detached, ironic, sensibilities, Dickensian works augur the return of unabashed sentiment, or at least of sincerity. And to those alarmed at American socioeconomic conditions, so often compared to those of the Industrial Revolution, Dickensian gestures toward a more socially alert, inclusive fiction—witness The Wire, which was so often saddled with the descriptor that the show ran an episode called “The Dickensian Aspect.”
And the Dickensian has recently gained currency among New Yorkers in particular, as Mayor Bill de Blasio repurposed the notion of “a tale of two cities” to describe socioeconomic disparity. (The willful slipperiness of this appropriation speaks to the vagueness of Dickensian in and of itself—what were those “two cities” again?) De Blasio’s office doubled down on Dickens at the recent mayoral inauguration, where Harry Belafonte decried New York’s “Dickensian justice system”—and de Blasio, in keeping with his “two cities” theme, chose Lorde’s “Royals” as his campaign anthem, a song the New York Times was quick to label—guess?—a “Dickensian anthem.”
But the adjective’s life as a social lament is distinct from its ebullient employment by critics. Even if we don’t want a Dickensian New York or a Dickensian America, it seems there’s still a hunger for Dickensian fiction: an unvoiced or unrealized yearning for the literary Dickensian. We’re delighted at the opportunity to bestow the word on any fat new novel that bears even trace elements of Dickens’s heritage. Maybe Dickensian speaks more about a longing in our literary culture, in other words, than about the aesthetic qualities of a particular novel. But why do this at the expense of the very novels fulfilling that longing? The best way to liberate the Dickensian—and the truest way to see it in other works—is to disavow the word entirely.
Matthew Sherrill is a Ph.D. candidate in English literature at Rutgers University, where he is completing a dissertation on British poetry and the history of evolution. He studiously avoids Byronic and Keatsian, even as he sometimes lets slip a Wordsworthian.
Bill DeBlasio
Denis Johnson’s Perfect Short Story
By Jeffrey Eugenides
A Terrifying Morality Tale
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408118
|
__label__cc
| 0.531233
| 0.468767
|
At ThePeacefulRunner.com we are dedicated to protecting your data and privacy.
We recognize that your privacy is important. This document outlines the types of personal information we receive and collect when you use ThePeacefulRunner.com, as well as some of the steps we take to safeguard information. This will help you make an informed decision about sharing personal information with us.
ThePeacefulRunner.com strives to maintain the highest standards of decency, fairness and integrity in all our operations. Likewise, we are dedicated to protecting our customers' and online visitors' privacy on our website.
A cookie is a string of information that ThePeacefulRunner.com stores on your computer, which your browser provides to ThePeacefulRunner.com each time you return to the site. We use cookies to help us identify and track visitors, their use of our website, and their website access preferences.
ThePeacefulRunner.com uses Google Analytics to analyze the use of this website. Google Analytics collects demographic and interest data, and generates statistical and other information about website use, by means of cookies. These cookies are kept on your computer. We share this information with Google, which will store and use this information on its servers. Google's privacy policy is available at: https://policies.google.com/privacy.
ThePeacefulRunner.com uses information from Google Analytics to track the number of visits to the website, browsers and operating systems. No personally identifiable information is obtained from these cookies. We use the information that Google Analytics generates relating to our website to create reports about the use of the site. These reports allow us to update the site and improve your usage of it.
If you do not wish your data to be collected via Google Analytics, you can install its opt-out browser extension or add-on... https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/
We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads on our website. These companies use cookies and web beacons in their ads to ascertain how many times you've seen an advertisement. We share this information with these companies, but do not provide them with any personally identifiable information for cookie or web beacon use, so they cannot personally identify you with that information from our website.
You may opt out of personalized ads for over 125 different ad networks. Click here to do that.
Some third-party advertisements are served by Google. Google's cookie enables it to serve ads to our visitors based on their visits to other sites on the Web, which require the setting of cookies in your browser.
You may opt out of personalized ads by visiting the Google ad opt-out page.
This link from Google provides more information about how Google manages data in its ad products.
Google Search Box
The search box on this web site ("Search Box") is powered by Google Inc. ("Google"). You acknowledge and agree that Google's privacy policy (located at https://www.google.com/privacy.html) shall apply to your use of the Search Box and by using the Search Box you consent to Google using your personal data in accordance with its privacy policy.
Affiliate Products and Services
We receive an affiliate commission for some of the products sold on ThePeacefulRunner.com.
The affiliate services platforms we use are listed below.
By clicking on a product or service link, you consent to that platform's use of cookies, as outlined in the link below.
Amazon.co.uk Privacy Policy
Amazon.com Privacy Policy
Amazon.ca Privacy Policy
AchievingExcellence.com Privacy Policy (The Feldenkrais Store)
TheGabrielMethod.com Privacy Policy
YogaOutlet.com Privacy Policy
SwimOutlet.com Privacy Policy
Inspire3.com Privacy Policy
SiteSell.com Privacy Policy
You’ll notice on this website there are links to Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube. When you click on them or leave a comment, your browser connects directly with that site and sends information such as your IP address, the date and time of your visit and information about how you use the social site.
Should you wish to prevent those platforms from collecting data, please view their individual policies by using the following links:
Google+ and YouTube
Retargeting Ads and Tracking Pixels
ThePeacefulRunner.com uses retargeting ads, which require the setting of cookies in your browser.
33Across.com Privacy Policy
ThePeacefulRunner.com uses Facebook pixels to determine the effectiveness of some Facebook ad campaigns. You can change your Facebook ad settings here.
Refusing Cookies
You can set your browser to accept or refuse all cookies automatically, or notify you when a cookie is being requested. Taking this action should not cause a problem with the continued use of our site. Consult the Help section of your browser for guidance on how to refuse all cookies or to notify you when a cookie is requested.
If you choose to refuse ThePeacefulRunner.com's cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the site.
ThePeacefulRunner.com may collect and use your personal information for the following purposes:
To run and operate our site.
To display content on the site correctly.
To improve customer service.
To help us respond to your customer service requests and support needs more efficiently.
To personalize your user experience.
To understand how our users as a group use the services and resources provided on our site.
To improve our site.
To improve our products and services.
To run a promotion, contest, survey or other site feature.
To send information to you that you agreed to receive about topics we think will be of interest to you.
To send periodic emails, which may include electronic newsletters and/or autoresponder series of emails.
To respond to your enquiries, questions, and/or other requests.
ThePeacefulRunner.com may collect personally identifiable information from you in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, when you visit our site, register on the site, or fill out a form, and in connection with other activities, services, features or resources we make available on our site.
Specifically, if you subscribe to our newsletter, we will ask for your first name and will require your email address.
If you complete a form, we will require your name and your email address, and will ask for information relevant to the purpose of the form.
If you submit content to us, we will ask for your name and email address. Photos you include with your submission, or details in your submission, may personally identify you.
If you request to be notified about comments on any content you submit to us, or request to be notified when others submit content, we will require your first name and your email address.
This site also uses Facebook commenting. Facebook stores all of your comments and may show them on your timeline, depending on your Facebook settings. This site also used Facebook Commenting. Facebook stores all of your comments and may show them on your timeline, depending on your Facebook settings. You can see Facebook's privacy policy here.
You can always refuse to supply personally identifiable information and visit our site anonymously. However, it may prevent you from engaging in certain site-related activities.
If we make material changes in the collection of personally identifiable information, we will inform you by placing a notice on our site. We will use personal information received from you for internal purposes only and will not sell it or provide it to third parties.
We also collect each visitor's IP address, which helps us combat spam and fraud. We do not use IP addresses for any other purpose.
ThePeacefulRunner.com contains links to other websites that may be of interest to you. However, once you have used them to leave our site, we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information you provide while visiting such sites. These sites are not governed by this privacy statement. Always exercise caution by reviewing the privacy statement of the website in question before continuing to use it.
We may collect non-personally identifiable information about you whenever you interact with our site. Non-personally identifiable information may include the browser name, the type of computer and technical information about your method of connecting to our site, such as the operating system and the Internet service provider you used, and other similar information.
Children's Privacy Protection
This website is directed to adults. It is not directed to children under the age of 16. We operate our site in compliance with current regulations. Anyone under the age of 16 must provide parental consent to use this site. We do not knowingly collect or use personally identifiable information from anyone under 16 years of age.
If we sell ThePeacefulRunner.com, the information we have obtained from you through your voluntary participation in our site may transfer to the new owner as a part of the sale so that the service provided to you may continue. In that event, you will receive notice through our website of that change in control and practices, and we will make reasonable efforts to ensure that the purchaser honors any opt-out requests you might make.
Personally identifiable information and non-personally identifiable information collected by this site is stored on our host's servers. That host is SiteSell Inc., located at 1000 Saint-Jean Boulevard, Suite 702, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5P1 Canada.
If you wish to review your information stored on the SiteSell servers for ThePeacefulRunner.com, please contact us. You can also edit, download or delete any of your information from the servers by clicking on that link.
Some information is collected by third-party services. These include:
MailChimp.com
GetDPD.com
We provide this privacy policy as a statement to you of our commitment to protect your personally identifiable information. If you have submitted personally identifiable information through our website and would like to download and review that information, click on this link.
You can also request to edit or delete any of your information from the servers by clicking on this link.
ThePeacefulRunner.com reserves the right to make changes in this policy. If there is a material change in our cookie and privacy practices, we will indicate on our site that those practices have changed and provide a link to the updated privacy policy. We encourage you to periodically review this policy so that you will know what information we collect and how we use it.
If you do not agree to ThePeacefulRunner.com's privacy policy as posted here on this website, please do not consent to the setting of cookies and the collection and storage of your personally identifiable information.
Your explicit consent indicates acceptance of this privacy policy in its entirety.
California Consumer Privacy Act - CCPA: Sale Of Personal Information
ThePeacefulRunner.com does not sell any information it gathers for any reason. It has not collected or sold any personal information in the last twelve months or ever in the past.
