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Mauro Icardi: The Argentinian Rebel Who Will Watch the World Cup from Home
Richard FitzpatrickSpecial to Bleacher ReportMay 30, 2018
Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images
Mauro Icardi scores goals. The Argentinian striker, who turned 25 in February, is a goalscoring machine. He's twice been top scorer in Serie A, including this season in which his 29 goals in 34 games—and his record for having the best conversion rate in Europe's top five leagues, according to WhoScored.com—helped fire his club Inter Milan into next season's UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2012.
At his current rate of scoring—and if Inter Milan can fend off advances from Chelsea for his signature, as reported by Cadena Ser and Il Messaggero (h/t TalkSport)—Icardi is going to surpass compatriots Gabriel Batistuta and Hernan Crespo as the leading Argentinian scorer in the history of Serie A. So why isn't he part of Argentina's 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia?
"It's a big sadness that the great goalscorer of Italian football will not be in the World Cup," Matias Bustos Milla, a journalist with Argentinian newspaper Clarin, told B/R. "The case of Icardi is curious. For several years, Argentinian football fans have been asking about the big jewel: Why was he not been selected in the national team? There have been various trainers who didn't invite him onto their squads—Alejandro Sabella, Tata Martino, Edgardo Bauza."
This time it has been the turn of Jorge Sampaoli, who initially included Icardi in his preliminary 35-man squad for the tournament, to discard him. Sampaoli's squad is top heavy with centre-forwards; Manchester City's Kun Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain from Juventus have been chosen ahead of Icardi. The Inter Icardi has also missed chances to shine.
Sampaoli called up Icardi for crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying games last year. In three matches, including two starts against Venezuela and Uruguay, Icardi failed to score. "Higuain is criticised in Argentina for his scoring record so when Icardi arrived—playing in his position—he got his opportunity," says Pablo Lisotto, a journalist with Argentinian newspaper La Nacion, "but Icardi, in the few chances he got, he couldn't score goals either."
Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images
The reasons why Icardi has been left out in the cold are not all football-related, though.
"Icardi was 22 years old when he was made captain of Inter," says Milan-based David Schiavone, editor of Forza Italian Football. "It shows you the standing Inter have him at—to hand him the captaincy at such a young age. He enjoys being the target of fans' ire. He's the guy opposition fans will go after, and he's had two or three run-ins with Inter's 'ultras' before. He's a prickly guy. If he doesn't get on with people he's not one to shy away from confrontation."
It's unusual for a longstanding club captain to be so unpopular with his own hardcore group of fans. In a league game against Cagliari in October 2016, Inter's fans cheered when he missed a penalty. After a 3-1 defeat to Sassuolo in February 2015, an Inter ultra threw Icardi's jersey back at him after he tried to give it to a young fan, sparking a row between the player and fans, per Icardi's autobiography, Always Ahead: My Secret Story (h/t the Guardian).
Icardi wrote with schoolyard bravado about how he was oblivious to alleged fears from the club's directors for his personal safety in case some ultras surfaced at his house looking for retribution, maintaining he grew up in one of South America's toughest neighbourhoods. "How many of them are there?" he wrote. "Fifty? One hundred? Two hundred? OK. Record my message and let them hear it. I will bring 100 criminals from Argentina who will kill them on the spot." Inter's most passionate fans responded to the claims made in the book by issuing a statement, dismissing Icardi as a "clown," per BBC.
Icardi's love life also has all the ingredients of a telenovela, the name given to mawkish South American TV soap operas. He is married to Wanda Nara, an Argentinian TV celebrity and the ex-wife of Icardi's former team-mate at Sampdoria, Maxi Lopez.
In November 2013, Lopez and Nara ended a five-year marriage, according to a statement she released on Twitter (h/t La Gazetta dello Sport); a few days later, Icardi and Nara exchanged messages on Twitter—one of several social media forums in which they publicise their lives—with the hashtag #Quindicina, apparently a reference to the 15 times they had sex during a marathon 28-hour tryst in Argentina, per speculation on Ciudad Magazine, an Argentinian television station.
In May 2014, Icardi married Nara. According to Icardi's autobiography, she began flirting with him while she was still married to Lopez, inviting Icardi, for example, to cruise on a yacht with herself, Lopez and another Argentinian player, Gonzalo Bergessio, and his wife to the Aeolian Islands in September 2013.
Nara maintains her love affair with Icardi didn't begin, however, until after her divorce. In her divorce case—in which magistrates ruled in her favour—she accused Lopez of having several extra-marital affairs, including having sex with their au pair, Marianna, while Nara slept in another room with their children, per Chi, a weekly Italian gossip magazine (h/t La Gazetta dello Sport).
In April 2014, a month before Icardi's marriage to Nara, Icardi faced off against Lopez in a Sampdoria vs. Inter Milan Serie A game, which was dubbed "the Wanda derby." In the run-up to the match, Lopez complained in a television interview with Sky Sport (h/t Goal) about Icardi's habit of using Lopez's three sons as part of his social media offerings: "I can understand that, being a public figure, he publishes photos, but I'm not comfortable with my kids being in those photos."
Icardi responded by criticising Lopez on Twitter for being an absent father who neglects to visit his kids, and a few hours later posted a photo of himself dozing while cuddling one of Lopez's sleeping sons. In "the Wanda derby" four days later, Lopez refused to shake Icardi's hand before the game.
Icardi's relationship with his wife Wanda Nara has sparked dramaPier Marco Tacca/Getty Images
Inter Milan won 4-0. Icardi scored twice; Lopez missed a penalty. Two months later Icardi got a tattoo of the three sons' names on his arm, which he unveiled in a tweeted photograph, MailOnline.
Icardi—who now has two daughters with Nara—has become notorious for his role in the love triangle. His name has become a byword for marital treachery in Argentina. "When [the marriage broke up] most people were angry with Icardi. They sided with Maxi Lopez," says Bustos Milla. "But Icardi and Nara have stayed together so people have come to understand that human relationships work that way. But in the world of football, Icardi is still marked with that scandal. Actually, in Argentina, what Icardi did became a verb. When there is a betrayal between friends and a lover, it's called 'icardiar'—it means 'to steal the girlfriend of a friend.' It was a complicated situation at the beginning."
Diego Maradona has branded Icardi "a traitor," and when former Argentina national coach Tata Martino was asked to explain why he had omitted Icardi from his Copa America squad in May 2016, he put it in moral terms: "Regarding the subject of Icardi, we all know what is right and what is wrong," per Telam news agency (h/t ESPN FC).
Lopez denied that Messi—who he played alongside at Barcelona early in the latter's career—and Javier Mascherano, who won a league title with Lopez at River Plate in 2004, vetoed Icardi's inclusion in national team squads, per Radio La Red (h/t Goal).
Football coaches have emotional intelligence, however. Icardi's bullish personality—which is played out on social media channels with a wife who acts as his agent and has had a chequered, much-publicised sex life—is different to the low-key social lives of Messi and Mascherano.
"Some people say that Messi and Icardi don't have a good relationship, and that Icardi's high profile in social media and Instagram is [annoying], but this is only conjecture. There is no evidence that Icardi isn't going to the World Cup because of Messi," says Lisotto. It could be unsettling, though, to have Icardi in camp for the long, idle weeks of a World Cup tournament. The world may well have to wait until Qatar in 2022 to see him shine in the competition.
"A lot of people in Argentina think Icardi should be in the team instead of Higuain," says Bustos Milla. "These people don't love Icardi or think he is the best but they definitely prefer him over Higuain. There is debate. But without a doubt Icardi should be the next No. 9 of the national team after this World Cup. He is the future.
"We have this idea about Icardi—that he is a rebel. Like Maradona or Che Guevara, he's a guy who doesn't obey any rules, but this is exactly what makes them strong. Probably if Icardi respected rules he wouldn't be the player he is. Like a Mario Balotelli or a Zlatan Ibrahimovic, guys who are rebels with big egos and strong personalities. For Argentinians, we don't like rebels at the beginning, but by the end they conquer us. We end up seduced by them. We like rebels like Icardi in the end."
Follow Richard on Twitter: @Richard_Fitz
Coutinho's Agent: Liverpool Return Would Be 'Very Difficult'
Gill Clark
Pogba, Neymar, Bale and Ozil Facing Make-or-Break Seasons
via ESPN.com
Reports: Neymar Tells PSG Again He Wants to Leave
First face-to-face meeting
EXTRA TIME: South Africa pays tribute to the late Marc Batchelor
via Goal
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Ruth’s Legacy
On August 23, 2016 August 18, 2016 By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens1 Comment
Beyond the Book of Ruth, Part 2
To read Part 1, click here.
17So Ruth gathered barley there all day, and when she beat out the grain that evening, it filled an entire basket. 18 She carried it back into town and showed it to her mother-in-law. Ruth also gave her the roasted grain that was left over from her meal. (The Book of Ruth, verses 17-18)
As soon as I read that Ruth had leftovers from the dinner provided by Boaz, I knew she’d share them with Naomi. This tells a lot about Ruth’s character. She didn’t hoard the leftovers, she took them home to her mother-in-law.
When Ruth told Naomi about her day, Naomi pronounced a blessing over Boaz. “He is one of our family’s redeemers,” she told Ruth. What did this mean? It meant that he was a near kinsman of Elimelech. Through his acts of kindness, Boaz was also showing respect for the dead.
I believe this is when Naomi began to form a plan. We know she trusted in Jehovah, so we’ll assume she prayed for direction. When the barley harvest was coming to an end, she gave some very specific instructions to her daughter-in-law:
“Tonight he [Boaz] will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.” –Ruth 3:2-4
After a grain harvest, the men “winnowed” the grain, which separated the grain from the stalk and chaff (the breeze or wind blew away the lighter outer covering of the grain). Then they must guard the grain until morning when it would be bagged or otherwise stored. Of course, after all their labor, they celebrated by “eating and drinking.”
Because Ruth trusted Naomi, she obeyed her. This obedience placed Ruth in a precarious position, but Naomi knew Boaz was a man of integrity, so she didn’t worry. While Boaz slept, Ruth “uncovered his feet, and lay down.” He woke around midnight and became alarmed when he found a woman lying there. He was confused. Had he drunk that much?
When she identified herself, and spoke as Naomi had instructed, Boaz knew what was happening. In a way accepted by the customs of their time, she’d proposed to Boaz. He was impressed. You see, Boaz was not a young man. We know this because he says in verse 10, “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before [in following Naomi to Bethlehem], for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor.”
So if you were always thinking Boaz was a young hunk, sorry to destroy your fantasy. He was probably less like a Chris Hemsworth, more of a Harrison Ford. Oh well. Older guys have value, too. Maturity counts for something. Established, reliable. A man who is able to provide for both Ruth and Naomi. Hey, he was a landowner with servants. She could do worse.
Men removed a shoe to signify an agreement.
Even though Boaz wanted to marry Ruth, there was a nearer kinsman. So he promised to have a word with that guy. Naomi had confidence that Boaz would take care of everything that very day.
And that’s exactly what he did. He spoke to the man who was a closer relation of Elimelech’s. This man was definitely interested in the land belonging to Naomi, but he was unwilling to take on the widow of Mahlon (Ruth), since it would threaten his own children’s inheritance (according to Levitical law). Boaz was unencumbered by such concerns. There is no mention that he had a wife and/or family. So he was willing to take them in, with full knowledge that his first offspring would be considered the child of his deceased kinsman, Mahlon, son of Elimelech.
The happy ending: Boaz marries Ruth. He gets the property and the mother-in-law as well. And when the time came, a son was born to Boaz and Ruth.
“Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. 17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!”–Ruth 4:16-17
They named the baby Obed. Obed grew up and had a son named Jesse, who grew up and had many sons. The last of those was named David. He was a shepherd who was later anointed as king by the prophet Samuel. David would become known as one of the greatest kings of Israel, and he and his great-grandmother Ruth would always be included in the lineage of Jesus.
A little bit of trivia
Mahlon, Ruth’s first husband, was Naomi’s second son. His name means “man of weakness or sickly”. If he was given this name at birth, he must have always been weak. His older brother’s name, Chilion (pronounced Killy-on) literally means “wasting away” –so this gives a little insight into Naomi’s early life. Her sons were not hale and hearty. She may have realized they weren’t going to grow old, so took wives for them early, hoping to have grandchildren to inherit Elimelech’s property.
Elimelech had also died early. Perhaps if the sons had produced children, they would’ve inherited the weakness of their fathers.
(All scriptures from the New Living Translation, via biblegateway.com)
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← Amateurism has fallen down and it can’t get up.
Half a loaf is better than one. →
Always Chantastic
What sold Georgia Tech’s latest commit on playing for the Jackets? Why, moral victory.
Ratliffe’s heart was stolen when he attended his first Georgia Tech game, last November’s thriller against archrival UGA. “When I went to the Georgia-Georgia Tech game, I just fell in love that night. To me, the atmosphere was like an SEC game. I fell in love with it. They took it to double overtime. If you can go double overtime with Georgia, you can win against anybody. They were up 20-0 at the end of the third quarter. I fell in love with Georgia Tech that night, and wanted to come back and see the campus this spring.”
I hate to break it to you, kid, but the only reason you sensed an SEC-like atmosphere at that game was because 40% of the stadium was decked out in red and black. Get back to us after your first home game against Duke.
Filed under Georgia Tech Football
18 responses to “Always Chantastic”
If you can go double overtime with Georgia, you can win against anybody.
Well, except, you know, Georgia. But have fun, kid.
It sounds like some nerd pulled a Jedi mind trick on him.
I thought they were all so much smarter than us. I doubt he’s going to be in a degree program that includes calculus.
If he can’t keep up with the scoreboard he probably ain’t a math guy. Odd that kids not being able to count are playing for Tech.
If you can go double overtime with Georgia, you can win against anybody. They were up 20-0 at the end of the third quarter.
Techs game day experience is about as close to a SEC atmosphere as Brigham Young’s party scene is close to Arizona State’s.
No, its much closer than that. Google Maps says it’s about 60 miles away to the east.
81Dog
Bless his heart.
If you want to take an unrealistic view of the prosepects of your school’s football team, where every “quality loss” is a harbinger of championships just around the corner, you’re at Georgia Tech! YOU CAN DO THAT!!!!
I truly don’t know whether to feel sorry for this kid, or laugh….
oh, go ahead. Laugh.
T. Kyle King
Also in the “unable to count” department, Georgia Tech wasn’t up, 20-0, at the end of the third quarter; Georgia Tech was up, 20-0, near the end of the second quarter. Georgia scored just before halftime, and had cut the deficit to 20-17 by the end of the third quarter.
But, hey, if Reggie Ball couldn’t distinguish between three and four, why should we expect the next great Yellow Jacket superstar to be able to distinguish between two and three?
Kyle, I think it’s pretty obvious he was so dazzled by the crowd that he lost track of the score. 😉
yeah, I’ve seen this kid before….he’s the one on the right.
He also didn’t realize so many attractive women went to Georgia Tech, and apparently they wear red on game day for some reason.
I used to think that. My youngest son dates a Chem Engineer from Tech. She is very attractive. My wife and I joke about Georgia guys cherry picking the girls at Tech. Poor nerds. They don’t stand a chance. 😉
And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.
They don’t stand a chance, indeed.
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Arts & Humanities /
Early Medieval History /
Trees in the Religions of Early Medieval England
Author: Bintley, Michael
Publisher: BOYDELL & BREWER
Quick overview the abundance of vegetative symbolism found in the Christian tradition. Drawing on sources from archaeology and written texts, th
Trees were of fundamental importance in Anglo-Saxon material culture - but they were also a powerful presence in Anglo-Saxon religion before and after the introduction of Christianity. This book shows that they remained prominent in early English Christianity, and indeed that they may have played a crucial role in mediating the transition between ancient beliefs and the new faith. It argues that certain characteristics of sacred trees in England can be determined from insular contexts alone, independent of comparative evidence from culturally related peoples. This nevertheless suggests the existence of traditions comparable to those found in Scandinavia and Germany. Tree symbolism helped early English Christians to understand how the beliefs of their ancestors about trees, posts, and pillars paralleled the appearance of similar objects in the Old Testament. In this way, the religious symbols of their forebears were aligned with precursors to the cross in Scripture. Literary evidence from England and Scandinavia similarly indicates a shared tradition of associations between the bodies of humans, trees, and other plant-life. Though potentially ancient, these ideas flourished amongst of humans, trees, and other plant-life. Though potentially ancient, these ideas flourished amongst the abundance of vegetative symbolism found in the Christian tradition.
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Our goal is to design, test, and implement evidence-based practices that will increase both the number of people with disabilities who participate in the labour market, as well as the quality of participation. Quality participation can include ensuring that people’s skills and abilities are utilized to their full potential, that leadership skills are cultivated, and that contributions are valued and respected.
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Dr. Catherine Connelly is a Canada Research Chair and Professor of Organizational Behaviour, at McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business. Her research focuses on knowledge hiding...
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Dr. Silvia Bonaccio is the Ian Telfer Professor of Workplace Psychology at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa and the new Chair of the Canadian Society for Industrial...
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Dr. Normand Boucher is a Sociologist and political science researcher at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation in Social Integration (CIRRIS). His research interests...
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Dr. Sandy Fisher is an Associate Professor of Consumer & Organizational Studies in the School of Business at Clarkson University. Her current research interests focus on two main themes...
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Dr. Sue Forwell is an Associate Professor and the Department Head of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Forwell’s research interests lie in...
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Dr. Ian R. Gellatly is a Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management within the Alberta School of Business at the University of Alberta. Ian’s research looks at...
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Dr. Monique Gignac is an Associate Scientific Director and a Senior Scientist with the Institute for Work and Health, an Affiliate Scientist with the Toronto Western Research Institute and an...
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Dr. Arif Jetha is a Mustard Fellow at the Institute for Work and Health and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. His program of research...
Keith Rashid
Keith Rashid is National Manager at March of Dimes Canada -Recreation, Assistive Travel and Transportation. Upon completion of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Rights and Equity, his focus...
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Dr. Sean Tucker is an Associate Professor of Human Resource Management in the Centre for Management Development, Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Regina. His primary area of...
Monica Winkler
Monica is the Senior Administrator of the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work. Her expertise is in the employment of persons with disabilities (all disabilities) – from job-seeker to...
Job Carving
This study explores the process of job carving (or job crafting) as a contributor to the quality of employment experiences for
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Alfred J. Speak Scholar Heads to Disney World
When Hanover Park High School senior Gina Santora put her extracurricular activities on hold to provide long-term care to a student with Cerebral Palsy, it was not only a reflection of her good character and the lessons she learned in a family that regularly cared for family members in need, but also a window into the mind of a young woman positively determined to achieve her dream of a college education.
Despite three of her grandparents experiencing illnesses and their reliance on her father, a firefighter in Montclair, Gina was unbowed.
“Our family situation has inspired me to want nothing more than to work as hard as my parents have always worked, attend the best university for culinary arts, and be the best pastry chef I can be,” Gina wrote in her scholarship application.
The Community Foundation of New Jersey’s scholarship committee ultimately selected Gina as a recipient of the Alfred J. Speak Scholarship.
Now a student at Johnson & Wales University where she is majoring in Baking & Pastry Arts, Gina proved the wisdom of that decision. She repeatedly makes the Dean’s list, passed her Food Safety and Sanitation State exam, and was recently chosen from hundreds of applicants to participate in an internship at Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, Florida.
As part of the internship, Gina worked twelve-hour days, making cakes and cupcakes for all the restaurants within the Contemporary Hotel resort. The chefs were so struck by Gina’s strong work ethic and excellence in the kitchen that they extended her internship, which was originally supposed to end in May 2018, through the rest of the summer.
Back at Johnson & Wales for the fall semester of her junior year, Gina expected two more years of challenging courses and new experiences. But that’s when the Walt Disney World Resorts called again. They asked Gina if she was able to graduate early, in which case they would welcome her back to the resort’s kitchen.
Working with her academic counselor, Gina found a way to balance her coursework and graduate a full year earlier than planned. The Community Foundation of New Jersey was thrilled to hear the news and, after consulting with the scholarship review committee, elected to award the balance of Gina’s four-year scholarship.
“I am forever grateful to the Community Foundation of New Jersey for awarding me the Alfred J. Speak Scholarship,” said Gina. “It allowed me to pursue my dreams at J&W University. I made a promise when they chose me that I would not let them down and would make them proud of their decision. I am so happy I have been able to fulfill that promise.”
Click to learn more about scholarship funds at the Community Foundation of New Jersey.
Tags: Morris County, Scholarship Profiles, Scholarships
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Tag Archives: ICFP
Emergency Contraceptive Pills: The misunderstood savior for Pakistan?
Posted on February 2, 2016 by FarahnazZahidi
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/farahnaz-zahidi/emergency-contraceptive-p_b_9123750.html
02/01/2016 01:07 pm ET | Updated 10 hours ago
Farahnaz Zahidi Writer, editor, media trainer and communications expert.
It does not work by means of abortion, has no effect on future fertility, does not increase risk of diseases like cancer or stroke, and will not harm a fetus or cause birth defects if a woman already happens to be pregnant. Yet, while the conventional 21 to 28 day contraceptive pill has found a degree of acceptance in Pakistan and most developing countries, the ECP (Emergency Contraceptive Pill) continues to be shadowed by myths.
Most people still confuse it for something that terminates a potential pregnancy, and thus confuse it with abortion. The facts could not be further from the truth. It is ironic that in Pakistan a lot of people avoid the ECP thinking that it translates into an abortion. Out of the 2.4 million unwanted pregnancies in Pakistan in 2002, some 900,000 were terminated by induced abortions (Studies in Family Planning 2007). These unsafe abortions that often claim the woman’s life due to resulting complications can be avoided with the use of an ECP.
This method of contraception can be used after unprotected sex when another form of contraception is unavailable or has failed. It can be used to prevent pregnancy for up to 120 hours (five days) after. Again, it acts as a preemptive measure, and does not cause abortions. The sooner it is taken, the better is the efficacy.
Why choose ECPs in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, it is available over the counter and unlike many other countries where it is a pricey contraceptive choice, it is economical. And it is safe. What is needed, then, is a more aware understanding about this excellent option.
As concerned world leaders, philanthropists, media persons and health care persons came together for the fourth International Conference on Family Planningheld in Bali, Indonesia, from 25 to 28 January, 2016, the ECP was discussed in depth. For the world’s sixth most populous nation even if the registered number of Pakistani citizens is considered, which stands at 199,085,847 in July 2015, as per the CIA Fact book, understanding contraceptive methods is vital.
In Pakistan, many organizations and pharmaceuticals, including Green Star andMarie Stopes facilitate the availability of and understanding about the ECPs. A section on emergency contraception in the Manual of National Standards for Family Planning Services, a document developed by the Family Advancement for Life and Health (FALAH) project, includes the EC and related policy. While the document recognizes that there is a lack of awareness among health care providers regarding ECPs, it also mentions certain stipulations about when it should be used and who should prescribe or dispense it. The possibility of it being used without misconception or difficulty, then, depends on how aware both the users and the health care providers are.
Representatives of the International Consortium for Emergency Contraception (ICEC) shed light on the subject during the ICFP. In over 140 countries women can buy emergency contraception and the ECP is readily available over the counter in 60 countries including Pakistan.
When the ECP is the best choice – in rape and other cases
While using a regular, ongoing method is recommended as the most effective way to prevent a pregnancy, in certain cases the ECP is the better choice. In cases of rape, it makes perfect sense. In 2013, the 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women stated that all Member States must require first responders to include EC provision in post-rape care. The ECP, thus, needs to be included as a regular post-rape treatment.
But the usage of the ECP should not be limited to cases of rape. It is also ideal in cases where the couple may not have regular sexual activity.
Most importantly, it bails out the couple, and especially the woman, in case of an “accident”. If she decides that this might not be the best time to have a child, the pill empowers her to use that discretion.
It is a safe, economical and effective method of contraception. It has very few side-effects and can be used more than once with the consultation of a doctor but should not be used as a regular contraceptive. To gain maximum benefits, people need to know more about what is often called the morning after pill. Above all, it need not be discussed in hushed tones. Contraception is a careful choice and Pakistanis need to make informed decisions regarding FP. Better to be more informed about the ECP and be safe than sorry.
Posted in Health, Women and tagged contraception, Emergency contraceptive pills, Green Star, ICFP, ICFP 2016, ICFP2015, International Consortium for Emergency Contraception, Marie Stopes, Pakistan. Bookmark the permalink.
So who should talk to the 20-somethings about contraception?
Posted on January 30, 2016 by FarahnazZahidi
By Farahnaz Zahidi Published: January 27, 2016
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/31907/so-who-should-talk-to-the-20-somethings-about-contraception/
The world is realising that due to cultural norms, adolescents and young people often do not discuss contraception with their elders or family members. PHOTO AFP
They can curse in each other’s presence, break traffic signals in unison and smoke together, and they may at times act macho and show off their romantic escapades. But young men, like their elders, do not readily open up about reproductive issues. Parents or teachers do not discuss subjects of a sensitive nature with them. While it is the same with adolescent and young women, they are comparatively more open to confiding in each other and getting guidance.
But it seems the world may be in for a change in attitude. Young men, all over the world, are stepping up to take part in reproductive discourse.
One such young man is Hamza Moghari. He is still reeling from the long journey from Deir El-Balah in Gaza, Palestine, to Bali, Indonesia. And the reason why he is there is that he has the guts to talk to his peers about difficult subjects like contraceptive choices and reproductive health. Hamza has seen more violence and difficulty than he deserved to in his tender age of 22 years. Coming to the International Family Planning Conference (ICFP) 2016 is a dream come true for him.
“This is the first time I sat on an airplane. I nearly never came,” he says, sharing the long journey of how he first reached Jordan from his home in Gaza.
He explained that he was sent away and told to go back due to lack of a no objection document, but he stayed near the border and went back the next morning, and was finally let into Jordan from where he flew to Bali.
A tad bit shy by nature, he confesses that the most difficult subject to talk about with boys his age is sexuality. Yet it seems that the world is realising that due to cultural norms, adolescents and young people often do not discuss these issues with their elders or family members. With their own age group, if they feel safe enough, they can talk about the typically hushed topics too. Y-PEER, a youth network of young people from more than 700 non-profit organisations and government agencies in more than 50 countries initiated by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), uses an integrated approach to work with young people on subjects like gender, contraception and reproductive health. This year the thrust of all the discussions at ICFP was how to involve youth in the process. Half of the world’s population today, which is over 3.5 billion people, is under 30, mostly living in developing countries. They need guidance on these matters and silence may not be feasible anymore.
“If you’re not on the table you’re on the menu. How do we bring the youth on the table to talk about family planning?”
This question was put forth by Katja Iversen, CEO of Women Deliver, at the ICFP.
Pakistan is currently the world’s seventh most populous nation, according to the registered number of Pakistani, 199,085,847 in July 2015, as per the CIA Factbook. Contraception is thus an important subject that should be included in the nation’s narrative at all levels. In Pakistan too, this working via youth strategy has found a foothold.
One such initiative is Chanan Development Association (CDA). What started as a small theatre group is now an organisation that is youth-led and works for the youth.
Muhammad Shahzad, the executive director, has in tow young leaders wherever he goes. At the ICFP, too, he is watching out for and introducing proudly bright young people from Pakistan. One of them is 24-year-old Qaisar Roonjha, who says working with and for people his age is something he just has to do. His organisation, WANG (Welfare Association for Young Generation), is youth-led, and its primary focus is to struggle for a fairer society. Important buzz words like Youth Development, Women Empowerment, Mother and Child Health, Young Girls Education, Gender justice, Peace Promotion, Youth Development and livelihood security are all highlighted on the WANG website. From Lasbela in the perilous province of Balochistan, Qaisar has come a long way.
“I have met at least 40,000 young people all over Pakistan in the last five years,” he says with pride.
He shares that the toughest subject to tackle while talking to young people in Pakistan is gender equality.
“They still seem ready to discuss contraception. At least the married ones do. But seeing women as equal partners is difficult,” adds Shahzad.
Qaisar, whose video was selected for a competition held by organisers of the ICFP, attended the high profile conference in Bali as a moderator.
Ayesha Memon, an MBA student and youth leader from Hyderabad, also won the same recognition for her video, and addressed groups of interested activists and experts at the ICFP.
“Young people need to come out of their boxes; we should not assume things can’t change.”
Sharaf Boborakhimov is no novice at engaging with his peers on some of the trickiest subjects, which especially boys never openly talk about. Originally hailing from Tajikistan, he currently lives in Sofia, Bulgaria. This graduate in International Economy joined Y-Peer in 2011.
“What we do is provide safe spaces to youth where they can talk about sensitive subjects to people their own age. The peer-to-peer methodology works in tackling these subjects. We choose each word very carefully. We have to memorise manuals to know what to say and what not to and how to approach a subject.”
He has a close eye on the Syrian crisis, has Syrian friends, and has worked in Jordan closely with Syrian refugees who have made the Zaatari Camp their permanent home.
“We specially trained couples so that they could go back in the camps and train others. The refugees are just like any other couple. All they want is peace. They are depressed and frustrated no doubt. But in them I see a vision and a hope for a better tomorrow. They need guidance about contraception too.”
Theatre-based peer education, in Sharaf’s view is most effective for youth, whether they are refugees or not, the same strategy Chanan begun with.
“Since 2009, we have recruited some 50,000 young people for Y-Peer who work with us to educate their peers in important matters like sexual and reproductive health rights and also contraception,” Shahzad shares, adding that Pakistan was the first country in Asia Pacific that introduced UNFPA’s Y-Peer program in the region in 2009.
They are working with youth across 135 districts spread all over Pakistan including its toughest regions. In Pakistan, 65 per cent of the population is under 29, and 40 per cent fall into the even narrower age bracket of 10 to 24 years, says Shahzad.
“A big focus of our work is to engage with policymakers,” he says, sharing that Chanan was part of the National Task Force of 2009 for youth policy development, and is hosting the National Secretariat for Y-Peer in Pakistan.
For Hamza, the journey started by working for a local Palestinian organisation called Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association (PFPPA). He is studying to get a degree in nursing.
“There are two million people in Gaza. The blockade is continuing since two years. Aid and medical help is almost impossible. Unemployment in my people is 70 per cent; among the youth it is 55 per cent. The healthcare system is fragmented. Very few people are able to reach the government-run healthcare centres.”
“In shelters that he has worked in, two to three thousand people were staying in one school. That meant each classroom was housing at least 50 people. Men, women and children, all strangers for each other, crammed into one room. With no food and water at least for the initial days till help started trickling in. Do you think family planning is a priority for them on a hungry stomach?”
In difficult situations and at such a young age, to be taken seriously and sensitise people about contraception is an uphill task. But these young people have realised that their generation’s reproductive choices will shape future demographic trends. They are thus helping their peers make informed decisions.
Posted in Gender, Health and tagged adolescent health, Chanan, Family Planning, Family Planning in Pakistan, ICFP, ICFP 2016, PRB, Qaisar Roonjha, Sexual and reproductive health, sexual health, UNFPA, Y-Peer. Bookmark the permalink.
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Home > Economy > Business > Growing Interest in Puerto Rico’s Cruiseship Docks
Growing Interest in Puerto Rico’s Cruiseship Docks
By Rafelli González on December 21, 2018
Editor’s note: The following originally appeared in the Dec. 20, 2018 – Jan. 2, 2019, issue of Caribbean Business.
The 20- to 30-year public-private partnership (P3) that includes $360 million to $500 million in private capital investment and management of Puerto Rico’s cruiseship ports entered the final stage when Global Ports Holding, Puerto Rico Cruise Terminals Partners and San Juan Cruise Terminal Partners were announced as qualified consortiums for this full-concession agreement.
“Qualified bidders were notified and, on Nov. 30, were given access to the requests for proposal [RFPs]. It contains financial, technical and operational elements, among others. The RFP process lasts until March 2019,” said Ports Authority Director Anthony Maceira Zayas. Although he recognizes this concession will have a positive effect on the visitors’ economy, he could not provide an estimate of the economic impact they expect to obtain from this lucrative business.
“This figure will be known at the time of receiving the proposals. However, the estimated capital investment is over $300 million. This would be a combination of private investment and recovery funds,” said Maceira Zayas, who explained that he works hand in hand with the Central Office of Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience (known as COR3) to handle the arrival of millions of dollars to repair much of the Port’s system in Puerto Rico, which was battered after the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria.
(Courtesy)
“To better manage the maritime transportation system as a whole and make ports more attractive to maritime businesses and investors, maritime industry experts’ input indicates the need for consolidating ownership and oversight of the [island’s] nine main ports,” reads both the draft and final version of “Transformation & Innovation in the Wake of Devastation: An Economic & Disaster-Recovery Plan for Puerto Rico,” the document that seeks $906 million in federal funds to repair ports in San Juan, Peñuelas, Guánica and Fajardo.
“The people of Puerto Rico are wonderful, but the inept politicians are trying to use the massive and ridiculously high amounts from hurricane / disaster funding to pay off other obligations. The U.S. will NOT bail out long-outstanding and unpaid obligations with hurricane-relief money,” tweeted President Donald J. Trump on Oct. 23.
Days later, Axios reported that White House officials have told congressional appropriators and leadership that the U.S. president does not want to give Puerto Rico any more federal money for its recovery from Hurricane Maria. “This is because he claims, without evidence, that the island’s government is using federal disaster-relief money to pay off debt,” said the story that was published Nov. 11 by Jonathan Swan. Maceira Zayas did not want to comment directly about these public assertions during his interview with Caribbean Business.
“The process of requesting recovery funds is a continuous one that we are working through COR3 on a daily basis. In addition, a few weeks ago, the executive director [Omar Marrero] was in [Washington] D.C. with the director of the P.R. Federal Affairs Administration, …Carlos Mercader discussing [among other subjects] the issue with port facilities,” he replied.
Last September, Maceira Zayas assured that his public corporation was “working on a legal process and mathematical formula, so once the federal funds begin to be received, the private entity may be able to function as a grant manager.” This way private investment is reduced and Ports’ income from the concession to manage the piers and surrounding areas is greater.
“The detail of the formula is part of the RFP that for the moment is only available to participants,” said the Ports director, who could not be precise about the amount of money received from the federal government, if any.
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and President Donald Trump (Courtesy)
Redundancy from La Fortaleza?
Although the proposed P3 model is a full concession, which will provide the proponent that obtains the agreement absolute control over the cruiseship ports and their surroundings, the First Lady of Puerto Rico, Beatriz Rosselló, announced Oct. 5 a million-dollar investment to improve the appearance of the San Juan docks under La Fortaleza Es Para Ti program.
“We have one of the best tourist destinations in the Caribbean and, for the next high season, after the passage of Hurricane Maria, the dock area will be the launching point for tourism in Old San Juan. We are focused on improving the visitor experience and injecting life into the business. The lighting projects have already started thanks to an alliance with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and the Tourism Co.,” Rosselló explained in a press release.
Is this a process unlinked from the P3? Caribbean Business asked.
“It is not a detached process; quite the opposite. The renovation of our docks is a short-term solution that seeks to improve the first impression our tourists receive in what the [P3] is running. The works carried out by Ports are accounting for the [P3] process to avoid dislocations,” said Maceira Zayas, who could not say how much money has been invested in these improvements and to what effect, if any, this construction has had on the business model selected for the P3 project and its final value.
On Dec. 5, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Nevares announced that Puerto Rico was recognized by CNN Travel with the Critics Award for Cruises for the best base port in the United States.
“This award is evidence of the great effort made by the Ports Authority and the Tourism Co. to boost the tourism sector and the economy that comes from this industry,” said the chief executive, who forgot to mention his wife’s efforts to convert Old San Juan into “the door to Puerto Rico.”
Anthony Maceira ZayasBeatriz RossellóCNN TravelDonald J. TrumpFeatured StoriesFortaleza para TiGlobal Ports HoldingHurricane MariaLa FortalezaP3Puerto Rico Cruise TerminalsPuerto Rico Cruise Terminals PartnersPuerto Rico Ports AuthorityRicardo RossellóSan Juan Cruise Terminal Partners
Puerto Rico gov apologizes but says he won’t resign
Former heads of Puerto Rico Education Dept. and Health Insurance Administration arrested along with president of BDO
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Welcome to the ICRS Patient & Public Education Site
If you suffer from joint pain, you’re not alone. Each year, more than 50 million people visit their doctors because of joint pain — half of them with a damage of the articular cartilage.
On this website, you can find useful, updated information on specific cartilage-related conditions and possible treatments options, written by world-renowned experts in this field, helpful patient information to read and download, and other useful resources
The choice of procedures depends on the size and location of cartilage defect. Larger defects are typically treated with autologous chondrocyte transplantation, osteochondral allograft transplantation, or newer synthetic or natural scaffolds which may require open incisions. Smaller defects in specific locations may be treated with enhanced bone marrow stimulating techniques, autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), or osteochondral autograft transfer which may be completed through the arthroscope. There is also a chapter for conservative treatments options and rehabilitation after cartilage repair.
Intended Audience for this Website
People of all ages can suffer from cartilage complications, whether due to ‘wear and tear’ or injury. While the former is much more common in middle-aged patients, and even more so in women, injuries to the joints, such as trauma or accidents during active sports, can affect any age group or gender. Careers requiring repetitive or intense motion can increase the risk of developing cartilage problems, but there are several other risk factors, including age, weight and genetic predisposition.
What is Cartilage Repair?
On this website, we focus only on articular cartilage repair treatments, which means the restoration of damaged hyaline cartilage in the joints. Cartilage repair and regeneration is a treatment for joints that have damaged cartilage but are otherwise healthy. Typically, these procedures are recommended for cartilage damage or deterioration caused by:
Injury or trauma, including sports injuries or repetitive use of the joint Congenital abnormalities – abnormalities a person is born with (for instance misalignment) – that affect normal joint structure Hormonal or idiopathic disorders that affect bone and joint development, such as osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). There are several types of new and modern procedures for cartilage repair and regeneration techniques that are designed to heal the cartilage by filling the cartilage defect (pothole) with repair tissue.
What is not covered in this Website?
There are several types of bone and joint pain, each with many potential sources or etiologies. This site is not intended for people who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, avascular necrosis (AVN), and cancer within bones, osteoporosis and other inflammatory or autoimmune diseases.
To the Mäxi Foundation:
This website project would not have been possible without the substantial support of the Swiss “Mäxi Foundation”. The ICRS would like to express a deep gratitude for this very generous contribution to the International Cartilage Repair Society and the respective patient community, making it possible to provide updated information about cartilage damage and cartilage repair technologies free of charge to all interested persons.
To the Authors & Contributors:
The following world-renowned experts in cartilage repair & cartilage research have contributed to the extensive content of this website: Stephen Abelow (USA), William Bugbee (USA), Susan Chubinskaya (USA), Brian Cole (USA), Stefano Della Villa (IT), Chris Erggelet (CH), Jack Farr (USA), Ralph Gambardella (USA), Michael Gerhardt (USA), Wayne Gersoff (USA), Alan Getgood (CA), Alberto Gobbi (IT), Laszlo Hangody (HU), Oliver Kessler (CH), Elizaveta Kon (IT), Jos Malda (NL), Bert Mandelbaum (USA), Tom Minas (USA), Kai Mithoefer (USA), Stefan Nehrer (AT), Lars Peterson (SE), Scott Gillogly (USA), Holly Silvers (USA), Jason Theodosakis (USA) and Kenneth Zaslav (USA)
To anyone else who contributed to this important project
ICRS Office Staff, Medical Writers, Committees, Illustrators and Web Developers, etc.
These terms of use, together with our Privacy Policy collectively, these “Terms of Use”, governs access to and any use of the website cartilage.org and any sub-sites (the “Website“), including any content, functionality and services offered on or through the Website. By using the Website or by clicking to accept or agree to the Terms of Use when that option is made available, visitors of the Website accept and agree to bound and abide by the Terms of Use on behalf of all users of the respective computer. Visitors who do not agree with these Terms of Use must not access or use the Website.
International Cartilage Repair Society (“ICRS”) (“we” or “us”) may revise and update these Terms of Use from time to time in our sole discretion. All changes are effective immediately when we post them. Your continued use of the Website following the posting of revised Terms of Use means that you accept and agree to the changes. You are expected to check this page from time to time so that you are aware of any changes, as they are binding on you.
The information on the Website is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any cartilage related issues. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding your medical condition.
This privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”), together with the Terms of Use for the patient website section, applies to any use of the website cartilage.org and any sub-sites (the “Website”), including any content, functionality and services offered on or through the Website. By using the Website or by clicking to accept or agree to the Terms of Use when that option is made available, visitors of the Website accept and agree on behalf of all users of the respective computer to be bound and abide by the Terms of Use and this Privacy Policy. Visitors who do not agree with the Terms of Use and this Privacy Policy must not access or use the Website.
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How do I know if I have a Cartilage Problem? (Imaging of Cartilage Injuries)
Welcome to your Joint
Patellofemoral Pain
Meniscus Transplant
Diagnosis and Treatment of Knee Disorders
Diagnosis & Treatment of Shoulder Disorders
Diagnosis and Treatment of Hip Disorders
Diagnosis & Treatment of Ankle Disorders
Other Cartilaginous Parts of the Body
Hyaluronic Acid / Viscosupplementation
What is my Activity Level like after Cartilage Repair?
Find Doctor
Patient Success Stories
Patient Discussion Forum
Understand Surgery
What is Cartilage?
Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC®)
Find a specialist in your area
Medical Devices and Techniques
Damage to joint (articular) cartilage (known as chondral lesions), or damage to both the cartilage and the underlying bone (known as osteochondral lesions), does not repair itself spontaneously and results in joint pain and poor function.
Such damage, which is common after trauma, if left untreated can lead to osteoarthritis. The knee is the most commonly affected joint. Patients aged over 60 years with osteoarthritis are more likely to have total knee replacement. However, younger patients face a problem, as metallic resurfacing has a limited lifespan and in young patients invasive revision surgery is often needed.
Techniques that promote regeneration of the native hyaline cartilage are therefore extremely attractive, as they offer the possibility of both repairing the tissue and allowing younger patients to return to their previous activities. One such technique is autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI).
ACI is a technique for regenerating hyaline cartilage in a diseased or damaged area of a joint through the implantation of cartilage cells. The technique has been used extensively since it was introduced in the 1980s. It has achieved excellent long term results, both in terms of cartilage repair and helping patients returning to previous activity levels.
ACI is recommended for younger patients who have symptoms of joint pain and swelling, related to a chondral articular lesion.
This article is intended for anyone suffering from damage to their articular cartilage and their families who would like to find out about autologous chondrocyte implantation, as well as anyone interested in cartilage problems.
What is Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI)?
In patients undergoing ACI, the surgeon performs an initial procedure (arthroscopy), in which small pieces of cartilage, including cartilage cells (chondrocytes), are harvested from a non-weight-bearing area of the joint. The cartilage pieces are sent to a laboratory, where the cells are isolated and cultured (multiplied) for 3–5 weeks to obtain sufficient number of cells (usually between 5 and 10 million cells).
The patient then undergoes a second operation. The surgeon first prepares and smoothens the damaged area, covers it with a membrane, similar to a patch, and then injects the chondrocytes that have been grown in the laboratory underneath the membrane. Nowadays it is also possible to use innovative biomaterials where the autologous chondrocytes can be seeded before surgery and this cell-based “scaffold” can be implanted onto the cartilage lesion site.
The cells then grow and mature in the joint, and gradually replace the damaged area with living, healthy cartilage.
ACI can be used in any joint that has hyaline cartilage. While the vast majority (90%) of operations are carried out in the knee, ACI is also performed in the ankle. Furthermore, cartilage disease or damage in joints such as the hip (in patients with isolated lesions), shoulder, elbow and the big toe may be treated successfully with ACI.
After the procedure, patients undergo a rehabilitation programme, and each hospital may have their own programme. Typically, rehabilitation will begin with motion training, including partial weight-bearing and continuous passive motion (CPM), in which a device keeps the joint in motion without assistance. This lasts for approximately 10–12 weeks. During these first 3 months, patients gradually increase the weight on their operated joint until full weight bearing is achieved. This is important for the proper nutrition of the cells.
Over the past 25 years, we have progressed from performing surgery in small areas of diseased or damaged cartilage (lesions) to surgery for multiple lesions in one knee (two to five lesions per procedure) and lesions in both the femur and tibia.
ACI is also a very good option for children, or paediatric patients, as an artificial body part (prosthesis) should be avoided for a child or young adult. Young patients may develop osteoarthritis if they do not get treatment. For a child aged 13 years or older who has osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), ACI is an excellent option for restoring bone and cartilage, alongside the use of osteochondral grafts. However, it depends on the stage of the disease.
ACI is an excellent option for top athletes providing they are willing and able to stay away from intensive training and competition for 9–12 months. This is particularly relevant if the athlete is approaching the end of his or her career and they want a good quality of life afterwards.
More widely, ACI has opened up opportunities for joint resurfacing, with scientists and leading companies involved in the development of biomaterials. This can support the cartilage cells (chondrocytes) after the initial procedure, as well as during the rehabilitation process to get patients active and back to work earlier.
Overall, ACI has the best outcomes in patients who have not previously had surgery to the bone, and in young patients.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI)?
What are the advantages of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI)?
The main advantage of ACI is that it is the first treatment to be developed that gets close to achieving cartilage regeneration – creating almost identical tissue to the original – as opposed to merely repairing the tissue, which results in fibrous cartilage.
What are the disadvantages of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI)?
ACI is an expensive procedure to perform, and the institutions that regulate access to treatment have not so far understood the benefit to patients of this technique or the potential national economic gains over the long term. Consequently, regulatory systems have put up barriers to the adoption of ACI, which are difficult to overcome.
Another disadvantage of ACI is that, for people who want to return to competitive sport or intense activity early, waiting 9–12 months for the tissue to mature is a long time. However, the aspect of tissue maturity has not really been studied for other treatments and may also be a factor.
As with all surgical procedures, complications can occur with ACI. The most common complication is thickening (hypertrophy) of the ‘patch’ used to cover the cartilage defect. The thickening is due to increased friction and poor surgical technique.
In the early days of ACI, the patch was a periosteal membrane taken from the outer surface of the upper shinbone (tibia), and the complication was seen in 24% of patients, between 3 and 18 months after surgery. In half of the cases, it disappeared with continuous physiotherapy, in the other half, the thickening was removed by shaving during arthroscopy, and the symptoms disappeared with CPM. When handled correctly, this complication did not affect the long-term result.
Today, bio-engineered membranes have replaced the periosteal membrane and the number of complications has fallen to below 10%. The most serious complication is a partial or total graft loosening (delamination), which occurs in approximately 5% of patients and may require reoperation.
How long will the treatment last?
Studies have shown that ACI lasts for at least 10–20 years, with good recovery both on an objective, scientific, level, and also in terms of how patients feel and manage activities of daily life.
How long do I need to stay away from sport or from work after ACI? How long before I can return to previous activity levels?
How long it takes to return to previous levels of activity depends on your level of activity before the operation. If you do not use your knee at work (for example, in an office job), you can regain your previous activity levels within a couple of days. If you work in a factory and have a job that requires heavy manual labour, or your job involves standing all day, it will take at least 6 months to return to previous activities. For jobs involving hard labour, such as mining or carpentry, the recovery period is 6–9 months.
It is important in all cases to resume your activities gradually, in a step-by-step process, as full healing takes between 12 and 15 months.
There have been a number of studies looking at the outcomes for ACI. These have shown good results not only in terms of the regeneration of hyaline-like cartilage but also looking at the durability of results, with patients able to return to sports and other intense activities. Some key papers include the following:
Brittberg M, Lindahl A, Nilsson A, Ohlsson C, Isaksson O, Peterson L. Treatment of deep cartilage defects in the knee with autologous chondrocyte transplantation. N Engl J Med. 1994;331(14):889-895.
Minas T, Von Keudell A, Bryant T, Gomoll AH. The John Insall Award: A Minimum 10-year Outcome Study of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2013
Peterson L, Brittberg M, Kiviranta I, Akerlund EL, Lindahl A. Autologous chondrocyte transplantation. Biomechanics and long-term durability. Am J Sports Med. 2002;30(1):2-12.
Peterson L, Vasiliadis HS, Brittberg M, Lindahl A. Autologous chondrocyte implantation: a long-term follow-up. Am J Sports Med. 2010; 38(6):1117-1124.
ACI, autologous chondrocyte implantation, Cartilage, knee
Damage to joint (articular)…
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The release of a new Coen Brothers movie is always something to look forward to but, in what is fast becoming a trend, this classy anthology of Western-themed stories has gone directly to Netflix. Early talk of a simultaneous theatrical release doesn’t seem to be much in evidence and, ironically, if ever a Coen Brothers’ film deserves to be viewed on the big screen, this is the one. With its gorgeous location photography and scenes that pay homage to veteran directors like John Ford and Sergio Leone, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a veritable feast for the eyes and is hardly done justice by the modest screen we have at home.
Still, this being a Coen Brothers movie, we aren’t going to let the opportunity to see it pass us by, even if we’re obliged to watch it on an iPad.
The Coens have always proudly displayed their evident love of the Western genre. There is, of course, True Grit, a superb remake of one of John Wayne’s most successful oaters; but even the likes of Hail Caesar and The Big Lebowski have gleefully sported cowboy characters, strangely at odds with the times in which the action is set – and what is No Country For Old Men but a contemporary Western, replete with violent gunplay and frantic chases across arid landscapes?
The conceit of TBOBS is that it’s presented as a book of short stories, each one complete with an accompanying Frederic Remington-style illustration that directly refers to the action. The stories vary greatly in tone: from the titular, singing-cowboy spoof, in which Tim Blake Nelson portrays a kind of psychopathic Roy Rogers, to the dour and savage Meal Ticket, in which limbless actor, Harrison (Harry Melling), struggles to make a living as he tours his oratory skills around a succession of frontier towns, while his impassive minder (Liam Neeson) watches and draws up his merciless plans for survival.
If the stories have a theme in common it’s that all of them deal with different aspects of death. There’s also the overriding conviction that most characters in the old West were ruled by cold-blooded self-interest. Even The Gal Who Got Rattled, the closest this film has to offer us in the way of a love story (and arguably the most compelling of the six tales), is haunted by a powerful sense of tragedy.
This is one of the Coens’ finest achievements, a brutal, bloody compilation laced with a thread of the darkest humour imaginable. And, if I’m being honest, who knows how well this would have fared at the cinema, where six part Western anthologies are as rare as hen’s teeth and where, so often, it’s mediocrity that succeeds in putting bums on seats?
That said, if you should be lucky enough to live near a cinema that’s actually screening this little gem, mosey on down there and grab yourself a Stetson-full. Or just go to Netflix. The simple truth is that whatever sized screen you end up viewing it on, this is filmmaking of the highest calibre.
Posted in Film and tagged Hail Caesar, Liam Neeson, No Country For Old Men, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Big Lebowski, The Coen Brothers, Tim Blake Nelson, True Grit on November 20, 2018 by bobthebiker. Leave a comment
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Breast Cancer Overview
Home » Breast Cancer Overview
Breast cancer refers to the formation of malignant tumors in the breast tissue. Among the symptoms are a lump in the breast, a change in the breast’s shape and size, drainage from the nipples, dimpling of the skin, and red patches on the skin of the breast.
Eventually, these abnormal cells may start invading nearby organs — called metastasizing. The most common targets are beneath the arms, collar bones, in the chest behind the breast bones, and in the lymph nodes.
A non-invasive form of early breast cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which means the cancer is in the cells that line the ducts, but has not spread through the walls of the ducts to the breast tissue. Around 20 percent of the new cases that are diagnosed are DCIS, and nearly all women at this stage, if found early enough, can be cured, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Invasive ductal carinoma (IDC), considered the most common type of breast cancer (approximately eight of 10 invasive breast cancers are IDCs), starts in a milk duct but then breaches the duct to invade the breast tissue. The ACS notes that at this stage, it can metastasize to other organs in the body via blood vessels or the lymphatic system.
Lobular carcinomas: A woman can be diagnosed with non-invasive lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), where the abnormal cells form in the lobules, or milk-producing glands, of the breast and have not spread; or, invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), where the cancer cells have broken through the lobules to the fatty breast tissue. This type can spread to other areas of the body. Of the invasive breast cancers, about 1 in 10 are ILC.
A rare but aggressive condition is inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), where local lymphatic ducts are invaded by cancer cells, blocking fluid drainage and causing breasts that are swollen and and where the skin appears pitted, sort of like an orange peel. Oncologists now know the breast is not inflamed, although it may appear so. IBC accounts for about 1 to 3 percent of all breast cancers in the U.S. Because there is no lump and it may not appear on a mammogram, IBC is not diagnosed as often as some other breast cancers, and its chances of spreading are greater.
Rare types of breast cancer include Paget disease of the nipple. This cancer starts in the milk ducts, spreads to the skin of the nipple and to the areola.
Phyllodes tumor starts in the connective tissue of the breast (compared to carcinomas, which start in the breast ducts or lobules), and are generally benign, but not always.
There are types and subtypes of invasive breast carcinomas, and your physician can explain them in detail.
Clinicians note that not every lump found in the breast is a cancer. It might be a condition called duct ectasia or an ulcer. Still, if a man or woman feels a lump, it should be checked out right away. Early detection is imperative to treating and surviving breast cancer.
Both men and women can develop breast cancer, but it is vastly more common in women. The ACS estimates that only 1 percent of all breast cancers will develop in men, and a man’s lifetime risk of getting the disease is about 1 in 1,000.
Compare this to women: about one in eight women in the U.S. are estimated to get breast cancer at some point in their life. Breast cancer is the No. 1 cause of death in Hispanic women, and the No. 2 cause of death in U.S. women, according to mortality statistics. And 1 in 36 women is expected to die of breast cancer.
The ACS estimated that in 2015, about 292,000 women would be diagnosed with breast cancer, and about 40,000 would die from the disease.
Scientists have yet to find a cure for this deadly disease. There has been a gradual increase in lifespan and survival rates, especially in developed countries. Regular screening of women between the ages of 40 and 75 is considered necessary for women’s wellness, at least once every two years (annually is best).
To confirm a diagnosis of breast cancer, physicians require a biopsy of the breast tissue along with other lab tests. Radiation and chemotherapy, with or without targeted hormone therapy, are the most common means of treating breast cancer, depending on the stage and size of the tumor. Preventive measures include a complete surgical removal — known as a single or double mastectomy (partial or total removal of one or both breasts) — depending on genetic screening and the age of the patient. In some less-aggressive cases, physicians may approve breast conserving surgery (a kind of lumpectomy, which involves removing the lump from the breast, rather than the entire breast).
Epidemiology:
Breast cancer is the most common form of invasive cancer in women. It is the second leading cause of death in women, only behind lung cancer. In the U.S., the rate of incidence per 100,000 women for breast cancer is the highest (90), followed by Western Europe (78) and Northern Europe (73). Southern and Eastern Europe (56 and 49 respectively) and South America (42) have lower rates of incidence, and the lowest is seen in Asian countries (around 26 to 30). However, in countries like Japan, Singapore, and China, there has been an increase in the number of cases reported over the past few decades, perhaps because of a shift to a more Western lifestyle.
Etiology:
Genetic cellular abnormalities are attributed to the development of cancers, and breast cancer is no exception. Exposure to environmental pollutants, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, lack of exercise, high cholesterol, and other unhealthy lifestyle options have also been suggested as triggers to genetic mutations which give rise to cancerous growth of cells.
The main genes studied in hereditary breast cancer are two of the tumor suppressor genes, BRCA1 and 2 (standing for Breast Cancer early Onset 1 and 2), located on the longer arms of chromosomes 17 and 13, respectively. They are responsible for the repair of damaged and broken DNA and destruction of faulty DNA which cannot be repaired.
Some other genes which have been studied in this regard include CHEK2, ATM, BRIP1, and PALB2, p53, STK11 and PTEN, the latter three being responsible for an array of genetic conditions like Li-Fraumeni, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and Cowden’s syndrome respectively, which greatly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers concluded that women who develop breast cancer along with another form of epithelial cancer, and those who develop the disease at an earlier age, likely have a genetic predisposition for the disease, rather than falling prey to other risk factors.
Having a family member or a first-degree relative with breast cancer nearly doubles a woman’s chances of developing the condition. And, if that relative developed the disease at an age younger than 50, then the risk multiplies itself. The risk is increased four to six times if there is more than one first degree relative with the disease, along with similar age-dependent conditions.
Several risk factors also increase susceptibility towards developing breast cancer. They include:
Increasing age: It is probably the biggest risk factor for breast cancer. With every 10 years after menopause, the risk multiplies itself twofold. The disease is rare in women younger than 25, but most common in women between 50 and 75.
Geographical variation: The risk of developing breast cancer increases five times from a geographic move from a country where the disease has less of an incidence to one where the incidence and mortality rates are considerably greater. This is generally reflected in migrants within one or two generations, and in moves from developing countries to developed, urbanized countries. This indicates that environmental factors may play an important part in development of the disease.
Age at menstruation and menopause: Women who start menstruation early, before the age of 12, or reach menopause late, after 55, are at twice the risk of developing breast cancer than other women. However, women who have their ovaries removed by the age of 35 are at a reduced risk of breast cancer.
Late pregnancy: Having a first child later than 35 years also poses a higher risk of breast cancer among women. Having no children at all, and the absence of breastfeeding among women also pose equal risks of breast cancer at later stages in liffe. A second pregnancy soon after the first one reduces the risk.
Neoplastic and benign conditions affecting the breast, like ductal and lobular carcinoma in situ (DCIS, LCIS), previous history of breast or ovarian cancer, hyperplasia, papillomatosis, and microglandular adenosis, all contribute to increased risks of getting breast cancer in the future.
Previous medical conditions like Hodgkin’s lymphoma, or other epithelial cancers, which require radiation therapy, increase a person’s chances of developing breast cancer.
Exogenous hormones, mostly in the form of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, have been a topic of research over their contribution to developing breast cancer. Some people using oral contraceptives with a mixture of estrogen and progesterone for 10 years or more have a 1.24 times increased risk of breast cancer. However, this risk decreases over a decade once they stop taking the pills. The same goes for hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women who take a mixture of estrogen and progesterone for more than five years; the risk appears to normalize within five years of stopping the therapy.
Lifestyle changes like being smoking, increased alcohol consumption, exposure to environmental pollutants and carcinogens, and use of certain drugs like diethylsilbesterol (DES, a drug prescribed to prevent miscarriage) pose a threat for developing breast cancer as well.
Read about Breast Cancer Signs & Symptoms
Note: Breast Cancer News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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Robert Glenn Ketchum
Is conservation photography the new postmodernism?
Posted by Robert Glenn Ketchum
Renowned conservation photographer Robert Glenn Ketchum was honored as an American Master in the March/April 2010 issue of American Photo magazine. As he sees it, this might mark the beginning of the end of the reign of postmodernism and the rise of photography that looks at the natural world as much as the human one.
©Robert Glenn Ketchum
Miki Johnson: So tell me about the American Photo magazine American Masters issue and how you found out about it.
Robert Glenn Ketchum: I didn’t know anything about it. Russell Hart, one of the editors at American Photo, has previously written about several of my projects and has convinced the other editors that I was worth a page or so every once in a while.
But American Photo has, without being mean to them, pretty much concentrated three-quarters of the magazine on individuals who are primarily fashion and people shooters. And the Masters Series had reflected that. There’s only been four others nominated to the series in 20-years of the magazine being published: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton and Annie Leibovitz — all people and personality photographers. So it’s exciting to be in such a distinguished group of imagemakers, and even moreso to be included as someone who’s focused on the environment and made photos of the landscape more in the style of Adams or Porter.
Russell called me up, offered the possibility of the feature, and asked for a personal timeline of my projects, books, etc. The task was informative and breathtaking because I’d never put together such a thing for myself. It helped me see how lucky I’ve been to have been involved with so many projects that had positive effects. The conclusion of the timeline provided some serious reflection on that moment back in the ’60s in a Redwood forest on the California coast when I decided to make pictures of the landscape — then to flash all the way forward through those projects to where we are now. Wow! That’s the manifestation of dreaming your own existence, the proof it works.
MJ: Looking back at all of those results, are there any insights that jump out about how you achieved them?
RGK: One we’ve talked about previously, and I think the most significant one, was that I took this traditionally popular item, the coffee table book, and turned it into an advocacy tool. And not just by writing a more didactic text and adding difficult pictures, which I did. Also by learning how to publish it cost effectively and get it out there and use it in the media. If I’d have walked away from any of those publications after they were published, they wouldn’t have done anything. But because I embraced the whole cycle of the performance, it made them more useful.
It also created a system. So with each project the system got more refined and increasingly effective. And certainly now that’s where we are with the Bristol Bay campaign. We have powerful books, and we already have had one relative legislative success. And we’re pushing on.
Now with an acknowledgment like this for me from this magazine, it makes me an even more undeniable force, doesn’t it? You know, if Barbara Boxer already was impressed and invited me into her office before, how about now? It’s a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. I would be foolish not to leverage this attention to create advocacy on behalf of the environment.
At the opening of the American Photo article Masters Series, Russell writes, “Robert Ketchum may be one of the least known photographers in America, but he may also be one of the most influential.” I’ve done a lot of this stuff under the radar and I’ve done it on my reputation among a small network of people. Perhaps now my reputation has a bigger window.
MJ: Tell me a little about your background as an artist and your decision to approach photography from a more activist position.
RGK: When I came into photography, I had come out of a really prep high school and into UCLA, where I was required to take art classes. At first I thought I was threatened because “art” was something I had not done much of previously. Then I became very interested in the history of art, and I got involved in the design program. The design program led me to photography.
The teachers at UCLA at that time were spectacular, at the leading edge of the ’60s avant guarde movement in photography on the West Coast. That scene had it’s own unique kind of cult and cache. It was grounded in an eclectic base that included Paul Outerbridge, William Mortenson, Edward Weston, Ansel Adams and the F64 school, and all this other stuff going on which my UCLA teachers, Edmund Teske, Robert Heinecken and Robert Fichter fed upon.
I entered UCLA in 1966, and it was an exciting time to be making art. I got the opportunity to pay some of my bills by shooting rock ‘n’ roll bands, so that’s what I was doing. In college I also encountered the writings of Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson and the campus organizers of the Sierra Club.
On the way back from the Monterey Pop Festival, some friends and I stopped at a canyon in Big Sur called Limekiln Creek to camp. I got up in the next morning and after a solitary walk next to a stream in the quiet of the morning forest, I had one of those epiphanal moments. I heard the words of Aldo Leopold, suggesting that we had a moral obligation to protect our environment because it was the thing that keeps us alive. And Rachel Carson, who said, all the bad things we put out into our environment will eventually come back to us as poisons, and I thought, WOW, if I could make pictures serve those ideas, that would be a really great thing.
I didn’t jump into being an environmental photographer overnight; it took another 15 years of evolution and thought. But that was the moment when I started working towards it. And not just to make picture books, but make advocate tools. I still view photography as this fantastically adaptable medium, and even more so now that digital is upon us. Once photographic imagery is transcribed into digital information, you can print in concrete, you can embed in glass, you can print on fabric, you can weave it into looms. This is territory no one has explored much before.
If you look back at UCLA in the ’60s, it was going on then — and then postmodernism came in. And postmodernism took charge, in terms of molding the cultural mindset and conscripting the idea behind all grant giving and all exhibition coordinating. After the arrival of postmodernism, only a few of us would even touch nature and certainly not as a source of beauty.
If you look at postmodernism’s stars such as Jeff Koons, one of the most significant of the early postmodernists, his work is sculptures of Michael Jackson and pop icons, or huge sculptures of his wife and him making love to each other. Postmodernism reflected by Annie Leibowitz is about the cult of personality and in Cindy Sherman who assumes hundreds of witty guises throughout her work — it is basically all about ME. Postmodernism for me is about the cult of ME and US. And yeah, it can be very fun, and cerebral, but more importantly, it has pretty much controlled what the American public has seen in the gallery and art museums for the last 35 years.
After UCLA I got my masters from Cal Arts, which was one of the birthing places of postmodernism, so I totally get it. I don’t mean to put it down. It’s a perfectly viable language within the arts. But for me it was sterile because it was just a language within the arts.
“It just seemed that my response as an artist should embrace these bigger issues in my life.”
I saw a new world coming at us with a changing environment and the promise of new media connectedness and what it meant to print and publish and do all this other stuff. And I saw the rise of the environmental movement in the early ’70s and how photography could serve it. It just seemed to me that my response as an artist should embrace serving these bigger issues in my life, and that the language and the conversation of this world was much bigger than that of the more rarefied art world.
I remember having this talk with myself, saying if you do this, the art world may ignore you. But if you succeed in the environmental community and you can actually save these lands you’re trying to save, would you trade that for all the fame? And the answer to that was, yes I would. Just make me an effective photographer that can drive real social issues and I will accept whatever it is I get out of that. And I went ahead and I did that work. And I never allowed the indifference from the postmodernist community to disrupt my own working tenor.
At the same time, I never stopped practicing photography in a more experimental way. So I have pieces that are now starting to be shown at Basel, Miami, that are 72 inches tall by 14 feet wide. They’re still based in nature, but they’re highly manipulated. I have also been doing textiles in China, hand-embroidered screens and standing screens and wall hangings based on my landscape photographs. I’ve been doing those for 30 years, and they are finally starting to get exhibition attention.
"The Beginning of Time." Random stitch embroidery, silk thread and watercolor on silk gauze. ©Robert Glenn Ketchum
These may not be how the postmodernist world perceives important art as being made, yet if I were to look back over the last 40 years and say, what was really important? Was it that Jeff Koons did these amazing sculptures of himself having sex? Or was it putting a million acres of old-growth forest into protective status in the Tongass, or adding 60,000 acres of land to Saguaro National Monument resulting in it getting upgraded to a national park, or keeping Mitsubishi out of one of the only Gray whale birthing lagoons in the world at St. Ignacio, Baja? Do I feel that one of those two directions was more important, to me ultimately, and it should be to the public as well? Yeah, I do.
And there’s other amazing work being done by my brothers at the International League of Conservation Photographers, too. Guys like Frans Lanting, who has been knighted by his country for his conservation work, and Jim Balog, who was nominated for a McArthur genius grant this year.
I think the work we’re doing (iLCP and others) is going to be held in higher regard in retrospect than it is right now. That’s why I say, I’m very flattered just to be included with these four “master” photographers who so clearly represent a different point of view than mine. Beyond that, just to have American Photo acknowledge me as a photographer and an artist of some repute may give me more traction in academic circles that haven’t seem to notice what I have been doing or hold it with much regard.
You know to me, in some ways post modernism was a dumbing down. It accepted an artists political point of view as long as it was cleverly hidden in intellectual reference, but seemed uncomfortable with putting the message undeniably in people’s faces where it might actually do some good. Exhibits that didactic might anger patrons and cost institutions contributions. Post modernism certainly gave us some outrageous shows and ones that stirred controversy but did they really do anything in the public arena besides create a fashionable buzz?
Photography is SO powerful, why not use it to its fullest power and exploit all of the ways it allows us to express ourselves. Look at Eugene Smith’s book about his wife’s cancer. Or pretty much any photographs Sebastião Salgado takes of people who are misplaced or victimized. I have never wanted to give money to beggars on the street because I’m never sure that it isn’t just for booze. But when I see Salgado’s pictures of world crisis circumstances, I have a whole new take on poverty and would like to see money given there. It’s an amazing power that his best photographs have.
In a way, therein lies the difference between the work I do and the postmodernist movement. The comparison here is the difference between Annie Liebovitz’s work and Salgado’s. They’re both taking pictures of people, but they have VERY different ideas about how those pictures will get used and what it is hoped those pictures will inspire.
That’s what I did. I had a different idea about what was important to my life, how my art might serve those issues, and how to use the work through the emerging mediums to expand the exposure of the ideas to evermore people. Postmodernism didn’t serve me in getting that done and has chosen to dismiss my efforts as journalistic, and not art. I supposed the textiles and the new digital prints are viewed as aberrations of old age.
We all do what we think we have to do.
Posted in Masters / Photography / Robert Glenn Ketchum / Social Action Through Photography
How to get publishers interested in political, non-profit books
Renowned conservation and fine-art photographer Robert Glenn Ketchum has pioneered a publishing model where he receives at-cost books instead of royalties so he can distribute them free to non-profits — helping get his conservation message in the hands of people who can use it to create real change. In this post we talk about convincing publishers to get on board with this unconventional model. Don’t miss his earlier posts about developing his publishing model and the tangible results it’s achieved.
The Red Hills, Wood-Tikchik State Park. ©Robert Glenn Ketchum
MJ: Do you think it is a good idea for other photographers to approach publishers with the publishing model you’ve developed, one that distributes books through non-profits instead of retail distributors?
RGK: If you were to go to a smaller press, such as The Mountaineers, and you bring them a book that is even remotely interesting, then you say: I have my funding and my buyers in place. I can guarantee 3,500 of the run. At $10 each, you’re coming into the meeting with $35,000, and that puts you a long way up. You might not be covering 100% of the publisher’s costs, but you’re already coming in the door with something that looks good.
If I had an advocate-directed book, I would presume that the publisher felt his market impaired by the political point of view. I would therefore compensate coming through the door with either a network of distribution or a network of sales and distribution already in place — such as a non-profit I was working with. Then you can also explain that funding of some kind is already in place, so the book doesn’t languish on bookshelves and it doesn’t have unrealistic financial expectations.
Maybe not everybody has this access, but I know on-press people, I know editors, I know book designers, and I know presses in Hong Kong and Europe. Likely with my next book I will publish it myself with my own team. I’ll write into my grant proposal for an organization, likely the Hearsts, all those books at pre-publication cost, besides whatever goes into the market. We’ll just distribute it ourselves through the internet. Then I will probably go to the book fairs and see if we can pick up some sales and get broader distribution. But it’s not worth it to me, all that stuff that gets lost and logged into the middlemen warehouse distributors. It’s not worth the energy and it doesn’t put the books in enough of the right places.
Streams And Tree Islands in Wood-Tikchik Park. ©Robert Glenn Ketchum
MJ: Is it a hard sell to convince publications and publishers that these conservation issues are hot topics?
RGK: It has always been a hard sell and it’s still a hard sell. I’m constantly amazed at how people are fawning and apologetic about not having supported a project like the Tongass and they say, “We would never miss another opportunity like this again. The next time you have something going on, please come back to us.” Then the next time I come back to them, it’s like they’ve never talked to me before and I’m starting all over again. So it’s very frustrating.
Until recently my Bristol Bay work has been like sitting on a very steep greased board — I had no traction whatsoever. People were paying attention but only just barely. People like the Smithsonian Magazine and Audubon, who I offered Tongass to and they both turned me down. Then they came back to me years later when they were doing Tongass articles, big features, and said stuff like, “You were so far in front of the curve. That was the biggest mistake of our lives not taking that article when you offered it to us. Please bring us something like that again.”
So I bring them Bristol Bay. And you know what everyone said to me? Why aren’t you up in the Arctic Refuge taking pictures? And I said, first of all, I counseled Subhankar Banerjee, who is there, and I think he’s probably going to do a good job with it. It also happens that my friend Theo Allofs is there and Art Wolfe is there and I think there are enough photographers up there. Also, the Arctic Refuge has been used as a smokescreen, drawing a lot of public attention to the battle, while other places are being savaged and no one is looking. I’m bringing you a project you ought to be paying attention to, which I did when I brought you the Tongass, do you remember? And they all acted like I was out of my mind and Bristol Bay was a no-starter.
I submitted this collective story about the Bay to National Geographic three times in five years, and they told me it was a story of no interest. Then they sent somebody on their own staff up to do the story and paid me a finders fee. Men’s Journal looked at the story several times over three years and said it was a no-starter — then finally four months ago they realized it’s smoking hot now that Sarah Palin ran for office, so they sent their own guy.
It is amazing to me that virtually everybody who said, “Come back to us with any new stories,” once I was introduced to them through the Tongass, basically ignored me when I brought them Bristol Bay. You’d think at 60 I’d finally have some respect, but I don’t. This story is important. I’m glad it’s now at National Geographic. I’m glad it’s at Men’s Journal. It will put more pressure on the legislators I’m visiting and will revisit this year. If there is a way I can place a set of books in Obama’s hands, I will. But not to a legislative assistant or somebody else. It has to be me to him. I want to know that he sees it. In this kind of a lobbying effort, the personal contact carries weight. John Muir lobbied Teddy Roosevelt; Ansel Adams, Eliot Porter, and David Brower aggressively lobbied the Congress with their Sierra Club publications; and now I am the next generation to inherit this advocacy mantel.
Posted in Contributors / Ideas / Nature Photography / Photography / Photojournalism / Publishing / Robert Glenn Ketchum / Social Action Through Photography
Robert Glenn Ketchum: Books with lives beyond the shelf
Renowned conservation and fine-art photographer Robert Glenn Ketchum has pioneered a publishing model that treats his numerous books as instruments of change rather than instruments of profit. In this post he describes how his work with NGOs and publishers came to fruition with the dual publication of Rivers of Life and Wood-Tikchik, which addressed Pebble Mine and an inholdings sell-off, which both threatened an untouched expansive of land in Southwest Alaska. Don’t miss his earlier post and the next one, on how to approach publishers with similar proposals.
Tikchik Mountain, Wood-Tikchik State Park ©Robert Glenn Ketchum
The next place this special publishing model I’d developed came into play, and really the place it came into full force, was Bristol Bay in Southwest Alaska. In 1998 there was no mine proposed, no oil proposed, just this huge wild area called Southwest Alaska that is larger than the state of Washington. And it’s the habitat for the richest, most productive salmon fishery in the history of the world, Bristol Bay. And I’m on the board of the Alaska Conservation Foundation (ACF). I’ve been there for seven years. We’re making a big difference. Having a lot of victories. I’m working as a board member, I’m not pushing myself as a photographer, but I’m offering my advice about media.
And the retiring board director says to me, have you ever been out to Southwest Alaska? And I haven’t, so he and his friend, who’s a writer from Wyoming and also an expert fly fisherman, take me out there for a 7-day fly around. And his position as a fisherman is, this is a goldmine for fishermen and conservation, and he thinks I should bring it to ACF, the group I’m on the board of. He is leaving ACF but thinks the Bristol Bay area is going to become an issue in terms of developers wanting it. And I think it sounds like a great idea, and I’m not working on a project, and I’m about to retire from the board.
So I start writing my grants. And I write in the grant that I’ll do a book and it will be about this fishery and its protection, and in funding the grant they can guarantee that 5,000 at-cost copies will be available for the ACF to use in direct mail campaigns to bring more money in. I weave in the grassroots, the foundation strategy, my book strategy, and this advocacy work you can do with direct mail. It was the maturity of all my previous projects coming together. And we went out with that grant, and everyone we showed it to was in. We brought in several smaller family foundations and we brought in one very large foundation, the Turner Foundation. Then, when I was nearly on press with the first book, Rivers of Life, I also noticed I had this extraordinary amount of material specifically about Wood Tikchik Park, which is more than one-third of the water shed. It is the largest state park in Alaska — it’s huge at over a million and a half acres. Just one fishing lodge and everything else wild park.
"Endless Meanders" in Southwest Alaska ©Robert Glenn Ketchum
I talked to one of my friends who was head of department of natural resources for the state, and he said, please do a book on this park and talk about all the inholdings that are at risk. An inholding is an amount of land that was given to a Native American tribal holder as part of his native claims stake when the lands transferred between natives and park. And every person got to extract a certain amount of acreage, I think in 60-acre squares. So they’re all patchworked through these wild lands. And the presumption was the natives would continue to treat them as they had for 3,000 years. But the reality was that parents would be saving them for their kids who would grow up, go to college, and never want to come back to the village, so the traditional values of that land would erode. The parents would look at it and think, well we can sell this to a white guy who wants to build a fishing lodge and we will become millionaires. Among the rest of us there was this feeling of, oh my god, don’t let this happen to these habitats. So with the first book already on press, I began working on a second book with another author, and we wrote the second book directed at these issues of inholdings. So one book was, don’t let this resource be developed by offshore oil and gas or on-shore anything. And the second was, don’t let this land be fragmented by inholdings. Please work with the conservancies and the tribes to see that it all goes into parkland protection.
We took those two books as a set and we did a very substantial mailing and a traveling exhibit. Talk about all these things happening blindly but at the right moment. At the time that we did the mailing, Canada announced plans for Pebble Mine, the largest open-pit gold and copper cyanide-leach mine in the history of the world right in the middle of the biggest part of the fishery. And of course the state leased it. So here’s the two books sitting there and just being mailed and the show’s just going up and they announce the proposal for the Pebble Mine. And then Bush gets Ted Stevens, the Alaska senator now indicted for felony, to pull Bristol Bay off of the no-drill oil moratorium, which it had been on for 18 years, and announced leasing through the Department of the Interior. So immediately the books had more weight.
Among many things that happened because of the momentum the mailing created was a $10 million, three-year grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation flowing to the conservancies in southwest Alaska to purchase and buy into the inholdings when the native villages were willing to strike deals over conservation easements. A 21,000-parcel deal was struck recently with eight or ten very significant tribal elders, which sent out shockwaves in the native community because they don’t really embrace white legal systems. So by those native elders signing on, it has a huge impact at other levels in other tribes. What they did was sell the rights to commercially develop the land. They do not give up their right to own the land. The land is put into an easement that is managed by a conservancy, and the natives can go and use the land any time they want to fish or hunt, but not for commercial development. Even if they sell it, it remains in easement. So it’s a way of putting land into wild status in perpetuity.
Fishtrap Lake And The Headwaters Of The Little Mulchatna River, Lake Clark NP ©Robert Glenn Ketchum
This project was where everything came together in its most mature form, with the Bristol Bay and Wood Tikchik books, the show, and the pre-deemed funding to buy out a portion of the run. The picture books themselves were commercially viable; Aperture sold them in the market. But I would say we got rid of just as many of them in the community by doing direct mail and target-specific sales at lectures and exhibitions. The exhibition has triggered a lot … we took it to all the major cities in Alaska. We triggered discussions between the communities and the mining representatives from Pebble Mine. We’ve had the exhibition go to Washington D.C. as a bi-partisan request from Newt Gingrich and Mark Udall.
In my opinion, the reason some of the projects were so much more successful is, first of all, I enjoy the theater of the advocate role. I’ll go to Washington and lobby directly and use personality. This is an age where cult of personality plays well. You know, James Audubon was an American sophisticate. An intellectual, a researcher. But when he went to England with his drawings of the America birds, he had this fabulous fringe leather suit made for himself and he walked around with his musket. So it’s been theater for a long time. And I’m perfectly happy to play the “outdoor adventurer” Robert Ketchum and show up at Barbara Boxer’s office, especially now that she’s head of the Environment Committee, and ask her to please consider being a co-sponsor to John Kerry’s Bristol Bay Marine Reserve Act. And of course she’s seen the book and all that.
I think if I have had an impact in the book market, it has been to find a way to make the book more useful from an advocate point of view. Perhaps that is a corruption of the coffee table tradition, but so be it, it makes for a much more useful and purposeful publication. I feel like, if these concepts were somehow a secret of mine all these years, they shouldn’t have been, and I didn’t intend it that way. I’m happy to have other photographers think about how to use it. Because a lot of them get frustrated. They get nice books published, they get nice conservation groups all lined up. But then they have a subtle subject like, say, a book on grass prairie, and it doesn’t have a national audience, and it doesn’t really get out there. So it sits and languishes on bookshelves and it gets remaindered. That won’t change anything!
Posted in Contributors / Documentary Photography / Ideas / Inspirational Work / Masters / Nature Photography / Photography / Photojournalism / Publishing / Robert Glenn Ketchum / Social Action Through Photography / Working with Non-profits
Robert Glenn Ketchum: Books that make a difference shouldn’t have to make money
Renowned conservation and fine-art photographer Robert Glenn Ketchum has pioneered a publishing model that treats his numerous books as instruments of change rather than instruments of profit. In this and his following posts he explains in detail how he has worked with NGOs and publishers to produce books that create tangible change — instead of sitting unseen on bookstore shelves.
One of Robert's images from the Tongass Rainforest. ©Robert Glenn Ketchum
Although there is always the fluke opportunity for a picture book to sell hundreds of thousands of copies, like Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s Earth From Above, or Ernest Haas’s The Creation, the likelihood of that happening is one percent. The rest of us are pretty lucky if we sell 25,000 books — we’re actually pretty luck if we sell 10. And then if you narrow your market by trying to intellectualize anything, or in particular politicize anything, to take it anywhere other than just a pretty picture book about a popular theme, then you lose even more of the market. Your publisher’s not interested. Your bookstores don’t respond in the same way. Your readership gets smaller. And don’t forget that when you publish a book, it goes to the first tier of distribution, and that’s national, then the price usually doubles. Then it goes from there to the smaller distributors, and then the price increases again. Then from the smaller distributors it goes to the bookstores. If the bookstores take it, it’s maybe two copies, and it ends up spine-out unless the publishing company has paid for some kind of display. So now you’ve got this book you’ve put years of effort into, photographing, editing, publishing. Plus the cost. And it ends up spine-out in some bookstore. If you’re trying to change anything, especially change the world in any way, it’s not likely it’s going to happen at that pace.
I learned a lot about this with The Hudson River and the Highlands, my first book with Aperture. I met Aperture through the Lila Acheson Wallace Fund, which commissioned Stephen Shore, William Clift, and I to photograph the river. My images were pretty confrontational and political, so when I originally presented them to the Wallace Fund, I said, I recognize this is not what you gave me the commission for. You don’t have to use them, I just want to show you that I’m doing them. And they said, these are the ones we think are the most important, because they were working form a conservation perspective.
From there I was introduced to Aperture. It didn’t take me very long at Aperture to realize the frustration of publishing a book and having the limited exposure and sales. We still did well, we sold over 10,000, but only because it was Hudson River and New York. Michael Hoffman, the former president of Aperture said to me, “You take away part of your market by putting these politicized photographs in, but I understand the foundation is supporting it. It’s a kind of corruption of the coffee table book, so I guess it’s interesting that we’re doing it here at Aperture.” And that’s how it was viewed. My further frustration was that the book didn’t reach a wider audience than the Hudson River lovers. It didn’t reach the conservation audience I wanted, and it didn’t really comment on Regan’s take on the Clean Water Act, which was what I kind of implied in my essay.
Another, less idyllic image from the Tongass. ©Robert Glenn Ketchum
So when we came to the table with the Tongass rainforest book, again I was working with Aperture. This time I was determined to be more strident in my political content and to look at book distribution more realistically in terms of what I expected to sell and get from a royalty. First I said, I think this minimal royalty for sales, which is all projected out over years, is a joke. How much are you going to give me, if you added it all up? And usually you’re lucky if it’s between $20,000 and $50,000. I said, how about you give me that in books at cost? I do lectures and workshops for non-profit fund raising and things like that where I will sell my books, and I agreed not to poach their bookstore sales by selling at retail. And then I would just go away, and they’d never have to pay me a royalty or anything, I just get those books free. Well Aperture was happy to do that and I was happy to get free from Aperture’s bureaucracy. In particular it allowed me to hand out books when I felt like it because they only cost a couple bucks.
Having published the Tongass book, I wanted to change the way it was distributed. So I approached foundations in the conservation community. I struck an agreement between one of the foundations and Aperture to buy books at cost (about 800) so that they could be handed out in Congress, not only to members but also their legislative assistants. And Aperture agreed. That was Aperture’s first introduction to the idea. So that happened with the Tongass book, and we got it handed out in Congress and widely distributed through information networks like Natural Resources Defense Council and Earthjustice that needed it as a visual imaging device.
An image from Robert's Overlooked In America book. ©Robert Glenn Ketchum
From the time we published that book in ’86, the presence was accumulative, sort of a ball going downhill, gaining momentum. And in 1990 we passed the largest timber reform bill in history of United States. The book was not the sole element that made that happen. It was all the people working on the project. But it gave them something to carry around in their hands to say, this is what it looks like, and, more importantly, this is what’s being done to it, because the clear-cuts were in the book. And the industrial log yards and people being displaced in the fishing industry were in there. So there was challenging stuff like the images I’d integrated into the Hudson book, but more stridently so, and the essay stopped beating around the bush and came out and called a spade a spade and got a lot of people in trouble. It was a real political advocacy books. It probably had a very limited market in terms of real picture book marketing. Yet it had a huge life, and went to a third addition, 50,000 copies, but mostly by handout, request mailing, website sales, and foundations networking. The group I did all this with is the Macintosh Foundation; they also helped with the distribution in Congress and they helped underwrite the traveling exhibition that showed at the National Museum of Natural History on Earth Day. They operate some boats in Southeast Alaska for recreational use and they appreciate the eco-tourism value of the land as opposed to the log-it-to-death aspect.
That opened the door to my ensuing book with the Akron Art Museum, which resulted from a commission to photograph the newly created Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. The book, Overlooked in America, went beyond the context of Ohio and examined all federal lands in North America and the way they were being mistreated. Aperture was also the publisher on that production, and their literal words were, “This book is so bitter, we can’t imagine a readership audience.” And they didn’t want to run it. So my funders said to Aperture, if somebody paid for printing costs, would Aperture help distribute any books? And Aperture said, probably just 1,000. So we ran 10,000 and distributed the rest to the environmental networks. And those books were on the front lines of battles about mining, about parks — they even got handed out in Alaska when the battle started over the mine in Bristol Bay. I’d done a completely different set of books there, but they still found Overlooked in America useful to hand out. So these books have another kind of life. They live on the shelves, but they have another life where they serve advocates. But they don’t get out if you don’t take them out into that advocate world.
Be Part of the RESOLUTION: Would you be willing to take a potential income cut from your books if it meant you could get them into the right hands, and they would therefore have more impact?
Posted in Contributors / Ideas / Inspirational Work / Masters / Nature Photography / Photography / Photojournalism / Publishing / Robert Glenn Ketchum / Social Action Through Photography / Working with Non-profits
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Art that’s out of this world
September 10, 2018 September 26, 2018 Science Borealis
By Katrina Vera Wong and Raymond Nakamura, Multimedia co-editors
As Science Borealis Multimedia editors, we scour the known universe, meaning Canada, for examples of science communication in all its myriad forms.
Vancouver artist and educator Erin Green has been creating space-inspired art for about 10 years. She says, “Space art makes space science more relatable and approachable to a wider audience.”
Courtesy of Erin Green, Children of the Craft website
This year (2018), to celebrate its 150th Anniversary, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) is hosting “Imagining the Skies,” an astrophotography, sketching and creative arts contest. They welcome and encourage participants of all ages. Entries will be judged according to three experience levels: novice, intermediate and experienced. In case you’re new to the world of space art, here’s a little intro we based on the International Association of Astronomical Artists’ subgenres of astronomical art.
Astronomical photography is a photograph, sometimes taken by space probes, that is presented in an aesthetic form. For example, images taken by the Hubble telescope are actually in black and white. But they have been taken using filters for different wavelengths. The colours are then reconstructed on a computer. SkyNews, the Canadian magazine of astronomy and stargazing, also runs a weekly photo contest. And The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada offers an astroimaging certificate for its members. Here is a site featuring some of these works.
North America and Pelican Nebulas by David Lee of the Victoria RASC
Chris Hadfield took photographs of the Earth from the International Space Station. Does that count as astronomical photography? Since it’s Chris Hadfield, it must count for something.
Descriptive Realism tries to share a scientifically accurate depiction of faraway places in the cosmos. One form of this is astronomical sketching, in which a person draws what they see in the telescope. According to the AstroSketchers page on the RASC site, “astronomical sketching is as old as stars on petroglyphs, and as new as Arp peculiar galaxies drawn on the web. Never static, its long practice is now in dialogue with the latest electronic-image processing; yet those who draw at the eyepiece can feel part of a chain stretching back through Messier and Herschel to Galileo.”
Surface of the Moon (winner of the RASC’s inaugural astrosketching contest) by Alexander Massey, reproduced courtesy of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
The site also includes tips by Carol Lakomiak on how to make sketches of the sun and the moon.
Cosmic Impressionism deals with space-inspired impressions that are not necessarily detailed or even accurate. It has more to do with the interpretation or expression of space when an artist imagines what could exist out there and how it can relate to us.
If you haven’t looked up at a starry night sky in a while, the drawings of Kara Szathmary reawaken that feeling of pure awe, that realization of just how beautiful it is. As a visual artist, mathematician and the first elected international President of the International Association of Astronomical Artists, his “View of Canada” is an instant reminder of how we need to keep looking past our most visible horizon.
The Black Hole by Char Hoyt
Char Hoyt’s series of “Cosmic Egg” paintings spin galaxial elements into the shape of various eggs to address the “somewhat contradicting ideas of a cyclical Universe, the Big Bang and the age-old question, ‘What came first? The chicken or the egg?’” They’re like 2D Fabergé eggs with stars instead of jewels. You won’t catch a glimpse of them in the actual cosmos, but having that impression evokes a sense of mystery or can help make the “invisible visible.” As Char says, “it is the mysteries” of space that deliver intrigue, inspiration and awe.
There’s also an art form in film that lets filmmakers create out-of-this-world images and effects from analogue techniques. For the 2016 film, Approaching the Unknown, special effects supervisor Douglas Trumbull taught the young film makers how to create magnificent cosmic effects by injecting various colourful or glittery substances into a tank of glycerin, corn syrup and salt water. Therein lies a fun aspect to cosmic Impressionism: the amount of freedom to imagine, manipulate and control what the cosmos looks like.
Hardware art is a realistic approach that focuses on the ships and equipment used in space. With the popularity of science fiction movies and programs, this work can overlap into imagined ships and equipment, as in the Cylons of Battlestar Galactica developed by Vancouver-based conceptual artist Eric Chu, who works digitally. He says, “When you do a [sci-fi] or fantasy illustration, you are asking the viewer to believe in something that is not real, so the more [you] know about real-world physics, the better you can approximate a functionally plausible design. That isn’t to say I am an expert on space exploration, but I do like to do some research and try to keep up with the latest technological advances. Whether or not I incorporate those ideas is a matter of preference. Even a fantastically based illustration needs to work in its own reality.”
Digital Illustration by Eric Chu
Space sculptures are three-dimensional renderings inspired by space. (You might be reminded of a classic school assignment that involves the Solar System.) These sculptures may depict objects or demonstrate concepts related to outer space and can be more symbolic or abstract.
Toronto-based artist, photographer and filmmaker Adam Makarenko creates exoplanets by hand, imagined but modelled on existing planetary objects. Made out of plaster or styrofoam and painted with various colours and textures, Makarenko’s exoplanets are photographed against constructed landscapes and later (minimally) digitally manipulated in Photoshop. The final result portrays his miniature spheres as the giant celestial bodies they’re meant to be. The artist’s goal is to make 1,000 of them, and he’s already past the halfway mark!
Cosmic zoology depicts speculations about imaginary extraterrestrial life and habitats, as visualizations of exobiology. In television and movies, aliens often end up looking like humans, but Jim Davies, a professor of cognitive science at Carleton University, argues that this enables us to relate to them more easily. Weirder creatures, as in the movie Arrival, remain mysterious.
Art in Space involves space itself as part of the media.In the RumbleSat Art project, 150 works of Canadian art were sent into space, to see the effect of this provenance or back story on their perceived value. A down-to-earth example includes the Royal Canadian Mint collector’s coin designed by Alexandra Lefort to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the RASC, which contains a piece of meteorite.
We hope this little overview of space art inspires you to participate in the Imagining the Skies contest, even if the odds of winning seemastronomical. It runs until the end of 2018, so you still have some spacetime. And if you know of any Canadian space artists we have missed, please include them in the comments.
Communication, Education, and Outreach, Multimedia, Physics and Astronomy, Science in Society, Technology & Engineering Adam Makarenko, Alexander Massey, Alexandra Left, Art in space, Astronomical photography, Carol Lakomiak, Char Hoyt, cosmic impressionism, David Lee, Descriptive realism, Douglas Trumbull, Eric Chu, Erin Green, hardware art, Jim Davies, Kara Szathmary, Katrina Vera Wong, Katrina Wong, nternational Association of Astronomical Artists, RASC, Raymond Nakamura, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, RumbleSat Art, space art, space sculptures. permalink.
Materials science meets artificial intelligence
Something’s fishy: A whirlwind of a problem
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Learn what it takes to answer the calling to become a teacher and excel in the education field.
Remembering Dr. Bruce Brodney, Inspiring Educator
March 22, 2019 College of EducationChris Demmons
When Kie Kemper was earning her bachelor’s degree in education at SPC, she took a class on how to teach math to elementary school students. Her instructor, Dr. Bruce Brodney, kept referring to the “gazinta symbol”. Kemper said she and the entire class were stumped, and couldn’t answer when he asked if anyone knew what it was.
“He made a big deal out of it,” Kemper said. “He said, ‘Oh, my goodness! You don’t know the Gazinta sign by now? You’re in college – you should know!’”
Eventually, he revealed that the mysterious symbol was the bar used when doing long division.
“He explained that he called it that because ‘this number GAZINTA (goes into) this number this amount of times’. It was a total dad joke, but he got such a kick out of it that we all laughed with him.”
Brodney, a beloved SPC College of Education Professor for 16 years, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on Feb. 27. He was 66.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from Tulane University, Brodney earned another bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. He went on to get his master’s degree from USF in Educational Leadership, then a PhD in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Brodney taught second-fifth grades in the Pinellas County Schools for 24 years. He also served as a reading specialist, a Title I coach and assistant principal before joining the faculty at SPC in 2003.
Brodney was known for taking a real interest in his students’ success, as well as making learning a fun endeavor. Kemper graduated in 2017 and is
now the English Department Team Leader and teaches language arts at Coral Academy of Science in Las Vegas. She said he taught her how to understand the minds of students and how to accommodate them through the learning process. She heard about Dr. Brodney’s passing at a moment when she was doing something else he taught her: caring.
“It’s crazy,” she said. I found out right as I was in the middle of telling my students how much I care about them. I truly believe that Dr. Brodney made it a priority to teach us how to make a difference for each and every student we encounter. I feel like the baton has been passed, and it’s our turn to make a difference the way he did for all of us.”
Former student Olivia Huff, who now teaches fourth grade at Sanderlin Elementary in St. Petersburg, said she’s sure all of Brodney’s students feel the same way about him.
“He was such a fun and warm professor,” Huff said. “He was a real person – not just someone who taught us.”
According to his colleague, SPC Education Professor Dr. Nancy Watkins, Brodney had an especially close relationship with his family. After hoping for a baby for a long time, he and his wife, Sandra, finally had a son, Sean, who is now in his second year at Georgia Tech as a mechanical engineering major.
“They were so close,” Watkins said. “It was just the three of them, and they are all not only brilliant, but they are a family of integrity and strong moral character.”
Sandra, who has been with Pinellas County Schools for 36 years, also adjuncts with SPC and has done some consulting work for the college. Watkins said they often shared students.
‘Sandy would take many of Bruce’s pre-service teachers as intern and practicum students in her classroom,” she said. “If you got the double dose of Brodney for your teacher prep program, you were the luckiest student on campus.”
Students, friends and colleagues have contributed to a Facebook memorial page containing numerous photos, memories and sayings that bring Brodney to mind.
A memorial service is planned for this Saturday, March 23, 2019, from 10-2 p.m. at The Palladium Theater, 253 5th Avenue N, St. Petersburg. Friends are invited to arrive at 10 to talk and contribute to a memory book for the family. The service will follow, then a reception will be held in the Stavros Great Room downstairs.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donation be made to The Bruce F. Brodney Education Scholarship Fund, which will benefit future educators, through SPC’s Foundation.
If you would like to donate in Dr. Brodney’s memory, please make checks payable to the St. Petersburg College Foundation, and include “Dr. Bruce Brodney” in the memo. Mail to P.O. Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733-3489. Online donations can be made at foundation.spcollege.edu/giving,where you will choose “other” from the Designation Drop Down Menu and type in “Dr. Bruce Brodney”.
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Grey market for IPOs: A case for regulation? by Suranjali Tandon in NIPFP Blogpost, June 2, 2017.
Downgraded China Doth Protest Too Much by Benn Steil and Emma Smith in Council on Foreign Relations, May 31, 2017.
Masha Gessen in the New York Times: 'incompetence and autocracy are not in opposition: They are two sides of a coin'.
Why India's growing religiosity is an economic challenge by Pramit Bhattacharya in Mint, May 31, 2017.
The Politics of Clan: The Adventures of Jared Kushner by David Brooks in The New York Times, May 30, 2017.
The Loneliness of Donald Trump by Rebecca Solnit in Literary Hub, May 30, 2017.
The severity of the NPA crisis by Harsh Vardhan and Rajeswari Sengupta in Mint, May 30, 2017.
Dealing with protests in Kashmir: The army chief has spoken. Why is the prime minister silent? by Saikat Datta in Scroll, May 30, 2017.