If you have any particular worries, questions or comments about this policy, please contact us to let us know.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408119
|
__label__wiki
| 0.54795
| 0.54795
|
licensee?
pub & bar jobs
Pubs in Kent >
Pubs in Underriver >
White Rock Inn
Underriver, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0SB
Website thewhiterockinn.co.uk Facebook
Website 01732 833112
offers & events (4)
Serving the finest ales in Sevenoaks, our traditional pub in Underriver also provides homemade, freshly cooked food for you to enjoy with a varied vegan menu and gluten free options available too
Our landlord here at the White Rock Inn is a keen fisherman which means you can expect a wide selection of mouth-watering fish dishes as well as traditional pub food.
Most of all, we want to whet your appetite and will serve up dishes comparable to the finest of restaurants here in our traditional pub surroundings. We'll keep your taste buds tickled throughout the year too as the White Rock menu changes with the seasons. In winter let us tempt you with a bowl of warming mussels and in summer enjoy a light and tasty dressed crab.
The White Rock Inn Menus Include:
- New vegan menu
- Many gluten free options
- Weekly specials
- Wide and exciting selection of vegetarian dishes
- Traditional menu including Sunday roast
- Bar snacks, plaited rolls & Ploughman's
We serve food 7 days a week
latest pub news, offers & events
latest news, offers & events
10% Discount Jan 2020 on-line Bookings
Valid from 05/01/2020 to 31/01/2020
10% Discount on Food & Drink when Eating, throughout Jan for on-line Bookings Only, Quote FS2020 Excluding Sundays.
show full details ▶
FREE POOL
Happening from 20/10/2019 to 30/04/2020
Back for the Winter, except Sunday Lunchtimes.
TUESDAY & THURSDAY STEAK NIGHT
Steak, Chips and Peas or Salad, Starter & Dessert £14.95 per person.
map & directions street view
▼ pub opening times ▶ pub food times
▶ pub opening times ▼ pub food times
Mon: 12:00 - 16:00 18:00 - 23:00
Tue: 12:00 - 16:00 18:00 - 23:00
Wed: 12:00 - 16:00 18:00 - 23:00
Thur: 12:00 - 16:00 18:00 - 23:00
Bank Holidays 12.00 - 22.00
Opening times may vary
Fri: 12:00 - 15:00 18:30 - 21:30
Sat: 12:00 - 15:00 18:30 - 21:30
Sun: 12:00 - 19:30 18:30 - 19:30
Hildenborough (2.20 miles)
Sevenoaks (2.95 miles)
Bat & Ball (3.37 miles)
nearest pubs
Cock Horse (1.38 miles)
White Hart (1.45 miles)
Windmill (1.9 miles)
Bucks Head (1.94 miles)
Padwell Arms (2.07 miles)
Press & downloads
© UseYourLocal Ltd 2020
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408124
|
__label__wiki
| 0.850125
| 0.850125
|
Scenes From Sectional Qualifying
Diego Hernandez places flags on the practice putting green at Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., before the start of Monday's 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier. Century Country Club is the other venue being used. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
A maintenance worker mows a green at Brookside Golf & Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, prior to the start of Monday's 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier. Scioto C.C. is the other venue being used. (USGA/Justin Aller)
Alan Baxter (left), caddie to Casey Lim, arrive at Brookside Golf & Country Club for Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Columbus, Ohio. (USGA/Justin Aller)
Erik Van Rooyen warms up on the practice range at Brookside Golf & Country Club before Monday's 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Columbus, Ohio. (USGA/Justin Aller)
Danny Sinksen practices on the putting green before starting his 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier on Monday in Columbus, Ohio. Competitors are playing Brookside Golf & Country Club and Scioto C.C. (USGA/Justin Aller)
Scott Harvey, fresh off winning last week's U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship with partner Todd Mitchell, arrives at Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., for Monday's 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Max Homa, who claimed his first PGA Tour title last month at the Wells Fargo Championship, tees off on the first hole of Brookside Golf & Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. (USGA/Justin Aller)
Players play the first hole of Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., on Monday. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Amateur John Augenstein tees off on the second hole of Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., during Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Andrew Johnston watches a tee shot at Walton Heath Golf Club during Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier in England. (USGA/Matthew Harris)
Tees await players at the U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Walton Heath Golf Club in England on Monday. (USGA/Matthew Harris)
Spectators take in Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Walton Heath Golf Club in England, where 14 spots are available. (USGA/Matthew Harris)
Lee Westwood is one of 109 golfers playing for 14 spots in Monday's 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Walton Heath Golf Club in England. (USGA/Matthew Harris)
Andy Pope watches his tee shot on the third hole of Old Oaks Country Club during a U.S. Open sectional qualifier on Monday in Purchase, N.Y. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Jason Parajeckas (left) and Rob Oppenheim walk off the 15th hole of Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, N.Y. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Alexander Scott keeps an eye on where his pitch shot lands during a U.S. Open sectional qualifier on Monday in Columbus, Ohio. (USGA/Justin Aller)
J.J. Spaun plays from the rough at Brookside Golf & Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, during Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier. (USGA/Justin Aller)
Jacob McBride lines a putt up at Brookside Golf & Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday. .McBride is one of 121 golfers playing for 14 spots. (USGA/Justin Aller)
Christopher Middleton watches his tee shot on the first hole of Newport Beach Country Club during Monday's 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Southern California. Newport Beach C.C. and Big Canyon C.C. are the two venues being used. (USGA/Kohjiro Kinno)
Jared Sawada tees off on the second hole of Newport Beach (Calif.) Country Club during Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier. (USGA/Kohjiro Kinno)
LPGA Tour winner and two-time U.S. Women's Amateur champion Danielle Kang (left) is serving as the caddie for her brother, Alex, during a U.S. Open sectional qualifier on Monday in Columbus, Ohio. Danielle is coming off a missed cut in last weekend's U.S. Women's Open at the Country Club of Charleston. (USGA/Justin Aller)
J.R. Warthen plays a shot at Newport Beach (Calif.) Country Club during Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Southern California. Big Canyon Country Club is the other venue being used. (USGA/Kohjiro Kinno)
Sam Saunders, the grandson of 1960 U.S. Open champion Arnold Palmer, opened with an 8-under 64 at Brookside Golf & Country Club in Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Columbus, Ohio. He moves over to Scioto Country Club for his afternoon round. (USGA/Justin Aller)
Southern California Golf Association officials put up the competitors' names on the scoreboard at Newport Beach Country Club during Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier. Ninety-nine players are vying for five spots in the field. Play is being conducted at Newport Beach C.C. and Big Canyon C.C. (USGA/Kohjiro Kinno)
Matt Picanso and his caddie make their way to the 10th tee at Newport Beach (Calif.) Country Club during U.S. Open sectional qualifying on Monday. (USGA/Kohjiro Kinno)
Matt Parziale (right), the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, watches Gary Nicklaus putt on the 10th green of Old Oaks Country Club during Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Purchase, N.Y. Competitors are playing Old Oaks and Century C.C. for four available spots in the field. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Robert Rock, of England, plays his third shot from a bunker during his afternoon round of Monday's 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England. Rock failed to garner one of the 14 available spots. (USGA/Matthew Harris)
Lee Slattery, of England, watches a tee shot during his afternoon round at Walton Heath Golf Club at Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier. Slattery earned one of the 14 available spots by shooting 9-under 135. (USGA/Matthew Harris)
Dean Burmester, of South Africa, shakes hands with a caddie after he earned medalist honors in the Surrey, England, sectional by shooting 16-under 128 on the Old and New courses at Walton Heath Golf Club. (USGA/Matthew Harris)
Isaiah Salinda, a semifinalist in the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, tees off on the 10th hole at Newport Beach (Calif.) Country Club during a U.S. Open sectional qualifier on Monday. (USGA/Kohjiro Kinno)
Matthew Liringis gets down on the ninth green of Newport Beach (Calif.) Country Club during Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier. (USGA/Kohjiro Kinno)
Yihao He (left) and Kenny You complete their morning round of the U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Newport Beach, Calif. The qualifier is being contested at Newport Beach Country Club and Big Canyon C.C. (USGA/Kohjiro Kinno)
Luke Sample fails to save par on the second hole at Old Oaks Country Club during Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Gary Nicklaus (left) and 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Matt Parziale shake hands after completing their two U.S. Open sectional qualifying rounds in Purchase, N.Y., on Monday. Parziale, the co-low amateur in last year's U.S. Open, is heading back to the championship, while Nicklaus failed to qualify. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Elke Dinan, the scorekeeper at the Purchase, N.Y., sectional qualifying site, writes down scores on the board at Old Oaks C.C. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Jason Dufner, the 2013 PGA champion, qualified for his 13th U.S. Open on Monday in Columbus, Ohio. (USGA/Justin Aller)
Cameron Young was the medalist in the Purchase, N.Y., sectional qualifier on Monday at Old Oaks C.C. and Century C.C. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Rob Oppenheim (left), Cameron Young (second from left), Matt Parziale (second from right) and Andy Pope earned the four available spots in Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Purchase, N.Y. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
Fans gathering around the scoreboard to see the results at the sectional qualifying for the 2019 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying at Brookside Golf & Country Club in Columbus, Ohio on Monday, June 3, 2019. (Copyright USGA/Justin Aller)
Stewart Hagestad reacts after putting on the 18th green of Newport Beach (Calif.) Country Club during U.S. Open sectional qualifying on Monday in Southern California. (USGA/Kohjiro Kinno)
Chun An Yu with his caddie after their round during sectional qualifying at the 2019 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying at Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif. on Monday, June 3, 2019. (Copyright USGA/Kohjiro Kinno)
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408127
|
__label__wiki
| 0.880037
| 0.880037
|
of Victoria UVic News
Search UVic News
A love of objects and a passion for art history
Co-op, Libraries, Fine Arts
June 4, 2018 - John Threlfall
Greenhill installing an exhibit in the UVic Library's lobby display case. “People don’t necessarily connect with the lobby case. I often see people just leaning on it with their coffee and I want to say, ‘There’s such cool stuff in here!’” Photo: John Threlfall.
What compels someone to study art history? It could be a passion for the life and work of a certain artist, like Frida Kahlo, or a fascination with a specific period of visual history, like the Renaissance. But for Josie Greenhill, graduating this month with a BA Honours in Art History & Visual Studies (AHVS), her inspiration came from a movie about Jack and Rose.
“I’ve always liked museums, but when it comes to liking history, that was from watching way too many period dramas when I was growing up—specifically Titanic. I was next-level obsessed with James Cameron’s movie, which I used to watch every single day,” laughs Greenhill. “Can this interview just be about Titanic?”
Alas, no, but the legacy of that great ship is a good metaphor for what drives an emerging art historian like Greenhill. “I’ve always liked art, history and culture, and this is an area that mixes them all together,” she says. “I like what objects and material culture can communicate to you; it’s a different approach than just looking at historical texts.”
Born and raised in Nanaimo, Greenhill admits she started out as a “mediocre student” at UVic, but that clearly didn’t last long. Beyond completing an AHVS honours thesis, she’s also taken on leadership roles in student governance, was awarded a JCURA for undergraduate research, had a work-study position, held a co-op placement as a curatorial assistant at Legacy Art Galleries—where she also curated an exhibit about local architects—was hired as an archival assistant in Special Collections, launched her own digital exhibition for UVic’s Electronic Textual Cultures Lab, earned numerous awards and scholarships, presented and published numerous academic papers, and is one of the “faces of art history” in new AHVS recruitment material.
She has also been accepted into the University of Toronto’s highly-competitive art history master’s program, for which she also won a CGS Master’s SSHRC grant—a rare feat for a first-year MA student.
“Josie represents everything UVic stands for,” notes AHVS chair Dr. Erin Campbell. “She is a well-rounded, high-achieving, brilliant, civic-minded, thoughtful and compassionate student who has been shaped by her UVic experience.”
Not that the self-effacing Greenhill would describe herself in such glowing terms. “People think I’m really busy all the time, but I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts and watching Netflix,” she admits. “It’s partially about time management—I wake up early every day—but it’s also about taking risks. Sometimes you just have to take the leap and apply for things you may not have all the qualifications for; it’s surprising how many opportunities will come your way.”
Greenhill in UVic's Special Collections, where she learned the value of working with objects. "If you can hold history or really see it, it has more impact than just reading a document," she says. Photo: John Threlfall.
One of Greenhill’s favourite aspects of studying art history has been the sense of discovery that comes through working with archival material. “An object can be your only insight into a time period—if you can hold history or really see it, it has more impact than just reading a document.”
For example, she was thrilled to be able to access a pair of books by Christina and Dante Gabrielle Rossetti through UVic’s Special Collections. “She did the poetry and he did the binding and illustrations,” she explains. “My honours thesis is about Pre-Raphaelite book art—the binding designs, illustrations—which directly ties into why I’m interested in art history. The Pre-Raphaelites were so multi-faceted; they were poets, designers, painters, illustrators . . . there are so many aspects they bring together, and I like studying all those different parts.”
With her time at UVic coming to an end, how does it feel knowing her face and voice will continue to have a presence on the department’s recruitment material? “It’s kind of intimidating,” she admits. “I’m pretty shy, but I do think it’s cool that I can reach people who I won’t ever meet in person and help motivate them to study art history. I’m grateful that people trust me enough to be a face for the department.”
And is there any wisdom she’d like to share with those future students? “You get out of your degree what you put in to it,” she concludes. “If you get involved, you’ll feel so much better.”
Greenhill in UVic's Special Collections, where she learned the value of working with objects. “If you can hold history or really see it, it has more impact than just reading a document,” she says. Photo: John Threlfall.
Keywords: convocation, student life, alumni, art history, co-op, arts
People: Josie Greenhill
Publication: The Ring
The change-up: Bean business
Ben Gingerich builds his specialty coffee company with a strong dose of pure hustle.
Vox Alumni: Finding the words
Writing grad parlays a passion for storytelling into helping others unlock their creativity.
Mitacs award for UVic grad student
Sandra Frey, MA grad in the School of Environmental Studies, received the Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation–Master’s for her breakthrough work with wildlife camera data collection as an early warning system to detect and prevent wildlife decline, and manage land-use policies.
Last August, as the sun set on the Serengeti National Park, 19 UVic geography students and their instructors arrived in Tanzania to begin a month-long field school on conservation management. Despite the hardships of water rationing and extreme heat, it was a trip of a lifetime for the students, who immersed themselves in the customs and culture of Tanzania while learning about local forest management and ecological conservation practices.
The UVic Edge
Dynamic learning
Vital impact
Extraordinary environment
3800 Finnerty Road
uvicnews@uvic.ca
Send us your story idea
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408128
|
__label__wiki
| 0.759989
| 0.759989
|
Turner's house, Twickenham
Design for Sandycombe Lodge c 1812 JMW Turner Tate Britain
Sandycombe Lodge © The Trustees of the British Museum
It may come as a surprise that JMW Turner was interested in pursuing a career in architecture until he was advised by Thomas Hardwick to continue painting. Though he went on to become one of England’s most celebrated landscape painters he designed Sandycombe Lodge in Twickenham as a country retreat for himself and his father. This is the only example of JMW Turner’s architecture extant.
In May 1807 Turner bought a two acre plot of land in Twickenham and from 1810 his sketchbooks contain a number of preliminary drawings for the planned building. His vision was of a simple but elegant country villa in Italianate style located near the unspoilt Thames Valley with views from the upper floor to Richmond Hill and the river Thames. There he could sketch, go fishing and entertain friends. His father managed the house and garden, with ponds at the bottom of the garden to store live fish caught in the Thames.
Building work was completed in 1813 and the house is seen as a small gem of Regency architecture with many echoes of the work of Turner’s great friend Sir John Soane, the architect of the Bank of England and fellow Academician (JMW Turner was Professor of Perspective while John Soane was Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy). Turner and Soane shared a love of fishing and Turner was a frequent visitor to his retreat at Pitzhanger Manor, Ealing and at Lincoln Inn Fields, now the Soane Museum.
BG Windus was only 23 when Sandycombe Lodge was completed but later when he established his Turner collection did John Soane visit the collection or perhaps join Turner for dinner there? Turner’s RA friend George Jones did so on a number of occasions.
And given Turner and Soane’s love of fishing did they ever fish in the River Lea; it was already famous for fishing through Isaac Walton’s The Compleat Angler (1653) in which Tottenham Cross is described:
And so you are welcome to Tottenham High Cross.
And pray now let’s rest ourselves in this sweet shady arbour,
which nature herself has woven with her own fine fingers ;
’tis such a contexture of wood-bines, sweetbriar, jessamine, and myrtle, and so interwoven,
as will secure us both from the sun’s violent heat, and from the approaching shower.
BG Windus’s house at Tottenham Green stood 150 metres from Tottenham Cross.
A look at the house in 2015
Photographs by David Cottridge, who had one of his pictures in Royal Academy Summer exhibition in 2015 took these photographs of the house.
The house before restoration.
The restoration
In 2015, just before the house closed for restoration, a group of JMW Turner enthusiasts from Tottenham visited Sandycombe Lodge. We were greeted by Turner’s House Trust Chair, Catherine Parry-Wingfield, and taken on an informative and inspiring tour of the house by volunteers, Mary Rose and Janice.
We learnt about the architecture of the house which the Trust will restore to Turner’s original design over the next two years, there being substantial additions to expand the cottage into a family home after Turner sold the house in 1826. The house, located in the unspoilt Thames Valley, was close to a number of grand country houses (most of which no longer exist) and several influential figures lived nearby which may have influenced Turner’s decision to build there.
We could easily imagine ‘Old Dad’ in the kitchen, picture the pond where Turner kept the catch from his fishing trips on the Thames fresh for supper, and indeed envisage the view to the river he enjoyed from his bedroom. A truly evocative experience enjoyed by all.
The house has now reopened. To book a visit go here
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408130
|
__label__cc
| 0.583029
| 0.416971
|
TWIKATANE
SERVICES & PROJECTS
© 2023 by TCF. Proudly created with Wix.com
+44 7538081174 (UK)
Find us:
Fig Tree Office Park, No.1 Warthog Road, Kabulonga, Lusaka, Zambia
Twikatane Community Foundation. Company Limited by Guarantee.
Reg no. 120100088407
TCF IMAGE 9
Water for Life Symbol_edited
ENABLING POSITIVE CHANGE FOR ALL IN ZAMBIA
Twikatane Community Foundation
TCF is a dynamic charity sector resource that aims to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged people of Zambia. Our vision is a strong, resilient and vibrant Zambia, supported by a society that encourages and enables giving and sharing - to ensure no one is left behind. The foundation channels resources from individuals and organisations, and offers grassroots and community-based organisations (CBOs) the funds, skills and confidence they need to solve real-world problems and put their ideas into practice.
Join us and help us create lasting, positive change by supporting organisations whose work improves the lives of the most vulnerable people in our society.
Whether you are a business or individual there are a number of ways you can get involved with TCF and help make Zambia a better place for all.
Our mission is to inspire local philanthropy and enable community-based organisations and individuals to make profound and lasting differences in their respective communities.
SERVICES & PROJECT DETAILS
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408134
|
__label__wiki
| 0.796412
| 0.796412
|
Javascript is turned off. This website may not operate as expected.
State Laws and Customs Toolkit
Virtual Underwriter
Standard Exception
All of VU
Real Estate Practices
Standard Exceptions
Underwriting Manual
Special Alerts
Insureds
See Underwriting Manual
TX 12.26 Mortgagee Policies (Loan Policies)
TX 14.12 Owner's Policies of Title Insurance
See Bulletin
No references available.
Download .pdf
Download .doc
Generally, the insured is the fee owner, the lessee, or the mortgagee. If you are asked to insure an optionee, a collateral assignee, or a person who does not hold title, please call the Company.
INSX01 ALTA
Insured Is Not Owner
The coverage provided the insured under this Policy is subject to any rights, defenses, and exclusions which the Company may have against the person shown vested with the estate or interest in the land described in Schedule A.
Comment: The policy may insure a party who is not the owner: for example, an optionee, partner, or stockholder. If the Company approves issuance of the policy, you should add this exception for defenses applicable to the record owner (such as matters the record owner created or knew).