The Aadhaar legal framework is broken by Vrinda Bhandari and Renuka Sane in Mint, May 30, 2017.
Czeslaw Milosz's Battle for Truth by Adam Kirsch in The New Yorker, May 29, 2017.
Minerals as a shared inheritance: Implications for public finance by Rahul Basu in NIPFP YouTube Channel, May 29, 2017.
Wall Street's Endangered Species: The College Jock by Justin Baer in The Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2017.
The Virus Hunters by Jeffrey Marlow in Undark, May 25, 2017.
How the Nazis Made Art Fascist by Ian Beacock in New Republic, May 23, 2017.
There has been no Aadhaar 'data leak' by Ram Sewak Sharma in The Economic Times, May 9, 2017.
Why Arendt Matters: Revisiting "The Origins of Totalitarianism" by Roger Berkowitz in Los Angeles Review of Books, March 18, 2017.
What It's Like to Live in the World's Most Polluted City by Melody Rowell in National Geographic, April 26, 2016.
The Spread of Dengue in an Endemic Urban Milieu: The Case of Delhi, India by Olivier Telle, Alain Vaguet, N. K. Yadav, B. Lefebvre, Eric Daudé, Richard E. Paul, A. Cebeillac and B. N. Nagpal in PLoS ONE, January 25, 2016.
You Can't Trust What You Read About Nutrition by Christie Aschwanden in FiveThirtyEight, January 6, 2016. We in Economics would do much better if we understood how much these problems afflict us also.
Professor Who Learns From Peasants by Jennifer Schuessler in The New York Times, December 4, 2012.
NPA Ordinance: The impact of secrecy in ordinance ...
What happens to private airlines when Air India is...
Movement on the law for the Resolution Corporation...
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Al Gore, Climate Science, and the Responsibility for Careful Communication
Gretchen Goldman, Research Director, Center for Science and Democracy | August 22, 2013, 5:08 pm EDT
UPDATE (Aug. 28, 11:45 a.m.): Ezra Klein has confirmed that there was likely a transcript error. Read more.
UPDATE (Aug. 23, 1:35 p.m.): According to Joe Romm at Climate Progress, the full transcript of Vice President Gore’s remarks was incorrectly transcribed by the Post. Read more.
When I was in fourth grade, I wrote Vice President Al Gore a letter about my passion for saving the planet and I was ecstatic when he wrote back. I believed then, as I do now, that he is a strong voice for issues with an environmental component such as climate change. And, importantly, he has become, to many people, the public face of climate science.
He deserves great praise for these Nobel-Peace-Prize-winning efforts. But unfortunately he recently got it wrong about the science of climate change.
Changes in hurricane intensity or not, climate change has serious impacts on our society now.
In an exclusive interview with the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein published yesterday, Gore inaccurately suggested that the hurricane scale will now include a category 6 (current scale is 1 through 5). He said the following:
“The extreme events are more extreme. The hurricane scale used to be 1-5 and now they’re adding a 6. The fingerprint of man-made global warming is all over these storms and extreme weather events.”
As was pointed out earlier today by Jason Samenow, chief meteorologist at the Capital Weather Gang, this is untrue. There are no plans by the National Hurricane Center—the federal office responsible for categorizing storms—to create a new category. Though, it is worth noting that the rest of the interview included accurate and important information and it’s unfortunate that this blip made its way in.
Since writing that letter as a ten-year-old, I’ve earned a degree in atmospheric science and learned to value to the role that science plays in informing public policy. Science—and climate change especially—needs effective communicators in order for us to make policy decisions informed by science. It is resoundingly important that such communicators get the science right. This helps instill trust in the research and allows us to create strong policies based on what the science tell us.
And the science tells us a whole lot. Climate change will have consequences for us, and some of them will be severe. And yes, scientists have more confidence in some of these effects than others. Though there is some evidence that climate change will influence hurricanes, the effect of climate change on hurricane intensity and hurricane frequency is complex and scientists are continuing to study the connection. Hurricanes in the North Atlantic region have been intensifying over the past 40 years but not elsewhere in the world. By contrast, scientists have high confidence that sea level will rise all over the world, and particularly fast in some areas like the East Coast. With this knowledge, we can say with certainty that action is warranted, though the type of action necessary will vary based on how communities want to respond.
Politicians and others can be effective communicators of climate science and guide us toward policy action, but they risk creating confusion and eroding public confidence in science when they make misrepresentative statements. In a similar fashion, just last month several politicians from both sides of the aisle made misrepresentative statements. Some overstated the link between climate change and hurricanes. Others dismissed the whole body of climate science entirely.
We should be clear. Attacking science or scientists – or repudiating all of climate science – erodes trust in and understanding of science far more than occasional overstatements about extreme weather and climate change. Take, for instance, Sen. Jim Inhofe calling for investigating climate scientists simply because he doesn’t like their research results, or consider the pundits and talk show hosts who have accused scientists – without evidence – of simply manufacturing all their climate change data.
Politicians who appreciate science and act as its ambassadors have a special responsibility, especially when it comes to science that has particular bearing on policy making. When they are less familiar with the science, it’s best for them to stick to what we know with confidence.
In a warming world with rising seas, planning for hurricanes will be more challenging. In fact, planning for all coastal storms will be more challenging. And this will be true no matter if hurricanes increase or decrease in intensity and frequency. Even without a “category 6,” the weight of the evidence of concerning climate impacts is overwhelming. And as I know my fourth-grade-self would agree, the time to act is now.
UPDATE: August 23, 1:35 p.m.
According to Joe Romm at Climate Progress, the full transcript of Vice President Gore’s remarks, which was incorrectly transcribed by the Post, was:
“The scientists are now adding category 6 to the hurricane…some are proposing we add category 6 to the hurricane scale that used to be 1-5.”
We hope the Post will update its original article to reflect Gore’s original statement.
It’s also true, as Romm points out, that at least one scientist has gone on the record recently saying there might need to be a new category. And while to our knowledge there have been no official meetings or workshops to discuss a new Category Six, it is probably accurate to say scientists have independently discussed or considered it, though the meaning of “proposed” is open to interpretation.
In any case, I still believe politicians should focus on science that is more certain and more actionable from a policy perspective, such as the obvious rise in sea levels.
It’s also worth noting that there could be other reasons to change how we categorize hurricanes besides an increase in wind speed, namely public safety. Even a sub-category one storm that makes landfall can be incredibly destructive, and this will only be increasingly true with higher sea levels.
I believe it is important to stand up for science—no matter who it criticizes. At the Center for Science and Democracy, we believe this is essential for preserving a debate founded on the facts. Accepting what the science tells us (no matter how inconvenient), correcting mistakes when found (as here), and incorporating new information are all part of the scientific process. This is how we move forward and in this case, I hope we can.
UPDATE: August 28, 11:45 a.m.
Ezra Klein has confirmed that there was likely a transcript error and Gore said that “some are proposing” a new Category 6 as opposed to “they’re adding” one. This revised statement is accurate, though still a bit speculative. I wrote a CNN Op-Ed over the weekend wrapping up the reaction to Gore’s comments and encouraging politicians and advocates to stick to scientific findings with greater certainty, such as the link between climate change and rising seas.
Posted in: Global Warming, Science and Democracy Tags: hurricanes, science communication
Russell Seitz
The late Henry Kendall would applaud the UCS candor in noticing Mr. Gore’s solecism.
It has happened before, and it will happen again, for despite his evident enthusiasm for environmental advocacy, the former vice president’s grasp of the underlying science remains,decidedly amatuer, witness his prime time exaggeration of the earth’s interior temperature by three orders of magnitude , and the infinite rate of extinction curve in the origina printings of The Earth In the Balance.
We all have these moments. Your favorite charity sends a renewal notice, but you have not seen any particular action from them in the past year that stood out. You also have not seen anything from them that was particularly bad. So the renewal notice remains on your desk, waiting for a sign in one direction or another.
Well, Dr. Gretchen, I think you have given this sign to me on what to do with my renewal notice for the UCS Kendall society.
Let’s analyze what Dr. Gretchen concludes from the ONE sentence “The hurricane scale used to be 1-5 and now they’re adding a 6″ in a Washington Post publication : ”
From this singe sentence, Gretchen claims that Al Gore, who “has become, to many people, the public face of climate science” unfortunately “got it wrong about the science of climate change”.
Moreover, she emphasizes the sentence by stating “it is worth noting that the rest of the interview included accurate and important information and it’s unfortunate that this blip made its way in.”
To rub this “blip” even further into Al Gore’s face, Gretchen emphasizes that “Science – and climate change especially – needs effective communicators .and “It is resoundingly important that such communicators get the science right.”.
Gretchen then argues that such “politicians and others” “risk creating confusion and eroding public confidence in science when they make misrepresentative statements” and “Politicians who appreciate science and act as its ambassadors have a special responsibility, ” and as a conclusion : “When they are less familiar with the science, it’s best for them to stick to what we know with confidence.”.
So now, it turns out that particular sentence was a Washington Post transcript error, and in fact Al Gore did not make ANY statement misrepresenting science.
And the journalist apologized for that error.
So, what does Gretchen do after the balance of her argument was proven to be incorrect and her assertion that Al Gore “got it wrong about the science of climate change” remains without evidence, and thus a myth ?
Does she retract her article ? No.
Does she apologize to Al Gore, and/or to UCS or posting an incorrect assertion about Al Gore’s statement on behalf of UCS ? No.
Does she at least see the irony of her patronizing statements about these “politicians and others” making “misrepresentative statements” meanwhile posting a blatantly false (not even misrepresentative) statement about Gore’s statements ? No.
She DOES eventually post an update stating that there was a transcript error, but rather than acting scientifically, by analyzing how much of her post is still valid after this new evidence came in, she simply amplifies the myth she created herself by pointing to her CNN op-ed titled :”The Al Gore hurricane hubbub”.
WTF ? Gretchen, why are you proliferating a myth and ignore the evidence that the hurricane hubbub was caused by a transcript error ? While you have such a great opportunity to set the record straight on what exactly Al Gore “got wrong”.
Because looking at this UCS post, and your CNN article, and the obvious 6000+ Al Gore smearing comments that attracted, I was not aware that it is now open hunting season on Al Gore, using misleading and incorrect assertions that YOU helped to proliferate and failed to correct nor retract.
That is why I asked WHICH part of your post here is your opinion and which part is the opinion of UCS.
Is this the way that UCS now interprets “Responsible Communication” of scientific statements or is it just your way ?
Gretchen,
Your post, and specifically your statement that “A Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) expert” says that Al Gore “got it wrong” is going viral as we speak.
Google “ucs al gore” and see for yourself how many web sites copied what you said, add their own “context” and opinions, and see how this statement proliferates through internet.
I count at least 23 new posts in the past 24 hours.
Some as recent as a few hours ago still referencing this page.
Now that it is clear that Al Gore did not overstate findings, and journalist Ezra Klein apologized for misquoting Al Gore :
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/23/al-gore-and-category-6-hurricanes/
and Jason Samenow has now officially stated “Thus, I retract the balance of my criticism “,
isn’t it time for UCS to stop this myth from spreading any further ?
At the moment, your only update is from Aug 23 and puts the burden on Joe Romm.
This is the very Joe Romm who actually got it right, and who was the one that exposed the truth in the first place. But no casual visitor of this UCS web site will know that, since you only state “According to Joe Romm at Climate Progress…”.
So, now that your statement about Al Gore that “he recently got it wrong about the science of climate change.” appears to be incorrect, and that instead the mistake was an innocent transcript error by the Washington Post journalist, but that your statement is still spread far and wide, I request, on behalf of the Responsibility for Careful Communication, could you please set the record straight, and post an unambiguous “update” retracting your allegations and critique ?
And it would be nice if you could clarify exactly which part in your post is the opinion of UCS, and which part is your own.
mary cartier
I only saw one piece of evidence here, from Dr. Emmanuel’s presentation, a graph showing increasing dissipated cyclone energy since the 1950’s. It was unclear what the source was for the graph was and appeared to be connected to the downscaling models showing a predicted increase in coming years. Not much to go on. As he pointed out, relatively accurate data is only available since 1958. And the methods used over that period are changing continually. So it would be no surprise if more an higher wind speeds have been detected more recently, biasing the trend upward.
I was perturbed by Dr. Emmanuel’s comparison of different model predictions using downscaling to estimate increased hurricane intensity. The fact that there was no significant agreement between the models is telling. How can anyone evaluate which model, if any, is correct? One model would be sufficient if it was properly constructed. Mixing results from 5 bad models tells me nothing.
uffe veilberg
I have had a talk with scientists in Denmark about the global Warming
I beleive that The Ozon holes is Warming up-(UV from the sun) under the ice cap, and the ice is melted from below rapidly (this is documented by a Danish Team studying the Ice in Greenland this year..
therefore it is not the CO2 which gives the climate changes
it is the missing OZON-
in accordance with new studying from scientists
:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130530132443.htm
and from earlier year see:
Therefore a solution is that we must produce OZON in a large scale ex. in the polare area.
We could use ex. “Tesla” coile (new developed)using Wind or Water power
Also it is a great problem for the Companies which has produced CFC gasses and the like..ex. Dupont.. and the US government which has not stopped the production of these gasses in due time..
Though it is a problem that aircraft produces CO2- when flying high in the athmosphere
and consuming OZON and Oxygen,
charles glenn
I am not a scientist I just remember 7th grade and history I learned before we started indoctrinating children. I remembered the ice ages and the reason the dark ages ended in europe was the Midevil? warming that allowed people to stop spending so much time gathering food and to start thinking again I also remembered at the time there was this era called the little ice age that ended about 1875 and I wondered about all this in 1989 when I first heard about global warming and I still wondering about this.
Richard Wakefield
I posted: Show me the science data to back up your claim that extreme weather is happening more frequently.
Since no one has done that, guess that means it doesnt exist, therefor your assertion is pure nonsense. Nothing is happening beyond normal variation. If CO2 has any influence on climate change it cant be measured apart from the noise.
Rande M
http://www.ipcc-wg2.gov/SREX/
Let’s be clear about the IPCC. It is a political organization, not a science organization. Plus, much has changed since the last report on the science of extreme events.
Second, this is what the IPCC actually says:
“Detection and attribution as well as modelling studies indicate more uncertainty regarding the causes of early 20th-century warming than the recent warming. A number of studies detect a significant natural contribution to early 20th-century warming (Tett et al., 2002; Stott et al., 2003b; Nozawa et al., 2005; Shiogama et al., 2006). ”
http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/ch9s9-4-1-5.html
The rate of change of temperatures from 1850 to 1940 was the same as the rate of change from 1975 to 2000 (which has been flat since).
Thus the IPCC admits there is no human component to early 20th century, there for there is no evidence the later 20th century is any faster which can be connected only because of our CO2.
You have just re-enforced that there is no evidence things are changing faster today than any other time in geological time, not even recent human history.
UCS is supposed to be a science organization, but your lack of skepticism of AGW, like we must be with all other science, is greatly disappointing, and questions your motives for continued promotion of AGW.
Steve Church
Looks like Richard has found more fish for his troll bait.
“Which is 6 inches in 100 years. There is no acceleration in the rate of rise ” – and then quotes a Tony T.Watt article reverencing something based on Grace data to prove otherwise.
That’s deception, since the exclusion of TOPEX/Poseidon, J1/J2 turns it into a contrived conclusion. Here’s the status at CSIRO:
http://www.cmar.csiro.au/sealevel/sl_hist_last_15.html
Trend = 3.2mm/year – Jan1993-Apr2013
Their analysis: “This is more than 50% larger than the average value over the 20th century. Whether or not this represents a further increase in the rate of sea level rise is not yet certain.”
“The fact of the matter is Gore lies and misrepresents science in order to increase his personal wealth”
That’s not a fact, that’s a paranoid delusional fiction at the least, and libelous slander at the most.
“What evidence do you have that the rate of change is faster today than any other time in the geological past? ”
None, unless the Big Bang counts. But for climate disruption, the parallels to the current rate of disruptions usually cited are major extinction events. Neither entering nor exiting Ice Ages (except for Dansgaard-Oeschgar events, and the onset/end of the Younger Dryas) matches the current rate of upheaval. Forget the science, it’s beyond you (you can’t even respect the topic – Gore’s Cat6 misquote); here’s a Bloomberg article:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-03/un-charts-unprecedented-global-warming-since-2000.html
“So show me a science paper which measures hurricanes happening more frequently than any other time in Earth history.”
Again with the nonsensical hyperbole about Earth’s history – here’s something easier, Kerry Emmanual’s increased power of hurricanes slide show 2009
http://www.slideshare.net/jatkeison/emanuel-webinar-2009
Take your beef up with Dr. Hurricane instead of yelling that your off-topic demand should get immediate attention.
“I downloaded all the daily data from Environment Canada” So what? You picked a peak point of the 30s to start counting fewer heat wave days. That’s just deception. You even give up your own deception by referencing the heated North America of the 30s.
“Record breaking days has nothing to do with a warming climate”
It sure does, when it’s recorded all over the globe. From the Bloomberg article:
re, the 2000-2010 period “Almost 94 percent of countries logged their warmest 10 years on record,” , so feed your Canadian mini-base to the Wawa Goose.
“Climate science’s predictions of the future have been dismal failures”
Quite the opposite – the big-picture was sketched out half a century ago, and it’s never ever been seriously knocked over. The hockey stick turned into a hockey team. Every down-blip has the pro-pollutionists yelling haha … and then the temperature gauge points back up. Your comments are rife with it. Hint: the strength of the Greenhouse Effect is proportional to its concentration.
“Hurricane Hazel was worse,” No it wasn’t. It never even made Cat 5. It’s claim to fame was its inland path, reaching Canada, and hitting a target that was already saturated from a month of rainstorms. It was the worst storm of the 1954 season.
Okay, bottom line – your self-centered ego barged into a topic on UCS and hijacked it. You basically regurgitated your worn-out material, added some Wuddupwidat, and then demanded a court-session to make everyone prove AGW on your terms with your selection of allowable data. You added nothing to the topic under the headline. You showed no respect for the science, and claimed ad hominem damage while tossing it at Mr. Gore. Go away. You’re just a pro-pollutionist with an old, useless, spreadsheet.
Ms. Goldman, my apologies. Whatever the reaction and opinion about the Cat6/Gore issue, it deserves discussion and attention. Richard Wakefield appears to be a very familiar troll from central Canada. He appears to have the same grasp of the subject as Peter Kent … and everyone knows how much that wasn’t.
“such as the obvious rise in sea levels”
Which is 6 inches in 100 years. There is no acceleration in the rate of rise. http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/03/new-study-using-grace-data-shows-global-sea-levels-rising-less-than-7-inches-per-century/
Gina Becker
But we’re breaking a record right now, the longest period since a major (category 3 or above) hurricane to make U.S. landfall–breaking it by a long shot, by years. The number of major hurricanes is not increasing. Why the hype about this?
Jonathan Katz
It would be easier to take Gore seriously if he didn’t fly in a private airplane, have a house the uses (according to press reports) twenty times as much electricity as the average American house, and have a financial stake in renewable energy. If you profess concern about carbon emissions, integrity requires you to limit your own emissions; what is enough for the average American (and far above the world-wide average) should be enough for you. Morally, the rules apply to everyone, even those with the money to emit more.
Steve Marks
“Accepting what the science tells us (no matter how inconvenient), correcting mistakes when found (as here), and incorporating new information are all part of the scientific process. This is how we move forward and in this case, I hope we can.”
With all due respect, Dr. Goldman, what “mistakes” are you correcting? Based on the corrected text, it appears as if the only potential error is the question of what “proposed” means. As Joe Romm’s post makes clear, scientists have indeed proposed this. Unfortunately, I believe you’ve moved this significantly backward without any real purpose other than appearing in headlines. If you are truly interested in correcting mistakes or communicating carefully, a true retraction is in order. And I’m still saddened to see an organization like UCS give a mouthpiece for things like this. Truly disappointing.
Wow, who needs enemies when we have “friends” like UCS? Not only did Joe Romm just show how this is completely out of context, but even if it had been correct, how does it help serve the mission of solving global warming to attack one of its most effective messengers? I’m sure it helped UCS get some press coverage, but honestly, every time the Politicos of the world can write a “Scientist says Al Gore exaggerated”, the cause is set back significantly. I’d be interested to see UCS defend the importance of this type of public communication, especially since it’s now clear they were wrong – but of course, an “update” will only occur after the damage has been done.
I do not see, as yet, a correction of the misquote from Klein’s WaPo interview on which you base this piece. You owe Al Gore an apology.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/08/23/2516221/gore-hurricanes/
But, of course, why ruin the media myth of “AL GORE, BIG FAT LIAR”?
AND, by the way- The “responsibility for careful communication” who seem to fall on the Washington Post and Ezra Klein. It was their piss poor editing which changed the meaning.
The fact of the matter is Gore lies and misrepresents science in order to increase his personal wealth through AGW scaremongering. And this organization endorses him. That’s the real crime here. I highly doubt UCS will send Gore a formal letter chastising him for this, and other mistakes. That’s all OK if it supports the message, right?
Michael Wallace
Gretchen thanks for this article. I am also curious as to a good reference you might know for power spectra of seasonal total atmospheric energies over the satellitic period.
Gretchen Goldman
Good question, Michael. I am not aware of a good reference for power spectra of seasonal total atmospheric energies. Anyone else have suggestions on this?
Bill McConnell
You stated “Hurricanes in the North Atlantic region have been intensifying over the past 40 years but not elsewhere in the world.” I would like to see your data on that. This is not born out by NOAA’s long term history of Atlantic storm tracks. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/#tracks_all Looking at the number & classification of hurricanes it appears that the opposite is true.
Apologies for not linking directly to that reference. The statement is a paraphrase of the discussion on changes in tropical cyclone frequency and intensity in the IPCC SREX report (Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation). The discussion I reference is on page 159 of Chapter 3:
http://ipcc-wg2.gov/SREX/images/uploads/SREX-Chap3_FINAL.pdf
Specifically, here is the longer discussion with original in-text citations:
“Frequency estimation requires only that a tropical cyclone be identified and reported at some point in its lifetime, whereas intensity estimation requires a series of specifically targeted measurements over the entire duration of the tropical cyclone (e.g., Landsea et al., 2006). Consequently, intensity values in the historical records are especially sensitive to changing technology and improving methodology, which heightens the challenge of detecting trends within the backdrop of natural variability. Global reanalyses of tropical cyclone intensity using a homogenous satellite record have suggested that changing technology has introduced a non-stationary bias that inflates trends in measures of intensity(Kossin et al., 2007), but a significant upward trend in the intensity of the strongest tropical cyclones remains after this bias is accounted for (Elsner et al., 2008). While these analyses are suggestive of a link between observed global tropical cyclone intensity and climate change, they are necessarily confined to a roughly 30-year period of satellite observations, and cannot provide clear evidence for a longer-term trend.
Time series of power dissipation, an aggregate compound of tropical cyclone frequency, duration, and intensity that measures total energy consumption by tropical cyclones, show upward trends in the North
Atlantic and weaker upward trends in the western North Pacific over the past 25 years (Emanuel, 2007), but interpretation of longer-term trends in this quantity is again constrained by data quality concerns. The variability and trend of power dissipation can be related to SST and other local factors such as tropopause temperature and vertical wind shear (Emanuel, 2007), but it is a current topic of debate whether local SST or the difference between local SST and mean tropical SST is the more physically relevant metric (Swanson, 2008). The distinction is an important one when making projections of changes in power dissipation based on projections of SST changes, particularly in the tropical Atlantic where SST has been increasing more rapidly than in the tropics as a whole (Vecchi et al., 2008). Accumulated cyclone energy, which is an integrated metric analogous to power dissipation, has been declining globally since reaching a high point in 2005, and is presently at a 40- year low point (Maue, 2009). The present period of quiescence, as well as the period of heightened activity leading up to the high point in 2005, does not clearly represent substantial departures from past variability (Maue, 2009).”
In addition, the recent Emanuel paper provides some further insight on the topic:
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/07/05/1301293110.abstract
Until the IPCC gets out of politics I won’t believe anything they say. The NOAA record of North Atlantic hurricanes does not support their conclusion. In fact the statement you posted is loaded with caveats regarding any conclusions that can be drawn from their analysis. Science should be better than this.
Jack Savage
Very unwise to criticise the Great She-Elephant of Catastrophic Global Warming Alarmism. His self-appointed High Priests will come down on you like a ton of bricks.
Oh, Hello, Greg!
Rob Sermon
Please, please post this, Mods…A question for all scientists, including those with the UCS…
When, in the history of earth, has the climate ever been static? Was it when the Arctic icecap was as far south as Indiana? Ya know, the icecap that formed the Great Lakes, and tens of thousand glacial lakes, that have the best fishing in North America?
Just when was the climate static?
Phil S.
It’s not a question of whether or not the climate is static (it isn’t – and no one ever said that it was). Indeed, the climate has changed a great deal over the last several billion years, owing to processes that have nothing to do with humans.
Instead, the question is about rate of change. Natural shifts in the climate occur over eons. The climate change we’re observing today – and predicting to get much worse – is happening at an incredibly alarming rate. It doesn’t seem like much, but if the average global surface temperature raises even a single degree over the next xx years (and models disagree on the exact number), the ramifications for ecosystems, wildlife, weather cycles, and much more are all quite serious.
What would normally happen over literally thousands or millions of years is happening very quickly, and it affects some of the processes central to our existence. Understanding it, preventing it if possible, and mitigating its negative consequences are all, in my opinion, not only scientifically valid endeavors, but morally necessary.
So yeah. Kind of a big deal.
What evidence do you have that the rate of change is faster today than any other time in the geological past? Hard to understand how you can come to that conclusion in only 50 years of measurements, when there is no way to get such fine measurements in the geological past.
Hi Richard – there are a number of indirect measures that help us understand historical climate change. These include ice cores, tree rings, glacier lengths, pollen remains, and ocean sediments, and by studying changes in Earth’s orbit around the sun. The science behind these methods is well documented, heavily scrutinized, and quite robust.
If you’d like to learn more, here’s a good beginner’s introduction: http://www.amazon.com/About-Climate-Change-Boston-Review/dp/0262018438/ref=dp_ob_title_bk/183-3293444-5365834
The notion that we can only measure and understand directly observed phenomena is, to be honest, quite flawed. It displays a misunderstanding of how all science (not just climate science) works.
But no links to any science paper which measures climate events happening faster today than any other time. That’s what counts, actual empirical measurements.
Show me a science paper which measures more frequent heat waves, tornadoes, etc.
I keep asking believers in AGW to provide such papers, but they never do, instead they resort to ad hominem attacks.
I suggest you check out the book I linked to – it contains a wealth of information you may be interested in. If you’d rather have access to something right now, UCS has published plenty of papers addressing the questions you raise.
Here is one on increased extreme heat events: http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/global_warming/Heat-in-the-Heartland-Full-Report.pdf
A little Googling will find you many, many more examples. The science is staring you in the face.
I downloaded all the daily data from Environment Canada for every station going back as far as they have data. What i found was the number of heat wave days has declined since the 1930’s. And declined significantly, by 30% fewer heat wave days (over 30C). But the average temperature is increasing. How can that be? Thats because the coldest days in winter are fewer. Temperatures in Canada are less cold winters. I will read that and get back. But the question must be asked, how do you know that increase isnt normal? How much less would that increase be if not for our CO2.
Read the pdf, now right off I have a serious issue with the tone and the cherry picking of data.
“all but eight states reported above average summer temperatures, and four
states broke records for extreme heat.”
Record breaking days has nothing to do with a warming climate, it has everything to do with accounting. Our records only go back to around 1900 (and very few stations at that.) The first day records were kept were record breaking days. Each subsequent year the number of record breaking days drops off in a decay curve as more slots of possible temps are filled in. Take one day, say in July, and look at the total number of possible temps, assuming a min of 15C and a max of 35C (20C range). Temps are measured in 1/10ths of a degree. That’s 200 possible temps in that one day. It’s simple enough to write a program to randomly pick any temp within that range, for every day of the year, and see how long it takes to fill in all possible slots. It’s 3,000 years! What is important isnt that a particular day is a record breaker (for example reaching 30.2C on July 10th of this year, when record days of the rest of July was 35C back in the 1930’s). What’s important is the number of days above 30C per year. In North America that is dropping (and I can prove that).
“…such sticky, steamy, uncomfortable weather is poised to become even more common as our climate warms.” “Scientists project that this trend
will worsen over the next century.”
Climate science’s predictions of the future have been dismal failures and nothing but pure speculation. Predictions are not evidence. Climate models are not evidence.
“But hot, humid days are not just uncomfortable. extreme heat kills.”
Since A/C has become wide spread from the 1970s on wards the number of heat deaths per year have plummeted. This data is at the WHO and easy to find. What I find particularly cheery picked is that the number of winter deaths from severe cold is somewhere round 4 times the summer deaths. Yet to state so would diminish this documents message.
“We drew on weather data from the 1940s and 1950s…” “we analyzed some 60 years of data on air masses in five large midwestern cities”
Conveniently ignoring the hottest period in the US, the 1930s, and picked the period when global temps were falling.
This document is a propaganda piece. I asked for a peer reviewed science papers which measured that extreme weather is happening more frequently. This isnt it.
I’m not some ignorant average person you can con. Show me the science data to back up your claim that extreme weather is happening more frequently.
Paul Kyprie
What is up with the begging to get posted. If you comment has merit the moderators will post it.
However, the question Rob poses is unrelated to the article. No one said the climate has been static as Phil notes.
What puzzles me is the folksy tone of the post, Ya Know, and like scientists didn’t where the great lakes came from. Rob appears to me to be a paid shill for big oil interests.
If you are going to criticize Vice President Gore on this particular point you should make sure that your criticism is not misleading!
As you seem to state it here, there is “no need” for a Cat 6 designation because we are not expecting an increase in storm strength. But that is not why there is no Category 6 designation. The designer of the scale has stated that the categories have to do with levels of destruction and once you are at 5, you’re pretty much seeing everything flattened in the sustained wind field. Adding a “Category 6” would be like adding “Extra dead” to a listing of how sick you can be. THAT is the reason there is no Category 6, not because there is not a class of super strong storms.
If we wanted to categorize storms by energy level we certain would have a Cat 6 category, and a few storms would be in that category. And, there really was discussion about doing this a couple of years back, but mainly among media people. Al Gore was not completely of the mark here.
The “jury is still out” about future changes with hurricanes. There is very good evidence that hurricanes have increased in strength and/or frequency over the recent decades of global warming. Science denialists are working very hard to make sure that people don’t know this. The level of increase and its meaning is unclear, and it is unclear what is going to happen in the future. Certainly, though, Sandy was an example of a hurricane following an unusual trajectory, and that trajectory was because of negative Arctic Oscillation, and that in turn was probably because of “Arctic Amplification” … an effect of global warming. So maybe we don’t have to worry that there will be more Atlantic hurricanes or stronger ones, but if running into Conn/NY/NJ once every couple/few years becomes a thing, that would be important.
Thanks for your comments, Greg. Our main concern was with the fact that Gore’s comments suggested that categories were measuring storm intensity (even if they are actually based on level of destruction), and thus, that adding a category six would suggest hurricanes were increasing in intensity due to climate change. You are correct that more hurricanes slamming the East Coast would indeed be important and concerning, if this is the case. And I agree that the possibility of arctic amplification due to climate change could have real impacts on hurricane activity. Research in this area will be increasingly important, I think.
“Certainly, though, Sandy was an example of a hurricane following an unusual trajectory, and that trajectory was because of negative Arctic Oscillation, and that in turn was probably because of “Arctic Amplification” … an effect of global warming”
Hurricane Hazel was worse, but being in 1954 was before the IPCC mile post of when supposed human caused climate change started. If it weren’t for human emissions of CO2 how much less intense would Sandy have been? 10%, 50% less? Not at all?
Gretchen Goldman is research director for the Center for Science and Democracy at UCS.
Read Gretchen's posts >
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You are here: Cambria > Obituaries > JONES, Henry
Cambria Freeman, 1 Mar 1907, Contributed by Patty Millich
Death of Henry Jones
Henry Jones, one of the most prominent farmers of Cambria
township, died Saturday morning at 8 o'clock at his home along the Carrolltown road, aged about sixty-eight years. Mr. Jones' health had been failing for the past three years, but he was able to be about his premises until Thursday of last week when he became ill with grip, other diseases following and causing his death.
Henry Jones was born in Wales. He came to this country about 1867 and located in this vicinity, where he was married in 1870 to Miss Mary Evans, daughter of the late Evan J. Evans. A short time later, Mr. Jones located in Baltimore, where he worked for awhile in an iron mill, after which he returned to Cambria township and had since been engaged in farming. Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons: Arthur, at home; and Ambrose and William H. of Ebensburg.
Mr. Jones was one of the oldest members of the Calvinistic Methodist congregation here and served the church for a long time as one of its officers. The funeral took place Monday, interment being made in the Lloyd cemetery.
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Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking is a TV mini-series currently being shown in Australia on SBS-TV. In the episode The Story of Everything (Part 1) Prof. Hawking expounds his version of the big bang theory. As this is virtually the same as another program of his titled How the Universe Works, we present our answer to the latter program, which we first aired on 8 June 2011.
Discovery Channel program: How the Universe Works
Seems like ‘science’ but really promoting a worldview
by Russell Grigg
Illustrated by Caleb Salisbury
First published: 9 June 2011 (GMT+10)
Re-featured on homepage: 8 December 2012 (GMT+10)
Showing in Australia this year has been the Discovery Channel TV program How the Universe Works. The episode titled Big Bang has commentaries by theoretical physicists Profs Lawrence Krauss and Michio Kaku among others, and spectacular graphic-art simulations of how the universe supposedly originated. However, there are many scientific problems with the big bang, and it is totally contrary to what God has revealed in the Bible about how and when He created the universe.
Creation and evolution—two contradictory worldviews
Genesis is neither myth nor theological poetry, but an account of events that took place in history. It provides the foundation of a complete worldview. The first chapter describes the origin of the universe, the earth, the sun, moon, and stars, plant and animal life, and the origin of human beings. It tells us that God created all these things by His will, through His Word—His power as the Almighty Creator God.1 I.e. God spoke (or willed) the creation to happen and it did.2 And within this worldview is the Fall of man into sin, bringing God’s judgment, as well as God’s provision for man’s salvation (Genesis 3).
For atheists to eliminate God, they must produce an alternative naturalistic explanation for everything which the Bible attributes to the existence, the Word and the power of God. And, of course, an additional incentive is that the God of the Bible imposes restrictions on human behaviour, and forewarns of future Judgment.
Chance is not a force; it cannot violate the laws of physics.
The currently most popular atheistic explanation of the origin of the cosmos is the hot inflationary model of the big bang.3 It too forms the basis for a worldview, a philosophical evolutionary worldview, in which the origin of everything is attributed to chance, energy, and the forces of nature. God (as the Originator not only of scientific law but also of moral law) is deemed not to exist, and so this worldview totally opposes the worldview of the Bible.4
In fact, many scientists oppose the big bang.5,6 Viewers of How the Universe Works, when evaluating the ‘science’ therein, should realize that its purpose is to sell a worldview, and the artists’ conceptions are to entertain—the animations of cruising through space among galaxies have little to do with what astronomers actually see.
The big bang v. science
Nothing becomes something becomes everything
The Discovery Big Bang episode begins by telling us: “Everything in the universe is made from matter created in the first moments of the big bang.” The program then asks: “How did nothing become something?”
Prof. Lawrence Krauss answers: “The laws of physics allow it to happen.” Then: “At the instant of creation all the laws of physics began to take shape.” But how can the laws of physics do this when the laws are still taking shape? Furthermore, one of the most fundamental laws of physics is the 1st Law of Thermodynamics, which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed.
There is only one way of getting something from nothing (ex nihilo), and that is by an act of Creation by a Creator—in fact, by the Almighty Creator God of the Bible. One occasionally hears the comment today that there is such a thing as matter being created out of a quantum fluctuation producing equal amounts of particles and antiparticles, so that ‘zero becomes +1 and –1’. And this is often used to ‘explain’ how the universe popped into existence. But this ‘mechanism’ requires the pre-existence of the laws of quantum physics—hardly ‘nothing’.
Big bang theory requires that originally all matter, energy, space, and time were contained in a single point of infinite density (technically known as a ‘singularity’). In the program, Dr Krauss informs us: “All we know is that from what may have been nothing we go to a state of almost infinite density, and infinite temperature and infinite violence.” That is, all the energy currently represented by the mass of some 200 billion galaxies each containing 100 billion stars, was contained in a single point.7 However, there is nothing in the known world of physics to start the universe expanding from such a singularity. Physical descriptions of the big bang, and the equations derived for the theory, only apply after the unknown event has already happened. Krauss’s fellow atheist Stephen Hawking makes the same blunder in his latest book, as we have documented.
Faster than the speed of light
Then Prof. Michio Kaku tells us that the very early universe expanded faster than the speed of light (c). This is based upon the theory of ‘inflation’, developed to overcome some of the huge problems faced by the big bang. The laws of physics do not permit things to travel faster than c, so this contradiction is explained with what comes across as ‘big-bang-speak’ on the meaning of the word ‘nothing’. Prof. Kaku says: “Nothing can go faster than the speed of light; nothing being empty space.” In short, the idea is that space itself appeared at the moment of the universe’s creation of itself, and it is that space which has to expand faster than c to salvage big-bang thinking. This particular ‘nothing’ was depicted as a ball of energy, represented artistically in the Discovery Channel film by an expanding bluish haze. Yet inflation has always been an ad hoc theory to explain away the big bangers’ own conundrum with light travel time: the horizon problem (see below).
The triumph of matter over anti-matter
The program says that the big bang produced matter and anti-matter. These two substances annihilate each other, so the program states (correctly), “a universe of equal amounts of each would be equivalent to a universe containing no matter at all”. However, according to Prof. Krauss, for every 1 billion particles of anti-matter produced, there also formed 1 billion + 1 particles of matter, and these minority excess matter particles formed “all the stars and planets in the universe, and us”. Prof. Michio Kaku adds: “We are the leftovers from collisions of matter and anti-matter.” Hmmm. So much for being made in the image of God!
Actually, when particles of matter are created from energy in a collider laboratory, they always appear in matter/anti-matter pairs (e.g. an electron and a positron, or a proton and an anti-proton, or a neutrino and an anti-neutrino). And whenever these matter and anti-matter particles meet they annihilate one another and revert to pure energy.8 So why were things different during the big bang? Prof. Krauss provides no experimental evidence in support of the claim of ‘billion +1’ matter-particle asymmetry during the big bang. So that leaves chance. But chance is not a force; it cannot violate the laws of physics.9 To say that there was anything left over after all this big-bang annihilation, let alone enough to form all the matter in the universe, is cheating with chance—assigning a positive probability to something that the laws of physics do not allow.
Cosmic ‘kingdom’ of darkness
According to How the Universe Works, when the expanding energy began to cool, it produced sub-atomic particles, which in due course coalesced into atoms of gas expanding close to the speed of light. So what caused billions of localized regions of this mass of gas to resist the big bang force, reverse their runaway expansion, and start contracting to form stars and galaxies (which the program describes as ‘vast kingdoms of stars’)—without everything disappearing back into the singularity?
Answer given: Gravity allegedly contracted the gas until it formed stars,10 and then collected the stars into galaxies. But gravity is ‘the force of attraction that arises between objects by reason of their masses’, and (the program tell us) there was not enough mass (i.e. gravity) in the expanding gas to hold the stars in individual galaxies together (even with the help of super-massive black holes said to be at the centre of each), nor yet to stop all these galaxies, when formed, from flying apart. Nor is it enough to collapse gas clouds into stars: they are too hot and thin. It’s notable that theories of star formation tend to involve a shock wave from a supernova, but this requires a pre-existing star.11
In the Discovery Channel episode entitled Galaxies, the program tells us: “Dark matter is the glue holding together the whole superstructure of the universe” and “without dark matter the whole structure of the universe would simply fall apart”. So what is this mysterious but apparently ubiquitous material that supplies the additional gravity without which “the universe would not work”? Prof. Michio Kaku describes it: “You can’t push against it. You can’t feel it. Yet it’s probably all around you. It’s a ghost-like material that will pass right through you as if you didn’t exist at all.” Another scientist in the program tells us: “Weight for weight it makes up at least six times as much of the universe as does normal matter—the stuff that we’re all made from.”
But this is not the sort of ‘science’ that most people understand by the meaning of that term, namely that involving repeatable and controlled experiments utilizing examination, measurement, analysis, comparison, and peer review. Not so for hypothetical ‘dark matter’, which no one has ever seen (it does not absorb or emit radiation—hence ‘dark’), let alone sampled, examined, measured, analyzed, and compared; and as to peer review see ref. 6.
Gravitational lensing
Physics Professor John Hartnett
There are a number of observations for which dark matter is the solution proffered—for example the motion of the outer parts of galaxies. As evidence for the existence of dark matter, the program offered a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. This is where light from a distant object is bent (much like light passing through a lens), from interacting with the forces of gravity along its path. But Physics Professor John Hartnett, in his book Starlight, Time and the New Physics, indicated that a new physics based on the work of Israeli physicist Moshe Carmeli resolves all of the issues without postulating a mysterious new form of matter. He refers to dark matter as analogous to the mysterious dark planet, dubbed ‘Vulcan’, that in the 19th century was hypothesized to exist on the other side of the Sun to Earth and so always conveniently out of sight—i.e. it was ad hoc. This was because the physics of Newton could not explain certain observed motions in the orbit of the planet Mercury.12 But Einstein’s new physics was able to explain the anomaly without any ‘fudge factor’ of a dark planet. Similarly, as Dr Hartnett has shown in papers published in secular astrophysics journals, Carmelian Relativity properly solves the problems that have been explained away by dark matter.
The ‘flatness problem’
To get the stable universe we live in today, and for it to have endured for the alleged 13.7 billion years, the cosmic expansion would have had to be fine-tuned with the counteracting gravity to within one part in ten million, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion of the critical value, according to big-bang proponent Alan Guth, the inventor of the inflation hypothesis.13 This required stability is known as the ‘flatness problem’. It requires a balance of the competing forces to an accuracy of 1 in 1055. Why did the program not tell us how this happened? Actually no big-bang proponent knows!
Some Christians claim it as evidence for God using the big bang to create, but this causes huge problems for Genesis. For example, Genesis has the earth before the sun, whereas the big bang has the sun millions of years before the earth. It is no coincidence that big-bang-Christian scientists uniformly deny creation in six earth-rotation days. The big bang involves the earth cooling down for millions of years, rather than being covered with water at the beginning as Genesis teaches. They also therefore promote millions of years of Earth history, placing death and disease well prior to the Fall of Adam.
‘The accelerating power of the universe is not the result of dark energy, but God’s Almighty power as He gave impetus to the universe.’—John Hartnett
Having conveniently invented dark matter, big-bangers discovered, inconveniently, that they needed yet another heterodox force in opposition to it, namely ‘dark energy’. The Discovery program says:
“Dark energy has the opposite effect of dark matter. Instead of binding galaxies together, it pushes them apart. It is far more mysterious. We don’t have the slightest idea why it’s there; what it’s made from we don’t really know. Dark energy is really weird. Far in the future, dark energy will win the cosmic battle with dark matter … by causing all the galaxies to recede further and further away from us until they’re invisible, until they’re moving away from us faster than the speed of light [sic] … and become lonely outposts in deep space.”
Most of the things stated earlier about dark matter apply to dark energy. The Bible states in numerous places that God has stretched out the heavens.14 Dr Hartnett explains:
“The accelerating power of the universe is God Himself. … It is not the result of dark energy, but God’s Almighty power as He gave impetus to the universe. … The big push was God, but through the agency of the fabric of space itself. He is the unseen force in the universe. God designed the original creation in a state such that it would naturally expand, relaxing the fabric of space itself like an uncoiling spring.”15
“This stretching out resulted in an enormous amount of time dilation; billions of years of physical transformation occurred in the galactic realms while only one ordinary-length day passed on Earth and in the solar system.”16,17
Cosmic Background Radiation (CMBR) and the ‘horizon problem’
The so-called ‘map’ of the cosmic microwave background radiation of the universe, with dark and light portions representing small temperature differences, said to be from 380,000 years after the big bang. However, “The detected anisotropies (unevennesses) are treated as if they are proof of the big bang model, whereas it is more circular reasoning. That is, the evidence (anisotropies) is interpreted assuming the truth of the big bang paradigm, then it is used as support of this paradigm.”25
Credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team
The primary evidence presented for the big bang is the uniform cosmic background radiation of 2.726 K (degrees Kelvin, i.e. above absolute zero). Tiny temperature variations have been used to compose a ‘map’ which is claimed to represent the primordial density variations in the big bang fireball from which today’s cosmic structure originated. However, other secular scientists strenuously dispute this conclusion,18,19 Also, using the CMBR as proof for the big bang commits a glaring logical fallacy, called affirming the consequent.20
The Discovery program tells us that space is at least 150 billion light-years across.21 Nevertheless, bits of matter flying in opposite directions all managed to reach the same CMBR temperature. But if the universe really was about 13.7 billion years old, how could the CMBR be uniform if there has not been sufficient time for radiation to travel from one side of the universe to the other, and even out the temperature by transmitting energy from hot regions to cold? This is known as the ‘horizon problem’ and shows that big-bangers have their own light-travel time problem to contend with.22 This is the main reason that the faster-than-light ‘inflation’ idea was proposed in the first place, as noted above.
The alleged big bang was a one-off event in the past, so it is beyond the reach of experimental verification. Hence speculation is presented wherever evidence is scant. Whenever the hypothesis runs into trouble, its proponents continually ‘move the goal posts’ by introducing hypothetical ad hoc assumptions and fudge factors like inflation, dark matter and dark energy, that have never been observed by modern physics.
Within the cosmological community, dissent is not easily tolerated, and certainly rarely funded. Occasionally, however, a comment is made from within the ranks which the public would do well to take note of, such as this one from Science magazine:
“‘Cosmology may look like a science, but it isn’t a science,’ says James Gunn of Princeton University, co-founder of the Sloan survey. ‘A basic tenet of science is that you can do repeatable experiments, and you can’t do that in cosmology.’”23
Creation by God, who is the first cause of all, gives meaning to the universe we live in. Not only does God tell us in the Bible that He did it, but the description of six-day fiat creation in Genesis is much more plausible than the big-bang scenario with, borrowing from Mark Twain, its “wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact”.24
Dr Michio Kaku’s last words in the Discovery Channel Big Bang episode are:
“Personally I believe in continual genesis, that is, a never-ending process whereby universes collide, split apart, give birth to new universes, perhaps with different laws of physics within each universe.”
Now why would an otherwise rational scientist have as his worldview a sort of continuous cosmic ping-pong contest? Perhaps it is because, if our present universe had a beginning, this would imply there was a Beginner. And in such a worldview as his there is no God and no Satan, no Heaven and no Hell, no Creation and (above all!) no Last Judgment.
It does matter what we believe, because these are all integral components of the biblical worldview, and they have crucial consequences for every one of us.
In the beginning God created—or was it a quantum fluctuation?
New evidence: we really are at the centre of the universe
Hawking atheopathy
Exploding the big bang!
Answering 10 big questions in detail
Secular scientists blast the big bang
What about the big bang?
Bye-bye, big bang?
Curiosity: Did God create the universe?
Does the universe need a cause?
What happened before the big bang?
Origin of the elements—Bible vs the big bang
Creation in-depth: Godless universe untenable
On the origin of universes by means of natural selection
Astronomy and Astrophysics Questions and Answers
Atheism, Godless Religions Questions and Answers
As we read through the Bible we learn that ‘the Word’ is one of the titles of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1–3, 14–18), and that it was through Christ that God created all things (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:3). See also Grigg, R., Is Jesus Christ the Creator God? Creation 13(3):43–45, June 1991; and Sarfati, J., The Incarnation and Genesis , 23 December 2010. Return to text.
See Grigg, R., Creation: How did God do it? Creation 13(2)36–38, Return to text.
There have been several other versions over the last 80 years. See Grigg, R., The mind of God and the big bang , Creation 15(4):38–43. Dissent from the current model by secular scientists is not encouraged by the scientific establishment and is rarely funded. Return to text.
See also Manthei, D., Two worldviews in conflict, Creation 20(4):26–27, Sept. 1998, creation.com/two-worldviews-in-conflict. Return to text.
See Wieland, C., Secular scientists blast the big bang, Creation 27(2):33–35, March 2005, creation.com/secular-scientists-blast-the-big-bang, which comments on ref. 6. Return to text.
An Open Letter to the Scientific Community, cosmologystatement.org, signed originally by 34 named scientists (from 10 countries) who oppose the big bang (including Eric Lerner, author of the book The Big Bang Never Happened, and since then by a further 371 named scientists, engineers and independent researchers, 105 others (as of 24 May 2011). It was also published by Lerner, E, Bucking the big bang, New Scientist, 182(2448):20, 22 May 2004. Return to text.
Compounded by the ratio of 2 billion to 1 in the matter to anti-matter conflict (see later), plus the postulated dark matter and dark energy. Return to text.
Oard, M., Missing antimatter challenges the big bang theory, J. Creation 12(3):256, 1998. Return to text.
Williams, A., and Hartnett, J., Dismantling the Big Bang, pp. 82–86, Master Books, Arizona, 2005. Return to text.
Known as the nebular hypothesis. Refuted by Sarfati, J., Solar system origin: Nebular hypothesis, Creation 32(3):34–35, 2010, and Oard, M., Another puzzle in the evolutionary story for the origin of the solar system, J. Creation 16(3):17–18, 2002. Return to text.
Bernitt, R., Stellar evolution and the problem of the first stars, J. Creation 16(1):12–14, 2002. Return to text.
Hartnett, J., Starlight, Time and the New Physics, Creation Book Publishers, Brisbane, 2007, Chapter. 3, ‘Dark’ matter: today’s ‘fudge factor’. Return to text.
Guth, A., Inflationary Universe: A Possible Solution to the Horizon and Flatness Problems, Physical Review D 23(2):347–356, 1981, quoted in ref. 9, p. 110. Return to text.
Job 9:8; Psalm 104:2; Isaiah 40:22, 42:5, 44:24, 45:12, 48:13, 51:13; Jeremiah 10:12, 51:15; Zechariah 12:1. Return to text.
Hartnett, J., Dark matter and a cosmological constant in a creationist cosmology? J. Creation 19(1):82–87. Return to text.
Ref. 9, p. 255. Return to text.
See also Hartnett, J, A new cosmology: solution to the starlight travel time problem, J. Creation 17(2):98–102, 2003. See also Humphreys, R., New time dilation helps creation chronology, J. Creation 22(3):84–92, 2008.Return to text.
See Hartnett, J., WMAP ‘proof’ of big bang fails normal radiological standards, creation.com/wmap-proof-of-big-bang-fails-normal-radiological-standards. Return to text.
See Hartnett, J., Planck sees the big bang—or not? creation.com/planck-sees-big-bang. Return to text.
Sarfati, J., Nobel Prize for alleged big bang proof, 7–8 October 2006. Return to text.
A light-year is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year (i.e. 365.25 days) = about 9.46 trillion km or about 6 trillion miles. Return to text.
See Lisle, J., Light-travel time: a problem for the big bang, Creation 25 (4):48–49, 2003. Return to text.
Cho, A., A singular conundrum: How odd is our universe? Science 317:1848–1850, 2007. Return to text.
Twain, M. Life on the Mississippi, www.twainquotes.com. He was referring to science in general, due to some ludicrous ‘scientific’ statements made about the Mississippi River. Return to text.
Sarfati, J., ref. 20. See also refs. 18 and 19. Return to text.
Hubble, Bubble: Big Bang in Trouble
Christianity for Skeptics
by Drs Steve Kumar, Jonathan D Sarfati
Dismantling the Big Bang
by Alex Williams, John Hartnett
Starlight, Time and the New Physics, second edition; updated
by Dr John Hartnett
Xquirla M.
WS December 27th, 2012
Sapere Aude :).
Carl Wieland
Gratias. :-)
US December 9th, 2012
Thanks for an excellent and highly explanatory article. I have lost interest in the programs on The Science Channel because they do not espouse my worldview in any way, shape or form. Their mantra of "Question Everything" seems only to apply to conservative worldviews. They never question the tripe they put on the air, which makes them hypocrites as far as I'm concerned. Your articles continue to help me articulate a biblical worldview and give me ammunition (for lack of a better term) to refute those secular concepts that are so pervasive in our society today. Thanks again.
Judie S.
AU December 9th, 2012
It seems to me that there is only one use for the Big Bang. I'd like to ask someone who believes all that matter travelled out, faster than the speed of light, whether that therefore means God could make the whole universe in a day.
After all, if it went faster than the speed of light at all, why not a million/billions of times faster. Is that really any more impossible? (Of course, I know 'impossible' can't be more or less, it just is or isn't.)
Considering that space is infinite, time is infinite, then why could not God be infinite in his power as well? Nobody is able to understand clearly the concept of Infinite Space/Time. It is also impossible to understand clearly the concept of an infinitely powerful creator. That is why creation exactly according to Genesis is so plausible to me. Who are we to understand the depths of Gods' power and love?
CA December 9th, 2012
Big Bang acolytes claim, on the one hand, that "there is such a thing as matter being created out of a quantum fluctuation producing equal amounts of particles and antiparticles, so that ‘zero becomes +1 and –1’" but then they admit that "a universe of equal amounts of each would be equivalent to a universe containing no matter at all" which are mutually contradictory. They try to get around this by claiming that "for every 1 billion particles of anti-matter produced, there also formed 1 billion + 1 particles of matter," but -1 billion + 1 billion +1 does not become zero, and this nullifies their opening proposition that is quintessential to their case. No thinking person can accept this without self deception per Romans 1:18-23.
Chuck J.
Thank you so much for dissecting this TV program in light of it's own failings and the Bible. I watch it when I'm otherwise bored to see what their latest fairy tale is as it keeps changing. A more profitable expenditure of my time might be in reading in God's word. However, my heart aches sometimes for those who do watch it and believe, and I need to keep up with the false teachings and your site to be better prepared to help direct them to God's Word. Thank you. Your work helps to keep me armed.
Stephen T.
GB December 8th, 2012
Hi Thanks for all your great, faith building, articles. They have been a great help to me. I am struggling with the concept of the big bang horizon problem as I cannot understand why the energy needs to travel the whole universe to reach an even temperature. If you were to have two equal numbers of ball bearings with one group at 10 degrees and the other at 30 degrees then poured them into a container would the energy not simply have to travel between adjacent ball bearings to end up with an even temperaure of 20 degrees. Any chance of a simple illustration to help me with this.
Tas Walker
That is correct. The energy would have to travel between them. It they are in a container the energy does not have to travel very far, but if they are a long distance apart the energy has to travel all that distance, and it would be by radiation at the speed of light. That is the horizon problem.
Hans G.
You only need to read the first two sentences of the Bible; there is more information than those 'proof-essens' Kraus and Kaku ever could dream up. Waste of time to spend seed on the rocky ground for people who made an 'academic' decision about their future.
B. O.
Although I think you have cause to be skeptical of some of these programs you lack the knowledge to say for sure they are wrong.
And the basis for your bald assertion is ...?
Robert S.
It all seems very straight-forward:
1. The universe had a beginning, which means that at one time it did not exist.
2. Something that does not exist cannot bring itself into existence.
3. Therefore, the universe cannot be its own cause.
1. Everthing that begins to exist (comes into being) has a cause.
2. The universe began to exist.
3. Therefore, the universe has a cause.
The cause of the universe would need to be transcendent, uncaused, timeless, changeless and immaterial (outside of time and space). There would need to exist beforehand, a personal, all-powerful, unembodied mind that could cause everything to come into being from nothing (William Lane Craig).
1. Evolution does not have a cosmological beginning (something that does not exist cannot bring itself into existence) for it to become established in.
2. Therefore, 'evolution' does not exist.
For its proponents to be under the delusion that evolution is true is easily explained by 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 and the prophesy in Isaiah 66:4
"...so I will choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because when I called no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear..."
The preceding verses refer to the results of rejecting God's patient offer of salvation.
If we don't choose Christ, eventually, we end up with the devil.
Leaton J.
I am not a physicist, and so am prepared to admit that my understanding is limited. However what I do know is that when an explosion (like the big bang) occurs, matter is ejected radially from the source, so that for each second which passes particles will separate from each other with increasing chordal distance. To me this seems as if, instead of galaxies and stars clumped together, the universe will end up as practically empty space studded with minute particles separated from each other by vast distances. As you and I are compact and dense, praise the LORD, this is not the case obviously and I do not understand how we have ended up with the universe we have today under the big bang theory. Perhaps there is someone out there with a good explanation but I've yet to see it.
Jack C.
As far as I can tell, the various Big Bang theories, some of which contradict each other, are not much better than fairy tales. I chuckle every time I watch one of those "science" programs "explaining" how the Universe came about. They now also bore me so I don't tend to watch them any more. The irony of it all is they keep avoiding the one theory that not only makes the most sense, it does so scientifically; namely that a intelligent designer (we of course refer to such a designer as God) created everything visible and invisible.
rufus O.
US August 2nd, 2012
Time is eternity forever having no ending. Time is made of multiple segments, such as a 10th of a second. And a 10th of a 10th of a second and so on. Each segment of time reduced to a even smaller fragment of time. Just as the same as trying to calculate absolute zero. We as a living biological creature life-form species: may already have the ability to calculate absolute zero in our subconscious, but have yet to develop an scientific equation that we can comprehend. If we were ever to know the begging of time, we would also know the start of the count down of the begging of time. Not in the positive sense but in the negative sense. Such as we use the death of Christ with B.C. and A.D. Our internal energy of our biological body's life-forms that is unique to use along as an individual, which is our Soul continual forever. We have come to accept and understand that matter is nor created nor destroyed , it just changes from.
David X.
Fantastic article. You put some good effort into it, and came across many of the same questions I’m always left with. I should mention that I neither know whether God exists, or the Big Bang is a myth. But as I watch these cosmology shows, it is clear that a number of supposed scientists are fighting for funding and will make up anything that keeps the money coming their way. Some of their theories are pure crap, as they have no real explanation, make something up that they can tweak with mathematics until they get it to work (at least to the limits of their intelligence), and then 2,000 scientists jump on board so they can all get my tax dollars.
I don’t think I would favor cutting their funding completely, but I sure do not appreciate the posing of fanciful dreams and hopes as fact.
On the other hand, I have the same issue with the Bible. A book written by men, containing selected writings based on what was needed at the time. In that case, there surely may be a God, the creator of all that is, but the Bible is not his word. Just my opinion.
I appreciate your candour. Actually the Bible says itself that it was written by men. 2 Peter 1: 20-21 says "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." So it was men who wrote it but God inspired it. And much of what is recorded in the Bible is of what they saw and heard. It's history.
I think you can take the Bible in two steps. Begin by reading it as a book written by men. Check out what they say, what they saw, and what they claim. Then do some tests yourself, and see if what they say gels with you. Test some of the promises. Do what it says in areas that apply to situations in your life and see how it works. But ultimately, you will come to a point where you will have to make a decision, a life long committment.
Shawn A.
US March 22nd, 2012
Firstly, I am a believer in God and have read much (more than half) of the King James Bible. That said, I don't recall finding anything in the book that would contradict evolution or the big bang. You and I are "evolving" even as you live your life. The process in which we live and die is a form of evolution. Evolution is just a word to describe that everything is constantly changing, and in case you haven't noticed, everything IS constantly changing. God created science, not man. If the big bang did indeed happen then it was because God made it happen, NOT because some scientist said it happened. Am I going to go to hell because I believe that God made the big bang happen? I know He works in mysterious ways, but that would seem a bit cynical.
Dear Shawn A: Your responses are perhaps understandable since if you're only half-way through the Bible, it's probably hard to see how it all hangs together consistently. And of course it's clear you haven't explored the site much before making this feedback. The Bible itself refers to all the change that is going on all the time in this fallen world, things dying out, becoming extinct; mutations accumulating in populations of humans, plants and animals; if that was all that evolution meant, then we would all be evolutionists. But in fact it's a comprehensive philosophy to eliminate the biblical God. The idea is that the universe made itself; firstly, it created itself from nothing, then chemicals, random raw materials became life (in a hypothetical process that has never even been described in detail, let alone been observed and that defies the normal laws of physics and chemistry. Then microbes became people, again with no outside input. And so on. Of course, there are the gullible who do not see what the driving philosophy is, so they think it is 'science' in the same sense as the observable, experimentally verifiable things we've learned about how the world works (quite different from how it is supposed to have created itself). And they console themselves by thinking that they can tack 'God' onto the end of the story somehow, for some sort of philosophical comfort. But it is not the God of the Bible. Because if you had read the other 50%, it should have been clear to you that the God of the Bible describes death as a 'last enemy'; that the originally good world He created was ruined by sin, and through Jesus' sacrificial death, will be restored to be a sinless, deathless paradise once again, in which righteousness dwells. Whereas in the millions of years view, these eons of time are supposedly represented by the fossils. But these show death, suffering, cancer and disease. The God of the Bible did not superintend a world of death and suffering and cruelty for long ages before Adam's sin brought the Curse of death and bloodshed upon the world. There are a heap of quality articles on such subjects in our Topics: Q and A page, for example, or by using our search engine. Even if you choose not to believe the Bible's record of history, hopefully you will at least know what it actually teaches. And no, none of our articles indicate that anyone goes to hell for believing that God made a bb happen. There are articles on that too. Scripture indicates that if you seek the truth with all your heart, you will find it and if you turn to Him (the real God of Scripture, not the imaginary one that we might want to think He is) He has promised that He will in no wise cast you out. But it has to be 'for real', which means that what counts is God's opinion - not yours (or mine).
Dawnelle T.
CA June 11th, 2011
I’d be interested to see how they test what happens while the laws of physics are forming in a scientific way. Pretty hard even to imagine or understand when we’re immersed in a universe run by consistent physical laws.
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Temporary Lane Closures on Wisconsin Avenue for the Week of March 18
(Washington, DC) - The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduled to temporarily close lanes of traffic and restrict curbside parking on Wisconsin Avenue from River Road to Harrison Street NW starting on or about Tuesday, March 19, 2019, weather permitting.
The contractor is authorized to work weekdays during the daytime from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and nights from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. The contractor is also authorized to work Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At least one lane will be open to the traffic in each direction at all times.
The closures and restrictions are needed for milling and paving work to make repairs to the roadway. Construction is scheduled to be completed by May 1, 2019, weather permitting.
Parking restriction signs will be posted at least 72 hours in advance at locations where parking will not be allowed. These signs will notify the duration and dates of “No Parking” and provide contact information of the engineer in charge.
Traffic controls will be in place to warn drivers approaching the areas. Motorists should anticipate moderate delays due to the lane closures. Drivers are advised to stay alert while traveling through these locations and to be observant of the work zone.
The mission of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is to enhance the quality of life for District residents and visitors by ensuring that people, goods, and information move efficiently and safely with minimal adverse impact on residents and the environment.
Follow us on Twitter for transportation-related updates and more; like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. Visit the website at ddot.dc.gov. Visit goDCgo.com for more information on transportation options in the District.
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The Washington Post Disses the Right
Ramesh Ponnuru Is Off Message!
Why Oh Why Are We Ruled by These... Whatever They Ares?
George W. Bush... well, maybe you can call it "speaks"... but maybe not:
Press Conference of the President: Q Mr. President, in the upcoming elections I think many Republicans would tell you one of the big things they're worried about is the national debt, which was $5.7 trillion when you took office, and is now nearly $8.2 trillion, and Congress has just voted to raise it to $8.9 trillion. That would be a 58-percent increase. You've yet to veto a single bill, sir -- I assume that means you're satisfied with this.
THE PRESIDENT: No, I'm not satisfied with the rise of mandatory spending. As you know, the President doesn't have the -- doesn't veto mandatory spending increases. And mandatory spending increases are those increases in the budget caused by increases in spending on Medicare and Social Security. And that's why -- back to this man's question right here -- it's important for -- "this man" being Jim -- (laughter) -- sorry, Jim, I've got a lot on my mind these days. That's why it's important for us to modernize and strengthen Social Security and Medicare, in order to be able to deal with the increases in mandatory spending.
Secondly, in terms of discretionary spending, that part of the budget over which Congress has got some control, and over which the President can make suggestions -- we have suggested that the Congress fully fund the troops in harm's way. And they have, and for that the American people should be grateful.
Secondly, we suggested that Congress fund the reconstruction efforts for Katrina. They have spent now a little more than $100 billion, and I think that's money well-spent, a commitment that needed to be keep [sic]. Thirdly, we have said that other than security discretionary spending, that we ought to, last year, actually reduce the amount of discretionary spending, and were able to do so. Ever since I've been the President we have slowed the rate of growth of non-security discretionary spending and actually cut discretionary spending -- non-security discretionary spending. Last year I submitted a budget to the United States Congress. I would hope they would meet the targets of the budget that I submitted, in order to continue to make a commitment to the American people.
But in terms of the debt, mandatory spending increases is driving a lot of that debt. And that's why it's important to get the reforms done.
Q Thank you, sir. For the first time in years, interest rates are rising in the U.S., Europe and Japan at the same time. Is this a concern for you? And how much strain are higher interest rates placing on consumers and companies?
THE PRESIDENT: First of all, interest rates are set by an independent organization, which --
Q -- still, are you concerned about that?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm not quite through with my answer yet.
Q I'm sorry.
THE PRESIDENT: I'm kind of stalling for time here. (Laughter.) Interest rates are set by the independent organization. I can only tell you that the economy of the United States looks very strong. And the reason I say that is that projections for first-quarter growth of this year look pretty decent. That's just projections, that's a guess by some economists, and until the actual numbers come out we won't know. But no question that the job market is strong. When you have 4.8 percent unemployment -- 4.8 percent nationwide unemployment, that indicates a strong job market, and that's very important.
One of the measures as to whether or not this economy will remain strong is productivity. And our productivity of the American worker and productivity of the American business sector is rising. And that's positive, because productivity increases eventually yield -- eventually yield higher standards of living. Home ownership is at an all-time high. And there has been all kinds of speculation about whether or not home ownership would -- home building would remain strong, and it appears to be steady. And that's important.
In other words -- and so to answer your question, I feel -- without getting into kind of the -- kind of micro-economics, from my perch and my perspective, the economy appears to be strong and getting stronger. And the fundamental question that those of us in Washington have to answer is, what do we do to keep it that way. How do we make sure, one, we don't put bad policies in place that will hurt economic growth? A bad policy is to raise taxes -- which some want to do. There are people in the United States Congress, primarily on the Democrat side, that would be anxious to let some of the tax relief expire. Some of them actually want to raise taxes now. I think raising taxes would be wrong. As a matter of fact, that's why -- and I think it's important for us to have certainty in the tax code. That's why I'd like to see the tax relief made permanent.
You know, it's a myth in Washington, for Washington people to go around the country saying, well, we'll balance the budget, just let us raise taxes. That's not how Washington works. Washington works raising taxes and they figure out new ways to spend. There is a huge appetite for spending here. One way to help cure that appetite is to give me the line-item veto. You mentioned vetoing a bill -- one reason why I haven't vetoed any appropriation bills is because they met the benchmarks we've set. They have -- on the discretionary spending, we've said, here is the budget, we've agreed to a number, and they met those numbers.
Now, sometimes I didn't -- I like the size of the pie, sometimes I didn't particularly like the slices within the pie. And so one way to deal with the slices in the pie is to give the President the line-item veto. And I was heartened the other day when members of both parties came down in the Cabinet Room to talk about passage of a line-item veto. I was particularly pleased that my opponent in the 2004 campaign, Senator Kerry, graciously came down and lent his support to a line-item veto, and also made very constructive suggestions about how to get one out of the United States Congress.
Let's see here. They told me what to say. David.
Interesting that he cannot remember "Federal Reserve" on the fly. Also interesting that he does not know that the Federal Reserve controls the overnight federal funds rate, but does not control--it influences--long-term rates. Interesting that he thinks his power to veto appropriations bills is the power to "make suggestions" about spending levels.
Who is the "they"? And did "they" really tell him to say that?
Posted on March 21, 2006 at 13:48 | Permalink | Comments (39)
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HomeCharactersBatmanCelebrate Wonder Woman’s 75th Anniversary!
/Kevin Gunn
/Batman v supermanDC ComicsGal GadotLynda Cartersusan eisenbergwonder womanWonder Woman 75th AnniversaryWonder Woman movie
Celebrate Wonder Woman’s 75th Anniversary!
Ambassador. Warrior. Legend. Hero.
Wonder Woman represents many things to many people. This year marks her 75th anniversary. Of course DC Comics would not let this milestone go unnoticed. Besides finally making her way to the big screen in the form of Gal Gadot in this year’s blockbuster Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, DC has many other surprises in store.
To commemorate this historic event, DC All Access gives us two features hosted by Tiffany Smith and Jason Inman. The first takes a look at the Amazing Amazon in action over the years with 75 different images.
The second features gives us a peek at DC Universe Online as the celebrate Wonder Woman with “The Summer of Wonder.” Voice actor Susan Eisenberg steps back into her role as Princess Diana from Justice League and Justice League Unlimited to give life to Wonder Woman in this popular video game series.
Created by psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston in December 1941, Wonder Woman is as popular is the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel. In addition to her comic book appearances, she has been depicted in animation, a very popular live action series starring Lynda Carter, video games, books, and the previously mentioned Batman v Superman. Gal Gadot will suit up again as Princess Diana in Wonder Woman and Justice League next year.
Tags:Batman v supermanDC ComicsGal GadotLynda Cartersusan eisenbergwonder womanWonder Woman 75th AnniversaryWonder Woman movie
Review: Injustice #29 “Thrones”
Score Album For Suicide Squad
Kevin Gunn
Kevin is married with 4 children and 4 grandchildren. He lives in Louisville, KY. He loves all things related to DC Comics, even movies that get a bad rep like "Batman & Robin" and "Catwoman". Kevin began writing for the site in 2015 as a Staff Writer. His passion for writing stories caught the eye of the editorial staff, and earned him a position as Assistant Editor. He has a degree in Communication from the University of Louisville. His favourite DC hero and villain are Black Lightning and Black Manta respectively. Kevin tries to exemplify being a hero everyday by helping others. Something interesting about him: he was a contestant on "Wheel of Fortune". - Follow him on Twitter - @captsigma
Justice League/Power Rangers Comic Crossover Announced
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Home Locations DC Director Craig Cipollini on The Gay Men’s Chorus’ ‘XANADU’ Playing this Weekend...
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Director Craig Cipollini on The Gay Men’s Chorus’ ‘XANADU’ Playing this Weekend at Lisner by Joel Markowitz
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC is performing the musical XANADU this weekend, with a cast of dozens. Director Craig Cipollini tells us how he pulled it off.
XANADU Director Craig Cipollini.
Joel: Why did you want to direct this production of XANADU?
Craig: I was interested in directing this show for two reasons: first – I am a fan of the movie and I wanted to bring back the large-scale aspects of the movie to the stage version. While I Ioved the stage version on Broadway, one of the things I missed was the sheer spectacle that the movie had. I looked on this production as an opportunity to bring that back. Secondly, I think that behind all the camp of the show, there is a message about following your heart and not giving up on your dreams. I think that’s an important message to get out there.
How many cast members do you have in this production?
We have 70 members in the cast total. That number includes both an ensemble and an onstage “Greek Chorus,” which we’ve added into the show.
When was the first time you were introduced to XANADU the movie and XANADU the stage musical? What was your first impression of the movie/show?
I first saw the movie XANADU when it was released in the theaters in 1980. I am one of the few people who actually saw the movie in a movie theater. I liked the movie when I first saw it, but I was only 12, and at that age, you’re a lot less critical than an adult. Watching it again years later, I realized that the movie had a lot of problems with it, but I still had a fondness for it. The movie has a charm and appeal all its own. I saw the stage version twice on Broadway – first with the original cast right after it opened, and then again shortly before it closed. I thought the stage show was brilliant, and one of the funniest shows I’d ever seen. I think they found a great way to spoof the movie without being cruel. There are still many people out there – myself included – who have affection for the movie and I think they found the right balance of spoof and tribute.
What were auditions like? How many people auditioned?
I don’t remember for sure, but we probably had about 90 people audition for the show. We first asked people to sing a pop song from the 70s or 80s for us, then we had people read from the script. hen we called back people for a dance audition and in some cases, to read again for certain parts.
Introduce us to your leads and tell us what you admire most about their performances?
The role of Kira is being played by Cory Claussen. Cory has played a number of lead roles (for us and for other theaters), but this is a departure for him. He usually plays what I call the “typical leading man” type of part, so it’s been great to see him stretch and play broader comedy which he does very well.
The role of Sonny Malone is played by Kip Jacobs. Kip has a beautiful voice and I love listening to him sings these songs – absolutely beautiful. Kip and Cory work so well together and have great chemistry.
I also want to mention Ryan Williams who plays Melpomene and Stuart Goldstone who plays Calliope. They are the two comic villains of the show, and to say they steal the show is possibly an understatement. These two guys play off each other so well. They are brilliant comedians and I’ve been so pleased with the things they have discovered during the rehearsal process.
The stage version in NYC was a hit because it made fun of the movie and everyone on the stage was having a great time. Do you do the same and what makes your production so special and unique?
Yes, absolutely. While we aren’t copying the NY production, we are still making fun of things, and the cast is having a blast. The cast has found a way to make these characters their own – to bring their own spin on things so to speak. They’ve played around a lot at rehearsals, and come up with some really funny stuff.
The show was performed on roller skates in NYC. Are your cast members on roller skates?
Yes, the cast is on roller skates. You can’t avoid it really, since the show is about a roller disco! Not the entire cast – we have 12 people in the cast on roller skates – the two leads (Kira and Sonny) are on skates as well as 10 other members of the cast.
What have been some of the challenges you have had directing this production?
The biggest challenge for me was just the sheer size of it. With a cast of 70 people, that’s a lot of people to block and choreograph. The character work came very easily I have been blessed with a great cast, who bring a lot of great ideas to the table, so that part was easy. But when you’re dealing with a huge cast, it can be daunting at times.
What has been the most fun rehearsing the show and how long have you been rehearsing? What is your favorite song, costume, and scene in the show?
Our initial cast meeting and read-through was in December, but the bulk of the rehearsals have been the last 10 weeks. And I think it has truly been one of the funniest rehearsal processes I’ve ever had. And I mean funny in a good way. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much. My favorite song is probably “Evil Woman.” It’s a great song, but more importantly the two gentlemen playing Melpomene and Calliope are simply a joy to watch onstage. They tear up the stage with this number. My favorite costume is the costume worn by the Hermes character. His headpiece is amazing! (He also gets one of the best lines in the show). And my favorite scene is the first scene in the show where we meet the Muses for the first time. They all are having such a great time with the whole scene (and the song as well) and it’s just a very funny scene.
Why should local theatregoers come and see XANADU?
Our production of XANADU will be unlike any other production. Nowhere else will you see a cast of 70 doing this show – and all men at that. It’s also such a fun show, with great music. I sit watching the rehearsals with a big smile on my face. You just can’t help it – the show is infectious!
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC’s XANADU is playing at Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University – 730 21 St., NW, in Washington DC – Tonight – Friday, March 15th at 8 pm;Saturday, March 16th at 8 pm; and Sunday, March 17th at 3 pm (ASL interpreted). Purchase tickets here.
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Monumental Theatre Opens DC-Area Premiere of ‘Be More Chill’ July 11
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Shared learning technology helps brazilian city develop online
Shared Learning, Technology Helps Brazilian City Develop Online Housing System
This knowledge sharing experience between São Paulo and São Bernardo is a great example of the value of investing in Middle Income Countries.
The Cities Alliance’s portfolio in Brazil has historically been the partnership’s biggest, with more than 26 projects totaling over USD 19 million over the past 12 years. This longstanding partnership has produced valuable experiences related to integrated slum upgrading that are highly relevant to cities in Africa and Asia.
Arguably, one of the most visible results achieved during that time has been HABISP, a comprehensive online information and mapping system developed as part of the Cities Alliance’s long-term partnership with the city of São Paulo. By providing accurate, up-to-date information about the city’s informal settlements, HABISP has dramatically improved São Paulo’s ability to prioritise its interventions, and it has become one of the city’s most effective urban planning tools.
Following the success of HABISP, the city of São Bernardo do Campo approached São Paulo about establishing a similar system for its own use. In 2011, the two cities signed a technical cooperation agreement with support from the Cities Alliance and the World Bank.
The result is SIHISB, an online information system for social housing that is customised to São Bernardo do Campo’s specific needs and context. Like HABISP, São Bernardo’s system is public, online, and able to effectively organise and systematise data on informal settlements to help city authorities plan their interventions more effectively. SIHISB is a more focused system, with six modules instead of HABISP’s nine, and uses slightly different methodology.
“The SIHISB initiative shows the value of continuing to invest in Middle Income countries. The experience of Brazil is hugely relevant, especially in Africa and Asia.”
-- Cities Alliance Manager William Cobbett
Operationalised in June 2012, SIHISB is already making a splash.
“When we started in 2009 we had no idea of the number of slums and where they were located,” said Tassia Regino, Housing Secretary for São Bernardo.
Ms. Regino stressed that the system has already given the city greater capability to address its problems and plan. She also noted that with accurate information on São Bernardo’s precarious and informal settlements, the system has helped the city reduce the number of at-risk communities.
The city is also committed to sharing its experience with others. As part of the Cities Alliance grant, a comprehensive publication is being produced that documents the process of customising and systematising the online system and extracts lessons learned.
These lessons include:
The importance of partnership among government entities to share knowledge and experience
The need for governments to have a comprehensive understanding of the city’s problems in order to prioritise interventions
The importance of characterising settlements and defining typologies to streamline decision making
Information systematisation has an impact on institutional coordination and integrating interventions with other agents whose actions have an impact on housing solutions
New media can consolidate the relationship between government and society by making information transparent and publicly available
São Bernardo’s experience with SIHISB is a great example of how pilot programmes such as HABISP can be adapted and used in different contexts. The information system addresses a fundamental problem shared by cities around the world, namely access to usable information that is not politicised.
It also shows how relatively small investments – in this case, USD 75,000 in co-financing from the Cities Alliance – can leverage significant learning, especially when it is shared between cities.
Using Technology to Transform Urban Planning in São Paulo
Exploring Lessons Learned from a Decade of Slum Upgrading in Brazil
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Celebrity Sports Center
Celebrity Lanes, later known as Celebrity Sports Center and then Celebrity Fun Center, was a relatively successful entertainment complex in Denver from the 1960s through the 1980s. The center represented the rise of a national trend in centralized shopping and entertainment complexes during the 1960s and 1970s. Although the complex no longer stands today, Celebrity Sports Center reflects Denver’s development, growth, and success during the tumultuous decades of its operation.
Entertainment in Denver
By the late 1950s, Denver was one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States, and entertainment was something both new and old residents needed. There were plenty of options. For those seeking fast rides and other thrills, there were Lakeside Amusement Park and the old Elitch Gardens. Those more interested in sports had swimming, golf, the Denver Bears baseball team, and college sports teams, among many other choices. But the one problem with these forms of entertainment was that foul weather could spoil the fun. By 1959 Denver was sorely in need of amusement options for the winter, or at least options that were impervious to bad weather. In late 1959, a group of investors joined forces on a project that could offer hours of weather-impervious amusement while also improving the lives of the area’s young people, a priority for one of the investors.
On November 15, 1959, The Denver Post announced that a “huge play center” was in the works for southeast Denver. According to the Post, the center was to include an eighty-lane bowling alley, a massive indoor swimming pool, restaurants, a lounge, and a health salon. The center would be owned and operated by Celebrity Bowling, Inc., a recently formed corporation based in Los Angeles. While none of these activities were especially original, what was unique about the future of the Celebrity Sports Center was its ownership. The facility took its name from the fact that it was owned by a number of Hollywood celebrities, among them Jack Benny, George Burns and Grace Allen, Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Spike Jones, Art Linkletter, and John Payne. And there was one other major investor, whom visitors sometimes encountered at the site once construction got under way—Walt Disney.
Celebrity Bowling
After the investors organized Celebrity Bowling in Los Angeles, they started hunting for a suitable location for the new business. After several months of research, they decided to build their new sports center in the Denver area, eventually settling on seven acres of land in Glendale at Kentucky and Colorado Boulevards. They leased the land from owners Leonard and Dorothy Peavy, who had operated a veterinary clinic on the site that they relocated to another part of town after signing the deal. Under the terms of the ninety-nine-year lease, signed in May 1959, the new company was required to begin construction on a structure worth at least $275,000 within two years. Construction began less than six months later.
The Denver Post reported on December 13, 1959, that a group of the celebrity investors was set to arrive in Denver the next day for official groundbreaking ceremonies for the 122,600-square-foot facility. The newspaper also revealed more detailed plans for what the center was to include. The bowling equipment, which cost $1,250,000 alone, was “the largest single order for such equipment in U.S. history.” The bowling alley, as planned, would be capable of seating at least 2,000 people at the major bowling tournaments the owners expected to attract. The 165-foot-long swimming pool was to be housed in a building with a removable skylight and a retractable glass wall that allowed access to a patio for sunbathing and other activities. The parking garage, together with outdoor parking, was to provide space for 700 cars. Plans also called for the construction of the $1.25 million Aqua Bowl Motel across Colorado Boulevard from Celebrity, though for reasons known only to the investors, the motel was never built.
The bowling alley was in business for nearly a year before the swimming pool, at first called “Olympic Swim,” finally opened in July 1961. The timing was also right for it, as the 1960s saw a boom in pool construction throughout the country. At 164 feet long by 75 feet wide and holding .5 million gallons of “constantly filtered and heated water,” it was Colorado’s biggest pool. Nicknamed “the swamp” by Celebrity employees, the pool had five diving boards and nine swimming lanes instead of the usual eight. Admission in 1961 was one dollar for children under sixteen and one dollar and fifty cents for adults. Like the bowling alley, the pool was a big draw from the moment it opened. One of its more popular attractions was the occasional visit by Goofy, the Disney character who enjoyed water skiing behind a motor boat in the pool. The opening of the swimming pool marked the completion of the $6 million Celebrity Lanes as called for in the original plans.
In the years following the opening of the swimming pool, the recreational activities at Celebrity continued to expand as new and different phases of the project were added and completed. One of the major additions was an expanded video game arcade. Eventually, three arcades housed a total of 300 games. The billiard rooms, a late addition to the original plans, were another popular attraction. Subsequent owners added three water slides to the pool around 1980. After Celebrity opened, Walt Disney was a frequent visitor to the facility, checking the financial books and making routine appearances for anniversary celebrations, dedications, or simple inspection tours. A reporter for the Rocky Mountain News wrote that “although Celebrity Center is a small part of the Disney enterprises it received a large share of [Disney’s] attention.”
End of the Disney Era
Walt Disney’s death on December 15, 1966, put an end to his direct influence at Celebrity, but the company continued to operate Celebrity as a training ground for future Walt Disney World employees for the next thirteen years. The Disney era at Celebrity came to an end in 1979. Ron Cayo, vice president of business affairs for the Walt Disney Company at the time, told the Rocky Mountain Journal that Celebrity was something that had never “fit into our overall operation,” though it had always been financially successful. The company decided to sell the property. On March 29, 1979, The Walt Disney Company sold Celebrity Sports Center to Griffin, Leavitt, and the Writer brothers for an undisclosed price.
Throughout the early 1980s, Celebrity remained enormously popular. This was especially true of the arcade, which the owners spent a considerable sum expanding and improving. The bowling alleys also thrived through the 1970s and 1980s as schools and bowling leagues from around the state held tournaments there. Unfortunately, by the mid-1980s, the Writers found themselves running into a number of financial problems. One of the worst was having to return their Riverfront Shopping Center development in Littleton to the backers who had put up the money for it. Money issues left the Writers unable to meet their financial obligations to Celebrity, so Griffin and Leavitt bought out their share of it.
By the late 1980s, Celebrity Sports Center was beginning to decline. In addition to the ever-increasing interest in the land from retail stores, many people were starting to perceive Celebrity, which had been in part designed to combat social problems, as a social problem in itself. The city of Glendale, especially its police department, was particularly troubled by the center’s apparent attractiveness to young criminals.
On May 20, 1994, Neil Griffin and Bob Leavitt announced the sale of Celebrity to a real estate investment group. The new owners, in turn, announced that they were going to tear down Celebrity and replace it with a $20 million retail center anchored by Builder’s Square and Best Buy stores. Reaction to the news was mixed. Longtime visitors were saddened by the news and planned final visits. Others, including Glendale’s then-mayor, Steve Ward, were pleased to know that it would soon be gone, eliminating what they perceived as the cause of growing crime and boosting the tax base for the city in the process. Celebrity Sports Center closed its doors for the last time at midnight on June 15, 1994. When Griffin and Leavitt announced the center’s eventual demise, they also stated that they hoped someone might buy the pieces of it, especially the bowling lanes. The wood from the bowling lanes found new life as the floor of the ballroom at the Oxford Hotel in Denver and one of the stars from the famous sign wound up at the city’s Lumber Baron Inn.
Adapted from David Forsyth, “Spares and Splashes: Walt Disney’s Celebrity Sports Center,” Colorado Heritage Magazine (2007).
LeRoy Ashby, With Amusement for All: A History of American Popular Culture since 1830 (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2012).
Steven Watts, The Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney and the American Way of Life (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997).
Disney Sports Center
Disney Bowling
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hoakley May 12, 2019 General, Life, Painting
Geese 2: The Goose Girl
Léon Augustin Lhermitte (1844–1925), The Goose Girl of Mézy (1892), oil on canvas, 160 × 85 cm, Private collection. Wikimedia Commons.
In the first of this pair of articles looking at geese in painting, I concentrated on the birds themselves. Here I look at a motif which, for a couple of decades, became popular in paintings: the Goose Girl.
Geese are sufficiently aggressive to function as both intruder alarms and armed guards, so don’t need the protection of human shepherds. They do need to be watched and controlled, and periodically moved on to fresh grazing – an ideal task for the children.
Henri-Paul Motte (1846–1922), Sacred Geese of the Capitol (1889), oil on canvas, 32 x 46 cm, location not known. Wikimedia Commons.
Some geese are so special that they were made sacred, as in those of Juno which were kept on the Capitol hill in ancient Rome. Henri-Paul Motte’s Naturalist painting of Sacred Geese of the Capitol from 1889 shows them being kept in ornate cages, although this loose goose seems to be arguing with one of the priestesses responsible for their care.
They are claimed to have saved the city of Rome from invasion by the Gauls in about 390 BCE, by raising the alarm and waking sleeping Roman soldiers with their watch dogs. But this priestess is no Goose Girl.
I am sure there are earlier examples of this motif, but the first that really comes to attention is one of the most puzzling.
Jean-François Millet (1814–1875), The Goose Girl (c 1863), oil on canvas, 38 x 46.5 cm, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD. Wikimedia Commons.
During the late 1850s, Jean-François Millet developed a series of studies which culminated in his painting of The Goose Girl in about 1863. She is here a quite incongruous contemporary nude set in a backdrop of the artist’s evolving social realism. This young woman, who is supposed to be tending the large flock of geese further along the river, has stripped off her working clothes and stepped out of her coarse wooden clogs to bathe herself in the river. She still wears a kerchief over her hair as an obvious mark of her ‘peasant’ status.
The result is certainly original, but I think it makes the viewer feel a voyeur, something that classical nudes in a rustic setting generally avoid, and not, I’m sure, the artist’s intention. The cattle seen at the top right also seem out of place.
Ludwig Knaus (1829–1910), Cake at Teatime (1872), oil on canvas, 30.5 x 23.5 cm, Private collection. Wikimedia Commons.
Less than a decade later, the next in what was becoming a steady stream of paintings of the Goose Girl appeared: Ludwig Knaus’s Cake at Teatime (1872). She has thankfully recovered her clothes, and stands against a gate with a harvest-time landscape behind. A gaggle of geese are feeding avidly from what clearly isn’t cake, but scraps of greens from the kitchen waste.
Teodor Axentowicz (1859–1938), Goose Girl (1883), oil on canvas, 41 x 53 cm, Private collection. Wikimedia Commons.
In this very loose painting by Teodor Axentowicz in 1883, his Goose Girl walks with a large flock of geese on flat and marshy land beside a river.
Over the period between Knaus’s painting and the end of the century, there was a succession of paintings from other artists exploring this motif.
Wilhelm Friedenberg (1845-1911), The Goose Girl’s Lunch (date not known), oil on canvas, 50 x 70 cm, Private collection. Wikimedia Commons.
Wilhelm Friedenberg’s undated The Goose Girl’s Lunch shows a younger girl, plainly dressed as a ‘peasant’ and barefoot, sat as she enjoys a short break with her lunch. A younger brother, who presumably brought the wicker basket out to her, is asleep by her side.
Luigi Chialiva (1842-1914), Young Boy Tending Geese (date not known), watercolour and gouache, 29.5 x 44.5 cm, location not known. Wikimedia Commons.
Luigi Chialiva is one of very few artists to have painted not a Goose Girl but a Young Boy Tending Geese, in this painterly watercolour.
Jendrassik Jenö (1860–1919), The Little Goose Girl (date not known), oil on canvas, 96 x 83.5 cm, location not known. Wikimedia Commons.
Attention then turned away from the pastoral setting and the birds to the young girls themselves. In Jendrassik Jenö’s The Little Goose Girl, his young subject is full of ennui, her back to the geese, staring into the distance.
Julien Dupré (1851–1911), In the Meadow (before 1891), oil on canvas, dimensions not known, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Carcassonne, Carcassonne, France. Image by Didier Descouens, via Wikimedia Commons.
Julien Dupré’s Naturalist painting In the Meadow, which was completed before 1891, shows a young mother holding her son’s hand as she steers a protesting goose with her stick.
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825–1905), Goose Girl (1891), oil on canvas, 152.4 x 73.6 cm, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Wikimedia Commons.
It was perhaps William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s Goose Girl from 1891 which became the best-known example. She stands barefoot, her stick tucked under her left arm like a sergeant-major’s swagger stick, her head turned to look directly at the viewer. Instead of Jenö’s ennui, she smiles with deep confidence in her natural beauty. We could almost forgive the artist for his obvious studio composition.
Nikolai Bodarevsky (1850–1921), Малороссия. Девочка с гусями (Little Russia. A Girl with Geese) (1892), oil on canvas, 76 x 103 cm, Private collection. Wikimedia Commons.
Nikolai Bodarevsky’s goose girl is far less content. Seen in Little Russia. A Girl with Geese from 1892, this is set in what is now the Ukraine. Barefoot and dressed as a ‘peasant’, her gaze and mind have drifted far away from the geese with their young goslings in front of her.
For me, the consummate of these paintings is Léon Lhermitte’sThe Goose Girl of Mézy from 1892. Following the model set by Jules Bastien-Lepage’s waifs and strays, she stands sullen and sultry, defending her small flock of geese as she gleans for wheat left after the harvest. Her pinafore seems to have been handed down through the generations, and with its gaping holes is a shadow of its former self. But the last thing that she seeks is your pity or charitable handouts.
Clarence Gagnon (1881-1942), Brittany Goose Girl (1908), oil on canvas, 63.5 x 92 cm, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. The Athenaeum.
By the start of the twentieth century, the Goose Girl had moved on with her noisome birds. A few more paintings appear, such as the Canadian Clarence Gagnon’s Brittany Goose Girl from 1908. She walks along in her wooden clogs quietly knitting in the golden sunlight of autumn.
Helen Hyde (1868–1919), Complaints (1914), print, dimensions not known, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC. Wikimedia Commons.
The American Japoniste print-maker Helen Hyde, who died a century ago tomorrow, shows a young Japanese girl arguing with her birds in Complaints from 1914.
The stereotype Goose Girl seems young, poor, barefoot, and thoroughly bored. Little does she know that later in life, she will be seeing to those geese in a different way, as shown in Max Liebermann’s Women Plucking Geese from 1871-72. Perhaps it’s as well that neither she nor her geese know their ultimate fate.
Max Liebermann (1847–1935), Women Plucking Geese (1871-72), oil on canvas, 119.5 x 170.5 cm, Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany. Wikimedia Commons.
Posted in General, Life, Painting and tagged Axentowicz, Bouguereau, Chialiva, Dupré, Friedenberg, Gagnon, Hyde, Jenö, Knaus, Lhermitte, Liebermann, Motte, painting. Bookmark the permalink.
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Last Week on My Mac: Language wars
When does Mojave check an app’s signature? The answer isn’t entirely consistent
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Central Asia Floods Reawaken Glacier Anxieties
Near the towns of Barsem and Kolkhozod, villagers in Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region gather at the edge of the swollen Gund River to watch floodwaters cut off roads and wash away homes on July 17. Abnormally high temperatures in Tajikistan are causing rapid snow and glacier melts, triggering mudflows, landslides and flash floods. (Photo: UN REACT)
Floods across Central Asia over this past week are highlighting the perils of failing to adopt robust water-management measures and put adequate early-warning systems in place.
Tajikistan has been the worst hit, with abnormally high temperatures causing rapid snow and glacier melts. The country is 93 percent covered by high mountains, making it particularly vulnerable to landslides and flash floods. Dozens of homes have been destroyed and at least a dozen people killed.
The situation has been particularly acute in the eastern Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, where challenging geography complicates any rescue operation. On July 16, a mudslide there crashed into the Gund River, which runs by the village of Barsem, resulting in the build-up of an artificial lake that flooded the area and stranded 1,100 residents.
The government is unable to single-handedly tackle emergency situations and relies heavily in the Pamirs on the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), with which it has often strained relations.
“The vulnerable population of the affected site was evacuated through government and Aga Khan Development Network helicopters – the only means of access during the first two days – to Khorog and transported to the Manem village, where a shelter and tent camp was established,” said Idris Jonmamadov, spokesman for the AKDN’s emergency response center.
A United Nations Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team estimated that more than 80 percent of communities in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region were left without power in the days following the flooding.
The long-term damage will be all but impossible to remedy without international assistance.
“In total, the country’s water, energy, transportation system and social infrastructure have, according to preliminary information, sustained damage worth around $100 million,” Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement appealing for help.
The initiative for developing an efficient and coherent disaster response mechanism has been led by international organizations, while government spending priorities have often focused elsewhere.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said on July 22 that all completely destroyed homes would be rebuilt by November and the families that lived in them given $1,500. Nothing was said about what could be done to avoid or minimize the impact of repeat events.
Also, with all critics of the government jailed or cowed into silence, there is no public debate about authorities’ emergency response.
Meanwhile, intense heat in Kyrgyzstan, another densely mountainous country, has also caused fast melting of glaciers and a rise in river levels.
Emergency officials said on July 20 that the banks of Sokh River overflowed in the southern Batken region, washing away rice and corn fields, and destroying flood defenses. Similar dispatches have been coming out of southern Kyrgyzstan, the country’s agricultural heartland, for several weeks.
Water levels have also been on the rise in the northern Chui region, posing a risk to homes, roads, bridges and communication lines. Alamedin, Ala-Archa, Ysyk-ata and Nooruz rivers are popular with local and foreign visitors alike and draw important tourist revenue, which prompted the authorities to issue warning notices to short-term visitors.
“It is recommended that … tourist groups not go to locations in close proximity to the banks of the aforementioned rivers and to be extremely careful,” the Emergency Services Ministry said in a statement.
The dangers inherent in mudslides and earthquakes do not only have humanitarian implications, but also threaten to stoke outright ecological disasters. Kyrgyzstan’s often poorly secured, Soviet-era radioactive tailings dumps lie beside rivers susceptible to overflowing. Officials worry about the consequences, but action to address the issue has been left wanting. Again, a combination of lassitude and cash shortages lies at the heart of the predicament.
Kazakhstan is not as mountainous as Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, but floods have struck there too. Still, superior resources have allowed for a far more comprehensive reaction.
Emergency officials said a moraine holding back the Bezymyannoye lake above the city of Almaty failed to hold, sending up to 30,000 square meters of water and debris plunging below in the early hours of July 23. Videos and photos posted online showed streets under muddy water and vehicles washed away by the water-borne debris.
Consequences might have been much worse but for a dike built in 2003, emergency services official Talgat Bekbolov told Tengri News.
“This year, the summer has been very hot. The anomalous temperatures have lasted for 10-12 days,” Bekbolov said, adding that freezing temperatures were only being registered at altitudes as high 4,800 meters. “This has had a strong effect on high-altitude glaciers and led to them melting.”
Kazakhstan’s emergency services responded by sending 1,200 recovery workers, 160 vehicles and three helicopters to deal with the aftermath.
The government in Kazakhstan has learned the public relations value of having state representatives be seen overseeing such occurrences. Top officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Berdybek Saparbayev and Deputy Interior Minister Vladimir Bozhko travelled to the scene for a clearer understanding of events, the Emergency Services Committee said.
Almost 900 residents were evacuated from flood areas on the western edge of Almaty within hours.
Still, even Kazakhstan’s response has evinced shortcomings. Despite assurances by officials that SMS warnings had been sent to residents in affected neighborhoods, it appears many did not receive those messages in the early hours of the morning.
Emergency Services Committee head Serik Aubakirov said that failure would be investigated.
“Evidently, this is a matter of ill-information or lack of good faith by the (telephone) service operator staff on duty at that time,” Aubakirov was cited as saying by Tengri News. “The messages only went out later, when the company heads turned up.”
Tajikistan, China to hold another joint military drill in Pamirs
Tajikistan hit again with mass deaths among prisoners
Tajikistan: Ozodi facing calls for closure of Dushanbe bureau
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North American Professional Membership
Reader Membership
IDS Constitution
Crime & Punishment at 150 wins SSHRC Connection Grant
By bloggerkaramazov | CP150, member news | No Comments
Katherine Bowers (British Columbia) and Kate Holland (Toronto), together with a team of collaborators including Carol Apollonio (Duke), Brian Armstrong (Augusta), Mel Bach (Cambridge), Connor Doak (Bristol), and Ksenya Kiebuzinski (Toronto), have been awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Connection Grant for the conference and outreach program “Crime and Punishment at 150.” The program will celebrate 150 years of Dostoevsky’s novel with a series of events, both on location and online. These will include library exhibits at the Universities of Toronto and Cambridge, and online; a panel discussion at the University of Bristol; a conference at the University of British Columbia; a Twitter project @RodionTweets; and more. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
If you are interested in attending and presenting at the Vancouver conference, the Call for Papers is online. Abstracts are still being accepted until May 15.
Congratulations to Katia, Kate, and their team!
Painting the Town Black: A Japanese Take on Brothers Karamazov
By bloggerkaramazov | Brothers K, film adaptations | No Comments
by Connor Doak
Connor Doak is a lecturer in Russian at the University of Bristol. He is grateful to Ritsuko Kidera of Doshisha University for advice on Japanese culture when preparing this piece. This piece originally appeared on All the Russias, the blog of the NYU Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russian, and is reproduced here with their permission.
Many of us who share a love for nineteenth-century Russian literature have found a recent fix of television drama in the BBC’s sumptuous adaptation of War and Peace. My tastes, however, have always leaned toward Dostoevsky rather than Tolstoy, so I put the BBC drama on the back burner while I finished a 2013 Japanese adaptation of Brothers Karamazov, now available on DVD with English subtitles. This award-winning eleven-part miniseries relocates the action from nineteenth-century Skotoprigonevsk to twenty-first century Karasume, a fictional provincial town in Japan. The popular series provides a case study in how Dostoevsky has been indigenized for a contemporary Japanese audience. Moreover, it is fascinating to observe how this miniseries is influenced by recent trends in televised crime drama, a genre that, of course, had its origins in nineteenth-century literature, and to which Dostoevsky’s own novel made an important contribution some 150 years ago.
Even more than Dostoevsky’s novel, the miniseries highlights the family conflict at the heart of the story. The Karamazov family become the Kurosawas. This name offers a nod to the great Japanese director whose 1951 adaptation of The Idiot remains a classic, but its Japanese meaning—“black swamp”—also reflects the family name Karamazov’s connection to blackness. The terrifying presence of Bunzo Kurosawa, the Japanese incarnation of Fyodor Pavlovich, looms over the entire miniseries. Veteran actor Kotaro Yoshida’s wealth of experience as a Shakespearean stage actor shines through in his portrayal of the consummate villain, complete with maniacal laughter. It is difficult to forget him as, even once murdered, his grotesque image lingers through a huge portrait that dominates the interior scenes of the Karamazov house, and, of course, frequent flashbacks provide ample opportunity to add to his screen time.
Yoshida’s hyperbolic performance fits with the overblown aesthetic that characterizes the series as a whole. This mood is enhanced by gothic-inspired cut-scenes featuring sinister crows, as well as an emotionally laden soundtrack that mixes late Romantic composers (Grieg, Ravel, Tchaikovsky) with angry rock (Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, Nirvana). “Paint It Black” by the Rolling Stones, with its tones of frenetic desperation, provides a fitting anthem for the series. At times, the program overindulges in this dark aesthetic, risking becoming a parody of itself. Perhaps that danger is particularly present for European audiences, whose taste in crime drama is currently more attuned to Scandi crime dramas. Nordic noir, though it deals with equally gruesome themes, tends towards a slower pace, bleaker, sparse settings, and more restrained performances. Yet for the viewer equipped with knowledge of Dostoevsky’s source text, the over-acting and heavily charged atmosphere appear as an asset in the Japanese miniseries, since these features have direct equivalents in the novel.
As in the novel, the miniseries opens with a reunion of the family. The father’s murder soon follows, leaving the audience wondering which of the brothers committed the crime. Even those familiar with the book are drawn in, as we wonder whether the adaptation might yield a different killer than the novel. The miniseries switches between different time periods: the lead-up to the murder, its aftermath, and the boys’ traumatic childhood. This editing technique creates a fragmentary narrative, inviting the audience to piece together the sons’ long-term resentment of their father as well as the events on the day of his murder. Though long familiar to viewers of crime drama, this device proves poignantly effective for an adaptation of Brothers Karamazov, as it allows for an exploration of the power of memory, so important to that novel.
Modern-day analogues are found for each of the three brothers, with varying degrees of success. Dmitry’s equivalent is Mitsuru (Takumi Saito), whose brooding good looks make him attractive to women, but who is struggling with debts and alcohol abuse. Perhaps the best performance comes from Hayato Ichihara as Isao, the counterpart for Ivan. His success not only stems from the fact that Isao has all the best lines—as many would argue Ivan does—but because Isao’s role as a lawyer proves an apposite twenty-first century equivalent to the questioning skeptic found in the novel.
It proves more difficult to find a modern-day analogue for Alyosha, the novice monk. He becomes Ryo (Kento Hayashi), a student of psychiatry, his kind spirit channeled into medicine rather than Christian virtue. As Ritsuko Kidera, a Dostoevsky specialist at Doshisha University, points out, Japanese versions of Dostoevsky have historically tended to play down the writer’s Christian themes because of the difficulty of finding cultural equivalents. Zosima’s role is even more difficult to reproduce. Although the early episodes feature a university tutor whom Ryo much admires, the character and his values are not articulated strongly enough to provide the same presence that the Russian monk offers in the novel.
It is, in fact, the social rather than the religious dimension of the novel that this adaptation foregrounds. The tyrannical patriarch Bunzo, a corrupt and uncompromising entrepreneur has bought up a good portion of the town of Karasume. According to the creator of the series, Misato Sato, Bunzo is “a relic of the bubble economy of the 1980s” [1]. The dark side of economic growth is explored through a recasting of the subplot involving Snegirev, who is reimagined as a petty businessman whom Bunzo destroys financially by enlisting the help of his lawyer son Isao. Here the series points to the collusion of the law with big business, showing how Dostoevsky’s text can be repurposed as a critique of capitalism for our contemporary era of recession.
The police investigation occupies more space in the miniseries than in the novel. The idea of universal responsibility, arguably the novel’s central theme, is not entirely neglected, although it takes a back seat to the exploration of policing and justice in the miniseries. The detective’s assumption of Dmitry’s guilt echoes the social determinism of the prosecutor in the novel. The law is presented as coldly calculating and rational. Although the lead detective is not as wantonly cruel as the patriarch Bunzo, the system that he represents is almost as heartless.
Nabokov derisively called Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov “a typical detective story, a riotous whodunit—in slow motion” [2]. This assessment purposely fails to mention all the ways in which Dostoevsky reworks the tradition of the whodunit: his questioning of human justice, his exploration of free will and determinism, and his Christian ethics, to name but a few. Although the miniseries does not attempt to replicate the full range of Dostoevsky’s philosophical inquiry, it, too, is more than a “riotous whodunit” on the small screen. The series not only uses Dostoevsky’s text to create an entertaining crime drama, but also as the basis for an inquiry into the psychology that accompanies the current socioeconomic moment in contemporary Japan.
[1] Misato Sato is interviewed in Anna Fediakina and Horie Hiroyuki, “Arigato, Karamazov-san,” Rossiiskaia gazeta, http://rg.ru/2013/04/10/misatosato-site.html, 11 April 2013.
[2] Vladimir Nabokov, Lectures on Russian Literature, ed. Fredson Bowers (New York: Harcourt, 1981), 133.
Congratulations to Dr. Martinsen!
By bloggerkaramazov | member news | One Comment
Congratulations to Dr. Deborah Martinsen! Dr. Martinsen (Columbia University), who is the former president of the International Dostoevsky Society and a current member of the North American Dostoevsky Society Executive Board, was recently awarded the Donald Barton Johnson Prize for the best essay published in Nabokov Studies. The prize, which is awarded every two years, was for her article, “Lolita as a St. Petersburg Text.” The article is not yet available, but for those who would like to read some vintage Martinsen, check out “Shame and Punishment” from the fifth volume of Dostoevsky Studies (the new series). It begins with the question, “Why doesn’t Raskolnikov repent?” – perfect reading for the 150th anniversary of Crime and Punishment!
Russian Language Students Stage Dostoevsky’s “The Crocodile”
By bloggerkaramazov | Crocodile, students, theater | No Comments
by Michael Marsh-Soloway
Michael Marsh-Soloway is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Virginia.
At the end of the fall 2015 semester, Russian language students in the UVa Slavic Department held two performances of F.M. Dostoevsky’s “The Crocodile.” The first was held at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library in downtown Charlottesville on Saturday, December 5, and the second was staged in the Nau Hall auditorium on Wednesday, December 9. The all-student cast recited dialogue in Russian, but English subtitles were also projected above the stage so that non-Russian speakers could follow the action of the play. The UVa College Council and Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures generously provided support to the production, allowing both performances to be free and open to the public. About 120 people attended the two shows, and the audience included university students, faculty, staff, and members of the local community.
First published in Dostoevsky’s journal Epokha in 1865, the short story was not originally intended for the stage. Sensing that the short farce and its humor would readily translate into theatrical comedy, two PhD students in the UVa Slavic Department, Michael Marsh-Soloway and Abigail Hohn, worked closely throughout the semester to adapt the satirical farce into a 15-page script. After visiting Russian-language classes at the start of the semester, they recruited an enthusiastic cast of 15 students and commenced holding rehearsals on a weekly basis starting in late September. The students in the cast all assisted with making props, costumes, and set décor. Maria Bakatkina, a native speaker of Russian in the 4+1 BA and MA program in Slavic Languages and Literatures, provided special phonetics instruction to members of the cast, while Michael and Abby addressed questions regarding grammar, syntax, and the semantic meaning of lines conveyed in the dialogue and stage direction of the play. In addition to writing the script and fielding Russian language questions about the script, Michael and Abby co-directed the production.
Video recordings of the “The Crocodile” are on YouTube:
Nau Hall performance: https://youtu.be/GkTVgDWqLYc
JMRL performance: https://youtu.be/jkO6XfCQEKQ
2016 AATSEEL and MLA Panels
By bloggerkaramazov | conferences | No Comments
MLA Dostoevsky Panels and Papers
MLA Dostoevsky Panel: Reading Dostoevsky, Dostoevsky Reading
Saturday, January 9, 1:45–3:00 p.m., 202, JW Marriott
Chair: Katia Bowers (University of British Columbia) (Dr. Bowers will be unable to attend)
Panelist: Brian Armstrong (Augusta University)
Title: Rereading Nietzsche Reading Dostoevsky: Guilt Is Good
Panelist: Alexander Burry (Ohio State University)
Title: Reconstructing Dostoevsky’s Reading of Pushkin: ‘Cold Winds Still Blow’ as Key to Rebellion in The Brothers Karamazov
Panelist: Susan McReynolds (Northwestern University)
Title: Guilt and Punishment: Reading Dostoevsky through Kafka
Cate Reilly (Princeton University) will also be presenting on Dostoevsky as part of the “Fort-Da: Contested Legacies of Psychoanalysis in Russia” panel, which was organized by NADS member Emma Lieber (Rutgers University). Information can be found on the panel website.
AATSEEL Dostoevsky Panels
Panel: Dostoevsky and Addiction
Friday, January 8, 10:30am-12:15pm
Organizer and Chair: Justin Trifiro (University of Southern California)
Panelist: Lonny Harrison (University of Texas at Arlington)
Title: The Suffering Games: De Quincean Prodigality and Self-Production in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Igrok
Panelist: Victoria Juharyan (Princeton University)
Title: Between Humility and Humiliation: Love as Freedom and Love as Addiction in Dostoevsky
Discussants: Robin Feuer Miller (Brandeis University) and Donna Tussing Orwin (University of Toronto)
Texts and Contexts: Tolstoy and Dostoevsky
Friday, January 8, 4:30-6:30pm
Chair: Jennie Wojtusik (University of Texas-Austin)
Panelist: Soelve Curdts (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf)
Title: ‘Borodino is the word that comes to me in my sleep’: Coetzee reads Tolstoy and Dostoevsky
Panelist: Rebecca Bostock-Holtzman (The Ohio State University)
Title: Chronic Issues: Spatial/Temporal Manipulation in The Death of Ivan Ilych
Panelist: Michael Marsh-Soloway (University of Virginia)
Title: Dostoevsky and the Natural Philosophy of Classical Antiquity
Panelist: Alexei Pavlenko (Colorado College)
Title: The Higher Stakes
Panel: The Subjectivity of the Novel: The Case of Dostoevsky’s The Idiot
Saturday, January 9, 1:15-3:00pm
Organizer and Chair: Irina Paperno (University of California – Berkeley)
Panelist: Brian Egdorf (University of California – Berkeley)
Title: Narrative and the Mind: Epilepsy in The Idiot
Panelist: Kathryn Pribble (University of California – Berkeley)
Title: Hero as Author: Unethical Narrating in The Idiot
Panelist: Ernest Artiz (University of California – Berkeley)
Title: Slipping Destiny: The Allegoric Unraveling of Narrative in The Idiot
Discussants: Caryl Emerson (Princeton University) and Alex Spektor (The University of Georgia – Athens)
Panel: The North American Dostoevsky Society
Organizer: Carol Apollonio (Duke University)
Chair: Eric Naiman (University of California – Berkeley)
Panelist: Katia Bowers (University of British Columbia) (Dr. Bowers will be unable to attend)
Title: Dostoevsky’s Gothic Autobiography: Anxiety and Terrible Tableaux in The Idiot
Panelist: Jennifer Flaherty (University of California – Berkeley)
Title: The Peasant in Dostoevsky’s Zapiski iz mertvogo doma and “Muzhik Marei”
Panelist: Anna Berman (McGill University)
Title: Dostoevsky and the Family Novel
Discussant: Vadim Shkolnikov (University of Illinois at Chicago)
Texts and Contexts: Dostoevsky
Sunday, January 10, 12:00-2:00pm
Chair: Victoria Juharyan (Princeton University)
Panelist: Lisa Woodson, University of New Mexico
Title: Job in Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov
Panelist: Alina Wyman (New College of Florida)
Title: Between Empathy and Ressentiment: Ivan Karamazov’s Social Dilemma
Panelist: Elizabeth Blake (Saint Louis University)
Title: Fedor Dostoevsky’s Authoring and Editing of Notes from House of the Dead: An Ongoing Dialogue with Fellow Former Political Exiles
Panelist: Chen Zhang (Ohio State University)
Title: “Can’t You Cut Pages with a Garden Knife?”: Rogozhin’s Destruction that Derives from His Pursuit of Enlightenment
Call for Papers: Crime and Punishment at 150
By bloggerkaramazov | conferences, CP150 | No Comments
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
The publication of Crime and Punishment in 1866 was a watershed moment in the history of nineteenth-century Russian literature. Dostoevsky’s novel perennially hovers near the top of lists of “Best Books of All Time.” Harold Bloom summed up the work’s enduring mastery and appeal, observing that, “Crime and Punishment remains the best of all murder stories, a century and a third after its publication. We have to read it — though it is harrowing — because, like Shakespeare, it alters our consciousness.” In the twenty first century, media and technology advances have transformed the reading experience and the ways readers relate to texts. Most students in literature classrooms are now digital natives, many reading on e-devices, some even on smart phones. In the age of the “spoiler alert” our reading experience seems to have changed beyond all recognition, yet in some ways the possibilities of new reading communities opened up by social media allow us to replicate the kinds of institutional communities which arose around nineteenth-century Russian periodicals. Rethinking the ways in which we contextualize, teach, and interpret Dostoevsky’s novel will help make it more accessible to a new generation of readers.
“Crime and Punishment at 150” will celebrate the novel’s sesquicentenary by bringing together teachers, scholars, students, translators, artists, and readers to discuss Dostoevsky in the digital age. The conference will include a keynote by Carol Apollonio, a screening of the new film Crime and Punishment (Apocalypse Films, 2015) with post-film discussion with its director, Andrew O’Keefe, and a video conference with a linked Crime and Punishment panel at the University of Bristol, among other events. Confirmed participants include Brian Armstrong, Elena Baraban, Alexander Burry, Deborah Martinsen, Louise McReynolds, Robin Feuer Miller, Megan Swift, and William Mills Todd, III.
We invite abstracts of 300 words on topics related to Crime and Punishment in the classroom or digital humanities/new media approaches to Crime and Punishment. Possible topics include:
– reading Dostoevsky with students in 2016
– digital humanities-based research on Dostoevsky and/or Crime and Punishment
– digital or new media approaches to the novel in the classroom
– new approaches to teaching an old book
– public engagement initiatives (book club readings, online readings, Twitter projects)
– teaching the novel in different contexts (a survey course, a Dostoevsky course, across disciplines)
– the challenges and successes of teaching the novel in the context of decreasing enrolments and increasing departmental pressures
We also encourage students to submit abstracts and we plan to feature several panels showcasing undergraduate and graduate student research. We welcome 300 word abstracts for papers on Crime and Punishment from undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those that explore new ways of reading the novel through the lens of new media or against the backdrop of contemporary issues and experiences.
Please submit 300 word abstracts with a 1 page cv to candpat150@gmail.com by May 15, 2016.
This event is co-organized by Katherine Bowers and Kate Holland, and supported by the Department of Central, Eastern, and Northern European Studies (UBC), Green College (UBC), and the North American Dostoevsky Society.
Gothic Doubling and The Double, Gothically
By bloggerkaramazov | #TheDoubleEvent | No Comments
by Katherine Bowers
Katherine Bowers is an Assistant Professor of Slavic Studies at the University of British Columbia. “Gothic Doubling and The Double, Gothically” is part of #TheDoubleEvent, and cross-posted from All the Russias, the blog of the NYU Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia, with their permission.
As the bells begin to toll the midnight hour, Mr. Golyadkin is crossing the Fontanka in a terrible storm. St. Petersburg comes alive: black waters rise up against the embankments and howling winds gust through the streets. This soundscape also includes piercing squeaks from rattling lanterns and a gurgling backdrop from the heavy rain. Even this rain is ominous, “cutting and stinging Mr. Golyadkin in the face like a thousand pins” (138).[1] He is alone; a feeling of “inexplicable uneasiness” (139) comes over him. Trudging through the darkness, Golyadkin experiences a strange new sensation: “melancholy, yet not melancholy, fear, and yet not fear… a feverish trembling [runs] through his veins. The moment [is] unbearably unpleasant!” (140). All of a sudden, in this damp, dark, misty night, Golyadkin comes face to face with his double! A cold shiver runs down his spine, as he stands, senselessly staring after the other. “Have I gone mad or something?” (141) he asks himself, incredulously.
This episode from Chapter 5 of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Double features all the conventions of a derivative gothic scene: the stroke of midnight, a persecuted hero, stormy weather, isolation, and a sense of “inexplicable uneasiness.” Yet, even before Golyadkin, Jr. (that is, the double) appears, Golyadkin, Sr. is filled with anxiety, fear, and dread, almost as though the appearance of his double is expected. Throughout the work, Golyadkin Sr. repeatedly asks himself if he is hallucinating or going mad. By the end, though, he seems resigned to the existence of his double. In addition to this episode and the uncanny double, gothic psychologies such as anxiety, uneasiness, and dread permeate the work. While these could simply provide atmosphere, Dostoevsky exploits them to build up a palpable sense of anxiety for his reader, a reflection of his hero’s anxiety. While the narrator’s voice at times provides humor, the text’s gothic quality contributes to a sense of disquiet that lingers even after the book has been shut.
Dostoevsky was well aware of the power of the gothic. Indeed, gothic themes appear so frequently in his works that Vladimir Nabokov dismissed him as merely “a much overrated, sentimental, and Gothic novelist of the time.”[2] Intriguingly, Nabokov also considered The Double, despite its obvious gothic theme, to be “the very best thing [Dostoevsky] ever wrote.”[3] Dostoevsky’s interest in gothic fiction began when his parents read it to him as a child; he recalls that his hair “[standing] on end” and “raving deliriously in his sleep afterwards.”[4] He was familiar with works by British gothic writers including Clara Reeve, Ann Radcliffe, Matthew Lewis, and Charles Maturin, among others.[5] While these novelists are known for their formulaic writing, they produced enduringly popular fiction providing suspense and psychological thrills. The appeal of gothic fiction is its preoccupation with dark alter egos and passions, transgressive thoughts that lurk behind the seemingly rational mind and emerge in ways that expose hidden fears and truths. If the work’s links to the gothic are so readily apparent, the question remains: what do we gain from reading The Doublegothically?
Gothic Doubling
The figure of the double or doppelgänger is a gothic stock character, one that David Punter classifies alongside Frankenstein’s creature, the Wandering Jew, and the Byronic vampire.[6] Each of these types can be read as the manifestation of anxiety over a transgression. Frankenstein’s creature exists because of his creator’s hubris, a man playing God. The Wandering Jew has been cursed with deathless wandering because of his sin against Christ. Vampires are undead, have forfeited their souls, and carry an illicit sexual connotation, particularly the Byronic variety. Punter uses the examples of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) to showcase the double type. In both cases, the double figures—the violent, monstrous Hyde and Dorian’s decaying, aging portrait-self—reveal the horrors apparent when the self is physically divided. Jekyll’s goodness is offset by Hyde’s murderous tendencies just as Dorian’s external beauty contrasts with the internal decay and degeneration represented in his portrait.
The double’s appearance is usually terrifying because it is the manifestation of the social encounter feared most: one in which the authentic self is revealed. Suddenly, faced with your own mirror image, dark secrets are no longer buried, but potentially on display; if you can observe them, so can others. The terror lies in your double revealing your own hidden, true self, perhaps, even worse, a self hidden even to you. Analyzing E. T. A. Hoffmann’s “Der Sandmann” in “Das Unheimliche” (1919), Freud describes the sensation of uncanny, or unheimlich (literally, un-home-ly; a sense of feeling displaced from what’s familiar) as something not foreign, but strangely familiar, creating cognitive dissonance. He specifically uses the example of the doppelgänger in his discussion of the uncanny. Encountering your own double isn’t just a disturbing experience, but generates a peculiar kind of disquiet, one that comes from recognizing yourself but, at the same time, seeing yourself as others see you.
While the double’s appearance in Dostoevsky is horrifying, it isn’t violent, and the only murders that take place are metaphorical. In Wilde and Stevenson, the doubles represent a physical split, creating contradictory, opposing characters linked together. In Dostoevsky, the double plays a different role. At first, Golyadkin Sr. finds his double to be a friendly listener, but perceives that Golyadkin Jr. quickly begins to undermine him. Golyadkin Sr. believes he has righteousness on his side, but is ostracized in society. He observes that his double, on the other hand, is often hypocritical or deceitful, but his ability to perform within society’s expectations endears him to Golyadkin Sr.’s acquaintances. Golyadkin Sr. knows Jr.’s antics are rooted in falsehood, but, at the same time, the petty nastiness of Golyadkin Jr. is a mirror of Golyadkin Sr.’s rude treatment of his servant, Petrushka. Although Golyadkin Sr. considers his relationship with his double to be a dichotomy between authenticity and falseness, the reader realizes that all is falseness, that Golyadkins Jr. and Sr. are the same. Gary Saul Morson asserts that the novel’s humor lies in the fact that Golyadkin concurrently recognizes and refuses to recognize that he is his own double, while the horror of the piece lies in the possibility that “the real me is not mine but his, and I am the one who does not have a me!”[7] Or, rather, that an authentic self may not exist at all, just copies.
Golyadkin’s frequently expressed death wish—for example, “Mr. Golyadkin now not only wished to flee from himself, but also to be completely annihilated” (139)—comes to pass upon encountering the double and, with this, uncertainty about his own genuine existence. Strangely, throughout the text, Golyadkin dies multiple times, always metaphorically and often ironically. He’s described as half-dead, nearly dead, dead, annihilated, murdered, and, in one humorous line, Andrey Filippovich, Golyadkin’s head of office, shoots him a look “that would have destroyed our hero completely, had he not been completely destroyed already” (134). Similarly, the narrator describes Golyadkin after his humiliation at Klara Olsufyevna’s birthday party as though he has died: “Mr. Golyadkin had been murdered – murdered in the full sense of the word” (138). As Malcolm Jones points out, in this moment, Golyadkin “feels the physical abyss of the staircase looming up together with the spiritual abyss of total annihilation.”[8] In this state, he rushes out into the night and encounters his double for the first time.
In Dostoevsky’s text, the double appears after a metaphorical death. This progression is a mirror image of a common nineteenth-century spiritualist belief about doppelgängers, that the double’s appearance is an ill omen that often prefigures death. The reasoning behind this, taken from folklore, is that the spirit world and the living world co-exist, always hidden from each other, but before death, the barrier between them opens. For example, in Prometheus Unbound (1820), Percy Bysshe Shelley describes the priest Zoroaster encountering his own double, an apparition from the shadow world visible only to him. The double is a mirrored reflection of the living individual in the land of the dead; it appears to its other half in life just before death comes. This idea is not limited to literature; intriguingly, after Shelley’s death, his wife, the gothic novelist Mary Shelley, wrote in a letter that her husband had described seeing his own double less than a month before he died.[9] In inverting this formula, Dostoevsky creates more confusion around his text’s narrative structure. The double appears, but Golyadkin’s own state—living, dead, dreaming, mad—can only be guessed, leaving the reader in an uneasy state.
In 1848, Catherine Crowe published a two-volume parapsychological study called The Night-Side of Nature: Ghosts and Ghost-Seers, which includes chapters dedicated to diverse spectral phenomena including waking dreams, wraiths, apparitions, and “Doppelgängers, or Doubles,” among others. Crowe’s research documents a number of cases in which individuals encountered doubles, either their own or those of a friend or relative. In some of the cases, the double’s appearance did portend death. In others, apparently taken from doctors’ records, the double’s appearance is the result of illness, either mental or physical. The uncanny appearance of a double is usually upsetting, but some of the stories Crowe recounts strike me as humorous. For example, in one case, a Danish physician became very anxious about being held up on a call and missing a scheduled visit to another patient. However, afterwards, the unvisited patient reported that the physician had paid him a call. According to Crowe, hearing of his own spectral visits “occasioned him such an unpleasant sensation that he requested his patients never to tell him when it happened.”[10] In another instance, more in keeping with the focus of this blog, Crowe alludes to Catherine the Great, who allegedly had a more volatile reaction to her Doppelgänger: upon meeting her double sitting on her throne, she casually ordered her guards to fire upon it![11]
Crowe’s “Doppelgängers, or Doubles” chapter provides a strangely complementary read alongside Dostoevsky’s The Double. Beyond the fact that nearly all the doctors whose records Crowe cites are German (reminding me of Dr. Rutenshpitz), the two works appeared around the same time, although Crowe, living in England, wouldn’t have had any opportunity to read Dostoevsky’s novella before penning her study. Curiously, Golyadkin and Crowe share an experience: both were carted off to the madhouse at the end of their texts; Crowe was admitted to an asylum in 1854 after she was discovered wandering around Edinburgh naked because, she reported, spirits had told her to do so.[12] Crowe, afterwards, said that her madness was a research-based aberration as she had fallen into a state in which she believed “spirits were directing” her writing.[13]
Crowe was an enthusiast of German ghost stories, and many of the case studies described sound as if they are lifted from gothic novels, or echo Golyadkin’s encounter with his double. This resonance underscores Dostoevsky’s debt in his original formulation of The Double to E. T. A. Hoffmann, the German master of the uncanny Romantic tale. The Double’s direct influence from Hoffmann and his indirect influence filtered through Gogol is difficult to untangle. However, from Dostoevsky’s 1861 piece in Timecomparing Edgar Allan Poe and Hoffmann, we learn that Dostoevsky admired Hoffmann’s ability to delve into the secrets of the psyche using a Romantic blend of fantasy and reality.[14] Crowe’s ghost stories seem reminiscent of this type of writing in that they, too, sit at the intersection between the imagined and the real. In another of Crowe’s cases, a man, “in perfect health, one evening, on turning the corner of a street, met his own form, face to face; the figure seemed as real and life-like as himself; and he was so close as to look into its very eyes. He was seized with terror, and it vanished.”[15] The man tells friends about it, tries to laugh it off, but remains shaken. Similarly, confronted with his own double, Golyadkin seeks reassurances from his colleagues that the similarity is uncanny, but no one else notices that anything is wrong. Crowe, writing a scholarly book, asserts throughout her study that she is seeking only the truth in her explorations. Golyadkin, too, champions authenticity, but Dostoevsky, writing his fantastic realist novella, knows he is crafting a fictional world, and problematizes Golyadkin’s quest for truth.
The Double, Gothically
The Double haunted Dostoevsky. It was critically panned upon publication in Notes of the Fatherland in 1846. He came back to it, again and again, eventually publishing a revised version in 1866 (the one commonly read today). But even after this, the novella continued to obsess him. In 1877, he wrote in the Writer’s Diary, “I failed with this novella, but the idea was fairly luminous, and I have never done anything in literature more serious than this idea. But the form I gave to this novella was a complete failure… and if now I were to come back to this idea to develop it again, I should choose a completely different form: but in 1846 I was not able to find that form.”[16]
Dostoevsky’s conclusion that the novella’s form didn’t work leads us back to the gothic. The Double is a novel that starts naturalistically, detailing Golyadkin’s various thoughts as he goes through his day. At midnight, he encounters his double in a gothic scene, and is terrified. Afterwards, the double torments him, but we don’t know if the double is a hallucination, an apparition, or a physical person. Finally, the novella ends with Golyadkin on the way to some kind of asylum. The gothic scene in Chapter 5 is the key threshold scene between the naturalistic opening and the fantastic potential of the conclusion. This gothic scene could be a continuation of the naturalism, a nod to Golyadkin’s increasing paranoia and anxiety. It could be the beginning of the fantastic portion, a midnight transition into a Petersburg in which reality blurs and cannot be trusted. But the gothic scene is entirely subjective: no one thinks the double’s appearance is fantastic except Golyadkin and potentially the reader.
The section in which the double appears links two transitional gothic moments: Golyadkin’s midnight bridge crossing and the final moment, as Golyadkin finds himself enroute to the asylum. Some critics read The Double as a nightmare, and these linked scenes are key to that reading, especially the specific Petersburg environment that contextualizes the initial appearance of the double.[17] Donald Fanger equates the atmosphere of Petersburg as that of a bad dream,[18] tying this particular scene specifically to the city’s layered mythology, a point that becomes particularly relevant in the context of both Dostoevsky’s subtitle of the novella, “A Petersburg Poem,” and its relationship to Pushkin’s earlier work “The Bronze Horseman” (1833). In that poema, the city literally comes to life in another sequence that’s not clearly identified as waking or dreaming, when the Falconet monument to Peter the Great chases hapless clerk Evgeny through the dark, flooding streets of Petersburg, eventually sending him to madness and death. Konstantin Mochulsky even says that Golyadkin himself is “an outgrowth of the putrid Petersburg fog, a phantom living in a phantom city.”[19] Going a step further, Dina Khapaeva argues that the entire text, not just selected episodes, is an expression of nightmare.[20]
But, for a nightmarish text with a gothic core, The Double is remarkably humorous. Golyadkin’s anxious thoughts seem awkward to us, but are endearing as well. The narrator’s often mocking voice amuses, and even though Golyadkin is filled with horror, annihilated, crushed, it seems excessively melodramatic, to the point of laughter. When the narrator states things like, “The man now sitting across from Mr. Golyadkin was Mr. Golyadkin’s horror, he was Mr. Golyadkin’s shame, he was Mr. Golyadkin’s nightmare from the day before; in short, he was Mr. Golyadkin, himself” (146), horror combines with laughter to create a layered text that leaves the reader with still more questions. Malcolm Jones identifies a chorus of voices in the novella, but states that the voice of “reality” is lacking. There are threshold positions, like the gothic scene in Chapter 5, in which “reality and fantasy are delicately poised,” but “it is impossible … to discern where the threshold lies. The text passes over into a permanently confused state and takes the reader with it.”[21]
Jones’s Bakhtinian reading of The Double resonates with the narration found in one of Dostoevsky’s favorite gothic novels, Maturin’s Melmoth the Wanderer (1820). There, the reader can rely on the narrator, but the manuscript itself is not reliable. The narrated story frames a fractured tale taken from a book that is literally disintegrating: “dissolved, obliterated, and mutilated beyond any that had ever before exercised the patience of a reader.”[22] At times, the text from this manuscript breaks off, allowing the voice of a second narrator to enter. The second narrator, coming in abruptly, does not contextualize, but instead plunges the reader into an often disconnected and mysterious tale. The end result of this is a book filled with twists and turns that are not logically mappable, with voices that don’t respond to each other, and with great confusion as to what’s actually happening on the part of the reader, who becomes a refraction of the reader squinting through the damaged manuscript within the novel.
The reader of The Double feels a similar sense of confusion, as s/he struggles with the novella’s great puzzle: whether or not the double is real. Does Golyadkin’s mental distress cause him to hallucinate the double, or is the double perhaps one manifestation of a split personality, a variation of heautoscopy? Or, is the double’s appearance a fantastic element that, in the gothic tradition of Horace Walpole, Matthew Lewis, and Charles Maturin, has no explanation? Or, is the novella simply Golyadkin’s nightmare? The text offers no definitive answers. It is this intermingling of possible explanations—and the lack of resolution—that gives The Double one facet of its permeating gothic feel. For, in The Double, the reader is as disconnected from the truth of the matter as the hero.
The final scene of The Double sees the hero in a carriage, seated across from Dr. Rutenshpitz… or the doctor’s double… described simply as: “two burning eyes staring at [Golyadkin] in the dark, shining with a sinister, infernal glee” (229). Up to this point, Golyadkin’s monster has been his duplicate, but in this scene, we can’t help but think of Stephen King’s observation that “monsters… may pop up in our own mirrors—at any time.”[23] And this is the value of reading The Double gothically: the irresoluble nature of Dostoevsky’s novella allows the reader to make up his/her own mind about the text’s solution. It may be that this lack of resolution is intended to prompt readers to look at themselves in the mirror and imagine how they would react if they, struggling at midnight through a terrible storm, came across a stranger who looked exactly like them…
[1] All quotes from The Double are from Fedor Dostoevskii, Polnoe sobranie sochinenii v tridtsati tomakh, Vol. 1 (Leningrad: Nauka, 1972). Hereafter PSS. All translations are my own unless stated otherwise.
[2] Vladimir Nabokov, Eugene Onegin: A Novel in Verse, Vol. 2 (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1991), 191.
[3] Nabokov, Lectures on Russian Literature (New York: Mariner Books, 2002), 90.
[4] Dostoevsky refers specifically to the novels of Ann Radcliffe in this passage. Dostoevskii, PSS, Vol. 5, 46.
[5] See Robin Feuer Miller, “Dostoevsky and the Tale of Terror,” in W. J. Leatherbarrow, ed., Dostoevskii and Britain (Oxford: Berg, 1995), 139-158.
[6] David Punter, The Literature of Terror. A History of Gothic Fictions from 1765 to the Present Day. Vol. 2.The Modern Gothic (Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 1996), 21.
[7] Gary Saul Morson, “Me and My Double: Selfhood, Consciousness, and Empathy in The Double,” in Elizabeth Cheresh Allen, ed., Before they were Titans: Essays on the Early Works of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy (Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2015), 50.
[8] Malcolm Jones, Dostoyevsky after Bakhtin: Readings in Dostoyevsky’s Fantastic Realism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990), 44.
[9] Betty T. Bennett, ed., The Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Vol. 1 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1980), 245.
[10] Catherine Crowe, The Night-Side of Nature, or, Ghosts and Ghost-seers, Vol. 1 (London: T. C. Newby, 1848), 287.
[11] Ibid., 280. This story is widespread in popular accounts, but seems largely absent from scholarly ones. In Andrew Lang’s The Book of Dreams and Ghosts (1897), an eyewitness account is actually reproduced, albeit one acquired second hand long after the alleged episode.
[12] Dickens recounts the story of her madness in a letter to a friend. The Letters of Charles Dickens, Vol. 7 (Oxford: Clarendon, 1974-93), 285-286. Dickens called her case “hopeless,” but Crowe made a full recovery!
[13] Cited in Dickens, Vol. 7, 286.
[14] For a more thorough discussion, see Jacques Catteau, Dostoyevsky and the Process of Literary Creation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989), 53-62.
[15] Crowe, 281.
[16] Quoted in Catteau, 61.
[17] I have written elsewhere on gothic elements in early realist texts set in St. Petersburg, including several by Dostoevsky. See Katherine Bowers, “The City through a Glass, Darkly: Use of the Gothic in Early Russian Realism,” The Modern Language Review 108.4 (2013): 1199-1215.
[18] Donald Fanger, Dostoevsky and Romantic Realism: A Study of Dostoevsky in Relation to Balzac, Dickens, and Gogol (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1967), 160-161.
[19] Quoted in Fanger, 161. From Konstantin Mochulsky, Dostoevsky: Zhizn’ i tvorchestvo (Paris, 1947), 42.
[20] See Dina Khapaeva, Nightmare: From Literary Experiments to Cultural Project (Amsterdam: Brill, 2013), 107-131.
[21] Jones, 58.
[22] Charles Maturin, Melmoth the Wanderer (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), 28.
[23] Stephen King, Danse Macabre (New York: Berkley Books, 1983), 252.
Golyadkin’s Human “Shriek”
by Amy Ronner
Amy D. Ronner is Professor of Law at the St. Thomas University School of Law. The following was redacted and revised by Dr. Ronner from her book, Dostoevsky and the Law (Carolina Academic Press, 2015).
Golyadkin and Andrei Petrovich Versilov, although conceivably split or doubling, are not the crazed or mad others who are so radically different from the rest of the human species and from their author. Dostoevsky understood that, while the double can be a step that could lead to disaster, it does not always do so. In a letter that Dostoevsky penned to his friend Yekaterina Yunge, an artist and memoirist who had confided that she suffered from chronic “duality,” he emphatically expressed his views: “[Duality is] the most ordinary trait of people, who are not entirely ordinary, however.” Dostoevsky felt that, in his own case, the “ordinary trait” – that of duality – is “a great torment, but at the same time a great delight too.” He told Yunge it was a “powerful consciousness, need for self-evaluation, and the presence in your nature of the need for moral obligation toward yourself and toward humanity.” In essence, doubling can be normative, part and parcel of the creative process, a nexus between internal and external realms, and that sacrosanct conduit between the self and the human race.
It is not surprising that psychiatrist Richard Rosenthal, coming to a similar realization, aligns Golyadkin with postlapsarian humanity: “[…] like Golyadkin, we try to clothe ourselves in an omnipotent other self, a self we could have been or secretly believe we someday still will be, a self who is free of the painful awareness of just those limitations which define our boundaries and make us who we are.”[1]
The “all” and “everybody” in Golyadkin becomes apparent in the novel right before Rutenspitz carts our “hero” off to the asylum: Golyadkin scans the attendees at the party and sees “[a] whole procession of identical Golyadkins . . . bursting loudly in at every door.” The implication here is that everyone is or might be a Golyadkin: Dostoevsky thus compels his readers to see not some peculiar anomaly, but rather, just a parade of everyday selves. The novel urges readers to examine doubly both Golyadkin’s struggles and their own, and to endure that all-too familiar “painful awareness” of their human limitations. Like or not, readers tend to meld with Golyadkin as his fate becomes their own. When Golyadkin met his double, he “wanted to scream, but could not.” At his finale, Golyadkin succeeds at emitting that blood-curdling shriek while being whisked away. His shriek is our shriek as well.
[1] Richard Rosenthal, “Dostoevsky’s Experiment with Projective Mechanisms and the Theft of Identity in The Double,” in Russian Literature and Psychoanalysis, ed. Daniel Rancour-Laferriere (Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1989), 83.
Dr. Julian Connolly’s Article on The Double
Those reading Dostoevsky’s The Double this week might be interested in the piece that Dr. Julian Connolly published in Dostoevsky Studies 17 (2013). The issue is now available online at archive.com. (In fact, the first 17 issues of the new series of Dostoevsky Studies are now at archive.com!) Dr. Connolly is Professor of Russian Literature at the University of Virginia. His piece is “The Ethical Implications of Narrative Point of View in Dostoevsky’s The Double.” Enjoy!
Gender Trouble in The Double: Masculinity in Dostoevsky’s Novella and Ayoade’s Film
Connor Doak is a lecturer in Russian at the University of Bristol, UK. This post first appeared on the All the Russia’s Blog. It is the first in a series of posts organized by our society in connection with a screening of Richard Ayoade’s film adaptation of The Double on November 6.
Often, it takes an adaptation or spin-off of a classic literary work to reveal the hidden dynamics of gender and sexuality that bubble just beneath the surface of the canonical text. Thus Wide Sargasso Sea famously picks up the untold story of Bertha Mason, the madwoman that Charlotte Brontë kept locked in the attic. Frank O’Hara’s poem “Mayakovsky” locates a camp aesthetic behind the great Soviet poet’s overblown, declamatory style. And, I would argue, Richard Ayoade’s 2013 transposition of The Double to a retro-futuristic dystopian world uncovers a polemic against masculinity in Dostoevsky’s 1846 novella.[i]
By masculinity, I do not simply mean a set of traits such as suave self-confidence, a manly swagger, or the ability to seduce women. To be sure, in today’s society such characteristics carry important social and cultural currency for the men who possess them, a fact that Ayoade’s film highlights. However, gender theorists have moved away from defining masculinity based on a normative checklist of features. Rather, following the lead of Raewyn Connell, they concentrate on masculinity as a system of power relations both between men and women and among men themselves.[ii] On the one hand, a hegemonic masculinity serves to keep women subordinate socially, politically, and culturally. On the other hand, the system of masculinity also creates division among men, generating hierarchies with privileged and subordinate groups. Yet the recent poststructuralist turn in masculinity studies emphasizes the inherent instability of these seemingly fixed masculine hierarchies. Building on Judith Butler’s work, scholars believe certain types of gender performance are capable of exposing the constructed nature of masculinity and subverting the existing system.[iii] I believe that The Double—both book and film—reveals both the existence of these masculine hierarchies and their constructed, unstable nature.
Right from the outset, Ayoade’s film establishes the presence of a masculine hierarchy. Simon, an awkward, mousey junior office worker—Ayoade’s version of Golyadkin—is first seen sitting on the train making his morning commute. An intimidating, suited man intones “You’re in my place,” demanding that Simon get up. Simon quickly accedes. Yet the carriage is empty and the stranger’s order appears to be a mere exercise in the demonstration of power. This encounter sets the tone for the first part of the film, in which Simon faces a number of humiliating encounters at the expense of his superiors. However, he remains in awe of his boss, the powerful and mysterious figure known only as the Colonel. After arriving for work in the morning, Simon’s gaze lingers longingly on a statuesque portrait of the Colonel. The mise-en-scène encourages the viewer to contrast the masculinity of the two men. The Colonel stands smiling, upright in full military attire, whereas we see part of Simon only through his reflection: pale, uncertain, almost ghostly in appearance.
The film’s treatment of masculinity builds on elements already present in Dostoevsky’s novella. Hyperconscious of his status in the masculine hierarchy, Golyadkin often feels humiliated by other men who are above him in terms of wealth, social status, or simply good looks. Thus when Golyadkin finds himself standing beside “some officer, a tall and handsome fellow” at a party, he feels “like a real little insect” (36) next to this exemplar of virility. Indeed, in every simple social interaction that Golyadkin performs, he reveals his inability to conform to the script of masculinity despite his best efforts to do so. Thus his attempt at a friendly slap on the shoulder turns into “something completely different,” (22) as he exceeds the boundaries of behavior permitted between men. However, Golyadkin is more complex than Ayoade’s timid Simon. He generally responds to his humiliation with a characteristically Dostoevskyan masochism, but, as Joseph Frank points out, he also likes to imagine himself as an “all-conquering hero.”[iv] This inner conflict has often been interpreted as Oedipal in nature, but Russell Scott Valentino gets closer to the truth when he writes that Golyadkin’s illness is not a psychological disorder but a social one connected with the emergence of masculine ambition in the increasingly commercialised environment of Dostoevsky’s Petersburg.[v]
Gender is a relational concept, and masculinity is defined in relation to its other, femininity. In Ayoade’s film, the character of Hannah embodies a rather conventional, caring femininity that acts as a foil for—and refreshing alternative to—the systems of hierarchy and domination that characterize masculinity in the dystopian world. In the film’s opening sequence, Simon catches sight of Hannah’s ethereal presence: her smooth skin, her eyes closed and smooth, pale skin evoke a dreamlike quality. Throughout the film, she alone has a smile and a kind word for Simon.
Hannah represents Ayoade’s expansion of Dostoevsky’s hint at the promise of a caring, feminine ethic that might oppose the hierarchy and domination associated with masculinity in the text. Golyadkin believes that Klara Olsufyevna embodies a spirit of beauty and truth that the men around her have rejected, and even imagines that he receives a letter from her offering to elope together from a society that is inherently false. Dostoevsky’s later writings show that the author came to believe that women could redeem the nation: in 1873 he praised Russian women for possessing “sincerity, perseverance, earnestness, and honour, the quest for truth and sacrifice,” adding that “these qualities have always been stronger in Russian women than in men.”[vi] Yet whatever the author’s own position on women might have been, the text of The Double makes Golyadkin’s romantic assumptions about Klara Olsufyevna appear like the delirious fantasies of a madman, and the reader is inclined to see his idea of a redemptive femininity as a false construct.
The key passage that reveals Dostoevsky’s critique of the constructed nature of gender is the description of the glitterati at Klara Olsufyevna’s party. The narrator admits his inability to capture the beauty of the high society ladies and the brilliance of the young men:
How can I depict this extraordinary and dignified mixture of beauty, brilliance, decorum, merriment, kind respectability and respectable kindness, playfulness, joyfulness, all these games and jests of all these civil servants’ ladies, more like fairies than ladies—speaking in a respect advantageous to them—with their lilac-pink shoulders and faces, with their ethereal figures, with their playfully, lively, homeopathic, to use the elevated style, feet? (31)
While the narrator purports to admire this scene, his language lapses into a set of clichés (“kind respectability” and “respectable kindness”), and it becomes obvious he is parodying the fashionable discourse of his day (“homeopathic” for “tiny”). The description of femininity is so exaggerated that it reveals its own absurdity (“more like fairies than ladies”). Similarly ironic is the description of idealized masculinity that follows: “brilliant civil service cavaliers… profoundly imbued with a sense of beauty and of their personal dignity” (31). Mikhail Bakhtin discussed the power of parodic language in The Double, but does not consider its relationship to gender.[vii] To borrow a phrase from Butler, the parodic language here allows us to read the behaviour of the ladies and gentlemen as a “gender performance that will enact and reveal the performativity of gender itself” (177). We might even say that Dostoevsky reveals this dazzling world of heterosexuality to be “both a compulsory system and an intrinsic comedy, a constant parody of itself” (Butler, 155).
Ayoade uses a similar technique of parody to reveal the constructed nature of masculinity. His parody proves more immediately accessible to a twenty-first century audience, as it draws on familiar markers of masculinity. Simon’s favourite television programme is The Replicator, an action serial that evokes the “hard-bodied” masculinities of the 1980s.[viii] The show’s gun-wielding hero bears more than a passing resemblance to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator with his shades and leather jacket, and its flamboyant costumes and highly theatricalized violence ensure the audience view it as parody. The hero disposes of his enemies with appropriately virile one-liners that recall the best—or the worst—of Hollywood action movies: “Get up! Or do you want to die on your knees, like a snake?” The effectiveness of this parody of masculinity stems from the fact that these images of the eighties still resonate with the cultural memory of his audience, but already seem overblown and passé as they are one or two generations removed from current trends. Ayoade thus ensures his audience takes a critical view not only of the construction of masculinity in his dystopian society, but also positions his own film as a critique of the hypermasculinity that Hollywood blockbusters have often championed.
While Simon’s fascination with the Colonel demonstrates his need for a father figure and his desire to remain subservient to the existing hierarchy, his identification with the Replicator reveals a longing to become the usurper who overthrows the establishment. To put it another way, as a subject he is required to negotiate between two different myths of masculinity: one that stresses the importance of respecting the existing hierarchy, and another that glamorizes the rebel. Simon, then, is caught between two incompatible poles of masculinity. I believe it is Simon’s inability to resolve this conundrum that leads to his splitting and the appearance of his double, called James in the film. It is no coincidence that James first appears after Simon has finished viewing an episode of The Replicator, or that James possesses the idealized masculinity that (part of) Simon has always longed for. James exudes self-confidence, easily scores success with women, and quickly gains promotion to senior executive at work.
The difference between Golyadkin Sr. and Golyadkin Jr. in Dostoevsky’s text also plays out in terms of masculinity. Golyadkin Jr. is able to quickly adopt just the right professional demeanor with his colleagues: at work he has an “official… businesslike air” that makes him look as though he has just been “dispatched on an special mission…” (71). His work proves exemplary and, His Excellency, “extremely pleased,” even thanks him in person (76). The fact that the two Golyadkins are identical in appearance, but yet come to sit on different ends of the masculine hierarchy reveals the arbitrary and even absurd nature of how masculinity operates. Ayoade, using the medium of film, can capitalize on this idea even more than Dostoevsky. In his movie, Jesse Eisenberg plays the roles of both the bashful Simon and the brash James, and much comedy derives from the sharply differing attitudes that the two identical men elicit.
James’s cockiness initially proves appealing for Simon, and he becomes a masculinity coach for Simon, teaching him how to pick up women and taking him out on the town. The audience may feel drawn to James during these scenes, adopting what Laura Mulvey called a narcissistic “male gaze” as we view James as a “screen surrogate” who realizes our fantasies (and Simon’s fantasies!) of masculine omnipotence.[ix] However, the parody becomes obvious again in a stylized montage sequence of the two men frolicking through the streets and even getting into a pillow fight. Here Ayoade targets the 1970s “buddy film” or the more recent “bromance” in which homosocial bonding and intimacy is central to the development of two central male characters, but where homosexuality is precluded as a possibility. As Michael DeAngelis notes, the two men in a Hollywood bromance must explicitly deny any romantic or sexual interest in one another.[x] As if on cue, James asks Simon “You a flamer?” to which he gives a resigned but definitive “No.” Yet there is another hint of gay romance soon afterwards, as Simon puts James to bed and lets his gaze rest on him, before caressing James’s face.
This bedtime scene builds on a passage in Dostoevsky’s novella with its own homosexual subtext. When Golyadkin Jr. returns to Golyadkin Sr.’s home, the two men drink together, exchange confidences, and express affection for one another. Golyadkin Jr. even composes a quatrain of verse for his host, leaving him “completely and deeply moved” (66) and teary-eyed. Yet just as Ayoade is parodying the cinema’s treatment of masculinity in the buddy and bromance films, so Dostoevsky is poking fun here at the contrived nature of the sentimental masculinities of his day. While Dostoevsky’s text says nothing explicitly about desire between the two men, critics such as Lawrence Kohlberg have identified elements of homosexual desire in the text.[xi] Significantly, this moment of nocturnal intimacy promises a temporary respite from the usual regulated forms of masculinity that govern relations between men. Yet all too soon, Golyadkin Sr.’s vague fear surfaces that his familiarity has somehow overstepped the mark (“haven’t I gone too far?”, 68). This comment, along with his order to his servant Petrushka (“don’t think anything…”, 68), may suggest he fears his homosocial desire for Golyadkin Jr. is becoming homosexual in nature. [xii]
Film scholar Catherine Wheatley has suggested that “the great love story of book and film” is between the hero and his double, and the tragedy derives from its failure.[xiii] The intimacy that unites the two Golyadkins on that November evening cannot last, and the next morning they return to jostling for position in the masculine hierarchy. Golyadkin Jr. eventually besmirches the honor of Golyadkin’s Sr.’s by spreading rumours about a liaison with Karolina Ivanovna. This final insult to his masculinity determines Golyadkin’s Sr.’s fall from grace, as he loses both his position at work and his sanity. Ayoade’s film reproduces the idea of sullying one’s reputation, but with a twist suitable for the twenty-first century. James blackmails Simon by taking pictures of himself having sexual intercourse with Melanie, his line manager’s teenage daughter and reveals them in the office as pictures of Simon inappropriately behaving with Melanie.
In the novella, Golyadkin Sr.’s attempts to protect his honor against the machinations of his double by writing a series of letters. First he writes to his double, a letter that falls into the hands of Provincial Secretary Vakhrameyev, who sends his own frosty reply. Golyadkin Sr. then pens a missive defending himself to Vakhrameyev. This epistolary section of the novella makes amusing reading, as the men insult each other’s masculinity while attempting to maintain their own dignity by sticking as closely as possible to the language of polite society. Thus Golyadkin Sr, protests to his double: “I cannot help but manifest all my indignation at the memory of your blatant infringement, dear sir, to the detriment of my honour” (89).
The theme of sincerity, and its connection to masculinity, comes to the fore in the letters. Vakhrameyev’s vicious reply to Golyadkin Sr. does not merely focus on his alleged transgression with Karolina Ivanovna, but on the fact that he can longer be counted among “men honest and sincere in heart” (97). This insult stings Golyadkin, for throughout the novella he prides himself on his own sincerity. During his consultation with Dr. Rutenspitz, he insists that he operates “directly” and “openly”, and that he “put[s] on a mask only for a masquerade” (13), a line that he repeats later to Anton Antonovich (74). Indeed, it appears that Golyadkin’s notion of his own masculinity is underpinned by a belief in his own frankness, honesty and authenticity, which he sees as superior to the superficiality of high society men, who merely know how to “put together a sweetly scented compliment” (12) or “polish parquet with their boots” (23).
Dostoevsky’s text certainly endorses this critique of the false, constructed nature of high society masculinity with its pretentious rhetoric and rituals. However, the text also interrogates Golyadkin’s own brand of masculinity, supposedly based on authenticity, revealing it to be another sham. Golyadkin’s behavior is perhaps more heavily stage-managed than that of any other character, even (or especially) when he wants to appear authentic. As Gary Saul Morson points out, Golyadkin is wearing a mask even he claims he does not.[xiv] His decision to go to the party “sans façon” (24) is all too contrived, and he is sure to powder and perfume his face. Butler’s Gender Trouble again proves illuminating to understand Dostoevsky’s critique of “authentic” masculinity here. For Butler, there is no authenticity and it is impossible to doff one’s mask: the gendered body “has no ontological status apart from the various acts which constitute its reality” (173). It is thus inevitable that Golyadkin’s attempt at crafting his own brand of masculine authenticity will end up simply creating another performance, and, eventually, in his eventual madness and his removal from society. However, Dostoevsky’s text, in exposing that quest for authenticity and its inevitable failure, reveals the inauthenticity at the heart of masculinity and the instability within the gender system.
Ayoade is less daring than Dostoevsky in this regard: the director refuses to dispense with the idea of authenticity. He rewrites the sinister ending of Dostoevsky’s novella, removing the section where Golyadkin wakes up in a dark carriage with Doctor Rutenspitz’s eyes gleaming with “sinister, diabolical joy” (160). The film does close with Simon being carried off in an ambulance, but he is accompanied by both Hannah and the Colonel, who offer words of comfort. Simon’s final line, “I like to think I’m pretty unique,” represents a recovery of agency that jibes well with our own culture of liberal individualism, a message that lacks the force of Dostoevsky’s more radical questioning of our own notions of identity and agency. As Morson (47) notes, the implication that an individual might not be unique is what makes Dostoevsky’s text so terrifying. By contrast, Ayoade relies on a simpler, binary notion of authenticity, pitting the meek, awkward, but authentic Simon against the villainous, inauthentic James. It is unsurprising that the film ultimately favors the “nice guy” masculinity of Simon, who is rewarded when Hannah returns to him at the end. Nevertheless, Ayoade’s film does manage to tackle the violence and misogyny associated with the system of masculinity, as we see in his depiction of the cult surrounding The Replicator and his portrayal of James’s sexual conquests.
Ayoade’s mock-autobiography imagines how a fictional American agent might respond after learning of his plans to direct a film adaptation of The Double. The imaginary agent, Danny Deville, has the following to say about Dostoevsky’s Hollywood potential:
[I]f I’ve learned anything in Hollywood it’s Avoid Dostoevsky Like Dairy (ADLD). No-one wants to wade through the ravings of some commie epileptic who, by the way, was only five-foot-two. […] Look it’s up to you, but I’m betting there isn’t even one scene in that book where the hero power-slides under a mechanically closing door. [xv]
Deville’s opposition to Dostoevsky stems from his perception that the Russian’s writings lack masculinity: there are no power-sliding heroes to be found in The Double. Of course, the fact that Ayoade invents this fictional interlocutor, and has him voice a commercialistic challenge to his own film, reveals Ayoade’s own self-fashioning. By depicting himself as a director willing to forego the glamor of the virile hero and instead tackle the difficult Russian classics, Ayoade stages himself as an authentic filmmaker, and, perhaps, a new man who is no longer in thrall to the bombastic tradition of Hollywood masculinity. Dostoevsky, however, a master of the pseudo-autobiography, would recognize this act of mythmaking for what it is.
[i] Quotations from Dostoevsky’s text come from Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Double, trans. Hugh Aplin (London: Hesperus Classics, 2004). This edition is based on Dostoevsky’s revised text from 1866. Film stills and quotations are from The Double, directed by Richard Ayoade (2013; Studiocanal, 2014), DVD.
[ii] R.W. Connell, Masculinities, 2nd ed. (Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 2005) treats masculinity with a focus on power that is indebted to Gramsci’s analysis of hegemony.
[iii] Judith Butler, Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (London and New York: Routledge, 1999). See especially ch. 3 and the conclusion on the possibility of parodic performances that can “lead to the denaturalization of gender as such” (190). Butler’s work proved instrumental in the “third wave” of masculinity studies with its emphasis on performativity as well as the recognition of the instability of the gender system. See Tim Edwards, Cultures of Masculinity (London and New York: Routledge, 2006), 1–6.
[iv] Joseph Frank, Dostoevsky: The Seeds of Revolt. 1821-1849 (Princeton: Princeton U P, 1976), 301
[v] For an Oedipal reading, see Richard Rosenthal, “Dostoevsky’s experiment with projective mechanisms and the theft of identity in The Double,” in Russian Literature and Psychoanalysis, ed. Daniel Rancour-Laferrière (Amsterdam: John Benjamins B.V., 1989), 59–88. Russell Scott Valentino’s reading appears in The Woman in the Window: Commerce, Consensual Fantasy and the Quest for Masculine Virtue in the Russian Novel (Columbus, OH: Ohio State U P, 2014), 25–27.
[vi] The quotation is from a piece titled “On Lying” in Diary of a Writer; it can be found in Polnoe sobranie sochinenii, vol. 21 (Leningrad: Nauka, 1980), 125. Translation mine. Elsewhere, I have discussed how Dostoevsky’s view of women in the 1870s shapes his representation of masculinity in his novel Demons. See my “Masculine degeneration in Dostoevsky’s Demons,” in Russian Writers and the Fin de Siècle, ed. Katherine Bowers and Ani Kokobobo (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge U P, 2015), 107–125.
[vii] Mikhail Bakhtin, Problems of Dostoevsky’s Poetics, ed. and trans. Caryl Emerson (Minneapolis: U of Minnesota P, 1984), 226-227.
[viii] On Hollywood the masculinity in the 1980s, see Susan Jeffords, Hollywood Masculinities in the Reagan Era (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers U P, 1994).
[ix] Laura Mulvey, “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema,” in Movies and Methods: An Anthology, vol. 2., ed. Bill Nichols (Berkeley and Los Angeles: U of California P, 1989), 310.
[x] Michael DeAngelis, Introduction to Reading the Bromance: Homosocial Relationships in Film and Television, (Detroit: Wayne State U P, 2014), 12.
[xi] Lawrence Kohlberg, “Psychological Analysis and Literary Form: A Study of the Doubles in Dostoevsky,” Daedalus 92:2 (Spring 1963), 345–362.
[xii] Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick’s Between Men literature identifies an anxiety in nineteenth-century literature around men transgressing the boundary between homosocial and homosexual desire. See her Between Men: English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire (New York: Columbia U P, 1985).
[xiii] Catherine Wheatley, speaking at “Double Vision: Dostoevsky on Film,” a panel discussion held at King’s College London on October 20, 2014. Available online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx-jATOxR7U. Last accessed October 28, 2015.
[xiv] Gary Saul Morson, “Me and My Double: Selfhood, Consciousness, and Empathy in The Double,” in Before they were Titans: Essays on the Early Works of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy (Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2015), 49.
[xv] Richard Ayoade, Ayoade on Ayoade: A Cinematic Odyssey (London: Faber and Faber, 2014), 248–249.
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Ivan Karamazov Reviews Crime and Punishment
On Golyadkin, Raskolnikov, and the Search for Empathy
Robert Belknap
On Teaching Crime and Punishment
Katherine Bowers
Raskolnikov in the Fog: Time and the Crime and Punishment End Game
Introducing @RodionTweets: Translating Raskolnikov into 140 Characters or Less
Connor Doak
Lonny Harrison
A Chat with Lonny Harrison on his New Book About the Dostoevskian Psyche
Kate Holland
Rethinking the Narrative Structure of Crime and Punishment Through Twitter
Sarah Hudspith
On Tweeting Part One of Crime and Punishment
Michael Marsh-Soloway
Deborah Martinsen
Introduction to On Teaching Crime and Punishment
Dostoevsky and Raskolnikov’s “New Word”
Kristina McGuirk
Behind the @RodionTweets Curtain: The Nuts and Bolts of Twitterifying Dostoevsky
Robin Feuer Miller
Finding Raskolnikov on the Dialogic Blog Trail
Amy D. Ronner
The Four Raskolnikovs and the Confessional Dream
Regarding the Pain of Others: Tweeting Book V of Crime & Punishment
On Tweeting Part Two of Crime and Punishment
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‘To Uncover the Secret of the Person, While Preserving the Secret as a Secret’ – A Review of the Bulgarian Dostoevsky Society’s International Symposium “The Anthropology of Dostoevsky” May 22, 2019
Teaching Crime and Punishment in Time and Space May 1, 2019
Twitterature in the Dostoevsky Classroom April 24, 2019
CFP: Dostoevsky Beyond Bakhtin Panel Stream at AATSEEL 2020 April 23, 2019
Crime, Punishment, and Kanye West April 17, 2019
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IRS reports ID theft complaints are down
The number of Americans reporting tax-related identity theft declined by more than a quarter of a million in 2016, according to the IRS.
The agency called the 275,000 fewer reported thefts in 2016 a "marked improvement in the battle against identity theft" in a Nov. 3 statement announcing plans to expand taxpayer identity protections in the coming 2017 tax season.
In 2015, following an alarming spike in the theft of taxpayer identities and data and an increase in fraudulently filed tax returns, the IRS partnered with state tax administrators, tax preparers, software providers and others to combat the problem under the Security Summit initiative.
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said the effort is paying off. "We've made remarkable progress this year in our efforts to protect taxpayers following the unprecedented coordination with the states, the tax industry and the financial sector," he said.
The agency also recorded an almost 50 percent decline in the number of fraudulent returns that made it into its tax-processing systems. As of September, the IRS had blocked 787,000 returns that involved identity theft, saving about $4 billion in taxpayer money. Over the same nine-month period in 2015, the IRS had stopped 1.2 million confirmed identity theft returns, totaling about $7.2 billion.
More than 100 financial institutions joined the partnership this year, bringing the total to 620. Additionally, the IRS said banks blocked 108,539 suspect refunds in 2016, compared to 243,361 in 2015. The dollar amount attributed to those refunds dropped to $239 million from $829 million in 2015.
Furthermore, IRS officials said their industry and state partners provided information that helped strengthen the agency's fraud filters and clamp down on bad tax returns, including 57,000 that would otherwise have bypassed IRS processing filters.
Information sharing among summit participants also helped identify new areas of vulnerability and stop more than 74,000 suspicious returns, representing over $372 million in refunds that were prevented from being paid, according to the IRS.
Officials say more improvements are on the way, including the tax industry's addition of 37 new elements to the data it transmits with every personal tax return. The industry will also share 32 more data elements from business tax returns with the IRS and state agencies.
IRS Form W-2's 16-digit verification code initiative will expand from 2 million forms in 2016 to 50 million in 2017. The software used by commercial tax preparers requires the code to validate the W-2, and the IRS said it expects the code to be expanded for all varieties of W-2 forms.
Still, adversaries continue to adapt. The IRS warned on Nov. 4 that phishing scammers are trying to use the agency's security efforts to trick tax professionals into relinquishing IRS information via a bogus website. The agency warned tax professionals not to click on links in email messages purporting to be from the IRS and to only access their accounts via the IRS website.
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Published in 1963, Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are is a childhood classic. The tale of Max’s journey into another world has been lovingly recited by countless parents to their children. Known for a variety of characters and picture books, Sendak initially illustrated other authors’ books before starting to write his own in the 1950s. This exhibition celebrates his career, including original illustrations as well as drawings made for friends and fans featuring characters from Where the Wild Things Are, Little Bear and In the Night Kitchen among other books. Theatrical production designs created by Sendak, animation cels, and sketches in a variety of mediums will also be included.
Sendak created a visual language that has captivated generations of children. His distinctive pen and ink illustrations communicate the offbeat humor present in his writings. Although he sometimes indulged in lighthearted plots, his picture books often have menacing elements: fanged monsters, baby stealing goblins and young protagonists placed in dangerous situations. Sendak gave children the opportunity to engage with ethical dilemmas, to feel afraid as well as joyful, and to take part in imaginative play. As he stated, “Children do live in fantasy and reality; they move back and forth very easily in a way we no longer remember how to do.”
During his long career Sendak illustrated over one hundred children’s books, which continue to thrill and fascinate children all over the world. The fifty works of art in the exhibition will be accompanied by quotes from fellow illustrators, friends, and others, sharing their thoughts on Sendak and the ways in which he inspired them. As Stephen Colbert stated, “His art gave us a fantastical but un-romanticized reminder of what childhood truly felt like.”
The exhibition is organized by Opar, Inc. with special thanks to the lenders of the exhibition and to the AFA Gallery in New York City for their support.
Image Credit: Maurice Sendak, Wild Thing & Max, circa 1970, ink, watercolor and colored pencil on paper, Private Collection, © Maurice Sendak, All Rights Reserved
Katz Gallery (2nd Floor)
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Home CONSTITUTION Electoral System: A Cause for Stability or Instability?
Electoral System: A Cause for Stability or Instability?
By HTET AUNG Sunday, September 20, 2009
If military-backed political candidates win big in the election, their increased share of legislators will pave the way to form a strong, authoritarian government.
In a democracy, elections are the only way for a political party to hold state power and shape the policies that will influence the country.
After the 2010 general election in Burma, voters will have a chance to determine the division of power between the political parties in parliament, where the nation’s laws and regulations will be decided.
When the military junta announces the new electoral rules, observers will study them carefully to determine how much of the old electoral system remains and how much is new.
The junta excluded the electoral system from the 2008 constitution because of the difficulty of making changes through amendments. An electoral system separated from the constitution is more flexible.
However, it is important for international and local election observers to understand that the electoral system is really closely tied to the constitution, because an electoral system’s design can greatly impact on the issue of who governs in parliament, particularly in terms of the balance of power.
As voters, the Burmese people now have little information on the type of electoral system that will translate their votes into the number of seats a political party will secure.
Therefore, it is important to understand the electoral systems currently used in the world and Burma’s previous electoral system. Although there are many types of electoral systems, the most used are generally categorized into three groups: plurality-majority systems, proportional systems and mixed systems.
In the plurality-majority systems, there are five types: First Pass The Post (FPTP), Two-Round System (TRS), Alternative Vote (AV), Block Vote (BV) and Party Block Vote (PBV).
In the proportional systems, there are two types: List Proportional Representation (List PR) and Single Transferable Vote (STV).
The mixed type systems uses the former two types in combination: Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) and Parallel system uses two electoral systems independently at the same time.
New democratic nations usually choose the electoral system they know best. In the 2008 book “Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook,” the Stockholm-based International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance noted that previously colonized nation’s electoral system can be “inherited without significant alteration from colonial or occupying administrations.”
The FPTP System’s Impact on Burma’s Politics
Like Malaysia and Singapore, two former British colonies in the Southeast Asia region, Burma inherited its FPTP system from the British. But in Singapore, the country now practices a mixture of two systems from the plurality-majority family: FPTP and PBV.
What is the FPTP system and how could it influence the political stability of a country? The IDEA handbook research says notes that the system is the simplest form and voters only need to choose and vote for one candidate. The candidate who wins the most votes is elected.
There are a number of positive and negative factors associated with the FPTP system. A significant factor is that it’s a winner-take-all system, creating a potential for dominance by a single-party.
In theory, some important positive factors of a strong single-party dominated government are: the country might enjoy political stability; second, because the system is candidate-centered, it encourages ethnic political parties to seek representation of their regions in parliament; third, the government can make state policies or law decisively; fourth, the responsibility of the failure or success of the policies and laws can be clearly determined; fifth, if there is a circumstance that demands a major shift in policy or law, the government can respond efficiently.
In looking back at Burma’s previous two parliamentary elections in 1960 and 1990—the former being the last election before the end of democracy in 1962 and the later being the reemergence of democracy after the end of socialism in 1988—the results were landslide victories for parties heading towards the formation of a strong single-party dominated government.
Prime Minister U Nu’s Pyidaungsu Party (Union Party) won 203 out of 250 parliamentary seats in the 1960 election. Similarly, the National League for Democracy, led by the democratic icon Aung San Suu Kyi, won 392 out of 485 seats in the 1990 election.
In spite of the different time periods, the political scenarios were similar: the winning parties were denied the ability to rule the country by the military. Following the military-backed “Stable” Anti-fascist People’s Freedom League loss in the 1960 election, the military staged a coup in 1962. In the 1990 election, the incumbent generals broke its promise to hand power over to the winning NLD party when the military-backed National Unity Party (NUP) suffered a stunning loss.
Although there are many issues behind Burma’s political crisis and the division between the military and civil political parties, one of the factors was the FPTP electoral system, because it produced a disproportional representation of a single political party, resulting in a lack of power balance in parliament.
For example, when the NUP transformed from the former ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party after the demise of socialism in 1988, it won only 10 seats with 21.2 percent of the votes in the 1990 election. Although the party placed second after the NLD in a total votes cast, the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy won 23 seats, or 1.7 percent of the votes, but it placed second after the NLD in total number of seats in parliament.
In theory, such positive and negative factors can be adjusted within an election mechanism which is tailored to create an equal opportunity on a regular basis for all political parties to win effective representation in the legislature. However, the election mechanism was destroyed by the military, and we are again in the process of creating an electoral system.
After the decades-long tensions between the military and civil political groups, the current military junta reintroduced a new political order through the new constitution approved in 2008.
Under the constitution, the military designed a bicameral parliament with an undemocratic proportional representation—25 percent military-appointed and 75 percent elected representatives.
With the parliamentary design created by the constitution, the military doesn’t need to stage a coup if military-backed candidates lose badly in an election, because they are guaranteed a dominate position in the parliament. To further avoid the dominance of an opposition party, the constitution introduced a president system with parliamentary characteristics, in order to prevent an opposition party from controlling the executive power of the state.
If the new electoral law continues to use an FPTP system, an anti-military political party will have a chance to win a majority of seats in parliament, but the military’s undemocratically appointed share of legislators will effectively block the creation of a strong democratic government.
However, if the military-backed political party wins big in the election, its increased share of legislators will pave the way to form a strong, authoritarian military-dominated government.
Burma observers will watch carefully to see what type of electoral system the military favors this time around, and they will dissect it to understand how it may affect the distribution of legislators in parliament.
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Kangaroo Mother Care
Physician researchers Edgar Rey Sanabria and Héctor Martínez-Gómez developed the Kangaroo Mother Program in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1979, as an alternative to conventional incubator treatment for low birth weight infants. As of 2018, low birth weight and its associated complications are the leading causes of infant death, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries where access to technology and skilled healthcare providers is limited. Kangaroo Mother Care is a simple and low cost method for treating low birth weight infants.
Subject: Technologies
Doolan v. IVF America [Brief] (2000)
The implication of the court's decision was that Thomas Doolan's identity or personhood existed at the embryo stage in vitro, thus the fact that he was born with cystic fibrosis was not attributable to the decision of the in vitro fertilization providers to implant one embryo instead of another. The other unused embryo may not have carried the cystic fibrosis genes, but that other embryo was not Thomas Doolan. The decision in Doolan has not been publicly tested in other jurisdictions.
"Altruism and the Origin of the Worker Caste" from The Ants (1990), by Bert Hölldobler and Edward Osborne Wilson
In 'Altruism and the Origin of the Worker Caste,' Bert Hölldobler and Edward Osborne Wilson explore the evolutionary origins of worker ants. 'Altruism and the Origin of the Worker Caste' is the fourth chapter of Hölldobler and Wilson's book, The Ants, which was published by The Belknap Press of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1990. In 'Altruism and the Origin of the Worker Caste,' Hölldobler and Wilson evaluate various explanations for how a non-reproductive caste of ant evolved.
Henry Havelock Ellis (1859-1939)
Henry Havelock Ellis was born on 2 February 1859 at Croydon in Surrey, England, to Susannah Wheatley Ellis and Edward Peppen Ellis, a sea captain. A psychologist, essayist, and physician, he is best known for his contributions to the study of human sexuality and his support of sex education and women's rights. Ellis 's work catalyzed the revolution against repressive Victorian views of sexuality.
Julia Bell (1879-1979)
Julia Bell worked in twentieth-century Britain, discovered Fragile X Syndrome, and helped find heritable elements of other developmental and genetic disorders. Bell also wrote much of the five volume Treasury of Human Inheritance, a collection about genetics and genetic disorders. Bell researched until late in life, authoring an original research article on the effects of the rubella virus of fetal development (Congenital Rubella Syndrome) at the age of 80.
Evangelium Vitae (1995), by Pope John Paul II
The encyclical entitled "Evangelium Vitae," meaning "The Gospel of Life," was promulgated on 25 March 1995 by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy. The document was written to reiterate the view of the Roman Catholic Church on the value of life and to warn against violating the sanctity of life. The document focuses on right to life issues including abortion, birth control, and euthanasia, but also touches on other concepts relevant to embryology, such as contraception, in vitro fertilization, sterilization, embryonic stem cell research, and fetal experimentation.
Subject: Religion, Reproduction
Julia Clifford Lathrop (1858–1932)
Julia Clifford Lathrop was an activist and social reformer in the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries and the first chief of the United States Children’s Bureau. In that capacity, she conducted demographic studies to identify links between socioeconomic factors and infant mortality rates. Lathrop mobilized the effort to increase birth registration and designed programs and publications to promote infant and maternal health throughout the US.
Subject: People, Outreach
Nelson v. Planned Parenthood Center of Tucson (1973)
The 1973 case Nelson v. Planned Parenthood Center of Tucson established the legality of abortion in Arizona. The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that the Arizona Revised Statutes 13-211, 13-212, and 13-213, collectively called the Arizona abortion statutes, were unconstitutional. The statutes had made illegal receiving, providing, or advertising abortions. After the Arizona Appeals Court heard the case, it decided that the Arizona abortion statutes were constitutional. However, two weeks later the US Supreme Court decided in Roe v.
Subject: Legal
"Vietnam Veterans' Risks for Fathering Babies with Birth Defects" (1984), by J. David Erickson et al.
In 1984, J. David Erickson and his research team published the results of a study titled 'Vietnam Veterans' Risks for Fathering Babies with Birth Defects' that indicated that Vietnam veterans were at increased risk of fathering infants with serious congenital malformations, or birth defects.
Ethics of Designer Babies
A designer baby is a baby genetically engineered in vitro for specially selected traits, which can vary from lowered disease-risk to gender selection. Before the advent of genetic engineering and in vitro fertilization (IVF), designer babies were primarily a science fiction concept. However, the rapid advancement of technology before and after the turn of the twenty-first century makes designer babies an increasingly real possibility.
Subject: Ethics, Reproduction
George Linius Streeter (1873-1948)
George Linius Streeter was born on 12 January 1873 in Johnstown, New York, to Hannah Green Anthony and George Austin Streeter. He completed his undergraduate studies at Union College in 1895 and received his MD degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in 1899. At Columbia, Professor George S. Huntington sparked Streeter's interest in anatomy, and Streeter also interned at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. He then went on to Albany to teach anatomy at the Albany Medical College and to work with neurologist Henry Hun.
August Karl Gustav Bier (1861–1949)
In the late nineteenth century, August Karl Gustav Bier was a surgeon in Germany who studied spinal cord anesthesia, later called spinal block. Bier found that, depending upon the amount of anesthesia introduced into the spinal cord, a large area of the human body could be numbed to various degrees. Bier established a procedure to numb individuals from the lower legs to the upper abdomen, with the individual’s numbness ranging from them feeling pressure on their body to them feeling nothing at all.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI), also known as artificial insemination, is one of the earliest and simplest assisted reproductive technologies (ART). With this technique, sperm from either a partner or donor (such as from a sperm bank) is inserted with a syringe into the woman's vagina during ovulation to increase the probability that fertilization will occur and lead to pregnancy.
Plowman v. Fort Madison Community Hospital (2017)
In June 2017, the Iowa Supreme Court decided the case Plowman v. Fort Madison Community Hospital, or Plowman v. FMCH, and ruled that women who gave birth to children with severe disabilities could sue for wrongful birth in Iowa. Specifically, after Plowman v. FMCH, a woman could sue for wrongful birth if she believed that her physicians failed to disclose evidence of fetal abnormalities that may have prompted her to terminate the pregnancy.
Litowitz v. Litowitz [Brief] (2002)
Pursuant to an express provision of the embryo disposition contract they both signed, a husband and wife had to petition the court for instructions because they could not reach an agreement about what to do with frozen embryos when they divorced. The trial court awarded the pre-embryos to the husband and the Court of Appeals affirmed this decision. However, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the pre-embryos should be thawed out and allowed to expire because the dispute had not been resolved within a five year time frame prescribed by the Cryopreservation Agreement.
Alan Mathison Turing (1912-1954)
Alan Mathison Turing was a British mathematician and computer scientist who lived in the early twentieth century. Among important contributions in the field of mathematics, computer science, and philosophy, he developed a mathematical model of morphogenesis. This model describing biological growth became fundamental for research on the process of embryo development.
Radioimmunoassay (RIA) is a technique in which researchers use radioactive isotopes as traceable tags to quantify specific biochemical substances from blood samples. Rosalyn Yalow and Solomon Berson developed the method in the 1950s while working at the Bronx Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital in New York City, New York. RIA requires small samples of blood, yet it is extremely sensitive to minute quantities of biological molecules within the sample. The use of RIA improved the accuracy of many kinds of medical diagnoses, and it influenced hormone and immune research around the world.
Solomon A. Berson (1918-1972)
Solomon A. Berson helped develop the radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique in the US during the twentieth century. Berson made many scientific contributions while working with research partner Rosalyn Yalow at the Bronx Veterans Administration (VA) hospital, in New York City, New York. In the more than twenty years that Berson and Yalow collaborated, they refined the procedures for tracing diagnostic biological compounds using isotope labels.
Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome)
John Hilton Edwards first described the symptoms of the genetic disorder known as Trisomy 18 - one of the most common forms of trisomy, which occurs when cells have an extra copy of a chromosome, in humans - in 1960. Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards Syndrome, occurs approximately once per 6000 live births and is second in frequency only to Trisomy 21, or Down's Syndrome, as an autosomal trisomy. Trisomy 18 causes substantial developmental problems in utero.
Subject: Disorders
Jeter v. Mayo Clinic Arizona [Brief] (2005)
In Arizona, statutes that protect persons, such as the wrongful death statute, will not be interpreted by the courts to grant personhood status to frozen embryos. The legislature may grant such protection in the statute if it chooses to do so by explicitly defining the word person to include frozen embryos.
The Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Human Fertilisation and Embryology (1984), by Mary Warnock and the Committee of Inquiry into Human Fertilisation and Embryology
The Report of the Committee of Inquiry
into Human Fertilisation and Embryology, commonly called the Warnock
Report after the chair of the committee Mary Warnock, is the 1984
publication of a UK governmental inquiry into the social impacts of
infertility treatment and embryological research. The birth of Louise
Brown in 1978 in Oldham, UK, sparked debate about reproductive and
embryological technologies. Brown was conceived through in vitro
fertilization (IVF), a process of fertilization that occurs outside of
Subject: Publications, Legal, Ethics
Bernadine Healy (1944–2011)
During the twentieth century in the United States, Bernadine Patricia Healy was a cardiologist who served as the first female director of the National Institutes of Health or NIH and the president of both the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Healy conducted research on the different manifestations of heart attacks in women compared to men. At the time, many physicians underdiagnosed and mistreated coronary heart disease in women. Healy's research illustrated how coronary heart disease affected women.
Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910)
In the nineteenth century, Elizabeth Blackwell was a women’s healthcare reformer and the first woman to receive her medical degree in the United States. She practiced medicine as a primary care physician in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Blackwell graduated medical school from Geneva Medical College in Geneva, New York, where she was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the US.
The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering (2007), by Michael J. Sandel
The Case against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering, hereafter referred to as The Case against Perfection, written by Michael J. Sandel, builds on a short essay featured in The Atlantic Monthly magazine in 2004. Three years later, Sandel transformed his article into a book, keeping the same title but expanding upon his personal critique of genetic engineering. The purpose of Sandel's book is to articulate the sources of what he considers to be widespread public unease related to genetic engineering that changes the course of natural development.
Subject: Publications, Ethics
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"Limitations in Abortion Legislation: A Comparative Study" (2007), by Orli Lotan
Written by Orli Lotan on behalf of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) Center for Research and Information, "Limitations in Abortion Legislation: A Comparative Study" (hereafter abbreviated "Legislation") examines abortion legislation in Israel, the US, Canada, and a number of European countries. The study also acknowledges the medical, moral, ethical, and religious implications of abortion and the impact of such legislation on society in each country.
Subject: Publications, Legal, Reproduction
"The Premenstrual Syndrome" (1953), by Raymond Greene and Katharina Dalton
In 1953, Raymond Greene and Katharina Dalton, who were doctors in the UK, published The Premenstrual Syndrome in the British Medical Journal. In their article, Dalton and Greene established the term premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The authors defined PMS as a cluster of symptoms that include bloating, breast pain, migraine-headache, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and irritability. The article states that the symptoms begin one to two weeks before menstruation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, and they disappear upon the onset of the menstrual period.
Subject: Publications, Reproduction
Birth Control or the Limitation of Offspring (1936), by William J. Robinson
Birth Control or the Limitation of Offspring was written by American eugenics and birth control advocate William J. Robinson. First published in 1916, the final edition (forty-eighth) was published in 1936, the same year that Robinson died. As a medical doctor and author, Robinson used his influence to promote propaganda for "fewer and better babies," by focusing on contraception. Even Margaret Sanger, another prominent eugenics and birth control advocate, took great interest in this book. Robinson had three goals in mind when writing Birth Control.
An Atlas of Fertilization and Karyokinesis of the Ovum (1895), by Edmund Beecher Wilson
Edmund Beecher Wilson in the US published An Atlas of Fertilization and Karyokinesis of the Ovum (hereafter called An Atlas) in 1895. The book presents photographs by photographer Edward Leaming that capture stages of fertilization, the fusion of sperm and egg and early development of sea urchin (Toxopneustes variegatus) ova, or egg cell. Prior to An Atlas, no one photographed of eggcell division in clear detail. Wilson obtained high quality images of egg cells by cutting the cells into thin sections and preserving them throughout different stages of development.
“Elective Induction of Labor” (1955), by Edward Bishop
In 1955, obstetrician Edward Bishop, a physician specializing in childbirth, published the article “Elective Induction of Labor,” in which he proposed the best conditions for pregnant women to elect to induce, or begin, labor. Elective induction of labor requires an obstetrician to administer a drug to help a pregnant woman to start her contractions, and to rupture the fluid-filled sac surrounding the fetus called the amniotic sac.
Subject: Reproduction, Publications
Images of Embryos in Life Magazine in the 1950s
Embryonic images displayed in Life magazine during the mid-twentieth century serve as a representation of technological advances and the growing public interest in the stages of embryological development. These black-and-white photographs portray skeletal structures and intact bodies of chicken embryos and human embryos and fetuses obtained from collections belonging to universities and medical institutions.
Subject: Outreach, Publications, Reproduction
"Drama of Life Before Birth" (1965), by Life Magazine and Lennart Nilsson
Life Magazine's 1965 cover story "Drama of Life Before Birth" featured photographs of embryos and fetuses taken by Swedish photojournalist Lennart Nilsson to document the developmental stages of a human embryo. Included in this article was the first published image of a living fetus inside its mother's womb. Prior to this, embryos and fetuses were observed, studied, and photographed outside of women's bodies as non-living specimens.
Subject: Publications, Outreach, Reproduction
“Pelvic Scoring for Elective Induction” (1964), by Edward Bishop
In the 1964 article, “Pelvic Scoring for Elective Induction,” obstetrician Edward Bishop describes his method to determine whether a doctor should induce labor, or artificially start the birthing process, in a pregnant woman. Aside from medical emergencies, a woman can elect to induce labor to choose when she gives birth and have a shorter than normal labor. The 1964 publication followed an earlier article by Bishop, also about elective induction.
Ovum Humanum: Growth, Maturation, Nourishment, Fertilization and Early Development (1960), by Landrum Brewer Shettles
Ovum Humanum was written and compiled by Dr. Landrum Brewer Shettles while he worked as a doctor in New York. The publication contains an atlas of photographs of the human egg cell that Shettles took while working at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Stechert-Hafner, Inc, a publishing company based in New York City, published the book in 1960. The book presents a collection of color photographs that shows detail of the human egg that had never been seen before, providing a reference for scientists and doctors that documented the anatomy of these cells.
Evaluation of the Newborn Infant--Second Report (1958), by Virginia Apgar et al.
Virginia Apgar and colleagues wrote “Evaluation of the Newborn Infant—Second Report” in 1958. This article explained that Apgar’s system for evaluating infants’ condition after birth accurately predicted the health of infants. Apgar had developed the scoring system in 1953 to provide a simple method for determining if an infant needed medical attention after birth.
Birth without Violence (1975), by Frederick Leboyer
In Birth without Violence (1975), French obstetrician Frederick Leboyer describes in poetic form the possible perceptions and feelings of embryos and fetuses before, during, and after birth. His work has helped to promote a gentler and more sensitive birthing method with the goal of easing the newborn's transition from the womb to the outside world. Leboyer's birthing method influenced later birth techniques such as water birth and unassisted childbirth.
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Bret Boone
Bret Robert Boone (born April 6, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. During his career Boone was a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He is a member of the Boone family, one of the most recognizable families in baseball.
Boone with the Seattle Mariners
Second baseman
Born: (1969-04-06) April 6, 1969 (age 50)
El Cajon, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
August 19, 1992, for the Seattle Mariners
July 31, 2005, for the Minnesota Twins
Seattle Mariners (1992–1993)
Cincinnati Reds (1994–1998)
Atlanta Braves (1999)
San Diego Padres (2000)
Minnesota Twins (2005)
3× All-Star (1998, 2001, 2003)
4× Gold Glove Award (1998, 2002–2004)
2× Silver Slugger Award (2001, 2003)
AL RBI leader (2001)
Boone was born in El Cajon, California to Susan G. Roel and former major league player and manager Bob Boone. He is also the grandson of former major leaguer Ray Boone and brother of former major leaguer and current New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, as well as a descendant of pioneer Daniel Boone.[1] As a child, Boone hung out in the Phillies clubhouse with Pete Rose Jr., his brother Aaron, Ryan Luzinski, and Mark McGraw.[2] He is a graduate of El Dorado High School in Placentia, California. Boone attended the University of Southern California and played for the team, but left after his junior year of college when he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round.[3] In 2016 Boone released an autobiography, Home Game: Big-League Stories from My Life in Baseball's First Family.[4][5]
Professional careerEdit
Boone as a member of the AAA Calgary Cannons in 1992.
In 1992, Boone became the first-ever third-generation big-leaguer in baseball history. As a member of an All-Star family, he is the son of Bob, a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels and Kansas City Royals (1972–1990) and later a manager with the Royals and Cincinnati Reds; his brother Aaron is a third baseman who has played with the Reds, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, and Houston Astros and is now the manager of the New York Yankees. His grandfather Ray was an infielder for the Indians, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, Milwaukee Braves and Boston Red Sox (1948–1960).
On the last day of the 1998 season, the Reds helped him make baseball trivia history by starting the only infield ever composed of two sets of brothers: first baseman Stephen Larkin, second baseman Bret Boone, shortstop Barry Larkin, and third baseman Aaron Boone.
Seattle MarinersEdit
Boone started his playing career with the Seattle Mariners where he set the club record for home runs in a season by second baseman in 1993 (12 in 76 games)[6] but was traded that same year to the Cincinnati Reds along with Erik Hanson.
Boone turning a double play while playing second base for the Seattle Mariners in Cincinnati on June 19, 2002
In 2001 Boone returned to the Seattle Mariners, the organization with which he came up from 1990 to 1993.[7] Now an All-Star—having averaged 21 home runs a year from 1998 through 2000, twice reaching a career high in doubles (at 38, in 1998 and 1999) -- Boone's superior play continued as he led the league in runs batted in (141), while producing a batting average of (.331). He also broke the Mariners' team record of home runs for a second baseman with his 37 home runs while hitting 37 doubles.
Boone started in the All-Star Game at Safeco Field, received a Silver Slugger Award and finished third in the AL MVP voting. His Mariners paced the league with a record 116 wins, earning the AL West championship and advancing to the ALCS, tying the all-time team record for wins in a season with the 1906 Chicago Cubs.
The following year Boone won a Gold Glove Award for his defense and continued to show the power he had demonstrated the previous years, hitting 24 home runs with 34 doubles. On May 2, 2002, Boone and teammate Mike Cameron became the first teammates to each hit two home runs in a single inning, doing so in the first inning against the White Sox.
With local media and behind the scenes he was famous for his humorous behavior. Boone took up not one but three lockers, as Erick Walker notes, "one for him, another with a nameplate above that read 'Boone's friend' and a third with a nameplate that read 'Boone's friend's friend' that was scattered with about 100 bats."[8]
Minnesota TwinsEdit
He was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners on July 3, 2005, and later traded on July 11 to Minnesota for cash and a player (minor league pitcher Andy Baldwin) to be named later. Minnesota released Boone on August 1 after only 14 games, where the second baseman struggled with a .221 batting average, with 7 home runs and 37 RBI in 88 games for the Mariners and Twins.
New York MetsEdit
On January 4, 2006, Boone signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. He received an invitation to spring training, but on March 1, only a few days into spring training, he announced his initial retirement from baseball, citing a lack of passion for the game.[9]
Washington NationalsEdit
On February 18, 2008, Boone came out of retirement and signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.[10] At first he was assigned to the minor league camp, but after five days, he was invited to the team's major league spring training camp.[11]
On March 21, 2008, Boone was reassigned to minor league camp after hitting .189 and began the season with the Columbus Clippers, the Nationals Triple-A affiliate.[12] He had hoped to get signed by a major league club, and left the Clippers in late April to work out on his own. However, on May 28, he once again announced his retirement.[13]
On March 9, 2010, he was named manager of the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball League. On May 27, 2010, after managing just four games, the Seals announced Boone was leaving the team permanently to deal with "family matters".
Bret Boone had his best years as a Seattle Mariner, where he is still a fan favorite. He finished his career with a .266 batting average, 252 home runs and 1,021 RBI in 1,780 games in 14 Major League seasons. He was a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, and participated in 2 Home Run Derbies.
Steroid controversyEdit
Jose Canseco, in his book Juiced, accused Boone of steroid use, saying that in a 2001 spring training game he was stunned at Boone's physique, and the two chatted about what Boone was taking. However, Boone has denied taking steroids, or having any such conversation with Canseco, pointing out that he never played against Canseco during the 2001 spring training.[14] Despite Boone's claim that he never played against Canseco in the spring of 2001, his Seattle Mariners did in fact play the Anaheim Angels six times during spring training of that year.[15] However, Canseco never reached second base in any of those games, where the conversation is alleged to have occurred.[16] Canseco was then cut by the Angels on March 28.[17]
Related linksEdit
List of NL Gold Glove winners at second base
List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
List of second generation MLB players
List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
Third-generation Major League Baseball families
List of Silver Slugger Award winners at second base
List of Gold Glove Award winners at second base
^ Brown, David (July 13, 2012). "Answer Man: Aaron Boone talks television jobs, his famous family and cheap wine". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
^ Will Grimsley (March 8, 1979). "Phillies 'Kiddie Korps' Enjoys Spring Romps". Spokane Daily Chronicle.
^ "Bret Boone Announces Retirement". USCTrojans.com. March 1, 2006. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
^ Bret, Boone; Cook, Kevin (May 10, 2016). Home Game: Big-League Stories from My Life in Baseball's First Family. Crown Archetype. ISBN 978-1-101-90490-9.
^ Rand, Michael (April 21, 2016). "New Bret Boone book: alcohol problem derailed stint with Twins". StarTribune.
^ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y1pUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=644DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4961,298114&dq=bret-boone&hl=en
^ David Schoenfield (September 12, 2011). "2001 Mariners: Best team that never won". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
^ "It's been a fun, unforgettable ride | Erick Walker". Kent Reporter. September 18, 2011. Archived from the original on 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
^ Marty Noble (March 1, 2006). "Bret Boone calls it a career". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
^ "Nationals sign three-time All-Star Bret Boone to Minor-League contract". MLB.com (Press release). February 18, 2008. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
^ Bill Ladson (February 23, 2008). "Boone joins big league camp". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
^ Ladson, Bill (March 20, 2008). "Nats reassign Boone to Minors". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
^ Bill Ladson (May 28, 2008). "After 14 major league seasons, retiring Boone in a better place". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
^ Hickey, John (February 18, 2005). "Bret Boone on steroids? 'No chance,' he says". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
^ "Spring Training 2001". Sports Illustrated. CNN. February 3, 2001. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
^ Jeff Merron. "And the real facts are..." ESPN.com. p. 2. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
^ "José Canseco". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bret Boone.
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bret_Boone&oldid=906465954"
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Fourth Dynasty of Egypt
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The Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty IV) is characterized as a "golden age" of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. Dynasty IV lasted from c. 2613 to 2494 BC.[1] It was a time of peace and prosperity as well as one during which trade with other countries is documented.
Painted limestone Sphinx of Hetepheres II, possibly the first depiction of a sphinx, she was one of the longest lived members of the fourth dynasty royal family, a daughter of Khufu, she was the wife of Djedefre, and lived into the reign of Shepseskaf
The Fourth Dynasty heralded the height of the pyramid-building age. The relative peace of the Third Dynasty allowed the Dynasty IV rulers the leisure to explore more artistic and cultural pursuits. King Sneferu's building experiments led to the evolution from the mastaba styled step pyramids to the smooth sided “true” pyramids, such as those on the Giza Plateau. No other period in Egypt's history equaled Dynasty IV's architectural accomplishments.[2] Each of the rulers of this dynasty commissioned at least one pyramid to serve as a tomb or cenotaph[citation needed].
The Fourth Dynasty was the second of four dynasties that made up the "Old Kingdom". King Sneferu, the first king of the Fourth Dynasty, held territory from ancient Libya in the west to the Sinai Peninsula in the east, to Nubia in the south. It was a successful period and this era is known for its advancement and concentrated government, as seen in the organized building of pyramids and other monuments.
Our understanding of the Old Kingdom comes mainly from these structures and objects discovered in the desert cemeteries of Giza.