Schedule A
INSS03 STG
Assigns Except Obligors – Loan Policy
________________, and each successor in ownership of the indebtedness secured by the insured mortgage, except a successor who is an obligor under the provisions of Section 12(c) of the Conditions and Stipulations.
Comment: This language is sometimes requested by lenders in Schedule A of a Mortgagee Policy. It is the only language available to insure assignees in a Mortgagee Policy in Texas. If no such language appears in Schedule A, the Policy still insures to assignees who are not obligors.
HUD – Loan Policy
__________ and/or The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of Washington, D.C., their respective successors and assigns as their interests may appear.
Comment: This language is frequently added in Schedule A on Mortgagee Policies covering HUD insured loans.
TX 15.52.9 P-9. Endorsement of Owner or Mortgagee Policies
VA – Loan Policy
___________ and/or The Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs, an officer of the United States of America, their respective successors and assigns as their interests may appear.
Comment: This language is frequently added in Schedule A on Mortgagee Policies covering VA guaranteed loans.
HUD – Owner’s Policy
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of Washington, D.C., and its successors in office.
Comment: When issuing an Owner’s Policy to HUD, do not add the phrase “and assigns,” after the name of the insured since the Policy is not “assignable” to its buyer.
Underwriting/Claims Contacts
© Stewart Title Guaranty Company. All Rights Reserved. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408143
|
__label__wiki
| 0.630562
| 0.630562
|
HomeLatest News separator An intimate show from 5ive comes to Blackpool!
Blackpool News
Theatres & Shows
Blackpool News / Theatres & Shows
An intimate show from 5ive comes to Blackpool!
by Visit Blackpool
A very special exclusive intimate show is coming to Blackpool this April, performing their greatest hits including...
Everybody Get Up
Slam Dunk (Da Funk)
It's The Things You Do
The show is coming to Blackpool at the end of The Boys Are Back arena tour, giving fans an extremely rare and unique chance to see them up close and personal for one night only, featuring special supports: Nguva and Groove & The Bathtub Pings.
This is going to be a rewind, throwback party like no other for fans and lovers of the 90's early 00's hits.
There are a limited amount of early bird cheaper tickets available at a lower price than standard admission. You can also get your hands on meet and greet tickets. Be quick, though, as these are limited too!
Don’t miss out on this show to remember! All tickets are available here.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408145
|
__label__cc
| 0.654616
| 0.345384
|
Body | Aero Kits
Hoods | Bonnets
VIS Racing Carbon Fiber OEM Hood Infiniti G35 03-07
See more parts for your Infiniti G35
Model #03ING352DOE-010C
About VIS Racing
Vivid Racing has been changing the import seen for the past decade, with their extrodinary performance, styling, and culture of the auto enthusiast. Let them change the scene ones more, with the collaboration of ViS Racing.
ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating which allows the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece undersiding. Hood pins are required.
VIS Racing Sports, Inc. was established in 1996 and is based in the beautiful southern California. We have always been at the forefront of auto restyling products for imports,Domestics, trucks, SUV's, Euro and Exotic. We started the ultra aggressive style in Aero Kit, wide-body kits, JDM style kits, JDM conversions, spoilers and the ever-popular carbon fiber hoods & trunks. VIS is the first to set the industry standard for GRADE A quality Carbon Fiber Hood and trunk that many customers come to expect. These are just some of the trends we have brought into the States, and we are not stopping here. VIS is always working closely with some of the talented restyling experts to bring you the most up-to-date and never-been seen styles for the US market. We are also working with many companies in our industry for making OEM exclusive private label parts. Our main goal is to offer wide array of products to provide complete restyling; upgrade solutions to avid car enthusiasts. The exciting new product lines include Imports, Domestic car, Truck, SUV, European cars, Exotic cars and High End Dry Carbon Fiber body parts for Street & Racing applications. With the acquisition of Wings West product line (One of the few USA based polyurethane manufacturer), we are excited to offer high-quality, ultra-durable polyurethane aero kits that are tailor made for the US customers.
VIS boasts the largest and the latest selection of restyling carbon fiber parts and aero kits in the industry. As a well-established supplier in US, we offer over 12,000 styling products for retail or wholesale trade. Our carbon fiber hoods currently has over 250 different styles and our carbon fiber product line spans over 4000-plus applications of trunks, hatches, fenders, roofs, doors, bumpers, lips, spoilers, exterior and interior accessories. Therefore, our inventory is ample and among the largest in the States. Our Products' superior quality has won wide acceptance from retail customers and wholesale customers all over the world. Our products' popularity is reaffirmed over and over again as the chosen choice of Hollywood and Game-playing world as can be seen in movies and games like "FAST and Furious", Walt Disney Pictures and the XBOX game "Forza Motorsport". Our warehouse has doubled in size to 82,000 sq. ft. to cover in house design, prototyping, product testing, production and installation. This expansion has been completed in the first half of the year 2011 and this making us one of the largest aero styling kit companies in USA. We strive to be the Home Deport of Aero Kits and Carbon fiber products, a one-stop shop for all your auto restyling needs.
VIS Racing Store
Check out these other great products
ChargeSpeed Full Body Kit Infiniti G35 Coupe 03-07
Model #CS695FK
AAM Competition 3 inch Titanium MaxFlow Single Exhaust Systems Infiniti G35 03-06
Model #35E-MFS3-G35C
ChargeSpeed FRP Roof Fin Infiniti G35 Coupe 03-07
Model #CS695RF
STILLEN Roof Wing Infiniti G35 Sedan 03-06
Model #103719
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408149
|
__label__wiki
| 0.559847
| 0.559847
|
App Ecosystem MicrositeEnterprise Author: VoicenData Bureau - April 8, 2019
NIIT Tech divests stake in Esri India; Esri Inc to manage India operations independently
IT solutions organization, NIIT Technologies Limited has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of its entire 88.99% stake in ESRI India Technologies Ltd (Formerly NIIT GIS Ltd.).
ESRI India Technologies Ltd has been an exclusive distributor of ESRI Inc’s GIS products in India and has been supporting customers since 1996. The distribution agreement was expiring on 31st March 2019 and Esri Inc expressed its desire to directly manage the distribution of its products in India.
Esri products include geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, and Esri Geospatial Cloud.
“For many years Esri has partnered with NIIT Tech to advance the use of GIS software and capability for customers in India. Along with the recent establishment of our New Delhi R&D Center, this agreement confirms the importance of India as a market and our commitment to deliver value to customers in the country,” said Jack Dangermond, President Esri Inc.
Commenting on the transaction, Arvind Thakur, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, NIIT Technologies Ltd said, “The partnership of NIIT Tech with Esri Inc has helped develop the GIS market from scratch in India. Divestment of stake in ESRI India allows NIIT Tech to focus on its core verticals and global markets. Esri India customers will continue to have undivided attention and support from the same team and with direct support from Esri Inc.”
The transaction is expected to close within this month.
NIIT Tech divests stake in Esri India; Esri Inc to manage India operations independently 0 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 0 user reviews.
Kerala Startup Mission, ICAR to co-promote agritech startups and support digital agri-business ventures
Sirqul appoints Manish Jain as Chief Product Officer to accelerate AI-IoT platform
Netcore Solutions Private Limited announced the completion of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) buyback…
Zinier announced that it has raised $90 million in Series C funding to transform field…
Likee has been named among top 10 most downloaded apps globally. The 2019 report released…
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408151
|
__label__wiki
| 0.869803
| 0.869803
|
HomeNews VolkerStevin helps Ferry reopen its doors at new home on the River Thames
VolkerStevin helps Ferry reopen its doors at new home on the River Thames
An historic fixture on the River Thames has opened its doors to the public after being moved more than 100m upstream to make way for construction on London’s new ‘super sewer’.
Paddle steamer Tattershall Castle reopened at the end of May after she was moved from her old home in April, allowing Tideway to start work on building a tunnel to help clean up the River Thames.
Pawel Czajkowski, boat relocations project manager for Tideway, said: “We are delighted this iconic Thames landmark can continue serving the public while we carry on with our vital work to clean up the River Thames nearby.
“Our vision is to reconnect London with the river, and it was very important to us that the Tattershall Castle could stay open as usual and keep allowing visitors to enjoy the River Thames.”
Tideway worked with contractor VolkerStevin to move the ship.
As well as relocating the Tattershall Castle, further down the river VolkerStevin has also worked with Tideway on building a new lift and stairs at Blackfriars Station and relocating the Millennium Pier, allowing river users continued access to the Thames during construction.
Terry O’Connor, operations director of VolkerStevin commented: “We have given special consideration to minimise noise and traffic by delivering piling works during agreed hours, utilising noise shrouds and vibration monitoring equipment and making deliveries by river at periods of low vessel traffic.
“Large pontoon components have been fabricated in Holland and stored at the yard several miles downriver, and were brought to site overnight to minimise disruption.’’
A Tattershall Castle spokesperson said: “We have also taken the opportunity to give the Tattershall Castle a fresh new look as part of her relocation and we’re welcoming guests back on board to sample our diverse offer in our six flexible trading areas of the boat.”
The floating pub and restaurant, moored at Victoria Embankment, was built in 1934 as a passenger ferry on the River Humber and was also used during the Second World War.
PS Tattershall Castle was first opened on the Thames as a floating art gallery, before opening in 1982 as a restaurant.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408156
|
__label__cc
| 0.611376
| 0.388624
|
Women's Aid Leicestershire
Quick exit - click here
National 24hr helpline:
0808 2000 247 Local helpline:
Help someone you know
What are the signs?
Support for adults
Fundraising appeals
Fundraisers Listing
Appeals Listing
Join a fundraising event
Current Fundraising Target
Stories and events
Stalking Awareness Lunch
Women's Aid Leicestershire Ltd. (WALL) and the Alice Ruggles Trust held a joint lunch on Wednesday 20 November with the aim of raising awareness of stalking and to introduce WALL's stalking support project 'Free from Fear', which launched in February 2019. Both WALL and the Alice Ruggles Trust were aligned in their purpose for the lunch - to improve knowledge around stalking, to improve understanding that it is a crime and to emphasis the need to report it and for the victims and offences to be responded to appropriately.