Initial Fourth Dynasty Royalty
Names of Kings
Horus (throne) name
Names of
Sneferu Nebma'at 2613–2589 BC Red Pyramid
Bent Pyramid
Pyramid at Meidum Hetepheres I
Khufu Medjedu 2589–2566 BC Great Pyramid of Giza Meritites I
Henutsen
Djedefre Kheper 2566–2558 BC ? Pyramid of Djedefre Hetepheres II
Khentetka
Khafre Userib 2558–2532 BC Pyramid of Khafra Meresankh III
Khamerernebty I
Hekenuhedjet
Persenet
Menkaure Kakhet 2532–2503 BC ? Pyramid of Menkaure Khamerernebty II
Shepseskaf ?? 2518–2510 BC ? Pharaoh's Bench at Saqqara Bunefer
Fourth Dynasty timeline
SneferuEdit
King Sneferu, lauded as "Bringer of Beauty", "Master of All Justice", "Ruler of Lower and Upper Nile", was the first pharaoh of the fourth dynasty. He descended from a family in Middle Egypt that lived near Hermopolis, and most likely ascended to the throne by marrying a royal heiress. There is still debate as to who his father was, wit the credit often being given to Huni, but this cannot be confirmed due to the break in dynasties. His mother, Meresanhk I was either a lesser wife or concubine of Huni which, if it was the latter, would technically not qualify him as having royal blood.
Egypt in the Third Millennium BC was, by all accounts, a land of peace and plenty. Elites commonly ate fattened ducks and geese and wore fine white linens—when they wore clothes at all. Sneferu had a very high opinion of himself, proving so when he floated in a boat down the Nile covered only with fishnets.
Until his reign, Egyptian kings were thought to be worldly incarnations of Horus, obtaining total deification exclusively in death. Sneferu was the first king to proclaim that he was the embodiment of Ra, another sun deity. Khufu would pursue his father's path, taking the name Son of the Sun God.
On the whole, Egypt was ruled by two centers of power - legal authority and traditional authority. Legal authority constituted governing by the king, not over the people directly, but via viziers and nomarchs. Traditional authority was derived from the concept that the deities gave a king the divine right to rule as he pleased. At its heart, the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian government became organized so that only the king could direct traditional authority.
The Bent Pyramid was Sneferu's first attempt at building a perfect structure, but it slopes and eventually bends to a lower angle, giving the structure a squished look. His Red Pyramid is widely considered the first true pyramid and earned its name from the reddish tint in the limestone used. The Red Pyramid was considered the first pyramid, approximately 150 years after the structures built by King Djoser.[3] The Red Pyramid was the first to be given a solid foundation so that it was stable enough for a taller building. He is also said to be responsible for a series of pyramids built in Seila. He commissioned a total of three pyramids, but there are records that point to a fourth. Although he did not construct any of the pyramids at Giza, he is known as the king who moved the most stone and brick. A lot of Sneferu's political expeditions were to other countries to secure two things: a substantial labor force and access to a large store of materials. He traveled to Nubia and Libya for these things. His incursions in these areas allowed Sneferu to secure a large labor force, so large, in fact, that it caused huge devastation to the raided countries. He also needed cattle and other food sources to provide to the people building his pyramids. By the end of his military efforts, he managed to capture 11,000 prisoners and 13,100 head of cattle.
Giza pyramid complex pyramids
Other kings during the Age of the PyramidEdit
King KhufuEdit
Khufu, Sneferu's successor—though it is unclear whether he was the biological son of Sneferu—was a widely-known king. He is still known very well in present-day media, being featured in movies, novels, and television shows. His fame stems from his pyramid on the northeastern plateau at Giza, where he was buried. His mortuary temple was built on the northern end of the pyramid, which is no longer accessible due to ravages by grave robbers. Only three-dimensional reliefs have been recovered and have lasted into modern day, including many limestone busts and clay figurines. Khufu's activities in and out of Egypt are not well documented (except his architecture work) and was highly romanticized by the Ancient Greeks. These Greeks felt that Khufu was a wicked man who offended the deities and forced his subjects into slavery.[4] But, why was this? Khufu, as the son of Snerfru, was believed to be illegitimate and therefore unworthy of the throne. Even if he was Snefru's true son, he did very little to expand the country of Egypt and failed to follow his father's footsteps. There are only a few records that stated he was involved in any political activities. The best guess historians can make is that there is evidence of construction of a harbor on the coast of the Red Sea that was excavated by John Gardner Wilkinson and James Burton in 1823.
King DjedefreEdit
Djedef is credited by historians with a reign of eight years. Not much is known of Djedef, including his inconclusive lineage. It is possible that he is Khufu's son or that he was Khufu's brother. It is widely suggested that he is the son of a lesser queen who murdered the rightful heir to the throne and Djedef's biological brother, the crown prince Kawab. Djedef chose to build his pyramid several kilometers north of Giza, creating speculation that there was a family feud that caused Djedef to want to be far away from Khufu's tomb. A more favorable conclusion was that Djedef chose to be buried closer to Iunu, the center of the cult of Ra. His pyramid also features a statue of his wife, Hetepheres II, in the form of a sphinx. She was a daughter of Khufu and had been the wife of Kawab. It is sometimes suggested that this was the first true sphinx, although there is debate about the sphinx at Giza that was credited to Khafre. She became the longest living royal member of the dynasty, living into the reign of Shepseskaf.
King KhafreEdit
Khafre, son of Khufu, succeeding his supposed brother, Djedefre, after his short reign. He chose to build his pyramid close to his father, matching it in style and being almost as large. At the front of the pyramid causeway lies the Great Sphinx that is said to bear his features. There is still debate on whether his Sphinx was erected before Djedefre's.[5] Khafre's sphinx was well-known and closer to his subjects, making it harder to determine which was built first due to biased record keeping.
Menkaure and Khamerernebty II, his sister-wife
King MenkaureEdit
Like many kings in this dynasty, his reign is uncertain, being projected for more than 63 years but it can certainly be an exaggeration. Menkaure succeeded his father, King Khafre. His pyramid is the third and smallest of those at Giza and is known as Netjer-er-Menkaure, which translates into "Menakure is Divine". There was a sarcophagus found within the pyramid, that is approximately eight feet in length and three feet in height, made of basalt. Like many of the previous pyramids, Menkaure's was not inscribed, the interior having no record keeping of any kind.
King ShepseskafEdit
Shepseskaf is generally accepted as the last king of the Fourth Dynasty, succeeding Menkaure. There is no conclusive evidence of who his mother is, though it is believed that he was the son of a minor queen. Who his wife was, also is unknown. Shepseskaf broke the chain of pyramid building by the previous five kings. Instead of a triangular pyramid, he chose to construct a rectangular block, commonly known as the Mastabat al-Fir’aun ("Pharaoh's Bench").[6] In like fashion, however, little script was found inside his tomb and he was buried in very simple terms.
Later kings- unknown whether they are Fourth DynastyEdit
BakaEdit
The identification of this king is not resolved.[7] Several ancient lists of kings have survived. They do not agree, however, and none of them may be considered complete. The Turin King List has a lacuna between Khafre and Menkaure, where the author had listed a king who reigned between these two pharaohs. The name of the king and length of the reign are completely lost in the lacuna.[8] The Saqqara Tablet also notes a king between Khafre and Menkaure, but here too, the name is lost.[9] Some authorities have equated this king with Bikheris, on Manetho's list, who could correspond to the Egyptian name Baka or Bakare.
Khentkaus IEdit
Perhaps the most intriguing evidence of the fourth dynasty is the status of Khentkaus I, also known as Khentykawes. She was a daughter of Menkaure and her tomb was built along the Menkaure causeway. She may have ruled as king.
Her tomb is a large mastaba tomb, with another off-center mastaba placed above it. The second mastaba could not be centered over her primary mastaba because of the free, unsupported, space in the rooms below.
On a granite doorway leading into her tomb, Khentkaus I is given titles that may be read either as mother of two kings of upper and lower Egypt, as mother of the king of upper and lower Egypt and king of upper and lower Egypt, or, as one scholar reads it, king of upper and lower Egypt and mother of two kings of upper and lower Egypt.
Furthermore, her depiction on this doorway also gives her the full trappings of kingship, including the false beard of the king. This depiction and the title given have led some Egyptologists to suggest that she reigned as king near the end of the fourth dynasty.
Her tomb was finished in a characteristic niche style of architecture, however, the niches were later filled in with a smooth casing of limestone.
Age of the pyramidEdit
The Age of the Pyramid refers to the fact that the Fourth Dynasty was the time when most of the well-known pyramids were built, which include those at Giza. King Sneferu was the first king to express an interest in funerary rites and tombs, which led him to the planning of the largest pyramid at Egypt. His first pyramids were called the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid. The "Age of the Pyramid" was not just about the building of large and easily recognizable structures, but also a change in funerary practices and rituals. This includes the burying of elites in large structures and the use of extensive mummification.
Religious changesEdit
The Fourth Dynasty is where we truly see a shift in religious practices where worship of the Sun was commonplace. The Cult of Ra grew in size, going back to the fact that Djedef's tomb was built closer to the center of worship in what the Ancient Greeks called Heliopolis.[10] It was a delta city near contemporary Cairo that had been occupied since the predynastic times, whose ancient Egyptian name was I͗wnw or Iunu and meant the pillars.
During the era when centralization of the nation's material, organic, and human resources began to develop, a relationship of the king to the deities became unchallenged and kings began carving their names into statues and monuments that previously had been reserved for deities. This speaks to a type of god complex on part of the kings. Khafre's famous statue, where a falcon was incorporated into his headgear, equated the king to the god Horus.
This fact, however, caused controversy. It was pitting Khafre's allegiance to Horus against the growing Cult of Ra, not far away in Helipolis.[11] Kings no longer associated pyramids with the afterlife. The afterlife was once believed to be a divine kingdom that was represented as a type of idealistic heaven where only kings and pure hearts could go. Instead, the Fourth Dynasty represented a change in this idea, formulated the notion that the afterlife was a familiar place, taking the semblance of Earth.[12] Religious rituals were notoriously conservative, from what historians know, and there is much to be desired from current known records.
Changing customs drove architectural changesEdit
The Old Kingdom saw a rise in the preservation of the deceased, making the preparation of bodies much more complex. The position of embalmer was created, and their jobs were solely to prepare a corpse in private. There were three ways to mummify a body: 1) Stucco- the body would be wrapped in fine linen and then covered in stucco plaster, the features of the body (including the face) were remodeled in the plaster;[13] 2) Linen- the body would be wrapped in linen, which was sometimes treated with natron (a mixture of multiple sodium carbonates [14]) and the linens would be treated with resin so that the features of the body could be modeled; and 3) Defleshing- removing all flesh and wrapping the bones in linens.[15] Generally, organs were removed which were then put into jars that would accompany the body in the tomb, and the inside of the body flushed out.
Tombs in the Fourth Dynasty changed drastically. "Unimpressive" graves did not satisfy the elites, meaning they would settle for smaller structures if the interior was decorated. Hieroglyphic writings were important to elites because, one, it was a lavish display of wealth and, two, it guided their souls to the afterlife. The Fourth Dynasty, however, did not have these writings. Instead, the tomb was deeper and super-structures were larger. After the Giza pyramid complex, later generations of tombs were more reasonably sized. After Middle Kingdom, royals abandoned pyramids, they preferred graves that were carved into living rock of the Upper Egyptian mountains.
A replication of an Old Kingdom mummy, as reconstructed by Emory University
Egyptian Fourth Dynasty Family Tree
^ Shaw, Ian, ed. (2000). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press. p. 480. ISBN 978-0-19-815034-3.
^ Egypt: Land and Lives of the Pharaohs Revealed, (2005), pp. 80–90, Global Book Publishing: Australia
^ Levy, Janey (30 December 2005). The Great Pyramid of Giza: Measuring Length, Area, Volume, and Angles. Rosen Classroom. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-4042-6059-7.
^ Tyldesley, Joyce. "Who was Khufu?". eds.a.ebscohost.com.libproxy.nau.edu. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
^ Spencer, A. J. (1990). "The Egyptian Pyramids. A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference. By J.P. Lepre. 233 × 156mm. Pp. xviii + 341, many ills. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company, Inc.1990. ISBN 0-89950-461-2. £37·50". The Antiquaries Journal. 70 (2): 479. doi:10.1017/S0003581500070906. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
^ Peter Jánosi: Giza in der 4. Dynastie. Die Baugeschichte und Belegung einer Nekropole des Alten Reiches. vol. I: Die Mastabas der Kernfriedhöfe und die Felsgräber, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 2005, ISBN 3-7001-3244-1, page 64–65.
^ Wolfgang Helck: Untersuchungen zu Manetho und den ägyptischen Königslisten, (= Untersuchungen zur Geschichte und Altertumskunde Ägyptens, Bd. 18), Leipzig/ Berlin 1956, page 52
^ Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, The American University in Cairo Press, London 2004, ISBN 977-424-878-3, page 61
^ Bolshakov, Andrey O. "The Old Kingdom Representations of Funeral Procession". Göttinger Miszellen 121 (1991), 31–54. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
^ Baines, John; Lesko, Leonard H.; Silverman, David P. (1991). Religion in Ancient Egypt: Gods, Myths, and Personal Practice. Cornell University Press. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-8014-9786-5.
^ Roth, Ann Macy (1993). "Social Change in the Fourth Dynasty: The Spatial Organization of Pyramids, Tombs, and Cemeteries". Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt. 30: 33–55. doi:10.2307/40000226. JSTOR 40000226.
^ "Fragments of stucco from a mummy". Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 12 March 2018.
^ "3 Ways Egyptians Preserved Mummies". ThoughtCo.
^ "BBC - History - Ancient History in depth: Mummies Around the World".
Third Dynasty Dynasty of Egypt
c. 2613 – 2498 BC Succeeded by
Fifth Dynasty
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fourth_Dynasty_of_Egypt&oldid=904845924"
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Jason Bourne (film)
This article is about the 2016 film. For the film series, see Bourne (film series).
Jason Bourne is a 2016 American action thriller film directed by Paul Greengrass and written by Paul Greengrass and Christopher Rouse. It is the fifth installment of the Bourne film series and a direct sequel to The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). Matt Damon reprises his role as the main character, former CIA assassin Jason Bourne. In addition, the film stars Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Julia Stiles, Vincent Cassel, Riz Ahmed, Ato Essandoh and Scott Shepherd.
Frank Marshall
Jeffrey M. Weiner
Gregory Goodman
Christopher Rouse
by Robert Ludlum
Barry Ackroyd
Perfect World Pictures
Kennedy/Marshall
Captivate Entertainment
Pearl Street
July 11, 2016 (2016-07-11) (Odeon Leicester Square)
July 29, 2016 (2016-07-29) (United States)
123 minutes[1]
The character Aaron Cross, from The Bourne Legacy (2012), does not appear in the film because director Greengrass wanted to focus on the title character, and because actor Jeremy Renner was unable to participate due to scheduling conflicts. In Jason Bourne, Bourne remains on the run from CIA hit squads as he tries to uncover hidden truths about his father, while CIA director Robert Dewey (Jones) orders the head of cyber-security Heather Lee (Vikander) to hunt him down. Principal photography on the film commenced on September 8, 2015.
Jason Bourne premiered in London on July 11, 2016, and was theatrically released in the United States by Universal Pictures on July 29, 2016. The film received mixed reviews upon release; critics praised Damon's and Vikander's performances but criticized the story; some critics also expressed disappointment in Jeremy Renner's absence and ignoring the events of The Bourne Legacy. Despite mixed reviews, the film was a box office success, grossing $415 million worldwide.
Twelve years after he exposed Operation Blackbriar and disappeared, Jason Bourne has finally recovered from his amnesia, isolating himself from the world and making a living by taking part in savage, bareknuckle fighting bouts. In Reykjavík, Nicky Parsons, who has been collaborating with a hacktivist group led by Christian Dassault, hacks into the CIA's mainframe computer server to expose its black ops programs. This alerts Heather Lee, the head of the agency's cybersecurity operations division, and CIA director Robert Dewey. In the process, Parsons finds documentation concerning Bourne's recruitment into Treadstone and his father's role in the program. She travels to Athens to find and inform him.
In Greece, Parsons and Bourne meet at Syntagma Square during a violent anti-government protest. They evade CIA teams sent after them, but Parsons is shot by the Asset, an ex-Blackbriar assassin who also holds a personal grudge against Bourne, having been captured and tortured as an unintentional consequence of Bourne's exposure of Blackbriar. Before she dies, Parsons passes Bourne the key to a locker which holds the CIA files.
Seeking answers about his past and family, Bourne locates Dassault in Berlin. Decrypting Parsons' files, Bourne discovers that his father Richard Webb was a CIA analyst involved in the creation of the Treadstone program. A malware program implanted in the files gives the CIA Bourne's location, and Dewey sends a team to capture him, while Lee remotely erases the files. Dassault attacks Bourne, but is incapacitated. Lee alerts Bourne to the team closing in, as she believes that he can be persuaded to return to the agency. Using the few leads he gathered in Berlin, Bourne tracks Malcolm Smith, a former Treadstone surveillance operative, in London and arranges to meet him in Paddington Plaza.
Lee persuades Dewey's boss, Edwin Russell, the Director of National Intelligence, to allow her to contact Bourne in person to attempt to bring him back in. Dewey, who opposes her plan, secretly authorizes the Asset to eliminate her team and kill Bourne. Bourne evades Lee and the Asset long enough to confront Smith. Smith admits that Richard Webb created Treadstone, but tried to prevent them from recruiting his son. Under Dewey's orders, the Asset killed Richard Webb in Beirut, making it look like a terrorist attack, in order to persuade Bourne to join Treadstone. Smith is killed by the Asset, while Bourne escapes and finds Lee. She admits that she is not comfortable with Dewey's methods and directs Bourne to a technology convention in Las Vegas.
Dewey is scheduled to attend the convention for a public debate on privacy rights with Aaron Kalloor, CEO of social media giant Deep Dream. Kalloor is the public face of corporate social responsibility in the Internet age, but he was secretly funded by Dewey in the startup stage. Dewey intends to use Deep Dream for real-time mass surveillance alongside the latest incarnation of the CIA's targeted assassination 'Beta' program, known as "Iron Hand". When Kalloor has second thoughts about giving the CIA access to Deep Dream, Dewey authorizes the Asset to assassinate Kalloor and Lee—having discovered her conspiracy moments ago. Bourne thwarts the assassinations and confronts Dewey in his suite. Dewey appeals to Bourne's sense of patriotism as he stalls for time, before his right-hand man Craig Jeffers intervenes. Bourne kills Jeffers, only to get shot in the process; however, he is saved when Lee shoots Dewey dead before he could shoot Bourne. After covering Lee's involvement in Dewey's death, Bourne pursues the Asset on the Las Vegas Strip and chases him down into the sewers after the pair end up crashing into a casino; they engage in a savage combat that ends with Bourne snapping the Asset's neck, killing him.
In the aftermath, Lee convinces Russell that Dewey's methods were outdated and offers herself as Dewey's replacement as CIA director and Russell's eyes and ears within the CIA. She outlines her plan to use Bourne's trust to bring him back to the agency, but is prepared to kill him if he refuses. Lee meets with Bourne, promising him that the CIA will become the organization he thought it was when he joined. Bourne asks for time to consider her offer and walks away. Lee returns to her car and finds a recording, made by Bourne, of the conversation she had with Russell which reveals her true intentions about murdering Bourne as she says "...then, he'll have to be put down."
Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, a former CIA assassin who disappeared after publishing details of the CIA's targeted assassination programs.
Tommy Lee Jones as Robert Dewey, the current director of the CIA and leader of the Iron Hand program who intends to take down Bourne after the exposure of Blackbriar.
Alicia Vikander as Heather Lee, head of the CIA Cyber Ops Division.
Vincent Cassel as The Asset, a Blackbriar assassin working for the Iron Hand program. The Asset was captured and tortured as a result of Bourne's actions in The Bourne Ultimatum and harbours resentment toward him because of it.
Julia Stiles as Nicky Parsons, Bourne's Girlfriend in Paris whom he sent into hiding in The Bourne Ultimatum.
Riz Ahmed as Aaron Kalloor, CEO and founder of Deep Dream, a social media enterprise.
Ato Essandoh as Craig Jeffers, a CIA agent and Dewey's right-hand man.
Scott Shepherd as Edwin Russell, Director of National Intelligence.
Bill Camp as Malcolm Smith, a former CIA analyst who retired to the private sector.
Vinzenz Kiefer as Christian Dassault, a hacker, whistleblower, and the leader of a group of privacy activists.
Gregg Henry as Richard Webb, Jason Bourne's father and creator of the original Treadstone program, who was murdered by the Asset.
Stephen Kunken as Baumen, a Deep Dream employee who is Kalloor's assistant.
Film production in Berlin
DevelopmentEdit
In May 2007, prior to the release of The Bourne Ultimatum, Matt Damon stated that he would not be interested in returning for a fourth Bourne film, remarking of his participation in the Bourne franchise: "We have ridden that horse as far as we can."[4] Damon said in August 2007:
I think in terms of another one, the story of this guy's search for his identity is over, because he's got all the answers, so there's no way we can trot out the same character, and so much of what makes him interesting is that internal struggle that was happening for him: am I a good guy, am I a bad guy, what is the secret behind my identity, what am I blocking out, why am I remembering these disturbing images? So all of that internal propulsive mechanism that drives the character is not there, so if there was to be another one, then it would have to be a complete reconfiguration, you know. Where do you go from there? For me, I kind of feel like the story that we set out to tell has now been told. I love the character, and if Paul Greengrass calls me in ten years and says, 'Now we can do it, because it's been ten years and I have a way to bring him back,' then there's a world in which I can go, 'Yeah, absolutely.' We could get the band back together if there was a great idea behind it, but in terms of now and this story, that part—-the story's been told ...[5]
Instead The Bourne Legacy was released in the U.S. on August 10, 2012 with Jeremy Renner replacing Damon as the star.[6] Despite getting mixed reviews Universal noted that they planned to continue with the series,[7] with Damon and Paul Greengrass later expressing interest in returning.[8]
On September 15, 2014, it was announced that Damon and Greengrass would indeed return for the next Bourne film.[9] In November 2014, Damon confirmed that he and Greengrass would return, with a script from themselves, with Christopher Rouse editing.[10][11] On May 23, 2015, Deadline Hollywood reported that Alicia Vikander was in talks to star with Damon in the fifth film.[12] On June 19, 2015, Deadline reported that Julia Stiles had confirmed she would be reprising the role of Nicky Parsons in the film, a character she had previously played in the first three films.[13] Viggo Mortensen was in talks to play the villain role.[14] On June 23, 2015, Vikander was confirmed to star in the sequel, while she was also in talks for the Assassin's Creed film, which she passed on.[15] On July 28, 2015, Tommy Lee Jones joined the film's cast to play a senior CIA officer.[16] On September 1, 2015, Vincent Cassel was cast in the film as an assassin who tracks Bourne.[17] On September 15, 2015, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that actor Ato Essandoh was cast in the film as an unspecified character.[18] On October 20, 2015, Scott Shepherd was added to the cast to play the deputy director of the CIA.[19] On November 4, 2015, Variety confirmed that Riz Ahmed had signed on to play the role of a tech specialist working with the CIA.[20]
FilmingEdit
Principal photography on the film commenced on September 8, 2015.[21] In early November, filming took place outside Paddington Station in London.[22] In late November 2015, filming took place in Kreuzberg, Berlin.[23] In early December 2015, filming started in Washington, D.C., where shooting took place at Constitution Gardens.[24] Filming in Las Vegas, Nevada was scheduled to begin on January 14, 2016, lasting until January 21.[25] Production on the film concluded on February 1, 2016.[26] Filming also took place in March 2016 at Woolwich Arsenal railway station in Greenwich, London. Part of the film (some scenes set in Greece) was shot in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tenerife island, Canary Islands, Spain).[27]
ReleaseEdit
On January 6, 2015, Universal set the film's United States release date as July 29, 2016.[28] The first trailer for the film was aired on February 7, 2016, during Super Bowl 50 and revealed the title of the film.[29] The film was released in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2016.[30] It was released in 2D and IMAX 3D in select international territories only, using DMR.[31]
Home mediaEdit
Jason Bourne was released on Digital HD on November 15 and on Blu-ray/DVD December 6 by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Jason Bourne:
John Powell and David Buckley
Singles from Jason Bourne: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Extreme Ways (Jason Bourne)"
The soundtrack to Jason Bourne, as composed by John Powell and David Buckley, and additional music by Batu Sener, was released digitally on July 29, 2016, by Back Lot Music.[32] A new version of Moby's "Extreme Ways", entitled "Extreme Ways (Jason Bourne)", was recorded for the film's end credits.
"I Remember Everything" – 2:04
"Backdoor Breach" – 3:50
"Converging in Athens" – 4:13
"Motorcycle Chase" – 6:53
"A Key to the Past" – 2:37
"Berlin" – 2:02
"Decrypted" – 5:34
"Flat Assault" – 2:39
"Paddington Plaza" – 6:46
"White Van Plan" – 2:49
"Las Vegas" – 3:48
"Following the Target" – 3:29
"Strip Chase" – 4:59
"An Interesting Proposal" – 2:13
"Let Me Think About It" – 2:24
"Extreme Ways (Jason Bourne)" by Moby – 4:56
Box officeEdit
Jason Bourne became a commercial success, with a modest budget compared to its final gross.[33] The film grossed $162.4 million in the United States and Canada and $253.1 million in other countries for a worldwide total of $415.5 million, against a production budget of $120 million.[3]
The film passed the $400 million threshold on October 7, making it the second film in the Bourne franchise to reach this milestone and the second highest-grossing film in the series behind The Bourne Ultimatum.[34] Worldwide, the film opened at number one in 50 markets, scoring the biggest debut in the franchise in 53 markets. In 51 territories, Jason Bourne is the highest-grossing film in the franchise.[34] It is the third highest-grossing film of 2016 (behind Warcraft and The Mermaid) that does not involve comic book superheroes or anthropomorphic animals at its center (including The Jungle Book).[33]
United States and CanadaEdit
In the United States and Canada, Jason Bourne was projected to gross $50–60 million in its opening weekend.[35][36][37] It made $4.2 million from Thursday night previews at 2,928 theaters which began at 7:00pm, becoming the first film in the series to earn above $1 million from previews, although the other four films' screenings began at midnight.[38][39] On its opening day it grossed $22.8 million, which is the second biggest opening day of the series behind The Bourne Ultimatum ($24.6 million).[40] It topped the box office in its opening weekend as expected with a $59.2 million opening, making it one of the few franchise titles from 2016 to open on par with its predecessor. It is the second biggest opening for the franchise as well as for Damon, just behind the $69 million debut of The Bourne Ultimatum in 2007.[2][41] The film dropped by 71% on its second Friday ($6.5 million) as a result of the release of the superhero film Suicide Squad. By comparison, the last four Bourne movies all dropped (respectively) 46%, 59%, 57% and 61% on their second Fridays.[42] In its second weekend the film grossed $22.7 million (a drop of 61.6%), finishing second at the box office.[43]
Other territoriesEdit
Internationally, Jason Bourne is the highest-grossing film among the series[44] and has secured a release in a total of 78 countries.[45] The film opened day-and-date in conjuncture with its North American release across 46 territories, including Australia, Brazil, South Korea and the U.K. and Ireland.[46] It grossed $22.8 million on its opening day, marking the biggest international opening day for the franchise. It had No. 1 opening days in 28 markets and recorded the biggest opening day for the franchise in the United Kingdom and Ireland ($5.2 million).[47] Through Sunday, July 31, it had an opening weekend total of $50.7 million easily topping the box office as well as debuting at first place in 27 of the 48 markets and scored the best international opening for the franchise.[45] After three weeks of fluctuating up and down the charts, it rose back to the top spot in its fourth weekend after a strong debut in China.[48]
It recorded the biggest opening for the franchise in South Korea ($11.3 million), the United Kingdom ($10.2 million), Australia ($5.8 million) Japan ($4.4 million) and Russia ($2.1 million) and had number one openings in France ($3.4 million), Australia, Taiwan ($2 million), Spain ($1.9 million), Indonesia ($1.7 million), the Philippines ($1.5 million) the Netherlands ($1.5 million), Mexico ($1.5 million), the UAE ($1.2 million), Sweden ($1.1 million) and Singapore ($1.1 million).[45][48][49][50][51]
Brazil was one of the markets that did not open in first place, instead opening in fourth place with $1.4 million. South Korea posted the biggest opening among all other countries and although it faced stiff competition from local titles – Operation Chromite and Train to Busan – debuted in third place. Its opening figure is nevertheless a franchise milestone and comes ahead of competitions like Spectre and Furious 7.[45] Similarly, in the United Kingdom and Ireland, it finished in second place after facing competition with the animated Finding Dory. It had a £7.6 million ($10 million) debut including £2.29 million ($3 million) worth of previews from 563 theaters, a new record for the franchise. However, based on pure Friday to Sunday earnings with the exclusion of previews, the film's £5.31 ($6.98 million) is more or less at par with The Bourne Ultimatum's £5.31 million ($7 million).[45][52] In just 10 days, it became the second highest-grossing film in the series there.[53] In India, it debuted in second place for a non-local film behind Suicide Squad with $1.1 million.[54]
In China, the film was released on Tuesday, August 23, alongside the animated Ice Age: Collision Course and received an exclusive 3D version.[55] It grossed an estimated $12.3 million on its opening day to record the franchise's best opening day there (other Chinese sources had it at $11.8 million[55]). By comparison, The Bourne Legacy made $12.7 there in four days.[56] In three days, it earned $25.1 million.[55] In total, it delivered a six-day opening weekend total of an estimated $49.1 million – and a Friday to Sunday total of $23.9 million – to record the biggest opening for the franchise there. Its opening numbers alone surpassed the lifetime total of all other Jason Bourne films there.[48][57][58] While it had a robust opening, compared to other Hollywood films that also opened on a Tuesday, such as Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (Friday +18%, Saturday +68%) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (Friday +37%, Saturday +88%), Jason Bourne's box office jumps on its first Friday and Saturday were just 13% and 43% respectively.[59] Following a first-place finish, it fell precipitously by 92% in its second weekend, earning $3.8 million.[50] China Film Insider projected that the film will end its run with a total of around $82 million, and also pointed out that had Universal not scheduled its release with Ice Age: Collision Course, the film could've grossed over $100 million.[59] But the film ended up making $66.3 million.[34]
Following North America and China, the U.K. is the film's top earning international market with $30.4 million, followed by South Korea with $19.1 million and Australia with $16.7 million and France with $11.6 million.[34]
Critical responseEdit
Jason Bourne received mixed reviews from critics. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval rating of 54% based on 290 reviews, with a weighted average score of 5.9/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Jason Bourne delivers fans of the franchise more of what they've come to expect – which is this sequel's biggest selling point as well as its greatest flaw."[60] Metacritic gave the film a normalized score of 58 out of 100, based on 50 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[61] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale.[62]
Mike Ryan of Uproxx gave the film a mixed review, writing: "Jason Bourne is a completely unnecessary sequel that barely moves along the plot from the third movie. And after what a Big Deal it was in The Bourne Legacy that no one could find Jason Bourne, it does feel a bit weird that the return of Jason Bourne seems so anticlimactic."[63] Chris Tilly of IGN gave the film 7/10, saying: "Jason Bourne has a passable plot and a couple of pulsating sequences, which already makes it better than the majority of action movies. But in the context of its predecessors, that isn't good enough, the new movie never fully escaping the shadow of that previous trilogy, and making you question the wisdom of drawing Bourne back out of the shadows at all."[64]
A. O. Scott of The New York Times described Damon's performance as being "as subdued as ever" and said: "[t]his is perhaps the most striking feature of Jason Bourne: Virtually all the major characters—good, bad and in-between—work for the same organization, at least on a consulting basis. There are dark whispers about external threats, and invocations of the tension between security and privacy in the digital age, but geopolitics and technology are scaffolding for what is essentially a movie about human resources challenges in a large bureaucracy."[65] Peter Debruge of Variety said, "[i]n many ways, Jason Bourne is the most unsettling movie in the series, seeing as it points to a vast conspiracy directed at the American people, and Greengrass' style—rendered visceral via the marriage of Barry Ackroyd's on-the-fly lensing, a tense techno score, and Rouse's cutting-room trickery—lends itself nicely to an era in which shadow forces rely on such tools as satellite surveillance and facial-recognition software." He went on by saying, "just as the initial Damon-driven trilogy wrapped up Bourne's business but left us wanting more, this sequel offers closure even as it entices us with the possibility of his return."[66]
Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 31⁄2 stars out of 4, describing Damon's performance as being, "outstanding as the tightly wound, perpetually restless and conflicted Jason Bourne, who is practically a superhero when it comes to fighting but is utterly lost the rest of the time", and said: "Jason Bourne is the best action thriller of the year so far, with a half-dozen terrific chase sequences and fight scenes. At one point the action swings to Vegas, and while some of what transpires is almost cartoonishly over-the-top, it's great fun."[67] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter found the film's conclusion and the characters distasteful, writing: "unfortunately, then, the film ends on a flat, unimpressive note, as well as with the realization that, no matter how much time we've spent with them, the characters remain utterly one-dimensional", but went on by saying, "technically and logistically, Greengrass delivers everything you expect from him; there's no one better when it comes to staging complex, chaotic action amid the real life of big cities. As before, cinematographer Barry Ackroyd is a great asset in this regard, and all production and effects hands join seamlessly in the achieved goal of physical verisimilitude."[68]
AccoladesEdit
List of awards and nominations
Date of ceremony
Recipient(s)
Ref(s)
Critics' Choice Awards December 11, 2016 Best Action Movie Jason Bourne Nominated [69]
Best Actor in an Action Movie Matt Damon Nominated
Empire Awards March 19, 2017 Best Thriller Jason Bourne Won [70]
London Film Critics' Circle January 22, 2017 Technical Achievement Gary Powell Nominated [71]
Saturn Awards June 28, 2017 Best Thriller Film Jason Bourne Nominated [72]
Screen Actors Guild Awards January 29, 2017 Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture The stunt ensemble of Jason Bourne Nominated [73]
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association December 18, 2016 Best Action Movie Jason Bourne Nominated [74]
Teen Choice Awards July 31, 2016 Choice AnTEENcipated Movie Jason Bourne Nominated [75]
Choice Movie Actor: AnTEENcipated Matt Damon Nominated
Choice Movie Actress: AnTEENcipated Alicia Vikander Nominated
Visual Effects Society Awards February 7, 2017 Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature Dan Barrow, Huw Evans, Julian Gnass, Charlie Noble and Steve Warner Nominated [76]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 5, 2016 Best Portrayal of Washington D.C. Jason Bourne Nominated [77]
Possible sequelEdit
Frank Marshall said Universal Pictures is hoping to plan a sequel to Jason Bourne, making it the sixth Bourne film. He also stated that an upcoming film would expand the Bourne universe.[78] However, in March 2017, Matt Damon cast doubt upon a sequel, hinting that people "might be done" with the character,[79] but previously stated he would be up to work with Jeremy Renner on a Bourne film, "If they could find a way".[80]
^ "Jason Bourne (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
^ a b Busch, Anita (August 1, 2016). "'Bourne' At $59.2M; 'Moms' Purses $23.8M; 'Nerve' Steady – Box Office Final". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
^ a b "Jason Bourne (2016)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
^ Thompson, Anne (May 24, 2007). "Ocean's' gang ready for fourth". Variety. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
^ Weintraub, Steve (August 27, 2007). "Matt Damon Interview – THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM". Collider. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
^ Nicholson, Max (June 22, 2012). "Bourne Legacy Avoiding Dark Knight Rises". IGN. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
^ "Bourne Legacy sequel confirmed". BBC News.
^ "Matt Damon: Door is still open for some more 'Bourne'". MSN.
^ "Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass Returning for Bourne 5!". Coming Soon.net. September 15, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
^ Agar, Chris (November 8, 2014). "Matt Damon confirms new 'Bourne' for 2016". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
^ "Untitled BOURNE Sequel Set for July 29, 2016; Paul Greengrass, Matt Damon, and Christopher Rouse to Write the Script". January 5, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
^ Fleming Jr, Mike; Jaafar, Ali (May 23, 2015). "Hot Cannes 'Circle' Package Imperiled As Alicia Vikander In Talks To Star In Assassin's Creed, New 'Bourne' Film". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
^ Fleming Jr, Mike (June 19, 2015). "Julia Stiles To Rejoin Matt Damon And Paul Greengrass In Next Bourne Identity". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
^ Kroll, Justin (June 19, 2015). "Julia Stiles to Reteam With Matt Damon in Next Bourne Identity Film". variety.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
^ Jaafar, Ali (June 23, 2015). "Alicia Vikander Confirmed For Bourne Sequel Opposite Matt Damon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
^ Kroll, Justin (July 28, 2015). "'Bourne': Tommy Lee Jones Joins Matt Damon in Sequel (EXCLUSIVE)". variety.com. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
^ Kroll, Justin (September 1, 2015). "'Bourne': Vincent Cassel to Play Villain Opposite Matt Damon in Sequel (EXCLUSIVE)". variety.com. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
^ Kit, Borys (September 15, 2015). "'Django Unchained' Actor Joins Matt Damon in Latest 'Bourne' Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
^ Kroll, Justin (October 20, 2015). "Bridge of Spies Actor Joins Matt Damon in 'Bourne' Sequel (EXCLUSIVE)". variety.com. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
^ Kroll, Justin (November 4, 2015). "'Bourne' Sequel Casts Star Wars: Rogue One Actor Riz Ahmed (EXCLUSIVE)". variety.com. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
^ Marshall, Frank [@LeDoctor] (September 8, 2015). "First day of principal photography complete and happy to report, BOURNE is back! #Bourne2016" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ Thomas, Kate (November 3, 2015). "Matt Damon films fifth Bourne Identity sequel in London". The Daily Mail. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
^ Evry, Max (November 25, 2015). "Bourne 5 Set Photos Feature Matt Damon Spying It Up in Germany". comingsoon.net. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
^ "Matt Damon spotted filming 'Bourne 5' in D.C.today!". onlocationvacations.com. December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
^ "Find out how you can be an extra in 'Bourne 5' in Las Vegas next month". On Location Vacations. December 30, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
^ "On the Set for 2/5/16: Vin Diesel & Nina Dobrev Start Shooting xXx Sequel, Ben Affleck Wraps Production on Live by Night". SsnInsider.com. February 5, 2016. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
^ url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4196776/locations
^ Yamato, Jen (January 6, 2015). "Universal Moves Damon-Greengrass 'Bourne' Sequel Into 'Apes' Slot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
^ McMillan, Graeme (February 8, 2016). "'Jason Bourne' Super Bowl 50 Trailer Brings Matt Damon's Super Spy Out of Retirement". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
^ "Jason Bourne UK Release Date".
^ "Jason Bourne". IMAX. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
^ "Jason Bourne Soundtrack (2016)". www.soundtrack.net. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
^ a b Mendelson, Scott (October 10, 2016). "Box Office: 'Jason Bourne' Was A Big Hit Thanks To A Small Budget". Forbes. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
^ a b c d D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 7, 2016). "'Jason Bourne' Seizes $400M Worldwide; Int'l Take Sets Franchise Record". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
^ Lang, Brent (July 14, 2016). "Box Office: 'Suicide Squad' Targets Record-Breaking $125 Million Debut". Variety. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
^ "Emma Roberts-Dave Franco Thriller 'Nerve' To Sneak At Comic-Con". Deadline Hollywood. July 19, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
^ Lang, Brent (July 26, 2016). "Box Office: 'Jason Bourne' Targets $50 Million Debut, 'Bad Moms' Looks Like Sleeper Hit". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
^ Brevet, Brad (July 29, 2016). "Weekend Forecast: 'Jason Bourne', 'Bad Moms' and 'Nerve' Hit Theaters". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
^ Mendelson, Scott (July 29, 2016). "'Jason Bourne' Box Office: Matt Damon Sequel Spies $4.23M Thursday". Forbes. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
^ Mendelson, Scott (July 30, 2016). "Friday Box Office: 'Jason Bourne,' 'Bad Moms' And 'Nerve' All Kick Butt". Forbes. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
^ McClintock, Pamela (July 31, 2016). "Box Office: 'Jason Bourne' Wins Big With $60M; 'Bad Moms' Earns $23.4M". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
^ Mendelson, Scott (August 6, 2016). "Friday Box Office: 'Jason Bourne' Plunges 71% As 'Star Trek Beyond' Continues Freefall". Forbes. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
^ Gwin, Scott. "Jason Bourne slips by 60%". Retrieved August 7, 2016.
^ Busch, Anita (September 11, 2016). "Warner Bros.' Weekend Trifecta With 'Mil-Jeong,' 'Sully' And 'Suicide Squad' – Int'l Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
^ a b c d e Tartaglione, Nancy (July 31, 2016). "'Jason Bourne' Supreme With $50.1M Bow & Franchise Records – Intl Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
^ Busch, Anita (July 25, 2016). "'Star Trek Beyond' $30M Debut; 'Lights Out' $8.5M; Jackie Chan's 'Skiptrace' Nails $64M Bow – Int'l Box Office Final". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
^ Busch, Anita (July 30, 2016). "'Jason Bourne' Nails Biggest Opening Day For Franchise – Int'l Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
^ a b c Nancy Tartaglione, Nancy (August 28, 2016). "'Bourne' Back At #1; 'Ice Age' Skates Across $300M Offshore; 'Pets' Prances Past $700M WW – Intl Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
^ Tartaglione, Nancy (August 14, 2016). "'Suicide Squad' Rounds Up $243M Overseas & $465M Global Cumes; 'Pets' Prancing To $600M WW – Intl Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
^ a b Tartaglione, Nancy (September 4, 2016). "'Star Trek Beyond' Beams Into China With $31.3M Bow; 'Pets' Woofs It Past $750M WW -International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
^ Tartaglione, Nancy (October 9, 2016). "'Miss Peregrine' Nears $100M Overseas; 'Girl On The Train' Chugs $16.5M; 'A Monster Calls' In Spain – Intl Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
^ Sandwell, Ian (August 1, 2016). "'Finding Dory' swims to top of UK box office". Screen International. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
^ Gant, Charles (August 9, 2016). "Crime pays: DC's Suicide Squad tops UK box office with £11.25m". The Guardian. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
^ Tartaglione, Nancy (August 7, 2016). "'Suicide Squad's $132M Offshore Bow Sets August Records; 'Pets' Passes $500M WW – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
^ a b c Brzeski, Patrick (August 26, 2016). "3D 'Jason Bourne' Causes Nausea, Protest in China". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
^ Tartaglione, Nancy (August 23, 2016). "'Jason Bourne' Storms China With $12.3M Opening Day; Sets Franchise Best". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
^ Brzeski, Patrick (August 29, 2016). "China Box Office: 'Jason Bourne,' 'Ice Age' Neck-and-Neck as Hollywood Releases Return After Blackout Period". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
^ "China Box Office (August 26 – 28, 2016)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
^ a b Papish, Jonathan (August 29, 2016). "China Box Office: 'Bourne' Tops Weekend but 'Ice Age' Rising". China Film Insider. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
^ "Jason Bourne (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
^ "Jason Bourne Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
^ "CinemaScore". CinemaScore.
^ Ryan, Mike (July 26, 2016). "'Jason Bourne' Is A Lot Like Seeing The Guns N' Roses Reunion Tour". Uproxx. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
^ Tilly, Chris (July 25, 2016). "Bourne again". IGN. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
^ Scott, A. O. (July 25, 2016). "Review: In 'Jason Bourne,' a Midlife Crisis for a Harried Former Assassin". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
^ Debruge, Peter (July 26, 2016). "This terse sequel reunites Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass, shedding light on an important piece of the character's backstory". Variety. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
^ Roeper, Richard (July 27, 2016). "'Jason Bourne': A welcome return for Matt Damon's spirited spy". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
^ McCarthy, Todd (July 26, 2016). "Pretty good until its flat finish". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
^ "La La Land Leads with 12 Nominations for the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards". Critics' Choice. December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
^ Pape, Danny (February 7, 2017). "Star Wars: Rogue One Leads Empire Awards 2017 Nominations". Flickreel.com. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
^ "'Moonlight' and 'Love and Friendship' Lead London Film Critics' Circle Nominations". Variety. December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
^ McNary, Dave (March 2, 2017). "Saturn Awards Nominations 2017: 'Rogue One,' 'Walking Dead' Lead". Variety. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
^ "SAG Awards 2017: The Complete List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
^ "2016 StLFCA Annual Award Nominations". St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association. December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
^ Vulpo, Mike (May 24, 2016). "Teen Choice Awards 2016 Nominations Announced: See the "First Wave" of Potential Winners". E!. Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
^ Giardina, Carolyn (January 10, 2016). "'Rogue One' Leads Visual Effects Society Feature Competition With 7 Nominations As 'Doctor Strange,' 'Jungle Book' Grab 6 Each". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
^ "The 2016 WAFCA Awards Nominations". December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
^ "Jason Bourne Sequel Likely to Happen, Says Producer". November 29, 2016.
^ "Matt Damon hints maybe people are done with Jason Bourne". March 5, 2017.
^ "Matt Damon would be up for doing a Bourne Legacy crossover". SAM ASHURST. July 26, 2016.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jason Bourne.
Jason Bourne on IMDb
Jason Bourne at Metacritic
Jason Bourne at Rotten Tomatoes
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"Rothko" redirects here. For other uses, see Rothko (disambiguation).
Mark Rothko (/ˈrɒθkoʊ/), born Markus Yakovlevich Rothkowitz (Russian: Ма́ркус Я́ковлевич Ротко́вич, Latvian: Markuss Rotkovičs; September 25, 1903 – February 25, 1970), was an American painter of Russian Jewish descent. Although Rothko himself refused to adhere to any art movement, he is generally identified as an abstract expressionist.
Rothko visiting the Scott family in 1959
Markus Yakovlevich Rothkowitz
Dvinsk, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire
(now Daugavpils, Latvia)
February 25, 1970(1970-02-25) (aged 66)
New York City, U.S.
Lincoln High School, Portland, Oregon
Abstract expressionism, Color Field
Edith Sachar (1932–1943)
Mary Alice "Mell" Beistle (1944–1970)
Patron(s)
Peggy Guggenheim, John de Menil, Dominique de Menil
ChildhoodEdit
Mark Rothko was born in Dvinsk, Vitebsk Governorate, in the Russian Empire (today Daugavpils in Latvia). His father, Jacob (Yakov) Rothkowitz, was a pharmacist and an intellectual who initially provided his children with a secular and political, rather than religious, upbringing. According to Rothko, his pro-Marxist father was "violently anti-religious".[1] In an environment where Jews were often blamed for many of the evils that befell Russia, Rothko's early childhood was plagued by fear.[2]
Despite Jacob Rothkowitz's modest income, the family was highly educated ("We were a reading family", Rothko's sister recalled),[3] and Rothko was able to speak Russian, Yiddish, and Hebrew. Following his father's return to the Orthodox Judaism of his own youth, Rothko, the youngest of four siblings, was sent to the cheder at the age of five, where he studied the Talmud, although his elder siblings had been educated in the public school system.[4]
Emigration from Russia to the U.S.Edit
Fearing that his elder sons were about to be drafted into the Imperial Russian Army, Jacob Rothkowitz emigrated from Russia to the United States. Markus remained in Russia, with his mother and elder sister Sonia. They arrived as immigrants, at Ellis Island, in late 1913. From that point, they crossed the country, to join Jacob and the elder brothers, in Portland, Oregon. Jacob's death, a few months later, from colon cancer,[1] left the family without economic support. Sonia operated a cash register, while Markus worked in one of his uncle's warehouses, selling newspapers to employees.[5] His father's death also led Rothko to sever his ties with religion. After he had mourned his father's death for almost a year at a local synagogue, he vowed never to set foot in it again.[1]
Rothko started school in the United States in 1913, quickly accelerating from third to fifth grade. In June 1921, he completed the secondary level, with honors, at Lincoln High School in Portland, at the age of seventeen.[citation needed] He learned his fourth language, English, and became an active member of the Jewish community center, where he proved adept at political discussions. Like his father, Rothko was passionate about issues such as workers' rights, and women's right to contraception.[citation needed] At the time, Portland was the center of revolutionary activity in the U.S., and the region where the revolutionary syndicalist union Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) was strongest.
Rothko, having grown up around radical workers' meetings, attended meetings of the IWW, including anarchists such as Bill Haywood and Emma Goldman, where he developed strong oratorical skills he would later use in defense of Surrealism. He heard Emma Goldman speak on one of her West Coast activist lecture tours.[6] With the onset of the Russian Revolution, Rothko organized debates about it. Despite the repressive political atmosphere, he wished to become a labor union organizer.
Rothko received a scholarship to Yale. At the end of his freshman year in 1922, the scholarship was not renewed, and he worked as a waiter and delivery boy to support his studies. He found the Yale community to be elitist and racist. Rothko and a friend, Aaron Director, started a satirical magazine, The Yale Saturday Evening Pest, which lampooned the school's stuffy, bourgeois tone.[7] Rothko's nature was more that of a self-taught man than a diligent pupil: "One of his fellow students remembers that he hardly seemed to study, but that he was a voracious reader."[8] At the end of his sophomore year, Rothko dropped out, and did not return until he was awarded an honorary degree, forty-six years later.[9]
Early careerEdit
In the autumn of 1923, Rothko found work in New York's garment district. While visiting a friend at the Art Students League of New York, he saw students sketching a model. According to Rothko, this was the beginning of his life as an artist.[citation needed] He later enrolled in the Parsons The New School for Design, where one of his instructors was Arshile Gorky. Rothko characterized Gorky's leadership of the class as "overcharged with supervision."[10] That same autumn, he took courses at the Art Students League taught by Cubist artist Max Weber, a fellow Russian Jew who had been a part of the French avant-garde movement. To his students eager to know about Modernism, Weber was seen as "a living repository of modern art history".[11] Under Weber's tutelage, Rothko began to view art as a tool of emotional and religious expression. Rothko's paintings from this era reveal the influence of his instructor.[12] Years later, when Weber attended a show of his former student's work and expressed his admiration, Rothko was immensely pleased.[13]
Rothko's circleEdit
Rothko's move to New York landed him in a fertile artistic atmosphere. Modernist painters were having more shows in New York galleries all the time, and the city's museums were an invaluable resource for a budding artist's knowledge and skills. Among the important early influences on Rothko were the works of the German Expressionists, the surrealist art of Paul Klee, and the paintings of Georges Rouault.[citation needed]
In 1928, with a group of other young artists, Rothko exhibited works at the Opportunity Gallery.[14] His paintings, including dark, moody, expressionist interiors and urban scenes, were generally well accepted among critics and peers. To supplement his income, in 1929 Rothko began instructing schoolchildren in drawing, painting and clay sculpture at the Center Academy of the Brooklyn Jewish Center, where he would remain active in teaching at that location for twenty-two years, until 1952.[citation needed]
During the early 1930s, Rothko met Adolph Gottlieb, who, along with Barnett Newman, Joseph Solman, Louis Schanker, and John Graham, was part of a group of young artists surrounding the painter Milton Avery. According to Elaine de Kooning, it was Avery who "gave Rothko the idea that [the life of a professional artist] was a possibility."[15] Avery's abstract nature paintings, utilizing a rich knowledge of form and color, had a tremendous influence on Rothko.[14] Soon, Rothko's paintings took on subject matter and color similar to Avery's, as seen in Bathers, or Beach Scene of 1933–1934.[16]
Rothko, Gottlieb, Newman, Solman, Graham, and their mentor, Avery, spent considerable time together, vacationing at Lake George, New York, and Gloucester, Massachusetts. In the daytime they painted, then discussed art in the evenings. During a 1932 visit to Lake George, Rothko met Edith Sachar, a jewelry designer, whom he married later that year.[17] The following summer, his first one-person show was held at the Portland Art Museum, consisting mostly of drawings and aquarelles. For this exhibition, Rothko took the very unusual step of displaying works done by his pre-adolescent students from the Center Academy, alongside his own.[18] His family was unable to understand Rothko's decision to be an artist, especially considering the dire economic situation of the Depression.[19] Having suffered serious financial setbacks, the Rothkowitzes were mystified by Rothko's seeming indifference to financial necessity. They felt he was doing his mother a disservice by not finding a more lucrative and realistic career.[20]
First solo show in New YorkEdit
Returning to New York, Rothko had his first East Coast one-person show at the Contemporary Arts Gallery.[21] He showed fifteen oil paintings, mostly portraits, along with some aquarelles and drawings. Among these works, the oil paintings especially captured the art critics' eyes. Rothko's use of rich fields of colors moved beyond Avery's influence. In late 1935, Rothko joined with Ilya Bolotowsky, Ben-Zion, Adolph Gottlieb, Lou Harris, Ralph Rosenborg, Louis Schanker and Joseph Solman to form "The Ten" (Whitney Ten Dissenters). According to a gallery show catalog, the mission of the group was "to protest against the reputed equivalence of American painting and literal painting."[22]
Rothko was earning a growing reputation among his peers, particularly among the group that formed the Artists' Union.[23] The Artists' Union, including Gottlieb and Solman, hoped to create a municipal art gallery, to show self-organized group exhibitions. In 1936, the group exhibited at the Galerie Bonaparte in France, which resulted in some positive critical attention. One reviewer remarked that Rothko's paintings "display authentic coloristic values."[24] Later, in 1938, a show was held at the Mercury Gallery in New York, intended as a protest against the Whitney Museum of American Art, which the group regarded as having a provincial, regionalist agenda. Also during this period, Rothko, like Avery, Gorky, Pollock, de Kooning, and many others, found employment with the Works Progress Administration.[25]
Development of styleEdit
In 1936, Rothko began writing a book, never completed, about similarities in the art of children and the work of modern painters.[26] According to Rothko, the work of modernists, influenced by primitive art, could be compared to that of children in that "child art transforms itself into primitivism, which is only the child producing a mimicry of himself."[27] In this manuscript, he observed: "Tradition of starting with drawing in academic notion We may start with color."[28] Rothko was using fields of color in his aquarelles and city scenes. His style was already evolving in the direction of his renowned later works. Despite this newfound exploration of color, Rothko turned his attention to other formal and stylistic innovations, inaugurating a period of surrealist paintings influenced by mythological fables and symbols.
Rothko's work later matured from representation and mythological subjects into rectangular fields of color and light, culminating in his final works for the Rothko Chapel. Between his early style of primitivist and playful urban scenes, and his later style of transcendent color fields, was a long period of transition. This development was marked by two important events in Rothko's life: the onset of World War II, and his reading of Friedrich Nietzsche.[citation needed]
MaturityEdit
Mark Rothko, Yorktown Heights, ca. 1949. Brooklyn Museum, by Consuelo Kanaga
Rothko separated temporarily from his wife Edith in mid-1937. They reconciled several months later, but their relationship remained tense.[29] On February 21, 1938, Rothko finally became a citizen of the United States, prompted by fears that the growing Nazi influence in Europe might provoke sudden deportation of American Jews. Concerned about anti-Semitism in America and Europe, Rothko in 1940 abbreviated his name from "Markus Rothkowitz" to "Mark Rothko". The name "Roth", a common abbreviation, was still identifiably Jewish, so he settled upon "Rothko."[30]
Inspiration from mythologyEdit
Fearing that modern American painting had reached a conceptual dead end, Rothko was intent upon exploring subjects other than urban and nature scenes. He sought subjects that would complement his growing interest with form, space, and color. The world crisis of war gave this search a sense of immediacy.[citation needed] He insisted that the new subject matter have a social impact, yet be able to transcend the confines of current political symbols and values. In his essay "The Romantics Were Prompted," published in 1949, Rothko argued that the "archaic artist ... found it necessary to create a group of intermediaries, monsters, hybrids, gods and demigods," in much the same way that modern man found intermediaries in Fascism and the Communist Party.[citation needed] For Rothko, "without monsters and gods, art cannot enact a drama".[31]
Rothko's use of mythology as a commentary on current history was not novel. Rothko, Gottlieb, and Newman read and discussed the works of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.[citation needed] In particular, they took interest in psychoanalytical theories concerning dreams, and archetypes of a collective unconscious. They understood mythological symbols as images, operating in a space of human consciousness, which transcends specific history and culture.[32] Rothko later said that his artistic approach was "reformed" by his study of the "dramatic themes of myth". He allegedly stopped painting altogether in 1940, to immerse himself in reading Sir James Frazer's study of mythology The Golden Bough, and Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams.[33]
Nietzsche's influenceEdit
Rothko's new vision attempted to address modern man's spiritual and creative mythological requirements. The most crucial philosophical influence on Rothko in this period was Friedrich Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy.[34] Nietzsche claimed that Greek tragedy served to redeem man from the terrors of mortal life. The exploration of novel topics in modern art ceased to be Rothko's goal. From this time on, his art had the goal of relieving modern man's spiritual emptiness. He believed that this emptiness resulted partly from lack of a mythology,[citation needed] which, according to Nietzsche, "The images of the myth have to be the unnoticed omnipresent demonic guardians, under whose care the young soul grows to maturity and whose signs help the man to interpret his life and struggles."[35] Rothko believed his art could free unconscious energies, previously liberated by mythological images, symbols, and rituals. He considered himself a "mythmaker", and proclaimed that "the exhilarated tragic experience is for me the only source of art".[citation needed]
Many of his paintings in this period contrast barbaric scenes of violence with civilized passivity, using imagery drawn primarily from Aeschylus's Oresteia trilogy. A list of Rothko's paintings from this period illustrates his use of myth: Antigone, Oedipus, The Sacrifice of Iphigenia, Leda, The Furies, Altar of Orpheus. Rothko evokes Judeo-Christian imagery in Gethsemane, The Last Supper, and Rites of Lilith. He also invokes Egyptian (Room in Karnak) and Syrian (The Syrian Bull) myth.Soon after World War II, Rothko believed his titles limited the larger, transcendent aims of his paintings. To allow maximum interpretation by the viewer, he stopped naming and framing his paintings, referring to them only by numbers.[36]
"Mythomorphic" abstractionismEdit
At the root of Rothko and Gottlieb's presentation of archaic forms and symbols, illuminating modern existence, had been the influence of Surrealism, Cubism, and abstract art. In 1936, Rothko attended two exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, "Cubism and Abstract Art", and "Fantastic Art, Dada and Surrealism".[37] Both experiences greatly influenced his celebrated 1938 Subway Scene.[citation needed]
In 1942, following the success of shows by Ernst, Miró, Wolfgang Paalen, Tanguy, and Salvador Dalí, artists who had immigrated to the United States because of the war, Surrealism took New York by storm.[38] Rothko and his peers, Gottlieb and Newman, met and discussed the art and ideas of these European pioneers, as well as those of Mondrian. They began to regard themselves as heirs to the European avant-garde.[citation needed]
With mythic form as a catalyst, they merged the two European styles of Surrealism and abstraction. As a result, Rothko's work became increasingly abstract. Perhaps ironically, Rothko himself described the process as being one toward "clarity."[citation needed]
New paintings were unveiled at a 1942 show at Macy's department store in New York City. In response to a negative review by The New York Times, Rothko and Gottlieb issued a manifesto, written mainly by Rothko. Addressing the Times critic's self-professed "befuddlement" over the new work, they stated "We favor the simple expression of the complex thought. We are for the large shape because it has the impact of the unequivocal. We wish to reassert the picture plane. We are for flat forms because they destroy illusion and reveal truth." On a more strident note, they criticised those who wanted to live surrounded by less challenging art, noting that their work necessarily "must insult anyone who is spiritually attuned to interior decoration".[39]
Rothko's viewed myth as a replenishing resource for an era of spiritual void. This belief had begun decades earlier, through his reading of Carl Jung, T. S. Eliot, James Joyce and Thomas Mann, among other authors.[40] Unlike his predecessors, Rothko developed his philosophy of the tragic ideal into a realm of pure abstraction.
Break with SurrealismEdit
On June 13, 1943, Rothko and Sachar separated again.[41] Rothko suffered a long depression following their divorce.[citation needed] Thinking that a change of scenery might help, Rothko returned to Portland. From there, he traveled to Berkeley, where he met artist Clyfford Still, and the two began a close friendship.[42] Still's deeply abstract paintings would be of considerable influence on Rothko's later works. In the autumn of 1943, Rothko returned to New York. He met with noted collector and art dealer Peggy Guggenheim, but she was initially reluctant to take on his artworks.[43] Rothko's one-person show at Guggenheim's The Art of This Century Gallery, in late 1945, resulted in few sales, with prices ranging from $150 to $750. The exhibit also attracted less-than-favorable reviews from critics. During this period, Rothko had been stimulated by Still's abstract landscapes of color, and his style shifted away from surrealism. Rothko's experiments in interpreting the unconscious symbolism of everyday forms had run their course. His future lay with abstraction:
I insist upon the equal existence of the world engendered in the mind and the world engendered by God outside of it. If I have faltered in the use of familiar objects, it is because I refuse to mutilate their appearance for the sake of an action which they are too old to serve, or for which perhaps they had never been intended. I quarrel with surrealists and abstract art only as one quarrels with his father and mother; recognizing the inevitability and function of my roots, but insistent upon my dissent; I, being both they, and an integral completely independent of them.[44]
Rothko's 1945 masterpiece, Slow Swirl at the Edge of the Sea, illustrates his newfound propensity towards abstraction. It has been interpreted as a meditation on Rothko's courtship of his second wife, Mary Ellen "Mell" Beistle, whom he met in 1944 and married in early 1945. Other readings have noted echoes of Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, which Rothko saw at an "Italian Masters" loan exhibition, at the Museum of Modern Art, in 1940. The painting presents, in subtle grays and browns, two human-like forms embraced in a swirling, floating atmosphere of shapes and colors. The rigid rectangular background foreshadows Rothko's later experiments in pure color. The painting was completed, not coincidentally, in the year the Second World War ended.[45]
Despite the abandonment of his "Mythomorphic Abstractionism", Rothko would still be recognized by the public primarily for his surrealist works, for the remainder of the 1940s. The Whitney Museum included them in their annual exhibit of contemporary art from 1943 to 1950.[citation needed]
"Multiforms"Edit
The year 1946 saw the creation of what art critics have termed Rothko's transitional "multiform" paintings. Rothko never used the term multiform himself, yet it is an accurate description of these paintings. Several of them, including No. 18 and Untitled (both 1948), are less transitional than fully realized. Rothko himself described these paintings as possessing a more organic structure, and as self-contained units of human expression. For him, these blurred blocks of various colors, devoid of landscape or the human figure, let alone myth and symbol, possessed their own life force. They contained a "breath of life" he found lacking in most figurative painting of the era. They were filled with possibility, whereas his experimentation with mythological symbolism had become a tired formula. The "multiforms" brought Rothko to a realization of his mature, signature style, the only style Rothko would never fully abandon.
In the middle of this crucial period of transition, Rothko had been impressed by Clyfford Still's abstract fields of color, which were influenced in part by the landscapes of Still's native North Dakota.[46] In 1947, during a summer semester teaching at the California School of Fine Art, Rothko and Still flirted with the idea of founding their own curriculum, and they realized this idea in New York in the following year. Named "The Subjects of the Artists School", they employed David Hare and Robert Motherwell, among others.[47] Though the group separated later in the same year, the school was the center of a flurry of activity in contemporary art. In addition to his teaching experience, Rothko began to contribute articles to two new art publications, Tiger's Eye and Possibilities. Using the forums as an opportunity to assess the current art scene, Rothko also discussed in detail his own work and philosophy of art. These articles reflect the elimination of figurative elements from his painting, and a specific interest in the new contingency debate launched by Wolfgang Paalen's Form and Sense publication of 1945.[48] Rothko described his new method as "unknown adventures in an unknown space", free from "direct association with any particular, and the passion of organism". Breslin described this change of attitude as "both self and painting are now fields of possibilities – an effect conveyed ... by the creation of protean, indeterminate shapes whose multiplicity is let be."[49]
In 1949, Rothko became fascinated by Henri Matisse's Red Studio, acquired by the Museum of Modern Art that year. He later credited it as another key source of inspiration for his later abstract paintings.[50]
Late periodEdit
No. 3/No. 13 (Magenta, Black, Green on Orange), 1949, 85 3/8" × 65" (216.5 × 164.8 cm), oil on canvas, Museum of Modern Art
No. 61 (Rust and Blue), 1953, 115 cm × 92 cm (45 in × 36 in). Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Soon, the "multiforms" developed into the signature style; by early 1949 Rothko exhibited these new works at the Betty Parsons Gallery. For critic Harold Rosenberg, the paintings were nothing short of a revelation. After painting his first "multiform", Rothko had secluded himself to his home in East Hampton on Long Island. He invited only a select few, including Rosenberg, to view the new paintings. The discovery of his definitive form came at a period of great distress to the artist; his mother Kate had died in October 1948. Rothko happened upon the use of symmetrical rectangular blocks of two to three opposing or contrasting, yet complementary, colors, in which, for example, "the rectangles sometimes seem barely to coalesce out of the ground, concentrations of its substance. The green bar in Magenta, Black, Green on Orange, on the other hand, appears to vibrate against the orange around it, creating an optical flicker."[51] Additionally, for the next seven years, Rothko painted in oil only on large canvases with vertical formats. Very large-scale designs were used in order to overwhelm the viewer, or, in Rothko's words, to make the viewer feel "enveloped within" the painting. For some critics, the large size was an attempt to make up for a lack of substance. In retaliation, Rothko stated:
I realize that historically the function of painting large pictures is painting something very grandiose and pompous. The reason I paint them, however ... is precisely because I want to be very intimate and human. To paint a small picture is to place yourself outside your experience, to look upon an experience as a stereopticon view or with a reducing glass. However you paint the larger picture, you are in it. It isn't something you command!
He even went so far as to recommend that viewers position themselves as little as eighteen inches away from the canvas[52] so that they might experience a sense of intimacy, as well as awe, a transcendence of the individual, and a sense of the unknown.
As Rothko achieved success, he became increasingly protective of his works, turning down several potentially important sales and exhibition opportunities:
A picture lives by companionship, expanding and quickening in the eyes of the sensitive observer. It dies by the same token. It is therefore a risky and unfeeling act to send it out into the world. How often it must be permanently impaired by the eyes of the vulgar and the cruelty of the impotent who would extend the affliction universally![53]
Rothko's aims, in the estimation of some critics and viewers, exceeded his methods.[54] Many of the abstract expressionists discussed their art as aiming toward a spiritual experience, or at least an experience that exceeded the boundaries of the purely aesthetic. In later years, Rothko emphasized more emphatically the spiritual aspect of his artwork, a sentiment that would culminate in the construction of the Rothko Chapel.[55]
Many of the "multiforms" and early signature paintings are composed of bright, vibrant colors, particularly reds and yellows, expressing energy and ecstasy. By the mid-1950s, however, close to a decade after the completion of the first "multiforms," Rothko began to employ dark blues and greens; for many critics of his work this shift in colors was representative of a growing darkness within Rothko's personal life.[56]
Rothko's method was to apply a thin layer of binder mixed with pigment directly onto uncoated and untreated canvas and to paint significantly thinned oils directly onto this layer, creating a dense mixture of overlapping colors and shapes. His brushstrokes were fast and light, a method he would continue to use until his death.[57] His increasing adeptness at this method is apparent in the paintings completed for the Chapel. With an absence of figurative representation, what drama there is to be found in a late Rothko is in the contrast of colors, radiating against one another. His paintings can then be likened to a sort of fugue-like arrangement: each variation counterpoised against one another, yet all existing within one architectonic structure.
Rothko used several original techniques that he tried to keep secret even from his assistants. Electron microscopy and ultraviolet analysis conducted by the MOLAB showed that he employed natural substances such as egg and glue, as well as artificial materials including acrylic resins, phenol formaldehyde, modified alkyd, and others.[58] One of his objectives was to make the various layers of the painting dry quickly, without mixing of colors, so that he could soon create new layers on top of the earlier ones.
European travels: increasing fameEdit
Rothko and his wife visited Europe for five months in early 1950.[50] The last time he had been in Europe was during his childhood in Latvia, at that time part of Russia. Yet he did not return to his homeland, preferring to visit the important painting collections in the major museums of England, France and Italy. The frescoes of Fra Angelico in the monastery of San Marco, Florence, most impressed him. Fra Angelico's spirituality and concentration on light appealed to Rothko's sensibilities, as did the economic adversities the artist faced, which Rothko saw as similar to his own.[59]
Rothko had one-man shows at the Betty Parsons Gallery in 1950 and 1951 and at other galleries across the world, including in Japan, São Paulo and Amsterdam. The 1952 "Fifteen Americans" show curated by Dorothy Canning Miller at the Museum of Modern Art formally heralded the abstract artists and included works by Jackson Pollock and William Baziotes.[60] It also created a dispute between Rothko and Barnett Newman, after Newman accused Rothko of having attempted to exclude him from the show. Growing success as a group was leading to infighting and claims to supremacy and leadership.[61] When Fortune magazine named a Rothko painting as a good investment, Newman and Still branded him a sell-out with bourgeois aspirations. Clyfford Still wrote to Rothko to ask that the paintings he had given him over the years be returned. Rothko was deeply depressed by his former friends' jealousy.
During the 1950 Europe trip, Rothko's wife became pregnant. On December 30, when they were back in New York, she gave birth to a daughter, Kathy Lynn, called "Kate" in honor of Rothko's mother.[62]
Reactions to his own successEdit
Four Darks in Red, 1958, Whitney Museum of American Art
Shortly thereafter, due to the Fortune magazine plug and further purchases by clients, Rothko's financial situation began to improve. In addition to sales of paintings, he also had money from his teaching position at Brooklyn College. In 1954, he exhibited in a solo show at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he met art dealer Sidney Janis, who represented Pollock and Franz Kline. Their relationship proved mutually beneficial.[63]
Despite his fame, Rothko felt a growing personal seclusion and a sense of being misunderstood as an artist. He feared that people purchased his paintings simply out of fashion and that the true purpose of his work was not being grasped by collectors, critics, or audiences. He wanted his paintings to move beyond abstraction, as well as beyond classical art. For Rothko, the paintings were objects that possessed their own form and potential, and therefore, must be encountered as such. Sensing the futility of words in describing this decidedly non-verbal aspect of his work, Rothko abandoned all attempts at responding to those who inquired after its meaning and purpose, stating finally that silence is "so accurate". "My paintings' surfaces are expansive and push outward in all directions, or their surfaces contract and rush inward in all directions. Between these two poles, you can find everything I want to say."
Rothko began to insist that he was not an abstractionist and that such a description was as inaccurate as labeling him a great colorist. His interest was:
... only in expressing basic human emotions—tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on. And the fact that a lot of people break down and cry when confronted with my pictures shows that I can communicate those basic human emotions ... The people who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience I had when I painted them. And if you, as you say, are moved only by their color relationship, then you miss the point.[64]
For Rothko, color is "merely an instrument". The multiforms and the signature paintings are, in essence, the same expression of basic human emotions as his surrealistic mythological paintings, albeit in a purer form. What is common among these stylistic innovations is a concern for "tragedy, ecstasy and doom". It was Rothko's comment on viewers breaking down in tears before his paintings that may have convinced the de Menils to construct the Rothko Chapel. Whatever Rothko's feeling about interpretations of his work, it is apparent that, by 1958, the spiritual expression he meant to portray on canvas was growing increasingly dark. His bright reds, yellows and oranges were subtly transformed into dark blues, greens, grays and blacks.[65]
Rothko's friend, the art critic Dore Ashton, points to the artist's acquaintance with poet Stanley Kunitz as a significant bond in this period ("conversations between painter and poet fed into Rothko's enterprise"). Kunitz saw Rothko as "a primitive, a shaman who finds the magic formula and leads people to it". Great poetry and painting, Kunitz believed, both had "roots in magic, incantation, and spell-casting" and were, at their core, ethical and spiritual. Kunitz instinctively understood the purpose of Rothko's quest.[66]
In November 1958, Rothko gave an address to the Pratt Institute. In a tenor unusual for him, he discussed art as a trade and offered the "recipe of a work of art—its ingredients—how to make it—the formula.
There must be a clear preoccupation with death—intimations of mortality ... Tragic art, romantic art, etc., deals with the knowledge of death.
Irony, This is a modern ingredient—the self-effacement and examination by which a man for an instant can go on to something else.
Wit and play ... for the human element.
The ephemeral and chance ... for the human element.
Hope. 10% to make the tragic concept more endurable.
I measure these ingredients very carefully when I paint a picture. It is always the form that follows these elements and the picture results from the proportions of these elements."[67]
Seagram Murals–Four Seasons restaurant commissionEdit
In 1958, Rothko was awarded the first of two major mural commissions, which proved both rewarding and frustrating.[68] The beverage company Joseph Seagram and Sons had recently completed their new building on Park Avenue, designed by architects Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson. Rothko agreed to provide paintings for the building's new luxury restaurant, the Four Seasons. This was, as art historian Simon Schama put it, "bring[ing] his monumental dramas right into the belly of the beast".[69]
For Rothko, this commission presented a new challenge, since it was the first time he was required not only to design a coordinated series of paintings, but to produce an artwork space concept for a large, specific interior. Over the following three months, Rothko completed forty paintings, comprising three full series in dark red and brown. He altered his horizontal format to vertical, to complement the restaurant's vertical features: columns, walls, doors and windows.
The following June, Rothko and his family again traveled to Europe. While on the SS Independence he disclosed to journalist John Fischer, who was publisher of Harper's Magazine, that his true intention for the Seagram murals was to paint "something that will ruin the appetite of every son-of-a-bitch who ever eats in that room". He hoped, he told Fischer, that his painting would make the restaurant's patrons "feel that they are trapped in a room where all the doors and windows are bricked up, so that all they can do is butt their heads forever against the wall".[70]
Vestibule of the Laurentian Library
Frescoes in the Villa of the Mysteries
While in Europe, the Rothkos traveled to Rome, Florence, Venice and Pompeii. In Florence, he visited Michelangelo's Laurentian Library, to see first-hand the library's vestibule, from which he drew further inspiration for the murals.[71] He remarked that "the room had exactly the feeling that I wanted ... it gives the visitor the feeling of being caught in a room with the doors and windows walled-in shut." He was further influenced by the somber colors of the murals in the Pompeiian Villa of the Mysteries.[72] Following the trip to Italy, the Rothkos voyaged to Paris, Brussels, Antwerp and Amsterdam, before returning to the United States.
Once back in New York, Rothko and wife Mell visited the nearly-completed Four Seasons restaurant. Upset with the restaurant's dining atmosphere, which he considered pretentious and inappropriate for the display of his works, Rothko refused to continue the project, and returned his cash advance to the Seagram and Sons Company. Seagram had intended to honor Rothko's emergence to prominence through his selection, and his breach of contract and public expression of outrage were unexpected.
Rothko kept the commissioned paintings in storage until 1968. Given that Rothko had known in advance about the luxury decor of the restaurant, and the social class of its future patrons, the motives for his abrupt repudiation remain mysterious. A temperamental personality, Rothko never fully explained his conflicted emotions over the incident.[73] One reading is offered by his biographer, James E.B. Breslin: the Seagram project could be seen as an acting-out of a familiar, in this case self-created "drama of trust and betrayal, of advancing into the world, then withdrawing, angrily, from it ... He was an Isaac who at the last moment refused to yield to Abraham."[74] The final series of Seagram Murals was dispersed, and now hangs in three locations: London's Tate Modern in its own Mark Rothko room, Japan's Kawamura Memorial Museum and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.[75] This episode was the main basis for John Logan's 2009 play Red.
In October 2012, Black on Maroon, one of the paintings in the Seagram series, was defaced with writing in black ink, while on display at Tate Modern. Restoration of the painting took eighteen months to complete. The BBC's Arts Editor Will Gompertz explained that the ink from the vandal's marker pen had bled all the way through the canvas, causing "a deep wound, not a superficial graze", and that the vandal had caused "significant damage".[76]
Rising American prominenceEdit
Rothko's first completed space was created in the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., following the purchase of four paintings by collector Duncan Phillips. Rothko's fame and wealth had substantially increased; his paintings began to sell to notable collectors, including the Rockefeller family. In January 1961, Rothko sat next to Joseph Kennedy at John F. Kennedy's inaugural ball. Later that year, a retrospective of his work was held at the Museum of Modern Art, to considerable commercial and critical success. In spite of this newfound notoriety, the art world had already turned its attention from the now passé abstract expressionists to the "next big thing", pop art, particularly the work of Warhol, Lichtenstein, and Rosenquist.
Rothko labeled pop-art artists "charlatans and young opportunists", and wondered aloud during a 1962 exhibition of pop art, "Are the young artists plotting to kill us all?" On viewing Jasper Johns's flags, Rothko said, "We worked for years to get rid of all that."[77] It was not that Rothko could not accept being replaced, but that he could not accept what was replacing him: he found pop art vapid.
Rothko received a second mural commission project, this time for a wall of paintings for the penthouse of Harvard University's Holyoke Center. He made twenty-two sketches, from which ten murals were painted, six were brought to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and only five were installed: a triptych on one wall and opposite two individual panels. Harvard President Nathan Pusey, following an explanation of the religious symbology of the Triptych, had the paintings hung in January 1963, and later shown at the Guggenheim. During installation, Rothko found the paintings to be compromised by the room's lighting. Despite the installation of fiberglass shades, the paintings were all removed by 1979 and, due to the fugitive nature of some of the red pigments, in particular lithol red, were placed in dark storage and displayed only periodically.[78] The murals were on display from November 16, 2014, to July 26, 2015, in the newly renovated Harvard Art Museums, for which the fading of the pigments has been compensated by using an innovative color projection system to illuminate the paintings.[79][80]
On August 31, 1963, Mell gave birth to a second child, Christopher.[81] That autumn, Rothko signed with the Marlborough Gallery for sales of his work outside the United States. In New York, he continued to sell the artwork directly from his studio.[82] Bernard Reis, Rothko's financial advisor, was also, unbeknownst to the artist, the Gallery's accountant and, together with his co-workers, was later responsible for one of art history's largest scandals.
Rothko ChapelEdit
Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas
The Rothko Chapel is located adjacent to the Menil Collection and The University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. The building is small and windowless. It is a geometric, "postmodern" structure, located in a turn-of-the-century middle-class Houston neighborhood. The Chapel, the Menil Collection, and the nearby Cy Twombly gallery were funded by Texas oil millionaires John and Dominique de Menil.
Rothko's studio on 153 East 69th Street in New York's Upper East Side
In 1964, Rothko moved into his last New York studio at 157 East 69th Street, equipping the studio with pulleys carrying large walls of canvas material to regulate light from a central cupola, to simulate lighting he planned for the Rothko Chapel. Despite warnings about the difference in light between New York and Texas, Rothko persisted with the experiment, setting to work on the canvases. Rothko told friends he intended the chapel to be his single most important artistic statement. He became considerably involved in the layout of the building, insisting that it feature a central cupola like that of his studio. Architect Philip Johnson, unable to compromise with Rothko's vision about the kind of light he wanted in the space, left the project in 1967, and was replaced with Howard Barnstone and Eugene Aubry.[83] The architects frequently flew to New York to consult and on one occasion brought with them a miniature of the building for Rothko's approval.
For Rothko, the chapel was to be a destination, a place of pilgrimage far from the center of art (in this case, New York) where seekers of Rothko's newly "religious" artwork could journey. Initially, the chapel, now non-denominational, was to be specifically Roman Catholic, and during the first three years of the project (1964–67) Rothko believed it would remain so. Thus, Rothko's design of the building and the religious implications of the paintings were inspired by Roman Catholic art and architecture. Its octagonal shape is based on a Byzantine church of St. Maria Assunta, and the format of the triptychs is based on paintings of the Crucifixion. The de Menils believed the universal "spiritual" aspect of Rothko's work would complement the elements of Roman Catholicism.
Rothko's painting technique required considerable physical stamina that the ailing artist was no longer able to muster. To create the paintings he envisioned, Rothko was forced to hire two assistants, to apply the chestnut-brown paint in quick strokes of several layers: "brick reds, deep reds, black mauves". On half of the works, Rothko applied none of the paint himself, and was for the most part content to supervise the slow, arduous process. He felt the completion of the paintings to be "torment", and the inevitable result was to create "something you don't want to look at".
The chapel is the culmination of six years of Rothko's life, and represents his gradually growing concern for the transcendent. For some, to witness these paintings is to submit one's self to a spiritual experience, which, through its transcendence of subject matter, approximates that of consciousness itself. It forces one to approach the limits of experience, and awakens one to the awareness of one's own existence. For others, the chapel houses fourteen large paintings whose dark, nearly impenetrable surfaces represent hermeticism and contemplation.
The chapel paintings consist of a monochrome triptych in soft brown, on the central wall, comprising three 5-by-15-foot panels, and a pair of triptychs on the left and right, made of opaque black rectangles. Between the triptychs are four individual paintings, measuring 11-by-15 feet each. One additional individual painting faces the central triptych, from the opposite wall. The effect is to surround the viewer with massive, imposing visions of darkness. Despite its basis in religious symbolism (the triptych) and less-than-subtle imagery (the crucifixion), the paintings are difficult to attach specifically to traditional Christian motifs, and may act on the viewers subliminally. Active spiritual or aesthetic inquiry may be elicited from the viewer, in the same way a religious icon with specific symbolism does. In this way, Rothko's erasure of symbols both removes and creates barriers to the work.
As it turned out, these works would be his final artistic statement to the world. They were finally unveiled at the chapel's opening in 1971. Rothko never saw the completed chapel, and never installed the paintings. On February 28, 1971, at the dedication, Dominique de Menil said, "We are cluttered with images and only abstract art can bring us to the threshold of the divine", noting Rothko's courage in painting what might be called "impenetrable fortresses" of color. The drama for many critics of Rothko's work is the uneasy position of the paintings between, as Chase notes, "nothingness or vapidity" and "dignified 'mute icons' offering 'the only kind of beauty we find acceptable today'".
Suicide and estate lawsuitEdit
Untitled (Black on Grey), 1970
In early 1968, Rothko was diagnosed with a mild aortic aneurysm. Ignoring doctor's orders, Rothko continued to drink and smoke heavily, avoided exercise, and maintained an unhealthy diet. "Highly nervous, thin, restless", was his friend Dore Ashton's description of Rothko at this time.[84] However, he did follow the medical advice given not to paint pictures larger than a yard in height, and turned his attention to smaller, less physically strenuous formats, including acrylics on paper. Meanwhile, Rothko's marriage had become increasingly troubled, and his poor health and impotence resulting from the aneurysm compounded his feeling of estrangement in the relationship.[85] Rothko and his wife Mell (1921–1970) separated on New Year's Day 1969, and he moved into his studio.
On February 25, 1970, Oliver Steindecker, Rothko's assistant, found the artist in his kitchen, lying dead on the floor in front of the sink, covered in blood. He overdosed on barbiturates, and cut an artery in his right arm with a razor blade.[86] There was no suicide note. He was 66. The Seagram Murals arrived in London for display at the Tate Gallery on the day of his suicide.[87]
Rothko's grave at East Marion Cemetery, East Marion, New York
Shortly before his death, Rothko and his financial advisor, Bernard Reis, had created a foundation, intended to fund "research and education", that would receive the bulk of Rothko's work following his death. Reis later sold the paintings to the Marlborough Gallery, at substantially reduced values, and then split the profits from sales with Gallery representatives. In 1971, Rothko's children filed a lawsuit against Reis, Morton Levine, and Theodore Stamos, the executors of his estate, over the sham sales. The lawsuit continued for more than 10 years, and became known as the Rothko Case. In 1975, the defendants were found liable for negligence and conflict of interest, were removed as executors of the Rothko estate by court order, and, along with Marlborough Gallery, were required to pay a $9.2 million damages judgment to the estate. This amount represents only a small fraction of the eventual vast financial value, since achieved, by numerous Rothko works produced in his lifetime.[88]
Rothko's separated wife Mell, aged 48, like Rothko a heavy drinker, died six months after him. The cause of death was listed as "hypertension due to cardiovascular disease".[86]
Mark Rothko by Denisova Olesya Alexandrovna (2017)
Rothko's complete works on canvas, 836 paintings, have been catalogued by art historian David Anfam, in his Mark Rothko: The Works on Canvas: Catalogue Raisonné, published by Yale University Press in 1998.
A previously unpublished manuscript by Rothko, The Artist's Reality, about his philosophies on art, edited by his son Christopher, was published by Yale University Press in 2004.
Red, a play by John Logan based on Rothko's life, opened at the Donmar Warehouse in London, on December 3, 2009. The play, starring Alfred Molina and Eddie Redmayne, centered on the period of the Seagram Murals. This drama received excellent reviews, and usually played to full houses. In 2010 Red opened on Broadway, where it won six Tony Awards, including Best Play. Molina played Rothko in both London and New York.
The family collection of Rothko works, owned by the Mark Rothko Estate, has been represented by the Pace Gallery in New York since 1978.[89]
In Rothko's birthplace, the Latvian city of Daugavpils, a monument to him, designed by sculptor Romualds Gibovskis, was unveiled on the bank of the Daugava River in 2003.[90] In 2013 the Mark Rothko Art Centre opened in Daugavpils, after the Rothko family had donated a small collection of his original works.[91]
A number of Rothko's works are held by the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía[92] and by the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, both in Madrid.[93] The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Art Collection in Albany, NY includes both Rothko's late painting, Untitled (1967) and a large mural by Al Held entitled Rothko's Canvas (1969–70).[94]
Resale marketEdit
Art collector Richard Feigen said that he sold a red Rothko painting to the National Gallery of Berlin for $22,000 in 1967.[95]
In November 2005, Rothko's 1954 painting Homage to Matisse broke the record for any postwar painting at a public auction, selling for $22.5 million.[96]
In May 2007, Rothko's 1950 painting White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose) broke this record again, selling at Sotheby's in New York for $72.8 million. The painting was sold by banker David Rockefeller, who attended the auction.[97]
In November 2003, an untitled red and brown Rothko painting from 1963, measuring 69 by 64 inches, sold for $7,175,000.[98]
In May 2011, Christie's sold a previously unknown Rothko painting, accounting for the work as #836. The work was added to the existing Rothko catalog of 835 works after expert authentication. The newly discovered painting, Untitled, #17, created in 1961, came to light when a private collector put it up for sale, claiming he bought it directly from the artist. A seven-foot-tall oil on canvas in red and pink on an ochre background, the painting opened with a house bid of $13 million and sold for $30 million.[99]
In May 2012, Rothko's 1961 painting Orange, Red, Yellow (#693 in Anfam's catalogue raisonné) was sold by Christie's in New York for $86,862,500, setting a new nominal value record for a postwar painting at a public auction and putting it on the list of most expensive paintings.[100][101][102][103]
In November 2012, his 1954 painting No. 1 (Royal Red and Blue) was sold for $75.1 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York.[104]
In 2014, Rothko's No. 21 (1953) sold for $44,965,000. The painting had been part of the Schlumberger collection.[105][106]
In May 2014, Untitled (Red, Blue, Orange) (1955), which had been owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, sold for $56.2 million.[107]
In November 2014, a smaller Rothko painting in two shades of brown sold for $3.5 million, within its estimated range of $3 to 4 million.[108]
In May 2015, Untitled (Yellow and Blue) (1954) sold for $46.5 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York.[109] The painting was owned by Rachel Mellon.[110] That month, No. 10 (1958) sold for $81.9 million at a Christies's auction in New York.[106]
In May 2016, No. 17 (1957) was sold for $32.6 million at Christie's by an Italian collector.[111]
In November 2018, Untitled (Rust, Blacks on Plum) (1962) was offered at auction by Christie's with an estimated price of $35 million to $45 million;[112] it sold for $35.7 million.[113]
Rothko Pavilion
^ a b c Glueck, Grace (11 October 2016). "A Newish Biography of Mark Rothko". Los Angeles Review of Books. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
^ Biographical information for this entry is taken from Breslin 1993 and Ashton 1983.
^ Breslin, p. 14.
^ Breslin, pp. 18–19.
^ Breslin, pp. 21–22, 24, 32.
^ Stigler, Stephen M., "Aaron Director Remembered". 48 J. Law and Econ. 307, 2005.
^ Ashton, p. 10.
^ Hayden Herrera, Arshile Gorky: His Life and Work (New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2003), pp. 129–130.
^ Breslin, pp. 62–63. Ashton, an art historian and close friend of Rothko's, goes further: "Weber presided over [Rothko's] early development" (p. 19).
^ a b "Oral history interview with Sally Avery, 1982 Feb. 19". Oral history interviews. Archives of American Art. 2011. Retrieved 18 Jun 2011.
^ Breslin, p. 91
^ On Avery's impact on Rothko: Ashton, pp. 21–25.
^ Ashton, p. 26. She writes: "Child art, for Rothko, was a kind of touchstone, a barometer of truth."
^ Jahn, Jeff. "PORT". Portlandart.net. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
^ Breslin, pp. 57, 89.
^ Breslin, pp. 101–106.
^ Ashton, pp. 30–32.
^ Ashton, 35.
^ Breslin, p. 121.
^ Rothko, Mark; López-Remiro, Miguel (2006). Writings on art. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 8. ISBN 9780300114409. OCLC 1008510353. CS1 maint: Date and year (link)
^ Rothko, Mark; López-Remiro, Miguel (2006). Writings on art. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 6. ISBN 9780300114409. OCLC 1008510353.
^ Baal-Teshuva, p. 31.
^ Nietzsche 1872, §23
^ Wallace, Nora. (February 5, 2016) "Important Ideas that Changed Art Forever – Abstract Expressionism" Archived 2017-02-12 at the Wayback Machine On My Wall
^ Breslin, p. 205 and Ashton, pp. 92–93.
^ Baal-Teshun, p. 39.
^ Robert Motherwell published Paalen's collected essays on art from his magazine DYN, as the first number of the series. The number entitled Possibilities, in which Rothko's statement was published, was the second of this series. Form and Sense was re-published in 2013 by Deborah Rosenthal, with a foreword by Martica Sawin. Wolfgang Paalen, Form and Sense, Meanings and Movements in Twentieth-Century Art, New York (Arcade Publishing/Artists and Art) 2013
^ Breslin, p. 378
^ a b Breslin, p. 283 and Ashton, pp. 61, 112.
^ "The Collection | Mark Rothko. No. 3/No. 13. 1949". MoMA. 2004. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
^ Weiss, Jeffrey (1998). Mark Rothko. Yale University Press. p. 262. ISBN 978-0-300-08193-0.
^ Barbara Hess, Abstract Expressionism (New York: Taschen, 2005), p. 42.
^ Robert Hughes in American Visions: The Epic History of Art in America (New York: Knopf, 1997) writes admiringly of Rothko's emotional range, "from foreboding and sadness to an exquisite and joyful luminosity", but takes issue with the artist's religious aspirations: "Rothko's work could not, in the end, support the weight of meaning he wanted it to have" (pp. 490–491). Others, like Dore Ashton, would profoundly disagree.
^ For Hughes, the chapel in Texas offers the final proof that the artist has overreached himself: "the eye ... seeks its nuances. But the expected epiphany does not come" (p. 491).
^ byDavid, Written. "Mark Rothko : Into The Darkness | Blog | Rippingham Art". Retrieved 2019-06-06.
^ Qiu, Jane (27 November 2008). "Rothko's methods revealed". Nature. 456: 447. doi:10.1038/456447a. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
^ Breslin, p. 299 and Ashton, p. 130. Ashton writes that Rothko and Still refused to allow their works to travel to Europe, forcing Miller to cancel the traveling exhibition; his distaste for group shows only increased over time.
^ Ashton, pp. 150–151.
^ Achim Borchardt-Hume (ed.). Rothko (London: Tate Gallery, 2008), p. 91
^ Breslin, pp. 371–383, 404–409, is a thorough account of this important episode in Rothko's career.
^ Schama, p. 398.
^ Ashton, p. 147.
^ Jonathan Jones (6 December 2002). "Feeding fury". The Guardian.
^ Schama, pp. 428–434.
^ "Tate Modern, Rothko Murals". Tate.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
^ "Tate Modern unveils painstakingly restored Rothko". 13 May 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
^ Shea, Andrea (20 May 2014). "Harvard's Famously Damaged Rothko Paintings 'Restored' With Light". The ARTery. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
^ Edgers, Geoff (2014-05-20). "Harvard's Rothko murals to be seen in new light with revolutionary new projection system". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
^ Ashton, p. 183. Johnson would always maintain, and Ashton acknowledges that he was probably right, that he (Johnson) knew better than Rothko what lighting would best work in the chapel.
^ a b Cooke, Rachel (2008-09-14). "The art cheats who betrayed my father". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
^ "Press Releases | Late at Tate at Tate Liverpool (22 October 2009): Reflect on Mark Rothko's Seagram Murals in the twilight hours (Tate Liverpool)". Tate. October 9, 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
^ (case cite 372 N.E.2d 291)
^ ""Dark Palette" – Mark Rothko". Pace Gallery. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
^ "Historical Sites". Museum "Jews in Latvia". Archived from the original on 2015-02-16. Retrieved 2014-07-24. Monument to Mark Rothko, 18 Novembra, 2, (on the bank of the river Daugava). This monument, designed by Romualds Gibovskis to commemorate the centenary of the Dvinsk-born leading abstract expressionist artist Mark Rothko (1903–1970), was unveiled in September 2003.
^ Sophia Kishkovsky (25 April 2013), Latvia opens museum dedicated to Rothko Archived 2013-04-28 at the Wayback Machine. The Art Newspaper.
^ "Rothko, Mark". www.museoreinasofia.es. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
^ "Rothko, Mark". Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
^ "Empire State Plaza Art Collection". Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^ Carol Vogel (May 8, 2012). "Record Sales for A Rothko And Other Art at Christie's". The New York Times.
^ Radic, Randall. "An Outsider in Latvia, America & Art: Mark Rothko". literarytraveler.com. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
^ "Huge bids smash modern art record". BBC News. May 16, 2007.
^ Horsley, Carter B. "Art/Auctions: Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie's November 11, 2003". www.thecityreview.com. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
^ Crow, Kelly, Out of Nowhere, a Rothko, The Wall Street Journal, 2011-04-13.
^ "Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale 8 May 2012 – Sale 2557, Lot 20". Christie's. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
^ Vogel, Carol (8 May 2012). "Record Sales for a Rothko and Other Art at Christie's". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
^ Whitman, Hilary (9 May 2012). "Art records fall led by Rothko in New York". CNN News. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
^ Waters, Florence (9 May 2012). "Why Mark Rothko is still setting records". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
^ Dionne, Zach (November 13, 2012). "A Rothko From 1954 Just Sold for an Ungodly Sum". vulture.com. New York Media LLC. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
^ "Mark Rothko NO. 21 (Red, Brown, Black and Orange)". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
^ a b David Ng (May 14, 2015). "Rothko painting fetches $82 million at Christie's auction". Los Angeles Times.
^ Katya Kazakina (May 15, 2014). "Paul Allen's Rothko Sells for $56.2 Million at Phillips". Bloomberg L.P.
^ James Tarmy (November 11, 2014). "Sotheby's $343 Million Sale Led by Jasper Johns's Flag". Bloomberg L.P.
^ "Rothko painting sells for $46.5 million in NY auction". Yahoo News. May 13, 2015.
^ Katya Kazakina (May 14, 2015). "Mellon's Rothko Painting Sells for $46.5 Million at Sotheby's". Bloomberg L.P.
^ "Basquiat sets artist record at Christie's sale at $57.3M". Associated Press. May 10, 2016.
^ Block, Fang (16 October 2018). "Mark Rothko Masterpiece Could Net $45M". Barron's. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
^ Untitled (Rust, Blacks on Plum), sale details, Christie's
Ashton, Dore (1983). About Rothko. New York: Oxford University Press.
Baal-Teshuva, Jacob. Mark Rothko, 1903–1970: Pictures as Drama. New York: Taschen, 2003.
Breslin, James. E. B. (1993). Mark Rothko: A Biography. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Nietzsche, Friedrich. "The Birth of Tragedy." Basic Writings of Nietzsche, translated and edited by Walter Kaufmann, The Modern Library, 2000, pp. 1–144.
Schama, Simon. The Power of Art. New York: HarperCollins, 2006.
Anfam, David. Abstract Expressionism. New York: Thames & Hudson, 1990.
Anfam, David. Mark Rothko: The Works on Canvas, A Catalogue Raisonne. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998.
Cohen-Solal, Annie. Mark Rothko. Actes-Sud, 2013.
Collins, Bradford R. (ed.) Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade, 1940–1950. New York: Skira Rizzoli, 2012.
Logan, John. Red. London: Oberon Books, 2009.
Rothko, Christopher (ed.). The Artist's Reality. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006.
Rothko, Mark. "The Individual and the Social" (pp. 563–565) in Harrison, Charles & Paul Wood (eds.), Art in Theory 1900–1990: An Anthology of Changing Ideas (563–565). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, Ltd., 1999.