The CEO of WALL, Pamela Richardson, opened the event, and guests were then welcomed by The Police & Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire, Lord Willy Bach, who discussed the topic and his Office's input into the specialist service run by WALL.
There were key speeches by Sue Hills and Clive Ruggles of the Alice Ruggles Trust, telling Alice Ruggles' story to highlight the impact of stalking and the need for better responses from agencies. Alice Ruggles was murdered by her ex-boyfriend on the 12th October 2016 after he had been stalking her for some time. Alice tried to seek help but couldn’t find agencies to turn to and also didn’t get an appropriate response from the Police when she reported it.
Guests also heard from Anna Preston, the Stalking Services Manager at WALL, who gave information about WALL's 'Free From Fear' project, launched in February 2019. This was launched as a result of recognising local need and because WALL knew that, nationally, there were limited services supporting stalking victims and locally the services didn’t exist at all. The 'Free from Fear' project offers specialist support to victims of stalking, and delivers training to professional on stalking as a whole and how to respond.
The messages from the lunch were that WALL, the Alice Ruggles Trust and the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner want stalking to be recognised, for people to know it is unacceptable and for people to come forward to access support in order to prevent other deaths, like Alice’s, from occurring.
Published: 21st November, 2019
Author: Rebecca Benton
In collaboration with the Alice Ruggles Trust, Women's Aid Leicestershire Ltd (WALL) held its first Stalking Awareness lunch, which brought together professionals and the public to raise awareness of stalking, the need to report it and WALL's new stalking support service.
International Women's Day Coffee Morning 2020
On 8 March 2018, we held our first International Women's Day Coffee Morning. Cakes were made, coffee was poured and vital funds were raised. We invite you to hold your own coffee morning on, or around, 8 March 2020 to join us in fundraising with friends.
Alistair raises over £500 at Chase the Sun event
Alistair Jackson has completed the Chase the Sun cycling event, raising over £500 for Women's Aid Leicestershire Ltd.
How to call the Police when you can't talk
There will be times when a domestic abuse victim needs urgent help and needs to call the Police but may be unable to speak, due to not wanting to alert the perpetrator to the call. There is a way round this which the emergency services call the 'silent solution'.
We need dedicated and passionate volunteers to help us provide invaluable support to all victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Our volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds - some are retired, others not in work or working part or full-time. We have many opportunities to suit various skills, such as volunteering on the helpline, organising social or well-being groups with our resid
Women’s Aid Leicestershire Limited are a local organisation delivering support services to survivors of domestic abuse and violence.
In an emergency situation, always call 999. In none emergency situations, you can access support services by calling 0808 80 200 28.
As a charity we rely on donations to continue our work supporting victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Until we can all live safe and secure lives in our own homes and be free from the threat of domestic abuse and sexual violence, we will continue our life saving work.
Anyone can experience domestic abuse
Please download our leaflets to see the services that we offer.
Services for adults
We offer a range of specialist support services for adults, including temporary refuge accommodation, an IDVA service, a Hospital-based IDVA and a Housing Link Worker.
Make a referral to access support for an individual you know or are working with
Women's Aid Leicestershire Limited is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 7171654 and registered as a Charity number 1136419
Registered office: PO Box 26, Leicester, LE1 1AA
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408160
|
__label__wiki
| 0.990011
| 0.990011
|
Colin Charvis
COLIN Charvis has given his full backing to his successor as Welsh captain.
Gareth Thomas replaced Charvis when he was installed as skipper by new Wales coach Mike Ruddock with the Newcastle flanker taking over as vice-captain.
Now Charvis has vowed to put his personal disappointment behind him and help Thomas settle into the role.
"I think Alfie's characteristics are going to shine through during the autumn series," said Charvis.
"People will realise the strength of character of Gareth.
"He has been a good friend of mine for a long time.
"When he went over to France I knew he was the type of player who would do well over there.
"It is good now that we will have a working relationship with him.
"Personally it was an easy decision to make to take up the vice-captain role.
"It is important now we focus on the four internationals and give the captain a lot of support.
"I am going to concentrate on doing the best I can for Wales and hopefully I can get selected to play and work alongside Gareth."
And Charvis and Thomas have both been embroiled in club v country rows over their availability for the South Africa match on November 6 at the Millennium Stadium.
But both issues have proved to be only newspaper speculation with Toulouse and Newcastle never having a realistic chance of stopping the pair from leading Wales against the Springboks.
Charvis has revealed that he took a leaf out of his new captain's book when considering this question.
"I remember seeing Gareth on television answering question about the club v country row and his answer was correct," said Charvis.
"It is not the player's decision and they should not get caught up in the row.
"I was unaware of this issue and when Rob signed me for Newcastle it was as an international player.
"This brings kudos to the club to have internationals and the club have been nothing but supportive in letting me go to fitness sessions and training tests with Wales.
"It is not disruptive for players because it was a matter that was stirred up by the press. If it was an issue I am sure Rob would have spoken to me about it."
"I am glad I am spending my last couple of years as a professional player in a happy environment."
Mike Ruddock
Wales Rugby Team
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408161
|
__label__wiki
| 0.927074
| 0.927074
|
Nintendo, Wii
Bit.Trip Series [WiiWare – Unused Stuff]
U64 Staff & Contributors
Bit.Trip is a series of action / music games that has been released on Wiiware download service for the Nintendo Wii. The series has been started in 2009 and finished in 2011. It was developed by Gaijin Games and published by Aksys Games. Each game revolves around the adventures of a character named “Commander Video”, and features “a crazy mix of 80s aesthetics and modern game design”. (Info from Wikipedia)
Six games have been released for Bit.Trip:
Bit.Trip Beat, first one of the series, which introduces a style of pong;
Bit.Trip Core, second one of the series, which introduces a style of more peculiar rhythm, similar of Dance Machines;
Bit.Trip Void, third one of the series, which introduces a different rhythm;
Bit.Trip Runner, fourth one of the series, introduces a new style, with 2D Platformer with rhythm;
Bit.Trip Fate, fifth one of the series, introduces a new style of side scroller shooting with rhythm;
Bit.Trip Flux, sixty one of the series, Gaijin games have returned the Bit.Trip Beat style.
Some of those games have unused stuff hidden in their code, such as animations and sound effects.
Bit.Trip Beat
There is a different game over screen in the first game of the serie. Later, it’s never have been used:
Bit.Trip Core
In Bit.Trip Core, there are still sprites for WiiRemote that appears in Bit.Trip Beat, probably the game could be different.
Bit.Trip Void
There is some testing stuff into the title screen folder. It’s really unknown about it:
There is a unused idle animation, which probably would be used if the player left controller. Maybe, just discovering this animation, the game could be a lot of different, it could probably a sidescroller which you could move manually, and if stops, it could appear this animation rarely. However, Bit.Trip series have the main goal of rhythm, so they retired the animation and did as automatic sidescroller game (probably).
Bit.Trip Fate
Originally planned to be a more traditional shooter where CommanderVideo was in a ship and he had free movement around the screen. The game also did not use pointer controls or the “fate line” until a later date.
Bit.Trip Flux
Started off using Breakout style gameplay during the normal course of the levels, but was cut because it simply wasn’t that fun. Bosses also used to be at the beginning of each level, reinforcing the reverse nature of the game, but that upset the pacing right away.
The whole serie:There is a sprite which appear in all the games, into the game files. Probably, it’s only used in Japanese Version:
Those sprites only appears on the Japanese version of the game:
Translation: BIT.TRIP VOID’s sytem file is corrupt.
After erasing BIT.TRIP VOID from the Channel Management Screen, please redownload BIT.TRIP VOID from the Wii Shopping Channel.
If you still get the same message afterwards, please contact the Nintendo Service Center.
BIT.TRIP CORE’s sytem file is corrupt.
After erasing BIT.TRIP CORE from the Channel Management Screen, please redownload BIT.TRIP CORE from the Wii Shopping Channel.
Translation: BIT.TRIP RUNNER’s sytem file is corrupt.
After erasing BIT.TRIP RUNNER from the Channel Management Screen, please redownload BIT.TRIP RUNNER from the Wii Shopping Channel.
Thanks to Gabrielwoj and Susumu (translation) for the contributors.
Action Gaijin Games Music shmup Read more
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408165
|
__label__cc
| 0.528428
| 0.471572
|
By continuing to browse or by clicking "Accept All Cookies," you agree to the storing of first- and third-party cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
About Waller
• What We Do •
• Experience •
• Our People •
• News & Insights •
• About Waller •
We proactively adapt to help our clients succeed.
Simply being responsive to client needs is no longer enough. That's why Waller is committed to ongoing transformation to support our clients' success. That adaptability has helped Waller build a national reputation in the healthcare and financial services industries, among others. That experience is living proof of our ability to change and grow with our clients. It's a philosophy that traces back to our firm's humble origins in 1905.
As our clients' businesses evolve, so do we.
We believe a culture of proactive adaptability is essential in today's evolving business climate. The demand is there, and Waller is at the forefront in a number of crucial areas when it comes to innovative solutions for clients.
We strive to be a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
Waller accepted the 2017 Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce's Corporate Diversity award with pride and an honest admission: we are a long way from being finished. That ongoing commitment to progress is reflected in the firm's inclusion in Working Mother's "Best Law Firms for Women" list and recognition from Chambers Associate as one of the top firms in the country when it comes to diversity efforts related to new and up-and-coming associates.
Working to make a difference in the lives of others.
Waller is recognized for our longstanding commitment to giving back to our communities through volunteerism, board involvement and advocacy for many civic, community and professional organizations. We are the only law firm among the top 25 largest contributors to the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, with the firm and employees have contributed more than $1.5 million over the years.
Be part of our talented team.
With our legal expertise, industry-specific experience and professional skills, our talented team works closely with clients across industries. From day-to-day corporate matters to complex disputes, we work hand-in-hand with clients to gain their trust and forge deep, long-lasting relationships.
WHY WALLER?
Whether a current or prospective client, we are here to help your business thrive. Please send us a message and we will respond to your needs as soon as possible.
© 2020 Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP.
Contact Us // Client Login // Disclaimer // Privacy Policy & GDPR // Affiliations // Join Us
NASHVILLE AUSTIN BIRMINGHAM CHATTANOOGA MEMPHIS
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408174
|
__label__wiki
| 0.825062
| 0.825062
|
Upholding quality
A New Care Solution for Children Living With War
Some 84 million children worldwide experience psychological and social problems as a result of war and violence. Yet for 95 to 99% of these children there is no mental health support available at all - resulting in lifelong problems. War Child’s Mark Jordans will outline a potential solution to address this urgent situation next week in a major new speech…
Provide effective psychological support
How do you provide effective psychological support for children in the difficult conditions of a war zone? This central challenge to our work is the subject of a major speech to be delivered by Professor Mark Jordans - War Child head of Research and Development.
The special lecture - Improving the Mental Health of Children in Conflict-Affected and Low-Resource Settings: Children’s Steps to Leaps Forward - marks the inauguration of a new War Child Holland academic chair at the University of Amsterdam. The lecture will see Professor Jordans outline a new approach designed to improve the mental health of children in situations of deprivation and armed conflict.
The platform for this new approach is a package of humanitarian interventions - backed by evidence - that can be rapidly deployed to meet the urgent needs of children and youth worldwide. Professor Jordans will outline in detail the substance of each intervention - and how they can be rapidly shared with other organisations.
“Children suffering from conflict-violence are a constant presence in my life"
Mark Jordans
A life’s work
Professor Jordans has devoted his life’s work to improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children living in adversities. He began his career as a child psychologist in Nepal before establishing mental health care services in countries around the world. Professor Jordans continues his work with War Child today.
"Children suffering from conflict-violence are a constant presence in my life," he says. "As a psychologist, I have supported such children for many years. Gradually, I have become convinced that research into new and better care is even more important in making their lives better. We need to treat the mental scars of children in war with care."
The lecture is open to the public and will be held on Thursday November 21 at 16:00 in the Auditorium of the University of Amsterdam. Do you want to attend, then please sign up!
verhaal 10/12/2018
War Child UVA Chair Inaugural Lecture
Privacy statement Disclaimer FAQ
Functional cookies These cookies allow basic functionality of the website to work as it should. It's not possible to turn these cookies off.
Third party cookies These cookies are created by third parties, like YouTube or Vimeo.
Analytics cookies These cookies allow us to improve the website by measuring basic website statistics.
Social media cookies These cookies are created by social media providers like Facebook or Twitter.
Personalized cookies These cookies allow us to present content on the website that's especially suited to your individual needs, based on your browsing behavior.
Advertising cookies These cookies allow our advertising partners to present information in a more focused manner.
It's possible that certain functionalities within the website, related to categories that have been turned off, no longer work as they should. You can always change your preferences at a later date. More information
Allow all Save
This website uses cookies and comparable techniques to offer an optimized user experience. More information Change preferences
Disallow Allow cookies
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408176
|
__label__cc
| 0.622682
| 0.377318
|
Jennifer R. Ward
Tania K. Harvey
Lindsay B. Coleman
Civil Union / Same-Sex Marriage Dissolution
Parental Responsibility, previously known as Child Custody and Visitation
Paternity Cases, also known as Parentage Cases
Marital Settlement Agreements and Negotiation
Marital Property and Non-Marital Property: Classification, Division and Valuation
Non-Marital Property Division
Formal Discovery
Analysis of Pre-Civil Union Agreements
Domestic Violence Proceedings
Enforcement / Post-decree issues
Uncontested Cases
Guardian Ad Litem/Child’s Representative
Allocation Judgements
Contested Cases
Non-Marital Property
Divorce Blog
How to have an amicable divorce: Is mediation or collaborative law the answer?
After soul-searching and months of counseling or therapy, you’ve made the difficult decision to end your marriage. You want a peaceful divorce. You want the chance to remain amicable, if not friendly when the process is over. If you are both in a place where you can communicate, discuss and compromise then mediation or collaborative law may be your answer. Tania K. Harvey at Ward Family Law, LLC is a court-approved mediator and a specially trained and certified “Collaborative Law Fellow.” Which one is best for you? Collaborative Law Parties to a divorce do not always have to be adversaries devoting their precious time and money to contentious litigation. Collaborative law is an innovative method for how to approach a divorce, as it enables the parties to resolve their disputes and end their marriage with minimal court involvement. Though no single approach to divorce is right for every couple, more and more couples are embracing collaborative law as an alternative to litigation or mediation. To begin the collaborative law process, the parties must each retain their own collaboratively-trained attorneys who agree, in writing, to work together to help the couple reach a mutually beneficial settlement without having to go to court. The parties meet privately with their respective attorneys and may retain additional experts, such as divorce coaches, neutral financial professionals, and child specialists, collectively referred to as “team members”, who provide unbiased expert advice to guide the parties towards an amicable resolution. When the final agreement is reached, the collaborative lawyers prepare all final settlement documents and accompany the parties to court to finalize their case. In the event that the parties are unable to reach an agreement and one or both of the parties elect to take the matter to court, the attorneys and “team members” are disqualified from representing either party or otherwise participating in the adversarial proceedings. This encourages the parties and the attorneys to cooperate and problem-solve, reduces the likelihood of excess conflict, and enables the parties to efficiently resolve their disputes. Mediation Services In family law cases, the most commonly used service (outside of the hiring of legal counsel in this process) is mediation; perhaps the most attractive aspect of mediation is that it can be tailored to suit the needs of each individual dispute. The mediator can play a low-key and conciliatory role, or take on a more proactive role by making suggestions and probing for convergent interests. Tania K. Harvey of Ward Family Law, LLC is a court-approved mediator and can guide you through the process as the neutral, third party mediator; mediation is often is employed after it becomes apparent that direct negotiation between adversaries will not resolve the dispute efficiently. However, anyone contemplating mediation must also consider the need to secure guidance of legal counsel, as parties are oftentimes not aware of what their rights and responsibilities are, much less what the current laws and trends are in regards to assets, liabilities, maintenance, child support, parental allocation and have difficultly navigating the mediation process without the simultaneous guidance of legal counsel. Mediation for domestic relations cases in Cook County, Illinois is governed by Cook County Circuit Court Rule 13.4. Mediation is a non-binding confidential process by which a neutral third party, selected by the parties to the case or selected by or with the assistance of the court, assists the parties in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement. The role of the mediator is to assist in identifying the issues, reducing misunderstandings, exploring and clarifying the parties’ respective interests and priorities, and identifying and exploring possible solutions that will satisfy the interests of all parties and thereby facilitate resolution of some or all of the issues in dispute. Mediation is required pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule for parents who are in conflict over allocation of parental responsibilities, relocation, and other non-child support issues related to their children. In Cook County, the parents will be referred to Family Mediation Services for mediation if they cannot agree to a mediator. Mediation for non-child related issues may be ordered by the Court. Examples of non-child related issues that may be subject to mediation include but are not limited to disputes over debts, assets, and money. If the parties cannot agree to the selection of a mediator for non-child related issues, the Court will choose a mediator from the list of court-certified mediators. Is either one right for you? Contact Tania K. Harvey at (312)803-5838 or via email at tharvey@wardfamilylawchicago.com for an initial consultation in regards to her mediation or collaborative law services.
About Jennifer Ward
Jennifer R. Ward has exclusively practiced in the matrimonial and family law field for nearly 20 years. Furthermore, Ms. Ward is Adjunct Faculty at the John Marshall Law School teaching family law legal drafting to law students and has done so since 2005.
HAPPY NEW YEAR: TANIA K. HARVEY OF WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC IS HONORED AS A LEADING LAWYER FOR 2020
Chicago Divorce Planning for the New Year
“Temporary Relief” during a pending Chicago Divorce Case
Tania Harvey participates in a live panel for “Getting Split Ready”
Consensual Dispute Resolution in Chicago Divorce Cases
Sandra Patterson on Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Divorce Attorney
Sariah Meagle on Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Divorce Attorney
Gary Puntman on Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Divorce Attorney
Gillian Babcock on Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Divorce Attorney
155 North Wacker Drive
If you would like an attorney to contact you for a free consultation, please complete this form, or call us at
You can click the below link to submit a secure online payment to Ward Family Law, LLC:
www.secure.lawpay.com/pages/wardfamilylawchicago/operating
Divorce Lawyer Chicago
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408177
|
__label__wiki
| 0.87064
| 0.87064
|
Account and Profile
U.S. & World | Regional
Post Politics Blog
The Post's View
Toles Cartoons
Telnaes Animations
DemocracyPost
The WorldPost
Early Lead
Fancy Stats
Post Nation
Wonkblog
On Small Business
Capital Business
Voraciously
KidsPost
The Intersect
Made by History
Can He Do That?
Cape Up
The Daily 202's Big Idea
Letters From War
Retropod
In Sight
1996-2018 The Washington Post
Analysis Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events.
From left: Kentucky freshmen and future top NBA draft picks Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist celebrate during their 2012 national championship run. (David J. Phillip/AP) LSU freshman and future No. 1 pick Ben Simmons receives a technical foul during a 2016 SEC tournament loss that ended his team’s hopes of reaching the NCAA tournament. (Andy Lyons/Getty) Current Duke freshmen Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett celebrate after a regular season win. Both are expected to enter the NBA draft and be selected near the top. (Lance King/Getty)
Do ‘one-and-done’ teams succeed in March?
By Brittany Renee Mayes
Brittany Renee Mayes
General assignment graphics reporter
Warning: This graphic requires JavaScript. Please enable JavaScript for the best experience.
For some players in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, this will be their first — and last — year competing for a college title. An elite group of freshmen is expected to enter the NBA draft this summer, and these players will spend the next few weeks of March Madness trying to both take home a collegiate title and improve their draft position.
Many of these players would already be in the NBA were it not for the league’s “one-and-done” rule instituted before the 2006 draft, which states that players must be at least one year out of high school and 19 years old (in the year of the draft) to enter the league.