Seldes, Lee. The Legacy of Mark Rothko. New York: DaCapo, 1996.
Waldman, Diane. Mark Rothko, 1903–1970: A Retrospective.
New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1978.
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Mark Rothko
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mark Rothko.
Raduraksti (Latvia for "lineage") and Daugavpils Rabinats Fonds 4359 Apraksts 2 Lieta 8(registration required), show his birth and circumcision in 1903 on September 12 and 19 on the Russian calendar (equivalent to September 25 and October 1 in the west) in male record #392 (top-right corner of image #185)
Mark Rothko on Wikiart.org
1958–59 Murals, Pace Gallery
Mark Rothko at the Museum of Modern Art
The Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas, is dedicated to Rothko paintings and non-denominational worship
Mark Rothko at Find a Grave
ArtCyclopedia contains links to galleries and museums with Rothko pieces and articles on Rothko.
Guardian slideshow including pictures of works and photograph of Rothko
Mark Rothko, The Art Story
BBC's Power of Art The documentary series Simon Schama's Power of Art featured Mark Rothko.
Rothko, an abstract humanist DVD, documentary film by Isy Morgensztern. French/English NTSC.
Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia
Mark Rothko Centenary, Latvia 2003 Mark Rothko Centenary celebration in Latvia. Conference and exhibition photo gallery.
Mark Rothko Broadcast, Utrecht 2015 Mark Rothko radio podcast on ConcertZender Radio, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Tate Modern exhibition
Mark Rothko exhibition at Tate Modern, London, September 2008 – February 2009 includes curator interview
Press reviews:
The Times (includes video)
The Times, a second Times review
Welcome to his dark side ..., Laura Cumming, The Observer, guardian.co.uk, 28 September 2008
You can have too much Rothko – Tom Sutcliffe, The Independent, 3 October 2008.
Whitechapel Gallery exhibition
Rothko Britain exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery, London, 9 September 2011 – 26 February 2012
The Guardian review September 11, 2011
The Guardian review September 8, 2011
The Telegraph review 9 September 2011
Timeout article
The Independent article 11 September 2011
Smithsonian Archives of American Art
Interview with Bernard Braddon and Sidney Schectman Conducted by Avis Berman, New York City, New York, 1981 October 9. Smithsonian Institution Archives of American Art (Braddon & Schectman were owners of the Mercury Gallery which exhibited the works of the Ten in the 1930s).
Oral history interview with Sonia Allen, 1984 September 15; Rothko's sister
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mark_Rothko&oldid=905877591"
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Appleford railway station
Appleford
Appleford-on-Thames
SU525936
DfT category
Station opened with the line
Station closed
Station reopened as Appleford Halt
Renamed Appleford
* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Appleford from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year.
Appleford railway station serves the village of Appleford-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, England, as well as nearby settlements such as Sutton Courtenay. It is on the Cherwell Valley Line between Didcot Parkway and Banbury, 55 miles 16 chains (88.8 km) measured from London Paddington. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Great Western Railway.
1 Layout
Layout[edit]
The station entrance is on a humpback bridge and passengers must descend steep steps to the platforms.
Platform 1 is for Down trains towards Oxford, and Platform 2 is for Up trains towards London Paddington. South of the station is a pedestrian level crossing; the barrier is normally lowered with lights off. The user has to press a button for the signaller to raise the barriers; then they are lowered again once the user is clear of the crossing. The lights are only used to warn people that the barriers are coming down.
The station opened originally with the line from Didcot to Oxford, on 12 June 1844. It had been planned and partly built by the Oxford Railway, which was absorbed into the Great Western Railway before the opening of the line. It was however closed after just a few years in February 1849.
The Great Western Railway reopened the station as "Appleford Halt" on 11 September 1933 in response to growing competition from buses.
The station then passed to the Western Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948.
British Rail discontinued its "Halt" suffix on 5 May 1969. The station was served by Network SouthEast when sectorisation was introduced in the 1980s.
Unusually, until recently it retained the original wooden platforms and corrugated iron pagoda-roofed waiting shelters. These have been replaced by "bus shelter"-like waiting shelters. The station has never been staffed; originally passengers could buy tickets at the village post office, but since this has closed, they need to buy tickets from the on-train conductor.
Appleford station is served by stopping services run by Great Western Railway between Reading and Oxford. In total there are 16 services each way with a two-hourly interval between trains, but shorter intervals at peak times. Most of these services start or continue as semi-fast services between Reading and London Paddington.[1]
Since the start of the Winter 2014 timetable, trains no longer call at Appleford on Sundays.
Culham Great Western Railway
Cherwell Valley Line Didcot Parkway
^ Table 116 National Rail timetable, May 2016
Station on navigable O.S. map.
Coordinates: 51°38′24″N 1°14′31″W / 51.640°N 1.242°W / 51.640; -1.242
Railway stations in Oxfordshire
Great Western main line
Cholsey
Didcot Parkway
Goring & Streatley
Chiltern Main Line
Bicester North
Cherwell Valley line
Culham
Heyford
Tackley
Cotswold Line
Ascott-under-Wychwood
Finstock
Hanborough
Kingham
Shipton
Oxford–Bicester line
Oxford Parkway
Henley branch line
Shiplake
Heritage railways
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Appleford_railway_station&oldid=892483548"
DfT Category F2 stations
Former Great Western Railway stations
Railway stations closed in 1849
Railway stations served by Great Western Railway
1844 establishments in England
Use dmy dates from January 2018
Use British English from January 2018
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Enhanced 9-1-1
Enhanced 911, E-911 or E911 is a system used in North America to automatically provide the caller's location to 911 dispatchers. 911 is the universal emergency telephone number in the region. In the European Union, a similar system exists known as E112 (where 112 is the emergency access number) and known as eCall when called by a vehicle.
An incoming 911 call is routed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), a call center operated by the local government. At the PSAP, the call is answered by a specially trained official known as a 9-1-1 dispatcher. The dispatcher's computer uses information provided by the telephone company to display the physical address or geographic coordinates of the caller. This information is used to dispatch police, fire, medical, and other services as needed.[1][2]
1 Call routing
1.1 Landline routing
1.1.1 MSAG
1.2 Wireless routing
2 Location transmission
2.1 Landline transmission
2.2 Wireless transmission
2.3 ALI database
3 Location determination
3.1 Landline location
3.2 Wireless location
3.3 911 address
4.1 The 911 Act
4.2 FCC Requirements
4.3 In Canada
5 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)
5.1 Interconnection details
6 VoIP enhanced 911
7 Multi-line Telephone System
8 Address signage standards
Call routing[edit]
Landline routing[edit]
Calls to 911 over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) are routed to a special router (known as Selective Router, or 9-1-1 Tandem)[3][4]. The router looks for the address associated with the caller's telephone number in a database. The caller's phone number is known as an ANI. The database relating ANIs to addresses is known as ALI (Automatic Location Identification). The router then uses the address to search in the MSAG for the Emergency Service Number (ESN) of the appropriate PSAP for that area, and connects the call to it.[5][6]
MSAG[edit]
The Master Street Address Guide (MSAG) is a database of street addresses and corresponding Emergency Service Numbers (ESNs).[7] ESNs represent one or more emergency service agencies (e.g. fire department, law enforcement) designated to serve a specific range of addresses in a geographic area, called an Emergency Service Zone.[8]
Wireless routing[edit]
Calls from cellular phones are received via cell towers by mobile switching centers (MSC).[6] The switching center automatically assigns a unique identifier to each cellular 911 call, known as a "pseudo ANI".[6] The Selective Router connects the call to a PSAP based on the cell tower's location.[6]
Location transmission[edit]
Location is an important concept in the manner of how the Enhanced 911 system works.
Automatic location of the emergency is intended to be faster and more reliable than verbal communication of the location, though this is usually requested anyway for confirmation. It also makes it possible for emergency services to respond when callers cannot communicate their location, because they do not know where they are, are too panicked, are a child, are distracted by the ongoing emergency, or do not wish to attract the attention of the perpetrator of a crime in progress.
Calls made to non-911 emergency numbers (such as the direct line to a police or fire department) might not have automatic location enabled.
Calls to 911 are answered by an operator at a PSAP. In addition to the voice transmission, the telephone network also transmits a number associated with the current call, the ANI. The 911 operator (or their computer) at the PSAP searches a database (ALI) for the ANI to find the caller's relevant location.
The ALI record associated with the query is then returned to the PSAP where the Customer-premises equipment (CPE) correlates that information with the call taker receiving the call and displays the information on their computer screen.
Landline transmission[edit]
For landline calls the ANI resembles the caller's phone number. The ALI stores a pre-determined address associated with the caller's telephone number. This address is typically the phone's billing address.[2]
Wireless transmission[edit]
For wireless calls, the ANI (or "pseudo-ANI") is a unique number assigned to each individual 911 call, assigned at a mobile switching center.[6]
In parallel to the actual voice call, the ALI database gets periodically updated with more granular and recent location information.[6] Cellular networks can determine a more granular location of the caller's device by using triangulation from the cell towers (radiolocation). In addition to triangulation, a second source of location information may be the caller's phone itself (or other cellular device).
Many phones manufactured after 2005 have GPS receivers built in.[9] When the cellular phone detects that the user is placing an emergency call, it begins to transmit its location to a secure server, from which the PSAP can retrieve it. Cellphone manufacturers may program the phone to automatically enable GPS functionality (if disabled) when an emergency call is placed, so that it may transmit its location.[10]
ALI database[edit]
The 911 system
The ALI database is secured and separate from the public phone network by design. It is generally maintained by the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) under contract by the PSAP. Each ILEC has their own standards for the formatting of the database.
The ALI is maintained on behalf of local governments by contracted private third parties generally the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC). Often, the contracted 3rd party further subcontracts the actual ALI database management to companies such as Intrado, Bandwidth and TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. The ALI database also feeds the Master Street Address Guide database which is used to route the call to the appropriate PSAP and when the call arrives, the ALI database is queried to determine the location of the caller.
Most ALI databases have a companion database known as the MSAG, Master Street Address Guide. The MSAG describes the exact spelling of streets, street number ranges, and other address elements. When a new account is created, the address is located in the Master Street Address Guide to track the proper Emergency Service Number (ESN) that 911 calls from that phone number should be routed to. Competitive local exchange carriers (CLEC) and other competing wireline carriers negotiate for access to the ALI database in their respective Interconnect Agreement with the ILEC. They populate the database using the ILEC MSAG as a guide.
If the phone number is not in the ALI database, this is known as ALI Failure; the call is then passed to default ESN for the call's trunk line group, which is a PSAP designated for this function. The 911 operator must then ask the incoming caller for their location and redirect them to the correct PSAP. The legal penalty in most states for ALI database lookup failure is limited to a requirement that the telephone company fix the database entry.
Location determination[edit]
The way location is determined varies by the type of originating device or network.
Landline location[edit]
Landline or wireline calls originate from a device connected to a known and fixed location connection to the PSTN. These locations are stored in the Automatic Location Information (ALI) database.[1] This is permitted by special privacy legislation.
Location information is not passed along by the public phone network; only the calling party's phone number is known to the receiver.
Wireless location[edit]
The billing address associated with a cell phone is not necessarily considered the location to which emergency responders should be sent, since the device is portable. This means that locating the caller is more difficult, which resulted in the second phase of the Enhanced 911 service (E911 Phase 2), which relates to locating wireless or mobile telephone devices.
To locate a mobile telephone geographically, there are two general approaches. One is to use some form of radiolocation from the cellular network; the other is to use a Global Positioning System receiver built into the phone itself. Both approaches are described by the Radio resource location services protocol (LCS protocol).
Radiolocation in cellular telephony uses base stations. Most often, this is done through triangulation between radio towers. The location of the caller or handset can be determined several ways:
Angle of arrival (AOA) requires at least two towers, locating the caller at the point where the lines along the angles from each tower intersect.
Time difference of arrival (TDOA) works like GPS using multilateration, except that it is the networks that determine the time difference and therefore distance from each tower (as with seismometers).
Location signature uses "fingerprinting" to store and recall patterns (such as multipath) which mobile phone signals are known to exhibit at different locations in each cell.
The first two depend on a line of sight, which can be difficult or impossible in mountainous terrain or around skyscrapers. Location signatures actually work better in these conditions however. TDMA and GSM networks such as T-Mobile 2G use TDOA.[11] AT&T Mobility initially advocated TDOA, but changed to embedded GPS in 2006 for every GSM or UMTS voice-capable device due to improved accuracy.
Code division multiple access (CDMA) networks tend to use handset-based radiolocation technologies, which are technically more similar to radionavigation. GPS is one of those technologies. Alltel, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile 3G, and Sprint PCS use Assisted GPS.[11]
Hybrid solutions, needing both the handset and the network include:
Assisted GPS (wireless or television) allows use of GPS even indoors
Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (A-FLT)
Timing Advance/Network Measurement Report (TA/NMR)
Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD)
Mobile phone users may also have a selection to permit location information to be sent to non-emergency phone numbers or data networks, so that it can help people who are simply lost or want other location-based services. By default, this selection is usually turned off, to protect privacy. In areas such as tunnels and buildings, or anywhere else that GPS is not available or reliable, wireless carriers can deploy enhanced location determination solutions such as Co-Pilot Beacon for CDMA networks and LMU's for GSM networks.
The 3GPP specified protocol for handset geolocation in GSM networks is called Radio Resource Location Protocol.
911 address[edit]
The term 911 address refers to a format for specifying where a 911 call originated from (e.g. the address of the landline, or estimated location of a cell phone).
The 911 address contains a uniform number, the street name, direction (if applicable), and the city. The uniform number is usually assigned by the grid of the existing community. Each county usually has their own policy on how the addressing is done, but for the most part NENA guidelines are followed.[citation needed] These guidelines are expressed by the Master Street Address Guide (MSAG). The exact 911 addresses and associated phone numbers are put into the ALI database.
The first 911 system was installed in Haleyville, Alabama, in February 1968, as a way to quickly connect a subscriber to the local police station. The system was rapidly adapted and improved by other telephone companies, evolving into the E911 system, which provides both caller location and identification. A pioneering system was in place in Chicago by the mid-1970s, providing both police and fire departments access to the source location of emergency calls. Enhanced 911 is currently deployed in most metropolitan areas in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as well as all of the Cayman Islands.
The 911 Act[edit]
In the US, the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999, also known as the 911 Act, mandated the use of E911 and designated 911 as the universal emergency number, including both wireline and wireless phone devices.
FCC Requirements[edit]
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made several requirements applicable to wireless or mobile telephones:[12]
Basic 911: All 911 calls must be relayed to a call center, regardless of whether or not the mobile phone user is already a customer of the network being used.[13]
E911 Phase 1: Wireless network operators must identify the phone number and cell phone tower used by callers, within six minutes of a request by a PSAP.
E911 Phase 2:
95% of a network operator's in-service phones must be E911 compliant ("location capable") by December 31, 2005. (Numerous carriers missed this deadline and were fined by the FCC.[14])
Wireless network operators must provide the latitude and longitude of callers within 300 meters, within six minutes of a request by a PSAP.[15] Accuracy rates must meet FCC standards on average within any given participating PSAP service area by September 11, 2012 (deferred from September 11, 2008).[16]
Location information is used by the wireless network operator to determine to which PSAP to route the call to, and is transmitted to the PSAP for the purpose of sending emergency services to the scene of the incident.
In 1996, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an order requiring wireless carriers to determine and transmit the location of callers who dial 911. The FCC set up a phased program: Phase I involved sending the location of the receiving antenna for 911 calls, while Phase II sends the location of the calling telephone. Carriers were allowed to choose to implement 'handset based' location by Global Positioning System (GPS) or similar technology in each phone, or 'network based' location by means of triangulation between cell towers. The order set technical and accuracy requirements: carriers using 'handset based' technology must report handset location within 50 meters for 67% of calls, and within 150 meters for 90% of calls; carriers using 'network based' technology must report location within 100 meters for 67% of calls and 300 meters for 90% of calls.
The order also laid out milestones for implementing wireless location services. Many carriers requested waivers of the milestones, and the FCC granted many of them. By mid-2005, implementation of Phase II was generally underway, limited by the complexity of coordination required from wireless and wireline carriers, PSAPs, and other affected government agencies; and by the limited funding available to local agencies which needed to convert PSAP equipment to display location data (usually on computerized maps).
In July 2011, the FCC announced a proposed rule requiring that after an eight-year implementation period, at some yet-to-be-determined date in 2019, wireless carriers will be required to meet more stringent location accuracy requirements. If enacted, this rule would require both "handset based" and "network based" location techniques to meet the same accuracy standard, regardless of the underlying technology used. The rule is likely to have no effect as all major carriers will have already achieved over 85% GPS chipset penetration, and are thus able to meet the standard regardless of their 'network based' location capabilities.[7]
In Canada[edit]
In 2009, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) required implementation of Phase II Stage 1 for wireless carrier by 1 February 2010, in areas that provide landline E911.[10] Many Canadians now have access to Phase II service.[17]
Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)[edit]
The final destination of an E911 call (where the 911 operator sits) is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). There may be multiple PSAPs within the same exchange or one PSAP may cover multiple exchanges. The territories (Emergency Service Zone) covered by a single PSAP is based on the dispatch and response arrangements for the fire, police, and medical services for a particular area. All primary PSAPs have a regional Emergency Service Number (ESN), a number identifying the PSAP.
The Caller Location Information (CLI) provided is normally integrated into emergency dispatch center's computer-assisted dispatch (CAD) system. Early CAD systems provided text display of the caller's address, call history and available emergency response resources. In 1994, working in cooperation with the emergency response agencies of Covington, KY, 911 Mapping Systems, Inc.[18] founded in 1992 by Robert Graham Thomas Jr.,[19] implemented the first real-time on-screen E911 street map display to highlight the caller's position, nearest available emergency responders and other relevant information such as fire hydrants, hazardous materials and/or other data maintained by the city. Shortly thereafter, integrated mapping became a standard and integral part of all CAD systems and continues to evolve alongside 911 response technology. For Wireline E911, the location is an address. For Wireless E911, the location is a coordinate. Not all PSAPs have the Wireless and Wireline systems integrated.
Interconnection details[edit]
Each telephone company (local exchange carrier, or LEC) has at least two redundant DS0-level (that is, 64 kbit/s, or voice quality) trunks connecting each host office telephone switch to each call center. These trunks are either directly connected to the call center or they are connected to a telephone company central switch that intelligently distributes calls to the PSAPs. These special switches are often known as 911 Selective Routers. Their use is becoming increasingly more common as it simplifies the interconnection between newer ISUP/SS7-based host office switches and the many older PSAP systems.
If the PSAP receives calls from the telephone company on older analog trunks, they are usually Pulse driven circuits. These circuits are similar to traditional telephone lines, but are formatted to pass the calling party's number (Automatic Number Identification, ANI). For historical reasons, the PSAP will refer to these as CAMA circuits even though Centralized Automatic Message Accounting (CAMA) is actually a reference to the call log.
If the PSAP receives calls on older-style digital trunks, they are specially formatted Multi-Frequency (MF) trunks that pass the calling party's number (ANI) only. Some of the upgraded PSAPs can receive calls on ISUP trunks controlled by the SS7 protocol. In that case, the calling party's number (ANI) is already present in the SS7 setup message. The Charge Number Parameter contains the ANI.
VoIP enhanced 911[edit]
VoIP enhanced 911 pertains to communications originating from various commercial services provided by companies that send telephone calls across the commercial internet using specialized devices and software applications.
As Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology matured, service providers began to interconnect VoIP with the public telephone network and marketed the VoIP service as a cheap replacement phone service. However, E911 regulations and legal penalties have severely hampered the more widespread adoption of VoIP: VoIP is much more flexible than land line phone service and there is no easy way to verify the physical location of a caller on a nomadic VoIP network at any given time (especially in the case of wireless networks), and so many providers offered services which specifically excluded 911 service so as to avoid the severe E-911 non-compliance penalties. VoIP services tried to improvise, such as routing 911 calls to the administrative phone number of the Public Safety Answering Point, adding on software to track phone locations, etc.[citation needed]
The Location Information Server is a service that is provided by an access network provider to provide location information to users of the network. To do this, it uses knowledge of network topology and a range of location determination techniques to locate devices that are attached to the network. The precise methods that are used to determine location are dependent on the type of access network and the information that can be obtained from the device.
Initially, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took a hands-off approach to VoIP in order to let the service mature, and also to facilitate competition in the telephony market.[20] In time, this problem reached the headlines of newspapers as individuals were unable to place emergency calls with their VoIP phones. In March 2005, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit against Vonage for deceptive marketing practices by not making it clear that VoIP users had to actually sign up for E911 service.[21]
When FCC Chair Kevin Martin replaced FCC Chair Michael Powell, he immediately changed FCC's hand's off policy and moved to impose 911 obligations on VoIP service providers.[22] In 2005, Chair Martin moved FCC to require "interconnected VoIP services" to begin to provide 911 service and provide notice to their consumers concerning the 911 limitations. The FCC announced that customers must respond to the E911 VoIP warning and those who do not have their service cut off on August 30, 2005. The FCC extended the deadline to September 28, 2005.[23] The E911 hookup may be directly with the Wireline E911 Network, indirectly through a third party such as a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), or by any other technical means. The FCC explained that they felt compelled to issue this mandate because of the public safety concerns.[24] Vonage co-founder Jeff Pulver opined that this was an attempt by FCC Chair Martin to hinder telephony competition to AT&T.[25]
The 911 obligations were imposed only on "interconnected VoIP." The FCC defined "interconnected VoIP" as VoIP over broadband that interconnects with the public switch telephone network.[26] VoIP that is not interconnected, such as two individuals talking to each other over the Internet while playing computer games, does not fall under the obligation.
There are, however, complicated technological problems with implementing E911 with VoIP, which providers are attempting to solve. VoIP phones are on the Internet and nomadic; the geolocation of the individual placing the 911 call can be very difficult to determine. Service providers are attempting to phase in solutions through the I1, I2, and I3 phases. During I1, the 911 call was routed to the 911 administrative telephone lines without location information. During I2, VoIP services would participate in the public telephone networks location database for the location that is identified with that telephone number. During the I3 solution, VoIP service providers would have a true IP interconnection with Public Safety Answering Points and would be able to provide even more valuable information than the legacy 911 system. Where VoIP phones are mobile, geolocation has additional problems; VoIP service providers are seeking access to mobile phone location databases.[27][28][29] These solutions are being developed through the cooperation of the Voice on the Network Coalition and the National Emergency Number Association. Vonage has encouraged its customers to register the locations from which their 911 calls could be dialed with the local public safety answering point.[30] The FCC had continued to add more requirements and mandate a more sophisticated 911 function.[31]
VoIP services have noted an obstacle to full 911 interconnection; in order to interconnect with the Public Safety Answering Point, the VoIP service providers must interconnect with the 911 telephone trunk, which is owned and controlled by their competitors, the traditional fixed-line telephone carriers.[23] This resulted in the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 which granted interconnection rights to interconnected VoIP services.[32]
In response to the E911 challenges inherent to IP phone systems, specialized technology has been developed to locate callers in the case of emergency. Some of these new technologies allow the caller to be located down to the specific office on a particular floor of a building. These solutions support a wide range of organizations with IP telephony networks. The solutions are available for service providers offering hosted IP-PBX and residential VoIP services. This increasingly important segment in IP phone technology includes E911 call routing services and automated phone tracking appliances. Many of these solutions have been established according to FCC, CRTC, and NENA i2 standards, in order to help enterprises and service providers reduce liability concerns and meet E911 regulations.[33]
In recent years there have been numerous important developments in E911 solutions for IP phone technology. The more noteworthy of these developments include:
On-site appliances that automate and simplify E911 management for enterprise IP-PBX systems, reducing administration, ensuring that IP phone locations are always up to date, thus helping enterprises meet their E911 obligations;
IP phone tracking that automatically assigns locations to IP hard phones, soft phones and wireless phones as they move on the corporate network using layer 2, layer 3, or wireless LAN discovery.
Support for remote employees, allowing off-campus users and teleworkers to update their locations in real time directly from their IP phones;
Support for phone mobility, to ensure accurate E911 services for employees that move IP phones between locations, share line appearances between multiple devices, and log into IP phones on the fly;
Security desk routing and notification functionalities that deliver 911 calls and custom email alerts to on-site security personnel, notifying them of the emergency and providing them with the caller’s precise location information;
Advanced E911 call management and reporting features, such as misdial protection and call recording, to improve solution performance and administration.
VoIP & 911 issues are also relevant to Telecom Relay Services utilized by individuals with disabilities.
Multi-line Telephone System[edit]
Multi-line Telephone System (MLTS) pertains to the location of callers dialing 911 from within the private telecommunications networks used by large organizations. A Multi-line Telephone System (MLTS), often referred to as a private branch exchange, is a telecommunications switching system used by large organizations to process calls between employees within the organization and with parties external to the organization. An MLTS may serve a single building, segments of multi-tenant buildings, a group of buildings on a campus or even a number of buildings separated by geography. New communications technologies are making it possible for single MLTS systems to serve locations at far distant places that may span multiple governmental jurisdictions even distant countries.
The challenge of Enhanced 911 for the MLTS is that information about the location of callers is only available to the extent that the private organization discloses the information. For the organization the challenges of collecting and reporting the information can be significant. Today’s highly mobile work forces and technologies that allow users to relocate without the intervention of an administrator place significant responsibilities on the MLTS owner or operator.
Recent legislation, rules, and regulations in numerous US government jurisdictions have established the burden upon the enterprise style organization to provide accurate location information so that the ALI database may be updated and the processes used by public safety agencies can function properly when an emergency call originates from within a MLTS system.
The member driven volunteer organization that represents the people who staff the PSAPs, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA.org), has done significant work advocating on the subject of MLTS E911. It is an important contemporary issue of growing concern as enterprise style organizations employ new technologies to create vast private networks that interconnect with the PSTN in ways that do not map to the logic used to locate callers in the Public Enhanced 911 system. The risks to people who initiate a 911 call from and MLTS who are not physically located within the jurisdiction of the agency to which the 911 call is routed and the increasing burdens of misdirected 911 calls upon those agencies is escalating.
Address signage standards[edit]
In addition to upgrading communications systems, most counties and communities in the United States have established ordinances (e.g. IRC section R319.1) requiring property owners to standardize the display of house numbers on buildings and along streets and roadways, to allow emergency personnel to more easily identify a given address day or night, even in poor weather. These are normally composed of reflective characters, at least 3 to 6 inches high, on a contrasting reflective background. It is necessary for the address number to be affixed to the building or to a separate structure such as a post, wall, fence, or mailbox, provided that such separate structure is located in front of the building and on the building's side of the street. Compliant signage systems are often advertised as being "E911 compliant".[citation needed]
Advanced Mobile Location
Northern 911
Mobile phone tracking
Emergency Medical Dispatcher
Next Generation 9-1-1
Reverse geocoding
^ a b "What is an ALI Database? - Bandwidth". Bandwidth. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
^ a b Quintin, Cooper (2018-10-04). "There are Many Problems With Mobile Privacy but the Presidential Alert Isn't One of Them". Electronic Frontier Foundation. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
^ "911 Master PSAP Registry". Federal Communications Commission. 2011-02-14. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
^ "Communications Route Diversity for Public Safety". Federal Communications Commission. 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
^ "ECN 911 History". Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
^ a b c d e f US 20160337831A1, "Real-time over the top 9-1-1 caller location data", published 2016-11-17
^ a b "FCC 11-107, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-01-11.
^ PSAP Installation Guide (19 December 2011), ECN 911 Program, Minnesota Department of Public Safety
^ "How GPS Phones Work". HowStuffWorks. 2005-10-24. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
^ a b "Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-40". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2013-02-20. All wireless service providers are to complete their respective implementation of wireless Phase II Stage 1 E9-1-1 service by 1 February 2010, wherever wireline E9-1-1 service is available across Canada.
^ a b "FCC Report to Congress on the Deployment of E-911 Phase II Services by Tier III Service Providers" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. April 1, 2005. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ "Wireless 911 Services". Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau. FCC.gov. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ "E911 Turns Cell Phones into Tracking Devices". WIRED. 6 January 1998. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
^ "Sprint, Alltel, USC fined for missed e911 deadline". FierceWireless. 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ "How accurate E911?". GPS World. Questex Media Group, Inc. November 2007. Archived from the original on 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2010-11-17. Network-based technology:100 meters for 67% of calls and 300 meters for 95% of calls. Handset-based technologies: 50 meters for 67% of calls and 150 meters for 95% of calls.
^ "Carriers push E-911 lawsuit in court despite winning deadline extension". RCR Wireless News. 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ See also the third and fourth paragraphs of [1]
^ "911 Mapping Systems, Inc". 911mapping.com. Archived from the original on 2006-03-23. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ "Obituary: Robert Thomas Jr., 911 Mapping CEO". Enquirer.com. 2002-12-25. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ "In the Matter of Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, Report to Congress, Docket 96-45" (PDF). FCC. April 10, 1998. p. 42.
^ OAG (2005-03-22). "Attorney General Abbott Takes Legal Action To Protect Internet Phone Customers" (Press release). OAG.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ "Why Does the FCC Treat VoIP as the Ugly Duckling, Techdirt July 25, 2006". Techdirt.com. 2006-07-25. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ a b Gross, Grant (August 26, 2005). "FCC extends VoIP E911 deadline". PCWorld.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2006. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ "IP-Enabled Services : E911 Requirements for IP-Enabled Service Providers" (PDF). FCC. May 19, 2005. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ Pulver, Jeff (July 24, 2006). "A Little Rant on the Ongoing Mis-application of CALEA and E911 and Universal Service on Voice Applications and Some Ironic, Illogical Results". Jeff Pulver Blog. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ Cannon, Robert. "VoIP Definition :: FCC :: Interconnected VoIP :: CFR". Cybertelecom.org. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ Currier, Bob (2010-06-21). "Intrado Evolution of the PSAP Experience - Slide 0" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ Meer, Stephen; Nelson, Michael (May 2004). "Intrado Next Generation Needs" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ "Intrado Emergency Calling Services" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ Nuechterlein, Jonathan E.; Weiser, Philip J. (2005). Digital Crossroads: American Telecommunications Policy in the Internet Age. p. 222.
^ "Answering the Call for 911 Emergency Services in an Internet World" (PDF). Voice on the Net Coalition. January 2005. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-01-23.
^ "VoIP :: 911 :: Regulation". Cybertelecom.org. Information on NET Act and FCC proceeding implementing legislation.
^ "Emergency Gateway Datasheet" (PDF). 911 Enable. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-14.
Wireless 911 Services - FCC Consumer Facts
Enhanced 911 - Wireless Services
National Emergency Number Association
Law-review article providing background on VoIP technology and challenges of E911, locating VoIP Callers and prioritizing Emergency traffic in the VoIP Network.
Cybertelecom - VoIP and 911 - Federal Internet Regulation
E9-11 Institute - E-911 Education Organization
How E-911 caller locations are discovered
Emergency Calling for SIP
Emergency telephone numbers
000 (Australia)
108 (India)
110 (Iran; Police)
111 (New Zealand)
1122 (Pakistan)
112 (EU and various others)
119 (parts of Asia and Jamaica)
120 (China)
911 (North America E-911 system, Philippines)
999 (UK and various others)
N11 codes
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enhanced_9-1-1&oldid=895084877"
Telecommunications-related introductions in 1968
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Jasper County, South Carolina
Jasper County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
699 sq mi (1,810 km2)
44 sq mi (114 km2), 6.3%
38/sq mi (15/km2)
Eastern: UTC−5/−4
www.jaspercountysc.org
Jasper County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 24,777.[1] Its county seat is Ridgeland.[2] The county was formed in 1912 from portions of Hampton County and Beaufort County.
Jasper County is included in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located in the Lowcountry region of the state. For several decades, in contrast to neighboring Beaufort County, Jasper was one of the poorest counties in the state. Recent development from 2000 onwards has given the county new residents, expanded business opportunities, and a wealthier tax base. Since 2010, Jasper County is the second-fastest-growing county by population in South Carolina, behind Horry County.
4.1 City
4.2 Town
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 699 square miles (1,810 km2), of which 655 square miles (1,700 km2) is land and 44 square miles (110 km2) (6.3%) is water.[3]
Hampton County - north
Beaufort County - east
Chatham County, Georgia - south
Effingham County, Georgia - west
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Tybee National Wildlife Refuge
1950 10,995 −0.1%
Est. 2016 28,465 [4] 14.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 20,678 people, 7,042 households, and 5,091 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 7,928 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 52.69% Black or African American, 42.39% White, 0.37% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.39% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 5.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,042 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.3 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,727, and the median income for a family was $36,793. Males had a median income of $29,407 versus $21,055 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,161. About 15.4% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 24,777 people, 8,517 households, and 5,944 families residing in the county.[10] The population density was 37.8 inhabitants per square mile (14.6/km2). There were 10,299 housing units at an average density of 15.7 per square mile (6.1/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 46.0% black or African American, 43.0% white, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 8.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 15.1% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 7.1% were Irish, and 2.5% were American.[12]
Of the 8,517 households, 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.2% were non-families, and 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.23. The median age was 34.6 years.[10]
The median income for a household in the county was $37,393 and the median income for a family was $45,800. Males had a median income of $31,999 versus $24,859 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,997. About 14.2% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.2% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.[13]
Jasper County is governed by a five-member partisan county council, who are elected in staggered four year terms. The council appoints a county administrator who is tasked with running the day-to-day operations of the county, with the exception of the Sheriff's Office.
Mary Gordon Ellis, the first woman elected to the South Carolina legislature, represented Jasper County in the state senate for one term, from 1928 to 1932, after having previously served as state superintendent of schools.[14]
Presidential elections results[15]
2016 45.4% 5,187 52.1% 5,956 2.5% 284
2012 41.6% 4,169 57.5% 5,757 1.0% 95
1992 29.9% 1,725 59.9% 3,453 10.2% 585
1968 20.3% 633 45.0% 1,402 34.7% 1,081
1964 61.4% 1,593 38.6% 1,002
1960 51.9% 779 48.1% 721
1948 3.5% 31 15.9% 141 80.6% 715
1940 8.9% 41 91.1% 418
1936 0.9% 4 99.1% 452
1924 0.0% 0 69.5% 89 30.5% 39
1920 0.0% 0 100.0% 219
City[edit]
Town[edit]
Ridgeland (county seat)
Coosawhatchie
Gillisonville
Grahamville
Old House
Pocotaligo
Point South
Wagon Branch
National Register of Historic Places listings in Jasper County, South Carolina
Jasper County Sheriff's Office (South Carolina)
Jasper Ocean Terminal
^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
^ "Women Wielding Power-South Carolina". nwhm.org. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
Geographic data related to Jasper County, South Carolina at OpenStreetMap
Jasper County History and Images
Places adjacent to Jasper County, South Carolina
Hampton County
Effingham County, Georgia
Chatham County, Georgia
Municipalities and communities of Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
County seat: Ridgeland
Hardeeville‡
Sun City‡
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
The Lowcountry of South Carolina
Colleton County
Charleston region
Major communities
Varnville
Sea Islands
Fripp Island
Hunting Island
Lady's Island
Port Royal Island
St. Helena Island
Gullah culture
Port Royal Experiment
Sea Islands Hurricane
Laurel Bay
MCRD Parris Island
Beaufort Naval Hospital
ACE Basin
Pinckney Island NWR
Savannah NWR
Lake Warren
BJWSA
Hargray
USC-Beaufort
State of South Carolina
Columbia (capital)
Atlantic Coastal Plain
Grand Strand
High Hills of Santee
Lake Murray Country
Metrolina
Ninety-Six District
Olde English District
Pee Dee
Seal of South Carolina
Larger cities
Smaller cities
Easley
Forest Acres
Gaffney
Batesburg-Leesville
Fountain Inn
Kingstree
Pageland
Carolina Forest
Dentsville
Socastee
Wade Hampton
Census areas
Coordinates: 32°26′N 81°01′W / 32.44°N 81.02°W / 32.44; -81.02
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jasper_County,_South_Carolina&oldid=905414482"
South Carolina counties
1912 establishments in South Carolina
Hilton Head Island–Beaufort micropolitan area
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Education Project Update
Helping Early-Career Researchers Succeed
Early-career scientists face many hurdles. Targeted programs can help them build skills, ease workloads, and form the collaborations they need to advance their careers.
Early-career scientists sample the hydrothermal field in Furnas Volcano in the Azores. Credit: Katie Pratt/Deep Carbon Observatory Early Career Scientist Workshop 2015
By Harmony V. Colella, Derek L. Schutt, Danielle F. Sumy, and Andrew M. Frassetto 8 September 2015
The early years of a scientist’s career are no doubt some of the most demanding. As scientists transition from senior graduate students through postdoctoral fellowships and into pretenure faculty positions or to employment opportunities outside of academia, they are faced with a multitude of challenges.
These junior scientists must develop as independent researchers while also establishing new collaborations. Many must also adapt to the classroom, despite the limited teacher training available in graduate school. However, many receive little mentoring and guidance during this difficult transition period.
In an effort to help newly minted scientists, researchers, and educators succeed, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Consortium created an early-career investigator (ECI) working group in late 2011. Its mission is to organize practical resources and professional development opportunities for ECIs.
The early-career investigator (ECI) working group has strived to build a network among ECIs to generate new collaborations and create a centralized set of resources.
Over the past 4 years, the working group has strived to build a network among ECIs to generate new collaborations, bring awareness of nonacademic career paths, and create a centralized set of research and educational resources that ECIs can share. Through a series of lectureships and joint partnerships, the working group has also sought to increase the visibility of ECIs and their research and has promoted mentorship and collaboration between junior and senior scientists.
Charting a Career Path
To grow the ECI community, provide a forum for in-depth discussion, and disseminate information to a broader audience, the working group organized mini-workshops and discussions at several national meetings, including those hosted by the American Geophysical Union (AGU), IRIS, and the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) EarthScope program. Up to 70 ECIs attended each event, which exposed participants to the working group’s initiatives and resources, provided insight into various career paths, and better informed working group organizers about the needs of the community.
Career-oriented fora have included discussions with more senior researchers in diverse academic and government careers, such as those at research universities, undergraduate institutions, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The panelists discussed the expectations at their type of institution and shared their personal obstacles to achieve tenure.
ECIs expressed appreciation for exposure to a variety of workforce options, as discussions at their home institutions tend to focus primarily on academic careers.
Events also focused on nonacademic career paths. About 45 ECIs attended a workshop held before the 2013 EarthScope National Meeting in Raleigh, N.C., where a geophysicist from British Petroleum provided an insider’s view of the challenges and rewards of a career at a major oil company. Roughly 30 ECIs attended a workshop before the 2014 IRIS meeting, where representatives from the American Geosciences Institute and Department of Energy highlighted the plethora of job opportunities available outside of academia, including in science writing, public policy, and consulting. Throughout each event, speakers fielded candid questions about the challenges and successes one might experience in such careers.
The career-focused workshops have been very popular. Notably, ECIs have repeatedly expressed their appreciation to workshop conveners for the exposure to a variety of workforce options, as discussions at their home institutions tend to focus primarily on academic careers.
Tackling Career Obstacles
The working group also organized fora that tackled other issues of importance, such as funding opportunities, featuring presentations from a NSF program officer, as well as the ever-present concern of “work-life balance,” featuring panelists spanning different stages in an academic career (postdoctoral researchers to full professors).
Early-career investigators (ECIs) and a senior scientist chat at a luncheon held at the 2012 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif. The luncheon gave ECIs the opportunity to discuss research ideas and potential collaborations at the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone through the Geodynamic Processes at Rifting and Subducting Margins (GeoPRISMS) initiative. Credit: Anaïs Férot (GeoPRISMS)
In 2014, IRIS co-organized a webinar and a luncheon with the geodesy consortium UNAVCO. The webinar, which aired 2 weeks before AGU’s Fall Meeting, focused on best practices in scientific communications to prepare ECIs for the luncheon. During the luncheon at AGU’s Fall Meeting, roughly 30 ECIs presented 2-minute “elevator talks” on their research, which were immediately followed by discussion among the attendees about research challenges and potential collaborations.
AGU meetings have also provided a great opportunity for the working group to reach across the geophysics and geology subfields to showcase its work and initiatives. At AGU’s 2012 Fall Meeting, we held an ECI luncheon cosponsored by the national offices of EarthScope and the NSF-supported Geodynamic Processes at Rifting and Subducting Margins (GeoPRISMS) initiative.
Graduate students and faculty participate in a field trip to the Newark rift basin, held the day before the GeoPRISMS Planning Workshop for the East African Rift System in Morristown, N.J., in October 2012. Here participants examine a normal fault developed in Late Triassic mudstone in Kintnersville, Pa. Credit: Anaïs Férot (GeoPRISMS)
The luncheon was advertised via a variety of listservs, Facebook, Eos, and word of mouth. The primary purpose involved encouraging interdisciplinary networking among the roughly 60 attendees, whose fields spanned a broad range of geoscience disciplines. This enabled ocean- and land-based geologists and geophysicists, from geochemists to geophysicists, to explore collaborative amphibious projects based on field location or research site.
A Portal to Resources
The ECI working group also strives to share its online resources. It created a website and mailing list and established a social media presence via Facebook and Twitter to collect and distribute various ECI-related resources.
The website collects and organizes relevant community resources. These include profiles of posttenure seismologists and geodesists who volunteered to serve as mentors, abstracts from ECIs who are available to present departmental colloquia, a list of notable funding opportunities, and links to other resources such as the seismology code repository developed by IRIS Data Services.
As a result of popular demand from the community, we continue to offer regular ECI-centric webinars, which focus on topics that span technical software tutorials, proper presentation of scientific lectures, how to navigate federal funding agencies, and best research-based teaching practices. The webinars are streamed live with interactive question-and-answer sessions and can be viewed on the IRIS Education and Public Outreach YouTube channel, where they are permanently archived. ECI-centric webinars have quickly become the most popular of all IRIS webinars.
A Course Repository for ECIs
Instructors invest a significant amount of time in proper course and curriculum preparation. This process is especially burdensome for ECIs who must develop courses for the first time. To ease the workload, the working group is building a curated community course repository with materials that will range from complete courses to individual exercises.
Through this repository, ECIs will be able to download a whole course on seismology, for instance, which would include lecture notes, homework, and test keys. Alternatively, they could augment an existing course by downloading an independent laboratory exercise about focal mechanisms or moment tensors, for instance. The repository, which will be housed on the IRIS website, will start with the course “Introduction to Seismology.” More advanced course materials will be added gradually once this example course is complete.
We plan to solicit course materials for other common classes that tenure-track ECIs teach during their first year, such as geodynamics or geophysics. An important component of this effort is that the repository database will initially be password protected, with the hope that full courses will be submitted for curation. As courses are improved by users and modifications are uploaded, we plan to turn highly downloaded courses into community-based courses that will be publicly available (minus any homework or test keys).
To our knowledge, such a teaching resource is unprecedented in academia, and its implementation will be closely monitored by IRIS and the ECI working group to evaluate its success.
Helping ECIs Form Collaborations
One of the most important tasks for ECIs’ career advancement involves reaching out to the greater geoscience community by dissemination of their research results and establishing collaborations at other institutions. Some of the best opportunities to do both arise from invitations from other departments to give colloquia talks, which allow researchers to present their work and have face-to-face time with potential collaborators.
Those who typically organize a department’s colloquia often fail to recognize ECIs as potential speakers because they lack name recognition.
However, ECIs are being shut out from these opportunities under the current economic climate, in which many universities are under strict budget constraints that rarely cover the travel costs of distant colloquium speakers. Furthermore, those who typically organize a department’s colloquia often fail to recognize ECIs as potential speakers because they lack name recognition. The lack of speaking opportunities not only hurts ECIs but also deprives departments of exposure to new blood and fresh ideas.
To address this challenge, the working group piloted two programs in 2014 to help ECIs develop new collaborations across the member institutions of the IRIS Consortium. In the inaugural year, five ECIs were awarded fund-matching lectureships to travel to another institution as a colloquium speaker, with extra time allotted (up to 1 week) to develop new collaborations. Under the second program, two ECIs were awarded extended stays of up to a month to collaborate with and learn from a senior scientist with complementary skills and give a colloquium talk.
The ECIs funded by the program reported that new collaborations were indeed established, which resulted in meaningful science and proposal opportunities. Of the five ECI colloquium speakers, three submitted proposals to the NSF, and one presented preliminary results at the 2014 Seismological Society of America meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Two additional proposals were submitted to NSF by ECIs who had extended junior-senior scientist visits.
Today’s ECI must understand the challenges that lie ahead, particularly given the weak domestic economic, government funding, and employment climate.
Today’s ECI must understand the challenges that lie ahead, particularly given the weak domestic economic, government funding, and employment climate. Feedback from ECIs to working group organizers indicates that ECIs know too little about employment opportunities outside of academia and the energy industry. Additionally, ECIs request guidance and resources on how the skills and expertise acquired in graduate school are applicable to the widest range of careers. The IRIS ECI working group continues to address these topics through workshops at annual meetings and webinars.
ECIs have requested that IRIS develop a formal mentoring program that pairs young geoscientists with mentors within their discipline. Ideally, the program would be a tiered-mentor network that consists of an undergraduate student, graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, pretenure faculty, and senior scientist. Such a program is also ideal for a mentor-training program, which could be done within, or across, several NSF-funded programs (e.g., EarthScope, GeoPRISMS, or IRIS).
Expanding to Other Geoscience Disciplines
Many of the concerns and potential resources described here are not specific to the solid Earth sciences, and the activities we have described are transferable to other disciplines. Other geoscience organizations and consortiums should consider a focused effort to develop resources for ECIs.
Furthermore, it would be beneficial to develop interdisciplinary resources that many different scientific communities and networks can share. This “across the aisle” collaboration is particularly important in today’s increasingly limited funding environment, where collaborative research proposals that focus on interdisciplinary research are often more competitive.
The ECI working group is open to collaborations and partnerships with other consortiums, organizations, or groups to expand the reach of and increase the resources available to ECIs. We hope to work together to build a large-scale, geoscience-centric ECI organization to aid the success of ECIs, no matter what path they pursue.
Harmony V. Colella, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe; previously at Department of Geological Sciences, Miami University of Ohio, Oxford; email: [email protected]; Derek L. Schutt, Department of Geosciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins; and Danielle F. Sumy and Andrew M. Frassetto, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), Washington, D. C.
Citation: Colella, H. V., D. L. Schutt, D. F. Sumy, and A. M. Frassetto (2015), Helping early-career researchers succeed, Eos, 96, doi:10.1029/2015EO034965. Published on 8 September 2015.
Text © 2015. The authors. CC BY-NC 3.0
Except where otherwise noted, images are subject to copyright. Any reuse without express permission from the copyright owner is prohibited.
University of Alaska Faces Budget Crisis
Recycled Glasses Connect Eclipse Watchers Across the Equator
House Science Committee Approves Bill to Stop Sexual Harassment
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Venturehint water
How This Entrepreneur Turned Her Diet Coke Addiction Into a Company
Polina Marinova
Kara Goldin always found water plain and boring. She swore by Diet Coke and drank about 10 to 12 cans a day.
“I had just had my third child, I was exhausted, I weighed more than I wanted to weigh, and I also had terrible acne,” said Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint Water.
Goldin decided to try giving up Diet Coke, and she lost 45 pounds in three months. This prompted her to start examining her daily food and beverage intake.
“Frankly, I was way ahead of my time,” Goldin said. “This was 11 years ago, and I wanted to know what pesticides were in my food, and I wanted to understand what hormones were in the product.”
Goldin saw a gap in the market and created Hint Water, a fruit-infused beverage with no calories, sweeteners or artificial flavors. With over $70 million in total annual sales, Hint Water continues to grow. Here’s what founder and CEO Goldin had to say about the current state of the food and beverage industry and Hint’s plans for the future.
Why did you decide to launch Hint Water, and when did you know you had a potential success on your hands?
Today, the food and beverage industry is so not interested in helping consumers get healthy. They’re interested in selling you stuff versus actually understanding who you are as a consumer. I fell into this game of being tricked by like words like “diet,” and “low-fat” and “calorie counts.” At the end of the day, if you understand the ingredients, that’s what matters. If you see something with sugar on it, don’t keep it from yourself – just eat it in moderation.
When I launched the company, I was actually pregnant with my fourth child. I had it in my mind that I needed to get this product on the shelf prior to going into labor. I decided to take it to Whole Foods the next day with 10 cases. Whole Foods called me a few days later and said, “Your product’s gone. It all sold.” That was a really big day for me. But then you have to go national. All of the experiences along the way have done nothing but expose the consumer to what we’re trying to do. They’re all good experiences but certainly come with the ups and downs of an entrepreneur.
You launched Hint Water about 10-and-a-half years ago. Do you think the beverage industry has changed since then?
Until we launched, I never realized how many beverages there were in the marketplace. We worked closely with Michelle Obama on her “Drink Up” initiative and helped define “What is water?” Water does not have sweeteners in it. Water doesn’t have color. Water does not have preservatives in it. I realized that there were over 2,000 beverages in the marketplace. It’s crazy how competitive it is. I think it’s filled with a lot of “me too products.” I tell entrepreneurs today that if you’re launching a company that is a “me too product” and you can’t really define how you’re different, then it’s probably not a good idea.
Hint Water has experienced pretty explosive growth. What advice do you have for entrepreneurs who are looking to scale fast?
I spend a lot of time looking outside of the beverage industry. In order to be that unicorn company that’s going to accelerate growth, you need to be different. I can’t compete with the billion-dollar advertising budgets of Coke (KO) and Pepsi (PEP) . Instead, I need to figure out, “How do I get to the consumer in ways Coke and Pepsi are not?” Without the consumers’ buy-in, it’s really difficult to be a successful company.
What is the key to appealing to consumers?
A few years ago, marketing and branding was about, “We’re going to tell you what to do.” Today, the consumer is really intrigued by the idea that you can actually understand them without them telling you. If you’re a brand that can quietly solve some of the issues that they’re not even telling their friends they’re dealing with, then you can gain their trust.
What’s next for Hint Water?
The consumer is really pushing us to get healthier in other ways. I think we can be a billion-dollar company just in beverage, but I believe this can parlay in many other categories–whether it’s skin-care or food.
No one wants products today that are super complicated or hard to figure out. While Hint is not an easy product to make, it’s been our focus to make it fun and simple for the consumer.
This Q&A has been edited for grammar and clarity.
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The Media: Examples of Good AND Bad Journalism
Pages: 1 ... 9 10 [11] 12 13 ... 19 Go Down
Author Topic: The Media: Examples of Good AND Bad Journalism (Read 59911 times)
ASIF Governor
Re: The Media: Examples of Good AND Bad Journalism
Pilger on the abdication of reporters and takeover of the media:
"Dissent tolerated when I joined a national newspaper in Britain in the 1960s has regressed to a metaphoric underground as liberal capitalism moves towards a form of corporate dictatorship."
" ... understand that the source of “fake news” is not only trollism, or the likes of Fox news, or Donald Trump, but a journalism self-anointed with a false respectability: a liberal journalism that claims to challenge corrupt state power but, in reality, courts and protects it, and colludes with it. "
" Subjectivism is all; slogans and outrage are proof enough. What matters is the “perception”.
When he was US commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus declared what he called “a war of perception… conducted continuously using the news media”. What really mattered was not the facts but the way the story played in the United States. The undeclared enemy was, as always, an informed and critical public at home."
https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/09/20/hold-the-front-page-the-reporters-are-missing/
jacksmith4tx
The Long Now Foundation has a new lecture out on a relevant topic.
Soldiers and Scouts: Why our minds weren't built for truth, and how we can change that
http://podcast.longnow.org/salt/redirect/salt-020180912-galef-podcast.mp3
An expert on rationality, judgement, and strategy, Julia Galef notes that "our capacity for reason evolved to serve two very different purposes that are often at odds with each other. On the one hand, reason helps us figure out what’s true; on the other hand, it also helps us defend ideas that are false-but-strategically-useful. I’ll explore these two different modes of thought — I call them “the scout” and “the soldier” — and what determines which mode we default to. Finally, I’ll argue that modern humans would be better off with more scout mode and less soldier mode, and I’ll share some thoughts on how to make that happen.” Galef is founder of the Update Project and hosts the podcast Rationally Speaking.
I have found some really great seminars at their website. Most are about science topics but there are plenty of talks on other subjects like economics, history and geopolitics.
http://longnow.org/seminars/
Science is a thought process, technology will change reality.
America's Finest News Source on new NYT Editor in Chief:
https://www.theonion.com/new-york-times-announces-appointment-of-anonymous-sou-1829232788
Matt Taibbi attacks media, including himself, on coverage of Sanders to tax employers whose workers need state assistance. Rather good, as usual.
"Sanders was thrashed in the press"
"... reports cited the objections of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) ..."
" ... the CBPP — which receives at least $2 million from the Walmart foundation ..."
Sanders: “You can turn the TV and watch it hour after hour, channel after channel after channel, and not see one relevant piece of information.”
" Jeff Bezos is worth $160 billion, and, according to one infuriating study, earns the median salary of an Amazon employee every nine seconds. If you go by net worth in stock holdings, Bezos earns about $277 million a day."
" ... when the Communications Workers of America attempted to organize Amazon call center employees, the company simply shut down the center."
" ... workers urinated in bottles out of fear of being punished for “idle time.” "
" ... people like Ezra Klein at Vox are already making it, that Sanders has gone too far this time, in emphasizing symbolism over policy specifics ... Translated, this means: Bernie has enough poll support now that he can finally hire all the Beltway bullshit artists who spent the last 40 years turning the Democratic Party into a subsidiary of the Chamber of Commerce."
"Can we finally start calling these people the names they deserve?"
Sing it, Matt.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/bernie-sanders-amazon-bezos-725282/
I experience the msm as an unrelenting stream of bullshit, have done so for over twenty years. It gives no insight, taken at face value, into what's unfolding. What it does do and does very well is to frame everything in such a way that one would assume that the ptb have our best interests at heart, looking around it's pretty obvious that nothing could be further from the truth. That driven assumption though has a controlling effect on the general mind-set of the prey, us. Very few 'reporters' are even aware that they promulgate nonsense, being caught up in their own bs.
There are some reporters who give an honest accounting, thank goodness, John Pilger is one such, here he gives us his take on the UKs media. https://consortiumnews.com/2018/09/19/hold-the-front-page-the-reporters-are-missing/
Greenwald review of Moore's latest:
"This now-dominant framework misleads people into the nationalistic myth – at once both frightening and comforting – that prior to 2016’s “Fahrenheit 11/9,” the U.S., though quite imperfect and saddled with “flaws,” was nonetheless a fundamentally kind, benevolent, equitable and healthy democracy, "
" ... voter apathy arises when people conclude that their votes don’t change their lives, that election outcomes improve nothing ..."
" white and African-American working-class voters in Milwaukee who refused to vote and – even knowing that Trump won Wisconsin, and thus the presidency, largely because of their decision – don’t regret it. “Milwaukee is tired. Both of them were terrible. They never do anything for us anyway,” "
“When President Obama came here,” an African-American community leader in Flint tells Moore, “he was my President. When he left, he wasn’t.”
"Hillary lost Michigan because, as in Wisconsin, voters, in part after seeing what Obama did in Flint, concluded it was no longer worth voting. "
"The worst thing that President Obama did was pave the way for Donald Trump. "
" the misery, deprivation, and repression that drove so many people – for good reason – away from the political establishment and into the arms of anyone promising to destroy it "
" The villains of Flint and West Virginia are two Republican governors. But their accomplices, every step of the way, are Democrats. This, Moore ultimately argues, is precisely why people had lost faith in the ability of elections generally, and the Democratic Party specifically, to improve their lives."
" it becomes easier and easier to understand why Americans are either receptive to anyone vowing to dismantle rather than uphold the system they have rightly come to despise, or just abstain altogether. And it becomes even easier to understand why the guardians of that system view Trump as the most valuable weapon they could have ever imagined wielding: one that allows them to direct everyone’s attention away from the systemic damage they have wrought for decades."
"Embedded in the instruction of those who want to you focus exclusively on Trump is an insidious and toxic message: namely, removing Trump will cure, or at least mitigate, the acute threats he poses. "
https://theintercept.com/2018/09/21/michael-moores-fahrenheit-119-aims-not-at-trump-but-at-those-who-created-the-conditions-that-led-to-his-rise/
Why we can't have nice things. They stole all the money.
One hour, eighteen minutes. Slightly repetitive, but very worth watching.
I reposted this comment here from the "Russia" thread, since it is about the "open source" journalism revolution, and not specific to Russia. Applies to ANY other subject that Bellingcat discussed (chemical weapons use in Syria, Drug cartels in Mexico, corruption in Ukraine, Scottish Limited Partnerships and money laundering, US weapons use in Yemen etc etc) or any other subject where we can use evidence that is openly available for anyone to check.
Quote from: Neven on September 20, 2018, 10:00:22 PM
As the founder of a forum which prides itself on scientific thinking and evidence based reasoning you should ENCOURAGE efforts like Bellingcat and open source journalism, instead of actively smearing Eliot Higgins and allowing these threads to turn into a fact-free Russian propaganda outlet.
I don't know what this forum prides itself on, but I actually do encourage independent, alternative journalism. Which brings me back to my problem with Bellingcat: The driving forces behind them associate themselves with neocon, war-mongering, fracking-pushing think tanks.
In principle, an initiative like Bellingcat is fantastic. In practice, people like Higgins and Toler screw it up by being so openly biased. If this weren't so, I wouldn't even pay attention to it, but to me this looks like a ploy by TPTB to circumvent the distrust people have for mainstream media (rightfully so). If it isn't some form of astroturfing, it's very close to it.
The bolded parts are witness of an extremely biased opinion on your part.
I truly do not understand your problem with Bellingcat and Eliot Higgins in particular.
For example, without Bellingcat's fact-checking work, we would know virtually nothing about MH17, and Russian lies and conspiracy theories (amplified by the propornot.com web sites) about this atrocity would have dominated on internet for years.
There is a peaceful and truth-finding open-source journalism revolution going on, and you are actively fighting against it. Why, Neven ? Why ?
« Last Edit: September 25, 2018, 06:51:27 AM by Rob Dekker »
This is our planet. This is our time.
Let's not waste either.
An example of how open source journalism pointed out the assassins of a number of women and children in Cameroon :
https://www.cjr.org/hit_or_miss/a-master-class-in-how-to-verify-a-video-using-digital-tools.php
The reporters started with the mountain range that can be seen in the background of the video. A source in Cameroon told the BBC team the ridge looked similar to one in the northern part of the country, and using Google Earth footage of that area they were able to confirm that it matched the location—a town close to the Nigerian border, where Cameroonian soldiers have been fighting the jihadist group Boko Haram. The BBC reporters also matched trees, roads, and buildings in the area to those appearing on Google Earth. And they were also able to pinpoint the time: A building in the video has walls, but the same building on Google Earth has no walls until November of 2014, meaning the shootings must have taken place after that.
Another building in the area that was demolished after February of 2016 allowed the team to further pinpoint the time range, and looked at the shadows cast by the soldiers allowed them to narrow it ever further, to between March 20 and April 5, 2015. The BBC team also managed to confirm that—contrary to the Cameroonian government’s denials—the weapons used in the video (Serbian-made Zastava M21 rifles) are used by some of the Cameroonian army, and images posted to Facebook of soldiers in the region showed that they do in fact wear the kind of camouflage pattern that the killers in the video do.
After weeks of denying that the video showed members of the Cameroonian army, the government changed its tune in August and announced that seven members of the military had been arrested and were under investigation for the killings. Although the BBC investigation didn’t cause the government to change its mind, the fact that it was able to prove that specific soldiers were involved, in such a comprehensive and detailed way, is an inspiring use of digital journalism, and could help convict them.
Maybe Neven can comment on this development.
https://www.politico.eu/blogs/on-media/2018/09/austria-press-interior-ministry-lists-critical-media/
Austria’s interior ministry lists ‘critical media’
An email sent to the police accused several domestic media of ‘one-sided and negative reporting.’
A four-page email sent to the police includes a list of “critical media” — specifically naming Falter, Der Standard and Kurier — which, according to the ministry, “have unfortunately (…) operated a very one-sided and negative coverage of the interior ministry and the police.”
The mail, seen by some of the media under attack, including Der Standard, suggests “minimizing the communication with those media” as far as legally possible, and urges against “enabling exclusive coverage.”
Austria’s interior ministry, headed by the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ), has accused several domestic media of “one-sided and negative” reporting, and advised the police which media to talk to and how to communicate with them.
The mail, sent under the name of interior ministry spokesman Christoph Pölzl, also lists media “that are willing to cooperate” and approves talking points such as migration.
Seems to be a real shift to the right in Europe these days.
I visited Austria back in 2001. A beautiful country with some amazing architecture. Especially some of those churches and castles. My father was a POW at Stalag XVII so I had to make a side trip to see it too. Nothing there now but a few small monuments and sculptures to the thousands of Russians who died there.
Quote from: jacksmith4tx on September 25, 2018, 02:52:51 PM
It sure does. And this shift to the right in Austria is concerning.
Neven has not said much about it, other than proposing some policies (which he attributes to an unnamed small left wing party) that seems to be in line with the FPÖ :
Note that the FPÖ is openly supported by Russia, as for example in this deal signed with Putin's party back in 2016 :
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/19/world/europe/austrias-far-right-signs-a-cooperation-pact-with-putins-party.html
Apparently, collusion with a foreign government is no problem in Austria.
Exposure of Israel lobby in USA suppressed. But it leaked. Wonder if it's on piratebay/bittorrent yet.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/09/03/the-truths-that-wont-be-told-how-israel-spies-on-us-citizens/
The exposure of the Israel lobby in the UK is quite good too,
https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/thelobby/
Assange steps down as Wikileaks editor, will remain publisher:
https://wikileaks.org/Statement-Julian-Assange.html
Russia's propaganda machine is sputtering :
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/skripal-poisoning-russia-spies-1.4833212
Ever since the British government identified Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov as the suspects in the March poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, the Russian government and its state TV messengers have been scrambling to find counter-narratives to disparage and cast doubt on the investigation.
In a widely mocked interview a week ago with Kremlin-linked broadcaster RT, Petrov and Boshirov offered up an implausible story that they are vitamin salesmen who simply travel a lot. They claimed they were drawn to Salisbury to see its cathedral, and that is why they were in the city the day of the Skripal poisoning.
Independent Kremlin-watchers say that the men's explanations are so laughable that Putin's officials have barely tried to back them up.
Russia's explanation of the poisoning "was a major disaster," said Alexander Vassiliev, a former KGB agent and now London-based espionage historian who has tracked Russia's security services for decades. "The propaganda machine is not working. It's mistake after mistake."
Online Fact-Finding and the Future of Journalism
Journalism, law, and human rights advocacy in the 21st century are ever-more dependent on online fact-finding and analysis—each upended by fundamental changes in technology that have hastened the flow of information and misinformation. And yet the craft and practice of accessing, parsing, and analyzing legitimate facts and data online is still in its infancy and quickly evolving. The UK-based Bellingcat is a pioneer in this field. Bellingcat’s Christiaan Triebert joins the School of Journalism’s Edward Wasserman and the Human Rights Center’s Alexa Koenig and Félim McMahon to discuss the potential and perils that lie ahead for open source investigations. Bellingcat and the Human Rights Center’s Investigations Lab’s groundbreaking research into war crimes and covert government activities are exposing and documenting war crimes and human rights atrocities in ways never before possible and lighting the path for the new generation of journalists, lawyers, advocates, and investigators.
https://journalism.berkeley.edu/event/online-fact-finding-and-the-future-of-journalism/
"CNN's Bakari Sellers: 'Kanye West Is What Happens When Negroes Don't Read'"
Ok, so he said it... but the laughter from the others? Give me a break. This shouldn't be the level of CNN
It does however help to explain the viewership level of CNN.
wsws points out that the NYT fired Schanberg (of Killing Fields fame) in 1985 for exposing a Trump scam:
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/10/11/time-o11.html
Facebook is apparently intent on following Myspace into whichever level of virtual hell is reserved for dead social media platforms.
https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/facebook-twitter-purge-more-dissident-media-pages-in-latest-escalation-5eeebb39e25e
Blocking access to sites advocating for the legalization of marijuana, and against police brutality, may not be as popular as blocking pro Russian & pro Iranian sites.
Twitter an Google are also involved in this censorship, so I think I'll be searching with gogoduck for a while.
Thank heaven this site isn't involved in spreading information that the US gov. might find "inconvenient".
Via Caitlin Johnstone and the World Socialist Website (while they're still around), a peek into the Atlantic Council ideology:
Enter the social media companies. The best mechanism for suppressing oppositional viewpoints and promoting pro-government narratives is the private sector, in particular “technology giants, including Facebook, Google, YouTube, and Twitter,” which can “determine what people see and do not see.”
Watts adds, “Fortunately, shifts in the policies of social media platforms such as Facebook have had significant impact on the type and quality of the content that is broadcast.”
The private sector, therefore, must do the dirty work of the government, because government propaganda is viewed with suspicion by the population. “Business and the private sector may not naturally understand the role they play in combating disinformation, but theirs is one of the most important…. In the West at least, they have been thrust into a central role due to the general public’s increased trust in them as institutions.”
But this is only the beginning. Online newspapers should “consider disabling commentary systems—the function of allowing the general public to leave comments beneath a particular media item,” while social media companies should “use a grading system akin to that used to rate the cleanliness of restaurants” to rate their users’ political statements.
Strong-arm tactics still have a role, of course. Citing the example of WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange, Watts declares that “governments need to create consequences” for spreading “disinformation” similar to those meted out for “state espionage” – which can carry the death penalty.
What Watts outlines in his document is a vision of a totalitarian social order, where the government, the media, and technology companies are united in suppressing oppositional viewpoints.
The most striking element of the document, however, is that it is not describing the future, but contemporary reality. Everything is in the present tense. The machinery of mass censorship has already been built.
Scary stuff... What's the point of even discussing good and bad journalism, if these things happen all around the web, as we speak?
If I don't go along with establishment narratives and oppose war, will at some point this forum be closed down as well? Or maybe even the blog? Probably not anytime soon, but all it takes, is a tweaked algorithm.
I think i have asked about a Tor gateway for this forum before, to alleviate this particular threat. threat.
He's Back!
https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/68783/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-is-back-online-after-7month-communications.html
The world's preeminent dispenser of truth's microphone has been turned back on!
Ecuador's most famous visitor will once again be heard!
Free Julian = Free Speech
colchonero
Ben Shapiro Retweeted
Jeremy Boreing
@JeremyDBoreing
That @SenWarren had the confidence to release a document saying that she MIGHT be 1/1024 Native American knowing that the media would treat it as a victory tells you everything you need to know about everything.
56 replies 724 retweets 2,213 likes
Idk how to post a tweet so I just fully copied it. Sorry for that.
This is exactly what many Americans think about the media, not on this issue only, but the behavior of the media in general. For many of us (excluding base voters) it's not about bashing Trump (Fox defends him on some stupid issues too, for no other than political reasons), but about looking at every single thing from their own perspective (bias), that they have chosen prior to everything. Those titles and texts would have been the same, regardless if it has shown 100% native blood, or 1/5000th native ancestry. Which is madness.
"The White American average genetic makeup is 98.6% European, 0.19% African, and 0.18% Native American. " She might have less Native ancestry than the average White American citizen, so basically every white guy can claim the same. My head is exploding.
And then when some issue comes where for example CNN is spot on, many won't believe it anyway, cause of the way of handling issues like this one on Warren's ancestry.
You can be Idk let's say Breitbart or Buddy (nothing against you, just a good example) and you write titles in this manner, that is totally fine. They never claimed to be bipartisan, and nobody thinks that of them. But if you are big media house, and you call yourself unbiased, fair and objective, stop with these texts, and (re)gain some respect from average citizens damn it!!
BTW, I know it might be between 1/32 and 1/512 or 1/1024 whatever. Also, I know it is not necessarily native ancestry, but it also might be. It is either Peruvian, Colombian or Mexican. But none of that is the point.
« Last Edit: October 15, 2018, 07:38:40 PM by colchonero »
U-Tube goes silent as it silences dissenters.
http://planetfreewill.com/big-tech-greatest-bait-and-switch-in-american-history-free-speech/
https://downdetector.com/status/youtube/map/
Last night U-Tube went off the air. Thank FSM that it wasn't the banking system, the military, or even large squads of self driving taxis.
With all of Google's resources, security & mirror sites the fact that they could be grounded for such an extended period is hard to understand. Could they have closed down some entity that had the know how and power to pull this off - or was this simply a case of bad programming.
I'm not sure which is the scarier prospect.
Sjursen on western media indifference to Gaza killings:
"At least 40 children have been killed, along with women, old folks ..."
"Which gets back to the US media (or really entertainment) industry. You hardly hear about any of this ... "
"you know who doesn’t forget? Global Muslims. "
"when we are attacked, we’ll revert to our usual cry: "Why do they hate us?"
I can think of a few reasons."
https://original.antiwar.com/Danny_Sjursen/2018/10/15/gaza-the-least-reported-most-important-story-not-covered-in-the-msm/
Oldie but a goodie: Daud on Saud as a successful ISIS
French original:
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/21/opinion/larabie-saoudite-un-daesh-qui-a-reussi.html
english translation by John Cullen
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/21/opinion/saudi-arabia-an-isis-that-has-made-it.html
I warn that the English translation omits at least one sentence. If it is included, the penultimate para should read (in my translation)
"Daesh has a mother: the invasion of Iraq. But it also has a father: Saudi Arabia and its ideological industry. If western intervention gave reasons to the desperate of the Arab world, the Saud royals gave them beliefs and convictions. Unless that is understood the war is lost though battles are won. Dead jihadis will reincarnate in future generations and feed on the same books."
I must say, I prefer the French original.
The western media is mostly a puppet show it would seem. The Atlantic Counsel seems to have the situation under control.
https://www.greanvillepost.com/2018/10/20/boycott-facebook-twitter-and-google-heres-why/
NATO — the neoconservatives, the marketeers for firms such as Lockheed Martin and BAE — has taken over the social-media giants and much of online international ‘news’-reporting, including that of virtually all independent news-sites and blogs.
Facebook, Twitter, and Google, in recent days, delivered what might be the death-blows.
NATO’s main PR agency, think-tank, and lobbying organization, is ‘non-profit’ — a legal tax-dodge that’s financed by donations from those weapons-making firms and their supporting firms and their ‘non-profits’, so that the taxes that it doesn’t pay will need to be paid instead by the general public. Billionaires know how to avoid taxes, and they hire politicians who write the laws with all the ‘right’ loopholes for them — and only for the very richest — to use. This PR agency is called “The Atlantic Council,” and it was set up in 1961, the exact same year that U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower left office warning that “the military-industrial complex” might take control of the U.S. Well, it did so, with The Atlantic Council’s help; and, now, it is finally lowering the boom against democracy itself — at least among the U.S. and its allied nations (the governments whose weapons-manufacturing firms are in, and sell to, NATO governments). The aim is to drive up the percentage of government-expenditures there that go to pay those firms, and so to reduce the percentages that go to pay everything else. The aim, in short, is the permanent-warfare-economy. After all, firms such as Lockheed Martin and BAE sell only to allied governments. They have virtually no consumers except those governments. So: their (and their ‘charities’) basic message is ‘austerity’ — except on ‘defense’ or realistically called “aggression.” This is national ‘defense’ such as against Iraq in 2003, and against Libya in 2011 — it is instead sheer aggression. George Orwell predicted “Newspeak” — well, here it is. It’s today’s norm, so normal that the public think it’s just natural, and conservatives and even many liberals think it’s the way that ‘a free market’ ought to be.
https://www.greanvillepost.com/2018/10/19/be-skeptical-whenever-the-political-media-class-converges-on-a-single-narrative/
The Trump administration has ended its weeks-long silence on the disappearance of the Saudi Arabian Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Following a briefing from Secretary of State Pompeo who has just returned from a visit to Riyadh and Ankara, the president has said that contrary to some hopeful speculation that had emerged early on after his disappearance, Khashoggi does indeed appear to have been killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. If it is determined that the Saudis were responsible, Trump warned that there will be “very severe” consequences. Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin has announced that he will not be attending the Future Investment Initiative summit in Riyadh next week.
Obviously there are a number of reasons for the left’s failure to develop a significant media presence, including the fact that as all politics is rooted in class interest, the richest segments of the population are always better positioned to support political currents, visible leaders, media assets, and movements that mirror their policy preferences and do their bidding. However, there are also powerful cultural and historical factors multiplying the effects of sheer money.
As an anti-intellectual, can-do kind of country, American radicals have been notorious for their culturally-implanted impatience, which explains some of their voluntarism and the propensity to see the struggle against capitalism chiefly as a series of pushbacks against urgent separate symptoms, without ever concentrating forces to eliminate the roots of the malignancy itself. This approach has consumed (and continues to consume) a great deal of grassroots activism, with most radicals often acting like a fire brigade perennially rushing out to put out the latest fires set up by the arsonist in chief, the capitalist system lodged at the very core of American society.
This poisoned dynamic has distracted the left and created something of a self-perpetuating circle of inefficiency and defeat in political contests with the established order. Indeed the left—ridiculously undermanned and underfunded to begin with—has often acted like a general always ready to march his army into battle without first developing the tactical and strategic weapons necessary to fight and win such a war. But when we talk about war with the criminal and essentially illegitimate corporate status quo what kind of weapons are we talking about? Not guns, for sure, certainly not at this point when the public consciousness remains badly confused and leaderless, with most disaffected folks coopted by the faux left, particularly the Democrats and their satellites, and the faux right (Trump being the current demagogic incarnation of the phenomenon.). Guns, of course can never be ruled out a priori in a revolutionary process, as they always come into play when the ruling orders jump to defend their interests by drowning the revolutionaries in their own blood. History shows two irrefutable things: One, the “Left” is born out of the accumulated crimes and abuses of the Right. Thus, the Right, the established order, is always the progenitor of the Left. If they look upon the Left as a curse and lethal threat, that’s too bad, they created it. Two, in almost all cases recorded by history, it was the established order’s heavy “pre-emptive” repression which unleashed the generalized bloodshed, and the social violence that followed.The almost total lack of a mass leftist media in the United States and even much of the developed “West” has presented the corporate order with a tactical and strategic gift of enormous proportions. For many generations now the establishment has controlled the national debate almost entirely, with the spectrum of visible opinion something of a joke, extending slightly from the center left all the way to the ultra right. The left message, banned from the normal channels of mass communications, and reaching only a minuscule segment of the population, had to survive on the margins, in an informational ghetto, where much of it still lives. During Vietnam, the antiwar message got traction due to the participation of millions of college students threatened by the draft. Still, respectable opinion never questioned the sheer immorality and criminality of that brutal and naked imperial aggression. The ethical argument was stillborn on the mainstream media. As far as the “visible left” was concerned, the critique was always about “pragmatic questions”; the war was a bad idea because it was not going well, it was draining the treasury, was causing troubles at home, or was not being managed efficiently, a posture which obviously and ludicrously (for a “left”) begged in most cases for ways to wage the war more efficiently rather than not at all.
In any case, due to unpredictable technological consequences injected by the birth and growth of the Internet, the power of this gift may be coming to an end as the leftist narrative makes inroads into the mass consciousness and the system managers themselves commit so many crimes and blunders that the whole order begins to crumble from within.
In the immediate sense, however, we remain largely stuck with a grotesque imbalance of media power whose consequences are both ugly and terrifying. The world is in a mortal crisis, literally looking into the abyss, and the main cause is the toxification of the human mind to the point of incapacitation by the systematic and deliberate negation of truth. The purpose of this imposture is for the sole benefit of a puny and disgustingly privileged segment of society whose greed and sociopathy know no limits. In this context, American democracy, always far more illusory than real, has disintegrated to the point that only a few symbolic tatters remain, revealing what was always there, the ruthless face and ubiquitous power of the native and international plutocracy.
The search for a tactical solution
Since this global plutocracy, with its citadel in the United States, has enjoyed for a very long time the most formidable arsenal of weapons ever seen in history to maintain itself in power, it is a bit romantic to think it can be overcome by sheer force. However this simple fact should not lead us to believe the task is impossible. The biggest defensive tool of the criminal status quo, its main pillar, is not so much the brute muscle of the police or military, which anyone can see is quite overwhelming, but the enormous machinery of propaganda they are compelled to use to deform reality 24/7 in order to legitimate their rule in the name of a non-existent democracy.
It is this huge contradiction—this explosive truth— that constitutes the “Achilles heel” of the plutocracy, and, make no mistake about it, they are very much aware of it and already taking every measure they can to suppress it—without showing too much their real fascistic face. So, just like we are in race to save the planet from further assaults and stave off collapse, we are also engaged in a different and even more encompassing race and critical race, a race in which our gains in consciousness liberation must always outpace the obfuscating responses of the status quo. It’s a battle of communications we can’t afford to lose. Only success in this race can give humanity a fighting chance to reconstruct and liberate itself from the global cancer of endless war and immiseration at the hands of capitalism. And hopefully attend in earnest fashion to the many problems created by this very same class in connection with nature itself.
Corporate power has amassed an awesome apparatus of repression and manipulation. But, believe me, they need it, because neither truth nor reality can be denied forever. Truth and reality, and I should say, justice and true kindness are on our side. And these are powerful things. The enemy can offer shabby, increasingly ludicrous imitations and simulacra of these virtues but never the real article, for if they did that they would stop being what they are, they would be committing suicide.
And besides truth and reality, the real left—at last—while still mired in almost total irrelevancy, seems to be sprouting the kind of people truly able to lead and wage these struggles. These words, which are no hyperbole, are inspired by the emergence, practically out of nowhere, of people like Caitlin Johnstone, a brilliant, and tactically gifted young woman who has already done much to change the equation. Caitlin, like our equally young collaborator Caleb Maupin, are both revolutionary communicators. Their arrival on the scene is literally a breath of fresh air for the still standing old guard, whose sacrifices, often over lifetimes of activism, remain real, valuable and mostly anonymous. Our task is clear: the mass mind has to be liberated, the people mobilized. Only then, by actualizing the potential of the left message will we create a true resistance to this infernal system and eventually win. In this struggle, Caitlin Johnstone has summed up the main tactic in a simple sentence: “…the single best way to take down the oligarchy is by aggressively and relentlessly attacking its propaganda engine.”
Let us all concentrate fire on that.
https://www.greanvillepost.com/media-front/
Ford at blackagendareport on the muzzling of Black voices by the media:
Facebook bans " the anti-police lawlessness pages Cop Block, Filming Cops, The Free Thought Project and Police the Police"
"These pages are “inauthentic,” Facebook claims ..."
He traces this to the 2016 election, but i do not think he would disagree with the proposition that the roots are far older :
" This crisis of legitimacy for the ruling class and its media organs became acute in 2016, when the wildly unpredictable Donald Trump seemed to threaten the gentlemen’s agreement between the two corporate parties on regime change warfare and so-called free trade. Barely a week after Trump’s surprise victory at the polls, outgoing President Barack Obama, on a visit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, called for the imposition of a standardized version of truth."
"The “danger” was not to democracy, but to the legitimacy of the corporate rule."
"Google has rigged its algorithms to hide blacklisted sites during web searches, resulting in decreased visitation of up to 75 percent. They are strangling the Left, including Black Agenda Report."
"Facebook has signed on to the new Cold War ... “We’re excited to launch a new partnership with the Atlantic Council ..." Facebook has outsourced its censorship project to the Deep State."
"What Facebook is attempting to enforce is the absolute authority of the corporate media as the arbiter of Truth -- a dictatorship of the white moneyed classes. And that can never be in Black folks’ interest."
https://blackagendareport.com/facebook-not-your-friend
Damon at wsws on censorship, power, and revolution:
"What upsets the Times is that American companies, and Google in particular, are not tailoring all their actions according to the geopolitical interests of American imperialism."
"In other words, the Times, speaking for the US intelligence apparatus, wants to have its cake and eat it too. It wants US technology companies to censor domestic political opposition in the name of preventing “foreign interference.” But it also wants those same companies to reject overtures by foreign governments to prevent “interference” by the Americans ..."
"The Times, and the American ruling elite for which it speaks, wants to keep the internet “global” only insofar as its rules are written in the United States, insofar as the American ruling class can control the narrative. That other states and other ruling elites are moving to implement their own rules and restrictions, bound up with their own domestic and geopolitical interests, it considers intolerable."
" ... vast troves of information are now available to workers and youth all over the world.
This development terrifies the capitalist ruling elites. The American ruling class, in particular, is fighting a two-front war. It wants to pressure the giant US-based social media and internet companies to suppress domestic opposition, while at the same time undercutting the efforts of its competitors and adversaries, whether in China or in Europe, to establish their own mechanisms of control."
"The struggle against censorship is the struggle to defend the social, cultural and technological achievements of mankind. It is inextricably connected to the fight against war, inequality and authoritarianism.
It is, in short, a revolutionary question. The international working class must respond to the two-front war of the capitalist ruling elites with a one-front war against the capitalist system itself."
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/10/17/pers-o17.html
Saudi Arabia claims about Khashoggi:
He's not dead, he left the consulate we have evidence
OK, he has disappeared
OK, he may be dead
OK, he's dead but we didn't do it
OK, he's dead, but it was a rogue group who worked for us
OK he's dead and we did it, but it was only because a 1 vs. 15 fist fight broke out...
and we just happened to have a bone saw handy...
« Last Edit: October 21, 2018, 09:13:28 AM by Rob Dekker »
The Saudis actually let a "double" of Jamal Khashoggi walk out of the Saudi Embassy.
With identical clothes (did he actually put on the dead Khashoggi's clothes?), but different shoes. And then the hair ! If Khashoggi's murder by the Saudis were not so gruesome, this would be hilarious.
These Saudi "intelligence" officers make the Russian GRU officers Chepiga and Mishkin in the Skripal case look like professionals.
Possibly another news source? SAMIZDAT
About: In the Russian language, Samizdat literally means “self-publishing”. But the term is most associated with the reproduction of censored content, usually passed by hand, in the old Communist bloc.
This project is an attempt to link users to the most important and interesting stories across the English-speaking web, which are either undervalued or ignored by the mainstream.
Once upon a time, editors valued alternative voices to stimulate debate and attract readers and viewers, but today the corporate media has become a homogenous space with little difference between outlets that push the same message. The contemporary equivalents of Noam Chomsky and John Pilger are stuck on the fringes, as journalists and commentators are chosen for their ability to toe the line, and stay on message. Predictably, groupthink has taken hold and inquiring minds are not welcome.
The internet was supposed to bring a new era of free access to information, and bloggers and “citizen journalists” were heralded as the architects of a utopian future. But that dream died. And today, Facebook, the world’s largest and most influential social network, has hired NATO-linked censors to pass judgement on whether news is legitimate or inadmissible.
Vested interests – whether they be militarist, as in that case, or governmental or corporate – evaluating whether content passes muster means only one thing: we are clearly at the edge of a slippery slope.
While New Samizdat is sponsored by RT, it is not a political creation. Russia is generally misrepresented by the mainstream media and people here understand why it’s crucial to oppose groupthink. New Samizdat has no specific agenda. We will post the most interesting links, across all spectrums, with the intention of stimulating debate and providing access to information.
Check for yourself.
https://www.newsamizdat.com/about
https://www.greanvillepost.com/2018/10/23/western-media-attacks-critics-of-the-white-helmets/
Across the West, establishment apologists are being mobilised to defend the White Helmets. The horrendous suffering of Syria is of no import to these mercenaries.
The October 16 issue of NY Review of Books has an article by Janine di Giovani titled “Why Assad and Russia Target the White Helmets”. The article exemplifies how western media promotes the White Helmets uncritically and attacks those who challenge the myth.
Quote from: Red on October 24, 2018, 11:47:20 AM
We had a few discussions here on the "White Helmet" subject and the majority thinks they are saints.
Glen Ford over at the blackagendareport reviews (and excoriates) a new study, but has more cogent things to say about the Great Unblackening:
"Race works like a charm for making white folks forget about class in the United States, which is why the moneyed classes have constructed a duopoly electoral system that gathers the most racist whites in one party, while Blacks and other despised peoples are corralled in the other corporate party -- with both parties supporting global U.S. empire and warfare. Class has been effectively suppressed, except as racialized euphemisms and code words of American politics: “middle class,” meaning “hard working, salt-of-the-earth, patriotic white folks,” versus “the underclass,” signifying “predatory” and criminal Blacks and other darker people, who need to be kept under surveillance and containment."
" Race must be erased as a demographic marker, along with class, on the theory that if you don’t recognize racial and class conflicts, they will disappear."
"The More in Common brand of race-less and classless social science, which claims to more accurately describe Americans’ political views “than by referring to their visible traits such as race, gender or income,” is a perfect tool for corporate consensus-makers. The rulers won’t have to do anything for anybody, because real demographics cease to exist."
"Corporate pollsters have already largely disappeared the Black demographic from their surveys, which nowadays often neglect to break down public opinion by race. Some surveys even lump all “minorities” together, despite the fact that Hispanic opinion is most often somewhere near middle of the chasm that separates whites and Blacks."
Read the whole thing:
https://blackagendareport.com/great-un-blackening-corporate-project-erase-black-people-politics
Quote from: sidd on October 25, 2018, 06:24:20 AM
Sidd, blackagendareport.com is listed on the propornot.com list for repeatedly venting Russian propaganda :
http://www.propornot.com/p/the-list.html
For example, they fail the MH17 test miserably. Here :
https://blackagendareport.com/content/freedom-rider-causes-world-war-iii
they state :
Malaysian airlines flight MH17 may be the Lusitania of the modern era. Had the West not caused conflict on Russia’s doorstep the incident would not have taken place but the propagandists are hard at work evading responsibility and assigning blame they ought to share.
Why are you spreading such obvious Russian propaganda on this fine forum, sidd ?
And this is like the fifth time I have to point it out.
Why, sidd ?
Why are you doing this ?
What's in it for you ?
Are you getting paid by these propornot.com web sites ?
If not, why do you continue to repeatedly post links to these Russian propaganda outlets ?
Please give me a plausible reason why you keep on promoting these Russian propaganda sites.
[edit] and 'Red', please stop posting from greanvillepost.com. It's a known Russian propaganda outlet. It's on propornot.com for a reason. For example, it calls MH17 a "False Flag, One of Many". Don't let me link to that post, since I don't want to promote conspiracy theories.
Economic expert and journalist Dr. Paul Craig Roberts says the ideas of the elite are awful, and they want to suppress free speech to get their policies instituted. Dr. Roberts explains, “The agendas of the elite are hidden. They are not something the American people would support. The elite are fearful that their cover stories are so thin that if truth can be shown on their agendas, they will be discredited. They will lose their abilities to impose their agendas. So, they are closing down truth tellers in order to maintain control over explanations. Alex Jones is a threat to the elites’ control over the explanations. . . . They are sending the message that says get onboard with the official explanations or we terminate you.”
Dr. Roberts goes on to ask, “Why is this possible? It is possible because the antitrust laws of the United States have not been enforced. These are all monopolies. Monopoly is against the law. It’s against the Sherman Antitrust Act, but they don’t enforce it because they’re so powerful. They just prevent the law being enforced. Plus, they have the neo-liberal economists saying that today you have to be a monopoly to compete globally. . . . It’s a lie, but it’s a cover for having just a few people controlling information.”
https://www.greanvillepost.com/2018/10/24/elite-closing-down-truth-tellers-paul-craig-roberts/
Red, please stop posting from greanvillepost.com. It's a known Russian propaganda outlet. It's on propornot.com for a reason because it's a conspiracy theory website.
You can see that, since you do not produce ANY link to ANY factual statement.
Just opinions by Paul Craig Roberts that "ideas of the elite are awful" and claims that Alex Jones is a threat to "the elites control over the explanations"....
Sure, Red. Whatever you say.
https://orientalreview.org/2018/10/24/western-media-attacks-critics-of-the-white-helmets/?utm_source=samizdat&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=free
Giovani’s article attacks several journalists by name. She singles out Vanessa Beeley and echoes the Guardian’s characterization of Beeley as the “high priestess of Syria propaganda”. She does this without challenging a single article or claim by the journalist. She might have acknowledged that Vanessa Beeley has some familiarity with the Middle East; she is the daughter of one of the foremost British Arabists and diplomats including British Ambassador to Egypt. Giovanni might have explored Beeley’s research in Syria that revealed the White Helmets founder (British military contractor James LeMesurier) assigned the name Syria Civil Defence despite the fact there is a real Syrian organization by that name that has existed since the 1950’s. For the past several years, Beeley has done many on-the-ground reports and investigations in Syria. None of these are challenged by Giovanni. Just days ago Beeley published a report on her visit to the White Helmets headquarters in Deraa.
Giovanni similarly dismisses another alternative journalist, Eva Bartlett. Again, Giovanni ignores the fact that Bartlett has substantial Middle East experience including having lived in Gaza for years. Instead of objectively evaluating the journalistic work of these independent journalists, Giovanni smears their work as “disinformation”. Presumably that is because their work is published at alternative sites such as 21st Century Wire and Russian media such as RT and Sputnik. Beeley and Bartlett surely would have been happy to have their reports published at the New York Review of Books, Newsweek or other mainstream outlets. But it’s evident that such reporting is not welcome there. Even Seymour Hersh had to go abroad to have his investigations on Syria published.
Giovanni ignores the investigations and conclusions of some of the most esteemed American journalists regarding the White Helmets and chemical weapons incidents in Syria.
The late Robert Parry published many articles exposing the White Helmets, for example The White Helmets Controversy and Syria War Propaganda at the Oscars. Parry wrote and published numerous investigations of the August 2013 chemical weapons attack and concluded the attacks were carried out by an opposition faction with the goal of pressuring the US to intervene militarily. Parry also challenged western conclusions regarding incidents such as April 4, 2017 at Khan Shaykhun. Giovanni breathlessly opens her article with this story while Parry revealed the impossibility of it being as described.
“Buried deep inside a new U.N. report is evidence that could exonerate the Syrian government in the April 4 sarin atrocity and make President Trump look like an Al-Qaeda dupe.”
Legendary American journalist, Seymour Hersh, researched and refuted the assumptions of Giovanni and the media establishment regarding the August 2013 chemical weapons attacks near Damascus. Hersh’s investigation, titled The Red Line and Rat Line, provided evidence the atrocity was carried out by an armed opposition group with active support from Turkey. A Turkish member of parliament provided additional evidence. The fact that Hersh had to go across the Atlantic to have his investigation published suggests American not Russian disinformation and censorship.
Another one from the propornot.com list ?
Are you getting paid to spread Russian propaganda ?
And if not, why are you posting it ?
Quote from: Rob Dekker on October 25, 2018, 11:34:29 AM
Rob it's just journalism man, you don't have to read it.
This is not "journalism".
It's propaganda. Plain and simple.
Why are you posting this crap ?
They are no different just pushing there own propaganda.
PropOrNot is a website that seeks to expose what it calls Russian propaganda and groups that use material from Russian sources. It was featured in a Washington Post article about Russian propaganda and the spread of "fake news". After receiving intense criticism, the Post added a note to the article distancing itself from the website's claims.[2] PropOrNot's methods and anonymity have received criticism from publications such as The New Yorker, Harper's, Fortune, The Intercept, and Rolling Stone.
The website is anonymously written, and purports to be the arbiter of which opinions are not acceptable and which are acceptable, by either labelling or not labelling certain expressed opinions as "propaganda"; a spokesperson for the website who spoke by phone to The New Yorker was described as an American male who was "well versed in Internet culture and swore enthusiastically." The same spokesperson said that the group comprised around 40 (unnamed, and therefore unaccountable) individuals.[3]
Compiled list[edit]
PropOrNot says there was a Russian propaganda effort involved in propagating fake news during the 2016 U.S. election.[4][5] PropOrNot has said it analyzed data from Twitter and Facebook and tracked propaganda from a disinformation campaign by Russia that had a national reach of 15 million people within the United States.[4][5] PropOrNot concluded that accounts belonging to both Russia Today and Sputnik News promoted "false and misleading stories in their reports," and additionally magnified other false articles found on the Internet to support their propaganda effort.[4]
PropOrNot published a list of websites they called "bona-fide ‘useful idiots’" of the Russian government based on methodology they called "a combination of manual and automated analysis, including analysis of content, timing, technical indicators, and other reporting".[6] The group's list included Zero Hedge, Naked Capitalism, the Ron Paul Institute, Black Agenda Report, Truthout, Truthdig, antiwar.com, and CounterPunch, although they did not provide any individual analysis to justify inclusion on the list.[6] CounterPunch in response called PropOrNot a "shady little group," its findings "bogus," and their inclusion on the list a "baseless allegation." After email communications, PropOrNot agreed to remove CounterPunch from the list.[7]
Criticism[edit]
Andrew Cockburn, Washington editor for Harper's, was sharply critical of The Washington Post's decision to put the story on its front page, calling the article a "sorry piece of trash."[1] Writers in The Intercept, Fortune, and Rolling Stone criticized The Washington Post for including a report by an organization with no reputation for fact-checking in an article on "fake news."[8][9][10] The Intercept journalists Glenn Greenwald and Ben Norton were particularly critical of the inclusion of Naked Capitalism on the list of "useful idiots" for Russian propagandists.[8]
Later, in The New Yorker, Adrian Chen said that he had been previously contacted by the organization, but had chosen not to follow up with them. Looking more carefully into their methodology, he argued that PropOrNot's criteria for establishing propaganda were so broad that they could have included "not only Russian state-controlled media organizations, such as Russia Today, but nearly every news outlet in the world, including the Post itself" on their list.[3]
Writing for Rolling Stone, Matt Taibbi questioned the methodology used by PropOrNot and the lack of information about who was behind the organization.[10]
In December 2016, The Washington Post appended an "Editor's Note" to its article in response to the criticism of PropOrNot's list of websites.[2] The note read, "The Post, which did not name any of the sites, does not itself vouch for the validity of PropOrNot's findings regarding any individual media outlet, nor did the article purport to do so."[4]
Nice school of red herrings, Red.
But you know the problem is that facts are stubborn things :
You still did not produce ANY link to ANY factual statement.
Propornot.com was spot-on about that greanvillepost.com article :
This is not "journalism", Red.
Please stop posting from greanvillepost.com. It's a known Russian propaganda outlet. It's on propornot.com for a reason. For example, it calls MH17 a "False Flag, One of Many". Don't let me link to that post, since I don't want to promote conspiracy theories.
« Last Edit: October 25, 2018, 12:17:21 PM by Rob Dekker »
NevB
Really are we now just one step away from having people here that support Alex Jones ?
https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/ne957b/sandy-hook-parents-are-suing-alex-jones-for-calling-the-massacre-a-giant-hoax
Promoter of hate, fear, despicable conspiracy theories and intolerance.
If Paul Craig Roberts's opinion is that Alex Jones is some kind of heroic defender of the truth then Paul Craig Robert's is also a good part of the reason the US is so dangerously divided as we see today.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/25/worst-aspect-us-attempted-pipe-bombings-inevitability
Quote from: NevB on October 25, 2018, 01:45:54 PM
The problem is most take Crazy Alex Jones as a symbol and right away throw anyone with a dissenting view into the same category. Yes, even Jones sometimes gets things right- it happens- and maybe someone will point that out- but don't disregard everything that person says. Enough "conspiracy theory" has been proven right in the last years to not throw it all out in the garbage without a second look.
Sounds like you nailed it, nev!
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Home » Podcasts » 90: CBD Oil and Alzheimer’s Disease
90: CBD Oil and Alzheimer’s Disease
November 13, 2015 // by Dr. Daniel Pompa, PSc.D
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Transcript of Episode 90: CBD Oil and Alzheimer’s Disease
With Dr. Daniel Pompa, Meredith Dykstra, and special guest Dr. Phillip Blair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqIuajgMZrk”
We have a really amazing topic for you today, but first of all, we’ve got Dr. Pompa on the call. How are you Dr. Pompa?
Wonderful, wonderful. We have a great topic today. I’m excited.
This is very true. It is Friday, and we have some really amazing information for you. We have a special guest, Dr. Phillip Blair, who will be joining the show, back by popular demand. We had Dr. Blair join us a few episodes ago. It was Episode 84, where he talked all about the benefits of CBD oil. That’s cannabidiol oil. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, definitely hit stop and go check it out. It’s on Dr. Pompa’s YouTube channel, and it’s also on podcast.drpompa.com, and that’s episode 84, where we basically did kind of a CBD oil 101 primer on this amazing oil product and all the benefits it can have to increase our health. Definitely check that out, and while Dr. Blair is getting on the call, last time I felt badly because I did not do a proper introduction for Dr. Blair. He’s just such a welcomed knowledge and we are so blessed to have him on. We’re excited for him to join the show again today.