Access granted: 2019 NCAA Tournament March Madness
More than 100 players have had a one-and-done season since then, playing college ball for a year without compensation while risking injury before being selected in the draft. Just last month, Duke freshman Zion Williamson – the projected No. 1 pick – had a brief but significant scare when he suffered a right knee injury in a game against North Carolina. (It was luckily just a sprain, and he is already back playing at full strength.)
The controversial rule also created a divide in strategy among coaches at elite college programs. Is it valuable to recruit the best players in the country, even if you will likely only get to coach them for one year?
The data shows that if a coach is going to invest in one-and-done players, he should invest heavily.
Nearly 100 teams have had at least a single one-and-done player since 2006, producing four national titles. “Unstacked” one-and-done teams – those giving less than 30 percent of their minutes to one-and-done players – haven’t always looked impressive, often missing the tournament entirely. But there have been 10 teams that were stacked with these players, and they almost always played deep into the tournament.
“Unstacked” one-and-done teams do much worse than “stacked” ones
Share of teams with at least one such player that advanced to each round
Less than 30 percent of minutes went to one-and-dones (87 teams)
A quarter of
teams missed the tournament
National final
Won title
More than 30 percent of minutes went to one-and-dones (10 teams)
Texas (2011) is the only team to miss the Sweet 16
Made tournament
Less than 30% of minutes went to one-and-dones (87 teams)
More than 30% of minutes went to one-and-dones (10 teams)
Note: Since 2005-06 season. Share of team minutes measured across the entire season.
Six of those “stacked” teams were coached by Kentucky’s John Calipari, the most aggressive adopter of this strategy, including a team featuring elite freshmen Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist that won the national title in 2012. Duke won its most recent national title in 2015 under Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who went all in on the strategy after avoiding one-and-done players for years.
Here’s how every team with a one-and-done player did in the NCAA tournament.
Share of minutes played by one-and-done players
Hover for more information or explore here Select a school
This year, Duke will have as many as four potential one-and-done players in the tournament — Williamson, Cam Reddish, RJ Barrett and Tre Jones — based on draft predictions from NBADraft.net.
No team has ever been so reliant on one-and-done players. As the overall No. 1 seed, the Blue Devils are expected to go deep in the tournament. But so are fellow top seeds Gonzaga and Virginia, who have no freshmen projected to get drafted. Many of this year’s teams that had a single one-and-done player missed the tournament altogether.
This year, Duke is all in on one-and-dones
Share of minutes played this season by projected one-and-done players
Duke (No. 1 seed)
Kentucky (No. 2)
UNC (No. 1)
Indiana (missed)
Arizona St. (No. 11)
WKU (missed)
LSU (No. 3 seed)
Texas (missed)
USC (missed)
Oregon (No. 12)
Vanderbilt (missed)
North Carolina (No. 1)
Arizona State (No. 11)
W. Kentucky (missed)
Southern Cal (missed)
Thirteen teams have won national titles since the one-and-done era began. Six of them had more minutes played by upperclassmen than freshmen and sophomores. In 2014, Connecticut won a shocking title as a No. 7 seed in a season during which almost half of its minutes were played by seniors, the most of any title winner. There is still a lot of value in being able to develop players over multiple seasons.
Does sports glory create a spike in college applications? It’s not a slam dunk.
With that said, most schools that have won titles by relying on upperclassmen have also used the one-and-done strategy at some point. Louisville, which won a national title in 2013 that was later vacated, is the only championship school since 2006 that did not have a single one-and-done player during this era.
Players who head to college with the intention of going to the draft after a single year of play usually pick elite programs with distinguished coaches and a deep history of tournament success. Sometimes unexpected schools can snag a one-and-done player, however. Steven Adams, from New Zealand, attended Pittsburgh and went 12th overall in the 2013 NBA draft after his team was blown out in the first round of his only NCAA tournament. Then-coach Jamie Dixon had played professionally in New Zealand and was able to recruit Adams based on his connections there.
Where the one-and-done rule goes from here
The entire one-and-done recruitment strategy may soon become extinct. The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association is likely to change in time for the 2022 draft, once again allowing high schoolers to skip college and go directly to the pros.
This was the status quo in the league starting in the 1970s, when the Supreme Court struck down a rule requiring players to wait until four years after high school graduation to get drafted. Few high school players actually bypassed college altogether, however, until Kevin Garnett declared for the 1995 draft. He was followed by a steady flow of high school players who rose to stardom, such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwight Howard.
An explosion of “preps to pros” prompted the one-and-done rule
Number of high schoolers selected in each NBA draft
One-and-done rule instituted
Kevin Garnett becomes the first high schooler to go straight to the NBA since 1975
As more and more high schoolers declared for the draft, however, it became clear that many were simply not ready to contribute in the NBA. Some would go undrafted and never play in the league. But even worse, in the eyes of NBA franchises, were high school seniors who were drafted but never lived up to their high expectations.
Kwame Brown, the first No. 1 overall pick to come straight out of high school, is notorious for being one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history. A highly touted McDonald’s all-American, Brown was selected by the Washington Wizards in 2001 and proceeded to average 6.6 points per game over 12 NBA seasons.
The one-and-done rule was created to prevent players such as Brown from entering the NBA before their skills could be better assessed. It also prevented future stars such as Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis – NBA-ready out of high school – from earning paychecks for a season while they risked injury every minute they were on the court. And it undercut the traditional argument against paying NCAA players, that their compensation came in the form of the free education that came with an athletic scholarship.
Texas freshman Kevin Durant leaves the floor after a second-round loss to Southern Cal in the 2007 NCAA tournament. Durant would go second overall in the NBA draft that June. (Elaine Thompson/AP)
A decade since it was created, the movement to eliminate the rule has gained momentum. The year 2022 may seem far away, but NBA teams are already starting to swap picks for that draft. The players who would be eligible to enter that draft straight from high school are just high school freshmen now. Some of them, such as 15-year-old Michigan native Emoni Bates, are already making a name for themselves.
There’s more than one road to the Final Four, and they may cross in this NCAA tournament 2019 NCAA tournament: The perfect bracket to win your March Madness pool Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith rile up college basketball fans. They don’t care. NCAA tournament cheat sheet: Bracket tips, upsets and more
Brittany Renee Mayes joined The Washington Post as a general assignment graphics reporter in June 2018. She previously worked at NPR on the visuals team as a news applications developer.
Reuben Fischer-Baum and Armand Emamdjomeh contributed to this report.
The Washington Post collected data from the Sports-reference.com College Basketball Player Season Finder and NCAA Tournament Matchup Finder, as well as the Basketball Reference Draft Finder.
To determine one-and-done players, The Post counted any drafted player who classified as a freshman during or after 2006. Players who declared but went undrafted are not counted. 2019 draft projections from NBADraft.net and stats from Sports-reference.com as of March 19 were used to calculate the share of minutes by projected one-and-done players this season.
The Post used the cumulative sum of the number of teams who have advanced through the tournament to calculate how well a team had done in the tournament. Additionally, The Post removed schools where three or more players had incomplete minutes played data, where there was only minutes played data for players who left early for the NBA draft or where there was no minutes played data at all.
Drafted high school players from Basketball-reference.com. School logos from Sports Logos.net.
Top photos by David J. Phillip/AP, Andy Lyons/Getty and Lance King/Getty.
How Coach K mastered the one-and-done era
The Duke coach, in his 39th season, is winning with the kind of players he once thought he’d never recruit.
LeBron James says he’s more playmaker than scorer, but he just overtook Michael Jordan
As James tops Jordan’s scoring mark, NBA players who defended both reveal who they’d pick with the game on the line.
Follow Post Graphics
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408178
|
__label__wiki
| 0.961326
| 0.961326
|
Austria’s Sebastian Kurz, seeking to be a power player in Europe, could help bring down Germany’s Merkel
Griff Witte and
Griff Witte
Roaming America after years overseas in Europe, the Middle East and South Asia
Souad Mekhennet
Reporter covering national security, Middle East, North Africa, terrorism, Europe.
June 27, 2018 at 4:44 PM EDT
VIENNA — By 24, Sebastian Kurz was a member of the Austrian cabinet. By 27, he was his country’s foreign minister. And by 31, the debonair university dropout with the slicked-back mane and the Hollywood grin became the world’s youngest leader.
Now, just six months into his term as chancellor, Kurz is seizing a febrile moment in European politics to make himself into one of the continent’s true power players.
In so doing, he may help bring down his neighboring chancellor, Germany’s Angela Merkel, the most consequential European leader of the past decade.
The 63-year-old, four-term Merkel could see her government collapse as soon as this weekend. If it does, she will have mutinous members of her own conservative bloc to blame. But equally important will be the role of Kurz, who has repeatedly appeared in public with the German rebels to bolster their zero-tolerance immigration stance and not so subtly take aim at Merkel.
[A tale of two photos: Trump and Merkel’s very different stances on immigration]
“You don’t do what he’s doing if you don’t want to be part of the conflict,” said Cengiz Gunay, deputy director of the Austrian Institute for International Affairs. “It looks like he’s interfering in German politics.”
It looks that way to the Germans, too.
“There seems to be a new kind of cross-border coalition between politicians, but also media outlets and individuals, who have decided to push Chancellor Merkel out of her position,” said a nonpartisan senior German official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. “Chancellor Kurz comes across as one of the biggest forces behind this plan.”
Kurz’s allies vehemently disagree that he is trying to meddle in a country that has 10 times the population of Austria or that he wants Merkel gone. But there is little question that he is, at the very least, using Merkel’s vulnerability to gain leverage in a battle for European influence.
At stake is not only the fate of Merkel’s 13-year run as chancellor. At a time when the left barely registers in the top echelons of European power, the most important contest shaping the continent’s direction is a struggle between competing visions on the right.
On one side is Merkel, a master of consensus and survival who was shaped by her youth behind the Iron Curtain and is perhaps best known for welcoming more than a million asylum seekers to her country in 2015-2016. Merkel, who leads the center-right Christian Democratic Union, has fiercely resisted concessions to the anti-immigrant far right even as its popularity has surged on her watch.
On the other side is Kurz, a millennial who came of age in post-Cold War Europe and who claims credit for shutting down the asylum route that he blames Merkel for popularizing.
The leader of Austria’s center-right People’s Party, he swept to power last fall by mimicking the far-right’s policies on the campaign trail, then chose as his coalition partner a far-right party that has frequently engaged in anti-Muslim and anti-refugee rhetoric.
The Trump administration has made clear where its sympathies lie. On the day last week when Merkel’s crisis was growing most acute, Trump tweeted gleefully that Germans were “turning against their leadership.”
Trump’s ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, meanwhile, has celebrated Kurz as “a rock star.”
It is a description that even the chancellor’s toughest Austrian critics acknowledge as apt, given his charisma and fine-tuned messaging.
“He’s the rock star of the new right,” said Johannes Vetter, who ran the center-left Social Democrats’ campaign against Kurz last fall. “Unless there’s an earthquake, for the next nine years, we have no doubt who will be the chancellor.”
But beneath Kurz’s smooth veneer, Vetter sees a familiarly divisive brand of politics. The chancellor, Vetter said, has only one issue, migration, and he plays it relentlessly and opportunistically. “He’s like Donald Trump in a slim-fit suit,” Vetter said.
Fortunately for Kurz, migration is the issue of the moment in Europe. And he has proved adept at channeling the continent’s angst with a Fortress Europe-esque plan to halt the flow of asylum seekers across the Mediterranean that he has said will be at the center of his agenda when Austria takes over the rotating European Union presidency Sunday.
Kurz has found allies for his vision in the populist new Italian government, which has blocked migrant rescue ships from coming into port, and within the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian branch of Merkel’s conservative coalition.
This month, he stood side by side with German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer — a CSU heavyweight — to warn against another “catastrophe.” That was a pointed reference to Merkel’s decision to open German borders — at Austria’s quiet urging — to people fleeing war, oppression and poverty starting in 2015. Kurz was foreign minister at the time.
Although numbers are dramatically down since then, with flows shifting from the western Balkans to the far more treacherous central Mediterranean, Kurz said an “axis of the willing” from Berlin to Vienna to Rome would work together to prevent a recurrence.
Awkwardly, Merkel is not part of that alliance. Instead, she balked at Seehofer’s plan to start turning back asylum seekers at the border. Thus began a showdown that could tear her government apart.
To avoid that fate, she will need concessions from her fellow European leaders — Kurz included — at an E.U. summit on Thursday and Friday.
But Kurz’s words and actions suggest he’s more interested in emboldening the German rebels than in bailing out Merkel. Even as she was trying to keep her government together last week, Kurz was hosting a high-profile joint cabinet meeting with the CSU.
On Tuesday, his government carried out border patrol training exercises to prove it could block asylum seekers from entering the country. Kurz told the German tabloid Bild that the border measures would kick in if Seehofer limits access to Germany — a move the chancellor described as welcome because it “could trigger a domino effect which will deter illegal migration.”
Merkel has said she is determined to avoid such a chaotic outcome — just as she was in the spring of 2016 when Kurz, as foreign minister, preempted her efforts to reach a Europe-wide strategy by closing Austria’s borders along the western Balkan migration route, setting off a chain reaction that stranded people farther down the trail.
Now as then, Merkel has struggled to achieve consensus. Without progress at this week’s European summit, Seehofer has said he will unilaterally implement the border controls. That would force Merkel to either
fire him or back down. Either way, it could imperil her grip on power.
Members of Kurz’s party say destabilizing Merkel is not their goal. But they also note with pride that the German leader has been forced to shift in her Austrian counterpart’s direction — including on the question of requiring asylum seekers to make their claims at centers in North Africa rather than in Europe.
“When Kurz started to talk about camps outside the E.U., she was not positive about it. But now she sounds quite different,” said Reinhold Lopatka, a Kurz ally in parliament. “It’s essential for her to reach agreement, and she knows it.”
Kurz, Lopatka said, is well aware that he cannot be the dominant leader in Europe, given Austria’s small stature relative to Germany’s and France’s. But he also said Kurz sees himself as one among a new generation of leaders who are putting their stamp on the continent and ending reflexive German dominance.
“For years, if you wanted to call Europe, you had to call Merkel,” he said. “Now there’s been a change.”
Luisa Beck in Berlin contributed to this report.
Angela Merkel is becoming Europe’s weakest link
As Merkel holds on precariously, Trump tweets Germans ‘are turning against their leadership’ on migration
Migrants say these mass shelters are like prisons. Germany wants to build more.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408179
|
__label__wiki
| 0.988163
| 0.988163
|
Rosenstein defends Mueller as GOP lawmakers raise questions of bias in Russia probe
By Matt Zapotosky and
Matt Zapotosky
National security reporter covering the Justice Department
Devlin Barrett
Reporter focusing on national security and law enforcement
Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein defended special counsel Robert S. Mueller III in the face of critical questioning Wednesday from the House Judiciary Committee about whether bias might have infected Mueller's investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Rosenstein said that he had not seen good cause to fire Mueller, and that although some members of the special counsel team had political views, that did not necessarily taint their work. He disputed that the probe is a "witch hunt," as President Trump has alleged.
"We recognize we have employees with political opinions. It's our responsibility to make sure those opinions do not influence their actions,'' Rosenstein said. "I believe that Director Mueller understands that, and he is running his office appropriately."
Rosenstein also said he and Mueller talked about what his office was allowed to investigate and what it was not, though he declined to answer directly whether he had granted Mueller permission to expand his mandate.
"It's a clarification in most cases," Rosenstein said. Asked later whether Trump — who has in the past expressed concern about the probe's scope — had ever talked with him about removing Mueller, Rosenstein responded, "I am not going to be discussing my communications with the president, but I can tell you that nobody has communicated to me a desire to remove Robert Mueller."
Rosenstein has a supervisory role over Mueller.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein speaks during a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday in Washington. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
The deputy attorney general's appearance, which lasted a little less than five hours, came the morning after text messages between two senior FBI officials that disparaged Trump and expressed fear that he might win were turned over to lawmakers. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) referred to the texts in his opening statement, saying they were "deeply troubling to all citizens who expect a system of blind and equal justice."
"Department of Justice investigations must not be tainted by individuals imposing their own political prejudices," Goodlatte said.
[Republicans hammer Mueller, FBI as Russia investigation intensifies]
The officials who exchanged the messages — senior FBI agent Peter Strzok and senior FBI lawyer Lisa Page — once worked for Mueller's team and were key players in a prior investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. Mueller is investigating whether the Trump campaign and the Kremlin coordinated to influence the 2016 election and already has charged or negotiated plea deals with four people, including former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Even before the messages were revealed, some Republicans had accused Mueller's team of harboring inappropriate bias, pointing to political contributions by several members to Clinton or other Democrats. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) read each of the donations to Rosenstein Wednesday, asking how he could "with a straight face" say they were impartial.
The texts — which Rosenstein said he and Mueller found out about from the Justice Department's inspector general on July 27 — offered new ammunition. Even Rosenstein conceded, "I agree that the text messages raise concern."
One of the earliest messages, from 2015, shows Strzok calling Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), Clinton's rival for the Democratic nomination, "an idiot like Trump. Figure they cancel each other out.'' On March 4, 2016, Page texted, "God, Trump is a loathsome human," to which Strzok replied, "Yet he may win."
"This is not just political opinions. This is disgusting, unaccountable political bias, and there's just no way this could not affect a person's work," said Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.), as he read out some of the texts. "Were you aware," he asked Rosenstein, "just how biased Mr. Strzok was?" Rosenstein said he was not.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) read an August 2016 text in which Strzok appeared to refer to a meeting in FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe's office and commented, "I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andy's office — that there's no way he gets elected — but I'm afraid we can't take that risk."
"This is unbelievable. This is what a lot of Americans are believing right now, and I certainly do: That the Comey FBI and the Obama Justice Department worked with one campaign to go after the other campaign," Jordan said, referencing James B. Comey, the FBI director whom Trump fired in May.
Said Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Tex.): "If you set out to create an appearance of bias or prejudice or impropriety or conflict of interest, the only way you could do a better job of doing it would be to pick this team and have them wear their 'I'm with her' T-shirts to work every day." "I'm with her" was a slogan of the Clinton campaign.
Democrats, meanwhile, stood up for Mueller, who is a registered Republican.
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) asked Rosenstein to detail why he had chosen Mueller for the job, and after detailing Mueller's credentials, Rosenstein remarked, "I believe he was an ideal choice for this task."
As Cohen then launched his own defense of Mueller, declaring "Everybody respects this man in this country," Gohmert quickly interjected: "I don't."
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said there was nothing wrong with the officials expressing "private political views via private text messages." Strzok, in particular, "did not say anything about Donald Trump that the majority of Americans weren't also thinking at the same time," he said.
Strzok was removed from Mueller's team in late July when his bosses found out about the texts. Page left two weeks earlier for what officials have said were unrelated reasons. Rosenstein said Mueller had taken appropriate action in taking Strzok off the team.
Republicans also have long complained about the Clinton investigation's conclusion, when Comey recommended that she not be charged even as he criticized her and her aides' use of the private server. Goodlatte said the Strzok-Page texts "prove what we all suspected — high-ranking FBI officials involved in the Clinton investigation were personally invested in the outcome of the election and clearly let their strong political opinions cloud their professional judgment."
Goodlatte has called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to appoint a second special counsel to investigate a host of Clinton-related matters, and Sessions indicated in a response last month that he had directed senior prosecutors to explore some of the topics and report back to him. Nadler said that request was "grossly misguided."
Sessions has recused himself from the case because of his work on the Trump campaign.
The Justice Department Inspector General's Office has said its investigators are looking into the handling of the Clinton email investigation, as well as the texts between Strzok and Page. Rosenstein said he was hopeful the inspector general would conclude his investigation "in the next couple months," adding, "When we get those results, we'll take appropriate action."
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0069.json.gz/line1408180
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.