While he’s joining, which I see he is there right now—hi Dr. Blair. How are you?
Dr. Blair:
Good morning. Is my sound alright?
Yeah, it’s perfect.
It’s perfect. We can hear you very well. I was just giving an introduction here. I was saying that I felt badly because last time I did not read your bio, so if you don’t mind, I would like to read that before we jump in, so everyone can appreciate all that you’ve done and the value that you’re able to bring.
Colonel Philip Blair, M.D., is a retired family physician recently relocated to the Florida Space Coast. You graduated from West Point in 1972 and attended the University of Miami School of Medicine and trained as a family physician.
You traveled around a lot with your different assignments. I won’t read all of them, but there were many places, and after retiring from the Army in 1996, you managed workers injuries and provided primary care above the Arctic Circle in Alaska, Kodiak Island, and Newfoundland, Canada. That’s very cool.
In 2000, you became Vice President for Disease Management at AWAC, Incorporated, an insurance claim management company, where you developed a highly successful interventional approach to chronic kidney disease.
In 2011, you formed your own company, consulting for employer-based health insurers and provided a revolutionary style of chronic disease management, achieving success in over 75% of patients with diabesity, or diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.
I like that! “Diabesity.”
It’s a combination for sure. In addition, you are a skilled computer database developer and instructor for speech recognition software on PC and Apple platforms. You also enjoy ballroom dancing and public speaking.
That’s a pretty impressive resume, Dr. Blair, I have to say, and we’re so excited to have you back on the show to share your wealth of knowledge with us and our audience on such an important topic.
We did refer everyone back to Episode 84 when you first joined us and gave us a primer on CBD oil and all of the benefits, but Dr. Pompa and I were thinking that it would be good just to start off for those that might be listening for the first time to the show, if you could give a basic overview of CBD oil, what it is, and it’s benefits before we jump into the specific topic today.
Before you even do that, I know I asked this on the last show, but when you’re reading his bio, I always have to ask the question, “How in the world did you end up in this world?” From that to this expert in cannabidiol oil, because Dr. Blair, that always amazes me. It’s amazing.
Dr. Blair
You’ve hit upon a good point. I’m looking for solutions. I’m looking for the best way to do things. I’m looking as a scientist. I’m constantly searching trying to find the answers to these perplexing questions that plague our entire society. In that measure, I’ve been looking for and trying to find how to solve many of these problems, and cannabidiol is one of those substances that appear to have many huge benefits that are really undeniable.
Every time I turn over a particular topic, I discover a new benefit or potential benefit that CBD can perform. I believe it’s from a practical standpoint that I’ve evolved into this, and cannabidiol is extraordinary in terms of those particular benefits, but it works, and that’s what excites me and has ignited my passion for this particular substance, and getting it out to the people where it’s easily available without legal threat from things like marijuana.
With that said, we’d better tell them what is cannabidiol and what is not cannabidiol for those people first viewing, but definitely go back and watch Episode 84. Let’s just quickly hit it before we get into our specific topic today.
Cannabidiol is a phytocannabinoid. A cannabinoid is a substance that obviously comes from the cannabis plant. There are two varieties of cannabis plants. There is marijuana and hemp. One has psychoactive substances called THC, and the hemp does not have any significant amounts of THC in it, so we’re talking about cannabidiol from industrial hemp, which is commonly grown in other countries for fiber and seed oils, but in this country it’s not available, but cannabidiol is this substance that comes from industrial hemp, but it has some amazing, extraordinary properties without any of the psychological effects that one sees with marijuana.
Yes, and I think that’s one of the questions we get all the time. Cannabidiol, obviously, they associate that with marijuana. Meredith, one of the questions that you have gotten, and I’ll let you ask the question, is about that topic of how it compares to legalized marijuana. So, Meredith, ask the question that you asked me.
I do get that question too. Is it psychoactive? You just said it’s not, but is it even possible to feel any of those effects at all from this oil? People are definitely very curious about the effects of this versus smoking marijuana or vaporizing it for example.
The effects are very subtle. They are a matter of changes in your feeling, your mood, but there’s no effect in terms of hallucinations, feeling loopy, or a lack of coordination. In fact, what I’ve seen with cannabidiol has been an extraordinary enhancement of the senses, whether that’s vision, smell, taste, or sensation, with an improvement of the mood across the board where it’s not irrational. It is a comfortable feeling. Perhaps that comes from the calming effect and the reduced anxiety that people experience with it.
Along with that, there’s an increase in the speed of speech, so that rather than slowing down as you would imagine a depressant like alcohol would do, in fact, people speed up. Their speech speeds up. Their cognition speeds up. Their memory sharpens. If you listen to them, their voice goes down almost an octave in terms of their speaking. There seems to be a greater ability to make decisions and stay on focus. You can imagine the benefits that would be related to that. There’s no deviation in thinking. In fact, there’s a more and greater precision in thinking as a result.
The autism committee—you’re mentioning all of these effects on the brain, which is our topic today with Alzheimer’s. I want to go there, but I have many, many people who I help that have children on the autism spectrum. I can tell you that 100% of the time these kids have a massive change when they are utilizing CBD oil.
With that as a launch, we know that it has a major change in the brain. You just described some of those changes. What is so unique about cannabidiol that has this major effect in the brain? You just sent us these testimonies. I just talked about the testimonies that I get from the autistic community. You just sent us a couple of amazing testimonies. What is it about this that has such a positive effect on the brain?
Those are difficult questions. I’m not sure I can answer all of them, and the exact mechanisms that are involved are really quite baffling, because we haven’t really entered into the research that needs to be there. We know that cannabidiol works in two major areas. That specifically is the immune system in calming inflammation and reducing inflammation.
The other area is an enhancer or a feedback mechanism at the nerve synapses. We know that there is an enhancement of the communication where the nerves meet at the axons and dendrites and the communication that goes across that particular area. Those are fundamental, and we know that a lot of brain diseases are in fact degenerative and inflammatory. In fact, Alzheimer’s disease has been called diabetes type III, because of inflammation and the changes that are going on in the brain.
CBD works specifically on the immune cells, reducing the inflammation. It also seems to mediate some of the metabolics, including at the mitochondrial level, so we’re not only talking about extracellular, we’re talking about intracellular effects specifically. We know that as an anti-inflammatory in the blood, it also, in addition to that, intracellularly, it’s working as an anti-inflammatory. A lot of those processes that are occurring within the cell that lead to impairments within the nerve cell, brain cell, or other tissues are stopped with the cannabidiol, because it prevents that inflammation going on inside the cell.
You mentioned two things. We know that Alzheimer’s has this connection with, like you said, type III diabetes in the sense that there’s something called insulin-degrading enzyme that the brain uses to get rid of insulin because it’s so damaging. The insulin-degrading enzyme gets used up and distracted because of continual spikes in glucose and insulin, and becomes diminished and now it’s the same enzyme used to get rid of plaque. That’s one of the connections of these elevated glucose that most Americans have, or glucose spikes, without even being diagnosed with diabetes, but we know that it degrades this enzyme that is needed to get rid of insulin and plaque, and then we see plaques building up.
The other interesting thing is, is that we know that cannabidiol oil plays this amazing role in cancer. I was just on the phone with someone, and they said, “Look, cannabidiol is the only thing that actually helped me.” They were a cancer patient. If you look at Dr. Seyfried’s book, it says Cancer as a Metabolic Disease. This man has been researching cancer his whole professional life, and he’s saying, “Look, we’re wrong about cancer. Most cancers, the majority of them, are not genetic in nature.” What comes first? He’s saying that like Alzheimer’s, this is a metabolic issue. This is an issue of the mitochondria being damaged, and now cancer cells are only using glucose, not ketones or fat.
My point is this; does the cannabidiol have its effect in cancer because of what it does for the mitochondria? I’ve read some studies on that, so Alzheimer’s could be glucose related; at least we know part of the cause. Cancer – mitochondria and glucose related.
That is one of the mechanisms that are probably involved in the cancer benefit that we see with cannabidiol, but we don’t know. Once again, we haven’t really elucidated all of the issues that are related to cancer and cannabidiol. Research has really been going on into other areas.
Is it metabolic? I can guarantee that that’s part of it, and interestingly, cannabidiol is an anti-inflammatory. I said that repeatedly, but in cancer cells it becomes a different situation. You actually have—and the reason why cancer cells die and the way the body induces death in cancer cells, is an inflammatory reaction inside of the cancer cell. How cannabidiol does this, I don’t know, but in some way cannabidiol actually enhances the inflammatory situation inside cancer cells that specifically leads to their death, whereas in most cellular tissues, it’s anti-inflammatory, and in cancer cells, the reverse. It is actually inflammatory in cancer cells, leading to their demise, which is a great way to go. How does it do that? I don’t know.
Yeah, that’s interesting, because a lot of what Seyfried talks about is that, a cancer cell. The problem is, is that something gets damaged in the mitochondria, typically toxin in origin, which is back from Otto Warburg’s theory, that something gets damaged in the mitochondria and it damages how we make ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
Once it’s damaged, a cell should die, apoptosis, and in a cancer cell that doesn’t die, it up regulates glycolysis. Now, it has this infinity for sugar, but that’s the point. They’re looking at new things to really get the cell to wake up and die, and that’s what you’re saying cannabidiol does. It gets the cell to die when it should have died, instead of adapting with this odd glycolysis or metabolism of sugar. Anyway, it’s really interesting.
As I’ve been doing so much research in this area, and to hear that cannabidiol, again, is one of the big players. I’ve often wondered its effect and why so many people with cancer have such a love for cannabidiol.
Let’s get to the topic today. Listen, you shared a testimony with us last time about Alzheimer’s and the use of cannabidiol, and this week you shared a few more. I don’t know that they were Alzheimer’s, but let’s broach the subject. Why is it so powerful for Alzheimer’s?
If I could interject just a little bit. I looked up some statistics which are just pretty shocking about Alzheimer’s in America, and are a good reminder too before we jump in that one in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s or another dementia in this country. It’s the sixth leading cause of death in the USA. This year alone, 2015, Alzheimer’s and other dementias cost us $226 billion. It was interesting. This is all from the Alzheimers.org website; they said that, “It’s the only top 10 cause of death in America that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed.” That last statistic is pretty interesting, because I think you guys both have some things to share that would be on the contrary.
Yeah, they call it the “graveyard of hope.” All the drug companies have spent billions trying to even come up with a drug that even reduces symptoms, and not one has been successful.
It’s a good point that you’ve made, Meredith, is there’s no successful therapy if you look at the pharmaceutical industry. That doesn’t work. The other important thing from your research you might have seen is that actually initial process of Alzheimer’s disease may go back 20 years, so that the clinical findings only seem to start about 10 years out that we’ve noticed and we can find that kind of evidence. There’s something going on within the brain and that this process is going on, probably is environmental. What do you think, Daniel?
Yeah, I think we definitely know some causative agents. We just discussed the glucose, right? We know that toxins can damage the mitochondria and cause this to become a problem. We know that heavy metals are involved. The leading immunologist, at least the most quoted immunologist, recently just came out, and it was run partly in the media, saying that someone who gets a flu shot five years consecutively when they looked at their study, it increases their chance of Alzheimer’s 10 fold, 10 times, and when he was asked why, he said it was the accumulation of aluminum and mercury in the brain tissue over the years that can trigger inflammation in this response, etc.
We know there are different environmental triggers. I think glycoside plays a role. I think it’s really this perfect storm of elevated glucose and the toxins all driving inflammation that play a role.
I’ll jump on that. I think the inflammation is very, very key, and as Seyfried points out in his studies talking about cancer cells, we’ve got an inflammatory situation within the body, and this inflammation goes across almost all the disease. The common thread in almost all of this is inflammation. We debate about what is the cause, but we do know that high glucose levels raise glycolysis and glycolysis raises the amount of inflammation intracellularly in mitochondria, so we’re well aware of that, but once this manifestation, once this inflammation has occurred and it’s going on, how do we calm it down? How do we quench that particular fire?
That’s one of the approaches that we’re looking at with cannabidiol, but going backwards, as you have alluded to, Dr. Pompa, is that these things that we need to avoid. In particular, it may be that immunizations are hazardous that incite the immune system to create an inflammatory situation that’s generalized over the body. That inflammation is key, and the immune cell seems to be very, very important in terms of producing those substances that cause inflammation. Any of those things that we can use to avoid and reduce inflammation are very, very important and going back to fundamentals and lifestyle changes that need to be there.
Yeah, I couldn’t agree more. I always say there’s three causes that I see, but there’s many causes of inflammation—toxins, obviously glucose we both mentioned, and even the avoidance of certain amazing fats, and the overconsumption of other fats, because they play into cellular inflammation, you know, the three causes that we talk about.
Specifically, cannabidiol—I teach a multi-therapeutic approach to an answer for Alzheimer’s and what’s happening with this condition. We have been ultra-successful with these cases where other people have not. I found a study saying that gosh, this is why we’ve been so successful, because we do have this multi-therapeutic approach. We like to put people on things like cannabidiol that are anti-inflammatory. We utilize things like intermittent fasting. Of course, we apply my five R’s of cellular healing. We approach detox at a cellular level and particularly go after it in the brain.
This multi-therapeutic approach is something that I have found that really is the answer. It’s not easy. I’m training doctors in it. You have to really get people to be compliant; however, it works. Let’s focus on cannabidiol. Let’s focus on some of the results that you’ve seen doc, because we’ve seen the testimonies. Tell us a little bit about that.
You brought up a very good point. I see cannabidiol as stopping the process in its place; a temporizing measure where you can use the techniques that you’ve found that will reverse the process and calm the inflammation and the processes down at the fundamental core. CBD can temporize on that, stop that acute process, and restore some of that function, but you’ve got to get back to the core level. What’s going wrong and what are people doing wrong that seems to exacerbate this whole process?
In terms of cannabidiol, yeah, let’s talk about some of the details and some of the things that I’ve seen. I’d love to relate some of those stories.
Yeah, please, because I’m in agreement. You have to go upstream to the cause, but while we’re doing that we need something as powerful as CBD to be able to down regulate inflammation, specifically neuro-inflammation.
I think it’s particularly valuable for providers that you work with and then giving them some way to establish a rapport with their clients and patients to say, “Look, this stuff works,” and you can see it immediately and see that result, and once you establish that rapport, then the patients are going to be more trusting in terms of the program that you have to bring to the table. You’re going to be more successful at changing their lifestyle, changing their orientation, and resolving their conditions.
You know, while you’re working upstream, I think it’s so important to have a tool like this that can down regulate inflammation fast enough that they can feel a result. That way you can keep their interest while you’re going upstream, which takes time.
You had said it. Alzheimer’s now is happening in people, and, by the way, young people, as young as 30s and 40s now. That’s scary. That just shows you that it is environmental triggering certain genes; of course we know that certain genes do get triggered, but, again, what’s triggering the genes? The environmental stressors that we’re exposed to today are like never ever before driving this inflammation process younger and younger.
I don’t mind getting these cases when people start going, “Hey, I just feel like my memory is not working.” One of the first signs of Alzheimer’s is some short-term memory loss, right? You know people start to say, “I’m scared about that, because so and so in my family”—and you really should, because when we look at the fact that in people in their 30s and 40s are developing Alzheimer’s, that’s scary. If my short-term memory starting going, I would definitely be looking for some things that down regulate inflammation. You’d better be concerned about changing your lifestyle too.
I know we don’t know the exact action, but we know that cannabidiol has a major effect on these neuro-tissues, I mean, in regulating inflammation. I think it has an effect on the cell membrane and the receptor as well. Is there anything else?
We know that there’s an enhancement between nerves. There’s more communication that’s going on, and with the reduction of inflammation in the brain in the neuro-protective area, then you’re reducing the amount of interference, and you’re enhancing the connectivity of those tissues. Some of the studies are showing this improved connectivity within the brain that there is modulation of those signals. Sometimes those modulation signals that are too strong get dampened, and sometimes those that are dampened or weakened are enhanced. You’re getting better communication. There’s actually some evidence for better electrical conductivity in the brain where it’s an enhancement of the conduction. At the same time, there’s a reduction in thresholds for seizure disorders, so even though you’re enhancing the connectivity, you’re not increasing the risk of any adverse events.
The CBD molecule seems to be incredibly intelligent in terms of where it works on the body and on the mental faculties. I like to think of it as an enhancer and a return to normalcy. Rather than cannabidiol being in the concept of the pharmaceutical industry, a drug that has to be applied and that has a linear relationship in terms of low levels having one effect and high levels being another effect, look at it as adjusting to being normal. If you’re normal—what was your normal 20 years ago? I like to think of it like that.
If we’re restoring normalcy, we’re restoring brain function, and we’re restoring all of these other skills and abilities that we have as well as cognitive skills. Let’s turn back the clock 20 years. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? Those are the characteristics that I’m seeing with CBD. Now, Meredith, that won’t count for you because you’re not old enough, but us old codgers—
Meredith will tell you, when I had some back pain about two months ago, and every once in a while, I get that debilitating back pain, and I started taking extra CBD because it was, honestly, when I flew to Pittsburg, Meredith, I literally didn’t know if I was going to be able to make it. My back hurt that much, so I loaded up. I probably had two or three in a little pile right there, and I put it under my tongue before I went to the airport. By the time I got on that airplane, I’m telling you, I was pain free. I did the whole four-and-a-half hour flight. I had no pain. My wife was amazed, so I stayed the high level of CBD.
I can tell you, I’ve been taking CBD religiously since, because when I was on it, yeah, my pain reduced, but I noticed my brain was on fire for a good reason. It was really good. I noticed an absolute increase in my memory. I’ve got a really sharp brain and sharp memory, but something was clearer. That’s the only way I can describe it. I take it. I’m not looking to either to down regulate anything.
Let me ask you. Of course it was an extraordinary experience, but could you see it as going back 20 years?
Yeah, when I go into ketosis, which I do every summer, I always describe it as, “I know when I keto-adapt, because my brain turns on and gets ultra-clear.” It’s almost like when someone turns the lights up in the room and you didn’t realize they are slightly dim until they go up. I have that experience when my brain starts feeding from ketones. I had the same experience when I started taking the higher levels of CBD.
Some people get the same experience taking low levels, but for some reason when I took more, I definitely noticed this massive clarity in my brain, and yeah, I could describe it as being in my 20s perhaps in my brain. I don’t know. I think my brain is sharper today than when I was in my 20s, doc. Honestly, I really do.
It’s clear right now from the vantage point of height at this point. Maybe you had those resources.
It’s something I noticed—short-term memory loss. It’s just a simple clarity and a recall that I hadn’t had. Let me just say this. I think it’s unique. Contrast when people are smoking marijuana, obviously their brain slows down. THC can actually start having a negative effect on the brain, I believe it driving inflammation.
The benefits, the CBD—I’m not saying that THC doesn’t have some benefit, but when we look at the original plants, it was very, very little THC. Now they’re breeding these plants to have all of this THC, which actually has a negative impact on the brain, so contrast taking CBD and smoking marijuana.
You’re exactly right. The current species of marijuana sometimes have as much as 25% of THC in them, which is really a far cry from the 1-3% that was experienced in the 1970s. As a result, you’re seeing a sort of schizophrenic type of breaks and psychoses, particularly in large cities where there is high use and intensive drug use, but those are variations of the marijuana and its distortion where producers have gone to producing, thinking that THC is the wonder substance that’s going to relieve all of our problems and producing higher and higher levels.
I think you’re seeing actually sort of a backfire in that, and people are coming back down to lower levels and trying to customize their plants to meet particular needs. Some groups in different parts of the world are actually experimenting with exactly those percentages to find out what percentage of THC and CBD works the best.
Meredith, you were asking about medical marijuana, and there was a question that came up on that. What is it about medical marijuana that is special? It’s because of the CBD. There is a very small amount of THC, and, in fact, very low levels, but it’s the medical marijuana movement around the country is specifically targeted at cannabidiol. Unfortunately, in many places it’s illegal and requires prescription and you have to go through a number of administrative hassles and legal hassles, and the penalties if you get caught with the stronger stuff are extraordinary. You don’t want to get caught in that situation at all.
In contrast, then the marijuana, if we’re talking about the average varieties that are out there for recreational use versus the cannabidiol, there’s no comparison; no comparison at all.
Then there was the study that showed most likely CBD, the cannabidiol; why not take 100% cannabidiol? The product that we carry on our website is the product that you like. It’s guaranteed 18% cannabidiol. It’s organic with no toxins, which is another issue. Yeah, Meredith is holding it up right there. Go ahead and show that Meredith.
This is the oil, and we have the tincture as well.
Doc, I would like you to comment on some of the testimonies, the things that you see, because you use this so much with people and you have a lot of experience with it. Share some of the experiences you’ve had, and then we’ll talk about how to best take it, because after our last show, we still had a lot of questions about vaping it, this or that, or sublingual, so let’s we’ll get into that next, but share some of your experiences.
It’s exciting to relate that, because it was such a surprise to me. I had not realized that some of these things could be reversed. I was just hoping to relieve suffering and pain, but when I saw a reversal, I was beside myself with amazement and surprise.
The first gentleman that I used cannabidiol on was an 82-year-old man who was a veteran of the Korean War. He was lethargic sitting in his chair with type II diabetes. He was immobile, hardly moving, and hardly communicating. Within a week of using fairly low levels of cannabidiol, he was activated.
He was activated to the point of recalling all of his experiences with incredible designs in terms of finishing his book that he had started about his Korean War experiences in battle. He had incredible designs for going off and doing all the things that he had not been able to do, and he related to me some weeks later that during that time, he felt like he was a vegetable as he looks back on it, and with the cannabidiol, he woke up and knew the stuff that was going on.
I have to tell you though, it didn’t restore everything. He didn’t have all of his memories. There was some permanent damage that was there, but his conversation with me and his awareness of what was happening was there. That was functional, and he also became mobile, so that he was up and moving around. He was social, whereas before he was non-communicative. At this point, he was nonstop talking. I think we almost had to put a muzzle on him to calm him down.
How much was he taking? What was his dosage?
He was actually using a vape formulation, and he was taking about 15 mg three times a day.
At one point, he got so activated that the family was concerned that he was going crazy, and he didn’t have the control because he had restored strength and energy so that he was always moving, he was always active, and he was able to do things that previously were denied for him because he didn’t have the physical ability.
In being activated, he had some grandiose ideas, and he wanted to take off and do many things that were not quite ready for the family to understand. His family stopped the medication for him because of those particular strong effects, and we delayed that for a while and then restarted him at a much lower dose.
Everybody has a different sensitivity, and I think that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia represents one of those states of inflammation and reduced cannabinoid sort of your own endocannabinoid system has been deactivated. It’s not functional and it’s not working, and by using the phytocannabinoids like cannabidiol then you are stimulating that natural system that is there and putting it into operation and activity again. For some people who have been severely deficient, restoring that can activate a little bit too activating and lead to a very vigorous activity that may not be wise. It’s logical. It makes sense, but it is sort of more empowerment than patients are ready for.
We talked a little bit about dosing last time, and then I want to go beyond dosing this time, which we didn’t talk about last time, and that’s modes of taking it. You mentioned that that gentleman was vaping it and I know that vaping just happens to be the number one way to get the cannabidiol to be more efficient, meaning you can take less and get a greater result. He was taking about 45 mg a day. If he was doing it orally or sublingually, if you will, he might have had to take double that, correct, or even more.
I didn’t relate that after a time, we switched him over to the oral form of it, because that was easier for him to use, but initially he was using the vape, and when I gave you the dose, 15 mg wouldn’t be right, because usually a dose by vape is less than 1 mg, and when you go to the oral dosing, then you’re going to go up to typically about 15 mg, but for some people—
Three times a day.
Yes, and usually with regard to the vaping, and what he had done was he was vaping all the time. He was using it constantly. That was a little bit overage. When we went to the oral dose, then it was more controlled, and instead of him eating it constantly, it was measured out periodically three times a day. That worked out a lot better, and he was able to establish evenness towards his improvement. Over time, he was reintegrated into a system, his own natural system seemed to be starting to work again, and he was showing significant recovery in many areas, but, again, not everything was cured.
I have a question too. Perhaps someone is watching that is not really familiar with vaporizing and the process of that, so could you explain that?
We know, of course, it comes from smoking marijuana. You know, that’s the primary route that’s been used for a millennia. The lung is an extraordinarily sensitive area for absorption, and the distance between the lung cavity or the lung space or in the alveoli and the bloodstream is micrometers in terms of distance, so it’s very easy to get transported across there.
A drug that comes in through the airway can be easily gotten into the blood, and then that blood typically goes to the brain immediately, so you have the cognitive effects, the brain effects, and neurologic modulation that occur right away. That’s true for THC, but it’s also true for cannabidiol. The molecules are very, very similar. What we’re talking about is vaporizing. That’s what the cigarette has in is a vaporizing technique where it’s heated to a high temperature and then it goes into the lungs and gets absorbed by the bloodstream.
In the E-cigarette that eliminates all of the ash, tar, and carcinogens that are there and just delivers the pure cannabidiol, and as a result, you’re not getting the toxic effect or irritating effect. In fact, there’s good evidence to show that as an anti-inflammatory on the lung, it reduces asthma and it reduces the reactivity going on with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
What happens in the E-cigarette, let me get back to that topic, the oil is in a chamber. It’s pulled up in from a wick into a coil, and the coil is heated to about 360 degrees and that vaporizes it, and that’s easy to breathe. A few inhalations of that will allow you to get the cannabidiol right to the brain and the rest of the body.
How much more efficient is it and how much less can you use vaping versus non-vaping? My other question is—the new product in the dropper bottle, can that be vaped? You can’t take the one from the syringe—hold up the other other—you’re not able to utilize that vaping it without putting it in something.
Normally, you’re not going to vaporize that material. It needs to be in the right blend, and the blend contains propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, and that helps it vaporize and it is more easily absorbed that way. You can’t really use the oils that way, and I wouldn’t really recommend that whatsoever. It strictly is a different modality.
Which one is more effective? I think the price point on the vaporizing is a little bit more affordable for people, but sometimes the duration of effects are not there with the vaping, and you’d like to have an enduring sort of response.
You asked about the absorption. When we’re talking about inhaling, we’re getting a 97% bioavailability with the use of inhaling. When you’re talking about oral dosing, it’s probably on the order of less than 10% by oral absorption. Now, the intermediate way is, as you were talking about earlier, Daniel, and that is putting it under the tongue and in the mouth, because it’ll absorb through the mucous membranes beautifully, and because of that, you’re going to get about 30% bioavailability through the mucous membranes.
There’s other ways as well. Now, we’re talking orally, and we talked about maybe 10% orally, and then there’s some absorption through the skin as well, so you can use that on the skin and you do get some absorption, but it’s more on the level of about 5% through the skin.
Vaping seems a little difficult for most people. My clients, I just have them do it sublingually and hold it in there for five or ten minutes. I tell them to hold it as long as they can just to get those percentages higher, but it’s not like you can take those and vape them. I fooled around with it just using vegetable glycerin, because I didn’t’ actually want to use the propylene glycol. It worked, but it is more difficult.
Let’s talk about dosing it sublingually, and let’s give people some real guidelines there, because that is the easiest mode. If we use the syringe one there, let’s talk about a good dose to start on, and let’s talk about a more ramped up dose for people who have some issues.
Daniel that syringe style may be going out. There’s a new device that’s being used, and it’s called the X-pen. The X-pen delivers a standard dose of 15 mg consistently. Let me see if I can get one of those containers, and I’ll show you what the X-pen looks like. What’s really nice about this—this is the X-pen and what’s coming forward on it, and this device delivers a standard dosing with every press.
That makes it easier.
It’s standard, whereas we have been telling people that they would be using perhaps rice grain to measure their cannabidiol, which is too difficult.
Out that old syringe, just for my people who have the syringe, if you put the little line like a rice grain on your finger, how many milligrams is that?
Just estimating on the milligrams on a rice grain, it’s very, very difficult to do. I almost feel like it’s probably one—I would be just guessing.
I go by the size of a pea. I have people make a little bit of pea. The size of a pea—how many milligrams is that? I think you told me that a long time ago.
Perhaps that’s 3 or 4 mg in that size. I guess that’s my best estimate. That can be very effective for people, just using those very small amounts. When we’re talking about Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, that’s a good place to start—where they’re using very small amounts, and so in this new style, the X-pen, it’s a great style and it’s a great working affect, but 15 mg may be too much for many people who are severely deficient.
You know, we’re thinking that a lot of these diseases as being an endocannabinoid, you’re natural cannabinoid deficiency or a dis-regulation going on as a result of lifestyle and events, and so if you’re adding that substance back in and reorganizing it, then there can be an excitement and reactivation that’s a little bit too much. Starting with incremental dosage on the order of 3-5 mg three times a day, is a great place to start, and then you can make adjustments from there. In fact, that’s what I recommend for everybody; start off with a small dose and see how you react to it, because if you’re severely deficient in endocannabinoids, then you’re going to react much more strongly and it may be uncomfortable for you. On the other hand, if you start lower and you move up, that’s great.
That’s good advice, so starting at maybe 5 mg three times a day, and then moving up to, like you said, 15 mg three times a day, and sometimes higher. I know you’ve used higher doses.
In those severe problems where people are manifesting huge metabolic issues or chronic diseases and severe pain, then it may be that we need to move up to 45 mg three times a day or 90 mg a couple times a day.
The pharmacokinetics of CBD say that it lasts 24 hours in the bloodstream, but I think typically the response that I have seen is on the order of 8 hours feeling those particular effects. That’s why I incline myself to the 8 hours, but knowing there’s bio availability in the bloodstream for that 24-hour period. I certainly will allow a twice-a-day schedule where that fits into the patient’s schedule, and they get sufficient amounts during that time.
Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.
If we’re talking about autism, autism may require more frequent dosing, maybe five times per day, but it doesn’t always have to be the same amount. It could be a lesser amount at one time and a higher amount or supplement to go along with it if there is an exacerbation excitement as you were having, Daniel, with your flying and some additional pain you had, then you might increase the dose temporarily and have a supplemental dose.
Yeah, that’s what I did. I’ve backed it down since, but the higher dose really made a massive difference for me. When we put it in the mouth, we like to utilize some MCT oil just to help that absorption, and, again, up the percentages. Do you have any recommendations there?
Certainly, in swallowing it, I think the MCT oil helps, and then the MCT oil makes it a much more pleasant experience and those concentrates are rather strong. I think of them as being very spicy, and when I taste it, I say, “Boy, every tingle I get from that spiciness is another molecule of cannabidiol restoring myself or my patients,” and so I use that constructively. Using some MCT oil to make it more palatable is a very good way to do it, and then when it gets to the gut, of course, MCT oil is absorbed directly and doesn’t require any digestion.
Yeah, we have a great MCT oil here, and I believe you’ve said in the past too, one could use coconut oil or an avocado as well, as a good fat to help it absorb.
Any of the fats are going to be good, because CBD is fat soluble, and it likes to mix with fat. Will it enhance the absorption? I think that it’s very effective and it sets the body in the right direction for absorbing and retaining all of those CBD molecules.
Is it best to take on an empty stomach or does it matter?
It should not matter. The way that this is absorbed, I don’t think that you’re going to benefit yourself from having a full stomach after a meal. It’s not an after-meal event, I would be inclined. You can eat afterwards. That shouldn’t be difficult, because many of the effects are felt very, very quickly in the absorption. I don’t recommend a large meal in the vicinity. Sometimes people can have a little bit of reflux after they’ve taken CBD. You can imagine that the CBD causes a certain amount of relaxation; well it may be that the lower esophageal sphincter gets relaxed in that process too.
I have two questions that I have had. Number one, what if somebody’s not feeling an effect from it?
It still may be there, and I often have family members to observe patients to see what effects they’re having. If I restore you to normal, Daniel, do you feel like there’s any change? You may not, and if that is the case, then I think there are some people who make changes that these changes occur in, don’t recognize them, but other people will.
It’s not unusual for me to help a patient and have them take a dose of cannabidiol right in my office, right before my eyes, and as I watch them they may say, “I don’t really feel anything different,” but as I described to you, Meredith, earlier, the speed of their speech increases; there’s less hesitation; they’re an octave lower in their voice, which may also indicate relaxation of their vocal cords. I see a thought process. I see a more socialization, and I see more humor. These are things that family members can observe. You can’t always accept what the patient’s observations are, because they’re inside the body, they may not notice that actual changes that are happening.
I also had a patient who stated they loved the results. They said, “Gosh, is this stuff addictive?” because they absolutely love the result. How would you answer that?
It is the most incredible anti-addictive formulation that’s available. People stop smoking after using cannabidiol. They don’t need to go back. That craving for nicotine is gone, and that’s the same thing that probably true for alcohol. It’s probably going to be very effective.
We know that it’s effective in narcotics use. It has an improvement and a reduction in withdrawal, and yet combined with the highest level of narcotics it has not produced any increase in respiratory depression. It attenuates the effects of addiction drastically, going to the brain centers that are involved with that particular process, and it reduces the requirements, but it’s safe, not causing any problems. I can’t imagine a more ideal substance to be used in addictive situations.
Wow. That’s amazing.
We’re at the top of the hour. That time went so fast.
Can I ask one more question though? I know you said in the past show that there were not any contraindications with the drug, however, someone possibly with Alzheimer’s or another chronic condition that is taking a lot of different medications, would it be of benefit to take CBD along with the medications? Would it replace the medications in a lot of ways?
I think that it will reduce the amount of medications that they may need. We do see a blood pressure lowering and a relaxation of blood vessels, so they may not need as much of their other medications.
In terms of pain medications, typically we see a reduction of 80% of pain medications, and so what I would ask patients to do is start to look at their current regimen and decide whether they really need those medicines at those particular doses and work with their doctor to reduce the medicines that they have on board if they don’t need them anymore.
That’s great stuff. We thank you so much for your knowledge and experience with this product, and as soon as I get off the call here, I’m going to go take mine. I forgot.
I should take it too.
We need to talk to you, Meredith, about that, because I’ve got some interesting findings that I would like to relate to you about sexuality.
Awesome, awesome. We can have that on a future show too. Maybe we can do a part three on CBD oil and the benefits in the bedroom. Maybe we can call it that. I don’t know.
Now, we’ve got people wanting the show. Now, look what you’ve done. Now, we’re going to get this influx of e-mails, because everyone is going to want that show. See that?
It’s well worth it. When we talk about the benefits with Alzheimer’s, that’s earth shaking and economically that is huge, but one of the topics that we don’t talk about is sexuality. What I’ve seen in observation and close questioning for women is an extraordinary difference in their sexuality that they’re noting, particularly in women who are postmenopausal. They’re just seeing a dramatic change as a result of that. It is a subtle finding.
I’m going to rephrase what I’ve said. I’m going to make sure my wife takes hers now.
I definitely advise that.
Hey doc. Thanks for getting up early. I know we shook you out of bed early today, so thank you for joining us, and I’m sure we’ll have you on future shows on future topics.
Yes, thank you Dr. Blair. This was such a wealth of information. Thank you Dr. Pompa, as always. It’s an incredible product. If you are looking for CBD oil and tinctures, and MCT oil as well, you can get the CBD oil at www.revelationCBDoil.com or you can call our office at (888) 600-0642.
Don’t they have to call in to order that? They can’t find it on the website, correct?
We have this new website where you can order it. It’s www.RevelationCBDOil.com or give us a call. Thanks again, everyone, for watching. Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you next time, next week. Stay tuned. Dr. Pompa and I will be sharing the top 10 strategies to avoid holiday weight gain, which is a hot topic with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all the holidays coming up. You won’t want to miss that.
That’s a big one.
Thanks, everyone. Bye.
89: Flu Shot Myths
Next Post: 91: Strategies to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
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My Latest Dispatches From/About Newark (From Me and Two Others)…….
Posted on April 14, 2019 by toddpanther
……can be found here and here.
Posted in american history, news | Tagged Amiri Baraka, Black Power, Cory Booker, Cory Booker's 2020 Presidential campaign, Kenneth Gibson, Newark, Ras Baraka | Leave a comment
Johnson Publications Files For Bankruptcy
Well…..I’ll just say it’s a good thing historians nourish ourselves through memory. 😦
Posted in advertising, american history, magazine, news, world history | Tagged 20th century American journalism history, 20th century American magazine history, 20th century Black media, Black magazines, Black press, Black World, Ebony, Ebony magazine, Jet, Jet magazine, John H. Johnson, Johnson Publications, Johnson Publishing Company, Negro Digest, Negro press | Leave a comment
47-Word [Spoiler-Free] Review of “Shazam!”
Posted on April 8, 2019 by toddpanther
A very smart script–particularly if you are familiar with the decades of source material–that was clear on its intent: to force into being the sweetest, most Harry-Potterish, most inclusive superhero movie ever. Succeeded.
Posted in american history, books, film, magazine, news | Tagged "Shazam!", 2019 Shazam film, DC Comics, DC Extended Universe, DC Movies, The Original Captain Marvel | Leave a comment
Lerone Bennett Jr.: Until That New Biography Comes Out Next Year……
…………I’ll have to be satisfied with this new, and fine, journal article by Christopher M. Tinson.
The biography, coming early next year, will be called “Ebony Magazine and Lerone Bennett, Jr: Black Popular History in Postwar America” by James West.
West tells me that I need to check out a forthcoming book on Hoyt Fuller by Jonathan Fenderson. It’s now on the list.
Posted in american history, books, magazine, news, world history | Tagged "Before The Mayflower: A History of Black America", "Building the Black Arts Movement: Hoyt Fuller and the Cultural Politics of the 1960s", "Ebony Magazine and Lerone Bennett Jr: Black Popular History in Postwar America", "The Shaping of Black America", 20th century American journalism history, 20th century American magazine history, 20th century Black magazine journalism history, 20th century Black writers, American narrative history, American social history, Black Arts Movement, Black historians, Black history, Black magazines, Black media, Black media ideology, Black narrative history, Black press, Black social history, Black socio-political socialization, Black World, Black writers, Christopher M. Tinson, Ebony, Ebony magazine, First World, Freedomways, Hoyt Fuller, James West, Jet, Jet magazine, John H. Johnson, John Henrik Clarke, Johnson Publications, Johnson Publishing Company, Jonathan Fenderson, Lerone Bennett Jr., Negro Digest | Leave a comment
A New Book I’m In About The “Black Panther” Movie
The official media material says:
Black Panther earns three Oscars. Since its inception Marvel Studios’ Black Panther has provoked and stoked a wide range of interest, and now that the blockbuster film is the recipient of three Oscars the film’s acclaim extends beyond the box office.
No, it didn’t get the top prize, but it was a barrier breaker as Ruth Carter was the first black woman to ever win in the Costume Design category; and another first for a black artist when Hannah Beachler took the trophy, which she shared with Set Decorator Jay Hart, in Production Design. Additional spice arrived when Ludwig Goransson earned an Oscar for the Best Score in a Motion Picture.
These awards and other nominations for Black Panther augurs well for populist cinema that is traditionally scorned when it comes to taking home the coveted awards, particularly an Oscar, which is Marvel’s first.
It’s a good bet the honors to Black Panther will not only boost the appreciation for populist cinema, it should also enhance the appeal of a number of products and projects such as Black Panther: A Paradigm Shift or Not? the forthcoming anthology at Third World Press, edited by Haki Madhubuti and Herb Boyd. “All of the celebration and awards for the film is nothing to thumb your nose at and we at Third World Press extend all our good wishes and hope we can do as well with our publication,” said Madhubuti, the press’s publisher and founder.
The anthology, which includes more than forty writers, film critics, scholars, and activists, has a timely appearance and should be able to reap some of the renewed media attention the film has sparked. Among the contributors are Nicole Mitchell Gantt, Jelani Cobb, Brent Staples, Abdul Alkalimat, Bobby Seale, Robyn Spencer, Diane Turner, Greg Tate, Maulana Karenga, Marita Golden, and Molefi Keta Asante, et al.
As may be discerned from the contributors the anthology is a compilation of mixed views and opinions―with both praise and a critique of the film. “The film has aroused a variety of conclusions, a wellspring of differences that we felt compelled to give them a forum,” said Boyd. “Like the film, the views expressed in the book are often very provocative.”
Posted in american history, books, cartoon, comics, film, magazine, news, world history | Tagged "Black Panther: Paradigm Shift or Not?", "Marvel's Black Panther: A Comcibook Biography From Stan Lee to Ta-Nehisi Coates", Haki Madhabuti, Herb Boyd, Marvel character Black Panther, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Comics, Marvel Films, Marvel Productions, Marvel Studios, Marvel's Black Panther, Marvel's Black Panther movie, Third World Press, Todd Steven Burroughs | Leave a comment
An Origin Story of Gary Byrd, From “Disc Journalist” to “World African Griot”
Gary Byrd turns 70 tomorrow. I thought this was as good an excuse as any to pull this out of my 2001 doctoral dissertation–an attempt to define Black (American) media ideology–to say an early “Happy Birthday.” Any mistakes are mine, and I welcome corrections from Byrd and all others. Happy Birthday, Brother Byrd!
A Byrd Flies In Buffalo
A major portion of the story of Black media can be told through the life and career of Gary Byrd. The radio veteran, who in the year 2000 was in his early 50s, is considered one of the links between the pioneer Black broadcasters and the current generation. Byrd’s 30-year career in broadcasting in New York City and Buffalo displays all facets of how Black media function.
Byrd began his radio career as a teenager in Buffalo, N.Y. Hearing Byrd’s powerful, charismatic speaking voice in a 1965 high school play, a part-time disk jockey for WUFO asked the fifteen-year-old if he had thought about a radio career. Byrd joined WUFO and, by the time he was 17, set his sights on WWRL. He was initially offered a job, but his grandmother made him turn it down until he finished high school. After a brief period at WYSL, located in upstate New York, Byrd joined WWRL in 1969 at the age of 19. His tenure there gave him the freedom to experiment that would allow the young disk jockey and poet to grow spiritually, intellectually and journalistically on the air.
“The Gary Byrd Experience”
In 1970, Byrd was given WWRL’s all-night spot. “It was late at night at the station … [the management said,] ‘Do what you can to keep the people up.’ They left me alone.” Being left alone to test ideas on the air during a time of experimentation in FM radio, the Black Power Movement and the Black Arts Movement, Byrd developed “The Gary Byrd Experience,” a blended and layered mix of music, interviews, radio news footage and his own Gil Scott-Heron-like poetry. (This format was similar to the one Del Shields used on his “Total Black Experience in Sound” show on WLIB-FM–a station that would, in 1972, be renamed WBLS-FM–but Byrd identifies his influences then as social comedian Dick Gregory and message-oriented soul music of the late 1960s. The program’s name is Byrd’s take on rock legend Jimi Hendrix’s band, “The Jimi Hendrix Experience.”) One of the poems Byrd created that he used on the air in the early 1970s was “Every Brother Ain’t a Brother,” his 1969 commentary on the social forces surrounding the Black Power movement. He said he wrote the poem because “at that time there were some interesting contradictions in the Black community.”
It‘s time for us to face the truth and level with each other
It‘s time for us to face the fact that every brother ain‘t a brother.
There are some who‘ll say to the world at large
I’m no color. I’m just a man.”
And some say to the folks uptown that Black Power is not their plan.
But through it all we fool ourselves and fool one another
By failing to face the simple fact that every brother ain’t a brother.
Now there is a kind of brother who shoots a brother and thinks that makes him bad
There‘s a kind of brother who says he’s Black because now it’s just a fad
We‘re at the point in the world today for self-evaluation
Just to find out where we really are in this racially tom-up nation
And one of the first things we must do is stop kidding one another
And get on the case of realism that every brother ain‘t a brother.
Now I said that every brother ain’t a brother
And I know you know that’s true.
But look in the mirror carefully
‘Cause that brother might be you.
Byrd began to redefine the role of disc jockey, calling himself a “disc journalist.”
His use of issues and music brought him attention from a fan of his radio show, musician Stevie Wonder, who invited him to write the lyrics to two songs, “Village Ghetto Land” and “Black Man” on Wonder’s double-album classic “Songs In The Key of Life.” In addition, Byrd recorded his own albums of poetry. With Bob Law, who became WWRL’s program director in the 1970s, Byrd attempted to bring the concept of predominately white “progressive FM” format to AM radio, but in a way tailored specifically to the needs of New York’s Black community. In 1984, Byrd would make a career move that would expand his reach and influence, and ultimately find a sphere of thought that he could claim as his own and share with his audience.
A Byrd Takes Flight As A New Experience Begins
By 1984, three years after Law’s “Night Talk,” a nationally syndicated Black talk radio program, debuted on WWRL, new talkers were on the WLIB airwaves. Mark Riley became WLIB’s mid-morning host, after the morning newscast. Gary Byrd became the early-to-late afternoon host on the daytime AM radio station. “The Gary Byrd Experience” had evolved from Black music to Black talk, and Byrd began to mix music to set the mood for his interviews and discussions. WLIB had a broadcaster in Byrd who attempted to meld the spiritual (music) with the social-political (talk) aspects of the African-American experience.
‘The Gary Byrd Experience” on WLIB, in Byrd’s mind a radio magazine, established Black rituals of sound. Each of the opening segments had its own particular sound, blending jazz with gospel, with Byrd’s voice opening and closing the show over the music. Unlike Riley’s show, which was call-in talk interrupted by music cues, Byrd, with music, rhyme and tone, tried to create a cultural atmosphere with his predominately Black audience. His “question of the day” for the audience, the focus of the leading segment of his program, was a more philosophical one than poised on the more news-oriented Riley’s show. When I began listening to him in 1987, Byrd referred to himself a “New Age Griot,” the latter French term referring to a name given to male West African praise singers who sing the history of a particular person, family or community.
A New Name, A New “GBE,” A New Site
While living and working in New York City in the 1970s and early 1980s, Byrd, who read on his own about Africa, began to be exposed to African-centered scholars such as John Henrik Clarke and Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan (known as “Dr. Ben”), who often delivered public lectures to cultural Nationalist groups and others. Jochannan, an Egyptologist, taught that the ancient Egyptians who shaped human civilization were Black-skinned Africans. Byrd told Gil Noble during a 1999 WABC-TV “Like It Is” interview that he was prepared “to sit at Dr. Ben’s feet” when he heard a tape of a speech of Dr. Ben’s. In the mid-l980s, Byrd went to Egypt, where he was told by a priest to go to a certain place along the Nile River and perform a ritual to gain a spiritual experience. That ritual, he recalls, gave him the inspiration to give himself a name that “would give me something to aspire to every day of my life, a new place to step to.” He adopted the name Imhotep, the legendary Egyptian first multi-genius.
Byrd began using his new name publicly around 1990. It was shortly after he did a special week of programming from the Apollo Theatre honoring African-centered scholars such as Clarke and ben-Jochannan. As a result of the success of those broadcasts, Byrd was given the mid-morning slot, live from the Apollo. With this move in place, Byrd subsequently announced that his name was now Imhotep Gary Byrd and that he was re-christening his show the “Global Black Experience.” The broadcaster, dropping the “New Age” from his self-description, had now decided to become the African-American broadcast equivalent of an African griot–a living medium for African-Americans, with the mission to “make African people feel good about themselves, and to make the world feel good about African people.”
The “New GBE: Africentricity,” as he called it, was done on the Apollo stage, a center of Black American culture. Still essentially call-in talk radio, it was done with a live studio audience, who came in from the street to see the show. Guests were onstage talking with Byrd–wearing dreadlocks and dressed in flowing African robes–while the members of the studio audience lined up to ask questions or to win prizes in a Black history quiz question Byrd would ask on-air.
The show became politically and culturally stronger in tone-as strong to the Black Cultural Nationalist left as white mainstream talk show radio hosts Bob Grant and Rush Limbaugh of WABC-AM were to the white right in the 1980s and 1990s. The new “rituals of sound” were more African and less African-American. The “new” GBE began with a recorded call to “Speak, Drums! Tell the real story.” After the theme, Byrd would read aloud the Nguzo Saba–the seven principles of Kawaida theory developed by Black Cultural Nationalist Maulana Karenga and popularized by the Karenga-inspired African-American holiday, Kwanzaa–at the start of every show. These principles include calls to African unity, self-determination and purpose. Then Byrd would read the headlines from The Daily Challenge, the city’s only Black daily newspaper. On “Black Press Thursday,” the day most of the city’s weekly Black newspapers would be on the newsstands. He read headlines from all of the city’s Black press. Byrd took advantage of the use of a well-known stage and culturally-eager studio audience to honor people who had made significant contributions to African and African-American life.
The significance of the “New GBE,” from a cultural standpoint, cannot be overemphasized. Byrd, by 1990 a cultural hero of sorts and opinion leader in New York’s cultural Nationalist and activist communities, was now broadcasting an African-centered show from the Apollo Theatre, a legendary Harlem landmark on 125th Street–the same street used by many of the streetcorner orators, including Malcolm X. These ancestors now had descendants with new, more sophisticated stepladders and megaphones. The unedited voices of these “children” could now be heard around the nation’s No. 1 local media market–the New York tri-state area–in cars, homes, or on Walkmans while jogging. Black senior citizens and others who learned about Black history and culture from Byrd and his guests could now drop by to see them in person and ask questions. Teachers set up class field trips, as I helped to do in 1992 for journalism and broadcasting high school students attending the Seton Hall University Upward Bound program. “The New Negro Movement” of the 1930s had become a 1990s African-centered renaissance, live, on-air. The “New GBE” allowed Blacks to participate in a collective African-centered media experience, using the most powerful medium in Black communities, the radio.
Posted in american history, books, magazine, news, radio | Tagged "Drums in the Global Village: Toward an Ideological History of Black Media", "New Negro Movement", "Songs in the Key of Life", "The Jimi Hendrix Experience", 107.5 WBLS-FM, 1190 WLIB-AM, 1600 WWRL-AM, 20th century deejays, 20th century radio, 21st century deejays, 21st century radio, Afrocentrcity, American radio history, American radio talk show history, Black deejays, Black disc jockeys, Black media ideology, Black radio, Black radio history, Black socio-political socialization, Black talk radio, Bob Law, Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan, Gary Byrd, Harlem, Imhotep Gary Byrd, Jimi Hendrix, John Henrik Clarke, New York Black radio, Stevie Wonder, talk radio, Todd Steven Burroughs | Leave a comment
60-Word Review of “Captain Marvel”
Posted on March 8, 2019 by toddpanther
This is the movie that “Green Lantern” should have been. Very serviceable, and a good origin story–more for NICK FURY and SHIELD than the lead. All involved struggle against the worn out superhero-origin-story format, and succeed perhaps to the limit they can. Only for the most Marvel hardcore–and/or for cat and Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg lovers. 😉
Posted in film, news | Tagged "Captain Marvel", Agent of SHIELD, Bree Larson, Clark Gregg, Marvel Films, Marvel Studios, Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, Nick Fury, Phil Coulson, Samuel L. Jackson, superhero origin story | Leave a comment
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Follow Question
Why does 2 Samuel 6:23 say Michal was barren to the day of her death, but 2 Samuel 21:8 says 'the five sons of Michal?'
Why does 1 Chronicles 21:1 blame Satan for inspiring David to take a census, while 2 Samuel 24:1 says that God caused David to do this?
Do 2 Samuel 24:1 and 1 Chronicles 21:1 contradict?
Why does this genealogy include a list of the musicians? (1 Chronicles 6:31)
Why would anyone want to sacrifice their children? (2 Chronicles 28:3)
Why pray toward a specific site? (2 Chronicles 6:21)
21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive. (KJV)
ESV - 21 And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
Clarify • Share • Report • Asked June 16 2019 • Jack Gutknecht
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
God had shown a special interest in the temple that Solomon would build, even from the time that David had originally had the idea to build it to replace the tent-like tabernacle that Israel had used for worship ever since its exodus from Egypt, but was prevented from doing so by God Himself because of the fact that David (even though he was described as a man after God's heart) had shed much blood in his wars against Israel's enemies (2 Samuel 7:12-16; 1 Chronicles 22:6-10).
At that time, God had specifically promised David that he would have a son who would be granted peace, and who would be the one to build that temple. Solomon fulfilled this plan when he succeeded David as king of Israel. The temple that he built would become the center of the entire nation's religious life, and would be blessed with the very presence of God Himself, as demonstrated at the time of the temple's dedication by God's glory filling it, and by fire coming down from heaven to consume the burnt offerings and sacrifices that were being made there (2 Chronicles 7:1-2).
Because of the temple's importance, and of God's special presence there, Solomon had in mind in his dedicatory prayer those who would desire to go there, but who would be prevented from doing so by distance or other circumstances. In those cases, Solomon wanted to have the act of praying -- whether that prayer would be one of thanksgiving, or of asking for God's forgiveness, blessing, favor, or protection -- while facing in the direction of the temple (wherever the person offering the prayer might be, including even in a foreign land) to have the same significance in God's view as if the person were actually worshiping and praying in the temple itself.
June 17 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report
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Zuma: I may or may not have asked GCIS to help Guptas their media launch
Demi Lovato 'knew the risks' of drugs she took
Brandon Johnson revealed that Lovato '100% knew what she was taking'.
Demi Lovato. Picture: @ddlovato/instagram.com
Demi Lovato drug overdose
BANG Showbiz | 322 days ago
LONDON - Demi Lovato's alleged drug dealer claims she knew the risks of taking drugs and says he cares about her very much.
Brandon Johnson revealed Lovato, 26, called him and asked him to come over to her house in the early hours of 24 July and said she "100% knew what she was taking".
He told TMZ: "She texted me at 4 am because she's a girl and she wanted to kick it. We hung out.
"She has long hours and stressful days so she wanted to unwind. 100% she knew what she was taking. They're aftermarket pills and they're much stronger. She [Lovato] understood fully and it's unfortunate what happened.
"It's a wake-up call for her and it opens my eyes to the dangers. They're fun, but they can be harmful. I'd hate to hurt anybody. I hope she's OK. But for anyone to think there was any misconception on my behalf is absolutely ridiculous. I'm not here to hurt anybody. I care for her very much, she means a lot to me. It's just something that happened. It's unfortunate."
Johnson also claimed he left Lovato's house at 7 am or 8 am and she was asleep.
The star was later found unconscious by an assistant around 11.30 am and revived with Narcan, a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose.
He said: "When I was with her she was fine. When I showed up she was a little drunk, but nothing out of the ordinary. When I left she'd fallen asleep. She'd passed out, but it was already 7 am or 8 am. I tucked her in."
Johnson did not reveal the drugs he and Lovato - who is currently in rehab - took but it was previously reported to be Oxycodone possibly laced with fentanyl.
And he was arrested just a month before her overdose, when he was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and being in possession of cocaine.
A few months prior to that he was arrested in North Hollywood, California, after he was allegedly found in possession of narcotics, a fully loaded semi-automatic handgun and $10,000 in his pocket.
Police then searched his home and allegedly found more guns and drugs, but he's yet to be charged.
A source close to the dealer has told TMZ that he's been telling people he was in a "romantic relationship" with Lovato prior to her overdose and he's adamant he never sold her any drugs.
However, Lovato's friends deny their relationship was romantic.
Demi Lovato reflects on sobriety
Demi Lovato quits Twitter
Demi Lovato celebrates six months of sobriety
Demi Lovato pledges to ‘never take life for granted’
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Zuma: I may or may not have asked GCIS to help Guptas with launch of their media
Indian teens killed while taking selfie on railway track
The group had come to Panipat to attend a wedding. Two of those killed were 19 years old and the third was 18.
FILE: Picture: Pixabay.com.
NEW DELHI - Three teenagers were killed while taking selfies on a railway track in India, the country which researchers say has the worst record for selfie-related deaths.
A fourth youth managed to jump to safety before the accident in Panipat city in the northern state of Haryana, a police officer told AFP Wednesday.
“The victims were busy taking selfies and when they saw a train approaching they jumped to a second track without realising another train was coming on that,” MS Dabas told AFP.
“One of them saved his life as he jumped on the other side of the track.”
Experts warn that youngsters obsessed with social media are going to extreme lengths in order to post selfies seen as daring and risky.
A study last year by researchers from the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences said 259 people across the world had died while taking selfies between 2011 and 2017.
The highest number of incidents and selfie deaths were reported in India followed by Russia, the United States, and Pakistan, the study said.
In 2017 three students were killed on a railway track in southern Karnataka state, while a man died in Odisha after an elephant wrapped its trunk around the man and crushed him to death as he tried to take a selfie with the animal.
Last year, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal took to Twitter to warn people against risking their life for the sake of photographs.
Trump tells congresswomen to 'go back' where they're from
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left tackle Kansas City Chiefs Chicago Bears He played for BYU until 1999 when he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the 14th pick in the draft that year, but when he flew to Kansas City, negotiations nearly broke down. They disagreed on financial matters,...
Vikings Family are natives of Tonga, but he was born in California before moving to Utah as a child…Was out of football from 2000-03 while serving a Mormon mission in Jacksonville, FL…Attended Granger High in West Valley City, Utah…Named the USA Today Player of the...
Seattle Seahawks Andy Stokes (born June 2, 1981) was Mr. Irrelevant i.e., the last pick–of the 2005 NFL Draft. The New England Patriots William Penn University Tight end. Cut by the Patriots during training camp, he went to the Arizona Cardinals He is now with...
Running back Detroit Lions He played college football at Brigham Young University. Originally drafted by Lions in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft. He has already had several knee injuries requiring...
Chargers A workout fanatic, Smith trains in San Diego with a personal trainer, along with the team’s strength and conditioning staff. While playing in San Francisco, Smith had the 49ers’ strength coach help him design a replica of the 49ers weight room in the garage...
He played for BYU was drafted by San Francisco 49ers won 2 super bowls, the went on to coach for Arizona Rattlers Football, San Jose Saber cats, and New...
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FanBuff | Find Clubs | Request Club Login
Demi Lovato Fan Club
Demi Lovato Live
On the Line (feat. Jonas Brothers)
Gonna Get Caught
Until You're Mine
Believe In Me
U Got Nothin' On Me
Get Points!
You are viewing this fan club as a guest. Get involved with this community by joining! Join Login or Login w/Facebook
"Here We Go Again" is Demi's second album, released in late July of 2009. This album shows off a more mature side of Demi while still containing lots of fun, upbeat songs that make you want to dance. Demi had big goals for Here We Go Again: "I wanted not only to make a great album, but I also want my music to inspire people, to help them get through whatever they're going through in their lives. That's the ultimate goal with every piece of music I make." As her loyal lovatics, we know that Demi is a perfectionist. She says that "If the song isn't coming out right, I'll stop it." and that is why it is such a great album!
It contains 12 beautiful songs (along with 2 bonus tracks) that have a unique Demi touch to every single one, check them out!
1. Here We Go Again – written by Isaac Hasson, Lindy Robbins, Mher Filian
2. Solo – written by Scott Culter, Anne Preven, Demi Lovato
3. U Got Nothin’ On Me – written by Isaac Hasson, Mher Filian, Demi Lovato
4. Falling Over Me – written by Jon McLaughlin, Demi Lovato, John Fields
5. Quiet – written by Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, Demi Lovato
6. Catch Me – written by Demi Lovato
7. Every Time You Lie – written by Jon McLaughlin, John Fields, Demi Lovato
8. Got Dynamite – written by Gary Clark, E. Kidd Bogart, Victoria Horn
9. Stop The World – written by Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, P.J. Bianco
10. World Of Chances – written by John Mayer, Demi Lovato
11. Remember December – written by John Fields, Demi Lovato, Anne Preven
12. Everything You’re Not – written by Toby Gad, Lindy Robbins, Demi Lovato
13. Gift Of A Friend – written by Adam Watts, Andy Dodd, Demi Lovato
14. So Far So Great (From Sonny With A Chance) – written by Aris Archontis, Jeannie Lurie, Chen Neeman
Demi has inspiring lyrics for all of her listeners on the powerful and whisper-to-a-scream bounce of "Everything You're Not," when she sings "I want a gentleman who treats me like a queen / I need respect, I need love, nothing in between." There are many songs about `lost love' on Here We Go Again, and Demi says, "I think this new album is more hopeful than Don't Forget. This is like being excited about breaking up and making up."
Here We Go Again not only exposes more of her singing talents, but also finds her branching out as a writer with such bold-faced names as John Mayer, "Torn" songwriter Anne Preven, and singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin. She also writes again with Nick Jonas on the beautiful track "Stop the World" which is so full of soul and herself. Demi notes, "When I was younger, my influences were R&B, like Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, and even Billie Holiday. More currently, my inspirations were John Mayer and Kelly Clarkson, so I wanted to combine the two, and hopefully we did that with this record. Of course, I was so excited to work with John Mayer."
Demi has written almost 300 songs in her few years and was beyond thrilled to co-write with the Grammy winner on her second album. They worked on two songs in the studio, both working on the words and collaborating on a duet with each other with the perfect, thoughtful ballad "World of Chances" landing on Here We Go Again, and a second song saved for later. Also, she was excited to write "Every Time I Lie" and "Falling Over Me" with singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin, saying that she was "totally star struck, but trying to act cool" throughout the whole experience.
Here we Go Again was written and recorded in three weeks with producer John Field (Rooney, Switchfoot, Jonas Brothers) who encouraged Demi to write songs like the spare, breathy "Catch Me," written in one of the few quiet moments she had at home alone on her guitar.
Althought the music was a clear change from her previous album, Demi didn't stop there. She looked to gain a different perspective on her live performances. Demi watched a Bruce Springsteen concert DVD over and over again. "Watching that DVD really helped," she admits. "Instead of worrying about what you look like, or if you hit the notes, it's understanding that people come to your concert to have fun with you and to experience your music with them. You're getting the opportunity to connect with every person all at once. Now I don't beat myself up if I hit a wrong chord on my guitar."
On Here We Go Again, with ultra-personal songs like the upbeat and sultry "Got Dynamite" and confessional pop perfection of "Solo," Demi met--and exceeded--her goals.She also made her name in acting thanks to the hit Disney roles she landed-- in the sitcom "Sonny With a Chance" and movie "Camp Rock"--but, Demi says "music is my first love."
Demi also experimented with a few songs she ultimately felt were too mature lyrically or that she worried might be too pointed. "When I'm a little older, maybe my fans will be ready. But this album really expresses my writing and look right now. Fortunately, I haven't had to compromise in my career but you do learn more about yourself writing about your life and feelings. It's like a diary, and not everyone gets the opportunity to do something like this."
Prev: Don't Forget Next: Here We Go Again
Page last updated by DemiLove on 4/12/2012
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eco-friendly schools
Posted by Cassie Frequelz under activism, Austin, austin, texas, clean energy, Commentary, current events, kids, Liberal, News, Political, Politics, Progressive, schools, Teen
OK. Texas started. In addition to the ones mentioned here, there are also schools with some solar panels. Can the whole country do this? Can we do a better job at recycling at school? Can we turn in more work electronically and not on paper? Can they cut down on the AC sometimes? What’s happening where you live?
Schools find it easy being green
Districts strive to make campuses eco-friendly.
Click-2-Listen
By Raven L. Hill
When it comes to building schools, district leaders and taxpayers are focused on being green: being environmentally friendly as well as fiscally responsible.
Several campuses are opening for the first time Monday in the Austin area, and dozens of other campuses and school buildings are under construction or are being renovated. Many have gone green — using recyclable materials in construction and operation and saving on water and energy — as part of a nationwide movement that touts green schools as healthier for students and cheaper to operate.
Almost four years ago, the Austin school district made the largest purchase to date of renewable energy from Austin Energy’s GreenChoice program: 45.7 million kilowatt-hours annually of solar, wind or geothermal power. It was the largest such purchase by a school district nationwide. The district is eligible for $430,000 in Austin Energy rebates for environmentally friendly projects in the 2004 $519.5 million bond program.
When Pickle Elementary School opened in Northeast Austin in 1999, it was the first Austin campus to include green building features like proper solar orientation to better take advantage of natural light, which helps it use 25 percent less energy than other campuses, along with rainwater collection to replace water that evaporates out of air conditioners and salvaged long-leaf pine floors. An analysis estimates that those features will save the district $12 million over the life of the school.
Schools represent the largest construction sector in the nation, with $53 billion being spent this year, and they are the fastest-growing market for green building, which is expected to account for 5 percent to 10 percent of the school construction market by 2010, according to the Council of Educational Facility Planners International.
About 60 schools across the country, including two in Dallas and Houston, have been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization in Washington that sets “green” standards. An additional 370 are in the pipeline; one San Marcos school is among the nine in Texas.
I wonder who is behind THESE people.
Not everyone believes that it’s easier being green, however. Saying that building costs would skyrocket, the Fast Growth School Coalition, a group of 124 Texas school districts, helped defeat a bill during the most recent legislative session that would have required all school construction to fall in line with standards set by the Green Building Council.
Better news on energy
Posted by Cassie Frequelz under clean energy, Commentary, democrats, Election 2008, global warming, Liberal, News, Political, Politics, Progressive, Texas, YouThinkLeft
Comments Off on Better news on energy
Aryeh wrote yesterday at YouThinkLeft about how Obama supported liquefied coal, which is one of the most inefficient uses of fossil fuel yet invented, and about how this will cost him among environmentally-conscious voters.
There’s better news this week out of Texas. Yes, Texas. A $20 million dollar wind power research center will be built in Corpus
Christi in order to test longer wind turbine blades and other innovations in the area of wind power.
An article from yesterday’s Dallas Star-Telegram explains that:
Texas strengthened its position as the nation’s No. 1 wind-energy state Monday when the U.S. Department of Energy selected a site near Corpus Christi for one of two $20 million research centers for next-generation wind-turbine blades.
The Lone Star Wind Alliance, which includes universities in Texas and other states as well as state agencies, has pledged $18 million to design, build and operate the research center on 22 acres in Ingleside donated by BP. The Energy Department will contribute $2 million in test equipment.
A site in Boston also was selected with a similar financial arrangement.
The centers will test blades as long as 100 meters, or about 330 feet, about 50 percent larger than the longest blades currently produced and about twice as long as the blades commonly used in new installations. The larger blades are outgrowing the research capabilities of the government’s facility in Colorado.
“These two testing facilities represent an important next step in the expansion of the competitiveness of the U.S. wind-energy industry,” Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said in a statement. The government’s contributions are subject to congressional appropriations.
The same article also notes that the United States is far behind Europe in developing this technology, but also points out that this recent decision by the U.S. Department of energy helps Texas to strengthen “its position as the nation’s No. 1 wind-energy state“.
Posted by Cassie Frequelz under austin, texas, clean energy, Commentary, global warming, Liberal, Political, Politics, Progressive, science, Teen, YouThinkLeft
Comments Off on World Environment Day
World Environment Day — What can WE do?
Bryce from YouthInkLeft had a great post this morning giving his ideas for ways we can celebrate World Environment Day, June 5. As that day draws to a close, it’s time to look at what actions we can do for the environment for the days and months ahead. Bryce gave great suggestions for things people can do, and I have a few more to add.
Get the government to require better mileage and force the auto makers to sell their efficient cars here. If they sell them in Europe, they should sell them here.
Start a campaign to get your town or county to use solar and wind energy. Here’s an example.
Get energy-saving products for your home, including new technology like this:
sunlight table
efficient light bulbs
solar or electric cars
swamp coolers instead of air conditioning
Get rid of junk mail.
Learn even more.
This one’s my favorite, but I don’t think I’ll get one. 😦 Not this year.
What else can we do? Any or all of us?
Like most of my political posts,
this is cross-posted at Political Teen Tidbits and at YouThinkLeft.
Texas, please get with the program
Posted by Cassie Frequelz under clean energy, Political, Politics, science, Texas
I hate the idea that I am in the state that was just named “No. 1 in carbon dioxide emissions” by the AP. THIS is why we need more solar and wind energy and a lot less coal.
Dubious honor: Texas No. 1 in carbon dioxide emissions
By SETH BORENSTEIN
WASHINGTON — America may spew more greenhouse gases than any other country, but some states are astonishingly more prolific polluters than others — and it’s not always the ones you might expect.
The Associated Press analyzed state-by-state emissions of carbon
dioxide from 2003, the latest U.S. Energy Department numbers available. The review shows startling differences in states’ contribution to climate change.
The biggest reason? The burning of high-carbon coal to produce cheap electricity.
—Wyoming’s coal-fired power plants produce more carbon dioxide in just eight hours than the power generators of more populous Vermont do in a year.
—Texas, the leader in emitting this greenhouse gas, cranks out more
than the next two biggest producers combined, California and
Pennsylvania, which together have twice Texas’ population.
—In sparsely populated Alaska, the carbon dioxide produced per person
by all the flying and driving is six times the per capita amount
generated by travelers in New York state.
“There’s no question that some states have made choices to be greener
than others,” said former top Energy Department official Joseph Romm,
author of the new book “Hell and High Water” and executive director of
a nonprofit energy conservation group.
The disparity in carbon dioxide emissions is one of the reasons there
is no strong national effort to reduce global warming gases, some experts say. National emissions dipped ever so slightly last year, but
that was mostly because of mild weather, according to the Energy
“Some states are benefiting from both cheap electricity while polluting
the planet and make all the rest of us suffer the consequences of
global warming,” said Frank O’Donnell, director of the Washington
environmental group Clean Air Watch. “I don’t think that’s fair at all.”
He noted that the states putting out the most carbon dioxide are doing the least to control it, except for California.
Several federal and state officials say it’s unfair and nonsensical to
examine individual states’ contribution to what is a global problem.
“If the atmosphere could talk it wouldn’t say, ‘Kudos to California,
not so good to Wyoming’,” said assistant energy secretary Alexander
“Andy” Karsner. “It would say, ‘Stop sending me emissions.'”
Some coal-burning states note that they are providing electricity to customers beyond their borders, including Californians. Wyoming is the largest exporter of energy to other states, Gov. Dave Freudenthal told The Associated Press.
He said two-thirds of the state’s carbon footprint “is a consequence of
energy that is developed to feed the rest of the national economy. That
doesn’t mean that somehow then it’s good carbon, I’m just saying that’s
why those numbers come out the way are,” Freudenthal said.
And the massive carbon dioxide-spewing and power-gobbling refineries of Texas and Louisiana fuel an oil-hungry nation, whose residents whine
when gasoline prices rise.
However, some of the disparities are stunning.
On a per-person basis, Wyoming spews more carbon dioxide than any other state or any other country: 276,000 pounds of it per capita a year, thanks to burning coal, which provides nearly all of the state’s electrical power.
Yet, just next door to the west, Idaho emits the least carbon dioxide per person, less than 23,000 pounds a year. Idaho forbids coal power plants. It relies mostly on non-polluting hydroelectric power from its
rivers.
Texas, where coal barely edges out cleaner natural gas as the top power
source, belches almost 1 1/2 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide yearly.
That’s more than every nation in the world except six: the United States, China, Russia, Japan, India and Germany.
Of course, Texas is a very populous state. North Dakota isn’t, but its
power plants crank out 68 percent more carbon dioxide than New Jersey, which has 13 times North Dakota’s residents.
And while Californians have cut their per-person carbon dioxide
emissions by 11 percent from 1990 to 2003, Nebraskans have increased their per capita emissions by 16 percent over the same time frame.
Officials in Wyoming, North Dakota and Alaska say numbers in their
states are skewed because of their small populations. But Vermont,
Rhode Island and the District of Columbia are similar in size and have
one-12th the per-capita emissions of Wyoming.
A lot of it comes down to King Coal.
Like most of my political posts, this is cross-posted at Political Teen Tidbits and at YouThinkLeft.
Gas Prices Hit a Record High
Posted by Cassie Frequelz under Blogroll, clean energy, Commentary, current events, News, Political, Politics
Who’s enjoying all these high gas prices? Not consumers. Not drivers. Not truckers. Yep, you guessed it …
Is it time yet for fuel efficient cars and alternative sources of energy?
Posted by Cassie Frequelz under Blogroll, clean energy, Commentary, congress, current events, freedom of speech, George W. Bush, Iran, Iraq, Liberal, News, Political, Politics, Progressive, U.S. military, White House
The US is number 1 !!!! (Is that a good thing?))
There is a new list out of all of the things that United States leads in. Unfortunately, the list excludes things like health care, education, press freedom and income equality. Instead, consider these items:
First in oil consumption:
The United States burns up 20.7 million barrels per day, the equivalent of the oil consumption of China, Japan, Germany, Russia, and India combined.
First in carbon dioxide emissions:
Each year, world polluters pump 24,126,416,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment. The United States
and its territories are responsible for 5.8 billion metric tons of
this, more than China (3.3 billion), Russia (1.4 billion) and India
(1.2 billion) combined.
First in external debt:
The United States owes $10.040 trillion, nearly a quarter of the global debt total of $44 trillion.
First in military expenditures:
The White House has requested $481 billion for the Department of
Defense for 2008, but this huge figure does not come close to
representing total U.S. military expenditures projected for the coming
year. To get a sense of the resources allocated to the military, the
costs of the global war on terrorism, of the building, refurbishing, or
maintaining of the U.S. nuclear arsenal and other expenses also need to be factored in. Military analyst Winslow Wheeler did the math recently: “Add $142 billion to cover the anticipated costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; add $17 billion requested for nuclear weapons costs in the Department of Energy; add another $5 billion for miscellaneous defense costs in other agencies … and you get a grand total of $647 billion for 2008.”
Taking another approach to the use of U.S. resources, Columbia University economist Joseph Stiglitz and Harvard Business School lecturer Linda Bilmes added to known costs of the war in Iraq invisible costs like its impact on global oil prices as well as the long-term cost of healthcare for wounded veterans and came up with a price tag of between $1 trillion and $2.2 trillion.
If we turned what the United States will spend on the military in 2008 into small bills, we could give each one of the world’s more than 1 billion teenagers and young adults an Xbox 360 with wireless controller (power supply in remote rural areas not included) and two video games to play: maybe Gears of War and Command and Conquer would be appropriate. But if we’re committed to fighting obesity, maybe Dance Dance Revolution would be a better bet. The United States alone spends what the rest of the world combined devotes to military expenditures.
First in weapons sales:
Since 2001, U.S. global military sales have normally totaled between
$10 and $13 billion. That’s a lot of weapons, but in fiscal year 2006,
the Pentagon broke its own recent record, inking arms sales agreements worth $21 billion. It almost goes without saying that this is significantly more than any other nation in the world.
First in sales of surface-to-air missiles:
Between 2001 and 2005, the United States delivered 2,099 surface-to-air missiles to nations in the developing world, 20 percent more than Russia, the next-largest supplier.
First in sales of military ships:
During that same period, the United States sent 10 “major surface combatants” like aircraft carriers and destroyers to developing nations. Collectively, the four major European weapons producers shipped 13. (And we were first in the anti-ship missiles that go along with such ships, with nearly double [338] the exports of the next largest supplier Russia [180]).
First in military training:
A thoughtful empire knows that it is not enough to send weapons; you have to teach people how to use them. The Pentagon plans on training the militaries of 138 nations in 2008 at a cost of nearly $90 million. No other nation comes close.
First in private military personnel:
According to bestselling author Jeremy Scahill, there are at least 126,000 private military personnel deployed alongside uniformed military personnel in Iraq alone. Of the more than 60 major companies that supply such personnel worldwide, more than 40
are U.S.-based.
And here are some things where we are no longer #1:
Not first in automobiles:
Once, Chrysler, General Motors and Ford ruled the domestic and global roost, setting the standard for the automotive industry. Not any more. In 2006, the United States imported almost $150 billion more in vehicles and auto parts than it sent abroad. Automotive analyst Joe Barker told the Boston Globe, “It’s a very tough environment” for the so-called Detroit Three. “In times of softening demand, consumers typically will look to brands that they trust and rely on. Consumers trust and rely on Japanese brands.”
Not even first in bulk goods:
The Department of Commerce
recently announced total March exports of $126.2 billion and total
imports of $190.1 billion, resulting in a goods and services deficit of
$63.9 billion. This is a $6 billion increase over February.
Helping Texas change policy can help the planet
Posted by Cassie Frequelz under Blogroll, clean energy, current events, global warming, Political, Politics, Texas
Comments Off on Helping Texas change policy can help the planet
Oil and coal are important industries in Texas, so it makes some sense that the state legislature wants to protect them, but global warming is real and it is happening very fast and we need to do more to counteract it. Changing 10 lightbulbs in my small apartment is a help but there needs to be a change at the level of industry, public financed infrastructure, energy planning, and and big corporations. So why is Texas going the other way? As reported on the front page of today’s Austin-American Statesman, Global warming measures on hold.
The lawmakers in Texas are concerned about the owners of power plants, who contribute to their campaigns but they are not serving the needs of Texans or the planet. According to the article
A United Nations report released Friday says
policymakers around the globe should take stronger steps to address
climate change. In Texas, however, lawmakers have largely shrugged off
the issue.
The state of Texas is not serious enough about this issue and the lawmakers don’t seem to realize that there can be a lot of economic growth for the state in alternative energy, such as wind and solar power. Some laws about that have been proposoed this session,
But most proposals at the Capitol explicitly
addressing climate change have languished in committees. Committee
heads say they don’t believe human activity affects climate change and
say they don’t want to put the state at a competitive disadvantage
before the federal government acts.”
Given the fact below and the huge number of coal power plants in Texas, it is time for environmentalists everywhere, and anyone who cares about the future of our planet, to help change the policies in Texas.
U.N. scientists estimate that the biggest
increases in carbon dioxide emissions could come in electrical
generation and urged policymakers to shift away from coal-fired power
plants to natural gas, nuclear and renewable sources.
Texas Campaign for the Environment and Environment Texas may be good places to start.
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Action Plan 2030 to Protect the Great Lakes proposed Leading Great Lakes Advocates make case for10-year, $100M/year strategy
Posted on June 18, 2019 by Ann Baughman
June 18, 2019- Toronto, ON
Today, following a nine-month intensive study and consultation process, five leading Great Lakes organisations submitted a 10-year Action Plan to protect the Great Lakes (Action Plan 2030) to Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, and shared it with the Honourable Rod Phillips, Ontario’s Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks. The organizations are calling on the Federal Government to invest $100 million per year over ten years to implement the plan, that will serve as leverage to secure matching investments from other levels of government and other sources.
“Canada is working with the United States to protect the Great Lakes,” said the Hon. Catherine McKenna, Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, “Together we can find solutions to complex problems facing the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River including fighting climate change. When we restore and protect our fresh water, we not only secure the health of our environment, but also the health, culture and economy of millions of Canadians.”
Action Plan 2030 was prepared under the direction of an Expert Panel co-chaired by two esteemed environmental specialists, Mr. Gord Miller, former Environment Commissioner of Ontario, and M. Jean Cinq-Mars, Québec’s former Sustainable Development Commissioner. Working closely with experts, stakeholders, and indigenous advisors, they studied new approaches to tackle four complex challenges facing the Canadian portion of the Great Lakes – climate change, toxics and other harmful pollutants, nutrients that contribute to harmful algal blooms, and bacteriological contamination of beaches.
“While progress in protecting the Great Lakes has been made over the years, the combined impacts of climate change, population growth, and intensive farming and industrial activity demands a new approach,” said Expert Panel co-chair Gord Miller, “By targeting sources of pollution having the greatest impact, the Action Plan proposes more strategic and surgical interventions using new kinds of collaboration, technologies and big data.”
The Action Plan to Protect the Great Lakes was inspired by the U.S Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a federal program that has delivered over $2 billion in funding for Great Lakes restoration since 2008 and resulted in a 3:1 return on investment. It is supported by both major political parties in the United States. Action Plan 2030 shows us the way forward in Great Lakes protection.
Protecting such a vast and valuable ecosystem requires significant and sustained investment like the GLRI on the US side of the Lakes,” said Jean Cinq-Mars, Expert Panel Co-chair. “We need the same kind of multi-partisan leadership and commitment this side of the border.”
The Action Plan to Protect the Great Lakes consists of 15 key actions to protect the Great Lakes and those who live in the region. When implemented, these actions would:
Protect Great Lakes shoreline communities and ecosystems that are most vulnerable to high water levels and make them ‘climate resilient’;
Reduce our exposure to toxics, by actively identifying and reducing human and environmental exposure to harmful chemicals in the Great Lakes region, in the air, water, ground and in products;
Accelerate phosphorus reduction into our waterways that cause harmful algal blooms, by targeting areas or properties that contribute the most;
Make contaminated beaches clean and safe by taking action to address sources of sewage and other bacteriological contamination.
“By getting information about our exposure to pollutants in the environment and in products into the hands of communities and individuals, Action Plan 2030 will help us make more informed choices and will drive action to eliminate those sources of pollution,” said Anishinabek Nation Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Edward Wawia, a member of the Expert Panel.
The five organizations, who originally proposed the idea of an Action Plan to Minister McKenna, including the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, the Council of the Great Lakes Region, Freshwater Future Canada, and Stratégies Saint Laurent, are leading advocates for Great Lakes and St. Lawrence protection, representing diverse perspectives including municipal governments, business and industry, fisheries management, and environmental and conservation interests.
“Mayors and municipal leaders are concerned about the record flooding in many communities, and welcome Action Plan 2030’s recommendations for new approaches and investments,” said Sarah Rang, Deputy Director of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.
“Home to 1 in 3 Canadians, preserving the health of the Great Lakes is vitally important for protecting public health and the integrity of our natural systems, but also for ensuring our future prosperity as the lakes support a number of key economic sectors and communities in Ontario,” said Mark Fisher, President and CEO of the Council of the Great Lakes Region.
A copy of Action Plan 2030 can be found at www.westbrookpa.com/glslcollab .
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7 Trends to Watch in 2010 – Colleges Face the Perfect Storm
9.) Trends to Watch in 2010 – TV-Internet Convergence
8 Trends to Watch in 2010 – Alternatives to Incarceration
by Thomas Frey | Dec 31, 2009 | Future Trends
In a country that claims to be the land of the free, the number of people under the control of the U.S. corrections system has exploded over the last 25 years to more than 7.3 million, or 1 in every 31 U.S. adults, according to a report released by the Pew Center on the States. The actual number of people behind bars rose to 2.3 million, nearly five times more than the world’s average.
The U.S. currently boasts the highest rate of incarceration of any country at any time in history, a full 25% of the world’s prison population. We also have the greatest number of laws of any country at any time in history, laws created by nearly 90,000 separate governmental entities. This spaghetti mess of rules and regulation is so complicated that virtually any person can get tripped up by them. One simple mistake may very well result in incarceration, and it goes downhill from there.
Incarceration is a system that breeds failure.
On the prisoner level, an incoming prisoner is instantly immersed in an “us-vs-them” mindset as their surrounding community is transformed into the worst of all possible social circles.
On the operational level, success in the prison industry is not measured by how many lives have been improved, but rather on occupancy levels, the number of prison incidents and escape attempts, and how well the budget is managed.
On the justice system level, more prisoners translate into larger budgets. The system was created to protect people from criminals. Its based on the notion that if someone is removed from society they can no longer harm anyone. While certain crimes warrant imprisonment, it becomes an inappropriate form of punishment for most.
Police and court systems improve their standing in the justice community through the size of their organization which directly relates to the sheer volume of cases they handle. On a certain level, albeit indirectly, there are incentives to “create more criminals” because more criminals mean more money. A more appropriate measure of the effectiveness of an organization would be in the corrective or transformative nature of their actions, the overall efficiency with which a problem is solved and people (both the offenders and the offended) go back to leading productive lives.
The flaws in the overreaching authority of the U.S. justice system can be found in the system itself. There are no checks and balances on the system level for the criminal justice system. There are no caps or upper limits, no incentives for rehabilitating criminals.
Fact is that people coming out of the system are worse than when they went in, and virtually all of them will eventually make it back into society. There are no ways of measuring the toll it takes on society on an individual level, the relationships it severs, the dreams it shatters, the cost of opportunities lost.
Individuals who enter the prison system lose their jobs and their ability to earn an income. The spillover effect is severe. In most instances it has major repercussions on their spouse, their children, parents, siblings, and friends. For the victims it offers little resolution. Each imprisonment creates a blast zone of destruction that is difficult to recover from.
Authorities will be hard pressed to argue that the U.S. has an inferior gene pool, so therefore higher incarceration rates are warranted. They will also be hard pressed to argue that the system works well. A recent study showed that among nearly 275,000 prisoners released, 67.5% were rearrested within 3 years, and 51.8% went back in prison.
Making matters worse, 35% of the people entering prisons in the U.S. are there for violating parole.
Some minority groups are being particularly hard hit. Jeremy Travis, President of John Jay College of Criminal Justice puts it this way. “On a national level, an African-American man today has a 30 percent lifetime chance of serving at least one year in prison. I would like to be optimistic about the likelihood of reversing this reality and returning to the status quo of 1972, but I think the chances of even getting close to that are slim. I think we have to recognize that we now live—regrettably in my view—in an era of mass incarceration.”
Martin Horn, NY City Corrections Commissioner, voices a similar concern. “We are creating a culture of imprisonment; we are turbo-charging whatever is going wrong in those young people’s lives.”
In addition to the great human toll of incarceration, $68 billion of our taxpayer dollars has been committed to pay for this travesty.
In the past two decades, state general fund spending on corrections increased by more than 300%, outpacing other essential government services like education, transportation, and public assistance.
But things may finally be looking up. We are simply too broke to keep locking people up.
Incarceration rates in 30 states declined last year. Could this be an indication that the $22,000 per year spent on housing prisoners is starting to outweigh the benefits?
The U.S. has constructed a massively bureaucratic justice system that feeds off the missteps of its citizens, a system that it can no longer afford. As a result, new systems are coming to light.
Restorative Justice is one such approach where offenders are brought into the same room with the people they harmed and encouraged to take responsibility for their actions. Sometimes they agree to repair or pay for the damage, return stolen money, or perform community service.
In Longmont, Colorado, Chief of Police Mike Butler has been a pioneer in Restorative Justice techniques, applying it in more than 1,200 cases with an amazing 90% success rate.
“We work with people before the lawyers get involved and before they enter the courts,” says Butler. “By doing this, we have been able to eliminate most of the costs and give the offenders a reasonable shot at turning their life around.”
These offenders are given a chance to meet with their victims and community members in a respectful process where they can learn the full impact of their crime and agree to repair their harm. On average 90% complete their agreements and are welcomed back to the community. Its a far different model than the old school idea of just “lock ’em up!”
Restorative Justice is a balance between the rights of offenders and the needs of victims. Perhaps better stated, it is a balance between the need to rehabilitate offenders and the duty to protect the public.
You might think it is dangerous to allow lawbreakers back into the community, yet the opposite appears to be true. The average re-arrest rate for offenders who participate in Longmont’s restorative justice program is 10%.
Compare that to the nearly 70% re-arrest rate for the national penal system. According to participant feedback data, every group engaged in the Longmont program – including victims, offenders, parents and community members – reported over 95% satisfaction with their restorative justice experience.
In restorative justice, because victims are heard and offenders repair the harm of their crime, they become higher functioning citizens able to work and make a contribution to their community, including paying their share of taxes.
So why hasn’t Restorative Justice caught on in a big way yet? My guess is that the current prison system has a lot of inertia and any changes will require the buy-in from everyone currently working inside the system. Barring any legislative changes, its just easier to maintain the status quo.
Even though the signals are weak, the system is too broken to be maintained. Look for the U.S. prison population to decline by over 25% over the next ten years.
Look for a significant defunding of the justice system and a radically new set of criteria for measuring success.
OPPORTUNITIES:
There will be major opportunities for those who can help unravel the present bureaucracy and help rethink the new system that will soon be created.
Since many of the people in the currently criminal justice system will be looking for new career paths, significant opportunities will be found in helping people through the transitions.
Prisoners who are released early through this process, and there will be many of them, represent a sizable labor force that can, and should, be put to good use.
Many existing prisons will be closed. These facilities will need to be converted into other uses.
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Gov. Newsom’s First Actions Target Health Care
Posted 5:02 PM, January 7, 2019, by Associated Press, Updated at 05:01PM, January 7, 2019
SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first act as governor Monday was to propose state-funded health coverage for 138,000 young people in the country illegally and a reinstatement of a mandate that everyone buy insurance or face fines.
Newsom also proposed giving subsidies to middle-class families that make too much to qualify them under former President Barack Obama’s health care law. He signed an order giving the state more bargaining power in negotiating prescription drug prices and sent a letter to President Donald Trump and congressional leaders seeking more authority over federal health care dollars.
California has always helped write America’s future. That’s why one of my first acts as governor is a series of bold, first in the nation actions to lower prescription drug prices and move California closer to health care for all. pic.twitter.com/O12sf4oAoQ
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 8, 2019
Newsom was elected following a campaign that leaned heavily on his promise to provide health coverage to everyone. His actions hours after he took the oath of office take a step in that direction but the $760 million price tag will require approval from the Democratically controlled Legislature.
His proposals were a preview of his budget to be released later this week. They mirror ideas pushed last year by Democrats in the Assembly, who were unable to convince former Gov. Jerry Brown to embrace them.
Newsom Touts a ‘California for All’ in Inaugural Address
California has a projected surplus of $15 billion.
Obama’s health law required everyone in the country to buy insurance or pay a penalty, a controversial policy meant to ensure that the insurance pool has a mix of healthy and sick people. The penalty was zeroed out in 2017 by the Republican Congress and President Donald Trump. Insurance companies, concerned that only people with expensive health problems would buy coverage, responded by raising premiums for people who buy their own coverage without going through an employer.
California would join Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont as states with their own insurance mandates.
Obama’s health law also created subsidies to help people buy coverage if they don’t get it from an employer or a government program such as Medicare or Medicaid. The subsidies cover a large share of the cost for people with modest incomes but phase out as incomes rise, topping out at about $48,000 per year for an individual and $100,000 for a family of four.
With high monthly premiums and large deductibles before insurance kicks in for many services, those plans can be too expensive for many, especially those who lack a federal subsidy. Newsom would use $500 million in state money to make the subsidies larger for 1.1 million families that already get them and provide new assistance to about 250,000 people who make too much.
From Brown to Newsom, California to See New Style, Substance
Newsom’s plan would provide financial assistance for individuals who make up to about $73,000 a year and families of four making up to $150,000.
California’s uninsured rate has dropped from 16 percent in 2013 to just over 7 percent four years later. Many of those who still lack coverage are ineligible for publicly funded programs, such as Medi-Cal and private insurance subsidies, because they’re living in the country illegally.
Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid, is jointly funded by the state and federal government and provides coverage to one in three Californians.
California uses state money to extend Medi-Cal coverage to people living in the country illegally up to age 19. Newsom proposes pushing back the cutoff to age 26, covering an additional 138,000 people at a cost of about $260 million a year, according to Newsom’s spokesman, Nathan Click.
Newsom signed an executive order directing state agencies to move toward purchasing drugs in bulk for all of the 13 million people on Medi-Cal. Purchasing for all but 2 million people is currently handled by the private insurers that serve as managed care organizations. Newsom hopes bulk purchasing drugs will give the state enormous bargaining power to negotiate lower prices.
His order directs state agencies to explore letting others, including employers and private insurers — join the state’s purchasing pool.
10 Things to Know About California’s New Democratic Governor
Filed in: California Connection
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California Eyes Health Care for Immigrants in US Illegally
California Legislature OKs Health Insurance Mandate
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Strategic Dialogue: Libya after Gaddafi
In this strategic dialogue, Michael Berube and David Gibbs reply to each other’s initial essays on the legacy of the NATO intervention in Libya.
By David Gibbs and Michael Berube, January 17, 2012 .
In this strategic dialogue, Michael Bérubé and David Gibbs reply to each other’s initial essays on the legacy of the NATO intervention in Libya. You can read Berube’s initial essay here and Gibbs’ essay here.
The most striking feature of Michael Bérubé’s recent Foreign Policy In Focus article is his assumption that Western leaders can be trusted to use violence responsibly. This assumption suffuses the whole essay. Accordingly, he concludes that the Libyan people will control their own future, without foreign influence:
[O]ne thing seems certain for now – the immediate future of Libya will be determined overwhelmingly by the Libyan people themselves. Critics of NATO’s intervention in Libya should explain whether this outcome is unacceptable to them, and if so, why.
There is an implication that the NATO states will refrain from abusing their power by meddling in Libyan politics, which will be left to the Libyan people. Bérubé seems quite sure of all this.
Under scrutiny, however, Bérubé’s assumption appears dubious. If one surveys the history of international relations, great powers have regularly meddled in the internal politics of other countries, in order to obtain strategic or economic benefits. It is only common sense that they would seek such benefits, and there is no reason to assume Libya will be any exception to this basic trend. Indeed, Libya’s vast oil reserves, which are the ninth largest in the world, would constitute a rich prize for the Western states, and for private interests within those states.
In surveying past interventions in Vietnam, Chile, Congo, Italy, Haiti, Iraq, Iran, or numerous other targets, we see that the United States has a long history of meddling, for self-interested reasons, and then lying to the public about it. Indeed, the CIA and the National Endowment for Democracy were largely created for the purpose of meddling. France and Britain too have extensive histories of intervention, with unpleasant results. One senses that Bérubé would like to flush this history down the proverbial memory hole, along with other inconvenient facts; including the Western intimacy with the Gaddafi dictatorship, which endured up until the revolts against him, beginning less than one year ago.
In addition, Bérubé’s essay raises a larger issue, which is the atmosphere of naïveté that now pervades liberal opinion in the United States. Increasingly, discussions of foreign policyare marred by sentimentality, wishful thinking, and unrealistic assumptions. Bérubé’s writing offers an excellent illustration of a more basic problem.
There was a time in the past when U.S. liberals could see through official propaganda and look critically at the foreign policies of both political parties. Consider the following 1974 statements by Daniel Ellsberg, regarding U.S. intervention in Vietnam:
Truman lied from 1950 on, on the nature and purposes of the French involvement, the colonial reconquest of Vietnam that we were financing…Eisenhower lied about the reasons for and the nature of our involvement with [South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh] Diem…Kennedy lied about the type of involvement we were doing there, our own combat involvement…Johnson of course lied and lied and lied.
Note the intellectual toughness and moral integrity of Ellsberg’s remarks — and compare them with the banality of Mr. Bérubé’s essay, which is basically an advertisement for the Democratic Party and the Obama reelection campaign.
One must lament this loss of critical analysis, which is evident throughout the liberal establishment.The analytical vacuum that results from this situation forms part of the larger context in which humanitarian intervention can become popular.
The cause of humanitarian intervention clearly has become a moral crusade for liberal intellectuals, who seem infatuated with the idea of righteous violence. But it is a peculiar crusade, given the appalling history of interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the former Yugoslavia, and probably in Libya as well. These interventions have absorbed vast amounts of resources that could have been better used, for more genuinely humanitarian purposes, while they have increased human suffering in the targeted countries. They have empowered agencies of the state, notably the military and intelligence services, which have long records of destruction and public deception, and little interest in democratic accountability.They have contributed to the intimidation of legitimate dissent (an activity in which both Bérubé and Juan Cole have participated through their smears and ad hominem attacks against the antiwar movement).
And finally, the pro-intervention crusade has distracted activists from taking on issues (fighting global austerity for example) that actually can improve peoples’ lives, with little risk of harm — and without bombing anyone.
Michael Bérubé
In his initial response to my essay on Libya, published in Alexander Cockburn’s journal Counterpunch, David Gibbs concluded on a preposterous note: “Bérubé presents himself as part of the ‘decent left,’ but he uses the same techniques as David Horowitz and the McCarthyite right.” My record of opposition to Horowitz is well known, and need not be rehearsed here. (Would that Gibbs had joined that fight.) But as for the charge of McCarthyism: so far, I have not established a congressional committee to blacklist antiwar activists, or instituted loyalty oaths, or removed antiwar faculty from their positions. I plead guilty only to writing an essay for a small independent journal. I did not believe it was possible, at this late date, to cheapen political discourse still further by evacuating the term “McCarthyite” of whatever meaning the term retains. I admit that I was wrong in this belief.
But I am happy to see that David Gibbs’ contribution to this forum is conducted in a more sober register. With regard to Libya’s immediate future, I agree with Gibbs’ assessment that it is still too early to tell what will come of NATO’s intervention:
the facts on the ground are ambiguous. On the one hand, the National Transitional Council (NTC) has achieved full control of the country, and so far has avoided the post-Gaddafi chaos that many had feared. On the other hand, the situation remains unstable, as indicated by the frequent clashes among rival militia groups for control of Tripoli and other areas.
Likewise, I want to second Gibbs’ clear-eyed view of the Gaddafi regime: “No one should mourn the fall of Gaddafi, who (despite some accomplishments) remained at base an unsavory and megalomaniacal figure. The question is whether the new regime will prove any better – or worse — than what came before.”
I did not write my essay on the antiwar left and Libya in order to take issue with such positions. Apparently I need to make this very clear, because in her contribution to Counterpunch, Diana Johnstone gets this precisely wrong: “In his article, ‘Libya and the Left: Benghazi and After,’ Michael Bérubé uses the occasion to bunch together the varied critics of the war as ‘the Manichean left.’” On the contrary, I tried to use the occasion to distinguish careful and plausible critics of the war from hard-left culture warriors in their hardened bunkers; among the latter I should single out for distinction Alexander Cockburn himself, who used the occasion of Gaddafi’s ouster to write an embarrassing mash note mourning his fall:
Dollar for dollar I doubt Qaddafi has a rival in any assessment of the amount of oil revenues in his domain actually distributed for benign social purposes. Derision is heaped on his Green Book, but in intention it can surely stand favorable comparison with kindred Western texts. Anyone labeled by Ronald Reagan “This mad dog of the Middle East” has an honored place in my personal pantheon.
David Gibbs that knows Libya’s future is precarious, though the country is not currently in chaos, and he has no illusions about Gaddafi’s rule. So far, so good. Where he and I differ is on the legitimacy of NATO’s intervention, and on its likely consequences for the Middle East and for NATO nations.
On the Middle East, Gibbs writes, “the resulting sense of hubris augments the risk of future military actions against Iran, Syria, and other possible targets.” But Syria is headed toward civil war as we speak, as a result of internal Syrian revolt, and as I noted in my initial contribution to this forum, there are no plausible prospects for Western intervention. The fate of Western involvement in Iran, I fear, will depend largely on the 2012 presidential election (though few hardened leftists will credit that argument). On the home front, Gibbs writes, “the Libyan success will generate heightened levels of military expenditure. The British military has already been using the intervention as an argument for more funding; the same situation will no doubt occur in France and the United States as well.” But it has not occurred in the United States, where current discussion about reducing our insanely bloated military budget does not reference Libya at all.
Where Gibbs is most grievously wrong, however, is on the history and principles of intervention. His essay studiously ignores the degree to which the Libyan intervention won regional and international legitimacy, and rehearses some post-Kosovo arguments that seem strained to the breaking point. “Purported efforts at humanitarian intervention have certainly made things worse in the past,” he writes, misleadingly adducing Iraq and Afghanistan. But “humanitarian intervention” was a desperate and flimsy post hoc justification for the Iraq War; the casus belli advanced in 2002-03 was Saddam’s purportedly fearful cache of WMD. Humanitarian intervention and the “responsibility to protect” (R2P) were never invoked with regard to Afghanistan, where the casus belli (long since expired, in my view) had to do with al-Qaeda’s base camp in Tora Bora and its links to the Taliban.
More to the point, humanitarian intervention certainly made things better in East Timor and Sierra Leone. People who are seriously interested in internationalism should acknowledge that much and try to draw the appropriate lessons from those interventions.
As for the Balkans, Gibbs continues to insist, as he has for over a decade, that “past interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo worsened the humanitarian crises in those areas, a point that is well documented even if little known,” even though (a) this claim is widely circulated on the hard left, and (b) this claim pretends that the crisis in the Balkans began in 1999.
Gibbs is opposed to “warmongering,” and that’s fine when the alternative to war is peace– rather than, say, genocidal massacres or ethnic cleansing. But when he says the Libya intervention “demonstrates liberals’ abandonment of their traditional peace position,” I have to reply that there have been times when principled people on the left supported intervention on behalf of popular uprisings against autocrats. I am grateful that the internationalist left with which I identify did not listen to people like David Gibbs in the 1930s and 1980s, and formed the Abraham Lincoln Brigade and the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador. I trust that this internationalist tradition will survive our debate about Libya.
Foreign Policy In Focus contributor Michael Bérubé is the Paterno Family Professor in Literature at Pennsylvania State University, where he teaches cultural studies and American literature. He is the author of The Left at War, among other titles. Foreign Policy In Focus contributor David N. Gibbs is professor of history at the University of Arizona in Tucson. His latest book is First Do No Harm: Humanitarian Intervention and the Destruction of Yugoslavia (Vanderbilt, 2009). He can be reached at dgibbs@arizona.edu.
Issues: War & Peace
Tags: Humanitarian Intervention, Libya, libya intervention, NATO
North Korea climate change Syria Iraq War Iran United Nations diplomacy military spending immigration NATO Libya Refugees Isis Terrorism Donald Trump Gaza nuclear weapons Islamic State Military Intervention China
Libya: A Cautionary Tale
The Crisis of Humanitarian Intervention (Revisited)
Libya for Libyans
Libya and the New Warmongering
The Price of the Libya Intervention: Surface to Air Missiles for All
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Dealing with drugs
Written by Mark Rowe
Published in Development
A young girl treated for sleeping sickness lies on a bed, accompanied by her grandmother in Katanda THA centre Benoit Marquet
While Ebola makes the headlines, a raft of unreported and under-researched diseases are responsible for far more deaths across Africa every year. But without adequate financial rewards for the West, too little is being done to help
Have you heard about the outbreak of a sometimes fatal disease that saw 8,600 cases in one African country alone in 2014? There was another, smaller, outbreak in December. The same disease saw 18,000 cases between 2009 and 2011 in South Africa.
That country is the giveaway: we’re not talking about Ebola. In this instance the disease was measles, which killed 122,000 people in 2012, according to the World Health Organization, and affects more than 20 million people every year.
Grim mortality statistics are not the only way in which measles puts the current outbreak of Ebola into perspective. Many scientists, campaigners and aid workers are quick to point out that the global reaction to Ebola – and the indecent haste to manufacture a vaccine – says much about the way in which the West’s health priorities trump those in developing countries.
At least all of us will have heard of measles. But it is one of just many diseases – at least 20 according to the WHO – that take an inexorable toll on developing nations, particularly in Africa. Unlike Ebola, there is no discernible political momentum to devise a vaccine for most of them.
They include leishmaniasis, which occurs in 98 countries and causes 40,000 deaths a year; elephantiasis which has left 40 million disfigured or incapacitated; and Chagas disease which is endemic to Latin America and kills more people in the region each year than any other parasite-born disease, including malaria.
HYSTERICAL RESPONSE
The point is not to in any way downplay the seriousness, the ghastliness of Ebola, or the way in which it has ravaged Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and its potential to wreck havoc beyond West Africa. But why, a cynic might ask, has such impetus developed in the wake of a very small number of deaths in the US and Europe? The hysteria was perhaps best illustrated by the experience of a healthy boy from Sierra Leone banned from taking up a placement at a primary school in Greater Manchester amid fears he might transmit the virus.
‘Being cynical is a reasonable position to take,’ says Mohga Kamal-Yanni, senior health policy adviser at Oxfam. ‘Although we have known about Ebola for 40 years, the number of people affected has always been small. The more important factor is that there is no commercial market. That’s why we get Viagra developed but not a vaccine for Ebola. But if people are coming back ill to the West, then there becomes a commercial market.’
‘It’s true,’ says Julien Potet, neglected tropical diseases policy adviser at Médecins Sans Frontières. ‘Ebola only became big in the news when it attracted the spotlight of ex-pats falling ill.’ This, he says, reflects a wider picture where, in the past ten years, ‘the drugs developed for tropical diseases have generally been justified on the grounds they are a threat to citizens in the West.’
Drugs for Neglected Diseases (DNDi), a non-profit research and development organisation developing new treatments for neglected diseases and supported by Médecins Sans Frontières, has calculated that, of the 1,556 new drugs approved between 1975 and 2004, only 21 (1.3 per cent) were specifically developed for tropical diseases and tuberculosis, even though these diseases account for 11.4 per cent of the global disease burden.
A community health worker uses a mobile device to test for malaria in the village of Nanso Takorasi, Ghana (Image: Jonathan Torgovnik)
MARKET FORCES
Ebola also tapped into deep, core fears in the West, according to Professor Melissa Leach, director of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. ‘Ebola has this status of an exceptional disease, the power to attract enormous fear and attention. The nature of the virus – it kills quickly – makes it the stuff of Hollywood movies, emerging from a deep, dark place to threaten the world.’
Yet according to Gregory Härtl, head of public relations for the WHO, there are more nuanced reasons why the West suddenly became more interested in Ebola. ‘This outbreak was qualitatively and quantitatively different from previous ones,’ he says. ‘Ebola has always been 1,000km to the east of this region. The previous outbreak had 450 cases in a confined geographical area, this one spread to densely populated capital cities.’
Yet while the West belatedly demanded a vaccine, the laws of the market meant that further intervention was required. ‘When it comes to pharmaceutical development, it is about profits,’ says Härtl. ‘Various sectors will have different motivations for what they do. We have to work with that. It’s the real world. The pharmaceutical companies will only look at it if there is a market for it; or if there’s no market, at least some other way that will pay for it.’
DNDi and the WHO have compiled a list of 18 officially neglected diseases, which includes such horrors as sleeping sickness, river blindness and paediatric HIV. Beyond that, there is an unofficial list of what Kamal-Yanni calls ‘super-neglected’ diseases, including a variety of haemorrhagic fevers. ‘They affect small numbers of people – usually – and they come and go,’ she says. Ebola was on this list but has now been upgraded to merely being a ‘neglected’ disease.
Ebola has taken a chronic, debilitating toll on Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia in a manner that applies to other tropical diseases. UNICEF says that five million children have missed school in those nations since the outbreak began. ‘The death of parents is a huge problem,’ says Kamal-Yanni. ‘There’s a stigma that reminds me of the HIV orphans. This will still be a problem when Ebola stops and people go back to their communities.’
GDP in all three countries has been cut by up to four percentage points, but the World Bank says that mortality, morbidity, care giving and lost work do not have the greatest economic impact. That honour goes to aversion behaviour, driven by fear of contagion. Citing the case of the SARS epidemic of 2002–2004, and the H1N1 flu epidemic of 2009, the World Bank says that behavioural effects are responsible for up to 90 per cent of the total economic impact of epidemics.
Health care in these countries has disintegrated where it was already fragile at best before; hospitals do not function properly and the WHO sees spikes in what were already high infant and birth mortality rates. ‘There are enormous social issues around people picking up the legacy of Ebola in their communities,’ says Kamal-Yanni. ‘People have been sitting at home, they have no income, food prices have shot up, they borrow and sell to get food. How do you deal with that? We could see bad results.’
Such impacts occur where other neglected diseases break out but do not get reported. The burden ‘is relatively high’ according to Julien Potet. ‘One billion people are thought to suffer from one of the neglected tropical diseases,’ he says. ‘Not all these are fatal, but their burden, their morbidity, their impact on people’s lives is huge. However, they are hardly in the news. They are restricted to areas that no-one hears about, but MSF sees them on a daily basis.’
Vast social and geographical issues are also at play, which determine the extent to which such diseases affect local communities. In the case of Ebola, says Professor Leach, there was a context of longer term issues, of land grabs, mining, a general perception that the government was not acting in the interests of the people.
‘This was a tinderbox,’ she says. ‘A population that was very mobile, health services that were weak, and whatever the government said it was mistrusted. What began as an interaction between a girl in Guinea, a bat and the virus, was the nexus that drew upon decades of vulnerability, poorly-directed aid, and social exclusion.’
EBOLA – A HISTORY
Ebola emerged in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks, in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats (thought to be natural Ebola virus hosts), chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines. Health care workers have frequently been infected through close contact with patients and burial ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased also play a role.
Ebola gets a prescient mention in Redmond O’Hanlon’s classic travel book of 1996, Congo Journey, when the author’s companion, the zoologist Lary Shaffer notes that ‘Ebola... if this one breaks out we’re also in deep trouble... It’s just for Homo sapiens. It’s adapted to take advantage of our caring for the dead. It’s in there at the funeral service.’
The latest outbreak began in December 2013 with the death of a two-year-old girl from unidentified haemorrhagic fever in Guinea. By March 2014 it had spread to Sierra Leone and wider throughout Guinea. Other cases have occurred in Nigeria, Mali and Senegal. The fatality rate is around 50 per cent. So far, the WHO has documented 21,261 cases of Ebola, of which 8,414 died.
A smaller, almost entirely unreported outbreak in the DRC was contained. ‘In places like the Congo, Gabon, Sudan, people have come to learn how to deal with outbreaks and isolate people,’ says Leach. ‘Most small outbreaks die out. What happened in West Africa is very different.’
A CHANGE IN THINKING
Global development, such as the intensification of livestock and climate change may also be influencing the way such diseases affect society. ‘Some of the geography that affects how disease emerges and spreads are to do with ecological and livelihood factors, how climate change and other issues affect how people, livestock and microbes interact,’ says Leach. ‘There has been a lot of irrigation in the Rift Valley which can be argued is good for development. But it has turned Rift Valley Fever from an episodic issue into an endemic one as there is now a large body of water for mosquitoes to breed in.’
Such changes in human and physical geography make a pressing case for a change in the mindset of the West towards global health care, according to Aurelia Nguyen, director of policy & market shaping at Gavi Alliance, a vaccine alliance of public and private sectors. ‘The nature of globalisation and urbanisation means that obscure diseases from obscure places are unlikely to stay that way,’ she says.
It’s only fair to highlight the enormous achievements of immunisation: the eradication of smallpox; polio cut by 99 per cent; and reduced illness, disability and death from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, Haemophilus influenza type b disease, and epidemic meningococcal A meningitis.
There has also been steady progress against the biggest killer of all – malaria. The WHO reports that deaths from malaria have fallen dramatically since 2000. According to the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2014, between 2000 and 2013, the malaria mortality rate decreased by 47 per cent worldwide and by 54 per cent in Africa – where 90 per cent of malaria deaths occur. Across sub-Saharan Africa, despite a 43 per cent population increase, the number of people infected fell from 173 million in 2000 to 128 million in 2013. A global stockpile of two million doses of oral cholera vaccine has also been created, to help control cholera epidemics.
Yet even success stories can be looked at in two ways. In 2012, bedaquiline, the first tuberculosis drug for 40 years was approved. Wonderful news? Or a scandal that it took so long? After all, TB still kills 1.4 million people a year.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the vaccinations wing of the WHO says that, contrary to public perception, work on Ebola vaccines preceded the current outbreak. Leach, however, points out, that much of this research was sponsored by the US and Canadian military, in pursuit of stockpiles in lieu of a bio-terrorist attack. ‘That could be a good thing, as it garners attention for the vaccine, but it also means that the issue is approached from a certain direction,’ she says.
A technician of the PNLTHA mobile team works on some villagers' samples, during a visit at the village of Mpata, DR Congo (Image: Benoit Marquet)
Underpinning the debate is the fact that, right across the planet, vaccines are almost entirely manufactured by private companies. Generally, R&D for vaccines is funded by public money, either through universities or public institutions such as the US National Institutes of Health. This research is then picked up by pharmaceutical companies that make a judgement on whether to develop the drug or vaccine.
‘The global system for R&D depends on market incentives and intellectual property rights,’ says Kamal-Yanni. ‘If you hold the intellectual property rights you don’t just want a price, you want the highest possible price. Intellectual property has been a holy cow. Pharmaceutical companies put horrendous figures on R&D. They say it costs $2.7billion to put a drug on the market. But we don’t have access to the data because companies say it is commercially confidential.’
In January, MSF issued a report, The Right Shot: Bringing Down Barriers to Affordable and Adapted Vaccines, that showed how, in the poorest countries, it now costs 68 times more to vaccinate a child than it did in 2001.
Central to the issue, says Potet, is that the business model is based on the ability of the patient and the country to pay a high price. ‘In the case of Ebola, that capacity was thought to be limited, so the market was limited. That’s the basic reason why pharmaceutical companies have not invested much in this area. The economic model of pharmaceutical companies is not appropriate for emerging or neglected diseases.’
Other models have been introduced, but they can be imperfect, says Potet, who cites the Priority Research Voucher scheme, launched by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2007. This invites pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines for neglected diseases such as leishmaniasis. In return, they receive up to $100million in kind. Effectively this is a voucher they can use to fast-track registration of an unrelated, but more lucrative drug – a huge commercial advantage. ‘It’s a good idea,’ says Potet, ‘but there is no requirement for the company to guarantee the neglected disease vaccine price will not be set too high.’
Research into the Ebola vaccine, meanwhile, is being funded from a variety of means, including the Wellcome Trust in the UK, while Gavi has pledged to pay up to $300million to procure the vaccines, in order to guarantee the manufacturers turn a profit.
‘It is the right thing to do,’ says Kamal-Yanni, ‘but you can’t help thinking if this would have happened were there no danger to the West. But they can make the luxurious claim they are doing it for the good of humanity.’
Nguyen stresses that Gavi’s commitment was conditional on drugs manufacturers taking a longer term view. ‘Yes, we are faced with a terrible crisis, but let’s make clear we do not expect to be in the same situation down the line,’ she says. ‘It was Ebola today, but it could be a number of other diseases tomorrow. How do we make sure we don’t have such a scramble every time an outbreak happens?’
ATTITUDE SHIFT
Does the belated research into an Ebola vaccine provide a model that can be more widely applied to neglected diseases? Observers believe this would require a significant shift in attitudes and funding. ‘The current business model for vaccines will not address this,’ says Potet. ‘The existing set up has created the need for ad hoc products, such as is happening with Ebola.’
So can research and development be financed in a different way? For many years, Oxfam proposed a global pool of money raised by a percentage of GDP from every country, which could be invested collaboratively, but it proved unsuccessful diplomatically and was opposed by the private sector, according to Kamal-Yanni.
‘In the end I don’t think pharmaceutical companies are ever going to back these [new initiatives],’ says Leach. ‘They are private companies, they want to make a profit. So it comes back to public funding, or judicious public-private partnerships.’ Other initiatives have sought to fill in the gaps when commercial profits are not there to be cherry picked. The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development was set up in 2000 as a not-for-profit product development at a time when no TB drugs were in clinical development. This has, it says, ‘reinvigorated global TB drug development’ that can ‘bridge the gap between market opportunities and peoples’ needs’ by drawing on the resources of public, private, academic and philanthropic sectors.
For MSF, the tipping point came a decade ago when the private sector developed a drug for sleeping sickness. ‘The mainstay was a drug derived from arsenic,’ says Potet. ‘It was relatively effective but it killed five per cent of patients. That made it difficult for us to make the decision in the field to administer the drug.’ For MSF this epitomised the shortcomings of vaccines for neglected diseases. ‘There was just very limited research, again these people are very poor, so the companies were not really incentivised,’ says Potet.
MSF’s response to this was to help establish the DNDi. Before engaging with pharmaceutical companies, MSF identifies the needs in the field, what patients, governments and health care workers really required. Then drugs companies were asked to open their archives of chemical compounds to match them against neglected diseases. If they proved promising, the licence was purchased by DNDi on a not-for-profit basis. So far this has yielded a non-arsenic based vaccine for sleeping sickness.
Exotic animal diseases such as Newcastle Disease and Rift Valley Fever have a pernicious effect on communities in the developing world, where up to 900 million people depend on livestock for food security, nutrition, and transportation. In Africa, where up to 50 per cent of cash income is derived from livestock, around 25 per cent of this livestock dies annually from treatable animal diseases, some of which can jump to humans.
Vaccines often exist, but the high cost of doing business in small, diverse and fragmented markets is unprofitable for pharmaceutical companies. The gap cannot be filled locally because many developing countries lack the capacity to produce or license such drugs.
‘Demand and supply weren’t meeting each other,’ says Dr Alan Tollervey, head of the agriculture team at the UK government’s Department for International Development, which established a not-for-profit company that could broker these linkages, called GALVmed (Global Alliance for Veterinary Medicines).
GALVmed uses public money to work with both the public and private sector to deliver drugs and vaccines in a way which poor farmers are able to pay for. The key donor has been the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which in 2012 announced a further £26million investment. Much of the chain – vaccine manufacturer, distributors, packers – was put together by tender, by engaging with local businesses and communities, local pharmaceutical companies and research institutions.
GALVmed operates in 15 countries in Africa, two in Asia and has more than 120 partnerships with research and private sector partners. It has also overseen the vaccination of more than 450,000 cattle in Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi against East Coast Fever and sold ten million doses of Rift Valley Fever vaccine.
More than 610,000 birds in 100,000 village houses have also been vaccinated against Newcastle Disease and a further 21 products for 12 animal diseases are already in the pipeline.
LESSONS TO BE LEARNT
Despite these measures, no-one is predicting a diminishing role for multinational pharmaceutical companies. ‘Scale is important for vaccine economics,’ says Nguyen. ‘You need sterility [for production] and there are long lead in-times. That all needs pretty deep pockets.’
Despite several requests, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) did not provide a response to any of the issues raised in this article. The company has donated £10million to the Tres Cantos Open Lab Foundation, which it established as an independent not-for-profit organisation. Here, scientists can test ideas on an industrial scale. Projects are focused on early stage drug discovery and include efforts to develop novel classes of medicines for malaria and multiple drug resistant TB.
The WHO maintains a determinedly upbeat note. In the introduction to its Global Vaccine Action Plan it argues that ‘this century promises to be the century of vaccines, with the potential to eradicate, eliminate or control a number of serious, life-threatening or debilitating infectious diseases, and with immunisation at the core of preventive strategies.’
Potet believes the Ebola outbreak may well have changed attitudes. ‘I wasn’t optimistic until the recent outbreak, but a lot of attention has been paid to the suffering in West Africa,’ he says. ‘I hope that Ebola will be a turning point. I think lessons will be learnt to promptly respond to emerging outbreaks and pathogens, irrespective of where they happen.
‘If there is political motivation to address the model of pharmaceutical companies then we may see a historic change in the treatment of neglected diseases,’ he continues. ‘We can hopefully capitalise on this outbreak and make sure that such interventions and drive become the rule, not the exception.’
Leach also believes priorities may have shifted. ‘This outbreak has been global enough and profound enough that it could be a catalyst for new thinking,’ she says. ‘We need to understand the drivers that are really important to keep going once this particular outbreak of Ebola is wrapped up. We need to give a priority to health systems, and we require a geographical understanding of the environmental, health and social factors, and how they all relate. Global health has to be seen as a public good.’
Looking at the Western hysteria over Ebola, Kamal-Yanni believes it should serve as a reminder of what needs to be put in place with diseases that are much more easily transmitted. ‘You have to go out and get bitten by a mosquito to get malaria. You have to touch a dying or dead person to get Ebola. You can get SARS just by standing at a bus stop,’ she points out.
‘People are resilient,’ she adds. ‘But if you leave people to themselves, they will take years and years to bounce back. Unless there is long-term investment from outside to help with practical issues such as raising taxes, there will be an economic and social disaster. Ebola should be a turning point in the way we think about medicines and vaccines. Ill-health is not about people ‘over there’, that we can give a bit of charity to and leave them to it. We need to develop these vaccines and remember that they can also hit us.’
Meanwhile, others take a more pessimistic position. ‘I’m not confident we are heading in the right direction,’ says Nguyen. ‘I’m concerned that – as this Ebola outbreak hopefully decreases – other unrelated topics come to the centre of people’s minds and we revert to business as usual. A small scientific community will work away at this issue, but the global mobilisation we’ve seen will die down. It’s incumbent on everyone to reflect on why that is a risk.’
This was published in the March 2015 edition of Geographical Magazine
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Women often received micronutrient supplements during antenatal and postnatal care (13, 35–42, 51, 60), and, as such, supplementation was often targeted to pregnant and lactating women. The delivery of micronutrient supplementation commonly occurred in health care settings for at-home consumption. Community-based antenatal care that involved home visits by community health workers was also a common delivery platform for supplementation delivery. There were some studies that reported micronutrient supplementation to adolescents, women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and women with young children outside of the antenatal care setting. These included primary health care clinics, home visits, community centers, pharmacies, and workplaces (32, 38–43, 45, 52, 53). Adolescent girls were also reached by community- and school-based programs (26, 41, 46). School-based programs were more efficacious in reducing rates of anemia among adolescent girls, compared with the community-based interventions (26, 46). However, many of the reported studies to date involved small samples of adolescents in controlled settings, and additional research is needed on the effectiveness of these programs (59, 62).
Research from Tufts University nutrition scientists shows that Americans are drinking so much soda and sweet drinks that they provide more daily calories than any other food. Obesity rates are higher for people consuming sweet drinks. Also watch for hidden sugar in the foods you eat. Sugar may appear as corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrate or malt syrup, among other forms, on package labels.
Women also understand the relationship between working out and how it can affect everything they do in life. Most major health issues affecting women can be treated or improved by a simple workout plan. Weight loss and cardiovascular exercise help everything from stress and heart disease to diabetes. And don't forget the small, but important "fringe" benefits of fitness such as just feeling better about yourself, having more energy for your family and loved ones and living a life that begins every day by feeling good about getting up and getting moving.
Grains, vegetables and fruits are essential to getting the vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates (starch and dietary fiber) and other nutrients you need to sustain good health. Some of these nutrients may even reduce your risk of certain kinds of cancer. But experts say we rarely eat enough of these foods. To make matters worse, we also eat too much of unhealthy types of food, including fat (and cholesterol), sugar and salt.
Stay fit, stay healthy and look fabulous with Women’s Health & Fitness Online. Let our experts keep you in shape with the latest health and lifestyle news. With articles published weekly, Women’s Health & Fitness Online is your total guide to a healthier body and more fulfilling life. Packed with workouts, recipes, diet advice, real reads and up-to-the-minute information across health, beauty, nutrition and fitness, it is the ultimate companion for women who want to look great, feel fabulous and enjoy the benefits of a healthy and happy life.
Calories. Most times, women need fewer calories. That’s because women naturally have less muscle, more body fat, and are usually smaller. On average, adult women need between 1,600 and 2,400 calories a day. Women who are more physically active may need more calories. Find out how many calories you need each day, based on your age, height, weight, and activity level.
Our review highlighted how a focus on delivery platforms could indicate who is missed by different nutrition interventions, by evaluating where there is overlap or divergence in where interventions are delivered (as represented in the Venn diagram in Figure 1). Our findings showed that a large proportion of nutrition-specific interventions were delivered at clinic-based settings or community-based health posts. Health centers are important delivery platforms, particularly for pregnant and lactating women (113, 210). However, only half of women worldwide even attend the appropriate number of antenatal care visits (with nearly 86% of women attending 1 visit) and only 59% receive appropriate postnatal care (211). Other delivery platforms, such as schools and universities, were more effective at reaching some adolescents and women of reproductive age. However, interventions delivered at “facilities” (schools, health clinics, health posts) require participation with those facilities, and participation is often limited because of time, costs, distance, and other responsibilities, including work and childcare (116). Facilities-based care is also more likely to miss certain groups, including older women.
I subscribed to this magazine thinking it would be about health, fitness, and above all, working out. The headlines on the cover seemed to suggest that was true, with the biggest fonts advertising things like "flat abs now" and "maximize your workout". In reality, the content of the magazine is mostly beauty (how that counts as "health" is beyond me) and weight-loss. Oh, the endless, endless articles about "burn more fat!" "three new foods that will help you burn fat!" "drop pounds with this easy exercise!" I don't need to lose weight and I found that these articles just played into my growing impression, as issue after issue dropped on my doormat, that the magazine views women as vapid, stereotypical beings whose only desire is to look good, whether through exercise (almost inevitably restricted to cardio and yoga), the "right" work-out clothes (really?) or knowing what dress is in fashion or what color make-up to buy. If you enjoy that sort of thing, that's fine- it is essentially one step above Cosmopolitan on the seriousness scale. If you're looking for actual information about working out and building muscle, know that Women's Health magazine is barely aware that these things exist, and when it does, it will come wrapped in the form of "ten minutes a day to tone your bum like a super-model!" or something equally cringe-inducing.
Foods that contain natural folic acid include orange juice, green leafy vegetables, peas, peanuts and beans. (One cup of cooked kidney beans contains 230 mcg of folic acid.) Fortified foods, such as ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, also contain a synthetic form of folic acid, which is more easily absorbed by your body than the natural form. Folic acid is now added to all enriched grain products (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and iron have been added to enriched grains for many years).
Of the few studies evaluating nutrition education interventions for women and adolescent girls who were overweight and obese, many were “facility-based” and involved delivery platforms such as health clinics (13, 22), worksites (30), and schools (26, 27, 29). Delivery platforms targeting women and adolescents who were undernourished similarly involved facility-based settings (13), but also included community outreach (16, 28), home visits, community kitchens (15, 28), and text messaging platforms (32). Such community-based platforms could provide additional opportunities for the delivery of nutrition education interventions addressing overweight, obesity, and associated noncommunicable disease in the future.
Nutrition-sensitive approaches are difficult to link to women's nutritional status (5, 102). This is due to limited measurement of benefits to program beneficiaries, families, households, and communities, limited timeframes to evaluate long-term impact, logistical and political realities that make implementation difficult, and different priorities of different stakeholders in multisectoral programs (102). Many nutrition-sensitive approaches, as will be described, thus focus on more distal measures of impact (e.g., coverage, knowledge) and not more proximal measures of women's nutritional status (e.g., BMI, anemia status, etc.).
Calcium: For adult women aged 19-50, the USDA recommended daily allowance is 1,000 mg/day. For women over 50, the recommended daily allowance is 1,200 mg/day. Good sources of calcium include dairy products, leafy green vegetables, certain fish, grains, tofu, cabbage, and summer squash. Your body cannot take in more than 500 mg at any one time and there’s no benefit to exceeding the recommended daily amount.
“The reason most people don't see changes isn't because they don't work hard—it's because they don't make their workouts harder,” says Adam Bornstein, founder of Born Fitness. His suggestion: Create a challenge every time you exercise. “Use a little more weight, rest five to 10 seconds less between sets, add a few more reps, or do another set. Incorporating these small variations into your routine is a recipe for change,” he says.
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Iron helps to create the hemoglobin that carries oxygen in your blood. It’s also important to maintaining healthy skin, hair, and nails. Due to the amount of blood lost during menstruation, women of childbearing age need more than twice the amount of iron that men do—even more during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, many of us aren’t getting nearly enough iron in our diets, making iron deficiency anemia the most common deficiency in women.
Income-generation activities Home visits ↑ health knowledge, ↑ health care utilization, ↓ poverty ↑ nutrition and knowledge, ↓ anemia, ↓/NC night blindness, ↑ intake of vitamin A–rich foods, ↑/NC intake of vegetables, ↑ intake of ASF, ↓ underweight, ↑ health care utilization, ↓ poverty ↑ health knowledge, ↑ health care utilization, ↓ poverty
Among other things, you need calcium to build healthy bones and teeth, keep them strong as you age, regulate the heart’s rhythm, and ensure your nervous system functions properly. Calcium deficiency can lead to, or exacerbate, mood problems such as irritability, anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties. If you don’t get enough calcium in your diet, your body will take calcium from your bones to ensure normal cell function, which can lead to weakened bones or osteoporosis. Women are at a greater risk than men of developing osteoporosis, so it’s important to get plenty of calcium, in combination with magnesium and vitamin D, to support your bone health.
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Building on Others' Creative Expression
Libraries, museums and archives are carrying out small, medium and massive digitization projects and providing public access to the resulting digital collections. Google, Amazon, Yahoo, and Microsoft, among others, are partnering with cultural institutions to increase the pace at which these collections are brought to the public. Foundations are providing needed financial support as well. These projects now number in the millions!
Digitization has unleashed unprecedented interest in our cultural heritage, especially that portion of it residing free and clear, in the public domain. It is, unfortunately, horrifying to realize that while we created this great potential to share and enrich our lives with the public domain of knowledge and creativity, through our legislative process we created laws and pursued policies that effectively sequester most of the works of the 20th century behind nearly impenetrable barriers that will last as long as a century or more. That such a long copyright term is really needed to provide an incentive to authors to create, or even to distributors to distribute, is absurd, and yet, copyright owners were able to convince legislators in most countries of the world to give them the keys to lock up their works, just at a time when their ability to benefit from wider access to and use of the works of others has dramatically increased. Copyright owners should be more realistic about the debt they owe to others: no author creates out of thin air.
Mass digitization has facilitated growing recognition that a policy of overprotection is just as destructive to copyright's aims as one of underprotection. The balance between the two is not static. It changes with the times. We need to change it now. That said, legislative change in most countries is glacial. This forces work-arounds. Many would say that that is a good thing. Whether it is or not, it's all we have in most cases. So what are our work-arounds for the gross mistake of century to century and a half long copyright terms?
First, we are developing better tools to identify those works that actually are in the public domain. The University of Michigan, in partnership with the HathiTrust Digital Library, have reviewed hundreds of thousands of books to help determine copyright status. Because of their efforts there are thousands and thousands of books that we now know are in the public domain and free to use without restrictions.
Second, we are working with other libraries to begin developing best practices to define reasonable searches for copyright owners of different types of works. Much has been written on the subject of orphan works (works that are likely still protected by copyright, but that have no identifiable copyright owner) and what we should do to improve access to them, but the sad fact is that without courage on the parts of collection owners, most orphan works will remain, some of them forever, outside the digital environment. Because by definition they often lack sufficient information to identify their owners, identifying the date on which they would otherwise enter the public domain is also impossible. Even where that date can be determined, it is often a long, long time away. Yet using these works as building blocks for other works would not be opposed in most cases either -- but there's no one to ask. Sound like an easy case for going forward with at least nonprofit uses, but there is something in the other side of the balance: copyright's draconian penalties for infringement. If it turns out a cultural institution was in error in determining that a work was an orphan and the owner turns up and desires to enforce his or her rights, the Copyright Act provides so much deterrent and punishment power that most nonprofits have just said, "no thanks," to the glimmer of what could be done to make the public aware of these works. But exceptions are beginning to show up. The problem of orphan works and determining exactly when a work enters the public domain are closely related. Often we think a work must be so old that it's bound to be public domain, but we can't be certain. Searching for the owner and not finding one helps to reduce the sense that one is risking a lot by digitizing and displaying such a work. And, indeed, in these situations and many others, libraries are beginning to take a chance that with a reasonable search, they can reduce the risk to an acceptable level and display the work with a special notice that advises the public that its appearance on the website is not a guarantee that it can be used for any purpose. At least it is displayed. Others can weigh and balance their own risks, given the goals of their projects. In this way, little by little, the public domain and the orphan works find their way into the light of day.
If you want to get involved in public domain or orphan works projects, there is no shortage of opportunities. Check the Open Content Alliance's homepage, and the Open Library website.
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Dubai Civil Defence Announces New Restriction on External Cladding Panels on Buildings
Neil Wallington
Following the latest tall tower fire in Dubai involving the Address Downtown Hotel on New Year’s Eve, Dubai Civil Defence have announced new restrictions on the use of external cladding panels.
The use of cladding will be restricted in new buildings in the UAE following a new set of regulations to be added to the UAE Fire and Safety Code. Major General Expert Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director of Dubai Civil Defence, said some of the new regulations will include not using cladding for buildings that are higher than nine storeys.
“If a building owner wants to use cladding, then there needs to be a road around the building that would allow fire trucks to go around the building, if not, then the building should not use cladding,” he said. “For buildings higher than nine storeys, if construction companies want to use cladding, they should use the cladding in a small section of the building. For example, use cladding on two floors, then have two floors made of cement, to prevent the fire from spreading.”
Major Gen Al Matroushi added that for shorter buildings, such as showrooms, they can use cladding as a fire can easily be controlled. He said that most companies choose to use cladding because it looks good and is cost-efficient.
These regulations were the result of the meetings of teams that were formed on orders from Lt. General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, to check all buildings in the UAE especially for flammable cladding, and also for any other discrepancies, whether inside or outside the building, that could be potential fire hazards or in conflict with the Fire and Life Safety code. For older buildings, solutions will be provided case by case, once the survey of all buildings is completed.
Major General Matroushi also announced that Dubai Civil Defence has ordered two new fire trucks with extra-powerful pumps that can deal with fires in buildings as high as 100 floors. At present, the ladders of the fire trucks used by the Civil Defence can reach up to 18 floors.
The Major General said the two new fire trucks have extra powerful pumps that pressurise the water seven times more than regular pumps. “The new trucks pump foam and water simultaneously which makes the hose lighter and easier to handle than if it was all pressurised water,” he said. “We have tested one of the trucks before buying them on a 96-floor building and it performed very well.” The new fire vehicles were ordered following the Torch building fire in 2015. One of the new vehicles will be stationed in the Bur Dubai area and the other in the Deira area.
Tags Address Downtown Hotel Dubai Civil Defence External Cladding Panels
Neil Wallington is a former British Chief Fire Officer, a Past International President of the Institution of Fire Engineers, and a holder of the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct. He is the author of 17 books on the work of the fire service, and acts as a consultant with extensive experience in the Gulf on a range of projects.
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Fire report from Dubai
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Statistics and Bayesian Analysis
Note(1)--Basic Review of Basic Probability
Posted by Gwan Siu on January 30, 2018
The reference materials are based on cmu 10-705,2016 and 2017.
In note(1), we just review some necessary basic probability knowledge.
1. Axioms of Probability
$\mathbb{P}(A)\geq 0$
$\mathbb{P}(\Omega)=0$
If $A$ and $B$ are disjoint, then $\mathbb{P}(A\cup B)=\mathbb(P)(A)+\mathbb{P}(B)$
2. Random Variable.
2.1 The Definition of Random Variable
Let $\Omega$ be a smaple space(a set of posible events) with a probability distribution(also called a probability measure $\mathbb{P}$). A random variable is a mapping function: $X:\Omega \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$. We wirte:
and we can write $X\sim P$ that means $X$ has a distribution $P$.
2.5 Cumulative distribution
The cumulative distribution function($cdf$) of $X$ is
The property of cdf:
$F$ is right-continuous function. At each point $x$, we have $F(x)=\lim_{n\rightarrow}\infty F(y_{n})=F(x)$ for any sequence $y_{n}\rightarrow x$ with $y_{n} >x$.
$F$ is non-decreasing. If $x<y$ then $F(x)\leq F(y)$.
$F$ is normalized. $\lim_{n\rightarrow -\infty}F(x)=0$ and $\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty}F(x)=1$.
Conversely, any $F$ satisfying these three properties is a cdf for some random variable.
If $X$ is discrete, its probability mass function($pmf$) is:
If $X$ is continuous, then its probability density function($pdf$) satisfies:
and the $p_{X}(x)=p(x)=F^{‘}(x)$. The following are all equivalent:
Definition:Suppose that $X\sim P$ and $Y\sim Q$. We say that $X$ and $Y$ have the same distribution if $\mathbb{P}(X\in A)=Q(Y\in A)$ for all $A$. In that case we say that $X$ and $Y$ are equal in distribution and we write $X、overset{d}{=}Y$}
Lemma 1.1: $X\overset{d}{=}Y$ if and only if $F_{X}(t)=F_{Y}(t)$ for all $t$.
3. Expectation, Variance and Generated Function
3.1 Expetation and Its Properties.
The mean or expected value of $g(X)$ is
Properties of expected value:
Linearity of Expectation: $\mathbb{E}(\sum_{j=1}^{k}c_{j}g_{j}(X))=\sum_{j=1}^{k}c_{j}\mathbb{E}(g_{j}(X))$.
If $X_{1},…,X_{n}$ are independent then
$\mu$ is often used to denote $\mathbb{E}(X)$.
Roughly, Expectation is a linear operator. More insight, Expectation is weight average from the mathematics perspective.
3.2 Variance and Its Properties
The defintion of Variance is: $\text{Var}(X)=\mathbb{E}[(X-\mu)^{2}]$ or $\text{Var}(X)=\mathbb{E}(X^{2})-(E[X])^{2}$. It’s sum of distances between each point and the mean. Physically, it describes the degree of difussion of points.
The covariance is
and the correlation is $\rho_{X,Y} =\text{Cov}(X,Y)/\sigma_{x}\sigma_{y}$. Recall that $-1\leq\rho \geq 1$.
Proof: $\text{Cov}(X,Y)=\mathbb{E}(XY)-\mu_{X}\mu_{Y}$.
Proof: $-1\leq \rho_{X,Y} \leq 1$.(Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality)
3.3 Conditional Expectation and Variance
The conditional expectation of $Y$ given $X$ is the random variable $\mathbb{E}(Y\arrowvert X)$ whose value, when $X=x$ is
where $p(y\arrowvert x)=p(x,y)/p(x)$.
The Law of Total Expectation or Law of Iterated Expectation:
The Law of Total Variance is
3.4 Moment Generated Function
The mement generated function(mgf) is
If $M_{X}(t)=M_{Y}(t)$ for all $t$ in an interval around 0 then $X\overset{d}{=}Y$.
The moment generated function can be used to “generate” all the moments of a distribution, i.e. we can take derivatives of the mgf with respect to $t$ and evaluated at $t=0$, i.i. we have that
(Definition): $X$ and $Y$ are independent if and only if
for all $A$ and $B$.
Theorem 1.2 Let $(X,Y)$ be a bivariate random vector with $p_{X,Y}(x,y)$. $X$ and $Y$ are independent iff $p_{X,Y}=(x,y)=p_{X}(x)p_{Y}(y)$.
$X_{1},…,X_{n}$ are independent if and only if
Thus, $p_{x_{1},…,x_{n}}=\prod_{i=1}^{n}p_{X_{i}}(x_{i})$.
If $X_{1},…,X_{n}$ are independent and identically distributed we say they are iid and we write
Independence and condition: A and B are independent events then $P(A B)=P(A)$ Also, for any pair of events A and B.
Independece means that knowing B does not change the probability of A.
5.Transformations
Let $Y=g(X)$ where: $g:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$. Then
where $A_{y}={x:g(x)\leq y}$.
The density is $p_{Y}(y)=F^{`}_{Y}(y)$. If $g$ is monotonic, then
where $h=g^{-1}$.
Let $Z=g(X,Y)$. For example, $Z=X+Y$ or $Z=X/Y$. Then we find the pdf of $Z$ as follows:
For each $z$, find that set $A_{z}={(x,y):g(x,y)\leq z}$.
Find the CDF:
3.The pdf is $p_{Z}(z)=F^{`}_{Z}(z)$.
6. Important Distributions
6.1 Bernoulli Distribution
$X\sim \text{Bernoulli}(\theta)$ if $\mathbb{P}(X=1)=\theta$ and $\mathbb{P}(X=0)=1-\theta$ and hence
Mean: $\mu_{theta}=\mathbb{E}[\theta]=theta$.
Variance: $\text{Var}(theta) = \mathbb{E}[(\theta-\mu_{theta})^{2}]=\theta(1-\theta)$
6.2 Binomial Distribution
$X\sim \text{Binomial}(\theta)$ if
Mean: $\mu_{\theta}=n\theta$.
Variance: $\text{Var}(\theta)=n\theta(1-\theta)$. (Indicated function is used to prove the mean and variance.)
6.3 Multinomial Distribution
The miltivariate version of a Binomial distribution is called a Multinomial distribution. Consider drawing a ball from an urn with has balls with $k$ different colors labeled “Color 1, color 2,…, color k.” Let $p=(p_{1},p_{2},…,p_{k})$ where $\sum_{j=1}^{n}p_{j}=1$ and $p_{j}$ is the probability of frawing color $j$. Draw $n$ balls from the urn(independently and with replacement) and let $X=(X_{1},…,X_{k})$ be the count of the number of balls of each color drawn. We say that $X$ has a Multinomial(n,p) distribution. Then,
Mean: $\mathbb{E}[X_{i}]=np_{i}$
Variance: $\text{Var}(X_{i})=np_{i}(1-p_{i})$
6.4 Chi-squared Distribution
$X\sim \chi^{2}{p}$ if $X=\sum{j=1}^{n}Z_{j}^{2}$ where $Z_{1},…,Z_{n}\sim N(0,1)$. The pdf of $\chi$ is:
The mean: $\mu=n$, and the variance: $\text{Var}(\chi)=2n$. n is the degree of freedom.
The cdf of $\chi$:
Non-centeral chi-squared(More on this below). $X\sim \chi_{1}^{2}(\mu^{2})$ if $X=Z^{2}$ where $Z\sim N(\mu,1)$.
6.5 Gamma Distribution
$X\sim \Gamma(\alpha, \beta)$ if
for $x>0$ where $\Gamma(\alpha)=\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{1}{\beta^{\alpha}}x^{\alpha-1}e^{-x/\beta}$.
6.6 Gaussian Distribution(Normal Distribution)
$X\sim N(\mu,\sigma^{2})$ if
If $X\in \mathbb{R}^{d}$ then $X\sim N(\mu,\Sigma)$ if
where $\mathbb{E}[Y]=\mu$ and $\text{cov}[Y]=\Sigma$. The moment generating function is
Theorem (a). If $Y\sim N(\mu,\Sigma)$, then $\mathbb{E}[Y]=\mu,\text{cov}(Y)=\Sigma$.
(b). If $Y\sim N(\mu,\Sigma)$ and $c$ is a scalar, then $cY\sim N(c\mu,c^{2}\Sigma)$.
Theorem Suppose that $Y\sim N(\mu,\Sigma)$. Let
where $Y_{1}$ and $\mu_{1}$ are $p\times 1$, and $\Sigma_{11}$ is $p\times p$.
(a). $Y_{1}\sim N_{p}(\mu_{1},\Sigma_{11}),Y_{2}\sim N_{n-p}(\mu_{2},\Sigma_{22})$
(b). $Y_{1}$ and $Y_{2}$ are independent if and only if $\Sigma_{12}=0$.
(c). If $\Sigma_{22}> 0$, then the condition distribution of $Y_{1}$ given $Y_{2}$ is
Lemma: Let $Y\sim N(\mu,\sigma^{2}I)$, where $Y^{T}=(Y_{1},…,Y_{n}),\mu^{T}=(\mu_{1},…,\mu_{n})$ and $\sigma^{2}>0$ is a scalar. Then the $Y_{i}$ are independent, $Y_{i}\sim N_{1}(\mu,\sigma^{2})$ and
Theorem Let $Y\sim N(\mu,\Sigma)$. Then:
(a). $Y^{T}\Sigma^{-1}Y\sim \chi_{n}^{2}(\mu^{T}\Sigma^{-1}\mu)$.
(b). $(Y-\mu)^{T}\Sigma^{-1}(Y-\mu)\sim \mu$. (c). $(Y-\mu)^{T}\Sigma^{-1}(Y-\mu)\sim \chi_{n}^{2}(0)$.
7. Sample Mean and Variance
Let $X_{1},…,X_{n}\sim P$. The sample mean is
and the sample variance is
The sampling distribution of $\hat{\mu}_{n}$ is
Pratics Problem. Let $X_{1},..,X_{n}$ be iid with $\mu=\mathbb{E}(X_{i})=\mu$ and $\sigma^{2}=\text{Var}(X_{i})=\sigma^{2}$. Then
Theorem If $X_{1},…,X_{n}\sim N(\mu,\sigma^{2})$ then
(a). $\hat{\mu}{n}\sim N(\mu,\frac{\sigma^{2}}{n})$.
(b). $\frac{(n-1)\hat{\sigma}^{2}{n}}{\sigma^{2}}\sim \chi^{2}{n-1}$
(c). $\hat{\mu}{n}$ and $\hat{\sigma}_{n}^{2}$ are independent.
Proof: $\mathbb{E}[\hat{\mu}]=\mu$\
Proof: $\mathbb{E}[\hat{\sigma}^{2}]=\sigma^{2}$.
8. Bayesian Theorem
Let $A_{1},…,A_{k}$ be a partition of $\Omega$ such that $P(A_{i})>0$ for all $i$. If $P(B)>0$, then for each $i=1,…,k$:
Total Probability Let $A_{1},…,A_{k}$ be a partition of $\Omega$. Then, for any evernt $B$,
Analysis--Set Theory
Note(2)--Inequality
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April 6, 2018 - 10:17 pm EDT 1 year ago
Patrick Reed Atop Loaded Masters Leaderboard
SwingU Staff Follow
Watch @PReedGolf's second round in under three minutes. #themasters pic.twitter.com/v71QbL8p6C
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2018
Patrick Reed has the lead at 9-under par headed into the weekend at the Masters. He is going to have to fight off some of the best golfers in the world to stay there on Sunday night.
Right behind Reed after 36 holes at Augusta National is Aussie Marc Leishman at 7-under par and then a slew of past major champions including Henrik Stenson (-5), Rory McIlroy (-4), Jordan Spieth (-4), Dustin Johnson (-3) and Justin Thomas (-3) all in the hunt.
Of the 17 players under par at the halfway point 11 of them are ranked among the top-20 players in the world.
“We’re only halfway. I’ve got a long way to go. Just need to continue doing what I’m doing.” – @PReedGolf on taking the lead after his second-round 66. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ZaZlXvbWbU
The only players missing from the top of the leaderboard are Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Woods struggled and sits at 4-over par while Mickelson had an even tougher time and barely made the cut at 5-over par.
Reed, who outside of last year’s PGA Championship, has not contended at a major, got off to a hot start as the Augusta State grad opened with a 25-foot birdie putt to get his run going. He also is the only player in the field to birdie every single par 5 played.
John Daly’s Bus Hit Outside Of A Hooters In Augusta
“The par 5s are huge around here to be able to pick up ground on,” Reed said according to the Associated Press. “You’re not going to shoot a low score if you don’t.”
Last year’s champion Sergio Garcia, who had a 13 on No. 15 on Thursday, did not make the cut.
After Reed and Leishman, some of the game’s top players are in the hunt. McIlroy, who is searching for the final leg of the career Grand Slam, was 1-under par with late birdies on 13 and 14. Jordan Spieth, on the other hand, was the first-round leader, but dropped back in the back with a double bogey on the first hole and then a bogey on the second hole. Spieth showed some mettle with only one more bogey the rest of the round. He managed birdies at 13 and 15 to stay within distance with 36 holes left. Spieth finished with a 2-over, but it could have been so much worse.
“I’ve taken a lot of punches on this golf course, and in tournaments in general,” Spieth said, per the AP. “I told (caddy) Michael (Greller), ‘Look, when this course plays tough, I’m good for a double here or some bogeys there. Let’s make these the only ones.'”
Following his second round, @JordanSpieth talked about today’s conditions and preparing for Saturday. #themasters pic.twitter.com/OdB2nqCEIV
Backing up Spieth and McIlroy are the world’s No. 1 and No. 2-ranked players in Johnson and Thoma at 3-under par. Johson birdied three of the last 11 holes and shot a 68. Thomas, who won the PGA Championship last year, is in contention after rebounding from an opening round 74 with a 67.
Other notables in the top-10 are Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Louis Oosthizen, Justin Rose, Bubba Watson and Charley Hoffman all at 2-under par.
Saturday is called “Moving Day” at the Masters, and there is plenty of star power on the board to potentially make Sunday a one to remember.
Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest goings-on in the world of golf by following the SwingxSwing Clubhouse on social media. We share stories, stats and breaking news on Twitter, keep the fun going off the course on Instagram and share any and all golf-related topics on Facebook.
Never be the odd golfer out when your friends are talking about the latest or funniest happenings in golf. Sign up for the SxS newsletter today!
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Cuauhtémoc Medina Appointed Chief Curator of 12th SHB
ArtNerd 12/02/2017 12/17/2017 Shanghai Biennial, 中国艺术
SHANGHAI—The 12th edition of the Shanghai Biennale will take place at the Power Station of Art (PSA) from November 10, 2018 to March 10, 2019. After careful consideration by members of the PSA Academic Committee and confirmation from the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film &TV, Cuauhtémoc Medina has been appointed the Chief Curator of the 12th Shanghai Biennale. The official title for the 2018 event will be announced at the end of this year.
Born in Mexico, Cuauhtémoc Medina is an internationally renowned art curator, critic and historian. Having worked extensively in Europe, he currently serves as Chief Curator at the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC) in Mexico City.
PSA’s Academic Committee believes that Medina’s broad curatorial experience, rich historical knowledge, and most especially, vast research into Latin-American contemporary art will bring a fresh perspective to the 21-year-old Shanghai Biennale. Given the current challenges global society faces due to accelerated political, economic and cultural transformation, the Shanghai Biennale is once again poised to touch upon one of the most critical questions of our time – how will art continue to make sense of this rapidly changing world? Fei Dawei, Rotating President of the PSA Academic Committee, commented: “Medina’s presentation follows a very clear curatorial structure. He tries to break the topicality and homogeneity of major international biennales to allow for changes and disruptions. This will be a challenging pursuit, but also an interesting exhibition rich in layers of meaning.”
Speaking of his appointment, Medina said, “Biennales are large scale exhibitions that, beyond offering a certain perspective on the potential of art and culture today, inscribe a city and an event as a provisory and symbolic artistic world center. That Shanghai hosts an exhibition of that kind is most appropriate for it provides a clear image of the current decentering of our cultural narratives and the significance that China and Asia have in the cultural and economic circuits of today. The Shanghai Biennale ought to become in the next years one of the most important sites of rethinking and renegotiating the geographies and concepts of contemporary art as we get into a new world history era. I hope that I will be able to produce, in collaboration with colleagues from China and around the world, an exhibition that will enhance the importance of a growing cultural production that infuses subjective complexity into the complex texture of our times.”
As the hosting organization of the Shanghai Biennale, PSA will be experimenting with the event’s academic research methodology, promotion, and administrative management. The management team for its 12th edition will also welcome two new members: Shi Hantao (Chief Coordinator) and He Huanhuan (Head of Administrative Affairs). They will work closely with the Chief Curator and the curatorial team, ensuring a Shanghai Biennale of the utmost quality.
The Chief Curator of the 12th Shanghai Biennale
Cuauhtémoc Medina (Mexico City, December 5 1965)
Art critic, curator and historian, holds a Ph.D. in History and Theory of Art from the University of Essex in Britain and a BA in History from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Since 1993 he has been a full time researcher at the Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), lecturer at the Philosophy Faculty and the Postgraduate Department of Art History of the same university, and between 2002 and 2008 was the first Associate Curator of Latin American Art Collections at the Tate Modern.
He has widely published texts in books, catalogues and periodicals, and among other things between 1999 and 2013 he was in charge of the art critical section of the Reforma newspaper in Mexico city, titled “Ojo Breve”. A recent compilations on his critical interventions on art in Mexico has been published with the title Abuso Mutuo (Mutual Abuse) by Cubo Blanco and RM in 2017.
Among other projects, he has organized When Faith Moves Mountains (Lima, Peru, 2001) by Francis Alÿs; The Age of Discrepancies, Art and Visual Culture in Mexico 1968–1997, (in collaboration with Olivier Debroise, Pilar García and Alvaro Vazquez, 2007-2008); Teresa Margolles’s project for the Mexican Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2009, What Else Could We Talk About?, Dominó Canibal (Cannibal Dominoes) (2010), one year long series for, the Contemporary Art Project (PAC) in Murcia, Spain; and in 2012, he was Head Curator of the Manifesta 9 Biennial in Genk, Belgium, titled The Deep of the Modern, in association with Katerina Gregos and Dawn Ades. Since 2013, he is Chief Curator at the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC) in Mexico city, where he has curated a number of exhibitions by artists such as Harun Farocki, Raqs Media Collective, Jeremy Deller, Andrea Fraser, Vicente Rojo, Vincent Meessen, Jorge Macchi, Jill Magid and Hito Steyerl, among others. He has also recently curated Francis Alÿs A Story of Negotation, (2014-) a travelling show organized for museums in Mexico, Argentina, Cuba, Canada and the USA.
In 2013 he was granted the Walter Hopps Award for Curatorial Achievement by the Menil Foundation in Houston, Texas.
Chief Coordinator
Shi Hantao
Shi Hantao holds a MA in Arts Administration and Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has assumed roles for planning and execution of exhibitions and public events in a number of Shanghai-based art and cultural organizations, and has done extensive writings and studies into the field of art criticism and institutional research.
Head of Administrative Affairs
He Huanhuan
He Huanhuan holds a MA in Law from the East China University of Political Science and Law. Before she joined PSA in 2016, she spent years with the Shanghai Cultural Development Foundation and the Shanghai Art Fair, responsible for researches of relevant policies and laws, as well as planning and execution of exhibitional projects.
Previous 夸特莫克 · 梅迪纳将担任第12届上海双年展主策展人
Next Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland Announces Toby’s Prize, Named for Philanthropist Toby Devan Lewis
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Harsh Weather Churns Up Tornadoes Sets Free Strong Winds Throughout Central Us
The central United States was hit by one more round of tornadoes from North Dakota and Oklahoma to Indiana through the weekend.
A tornado in Rushville, Indiana was reported on Saturday by the Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Services. The tornado hit around 7:51 PM CDT that resulted in a noteworthy damage as per the report. Previously, a tornado hit a farmer’s field in Newbern, Indiana, at 7:33 PM CDT. According to the report, it was reported that it was probably rain-wrapped.
Farther south, hail approximately the size of tennis balls fell over Deaf Smith County, Texas, about 5 PM local time. A tornado struck Castro County, Texas, one county over, just a few minutes prior to the hail had struck. At around 8:11 PM CDT, a wind gust of 87 mph was experienced in the vicinities in close proximity to Childress, Texas.
At around 2:47 PM, a thin tornado tracked north of Sawyerville, Illinois, which downed a tree into a home and wrecked power lines, as per the report of National Weather Services. A social media user was able to catch a photo of it as it churned through the neighborhood.
Two confirmed EF2 tornadoes in Des Moines County, Iowa were produced by harsh storms that downed trees, power lines, destroyed outbuildings and “severely damaged a house off its foundation,” as per the storm survey of National Weather Service.
A tornado churning at the back of a line of homes was captured on video by a social media user in Ellettsville, Indiana. The maximum path width of the tornado was 400 yards and packed winds up to 130 mph. The tornado was given a preliminary EF2 rating on Sunday. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
A second EF2 tornado was confirmed in Greene County, Indiana. Luckily, no fatalities or injuries were reported there as well. Harsh weather even blasted through the southern Plains, with wind gusts as high as 70 mph reported in regions of Oklahoma. There was a report of blown out windows in a house in the vicinity of Custer City, Oklahoma, as a fierce line of severe storms rolled through.
To the north of the severe weather, southern Kansas, as well as southwestern Missouri, was submerged with the flooding downpours. On the event of Father’s Day, a line of harsh storms moved all the way through the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, resulting in severe damage to homes and leaving over 90,000 without power, as per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Following 19 tornado reports on Saturday, there were just two Sunday, both of which took place in central Oklahoma.
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSSJoin me as I talk with Yoni Assia from social investment network eToro. With a background in investing and developing, Yoni started his first successful company with his Army buddies and sold it to Kodak at the age of 26. Today eToro has over $30 […]
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Ep49: How To Know When To Pivot Into An Emerging Marketplace With Yoni Assia
Join me as I talk with Yoni Assia from social investment network eToro. With a background in investing and developing, Yoni started his first successful company with his Army buddies and sold it to Kodak at the age of 26. Today eToro has over $30 million in revenue and is inventing a new marketplace combining financial tech, gaming and social media. Yoni lives in Tel Aviv, and he also discusses the startup explosion and how it stacks up against New York and San Francisco
Keypoint Takeaways:
eToro lets people share what they’re doing in real time when opening a brokerage account. Followers can see their statistics and results and help learn from the people out there who know how to manage their money.
eToro acts as a connector between savvy money managers and budding investors that can emulate the successes they see. Someone who looks at Yoni’s profile could see what they’re investing in, his track record and then invest a “1,000 zombie” to automatically open the same investments in your own portfolio.
Working much like a traditional securities brokerage, eToro and earns a commission out of the actual trade and did more than $200 billion in trade volume last year alone. Unlike many brokerage companies, eToro has no minimum commission and people could have a portfolio of investments with as little as $1,000 across 20 different investments.
People who become investment leaders on eToro receive a money manager fee based on how many people are emulating what they’re doing. The more people who copy what you’re doing and set up investments based on your profile, the more of a percentage you earn.
Tel Aviv’s startup hub
Yoni lives in Tel Aviv, a hub for startups and entrepreneurs. He compares his home to the fast-paced grind of New York and a melting pot culture. If you’ve lived in New York, it will be significant when you hear Yoni say it’s relatively calm in comparison to Tel Aviv.
Yoni shares that the tech scene has been exploding in his home city over the past ten years, and in the last five, Israeli’s internet industry has significantly grown. Before this period, there was a lack of financial technology and internet companies back in 2007 when eToro started. But Yoni could see its opportunity and pushed forward.
eToro’s primary market focus and main headquarters are in Europe with roughly 3.5 million users to date. The team attempted to set-up in the U.S. before figuring out it would prove too difficult to scale in both the U.S and Europe at the same time. Instead, they decided to focus on what was working.
Yoni says eToro is still just scratching the surface and despite their significant user volume, are still only 0.1% of the total market they could actually capture in Europe. Yoni knew it would be a huge undertaking to adapt their platform to the U.S. market and decided to first scale in Europe.
First 100 customers
To get eToro off the ground, Yoni brought in founding team members from the gambling industry. They got to work on developing their acquisition channels including an affiliate program, SEM, organic search, research and referrals and media.
But building a new marketplace and scaling an incredibly unique product hasn’t been all smooth. Yoni says a big struggle is always “understanding where you are compared to the market landscape and where your customers want you to go.” He describes the challenges of creating a product that’s both simple for people to use and understand and the complexity required to generate profit in the marketplace.
eToro embrace the idea of simplicity as the ultimate form of sophistication. It empowers people to set up a mutual fund and start earning a percentage. On eTrade, people need a high amount of equity to fund the business. eToro lets anyone come in and earn a percentage off of what they do best—managing their money.
eToro also simplified the process by launching with just seven stocks from main tech companies because that’s where they most interest seemed to lie. Yoni wanted to see how people could build their portfolios based on that. They also set up user feedback systems to get to the heart of what their customers wanted and tweak accordingly.
Pivoting to success
Yoni doesn’t hesitate to tell us they’ve failed a couple of times and constantly pivoted to get back on the right path. They failed in their marketing, acquisition and product.
eToro’s first patent was focused on gaming and organization of financial trading platforms that tied in with social gaming. But it turns out that platform was too over-simplified or over-gamified and switched gears to build a financial trading platform with more customer features. Before long, etoro was too much of a traditional brokerage so they went back to the social gamin gidea and created a network to copy one another and earn money from their expertise.
Yoni’s advice to his 25-year-old self is to never forget your customers. “Every decision you make, always remember who are your most valued customers.” If you’re going to make a big change, he advises that you ask if you still want your old customers. If you want to keep them, you need to figure out how to make sure they get what they want or cut ties and leave them behind.
“1984” – George Orwell’s classic giving a chilling prophecy about the future. Though it as written in 1948, Orwell envisioned a nightmarish totalitarian, bureaucratic world and how it impacts individuality.
Eric: Hi everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Growth Everywhere where we interview entrepreneurs and bring you business and personal growth tips. Today we have Yoni Assia from eToro which is a Social Investment Network where Facebook meets eTrade. Yoni, how are we doing today?
Yoni: I’m fine. Thank you very much. How are you?
Eric: Good. Good. Thanks for being on the show. Why don’t you tell us a little more about what eToro is.
Yoni: eToro is a social investment network. Basically think about people opening a brokerage account, but also sharing what they’re doing in real time, with everybody able to see their statistics and their results over time. We believe that there’s millions of people out there who actually know how to manage their own money while there are hundreds of millions of people out there who have no idea how to manage their money.
We are trying to connect between these people. People that can become popular investors can have other people copy their investments. If you look at my profile you can see what I’m investing in, my track record as a user for a couple of years, and then you can decide to invest a $1,000 zombie which means it’ll automatically open the same investments that I have in my portfolio in your portfolio. It becomes a path of money manager for your $1,000, or $5,000, or $100,000 that you decide to invest on.
Eric: Wow! Interesting. Let’s say I decide to join your investments. What’s the upside for you? Do you get a percentage?
Yoni: We’re a brokerage much like a traditional securities brokerage. We make money out of the actual trade, out of the holdings of the trades. Last year we did more than $200 billion in volume of trade. We charge mostly the spread—usually with no minimum commission. What’s interesting is people can actually have a portfolio of investments with as little as $1,000. You could have 20 different investments in their portfolio.
Eric: That’s great. I guess I might be kind of confused here. Let’s say I’m one of the greatest investors on eToro and I let people copy me. What’s the upside for me as an investor?
Yoni: Oh, for you. I thought you were asking regarding the business model of eToro. Basically you get a money manager fee based on how many people are copying you. If you have hundreds of people copying you with millions of dollars you basically will get a percentage of that from the management. What we’re doing is, we’re basically calculating it based on how many people are copying you. Depending on that you basically get a fixed amount every month.
Eric: Wow! That’s really interesting. This company is so interesting that I forgot to ask you my first question which is, normally, what is your background?
Yoni: I’m both a trader and a developer. I started both trading and developing when I was about 15. Throughout my career I was mostly a developer, first in the army. Afterwards I started a company with a couple of friends of mine from the army which was eventually sold to Kodak. I started eToro in 2006 when I was 26. Now am already an older, over my 30s.
Eric: Wow! eToro is a name, I kind of have a hint of what it means, but why don’t you explain the name a little bit?
Yoni: It’s actually electronic trading and order routing organization.
Eric: Interesting.
Yoni: No, not really. An electronic bull. Basically Toro is a bull in Spanish and E is for, obviously, e-callers.
Eric: That’s what I thought. You almost had me there. I know you’re in Tel Aviv right now and people think Tel Aviv is one of the top three, give or take, startups scenes. How does the startup scene in Tel Aviv compare to San Francisco?
Yoni: It’s hard for me to compare. I’ve been to San Francisco a couple of times, I’ve never lived in San Francisco. I lived in New York for a while. I think probably a bit different for a couple of reasons. First, there are a lot of Israelis in here Tel Aviv. It’s somewhat of a different culture than from the valley, probably. We’re learning a lot from the Valley. Investors coming from the U.S. and invest Israel, are bringing a lot of the U.S. wisdom, the value within their huge offices of Facebook and Google here. How does it differ? I think Tele Aviv is somewhat of a mix of New York, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles. That’s the view for you.
Eric: Okay. Is it spread out like Los Angeles, fast paced like New York, and then a lot of tech companies?
Yoni: It’s fast paced like New York, definitely. We have a lot of foreigners. We have about 200 employees in eToro and a lot of them are not Israeli in origin. People from France, Italy, and I’ve heard before that Israelis are extremely intense. So, people are extremely loud and people are running. It’s very much a New York atmosphere. You have a lot of Israeli’s, actually, in New York.
New York is, I would almost say, calm relatively to a lot of the Israeli pressure. But we are on the beach. Tel Aviv is on the beach and it’s more spread out. From that point of view it is more like Los Angeles. There’s a couple of different hubs in the center of Israel. It’s on the beach, more spread out, lots of people in coffee houses on the beach, and it has the tech scene which is more like the Valley. That’s the combination I’ve done there.
Eric: Over the years have you observed that this tech scene has started growing rapidly and that’s why it’s ranked so high?
Yoni: Yes. First of all, the tech scene has been exploding over the past ten years. But more than that over the past five years, specifically the internet industry in Israel has grown significantly. I remember when we started seven years ago, we’re somewhere in the cross section between the internet and financial technology. Both were almost non-existent in 2007 when we started eToro.
I remember people telling me Israel is not good at consumer internet and there are not internet companies out of Israel, and you can’t build any financial technology out of Israel because we’re not New York, London, or Hong Kong. In the past seven years there’s been a huge transformation; a huge leap forward. We had a couple of billion dollar exits out here of internet companies. We got—there were more than 10 MNAs to Google and Facebook over the last ten years. A lot of basic knowledge around internet development, online marketing, and also a lot about finances merged here in the past seven years.
Eric: Wow! I noticed for eToro, it’s not in the United States yet. Can you explain what’s going on there?
Yoni: We’re focused in Europe. Our main headquarters are in Europe and we have about 3.5 million users right now, the majority of which are in Europe. People actually opened brokerage accounts from more countries outside of Europe, so we have; [DROPPED 00:09:02] Australia, and some business, both in Asia, and Latin America. But the focus of companies are Europe and that’s where we have the infrastructure of our brokerage and financial infusion.
We did go to New York, basically starting to set up eToro USA and at some point we figured out that it’s going to be a hard for us to scale the company, both in the U.S. and in Europe at the same time. Since we are already a 200 employee company we’re already significantly [DROPPED 00:09:44] effective in the financial institution. Scaling in Europe is the worst.
We’re still scratching the surface. Though we have significant volumes, and I should say, medium size company, but we’re still 0.1% of the total market we can capture in Europe. We looked to the U.S. and realized we should do some significant changes to what we’re doing; basically to our technology and to our platform, in order to adapt to the U.S. market. So, we said; first scale in Europe and go to the U.S. next.
Eric: Got it. We talk a little bit about revenues before you hopped on. What do revenues look like today? I think the description you gave is perfectly fine.
Yoni: We crossed, a couple of years ago, the $30 million and we kept on scaling from there. We significantly in the several dozens of millions of online users.
Eric: Great. Cool. I never heard of this model before. It sounds really interesting. Is anyone else doing something like this?
Yoni: There are different companies trying to approach the problem in different forms. I think in the U.S. we’ve seen interesting companies like Betterment from New York, Wolf [ph 00:11:19] from the Valley which offers wealth management 2.0. We haven’t seen anything significant in the U.S. of really building a social network of investors. One part of investors, who is Howard Linzdon, who is the CEO and founder of StockTwits. He’s an investor in eToro. And StockTwits, I think to some extent is similar to the feed and engagement on eToro, but not necessarily to the convergence of fact to an online brokerage. We’re seeing around the world, in some places, different forms of solutions merging to enable people to invest together and to enable people both to communicate with one another and to invest together.
Eric: That sounds interesting. There are similarities to Angel List here, if you know what I’m talking about.
Yoni: Yes. I know enough and actually my wife is running a company called iAngel which is a local angel institute in Israel.
Eric: That’s cool. We’ve got to have her on the show sometime. Tell me about user acquisitions. How did you guys acquire your first 1000 customers?
Yoni: Online marketing. We brought in—one of the founding team members came in from the gaming industry. He had vast experience in building, basically from [INAUDIBLE 00:12:48]. We have about, roughly, four main channels of acquisition. One is our affiliate program, its media, SEM, and the rest is organic SEO, and research and referrals. When we launched we already had those four main acquisition channels on hand. When we started, our main growth was done through both affiliates and through media lines.
Eric: Perfect. Obviously you scaled this company in 2006, you have 200 employees and you’re doing something really unique. What’s one big struggle you faced while going into business?
Yoni: I think one of the struggles of the business is always understanding where you are compared to the market landscape and where your customers want you to go. Though there is my brother, who is my partner and co-founder, always likes to use the same sentence of Ford, saying, “You can choose any color of a car you want to buy from us as long as it’s black.” I think we’re developing something that’s quite unique.
We’re not developing a product like a camera or TV or something that’s structured alone. That’s probably true of a lot of internet companies that are developing products over the internet. The utility function of what we’re doing is quite obvious. It’s finance. It’s basically an investment platform. There’s always a big challenge between simplicity; between how you create a product that’s very simple for people both to understand and use; to the complexity required to actually generate profit in the market in a consistent way that [INAUDIBLE 00:14:55]. So, one of the biggest challenges is always to engage complexity and features with simplicity.
Eric: So simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication, yes?
Yoni: Yes.
Eric: Okay. Is there anything you can share with the audience in terms of how you’ve taken something sophisticated and made it simple? Is there any specific story you can share so the audience can get some ideas from it?
Yoni: I think what we did generally in the platform is saying; what’s simple is mutual fund management. We’re saying: you don’t need something that is extremely difficult to set up a mutual fund. If you want to set up a mutual fund and have people being able to buy that mutual fund through eTrade you need a very high amount of equity to fund the experience team; structures, lawyers, accountants.
Where the point of simplification we’ve done, we’ve said; anyone can actually, if he knows how to manage his own money, can sort of have that mutual fund and tell other people what he’s doing. That sort of simplification created in the sense of; how simple can it be to actually manage other people’s money by only managing your own money and have people understand the risks? And what they’re doing is: managing their own money; not actually giving it to someone else, [like] to a professional that has professional liability on it. But they’re giving it to a friend or a colleague or a person who his own money to be able to do it. I think that’s the first level of simplification in the core idea.
We can talk a lot about which financial instruments we chose. Another example is when we launched we launched with just seven stocks. When we basically launched our stock investing platform we started by adding seven stocks of the main tech companies because we felt tech’s what’s interesting so let’s see how people can build portfolios based on that. That was oversimplification, but it was simple enough for us to actually launch something to see how people react to it.
Eric: Wow! The first part is you’re removing all these roadblocks that eTrade has had before, when it comes to adding all these things to put together a mutual fund, you removed that. You’ve dumbed it down in the beginning where you made it, “Hey, you only have these few to choose from.” At what point do you decide it’s time to expand from these seven stocks?
Yoni: That’s what I mentioned regarding, ‘you can choose only black as a color to the car.’ It’s really the level of listening to your customers, both from actually talking to them, but also from looking at the data and saying this product isn’t enough. Usually the answer there is either to kill it, add to it, or redesign it. A lot of these examples you need to add to it and when you start adding to it, you’re adding that complexity we talked about and then you constantly need to re-evaluate every feature on it, personal platform and then; do I kill it, do I add to it, or do I re-design it and simplify?
Eric: You bring up an interesting point. When it comes to user feedback, this is especially important in the early days. How did you go about collecting user feedback?
Yoni: We had a couple of systems to collect user feedback. We also, because we’re a financial institution, and our users actually deposit funds with us, and our lifetime value with customers is quite high. It’s in the hundreds of dollars so when a user deposits to eToro, his life-time value for us in the company is worth hundreds of dollars, then we actually always have support almost from day one. When you have that level of support and that level of engagement from users, you have to talk to them, hear their feedback and comment and re-iterate.
Eric: Got it. Straight up. Was there any point in time where the company was on the brink of failure?
Yoni: Always. We’ve failed a couple of times and we constantly pivoted to the right direction. Either failed in product or failed in the marketing campaign, or failed in our acquisition. I can say we try to celebrate failures, but it’s actually very hard for Israeli’s to fail and to celebrate it. We’ve seen a lot of micro-failures as opposed to macro. The first platform of the company was around a patent we wrote, about gamification, and organization of financial trading platforms that include social gamification.
Think about Four Square. We realized that basically the life line value of customers are low because they think it’s over-simplified or over-gamified. We had to pivot to basically build a full-fledged financial trading platform that included more features for our users. Then we realized we’re becoming too much of a traditional brokerage. We basically went back into social gamification creating this entire network allowing people to copy one another, to see what other people are doing. Basically adding to social ambience we lost [on] the first day that we launched the company.
We took a couple of stages. Now we’re at the point of realizing we’re going more and more towards bringing in great investors to eToro. What we really want at eToro is to find hundreds of people which have consistent profits, but are also diversified. So if you’re looking to invest in China, you really want to see the top ten customers investing in Chinese stocks on eToro to be able to copy them with the percentage of your portfolio. You actually want to do the same with Germany and the UK and everywhere around the world. Now we’re helping the eco-systems to diversify and qualify better financial measures.
Eric: Got it. One thing that really stuck out to me is you mentioned you pivoted multiple times. How many times did you guys pivot in total?
Yoni: I think there was, I don’t want to be misusing the word pivot. We changed the main product of the company and where we’re targeting it and the audience, I’d say, about three times. A lot of it is also circum-natural [ph 00:23:12] upgrading. We’re going to launch the beginning of next year something that’s already in Beta, which is eToro 2.0. You can call it a pivot from one point of view because it’s going to look different. It’s going to have a lot of different things, but it’s also some of the natural growth of a company.
Eric: These pivots weren’t so much of a pivot as you would describe in Silicon Valley where you’re totally changing your business model. This is more like where you’re upgrading as time goes on.
Yoni: It’s somewhere in the middle. It’s somewhere in the middle.
Eric: Okay. Got it. Perfect. Wrapping up here with a few more questions. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your 25 year old self?
Yoni: Never forget your customers. Every decision you make, always remember who are your most valued customers.
Eric: What’s the story behind that?
Yoni: The story behind that is a lot of times—we talked about doing these changes. If you’re doing a significant change ask yourself, “Do I still want my old customers?” And then you need to understand you either want them and then your can’t forget them and make sure they still get what they want. Or, completely abandon them and understand you’re not going to see anything from them. There really isn’t a middle there.
Eric: Okay. Fair enough. One thing I always like to ask is; what’s one productivity hack you can share? For example, one thing I like to do when I wake up is I keep my phone far away. That way I have to get out of my bed to start my day. So, what’s one productivity hack you can share with the audience?
Yoni: I’m going to try that. Self-productivity or company productivity?
Eric: Let’s go with both. Let’s make it a two pronged question.
Yoni: Wow! Two. Company productivity is something that is actually quite popular. It might look like something that’s obvious in meetings. Making sure you group everyone in the company and talk to everyone in the company at least once every two weeks. I think that’s extremely important to be productive in the company, to over communicate to all ends. Self-productivity; take Ritalin. I don’t know.
Eric: Okay. I like the company one. I run a company too. We do our all hands, but we’re obviously much smaller than 200 people. When you have 200 people who are you doing your one on one meetings with? Are you only doing it with your managers? I’m trying to figure out what the structure is for your one on one meetings, because they’re very important.
Yoni: Right. One of the ways are usually my direct, which are the executives of the company, the VPs. I do group meetings as well, something I actually learned from Dick Costello. Just gather groups of people in the company to sit with me in the room, like 10-15 people and get feedback about what’s working and what’s not working for them. These meetings also explain to people that my door is open and they can always set up a 15 minute discussion with me whenever they want. I’m trying to meet, I think most of the people in the company within the frame of six months, but as the company grows, it’s less.
Eric: I’m assuming you might have some process where your assistant checks off who you’ve met with already and then you go to the next batch? Is that how it works to make sure that you don’t meet the same people?
Yoni: Yes. And the group meetings of course. It’s managed by our HR, by our Human Resources department.
Eric: Perfect. Final question. What’s one must read book you can share with the audience?
Yoni: Must read book. 1984
Eric: 1984. What’s that all about?
Yoni: Really? You haven’t read 1984?
Eric: I was born in 1986.
Yoni: Wow! You have to read that thing. I always read. But it’s a George Orwell classic. It’s a sci-fi book. It describes the future, which is 1984, but it was written in 1948. I won’t tell you the entire story, but generally it’s an efficient future—you are familiar with the term Big Brother, I assume?
Eric: Yes.
Yoni: That’s sort of invented the term and the idea behind Big Brother so you’re always watched. There’s the Big Brother and what’s interesting there is there’s two sides and the two sides are struggling, there’s this war in the background, and—you’ll just have to read it to understand why it was for me that book really changed my life and helped me understand that everything is relative.
Eric: I’ll have to check it out. That’s a really interesting one that you recommend. Yoni Assia from e-Toro. Everyone make sure to check out e-Toro if you’re in Europe. Unfortunately it’s not in the United States yet. We’ll have to campaign for that. But Yoni, we definitely want to have you on the show sometime again soon.
Yoni: Thank you very much. Good luck to everybody.
Eric: Thank you.
Yoni Assia
The Statistical Case for Company Culture [Infographic]
Ep50: Interview with Jesse Farmer, Founder of Codeunion and former Dev Bootcamp Co-Founder
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Gliwice-Silesia 2019
Eurovision Events
Water Of Life Project - Water Of Life (Russia) Junior Eurovision 2016
Posted 06 October 2016 at 19:00 CEST
Add or Download the song to your own playlist: https://ESC2016.lnk.to/JuniorEurovision2016 The Water Of Life project will represent Russia at the 2016 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Valletta with the song Water Of Life The «Water of Life» project was created specifically for the "Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016". The project bears the same name as the song that the girls will perform at the competition. The song is written by the project soloist Sofia Fisenko in collaboration with Rita Dakota.
tags Russia 2016 Junior Eurovision Song Valletta Sofia Fisenko Water Of Life Water Of Life Project official video Official Music Video Россия contest Живая вода Софья Фисенко
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G3 Review: Superman – Secret Identity
by E. Peterman
on May 26, 2013 October 21, 2013
If Superman is the hero whose powers we all dream of having, many more of us can probably relate to Spider-Man. Underneath it all, he’s the regular joe whose powers weren’t a birthright but bestowed by accident. Rarely do his good deeds go unpunished, and he has wrestled with the question of how to do the right thing in a world where many don’t trust him.
So what if Clark Kent were a little more like a mega-powered Peter Parker — a teenager who gained titanic abilities overnight and then had to learn to use them for good while constantly weighing the consequences? That’s one of many things that make Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen’s Superman: Secret Identity so wonderful, but the analogy doesn’t really do this story justice. With grace and almost flawless execution, they took one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures and reworked his story into something fresh and surprising without compromising the character’s basic nature.
In a clever twist, this version of Clark Kent is a non-super teenager in Kansas whose parents thought it would be a good idea to name him after a comic book character. All his life, Clark been subjected to every lame Superman joke you can think of, and his closet is filled with unwanted Superman paraphernalia that he receives on birthdays. It’s an annoying meme he can’t escape.
But one day, the joke becomes a real thing. Literally overnight, Clark gains the god-like abilities of his comic book counterpart. If there’s a more exhilarating panel than Immonen’s splash of the character streaking across a night sky shortly after discovering that he can fly, I’d like to see it.
Of course, things get complicated once Clark begins using his gifts to save lives. The “Superboy” who prefers solitude and quiet becomes an elusive media sensation who has to stay mentally and physically one step ahead of his pursuers, which include the national media and the federal government. (This is precisely what would happen if Superman were real.) The cat-and-mouse game, which grows more elaborate and dangerous as time goes on, is one of the most compelling narrative threads.
“They’ve got a budget. They’ve got equipment, support, all kinds of resources. I’ve just got me.”
There’s also a nice take on a familiar romance. Now an established writer, Clark eventually meets Lois Chaudhari, an environmental designer who, at first, is not amused that mutual friends have introduced her to some guy with that name.
Clark, commiserating: “I’ve been set up with 18 Loises, seven Lanas and a Cat Grant.”
Lois: “Cat Grant? Is that someone from Superman?”
Clark: “Beats me. My college roommate thought it was hysterical, though, so I guess so.”
Destiny calls. As he and Lois fall in love and build a life together, Clark becomes perhaps more vulnerable than ever. There’s more to lose.
Busiek’s story soars, but can we talk about Immonen’s art for a minute? Everything from subtle facial expressions to majestic, snow-covered mountains is lovingly rendered yet somehow understated. It’s obvious that he put a great deal of thought and care into the look of the characters, who come across as real people instead of idealized, two-dimensional images. Clark isn’t particularly striking when he’s out of uniform, and Immonen gives him an ordinary quality that humanizes the character without diminishing him. By the way, he also did the coloring. Todd Klein’s lettering makes Clark’s narration a pleasure, not a distraction.
Superman: Secret Identity, recently re-released in trade after several years out of circulation, is a treasure from start to finish. Even if Big Blue and capes in general aren’t your cups of tea, you’ll be captivated by this book’s heart and soul. Grade: A+
Mom. Geek. Journalist.
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The Mysteries of...
Applications of...
Light and...
Chapter 1: The Mysteries of Light
How Do Rainbows Form?
Why Light Fades in the Bathroom?
Why Are Soap Bubbles So Beautiful?
Why Do Water Surfaces Shine?
Why Do Comets Have Tails?
Light in the Natural World
The Earth, Space and Light
Light and Units
Light is It a Wave or a Particle?
Chapter 2: Making Light
Incandescent and Fluorescent Lighting
Television and Liquid Crystal Displays
Chapter 3: Applications of Light
Lens Coatings
CCD Sensors
CMOS Sensors
Digital Copying Machines
Semiconductor Lithography Equipment
Chapter 4: Light and Its Future
Near-Field Light
Synchrotron Radiation
Laser Nuclear Fusion
Optical Computers
Canon Science Lab What Is Light?
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Canon Science Lab
What would the world be like if there were no color? We can distinguish colors because our eyes detect Light. Let's take a look at how we perceive color.
The human eye resembles a camera. It has an iris and a lens, and the retina-a membrane deep inside the eye-functions much like film. Light passes through the lens of the eye and strikes the retina, thereby stimulating its photoreceptor cells, which in turn emit a signal. This signal travels over the optic nerve to the brain, where color is perceived. There are two types of photoreceptor cells known as "cones" and "rods." Rods detect brightness and darkness, while cones detect color. Between the two, there are some 200 million photoreceptor cells. Cones are further classified into L, M, and S cones, each of which senses a different color wavelength, allowing us to perceive color.
Why Can We See Color?
Sunlight itself is colorless and is therefore called white light. So, why can we see color in the objects around us? An object's color depends on its properties. For example, an object that looks red when light is shined on it will appear bright red when only red light is used. When only blue light is used, however, the same object will look dark. An object that normally looks red reflects red light most intensely while absorbing other colors of light. In short, we see an object's color based on what color it is reflecting most intensely.
Light is comprised of the three primary colors: red, green and blue. Combining these three primary colors of light yields white, while other combinations can produce all the colors we see. The human retina has L, M and S cones, which act as sensors for red, green and blue, respectively.
Why do things appear in 3-D? (1)
The world as seen by humans is a 3-dimensional space. Why are we able to perceive the depth of objects despite the human retina sensing flat 2-dimensional information?
Humans have two eyes, which are separated horizontally (by a distance of approximately 6.5 cm). Because of this, the left eye and right eye view objects from slightly different angles (this is called "binocular disparity") and the images sensed by the retinas differ slightly. This difference is processed in the brain (in the visual area of the cerebral cortex) and recognized as 3-dimensional information.
Movie and television images are flat, 2-dimensional in nature, but 3-D movies and 3-D television utilize this "binocular disparity" to create different images for the left and right eyes. These two types of images are delivered to the left and right eyes, which provides the sensation of a 3-D image.
3-D movies generally require 3-D glasses to enable viewers to see two types of images on a single screen. Projection methods vary from theater to theater, as do the types of glasses used. Some typical types of 3-D glasses include color filter (anaglyph) glasses, polarized glasses, and shutter glasses. In the color filter method, images are divided into separate RGB wavelengths. When passed through glasses with different colored filters on the left and right lenses, the image matching each eye enters. In the polarization method, two types of polarized light differing by 90 degrees are applied to images, and these are separated using a polarization filter in the glasses. The shutter method switches between the left and right images. Shutter glasses alternate the opening and closing of the left and right shutters in sync with the switching of images on the screen, delivering the respective images to each eye. Because switching takes place over extremely short periods of time, the images appear without breaks due to the "afterimage effect" that takes place in human eyes.
Like 3-D movies, 3-D televisions make use of "binocular disparity." The mechanism, however, is slightly different. 3-D televisions display two types of images by attaching optical components to the display panel or embedding fine slits in it. A typical optical component is the "lenticular lens," a lens sheet with a cross-section characterized by a semi-circular pattern, which is placed in front of the television screen, resulting in the image created by the pixels for each eye entering the left and right eyes of the viewer separately. This method enables viewers to enjoy 3-dimensional video without the need for special glasses, but the viewing location is limited. For example, when c represents the distance from the television screen to the lenticular lens, L the distance from the lenticular lens to the viewer, and f the focal length of the lenticular lens, the following relationship applies: 1/c + 1/L = 1/f. Once c and f have been determined, then the viewing position L becomes fixed. Furthermore, the frame sequential method, which alternates between two types of images without the use of optical components like the shutter method used in films, has recently been practically implemented for 3-D television and is becoming the most widely adopted technology. This method, however, requires glasses with shutters synchronized with the switching of images.
Other technologies that enable the world of 3-D to be enjoyed with even higher levels of realism are also being developed. A human's depth perception not only utilizes binocular disparity, but also "motion parallax," which enables not only the front of an object to be seen, but also the sides and back of the object when the object moves or is seen from a different angle. There are also systems that incorporate compact cameras and positional sensors like the HMD (head mounted display) used in Canon's MR (Mixed Reality) technology, which changes images in real time according to the movement of the viewer to provide a realistic 3-D video experience. Technology that makes use of holography is also under consideration.
Does Light from Receding Objects Appear Reddish?
The "Doppler effect" acts on sound. For example, the pitch of an ambulance siren becomes higher as it moves toward you and lower as it moves away. This phenomenon occurs because many sound waves are squeezed into a shortening distance as the siren moves towards you, and stretched as the distance grows when the ambulance moves away from you. Light and sound are both waves, so the same phenomenon occurs with light, as well. Since the speed of light is extremely fast, this phenomenon can only be observed in space.
Light from stars approaching the earth has a shorter wavelength, appearing bluer than its true color, while light from stars receding into the distance has a longer wavelength, appearing reddish. These phenomena are known as blue shift and red shift, both of which are products of the Doppler effect.
What Is the Gravitational Lens Effect?
Light behaves strangely in space. The gravitation lens effect produces this strange behavior. According to Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, an object that has mass (or weight, so to speak) will cause space-time to bend around it. Objects with extremely high mass will cause the surrounding space-time to bend even more. When such an object exists in outer space, light passing near it will travel along the curve it creates in space. By nature, light travels in a straight line, but when it encounters such an object in space-time, it bends much like it does when passing through a convex lens, hence the term gravitational lens effect.
When the light from a distant star is bent according to the gravitational lens effect, observers see the star as though it were in a different position than it really is. Just like a convex lens made of glass, this gigantic lens in space also forms images by enlarging stars and increasing brightness. Research on wobble in space and small stars that are dim and distant is underway at a fever pitch using this effect. Incidentally, when light from distant stars reaches the earth after skimming around the edge of the sun, gravitational refraction produces a lens-like effect that bends the light by an angle of 1.75 seconds (1 second is 1/3,600 degrees).
Does Gravity Change the Color of Light?
According to Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, an object that has mass will cause space-time to bend around it. Gravity is this very bending. We know that extremely large masses bend surrounding space-time tremendously and slowdown time. For example, a hypothetical clock on the sun's surface would tick slower than one on earth. When time slows in this manner, the wavelength of light from high-mass stars apparently gets longer by just the amount of slowdown. In short, the light will appear redder than it really is. This is called gravitational red shift.
Black holes, which are like "depressions" in outer space, have incredibly strong gravities, to the extent that even light itself will be drawn into them. We know that light attempting to escape from a black hole will be strongly red shifted due to the enormous gravity.
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Latest Housing News, Latest News, Trending News
Land Use Act at 40: Time for abrogation
David March 28, 2018, 10:25 am March 28, 2018 0 123
Forty years ago, (precisely March 29, 1978) a tipping point was reached in how land was thenceforth to be owned and administered in both urban and non-urban areas in Nigeria. The Land Use Decree (now Act) of 1978 came into being.
Consequent to this Act, “all land comprised in the territory of each State in the Federation is hereby vested in the Governor of the State and such land shall be held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians in accordance with the provisions of this Act” the opening paragraph of the Act reads – Section 1 (i)
Land, worldwide is a critical factor of existence & production making its ownership, allocation, distribution and utilization critical issues in the creation of wealth, social and economic wellbeing for both individuals and societies and in effect, making it a subject matter that cannot be overlooked.
Among key objectives of the Act were to remove the bitter controversies that arose over title to land, to assist the citizenry, irrespective of status to realise the ambition and aspiration of owning land within the country, to assist the government in the exercise of power of eminent domain or power to compulsorily acquire land for public purposes. The Act also intended to curtail the activities of speculators over land.
Forty years afterwards, can it be said that the Act has achieved its objectives? The continuous numerous calls from many quarters to amend the Act with plausible arguments that it has apparently failed in its objectives is an indicator as to the success or otherwise of the Act. In fact, one of the seven-point agenda of late President Umaru Yar’adua’s short-lived government was an amendment of the Land Use Act.
It is worth showing how the Act has failed in its objectives and made land ownership and title transfer even tougher. For starters, bitter controversies and conflicts still arise or exist over title to land; the Act has definitely not made it any easier for citizens to own land.
Sections 21 – 22 of the Act prohibits the alienation of either a customary right of occupancy or a statutory right of occupancy via an assignment, mortgage, transfer of possession, sublease, or otherwise without the consent of the Governor. The above stated provisions have resulted in a plethora of issues relating to transfer of property transactions. Coupled with this is the confusing provision that the Consent of the Governor should be obtained before the transaction is consummated.
Firstly, the process of obtaining the Governor’s consent is expensive. Many States have seen it primarily as a revenue generating activity and so the total cost of that exercise is sometimes as high as 15 percent of the deemed value of the subject property.
Further, even though there have been improvements to the process in some States, it still takes a long time to obtain the consent, which significantly delays the completion of land related transactions.
Additionally, the requirement to seek the Governor’s consent for mortgage transactions has also proved to be an impediment in the introduction of financial tools such as mortgage backed securitisation, which requires an element of certainty in terms of the rights to the underlying securities in the mortgages to be securitised.
READ MORE: ‘FG is Enlarging Steel Sector for Economic Diversification’
As a result of the above stated issues, amendments have been proposed to alleviate the burdens currently faced by investors in the real estate market and to provide property investment incentives but not much has been achieved in this regard.
According to a survey carried out in 2012, the second greatest challenge facing 22% of Nigerians that wanted to invest in real estate was reported to be the difficulty in obtaining titles. This is followed by 18% that cite cost and time involved in regularizing real estate transactions.
This lack of understanding of the laws and procedures surrounding real estate and real estate transactions is borne primarily out of the poor workability of the Land Use Act.
Data from the World Banks Ease of Doing Business 2017, indicate that regarding property registration in Nigeria, it takes an average of 77 days to achieve. 59.7 days in sub-Saharan Africa and 22.4 days in high income Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Registering properties in sub-Saharan Africa in general and Nigeria in particular is evidently tough as demonstrated by the Report.
At an average of 10.10%, Nigeria is among sub-Saharan Africa countries with the highest cost of registration as a percentage of property value. The average in sub-Saharan Africa is 8.00% and 4.20% in high income OECD countries.
A quick scan of the report further reveals that property registration in some select countries – Nigeria ranked 182 out of 190 in 2016 and 182 in 2017, which shows there has been no appreciable improvement in the ease of registering properties in Africa’s most populous nation.
Still on property registration, in 2016, Kenya ranked 122 of 190, China 42, South Africa 100, Ghana 76, India 140, and Brazil 130. In 2017, Kenya moved a step up to 121, China stayed same at 42, South Africa went southwards to 105, Ghana came down to 77, India improved by two places to 138 and Brazil also improved by two places to 128. A cursory study indicates how much work needs to done to improve and make the regulatory framework conducive for registering property.
Yet, this is a country, based on United Nations data, has a housing deficit of over 17 million units. To bridge this shortfall, 900,000 units must be added to the housing stock annually. But based on available data (National Bureau of Statistics) less than 100,000 are supplied.
The true and committed resolution of these issues must start with amendments to the Land Use Act. Section 15 of the Act provides that during the term of a Statutory Right of Occupancy, the holder shall have the sole right to and absolute possession of all the improvements on the land. Such right and possession only relates to improvements that the holder still cannot transfer, assign or mortgage without the prior consent of the Governor or would lose if in breach of terms and conditions of the Certificate of Occupancy.
Again, this clearly creates a problem of security of title because though it is conventional in Nigeria to grant a Certificate of Occupancy for a period of ninety-nine years. There is nothing in the Act that prevents the Governor from granting an interest of a lesser period. Section 8 of the Act only enjoins the Governor to grant a right of occupancy for a definite or fixed term. Where the right covers a short term then it amounts to economic risk to embark on massive improvements because of the atmosphere of uncertainty induced by the Section 16.
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The Act has equally failed to curtail the activities of land speculators, as one of its objectives. Large tracts of undeveloped lands are still not under the control of the Governors of the States and land speculators are cashing in on this seeming lapse by holding down vast lands out of use until such a time as it would be very profitable to dispose on the market – a practice that hampers development in diverse ways.
Ruling family members in many communities (popularly called omo oniles) who control large traditional lands engage in land profiteering. They also create undue conflicts that result in costly land litigations and in many cases, physical clashes leading to deaths and sacking of villages. This a situation the Act was meant to curtail but has not helped in any way. The result is that the cost of land continues to rise astronomically and land speculation has become even more rife.
Concurrently, the harsh economic climate in the country with rising cost of living has put Nigerians in dire straits such that many who have access to land whether by inheritance, previous purchase, or by family or communal allotments and are more readily inclined to disposing them to meet immediate survival needs cannot easily do so because of lack of access to title. Though the land belongs to them they still have to approach the Governor of the State in which their land is situated to obtain title to facilitate a sale.
The same thing applies to using the land for economic activity. Many who own land cannot pledge them to the financial institutions for facilities to engage in commercial or manufacturing activities because of the torturous process of obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy as spelled out by the Land Use Act.
Thus, the rich continue to accumulate more and more lands to the detriment of the dominant poor.The situation has been complicated by the politicisation of almost all public affairs and institutions in the country.
The fact that all land in the state is vested in the Governor of the State makes it very easy for land and title revocation (Section 28) to be used as a political weapon not minding the investments on same or the adverse consequences of such a decision on the investment climate of the country, state, economy or financial sector.
This singular power in Sections 1 and 28 of the Land Use Act has made many financial institutions wary of accepting real estate as a collateral asset in extending facilities to their customers.
The amount of compensation and method of calculation of same under the Land Use Act also leaves a lot to be desired. Section 29 (4) (a) allows for an amount equal to the rent paid to the Government as well as cost of improvements to the land. This negates or ignores the fact that the allottee could have acquired the land from its original allottee at a huge cost on the open market.
Even more, costly improvements may have then been undertaken on the land to increase its value from which ordinarily, the land holder should benefit.
READ MORE: FG Issues 1,417 Consents To Land Transactions, 2,400 Cs–of–O
Section 6 of the Act which states that the Local Government authorities can grant land for agricultural purposes is in reality not practicable. Many local governments exist today in Nigeria and function as appendages or extensions of the Governor of the State. They cannot grant such lease as envisaged by the Act to any agricultural concern without the consent of the Governor. Where such leases are granted, and a Customary Right of Occupancy is granted virtually no financial institution in Nigeria recognizes same as a legal document strong enough to use as a collateral.
The impact of the current policy on land may directly or indirectly be one of the major reasons why agricultural production has not moved from its current subsistence and basic level after nearly 60 years as a nation. The statistics indicate that nearly 80% of land in Nigeria is agricultural land and are being put into various types of agricultural production. Of this 80%, less than 5% is held by large scale farmers or farm holdings. The rest are owned by small families and individual holdings engaged in small scale cultivation of the lands using very archaic technology and sometimes no technology at all – just the basic hoe, cutlass and hired labour.
Output is therefore very limited and even with that low level of output, nearly 70% of harvest is lost before it reaches the markets and targeted consumers.
Yet, each of these small farm holdings own their farm lots but because of the Land Use Act they can hardly obtain proper legal registered title to same to enable them access credit facilities with the financial institutions using these same farm lands as collateral. As a result of their inability to access financing they cannot employ technology by way of tractors etc to farm larger expanses of land, improve and increase output. Because of the lack of access to finance the small farm holdings cannot invest in technology to preserve harvest until it reaches consumers and the result is huge wastage and losses annually.
In conclusion, the objectives of the Land Use Act were no doubt lofty and well-intentioned but it has turned out to be defective in many respects. The time for a review in tune with current realities is long overdue. Fettered with institutional failure, dearth of political will and inherent defects, the law has not been able to achieve most of its set objectives.
Notwithstanding, the desire for economic development through effective, fair and equitable utilisation of land and land resources can still be attained if the law is holistically amended to overturn certain anachronistic and antithetical provisions and replaced with realistic and effective policies that would put Nigeria on the part of economic progress.
Chudi Ubosi
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Home » Big Data » “Above the Trend Line” – Your Industry Rumor Central for 5/1/2017
“Above the Trend Line” – Your Industry Rumor Central for 5/1/2017
May 1, 2017 by Daniel Gutierrez Leave a Comment
Above the Trend Line: your industry rumor central is a recurring feature of insideBIGDATA. In this column, we present a variety of short time-critical news items grouped by category such as people movements, funding news, financial results, industry alignments, rumors and general scuttlebutt floating around the big data, data science and machine learning industries including behind-the-scenes anecdotes and curious buzz. Our intent is to provide you a one-stop source of late-breaking news to help you keep abreast of this fast-paced ecosystem. We’re working hard on your behalf with our extensive vendor network to give you all the latest happenings. Heard of something yourself? Tell us! Just e-mail me at: daniel@insidebigdata.com. Be sure to Tweet Above the Trend Line articles using the hashtag: #abovethetrendline.
We here at insideBIGDATA are looking forward to the upcoming GPU Technology Conference on May 8-11 in Silicon Valley. We’ll be on the floor and around corners soaking up news and rumors for our readers. But in the meantime, let’s talk about all the new VC money finding a home in the Big Data industry … Looker announced it has closed an $81.5 million Series D funding round led byCapitalG, Alphabet’s growth equity investment fund. The round includes additional participation from new investors Geodesic Capital and Goldman Sachs, as well as from Looker’s previous investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Meritech Capital Partners, Redpoint Ventures and Sapphire Ventures. Looker has raised a total of $177.5 million since 2013. Looker is a modern data platform that leverages today’s best data technology to let everyone in an organization make better business decisions using data. The announcement will help Looker continue to innovate with even more intuitive ways for users to access data, expand product functionality, and make deeper investments in its integrations with the most powerful database technologies. Looker will also accelerate its investments in sales and marketing and continue international expansion, including Asia Pacific.
New data science educational opportunities keep popping up … Syracuse University recently announced that it is now accepting applications for its newest online program, DataScience@Syracuse. Designed to meet the needs of today’s data science professionals, DataScience@Syracuse will offer an 18-month Master of Science in Applied Data Science, developed in a collaboration between Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies (iSchool) and the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Taught by esteemed Syracuse faculty, the online program’s interdisciplinary curriculum focuses on delivering organizational insight and driving business strategy by using data capture, management, mining and analysis skills. Syracuse University continues a partnership with 2U, Inc., and DataScience@Syracuse uses 2U’s cloud-based software-as-a-service technology platform. Students and faculty will meet weekly through live online class sessions, and students will complete immersive course content between classes, accessible both online and offline, on computers and mobile devices, from any location. The M.S. in Applied Data Science consists of 36 credits and can be completed in 18 months. Each year, there will be start dates in January, April, July and October with admissions decisions being made on a rolling basis. Applications are now being accepted for the first cohort, which begins in October 2017.
In M&A news, we learned that Infor, a leading provider of business applications specialized by industry and built for the cloud, announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Birst, Inc., a pioneer of cloud-native, business intelligence (BI), analytics, and data visualization. Birst is a unique, comprehensive platform for sourcing, refining, and presenting standardized data insights at scale to drive business decisions. The Birst business intelligence platform connects the entire enterprise through a network of virtualized BI instances on-top of a shared common analytical fabric. Birst spans ETL (extract, transform, and load), operational reports, dashboards, semantic understanding, visualization, smart discovery, and data blending to form a rich, simplified end-to-end BI suite in the cloud. Birst received among the four highest scores in four of the five use cases assessed in the 2017 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Business Intelligence and Analytics Platforms report, which examined products from 26 vendors, published March 2. Birst scored highest for the OEM or Embedded BI (4.15 out of 5) and Extranet Deployment (4.18 out of 5) use cases. It received the third-highest score in the Agile Centralized BI Provisioning (3.80 out of 5) use case, and it received the fourth-highest score in the Governed Data Discovery (3.59 out of 5) use case.
Christina Noren, CPO at Interana offered us some comments about the Info/Birst acquisition:
Moves like Infor buying Birst will likely be replicated more, with incumbent analytics players being acquired by application software players because they tend toward prescriptive analytics that depend on a fixed model of the business. That comes most consistently from packaged applications. Independent analytics vendors need to provide more flexibility and exploratory capability for digital businesses to understand what is happening in their proprietary services vs. analytics closely tied to the cookie cutter aspects of the business embodied in packaged applications. There is a split happening here.
We kept our ears open for new partnerships, alignments and collaborations starting with Accenture, the global professional services company, and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) forming an alliance to enable clients to take advantage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies as fundamental elements of their innovation strategies, helping to shape the future of their organizations. Accenture Analytics, part of Accenture Digital, will apply its deep analytics expertise with DFKI’s specialized AI research capabilities to further the adoption of these new technologies in Germany and beyond. Together, Accenture and DFKI will provide clients with direct access to innovative AI technologies, supporting them to understand the potential of applying AI for their organizations and guiding the implementation of new solutions through the adoption of best practices to unlock tangible new value and growth opportunities … The Industrial Internet Consortium® (IIC), a world’s leading organization transforming business and society by accelerating the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and the Industrial Value Chain Initiative (IVI), a forum of smart manufacturing for connected industries based in Japan, announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). Under the agreement, the IIC and the IVI will work together to align efforts to maximize interoperability, portability, security and privacy for the industrial Internet … Supercomputer leader Cray Inc. (Nasdaq: CRAY) announced the Company has signed a solutions provider agreement with Mark III Systems, Inc. to develop, market and sell solutions that leverage Cray’s portfolio of supercomputing and big data analytics systems. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Mark III Systems is a leading enterprise IT solutions provider focused on delivering IT infrastructure, software, services, cloud, digital, and cognitive solutions to a broad array of enterprise clients. The company’s BlueChasm digital development unit is focused on building and running open digital, cognitive, and AI platforms in partnership with enterprises, institutions, service providers, and software and cloud partners. Mark III Systems can now combine the design, development, and engineering expertise of its BlueChasm team with the data-intensive computing capabilities of the Cray® XC™, Cray CS™, and Urika®-GX systems, and offer enterprise IT customers customized solutions across a wide range of commercial use cases.
The big data vendor ecosystem also logged a number of important customer wins starting with Rubikloud™, the machine intelligence platform turning omni-channel retailers into modern data-driven innovators, announcing it has selected Microsoft Azure as the preferred platform to power its retail-focused machine learning products. This announcement is significant because it is bringing terabytes of insightful data to Azure from enterprise customers using Rubikloud’s Rubicore platform, Customer LifeCycle Manager and Promotion Manager products. This announcement also falls on the heels of Rubikloud’s decision to deploy Azure for its existing partnership with A.S. Watson Group (ASW), the largest international health and beauty retailer in Asia and Europe. Following successful implementation of Azure for A.S. Watson, Rubikloud selected Azure as a preferred platform for future enterprise retail customers given Azure’s flexibility and support in managing hundreds of terabytes of retail data. Rubikloud’s packaged cloud-based products have extracted and integrated hundreds of terabytes of data from its retail customers’ legacy systems, unlocking astonishing efficiency for merchandising, loyalty programs, dynamic pricing, stock-out reduction, and more … MapR Technologies, Inc., the provider of the Converged Data Platform enabling organizations to create intelligent applications that fully integrate analytics with operational processes in real time, announced thatNorCom, a full-chain supplier for big data solutions, has selected the MapR Converged Data Platform to serve as a foundation for its autonomous driving applications that leverage deep learning technologies. The partnership enables joint customers to deploy deep learning frameworks that can provide fast and reliable analysis in critical compute environments. NorCom leverages a purpose-built deep learning framework for the automotive industry. To fully take advantage of it, they needed a way to efficiently manage the massive data sets generated by sensors and cameras in self-driving cars. Running containerized deep learning applications on the MapR Platform provided the required speed, scale and reliability to successfully analyze continuous data in an autonomous driving environment and achieve the benefits of deep learning … Information Builders, a leader in business intelligence (BI) and analytics, information integrity, and integration solutions, announced that State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company (SVMIC), a single-line medical professional liability insurer, has selected Information Builders’ analytics solutions for the insurance market. Business leaders at SVMIC believe the new software will improve the company’s data reporting to better serve doctors, surgeons, and other medical practitioners throughout Tennessee and the surrounding states. Information Builders’ industry-specific BI solution will bring actionable data to SVMIC experts in underwriting, claims, risk management, and other parts of the business.
In the people movement department, we learned that MapR Technologies, Inc., the provider of the Converged Data Platform enabling organizations to create intelligent applications that fully integrate analytics with operational processes in real time, announced that George Roberts has joined the company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Roberts joined the MapR Board of Directors in March 2017 and serves on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and as the Chair of the Compensation Committee. Previously, Mr. Roberts served as the Executive Vice President of North America at Oracle Corporation and as a member of the Oracle Executive Committee. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of a number of privately held companies
In new patent news, we heard that a new patent for “whole brain” systems for autonomous robotic control has been issued by the U.S. Patent Office to Neurala, the software company that invented The Neurala Brain, a deep learning neural networks platform. This new invention will enable AI to function more like a human brain because it integrates multiple brain areas. Human brains integrate sight, sound and other senses when making a decision, but existing AI systems do not. Traditional AI systems are engineered by first implementing separate subsystems (for instance, visual and auditory perception, spatial navigation and obstacle avoidance), and then they attempt to integrate them in a unified system. In biological brains the different senses work together to achieve a task. For example, a brain may consider the sight and sound of a moving car to estimate its position and place that car in a “mental map” of the world. A whole brain AI system, which acts like the human brain, will be significantly better at performing complex tasks because of this native integration that enables different senses and modules to complement each other’s deficiencies and shortcomings.
Microsoft recently announced upgrades to its sales software that integrates data from LinkedIn. Behavioral analytics startup Interana‘s CEO and co-founder Ann Johnson sees this move as an important step to recreating the way people have access to their data and the insights gleaned from it.
Organizations save precious resources, including time and money, when they give 100 to 300 people access to the company’s data vs. one to three. This idea of putting data in the hands of more people across every department of an organization––not just the data scientists–– and providing them with the tools to use it, is the premise Interana is built on and our founders are long-time proponents of this adoption. As data-informed decision making becomes more of a business-critical advantage, this latest move from Microsoft will hopefully set an example for other organizations looking to maximize the value of their data.”
And finally, our friends over at Dataiku provided a short piece on how open source tools may become the lifeblood of enterprise data science projects:
Data Team Harmony Lies with Open Source
Building an effective data team can come at a high cost, yet open source tools may be the key to creating harmony and potentially reducing short term and long term costs.
Harmony and analytics are two terms not often found together, especially when getting a team of diverse data professionals to execute data science chores – together. A data science team is often made up of people from diverse backgrounds, with diverse skill sets – from the machine learning specialist, to the master Python coder, to the beginning data analyst. To successfully build and execute any sized data science project requires harmony across all of the team members. Everyone needs to work effectively and efficiently, using the tools they know best.
What’s more, the growing deficit of Data Scientists, along with the closed nature of many analytics tools makes building effective teams even more difficult. That said, all is not lost. There exists a vast ecosystem of open source tools that are available to the masses, which can help to level the playing field, and bring data analytics capabilities to professionals of all stripes. Yet, much like the cola wars of the 80’s, there is an almost infinite variety of flavors and formulas that drive tastes, at least when it comes to standardizing analytics tool sets.
This is a conundrum that can only be solved by creating harmony among team members and their tools of choice. However, harmony means many things to many people, in the case of data science, harmony takes on the form of people being able to interact with their tools of choice, as well as having some mechanism to orchestrate those tools. Naturally, orchestration and harmony cannot happen without a conductor, and in the world of data science, that conductor takes the form of a software platform that fuels interoperability, and tears down barriers.
Dataiku digitizes that conductor with Dataiku Data Science Studio (DSS), a platform that embraces the ideologies of open source technologies, and bridges those technologies together to give teams choices, while promoting collaboration. Dataiku DSS connects to more than 25 different data storage systems, including closed source and open source databases, such as SQL Server, HDFS, NoSQL, and so forth.
Dataiku DSS also supports numerous programing languages (Python, R, Spark, etc) allowing data professionals to work with the programming tools of their choice and still have connectivity to the data shared by the team. Critical features such as team knowledge sharing, change management, and project monitoring further fuel collaboration, while eliminating silos of operation.
Dataiku DSS’s platform approach centralizes open source elements, creating an environment where team knowledge is shared, and never lost when teams are reconfigured. What’s more, integrated to-do lists, document sharing, and unified logs make it easier to onboard new team members, as well as perform forensics on previous projects.
Simply put, open source tools may become the lifeblood of enterprise data science projects, but without proper orchestration, that life blood, as well as communal knowledge is sure to be lost over a short period of time.
“Above the Trend Line” – Your Industry Rumor Central for 5/28/2019
“Above the Trend Line” – Your Industry Rumor Central for 12/31/2018
Filed Under: Big Data, Featured, Google News Feed, News / Analysis, Uncategorized Tagged With: Big Data, Weekly Featured Newsletter Post
How to Plan and Launch Your Modern Data Catalog
Implementing a data catalog helps every member of your data community discover and use the best data and analytics resources for their projects, achieve faster results, and make better decisions. They illuminate tribal knowledge and spur collaboration, both of which are key elements of collective data empowerment. Are you ready to plan and launch your modern data catalog? Data.world says, let’s get started.
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The Bush I-Clinton Roadshow Takes the Low Road in New Orleans at Guess Who’s Expense? (Hint: Women, of Course)(UPDATE 1X–FULL VIDEO)
Posted on January 29, 2009 by insightanalytical
On Tuesday night (January 27) as I passed by the TV, I saw Greta Van Susteren introducing a segment near the end of the show called ” The Best of the Rest.”
There they were, former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton laughing it up on Monday in New Orleans at the National Association of Auto Dealers conference. Greta has spent quite a lot of time featuring this duo; you can check out several videos at the “On the Record” site. However, the video I saw has not shown up on the site…buried, I guess.
First, here’s the only report that I can find on the event:
Bush, Clinton offer morale boost for auto dealers at New Orleans conference
by Jen DeGregorio, The Times-Picayune
Tuesday January 27, 2009, 7:18 AM
Eliot Kamenitz / The Times-PicayuneFormer Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton embrace during their address at the National Association of Auto Dealers conference in New Orleans on Monday.
Former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, who were in New Orleans on Monday to speak to members of the National Automobile Dealers Association, tried to assure one of the nation’s most troubled industries that it would survive an economic maelstrom that has swallowed more than 2.5 million jobs in the past year.
But survival will not come without sacrifice, they said. Clinton and Bush evoked the image of Hurricane Katrina to describe the level of perseverance they said will be needed to carry the nation through a recession that has been widely compared with the Great Depression. Citizens must pitch in to help one another as they did after Katrina, when countless volunteers descended upon New Orleans to help rebuild and donated millions of dollars to a relief fund headed by Clinton and Bush, the former presidents said.
While Bush and Clinton focused on the economy, they also made time for some banter and shared personal anecdotes about their time in the Oval Office.
Clinton and Bush sat down for a casual chat with outgoing association Chairwoman Annette Sykora, who quizzed them about their victories and regrets in office.
Both men sang the praises of President Barack Obama, saying his administration already has set the right tone to weather the economic crisis by encouraging an era of responsibility.
“We are bound together, and divorce is not an option, ” Clinton said.
There’s something missing in this report…the bit that Greta showed.
Greta prefaced the video with a big grin and much enjoyment over what Bush said and added that Clinton had a great quip after that.
I didn’t even hear the Clinton quip because I as so ticked off at what George H. W. Bush decided to deliver to the audience. I was fuming from Bush’s rendition of how he was confronted by women protesters over reproductive issues.
According to Bush, he was irritated when he was in his limo and some women got right up to it waving a sign saying “Stay Out of Our Wombs.” He mused about he couldn’t understand how they even got that close…then wisecracked (sic) “Believe me, that’s one place I wouldn’t want to go”…
Well, the audience ERUPTED in UPROARIOUS LAUGHTER from the audience! I’m assuming the majority of the audience was men. Clinton was laughing, too, and delivered his line. The camera didn’t catch the reaction of Chairwoman Sykora, who was off camera in the video.
As I mentioned, I have no idea what Clinton said, but Greta thought it was very funny and, in fact, thought the whole segment was a laugh riot. Which makes me wonder about Greta. We’ve got a former President mocking women about their intense feelings about controlling their own bodies and she thinks that’s funny?
I guess I should be grateful that she showed it since the newspaper report from The Times-Picayune chose not to report on it. WHY didn’t they?
As for Clinton…I wish I knew what he said. Then again, maybe I don’t want to go there…
Frankly, writing this at the end of a day when I learned that Barack Obama dumped money for birth control from his bilious “stimulus package” to please Republicans, that video makes me even angrier than when I saw the clip on Tuesday night. It seems like a gratuitous slap in the face considering that the bill was going to pass anyway.
But “3-Card Monte” Obama seems set into his groove. One minute he gives the OK for family planning groups working overseas to talk to women about abortion, the next he’s robbing access to low-cost birth control to women in need here in the U.S. What does he really think of his own wife and daughters? Apparently he’s willing to sell women cheap when it comes to “bringing us together.”
This guy seems to like playing with women, keeping them on a string, giving them a little bit, then taking it away. He’s shuffling around issues as we expected because he has no consistent core values. Keeping an eye on all his moves will be difficult. All I’m sure of is that women will ultimately lose the game with this guy. The misogyny exhibited in the campaign in the form of demeaning gestures, the behavior of Jon Favreau with a cardboard cutout of Hillary Clinton, and the apparent comfort with the likes of Ludacris’ video support is now in firmly in place at the top of our government.
What a inspirational role model for all of us…NOT!
By the way, apparently Medicare drug plans stopped covering “sexual performance” drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra back in 2007 except for treating certain medical conditions like pulmonary hypertension (saving a CBO projected $2 billion between 2006 and 2015) . Let’s see if the Obama crowd reinstates coverage and gives women ANOTHER insulting slap. Nothing would surprise me at this point…
Many thanks to Harold who found a video of the exchange…from his comments!! I will try to embed the video when I get back later…
Clinton laughed and said something along the lines of “I cannot afford to make a joke like that. You know what people would say if *I* made a joke like that” and he continued a while like that, then made a pretty stupid joke himself which I forgot.
Harold, on January 29th, 2009 at 9:02 AM Said: Edit Comment
I found the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXuRlcUjoAE
Here is the video from the link provided above…but it’s from CNN, not Greta’s show.
So, the woman was “the ugliest” woman Bush I had ever seen… what a PIG he is…and Clinton just goes along for the ride.
Filed under: Current Politics | Tagged: "On the Record", "stimulus package", 3-Card Monte Obama, birth control, CBO (Congressional Budget Office), Cialis, contraception, feminism, Former President Bill Clinton, Former President George H. W. Bush, Greta Van Susteren, Hillary Clinton, Hurricane Katrina, Jon Favreau, Levitra, Ludacris, Medicare, misogyny, National Association of Auto Dealers Chairwoman Annette Sykora, New Orleans, pulmonary hypertension, Republicans, the Great Depression, the National Association of Auto Dealers conference, The Times-Picayune, Viagra, wombs, women's health issues | 18 Comments »
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Actor network theory
1 Actor network theory
10 Originating area
Key terms: actor, network, translation, problemization, OPP, interessement, enrollment, inscription, irreversibility
Actor-network theory, sometimes abbreviated to ANT, is a sociological theory developed by Bruno Latour, Michel Callon and John Law. It is distinguished from other network theories in that an actor-network contains not merely people, but objects and organizations. These are collectively referred to as actors, or sometimes actants.
The primary tenet of actor-network theory is the concept of the heterogenous network. That is, a network containing many dissimilar elements. These coextensive networks comprise of both social and technical parts. Moreover, the social and technical are treated as inseparable by ANT. When buying produce from a supermarket, for example, the actor-network involved would include the purchaser and the cashier, as well as the cash register, the money and the produce involved. It also includes other, less obvious objects, such as the clothes the purchaser wears, without which they would most likely not be served. The task of trying to identify all of the heterogeneous elements in an actor-network like this can be difficult, and is ultimately up to the discretion of the researcher. This is known as the problem of selection.
Actor-network theory claims that any actor, whether person, object (including computer software, hardware, and technical standards), or organization, is equally important to a social network. As such, societal order is an effect caused by an actor network running smoothly. This order begins to break down when certain actors are removed. For example, the removal of telephones, banks or the president may all result in significant break-downs in social order.
Source: Wikipedia ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actor_network_theory])
Bruno Latour, Michel Callon, John Law
Callon, M. (1986a). ‘The Sociology of an Actor-Network: The Case of the Electric Vehicle’. Mapping the Dynamics of Science and Technology. Callon, M., Law, J. and Rip, A. (Eds). Macmillan Press, London: 19-34.
Callon, M. (1986b). ‘Some Elements of a Sociology of Translation: Domestication of the Scallops and the Fishermen of St Brieuc Bay’. Power, Action & Belief. A New Sociology of Knowledge? Law, J. (Ed). Routledge & Kegan Paul, London: 196-229.
Callon, M. (1987). ‘Society in the Making: The Study of Technology as a Tool for Sociological Analysis’. The Social Construction of Technological Systems. Bijker, W. E., Hughes, T. P. and Pinch, T. P. (Eds). The MIT Press, Cambridge, Ma.: 85-103.
Callon, M. (1997). ‘Actor-Network Theory - The Market Test (draft)’ Actor Network and After Workshop. Centre for Social Theory and Technology (CSTT), Keele University, UK, http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/stt/stt/ant/callon.htm, 31 July 1997.
Latour, B. (1986). ‘The Powers of Association’. Power, Action and Belief. A new sociology of knowledge? Sociological Review monograph 32. Law, J. (Ed). Routledge & Kegan Paul, London: 264-280.
Latour, B. (1987). Science in Action: How to Follow Engineers and Scientists Through Society. Open University Press, Milton Keynes.
Latour, B. (1988a). The Pasteurization of France. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Ma.
Latour, B. (1988b). ‘The Prince for Machines as well as for Machinations’. Technology and Social Process. Elliott, B. (Ed). Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh: 20-43.
Latour, B. (1991). ‘Technology is society made durable’. A Sociology of Monsters. Essays on Power, Technology and Domination. Law, J. (Ed). Routledge, London: 103-131.
Latour, B. (1997). 'On Actor Network Theory: A few clarifications.' http://www.nettime.org/Lists-Archives/nettime-l-9801/msg00019.html.
Originating area
Individual, network
Bijker, W. and J. Law (eds.) (1994) Shaping technology / building society: studies in sociotechnical change, Cambridge Ma: The MIT Press.
Bloomfield, B. P., et al. (1992). "Machines and manoeuvres: Responsibility accounting and the construction of hospital information systems." Accounting, Management and Information Technologies 2(4): 197-219.
Bloomfield, B. P. and T. Vurdubakis (1994). "Negotiating the Boundary between the Technical and the Social in the Development of IT Systems." Information Technology & People 7(1): 9-24.
Bonner, W (Bill). T. and M. Chiasson (2005). "If fair information principles are the answer, what was the question?: An Actor-Network Theory Investigation of the Modern Constitution of Privacy." Information & Organization 15(4): 267-293.
Bonner, W (Bill). T., et al. (2009). "Restoring balance: How history tilts the scales against privacy. An Actor-Network Theory investigation." Information & Organization 19(2): 84–102.
Bonner, W. B. T. (2013). "History and IS – Broadening our view and understanding: Actor–Network Theory as a methodology " Journal of Information Technology 28(2): 111-123.
Doolin, B. and A. Lowe (2002). "To reveal is to critique: Actor-network theory and critical information systems research." Journal of Information Technology 17(2): 69-78.
Hanseth, O. and E. Monteiro (1997). "Inscribing Behaviour in Information Infrastructure Standards." Accounting, Management and Information Technologies 7(4): 183-211.
Holmstrom, J. and F. Stalder (2001). "Drifting technologies and multi-purpose networks: the case of the Swedish cashcard." Information & Organization 11(3): 187-206.
Kavanagh, D. and L. Araujo (1995). "Chronigami: Folding and unfolding time." Accounting, Management and Information Technologies 5(2): 103-121.
McGrath, K. (2002). "The Golden Circle: a way of arguing and acting about technology in the London Ambulance Service." European Journal of Information Systems 11(4): 251-266.
Larsen, T., L. Levine, and J. I. DeGross (Eds.) (1999) Information systems: current issues and future changes, Laxenburg: IFIP.
McMaster, T., E. Mumford, E. B. Swanson, B. Warboys et al. (Eds.) (1997) Facilitating technology transfer through partnership: Learning from practice and research, London: Chapman and Hall.
Orlikowski, W., G. Walsham, M. Jones, and J. I. DeGross (Eds.) (1996) Information technology and changes in organizational work, London: Chapman and Hall.
Sarker, S., Sarker, S., and Sidorova, A. "Understanding Business Process Change Failure: An Actor-Network Perspective," Journal of Management Information Systems (JMIS), Vol. 23, No. 1, Summer 2006, pp. 51-86.
Sawyer, S., and Jarrahi, M. H. 2014. Sociotechnical Approaches to the Study of Information Systems. In A. Tucker, & H. Topi (Eds.), Computing Handbook: Information systems and information technology, 3rd Edition. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis.
Scott, SV and Wagner EL, (2003) "Networks, negotiations and new times: The implementation of enterprise resource planning into an academic administration," Information and Organization, v.13, issue 4, pp. 285-313.
Strathern, M. (1999) “What is intellectual property after?,” in J. Law and J. Hassard (Eds.) Actor Network Theory and After, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers / The Sociological Review, pp. 156-180.
Walsham, G. (1997) “Actor-Network Theory and IS research: Current status and future prospects,” in A. S. Lee, J. Liebenau, and J. I. DeGross (Eds.) Information systems and qualitative research, London: Chapman and Hall, pp. 466-480.
Walsham, G. and Sahay, S. 1999. GIS for district-level administration in India: problems and opportunities. MIS Quarterly. 23, 1 (Mar. 1999), 39-65.
Social network theory, Socio-technical theory, network theory
http://www.learning-theories.com/actor-network-theory-ant.html, Summary of ANT by Learning-theories.com.
http://www.idi.ntnu.no/~ericm/ant.FINAL.htm, Eric Monteiro's summary of ANT and information infrastructure.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/actor-network-theory/, ANT theory group discussion site on Yahoo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actor_network_theory, Wikipedia entry on ANT.
Retrieved from "https://is.theorizeit.org/w/index.php?title=Actor_network_theory&oldid=1055"
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CANELO is the best in boxing right now
Whether people like it or not, the hype is matching the talent in 2019 with Golden Boy Promotions superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The 28-year-old seasoned veteran, who has clocked in 391 rounds across 54 professional fights, should rightful now be viewed as the best in the sport of boxing because
Canelo beats Daniel Jacobs in Las Vegas, Nevada
Canelo Alvarez defeated IBF middleweight world champion Daniel Jacobs by way of twelve round decision from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alvarez won the first four to five rounds handily, but appeared tired around rounds six to ten, give up round after round with his only break being
Canelo, Jacobs arrive at MGM Grand ahead of weekend clash
WBC, WBA, Lineal and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) and IBF Middleweight World Champion Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs (35-2, 29 KOs) made their grand arrivals today at the MGM Grand Resort and Casino in Las Vegas ahead of their 12-round unification fight. The event will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Daniel Jacobs Media Workout from New York City
IBF Middleweight World Champion Daniel Jacobs (35-2, 29KOs) of Brooklyn, N.Y. hosted a media workout today at CEA Fitness in Long Island, N.Y. ahead of his 12-round unification fight against Canelo Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico. Andre Rozier, his trainer, also attended the workout. The event will take
DAZN, A Case Study in Boxing’s Popularity in the U.S.
DAZN will see changes according to Bloomberg, but I can’t for the life of me tell you if the change is good or bad. A brief history of the streaming service, DAZN launched in 2016, but 2018 in the U.S., with an emphasis placed upon on-demand sports viewing without the
Golovkin signs with DAZN, three-years, six fights
Former middleweight world champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin has finally made his decision about where he will box next, and the decision lead him to John Skipper’s start-up app, DAZN, a boxing web streaming service. This more than likely puts Canelo versus Golovkin in play for later this year, as well
CANELO VS JACOBS – THOUGHTS AFTER THE PRESS TOUR
Canelo Alvarez versus Daniel Jacobs is a good fight with little drama outside of the ring. It is rare that we don’t have the monkey business and pro-wrestling antics around a major boxing match, but on May 4th from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Canelo Alvarez and Daniel
Canelo Alvarez vs. Daniel Jacobs set for May 4th
Boxing’s biggest star will take a step closer to becoming undisputed champion as Canelo Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) defends his WBC, WBA, Lineal and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Titles in a 12-round unification fight against IBF Middleweight World Champion Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs (35-2, 29 KOs) during the celebratory weekend of Cinco de Mayo. The champion-vs.-champion
David Lemieux, Vergil Ortiz off, Canelo vs. Rocky start time and full card
Sorry to announce to all my fans I will not be fighting due to something I was not in control of. We trained 2 months for this fight, we made weight easily. Really don’t know what else to say but I’ll be back SHORTLY ??? — Vergil Ortiz Jr. (@VergilOrtiz)
Canelo Alvarez: I AM READY TO MAKE HISTORY
WBC, WBA, Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) and WBA Super Middleweight World Champion Rocky Fielding (27-1, 15 KOs) hosted a media workout today at Chase Square at Madison Square Garden ahead of their 12-round fight. The battle will take place Saturday, December 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be
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Lil Wayne Opens Up About Suicide Attempts & Mental Health On "Tha Carter V"
Sofia Furlan September 14, 2018
With Tha Carter V around the corner, Billboard has shared an extensive feature on Lil Wayne. While the feature covers fruitful ground to be sure, one of the more poignant moments arises when Weezy reflects on previous brushes with suicidal thoughts. To be sure, the rapper has already expressed such themes on the cult classic “I Feel Like Dying” among other selections, yet hearing him address mental health head-on should be powerful words from the Young Money legend.
The author cites a moment when Wayne was twelve, and accidentally shot himself in the chest with his mother’s gun; now, Weezy looks back on the incident as a suicide attempt, as revealed on a new Carter V verse. Apparently, the violent moment of self-harm arose when his mother forbade him from rapping. As it happens, the rapper is set to address the moment over a sample of Sampha’s “Indecision,” and at the time, the single was positioned to be the project’s outro. Apparently, Wayne updated the track with new lyrics in the wake of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain’s deaths.
Mack Maine opens up about Weezy’s decision to open up, stating “He just told me one day that he was ready to address it now. Just being an adult, reaching a level of maturity and comfort where it’s like, ‘I want to talk about this because I know a lot of people out here might be going through that.”
We can also glean something interesting from this tidbit, as many were curious about whether Weezy might be re-recording the album in entirety. The Billboard feature seems to imply that Tha Carter V was kept largely as is, albeit with updates wherever Wayne saw fit. In any case, hearing it is set to be an imminent reality. In the meantime, peep Wayne murdering Swizz Beatz banger on “Pistol On My Side.”
Mack Maine
suicide attempts
tha carter v
Mac Miller Died Hours Before His Body Was Found
Eminem Explains How Dr. Dre Stopped Him From Going "Too Far" On "Kamikaze"
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Sean Gaffney
sKyes pa rabs kyi gleṅ gźi (Jātakanidāna): a critical edition
sKyes pa rabs kyi gleṅ gźi (Jātakanidāna): English translation
A Historical and Doctrinal Survey of the Pāli Jātakanidāna
Appasamy Murugaiyan & Édith Parlier-Renault
Chung-hui Tsui
Sainbileg Byambadorj
Richard Mahoney
Publication workflow
Publication & distribution
Sean Gaffney — Jātakanidāna (3 vols)
sKyes pa rabs kyi gleṅ gźi (Jātakanidāna): Edition, Translation and Study
The current project focuses on the Tibetan translation of the Jātakanidāna ‘Prologue to the Jātaka’ and is intended to present that text, its contents and sources, by means of several different approaches. The Jātakanidāna is the first attempt by the Pāli textual tradition to provide a biography of the life of the Buddha Gotama. Like the parallel works found in the early biographies of other schools, it is an incomplete biography, and does not record the entire life story of Gotama. This Pāli biography was compiled in Śri Lanka during the fifth century AD, using verses from canonical texts, commentaries on these verses, and other commentarial traditions recounting the life of the Buddha. It is, therefore, a highly composite literary work, that is formed from a wide variety of sources into a unitary narrative text. The Tibetan translation of this Pāli text was made in the early part of the fourteenth century. This was during the last phase of the centuries long task of collecting and translating canonical Indian Buddhist texts into the Tibetan language.
The overall project is divided into three parts: Edition, Translation, and Study. Firstly, by making a critical edition of the Tibetan text in order to show how six of the Tibetan translation traditions has recorded this text. The work makes available to the scholarly world a unique example of a Tibetan text translated from a Pāli original. Secondly, a fully annotated translation of this critical edition and a systematic comparison of it with the Pāli source text. This kind of translation is particularly useful for those interested in the methods of translation employed by the Tibetan translators of Indian texts. Thirdly, making a comprehensive study of the history, composition, and parallels to the Pāli text in Sanskrit or other Prākrits. Also including a study of the specific doctrinal and philosophical concepts that appear in the text. The study also makes a comparative survey of the specific doctrines associated with the Bodhisatta that occur in this text.
Gaffney, Sean (2018) sKyes pa rabs kyi gleṅ gźi (Jātakanidāna): a critical edition based on six editions of the Tibetan bKa' 'gyur. Indica et Buddhica Jātakanidāna, v. 1. Oxford: Indica et Buddhica Publishers.
The Tibetan critical edition provides an example of the style and methods of translation used during a late period in transmission of Indian texts into Tibetan. It is an extremely rare specimin within the Tibetan bKa’ ’gyur collection, in that it is a commentarial work contained amongst their collection of canonical or buddhavacana texts. The text was translated at the beginning of the fourteenth century by the lo tsā ba ‘translator’ Ñi ma rgyal mtshan. It is unique in being the longest Pāli work translated into Tibetan. The edition is divided into three sections corresponding to the Pāli original. The edition makes an important contribution to the philological study of Tibetan texts that have been translated from Indian languages. While the overwhelming majority of Tibetan translations of Buddhist texts are translations of Sanskrit originals, this text has definitely been translated from a Pāli source. There had previously been some disagreement over precisely what language the text had been translated from. It was for this reason that the critical edition was initially undertaken, as a means of ascertaining the language from which it had been originally translated. The critical edition of the Tibetan text leaves no doubt that the source of the text was the Middle-Indo Aryan language of Pāli, and not Sanskrit, as some scholars had previously claimed.
The Pāli Jātakanidāna, the source text for the Tibetan translation, has long been known to the scholarly world through the monumental edition of the Jātaka collection made by Fausbøll. There has also been a more recent edition of the Jātakanidāna text in devanāgari script produced by Tiwari. Both these editions have been consulted for the comparison of the Pāli with the Tibetan. There are two English translations of the Pāli work, one of these partial and one a complete translation. The first of these was by Rhys-Davids, who omitted to translate the extensive commentarial interpolations in the text. The second was by Jayawickrama, that included a translation of these commentarial additions. The Tibetan translation has been partially translated into French by Feer, who used only a single Tibetan edition for his work.
Gaffney, Sean (forthcoming) sKyes pa rabs kyi gleṅ gźi (Jātakanidāna): an annotated translation. Indica et Buddhica Jātakanidāna, v. 2.
The English translation is based on the text of the Tibetan critical edition, and provides a fully annotated translation of that text. The translation and its annotations allow for an exhaustive comparison with the Pāli original text, and for making references to any sections, or sentences, that do not agree in both versions. This translation is intended to supplement the critical edition, by indicating in the footnotes those parts of the text that vary from the Pāli original. It provides a view of a version of the text as it was transmitted in the fourteenth century from Pāli into Tibetan. It has significant philological importance for the study of the Tibetan translation and transmission process encountered in the later spread of Buddhism to Tibet. The translation also provides annotations to the text that show in detail any discrepancies or irregularities that were found between the phrasing or wording of the Tibetan and Pāli texts. A good deal of information is included in the footnotes that was not justified in the critical edition, but which has relevance for understanding the translation.
Gaffney, Sean (forthcoming) A historical and doctrinal survey of the Pāli Jātakanidāna with a comparison of its narratives connected with the bodhisatta. Indica et Buddhica Jātakanidāna, v. 3.
The study deals with the two most important aspects of the text. Uncovering the history and composition of the text, in both the Pāli and Tibetan, and the analysis of the specific doctrines in the text relating to the bodhisatta. The study of the text consists of investigating the historical, doctrinal and narrative features of the text as a whole, and its position within Buddhist literature portraying the life of the bodhisatta. The status and history of the Pāli text and its place in the Pāli canon is explored, the position of the text within the Tibetan tradition is then set out, together with reference to Tibetan historical sources referring to the text and its Tibetan translator. The study then examines how the text treats the topic of past Buddhas, and then how they are dealt with in other Pāli canonical texts. This is followed by an examination of the various doctrinal and philosophical concepts that are essential for the development of the bodhisatta doctrine in the Pāli tradition. These sections deal with, among other things, the concepts of former buddhas, the vyākaraṇa ‘prediction’ to the bodhisatta, the abhinīhāra ‘aspiration’ and adhikāra ‘meritorious act’ and the ten pāramī ‘perfections’ as primary factors in the bodhisatta attaining buddhahood. Finally, the important episodes and events in the bodhisatta’s life contained in the text, are compared with their parallel versions in the Pāli sources, and also with the other existing Sanskrit biographical works.
Sean Gaffney was awarded a BA in history and philosophy by Middlesex University in 1983, an MA in Buddhist philosophy, Ancient Indian philosophy and Buddhist Art and Architecture by SOAS, University of London, in 1985, and a PhD in Buddhist Studies by SOAS in 2003. He studied Sanskrit, Pāli, Tibetan and Prākrit at SOAS between 1985—2017. He also studied Tibetan philosophy and textual studies under Prof. D. Seyfort-Ruegg, 1989—98. From 1997—2007 he was an assistant editor to Dr. T. Skorupski on the Tibetan-English Dictionary Project at SOAS. He has been a Senior Teaching Fellow at SOAS from 1996 to the present on courses relating to various historical and doctrinal aspects of Buddhism, Pāli, pre-Classical and Classical Tibetan. Currently he is a Research Associate at SOAS, with interests including Tibetan translations of Indian texts, Buddhist narrative literature, and the comparative study of Pāli, Prākrit and Tibetan textual traditions.
Fausbøll, Viggo (1990) The Jātaka Together with its Commentary, being Tales of the Anterior Births of Gotama Buddha. (Vol. 1). London: Trübner, 1877. [London: The Pāli Text Society, 1990.]
Feer, Léon (1883) Fragments Traduits du Kandjour. Annales du Musée Guimet, 5, 297—361.
Jayawickrama, N. A. (1990) The Story of Gotama Buddha. Oxford: The Pāli Text Society.
Rhys Davids, T. W. (1880) Buddhist Birth Stories. Trübner: London.
Tiwari, L. N. (1992) Paramatthajotikā nāma Jātakaṭṭhakathā. Varanasi: Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
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Surrogacy & Fertility Law
Surrogacy Resources
Commercial & Corporate Law
Civil Proceedings and Dispute Resolution
Personal Injury & Medical Negligence
Insolvency and Restructuring
Renewable Energy & Windfarming
Wills & Succession Planning
By Owen Sweeney | 16 October 2018
Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) Gains Support
Electricity generation from wind has been a success story in Ireland. The most recent available data indicates that a substantial 27.2% of our electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2016.
However the figures for heat and transport were much lower at 6.8% and 5.0%, and as a result Ireland is expected to only reach about 90% of its overall 16% target for 2020.
The new (and long awaited) structure for state support for renewable energy was finally published on 24th July, in the form of the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) High Level design Paper.
Renewable Energy Support Scheme Objectives
The newly announced scheme seeks to meet a number of policy objectives in addition to the overall requirement of meeting EU targets. These objectives include:
Involving community groups in the energy schemes.
Promoting a mix of technologies.
Optimising the cost/benefit aspect, especially avoiding locking in high costs as technology allows for more efficiency.
Allowing for significant state intervention into the shape of the scheme on an ongoing basis.
Main Features of RESS
The scheme is to consist of a series of auctions, with the first one (RESS 1) in 2019 and the final (not yet fully confirmed) in 2025. The auctions will “sell” subventions to bridge the gap between energy generation cost and economic value of the energy generated. The terms of the auctions can be tweaked on each occasion to allow for developments in the markets as the years pass.
The first auction seeks to concentrate on projects that will be in a position to generate energy before the end of 2020, with a clear objective of helping close the gap on the national renewables target for that year. It is planned to be technology neutral – it will support all technologies equally.
The second and subsequent auctions are likely to include caps for individual technologies to try to encourage diversity in power generation.
Eligibility of project bids will be affected by various criteria, some practical such as proof that the project has secured planning permission and a grid connection, and also more policy driven ones such as community involvement (there are a number of proposed requirements here) or proof that the technology needs subvention.
Bidders will have to submit financial bonds, in the event of the project subsequently not achieving set milestones or other criteria these bonds may be called in, and the promoters excluded from future auctions. Much more clarity will be required around this aspect of the scheme.
Overall the proposal seems to have been well thought through and has been reasonably well received. The objectives are not particularly controversial, and the logic of the approach does not appear to be fundamentally flawed.
The scope for government to amend the terms of the scheme as it goes along is an aspect that will have to be carefully watched. Too much tinkering, or political interference, could make it less attractive to investors. The area of financial bonds and penalising non-compliance also potentially heighten the risks for participants in the scheme.
Written By Owen Sweeney
Owen Sweeney has worked with Poe Kiely Hogan Lanigan since 2004 having commenced his Indentures of Apprenticeship with the firm. Since qualification in 2007 Owen has specialised in a range of inter related commercial law areas and has unique expertise in the renewable energy sector.
View Profile Email Owen Sweeney
The information on this website does not constitute legal advice or otherwise. Make sure you seek specific legal advice before making any important decisions. © Copyright Poe Kiely Hogan Lanigan Solicitors 2019.
© Copyright Poe Kiely Hogan Lanigan Solicitors 2019
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Could a few thousand cheap, cute, igloo-shaped geodesic domes solve the Canadian Arctic’s housing crisis?
Looking at the history of domes in this region, the answer has to be… maybe not.
Just ask people who have lived in Arctic domes about what they’re like.
In 2008 this dome in Bathurst Inlet also sported a small satellite dish. On the right, the kind of houses people now prefer. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)
“It was good for the first couple of years,” Peter Kapolak told me in 2008, as we discussed his dome-living memories from Bathurst Inlet back in the mid-1970s. “Then, condensation formed on the ceiling and dripped down.”
Sam Kapolak, who also lived in one of several domes built in that western Nunavut community, said he didn’t like dome living because the domes lacked insulation, and ice would form on nails inside. The only advantage of a dome over an igloo was that the dome didn’t collapse in the spring when the ice melted, he said.
Built in 1971, Bathurst Inlet’s domes were replaced by more conventional homes in the early 1990s.
But the metal-clad domes — of which three still stood in 2008 — were the brainchild of the late Glenn Warner, a former Mountie who opened the Bathurst Inlet Lodge in 1969.
Standing inside one of the dilapidated domes, Glenn Warner talks in 2008 about how he got the idea to bring domes to Bathurst Inlet. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)
Warner told me in 2008 that the Government of the Northwest Territories was delighted with the dome house idea, because in 1971 building a dome cost much less than other types of housing units in the territory.
Warner said he wanted to get better housing for the people of Bathurst Inlet, who lived in shacks on the beach, so he went to see Stuart Hodgson, then NWT commissioner.
Hodgson told Warner that he didn’t have any specific budget set aside for social housing in Bathurst Inlet, but could find $27,000 from a so-called slush fund to cover the shipment of construction materials to the community. That’s how the territorial government, minus today’s bureaucracy and legislative assembly, operated in those days.
So, Warner submitted two possible housing designs to the community — one for a “normal” house and another for a dome.
Everyone opted for the domes. These were prefabricated in Alberta and brought north to Bathurst Inlet by a Hercules aircraft that landed on the sea ice. When more new houses were built, the domes were quickly exchanged for boxy one-bedroom units.
Glenn Warner, who died in 2014 at the age of 80. walks towards two of the three remaining domes at Bathurst Inlet in 2008.
Dome structures became popular elsewhere in the Arctic, too, during the 1970s, mainly because the dome shape resembled that of a snow house.
In the western Nunavut community of Cambridge Bay, there were also domed-homes, built in the dome-home-craze and then torn down in late 1980s. You can seem them in a photo recently posted on Facebook, which prompted a woman to recall that it “would whistle like crazy during winter storms.”
Cambridge Bay domes, built in the late 1970s, but later torn down in this photo by Steve Mercer, posted on Facebook.
In 2009, I was excited to find a dome that was being used as a church in Baker Lake — and others have told me of domes in other communities.
The Christian Fellowship Hall in Baker Lake, 2009. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)
But most of these domes have been torn down, as in the case of the Cambridge Bay domes.
Iqaluit’s blue dome, or “igloo,” was finally demolished in 2006 after being plagued by structural problems.
The $1.4 million blue structure opened amid much fanfare and controversy in 1993, but the building cracked, leaked, sagged and reacted badly to extreme changes in temperature.
The dome served as an office for the Baffin Regional Inuit Association. It also housed the Office of the Interim Commissioner and, after April 1, 1999 and the creation of Nunavut, the dome provided temporary accommodation to Nunavut’s executive and intergovernmental affairs department.
A youth centre that then operated there had to close its doors in 2002 after vandals entered and trashed the interior.
Iqaluit’s Kamotiq Inn, site of many long beer-and-cigarette-infused meetings among Nunatsiaq News staffers during the 1980s and 1990s, was torn down in 2008. Built in 1980, its red dome stood as a landmark at what’s now the traffic-congested Four Corners intersection in Iqaluit. I watched the bulldozer smash into it. Soon, only the sign was left. Farewell to plates of deep-fried maktaaq whale skin and Kamotiq burgers.
The Kamotiq Inn was demolished in 2008 to make way for the Qamotiq commercial-office building. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)
Used to be from inside the “K-Inn” you could admire the lines (‘though somewhat grimy )of the geodesic dome, conceived in 1949 by R. Buckminster Fuller, the early environmental activist who was devoted to “applying the principles of science to solving the problems of humanity.”
Fuller’s dome, called “geodesic” after the Latin word meaning “shortest line between two points,” used a network of triangles to create a self-supporting framework. Cheap and easy to build, it’s no wonder domes became fashionable.
Back in the mid-1950s, there was even a plan to put a geodesic dome over Frobisher Bay (now the city of Iqaluit), stretching half a mile in diameter. Because the proposed dome would have blocked out the sun, streetlights would have had to remain on 24-7, even during the long sunlit days of spring and summer.
In the Nunavik community of Puvirnituq— when it was then called Povungnituk, the museum built in the 1960s, now long-gone. was built as a dome.
Here’s what the museum in then-Povungnituk looked like. I pulled this photo of Facebook, where it was posted by Putugu Nulukie.
Today, you can still find domes around Nunavik and Nunavut, but not necessarily geodesic ones. These include a museum in Inukjuak, a dome in Sanikiluaq and the dome that holds crushed rock at the Meadowbank gold mine in Baker Lake.
When I visited Agnico Eagle Mines’ Meadowbank mine near Baker Lake in 2009, this dome to hold processed gold-rich rocks was still construction. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)
The Arctic dome-dream hasn’t yet died: a former Pangnirtung resident recently proposed lowering price of food in this Nunavut community by growing vegetables locally in dome-shaped greenhouses. And, at one time, Makivik Corp. hatched a plan to build prefabricated green mini-domes for use by Nunavik hunters.
This photo of Sanikiluaq taken in 2016 by Sarah Meeko shows a dome (but not a geodesic dome)
And the drive to find a good fit for domes in the Arctic continues: a company called Inter-shelter says its domes “provide shelter for camping, hunting, military command centers, disaster relief, temporary labor lodging even as a bugout shelter for the doomsday prepper in you.”
Have you read my last blog post?
The seven natural wonders of the Arctic world
And then there’s the “Like an iceberg” series about my experiences in the Arctic during the 1990s.
Dome. Bathurst Inlet, 2008. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)
Arctic domes for homes: the dream goes on
March 23, 2015 November 10, 2016 / Jane George / 6 Comments
Arctic, Nunatsiaq News, Nunavik, Nunavut
arctic, iqaluit, nunatsiaq news, nunavik
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You know you’ve never been to Iqaluit/Frobisher Bay when… →
6 thoughts on “Arctic domes for homes: the dream goes on”
Bert Rose
In 1972 with the help of friends I constructed a 26 foot diameter geodesic dome in Qikiqtarjuaq, My family lived in it for three years and then it became the coop managers home. It was in use until about 1985 when it was moved and subsequently torn down. It was insulated with 4×8 sheets of foam insulation. It served us just fine.
Do you have a photo of your dome? Would be great to see it! Do you know why it was torn down? Thanks for sharing the news of your former dome-home, Bert.
Rachel Rozanski
I was recently in Bathurst Inlet and was very curious about these exact domes! Was thrilled to find your post about the same ones. they look very different now, totally falling apart on the inside. I am surprised to learn how recently they were built. Thank you for the insightful post, this and your other entries have been very helpful to my research when there aren’t alot of resources like this about the north! From what I’ve found, there is still no decent solution to the housing crisis, do you know of any alternatives that are being put in place?
Here is a photo of the inside now if youre interested
https://photos.app.goo.gl/IGDil11HFx35zAvF2
Thanks for the photo of the inside…to learn more about housing options you could do an advanced Google search on the nunatsiaqonline.ca website as I know we have written there about housing and housing alternatives. I haven’t heard of new domes going up though.
There is a house in Pond Inlet made of a “Y” shaped set of three water drainage pipes. Each arm is about 12 feet in diameter. It has minimal foot print and stands on about 6 legs. It was constructed between 2005 and. 2010. The owner is an engineer and works for the Gn.
The domes in Bathurst Inlet were built in about 1974. I saw them when I was there in 1985. They were only about 20 feet in diameter. They have been basically abandoned since the late 90s or earl 2000. They had problem with moisture build up and mold growth. Page Burt in Rankin Inlet knows their story exhaustively.
There were three domes her in Iqaluit. One was about 40 feet in diameter and three stories high. It was used by QIA as an office building. It had problems with leakage due to expansion and contracting in sunlight. The second was built as a house. They built the dome on top of straight walls making it a two story. Inuit did not like the staircase. I was never inside it. The third was the now gone Komatic Inn restaurant which stood where the Aboriginal bank is today. It lasted from about 1984 until about 2005
T. Bert Rose
Joanne an I also have a 26 foot diameter dome the same size as the one we built in Qikiqtarjuaq at out summer place near Saskatoon. We built it in 1978 as a garage for about $1,000. It has been resigned once in the subsequent 39 years.
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Wednesday, Dec 21 2005
HIV/AIDS Advocates Criticize Medicaid Changes in Compromise Fiscal Year 2006 Spending-Cut Bill
Some HIV/AIDS advocates and HIV-positive individuals on Tuesday criticized provisions in a compromise fiscal year 2006 spending package (S 1932) that would make $39.7 billion in cuts to programs such as Medicaid, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports (Mondics, Philadelphia Inquirer , 12/21). The House on Monday voted 212-206 to approve the cuts, including about $4.8 billion in net savings from Medicaid over five years. Under the bill, states would be able to charge premiums and higher copayments for such Medicaid benefits as prescription drugs, physician services and hospital care. States would be allowed to end Medicaid coverage for beneficiaries who do not pay premiums for 60 days or more and deny services to beneficiaries who do not make copayments to pharmacists, doctors or hospitals ( Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report , 12/20). HIV/AIDS advocates criticized the measure, saying an increase in copayments and premiums could cause some patients who cannot afford the costs to stop treatment. David Gartner, policy director with the Washington, D.C.-based Global AIDS Alliance, said a 2003 initiative in Oregon to increase fees and Medicaid copayments led to half of the affected beneficiaries dropping out of the program. Gartner said, "The cuts to the Medicaid program would be devastating to all people on Medicaid." Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), who on Tuesday announced his support for the bill, called House-Senate compromise negotiations "very tough" but said the cuts in the current bill would be less detrimental to programs than cuts in earlier versions of the package. He added, "It was a question of trade-offs on so many items" ( Philadelphia Inquirer , 12/21). The Senate is expected to vote on the bill on Wednesday (Carey, CQ HealthBeat , 12/20).
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Scarlet Fields
Series: Modern War Studies
ISBN 978-0-7006-2019-7 eBook version available from your favorite eBook retailer
The Combat Memoir of a World War I Medal of Honor Hero
John Lewis Barkley Introduction and Notes by Steven Trout Afterword by Joan Barkley Wells
The train was packed with men. Men lying as still as if they were already dead. Men shaking with pain. One man raving, jabbering, yelling, in delirium. Everywhere bandages . . . bandages . . . bandages . . . and blood.
Those words describe the moment when Private John Lewis Barkley first grasped the grim reality of the war he had entered. The rest of Barkley's memoir, first published in 1930 as No Hard Feelings and long out of print, provides a vivid ground-level look at World War I through the eyes of a soldier whose exploits rivaled those of Sergeant York.
“Life in the trenches in all its gritty gore and surreality, revisited by a laconic Missouri infantryman whose record rivaled Sergeant Alvin Yorks.”
—American History Magazine
“A most worthwhile read.”
—Stand To!
“Barkley’s autobiographical work does an exceptional job of conveying his story to readers, using early twentieth-century American language with no holds barred. . . . The greatest benefit this book provides, aside from the firsthand account of Barkley’s Congressional Medal of Honor actions is its insight into the First World War from the vantage of a frontline soldier and the camaraderie that existed in small units. . . . Scarlet Fields is worth reading for both general historians interested in World War I as well as those looking for specific insight into the combat psyche of the U.S. frontline soldier on the western front in 1918.”
—H-Net Reviews
“An absorbing and exciting account of World War I combat and one of the most important American war narratives . . . receives a superb new treatment in this edition, with an enlightening introduction and notes by Steven Trout. . . . A must-read for anyone interested in soldiers’ experiences of warfare.”
—Edward G. Lengel, author of To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918
“Barkley was one of the war’s outstanding heroes and his memoir is one of the most readable and detailed accounts of an American soldier’s experiences to emerge from it.”
—Edward M. Coffman, author of The War to End All Wars
“A laconic, uncompromising combat memoir by a young Missourian who took quiet pride in his brutal skills.”
—David D. Lee, author of Sergeant York: An American Hero
“A gripping combat narrative that portrays the war as both horrific slaughter and rite of passage.”
—Jennifer D. Keene, author of World War I: The American Soldier Experience
A reconnaissance man and sniper, Barkley served in Company K of the 4th Infantry Regiment, a unit that participated in almost every major American battle. The York-like episode that earned Barkley his Congressional Medal of Honor occurred on October 7, 1918, when he climbed into an abandoned French tank and singlehandedly held off an advancing German force, killing hundreds of enemy soldiers. But Barkley's memoir abounds with other memorable moments and vignettes, all in the words of a soldier who witnessed war's dangers and degradations but was not at all fazed by them.
Unlike other writers identified with the "Lost Generation," he relished combat and made no apology for having dispatched scores of enemy soldiers; yet he was as much an innocent abroad as a killing machine, as witnessed by second thoughts over his sniper's role, or by his determination to protect a youthful German prisoner from American soldiers eager for retribution. This Missouri backwoodsman and sharpshooter was also a bit of a troublemaker who smuggled liquor into camp, avoided promotions like the plague, and had a soft heart for mademoiselles and frauleins alike.
In his valuable introduction to this stirring memoir, Steven Trout helps readers to better grasp the historical context and significance of this singular hero's tale from one of our most courageous doughboys. Both haunting and heartfelt, inspiring and entertaining, Scarlet Fields is a long overlooked gem that opens a new window on our nation's experience in World War I and brings back to life a bygone era.
Steven Trout chairs the English Department at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. His most recent book is On the Battlefield of Memory: The First World War and American Remembrance, 1919–1941.
Additional Titles in the Modern War Studies Series
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Racing apps development
A race - is a competition, that involves the simultaneous start of a group of several (two or more) participants and recording the order of the of each participant’s finish. Special kind of races are tournaments when only two opponents participate in the competitions at the same time.
Racing - is one of the genres, which is considered by many people to be the best on the console or PC, however, many developers use this genre to launch game projects on mobile devices.
The development process of racing apps from the KATASIS studio
Why are companies ordering mobile games development at our web studio? The answer is simple: this is one of the best ways to increase your brand’s popularity. Moreover, a broad audience of users guarantees the payoff of such a project. Good games are spread among users like a virus, bringing your company to a new recognition level.
To achieve significant success, coherent teamwork of professionals is needed at every stage of development. KATASIS has been developing mobile applications for 8 years, that is why our specialists understand how to develop a customized game for each platform, which will not be only popular but will also fulfill the tasks, set by the customer before the start of the development process.
A significant part of the population has a dream to drive a real racing car. Racing simulators can make these fantasies true. Therefore, racing game mobile applications is a rather popular category of games.
Nowadays the market has a huge number of games to offer, starting with 2D races and ending with heavy simulators. The journey of the player in each game is different: someone passes all the race tracks, without hitting a single pillar, someone knocks out all the competitors and rides in a proud solitude, and someone just knocks down people. There are enormous opportunities for creating fully functional and colorful 3D races these days, which would have superior graphics.
If the leaders among simulators and arcade races became clear quite quickly, then non-standard races is a completely different matter. In this field, there is a great number of various racing games, and developers in their pursuit to create something new begin experimenting with the genre, receiving absolutely impossible combinations in the output.
Features of racing games:
Wide camera overview, view from the first-person
A variety of vehicles with unique pumping capacity (motorcycles, trucks, jeeps, tanks, etc.).
Realistic sounds, better if it was recorded from the real cars
Detailed graphics – day- and night-time options
Numerous stages with various game levels
Career mode with 70+ missions
Leaderboard and achievement boards
The possibility to share your results with friends, for example, using screenshots
Adaptive graphics for devices with both low and high resolution (including tablets).
Examples of tips variations for users
The higher the speed, the more points you get
Outrun other cars with up to 100 km / h to get bonuses and extra points
Double-click the brakes at any moment to turn around and effectively outrun other racers.
If you drive on the opposite way of the road in two-line traffic, you can get additional points and scores, etc.
What do you need for the development of an interesting racing app?
a creative idea to stand out among competitors;
well considered physics of motion, which is responsible for the realistic of the racing vehicles;
modes traces and design variations;
personalization of the game, to make a gaming process more exciting, developers must come up with interesting and variable playing.
But to become successful, any mobile game application must meet four basic requirements:
Bright and beautiful graphics. Graphics is the foundation for any application for entertainment and game. At first it draws attention to the user at a launch. The designers of our company know how to create beautiful graphics, that will be looking harmonic with the general style and gameplay itself, causing a "wow-effect" at each launch of the application. At the same time, we are capable to find a balance between aesthetics and system requirements in the game development process in order for the application to be used by as many users as possible. This is especially relevant when developing racing apps for android.
Fascinating gameplay. After a good first impression, it is important to draw attention and "keep" the user by bringing the gameplay to perfection. At this stage, we are developing an interesting plot and a unique gaming mechanics, which is able to surpass all the rivals on the market.
The convenience of interfaces. When developing a game mobile app, it is very important to combine interesting mechanics with a simple and intuitive control system, so that any person can in a few seconds understand how to run the character and interact with the environment.
Technological perfection. The programmers at KATASIS Studio demonstrate all their skills to provide the best gaming experience without any frustrations and negativity to the constantly "flying out" application.
The main steps in creating games for mobile devices in our web studio are:
Preparation. We conduct research of the target audience, define the model of monetization, develop a concept, discuss the maintenance and choose a platform (iOS, Android or WP). This is, of course, the most crucial stage, which defines the success of the finished product.
Realization. To develop a good mobile racing game, you need a team of highly skilled coworkers. Art director, designer, and programmer do the best, they can. It allows fulfilling the idea, by developing a game of the highest possible quality.
Launching. The application launch strategy must be prepared before its start. Press releases, promotion, video clips, and reviews - are just a small part of the work of a successful project release.
Support. The released product needs support, communicating with the audience allows you to improve the evaluation and to increase the number of installations. Our company knows that the abandoned application will never reach the TOP. If you are looking for a professional team, who has significant experience in developing customized mobile racing games and applications - feel free to contact the KATASIS web studio.
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François Bourassa Quartet - Mon Oct 07, 2013 | 08:30 pm
Admission £ 10.00 ( £ 8.00 concessions)
Guy Boisvert
Greg Ritchie
Francois Bourassa
André Leroux
Literary & Philosophical Library
OVER the past few years the international dimension of Jazz North East's programming has spread ever wider, but we've never previously presented a band from Canada. Now we're making good the omission, and what's more we're starting at the very top with the François Bourassa Quartet, generally regarded as the country's finest modern jazz ensemble.
It's a group that developed from the pianist-leader's long established trio (bassist Guy Boisvert has been with him since the start in 1983), with saxophonist André Leroux joining the line-up in the mid-'90s. Bourassa regards this as a significant development: "I think I got more adventurous once I got a quartet . . . André has great energy where I'm more introspective, and his arrival has allowed me to express my love of Coltrane and Wayne Shorter". That's a view with which listeners concur. Praising the group's "high level of artistry," Exclaim magazine described Leroux as "an excellent foil" to the pianist, "capable of delicacy, and rip-your-face-off intensity", while Downbeat has saluted a "robust yet often delicate take on acoustic jazz (recalling) Coltrane's classic quartet one moment and an Ornette Coleman aggregate the next".
Here in Britain most Canadian jazz has been a well kept secret, and it's taken a long time for François Bourassa to undertake his first UK tour . . . but when we lift the curtain on this Lit & Phil gig, we're certain that you'll be glad they finally got here.
This gig has been financially assisted by the Canada Council for the Arts
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Benefits/
Disability pensions/
Old-age pensions
Disability pensions
Training pensions
Survivor’s pensions
Medical rehabilitation within disability prevention
Social pensions
Pre-retirement benefit
Sick pay and sickness allowance
Rehabilitation benefits
Compensatory allowances
Maternity allowances
Care allowances
Nursing supplements
Supplements to survivor’s pensions for double orphans
Funeral grants
Lump-sum compensations in respect of an accident at work
Other benefits and refunds resulting from accident at work and occupational disease
The disability pension is granted to an insured person who meets all of the following conditions:
is incapable of work,
has completed the required contributory and non-contributory period: at least 5-years of contributory and non-contributory periods during the last decade before claiming the pension or before the occurrence of the incapacity for work; in the event of the incapacity for work occurring at an age lower than 30 years, the required contributory and non-contributory periods are respectively shorter – from 1 to 4 years, however, if the person has lost his or her earning capacity due to an accident on the way to or from work, s/he does not have to prove the required contributory and non-contributory period,
the incapacity for work must have occurred during contributory and non-contributory periods, but not later than within 18 months aft er the cessati on of these periods; this requirement does not relate to a person insured who has proved the contributory and non-contributory period of at least 20 years for women and 25 years for men and is completely incapable of work.
Insured persons who have proved a contributory and non-contributory period of at least 25 years in the case of women and 30 years in the case of men and have been recognised as completely incapable of work, do not need to document at least a 5-year period of insurance during the last 10-year period before the claim is filed or before the incapacity occurred.
Medical assessment for the purposes of social insurance benefits and other benefits paid by ZUS are realized by ZUS evaluating doctor and ZUS medical commissions.
ZUS evaluating doctor and medical commission evaluates the incapacity for work, its degree and gives his or her certificate in this regard. ZUS evaluating doctor also establishes:
the date of disability occurrence,
the permanency or expected duration of the incapacity for work,
the causality of the incapacity for work or death with certain circumstances,
the inability to an independent existence,
the suitability of vocational retraining.
The person incapable of work is a person who has lost, completely or partly, their earning capacity due to a disturbance of body fitness, and for whom retraining does not promise the restoration of his or her earning capacity.
Completely incapable of work is a person who has lost their capability for any work.
Partly incapable of work is a person who has lost – to a considerable degree – their capability for work corresponding to their qualifications.
Incapacity for work is certified for a period of up to 5 years or longer – if there is no prognosis as to the restoration of earning capacity before the lapse of the 5 years. During a period of certified incapacity for work (indicated in the ZUS decision), the pension is payable.
The person concerned may appeal to a ZUS medical commission against ZUS evaluating doctor decision up to 14 days from the day the decision was received. In turn the president of ZUS may submit an application raising objections as to the correctness of the judgement sending the matter for examination by the ZUS medical comission within 14 days from the issuing of the decision by ZUS evaluating doctor.
The following constitute the basis for a pension body decision on a disability pension:
ZUS-certified doctor decision which has not been opposed or claimed to be invalid,
ZUS medical commission decision.
The disability pension in respect of an accident at work or occupational disease is awarded irrespective of the duration of the accident insurance period and irrespective of the date of the occurrence of the incapacity for work as a result of an accident at work or an occupational disease.
The disability pension in respect of a complete incapacity for work amounts to (a calculation basis):
24% of the base sum,
+ 1.3% of the calculation basis for each contributory year,
+ 0.7% of the calculati on basis for each non-contributory year1
+ 0.7% of the calculation basis for each year short of the full 25 years of contributory and non-contributory periods, from the day of claiming the benefit to the day when the pensioner would have reached 60 years –
the statutory retirement age determined for women.
1 Non-contributory periods are taken into account at a rate not exceeding 1/3 of the proved contributory periods.
An accident at work means a sudden occurrence associated with work, arising out of an external cause and resulting in injury or death.
An occupational disease means a disease specified in a list of occupational diseases, which is caused by harmful agents in the working environment or by the manner in which the work is performed.
The disability pension for a person who is partly incapable of work is payable at a rate of 75% of the pension for a person completely incapable of work.
A person entitled to the disability pension who has been recognised as completely incapable of work and of an independent existence is awarded a nursing supplement.
The amount of the disability pension in respect of an accident at work or occupational disease is calculated in the same way as the disability pension, and it may not be lower than:
60% of the calculation basis – for a person partly incapable of work,
80% of the calculation basis – for a person completely incapable of work,
100% of the calculation basis – for a person entitled for a training pension.
The calculation basis of the disability pension in respect of an accident at work or occupational disease may be calculated based on the basis of an calculation index higher than 250%. When the calculation was made using an calculation index higher than 250% of the basis for pension calculati on, the above mentioned guarantees do not apply.
The structure of disability pensions in December 2016 on the basis of the degree of disability
Work disability pensions in general
including those of: 100.0%
Complete inability to undertake employment and an independent existence 9.4%
Total incapacity for work 25.4%
Parti al incapacity for work 65.2%
In 2016 disability pensions were paid on average to 883.6 thousand persons, the average monthly amount of the pension was PLN 1571.51, and 48.1 thousand new pensions were granted.
A monthly average of 180.6 thousand pensions in respect of accidents at work and occupational diseases were received in 2016, of an average amount of PLN 2,852.14. They accounted for 20.1% of the total number of disability pensions.
(Note: 1 EUR = ca 4.26 PLN)
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Tag: Apollo 1
50 Years Later: What Happened to Apollo 1?
Today marks the 50th anniversary of one of the worst tragedies to befall NASA: the fire that ignited inside the Apollo 1 (Apollo 204) command module during a test at Kennedy Space Center, claiming the lives of primary crew astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee. The event is solemnly remembered every January 27. “We didn’t…
NASA’s First Fallen: Remembering the Tragedy of Apollo 1
This is a reprint of a post from 2013, updated for the 2016 date. Today marks the 49th anniversary of one of the worst tragedies to befall NASA and human spaceflight: the fire that broke out in the Apollo 204 (later renamed Apollo 1) command module during a test exercise at Kennedy Space Center in…
Remembering the Tragedy of Apollo 1
This is a reprint of a post from 2013, updated for the date and now including a map of the lunar farside. Today marks the 48th anniversary of one of the worst tragedies to befall NASA and human spaceflight: the fire that broke out in the Apollo 204 (later renamed Apollo 1) command module during a…
Today marks the 46th anniversary of one of the worst tragedies to befall NASA and human spaceflight: the fire that broke out in the Apollo 204 (later renamed Apollo 1) command module during a test exercise at Kennedy Space Center in 1967, claiming the lives of primary crew astronauts Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Ed White, and…
Project Apollo on Flickr
Abducted by Aliens? Read This.
NASA Armstrong
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Tag Archives: supernatural
Book Reviews, Uncategorized
Review: Elevation
November 26, 2018 Literary Elephant 4 Comments
Stephen King had a brand new book published at the end of October, and as a long-time fan of his writing I had to pick it up. I got around to it about halfway through November. It was a one-sitting book, less than 150 pages, which made it impossible to pass up. King’s books usually run so long that a novel of this size from him is a true curiosity.
About the book: Scott pays a visit to his old doctor– retired, but still a favorite for medical advice– when he notices a strange trend: though he doesn’t look any different, he’s steadily losing weight. His eating habits haven’t changed; if anything, he’s eating more than he used to, but the numbers on the scale keep going down. More alarmingly, they don’t go up when he steps on the scale with a pocketful of quarters or heavy dumbbells in his hands. As Scott continues to feel lighter and healthier, he’s also trying to befriend the lesbian couple next door that he’s accidentally gotten into a neighborly feud with. There’s no telling what will happen to Scott when the scale hits zero, so his time to make amends for a bad first impression is running out.
“This isn’t just outside my experience, I’d say it’s outside human experience. Hell, I want to say it’s impossible.”
Right away I noticed that Elevation felt a bit gimmicky. Like Stephen King enjoying his fame, publishing because he can, because anything he turns out is going to be a hit even if it’s not a hit. There’s not a lot of meat to this story, but more unusually, there’s not much of the excellent character portrayal and development that Stephen King is known for.
One particular problem I had with Elevation is best explained in conjunction with previous experience; I read Stephen King and Owen King’s Sleeping Beauties earlier this year and noticed that the social commentary was a lot more pointed than I was used to in King’s older novels. As the book was co-written and I had no experience with Owen King’s work, I thought maybe that wasn’t Stephen King’s doing, or at least not entirely. But I had the same issue with Elevation: the social and political commentary is so very on-the-nose. Essentially, the lesbian couple living next to Scott is facing prejudice from the entire town that is strong enough to potentially ruin their business within the year; as Scott tries to befriend them he sees the error of his earlier assumptions and encourages the other townspeople to accept them as well. The moralistic plot is predictable and obvious, Scott’s personal dilemma providing him with an excuse to see the situation from a new and comparable light:
“Why feel bad about what you couldn’t change? Why not embrace it?”
Furthermore, I’m not sure why this book is labeled as horror at all- the weight-loss concept is a bit weird and disturbing, but it’s not presented in a horrifying way. Scott seems to completely accept what is happening to him, and it fades into the background of the story as the situation with the neighbors takes precedence.
With the illustrations at the start of every chapter and the small size of the physical book (in addition to the abovementioned lack of subtlety and horror), Elevation seemed a bit like it wanted to be a children’s book. The entire story seemed a bit confused about its intended direction. If not for King’s name on the cover, I doubt this book would’ve seen much success.
And yet, it wasn’t a bad read either. Despite the fact that I kept expecting more from it, the story held my attention from cover to cover, surprising me in a few places and amusing me in others. It had so much potential for disaster, but as always, Stephen King pulls everything together in a uniquely interesting way.
Bonus points for the Pennywise reference.
“Not a wind, not even a high, exactly, but an elevation. A sense that you had gone beyond yourself and could go further still.”
My reaction: 3 out of 5 stars. This was an easy and acceptable read, though not particularly impressive. It helped me out of the reading slump that I’d been in for half the month (which, ironically, stemmed from my dislike for another novel in The Bachman Books, also written by Stephen King).
Further recommendations:
If you enjoyed (or look forward to enjoying) Elevation‘s short simplicity and wacky premise, you’ll probably also like King’s short co-written novel, Gwendy’s Button Box. Gwendy’s takes place in the same town as Elevation (and gets an obscure mention in Elevation as well, if you’re interested in reading chronologically and want to pick up Gwendy’s first, though it’s not at all necessary to read in that order to understand these stories) and is also a book that looks at morality and interpersonal relationships with a bizarre supernatural premise running in the background: a box of buttons that give its holder immense power over the entire world.
Is there an author whose books you pick up immediately upon publication, no matter what they’re about? Does that ever backfire for you?
book reviewBookselevationfictionnovelquotesreadshort booksstephen kingsupernatural
Review: City of Fallen Angels
April 20, 2017 Literary Elephant 3 Comments
I finally picked up Cassandra Clare’s fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series, the fifth book she published: City of Fallen Angels. I won’t spoil anything from this one, as usual, but if you haven’t read the first three books in this series (City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass) you should probably check those out first, just in case.
Now, I was pretty darn sure I had stopped after reading the first three in this set, the original trilogy, but I kept having moments of something like deja vu while I was reading this one. I wonder if I did read this one when it was first published and have just somehow blocked it mostly from my mind, because the plot didn’t feel as familiar to me as in the first three books, but there were definitely some people and details that made me think, “Oh yeah, I knew that;” I’m not sure how else I could have known about Simon’s fourteen year-old fan and the return of Maia’s ex-boyfriend and Jace returning to the Silent City. So the jury’s still out on how new of an experience this book was, but I can certainly say I enjoyed it.
About the book: Clary is finally undergoing proper Shadowhunter training, but she’s still nowhere near as skilled as her friends–except at drawing runes. Jace should be having the time of his life now that he can have a legitimate relationship with the girl he loves, but other things keep getting in the way. He’s having nightmares that leave him afraid of being around her at all. Meanwhile, Simon is feeling the long-standing Nephilim prejudice against Downworlders and vampires in particular, though he doesn’t exactly fit in with them, either. Maia’s past comes back to bite her–or maybe it already has. Isabelle is coming to terms with her place in her family, with her friends, and maybe with her boyfriend, if he’ll stop two-timing her. Alec is also having boyfriend issues, but they’ve been hidden behind a lot of traveling and the standard Magnus glitter. With everyone dealing with their own problems, it’s difficult for them all to realize how the dreams, the dead Shadowhunters, the new (old) vampire in town, and Sebastian’s fate all tie together in a disturbing way that concerns them all.
“…it didn’t matter; the world, the city, and all its lights and life seemed to have narrowed down to this, just her and Jace, the burning heart of a frozen world.”
One way in which this book feels disparate from City of Glass (book 3) is its use of new plot. There are significant details from prior events in this series that come back in City of Fallen Angels, but whereas City of Glass was originally the end of a trilogy with everything from those first three books all coming together inside it, City of Fallen Angels feels like the beginning of something new rather than a continuation of what came before. It seems more like City of Bones, when the group is setting off on an adventure they don’t really understand yet; little mysterious things are happening but it doesn’t all make sense until the last hundred pages or so. And then it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger that will definitely connect this volume to further books. I didn’t expect this one to feel so much like the beginning of a second trilogy, but it does.
On another note, I did not like the weird Clary/Jace situation in this book. It just seems so pointless to me when two people in a book who love each other can’t just talk about their problems and they let them spiral out of control instead until they’re forced to talk about the problems eventually anyway. Exceptions to this rule usually involve a third party who is protected along with the secrets, but there’s no third party here. So that was frustrating, but it did eventually right itself. And really, after the happy ending for Clace at the end of the third book, I’m not surprised to see new problems with very little backbone arriving between them because where can you go from perfection? Everything going right makes for a boring book. I just hope Cassandra Clare has something more substantial in mind for them in the upcoming volumes.
“What they had wasn’t ordinary, or subject to the ordinary rules of relationship and breakups. They belonged to each other totally, and always would, and that was that. But maybe everyone felt that way? Until the moment they realized they were just like everyone else, and everything they’d thought was real shattered apart.”
A side warning: Do not try to look up reminders on who’s who in the Shadowhunter series if you haven’t already read it all. Cassandra Clare ties lots of details together between books and series within the Shadowhunter realm, and it is apparently impossible to double check details online without being spoiled on what’s still coming. This has been a bigger problem for me with the Clockwork series than the Mortal Instruments, but it’s definitely worth noting, and highly annoying.
That said, while I was reading this one, I did really love the connections I spotted to Clockwork Angel, and it seemed like even though I could recognize some names and details from that companion trilogy there may be even more hints at plot points from the Infernal Devices that would be fun to see after having read all of those books, rather than just the previous books in publication order. Cassandra Clare is one of my favorite authors when it comes to cross-novel references to her other works; that level of detail really brings a world to life, and I wish it happened more often in fiction. I like to think of fiction as one giant multiverse, and I wish different parts of it bled together more often.
In the Shadowhunter world, that aspect is especially great because the main characters are all somewhat connected (so far, anyway) so the references to what happened in the past has more emotional appeal and seeing seeds laid in the Infernal Devices trilogy for what will come into New York in the future is also exciting. It’s like the ripple in the pond, every action affecting what comes after it.
“Don’t you know better? Hearts are breakable. And I think even when you heal, you’re never what you were before.”
My reaction: 4 out of 5 stars. I was worried about this one after I didn’t like Clockwork Angel as much as I’d expected, but it turned out there was nothing to worry about. I’m invested in the Shadowhunter world all over again, and even though I’m still wary because my next Clare book will be Clockwork Prince, back in the Infernal Devices trilogy which I wasn’t loving as much this time around, I cannot wait to find out how that series will improve and then get back to the Mortal Instruments for another exciting round of demon-slaying in Brooklyn.
The Magicians by Lev Grossman is more adult than YA, deals with magic in a more scientific/mathematical way than the supernatural nature of the Shadowhunter world, but it contains an interesting band of friends on a magical adventure, fighting the Beast and learning about a secret magical world.
What’s next: I’m currently reading my classic of the month, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in college, and always was a bit sad that my high school didn’t have more mandatory reading of classics like that. So I’m getting around to it now on my own. I will add my thoughts on this one to my monthly wrap-up, but my next full review post will feature Megan Miranda’s The Perfect Stranger, the thrilling just-published companion to All the Missing Girls, a murder mystery told backward. I hope this new edition to the set will be just as interesting.
Which new releases are high on your radar at the moment?
The Literary Elephant.
Update: you can now read my complete review of the next book in this series, City of Lost Souls!
book reviewsbookishBookscassandra clarecity of fallen angelsfantasyfictionmortal instrumentsreadshadowhuntersupernaturalurban fantasy
Review: Clockwork Angel
March 6, 2017 Literary Elephant 10 Comments
One of my big goals has been to read all of Cassandra Clare’s novels in publication order, including the ones I read years ago and the ones I’ve never read at all. Last week I made time for her fourth book, which is also the first book in the Infernal Devices trilogy, Clockwork Angel. This one I have read before, though I remember it very little and had a vastly different experience than I recall from the first time.
About the book: Tessa Gray’s parents died in her childhood. Now, almost an adult, the aunt who raised Tessa is also gone. A letter and steamship ticket from her brother bring Tessa to Victorian London. When she arrives, she is met by the Dark Sisters, “friends” of her brother’s, who take her away and force her to use her strange magical power to prevent any harm coming to her brother, whom they’ve supposedly imprisoned, as well. Luckily, the Dark Sisters are part of a larger supernatural mystery involving the Pandemonium Club, and so she is found and aided by the local Institute’s Shadowhunters. Even they, however, find uses for Tessa’s power and they tell her all manner of truths about Shadowhunters and Downworld that turn her life upside down while they all work to put a stop to the Pandemonium Club and save Tessa’s brother. Most unusual is the fact that their enemies are neither demonic nor angelic–someone has been creating an army of dangerous clockwork creatures that pose a new and challenging threat to them all because the usual protections against demons do not hinder them. Can a few orphaned Shadowhunters and the young heads of the Institute bring justice to light while they’re also being attacked by this mysterious enemy?
” ‘Sometimes,’ Jem said, ‘our lives can change so fast that the change outpaces our minds and hearts. It’s those times, I think, when our lives have altered but we still long for the time before everything was altered–that is when we feel the greatest pain. I can tell you, though, from experience, you grow accustomed to it. You learn to live your new life, and you can’t imagine, or even really remember, how things were before.’ “
There are some great characters in this series. The Victorian London setting is fun and atmospheric. The plot is complex and unpredictable. There are clear differences between the writing of this book and Clare’s earlier novels that set it apart. I remember loving this book more than any of the Mortal Instruments books I had finished before reading Clockwork Angel for the first time. And yet… when I reread it last week, there were a lot of things I disliked about Clockwork Angel.
The biggest problem I had this time around was finding everyone so much more unpleasant than I remembered. I was highly put off for several hundred pages by the rude things many of the characters said about or to each other. They talked about each other behind their backs, insulted them to their faces, shared personal secrets without permission, etc. Even though they made nice gestures like caring for each other while ill and fighting together when a dangerous enemy appeared, I loathed the way these characters acted around each other. I know Jace can come across as rude or uncaring in the Mortal Instruments, but somehow Will’s comments just seemed so much worse in this book. It didn’t matter to me that another character would claim he didn’t mean what he said, he still said some horrid things I couldn’t condone even as jokes or self-preservation. People’s feelings were hurt. Even Tessa notes within that the book,
“But there is no reason or excuse for cruelty like this.”
And while she does finally tell Will that he’s been inexcusably mean, she’s only talking about one particular instance late in the book. There are so many more things that Will gets away with saying. They all poke fun at Henry in a way that would offend me if I were Henry. Jess is unbearably selfish and entitled; even in the few instances where the narration tries to support evidence of her “bravery,” she is only fighting for her own survival in the same way that everyone else is, and unlike everyone else, Jess won’t raise a hand to defend anyone but herself. These are some of the people who run the Institute.
There are good people too, of course–Jem is probably my favorite Shadowhunter of all time (so far), and even the unpleasant characters have redeemable qualities and moments, but it wasn’t quite enough for me to fall in love with this book again.
” ‘One must always be careful of books,’ said Tessa, ‘and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.’ “
In this case, perhaps it was me who had changed, to have such different opinions of a book I remember fondly.
In addition to the questionable manners of the characters, this book opened with a highly unpleasant situation of kidnapping/imprisonment; London was described as gray and dreary, and there had just been a death, along with the threat of another one. These factors seemed to give the whole story an awful, depressing tone. It wasn’t until the last hundred pages or so (of nearly 500) that I finally became invested and felt my mood toward the book improving. There are some great plot twists, character developments, and general messages about humanity toward the end.
” ‘And one can build one’s own family. I know you feel inhuman, and as if you are set apart, away from life and love, but…’ his voice cracked a little, the first time Tessa had heard him sound unsure. He cleared his throat. ‘I promise you, the right man won’t care.’ “
It took a long time, but finally the book started to turn toward the better.
So many people love this book and this series. I loved this book and series (as much as I had read). I’m not sure if the problems I had with it were real issues in the book, or a reflection of my mood at the time I was reading it, or if I just took small plot points out of proportion. Don’t let my less-than-stellar experience with Clockwork Angel turn you away from this series, because while I didn’t like everything about this first book, I did find the characters interesting enough to keep reading, and I did thoroughly enjoy the clockwork aspects and the plot that developed around them. I will definitely be reading onward, and I anticipate a better experience with the second book.
My reaction: 3 out of 5 stars. It grated on my nerves for quite a while, but it ended on a much better (more intriguing, anyway) note than it started on, so I am still planning to read further and am truly looking forward to the next book in this series. Maybe it was actually Clockwork Prince (book two) that impressed me so much with the Infernal Devices series. And I am interested enough in the plot web to want to finally see how it ends, since I never got around to reading the final book in my first try. The next Cassandra Clare book on my publication-order list will be City of Fallen Angels, the fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series (which I can hardly wait to get my hands on), and then I will be continuing on with Clockwork Prince next month. I won’t let this one discouraging experience drag me down, and I hope you won’t either; I remember greatness in the Infernal Devices, even though it just didn’t happen for me in this instance.
I highly recommend reading the first three books of the Mortal Instruments series (beginning with City of Bones) before reading Clockwork Angel. It’s not strictly necessary, but Clare leaves little details in her books that tie back and forward to her other books and the reader can make the most of these references by reading Clare’s books in publication order. Even if you were to read the Mortal Instruments after the Infernal Devices, I definitely think they’re worth the time (at least the three I’ve read so far are).
Before reading Clockwork Angel I picked up a Jane Austen novel which, upon retrospect, really put me in the mood and frame of mind to enjoy the setting of this one. Even Clare, while writing the Infernal Devices series, was reading a lot of literature from the time/place of Clockwork Angel‘s setting, and thus some of the classics really fit in well in conjuncture with this book. I’ll be reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte later this month, which Clare read and enjoyed while working on this novel, and Tessa routinely brings up Charles Dickens, but I would also like to suggest Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen to compliment this book.
Coming up next: I’m just coming up to the end of Noah Hawley’s Before the Fall, a mystery/thriller about a deadly plane crash full of wealthy people and shrouded with secrets and scandal. There are only two survivors–an up-and-coming painter with a past full of swimming that saved his life after the crash, and the 4 year-old son of one of the multi-millionaires on board the plane. Stay tuned to find out more.
Are there Cassandra Clare books/series you dislike more than the others? I do like the Shadowhunter novels as a whole, but did anyone else feel like Clockwork Angel just wasn’t quite up to Clare’s usual par?
book reviewsbookishBookscassandra clareclockwork angelfictioninfernal devicesreadseriesshadowhuntersupernaturalurban fantasyYA
Review: The Raven King
January 12, 2017 Literary Elephant 4 Comments
I did not expect to love the Raven Cycle when i picked it up. I thought, “I don’t know about this whole YA thing, but I want to know what people are talking about.” Now I’ve reached the end of Stiefvater’s final book in this series, The Raven King, and I want to talk about it too, because I’ve been completely hooked from the first book and the last one still hasn’t let me go.
About the book: Blue and her Raven Boys must speed up their search for Glendower as Cabeswater begins to decay. Something on the ley line is causing terrible damage to all things magical near Henrietta, and it’s only a matter of time before the destruction travels from dream-like Cabeswater to the teenagers who’ve tied themselves to it.
“They were so close to the situation it was difficult to tell whether or not they were the situation.”
I cannot express enough how great the dynamic between Blue and the Raven Boys continues to be. Sometimes they fight, because they’re human, but they’re so supportive and understanding of each other that they make an impenetrable team. It’s not only the group as a whole that’s fantastic, though; each character is unique and interesting on his/her own, and it’s wonderful to be able to see each of the pieces so closely before the entire puzzle is assembled. No assembled puzzle looks like this one. The group is hit with impossible truths over and over, and yet they can adjust and stand together. Obstacles make them stronger instead of tearing them apart. As it should be. Everyone should have friends like that. And if you don’t…well, then have these friends, in this book.
“They were all growing up and into each other like trees striving together for the sun.”
I did think it was a little easy for most of the parents to be simply out of the picture in this series, but the parents that are around are great. Each one is distinct in a way parents usually aren’t in YA novels–the kids get the story, the parents are necessary background; but here, Ronan’s mom is completely different from Gansey’s mom, who’s completely different from Adam’s mom, who’s completely different from Blue’s mom. Although few of these characters appear regularly, it was great to see the adults of the story as fully developed people with some influence in their kids’ lives. I especially liked the relationship between Blue and Maura, which reminded me a lot of Rory and Lorelai’s relationship in Gilmore Girls. On a lot of scales, they measure as equals, but Maura is always ready with advice and comfort when it’s really needed. Well, unless she’s gone missing. But Blue cares enough to spend a whole book searching for her–not because she needs adult protection and assistance, but because she loves Maura. It’s a great message that people who aren’t the same age as the reader are often just as significant to the story. And some people who are the same age are rather irrelevant–where did Henry Cheng come from?
One thing I particularly enjoyed about this series is that there’s enough of an undertone of romance to keep things interesting, but not enough to ever feel cheesy or unnecessary. Although i thought Stiefvater took a rather easy way out of explaining how Blue’s true-love-killing-kiss actually worked, I fully appreciated that the romance in this book was always an undercurrent instead of an over-the-top drama. There’s definitely love. But the narrator’s not going to smack you in the face with it.
“The head is too wise. The heart is all fire.”
I also especially loved that this entire series is not afraid to go a little dark. Things have to look seriously bleak for victory to feel rewarding, and–especially in this final book–Stiefvater makes it clear that she’s not going to veer away from death and destruction. It wouldn’t feel real if everyone made it to the end unscathed, so I appreciated there being moments that felt truly unsettling or even shocking. Without those moments, this would be a bland series of happy coincidences that induce eye-rolling. Instead, we have suspense.
“He had nothing to trust but the ravens and the feeling of rightness. All of his footsteps had led him to this moment, surely. He had to believe the light wouldn’t go out before he got there.”
But my favorite part about Stiefvater’s books is the quirky writing style. Tangible things break the laws of physics. Intangible things take on a life of their own. Repetitions are used to draw parallels and points of emphasis in a way that makes the reader chuckle. But my favorite line in this book was an instance when Gansey is comparing himself to the final pages of a book–a fitting comparison that addresses the reader’s emotion about the end of the series in an unexpectedly direct way:
“He was a book, and he was holding his final pages, and he wanted to get to the end to find out how it went, and he didn’t want it to be over.”
My reaction: 5 out of 5 stars. This fourth book has been my absolute favorite of this quartet. I enjoyed every book, but after the second and third books failed to replace the first as my top choice, I wasn’t sure what to expect with the final volume. I wanted it to go onward and upward (excelsior!), and to my great delight, this one did. I may be looking into reading The Scorpio Races at some point in the future when I need a little more Stiefvater in my life, but I don’t think her Shiver series sounds like my cup of tea. Really, I had such a good experience with the Raven Cycle that I would like to end on a good note rather than reaching too far for more that’s not there. What did you think of Stiefvater’s other books, if you’ve read them?
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders is a magical realism book that Stiefvater fans may enjoy. While I would consider the Raven Cycle more supernatural than magical realism, there are definitely similarities between the genres. All the Birds in the Sky is an adult book, but the main characters are children for much of the novel and I think it’s not so far off YA base. If you like reading about ordinary teenagers who stumble upon magic and spend their lives learning what it means for them and their world, you should give this one a try. There’s good, evil, an assassin, a two-second time machine, and an irreversible vow of silence in these pages.
What’s next: I’m currently reading Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park and loving it. I read Attachments last month and enjoyed it, but it didn’t stand out to me the way this one does. Something about the prose here is much more riveting. Check out my complete review, coming soon.
book reviewsbookishBooksfictionmaggie stiefvaterreadseriessupernaturalthe raven cyclethe raven kingYA
Review: Blue Lily, Lily Blue
December 12, 2016 Literary Elephant 1 Comment
Blue Lily, Lily Blue is the third book in the compelling supernatural series by Maggie Stiefvater, known collectively as the Raven Cycle. You can find my complete reviews of the two previous books in this series here and here. For more Henrietta shenanigans, read on!
About the book: Everyone knows the Raven King is sleeping underground. Maura believes Blue’s father is, as well. With the stakes heightened as Maura chases after her lost love and doesn’t return, Blue and the raven boys delve into caves that hide eerie secrets of their own. Ronan’s dreaming is put to the test, Adam becomes more powerful as he learns to understand and link with Cabeswater, Gansey tries to downplay his growing anxiety about the search and his feelings for Blue, Noah loses control of his supernatural abilities, and Blue will do anything it takes to rescue her mother. On top of the increased pace of the hunt for Glendower, there’s a new villain in town–the Gray Man’s influential and dangerous employer, Greenmantle, with his unpredictable wife. School resumes, but even the familiar routines of homework and classes fail to offset the unusual events surrounding the ley line and its travelers as things begin to spiral out of control.
“Henrietta was no longer someplace ordinary. He was no longer someone ordinary.”
This volume of the Raven Cycle is both a prelude to the end, and an inspection of the person each character has already become. Nothing is as easy and no one is as carefree as they were when readers met them in The Raven Boys. The new depth, however, to each personality, only enriches the narration and increases the reader’s investment in the hunt for Glendower. A darker element has been added to the gang’s magical quest, and each character has his or her own personal motivations that they believe are worth the risks of the dangerous search for the slumbering king.
“Was that what life did to them all? Chiseled them into harder, truer versions of themselves?”
How it compares: I was a little unsatisfied with the way Blue was depicted in the second book of this series, and a little tired of seeing Ronan so much. In this third book, the balance has been restored as the reader is given an appropriate amount of time with each character; I thought that was an improvement. However, one of the main points of tension in the third book is Maura’s disappearance, which felt like the weakest plot thread so far. I had absolutely no doubt that Maura would be found, which left all of the worrying about her seeming a little unnecessary. Obviously a child should be worried about a missing parent, but the reader is never quite as worried as Blue, which makes for an awkward, unbalanced sort of sympathy. Maura’s hunt for Artemus helps pull him into the story’s spotlight, but otherwise the hunt for Maura is really no different than the hunt for Glendower, and I don’t think there would have been a significant difference in the plot of this novel if Maura hadn’t gone missing.
“Maybe it was good that the world forgot every lesson, every good and bad memory, every triumph and failure, all of it dying with each generation. Perhaps this cultural amnesia spared them all. Perhaps if they remembered everything, hope would die instead.”
Also, although things are (predictably) progressing between Gansey and Blue, and I do like both characters, it was hard to see what they liked about each other. One of the benefits of a slow-burn romance is seeing tiny gestures and conversations that are heaped with meaning, rather than seeing every facet of every thought about the situation spelled out. But one of the cons would be that it’s easy to miss the meaning behind the tiny gestures and conversations. I felt a bit like Blue and Gansey were falling in love simply because it was inevitable. The reader knows it’s going to happen from the beginning, but I wish the narration spent a bit longer on the how and why. Still, I’m loving how patient and understated their relationship is, and I’ll be interested to see if my theories about what will happen between them will prove true in the final book.
My reaction: 5 out of 5 stars. Although there were a couple things I would’ve liked to change about this book, I was still caught up in the newest plot developments and still in love with all of the great Stiefvater writing elements that I was attracted to in the first books. Each detail of each character is described in such a way that every scene is infinitely interesting, and every chapter is exciting. The narration is consistently quirky and compelling. I think it’s impossible to be bored while reading this series, and this volume was no exception.
If you like YA that’s slightly historical and supernatural, try Meg Cabot’s Avalon High. One of my all-time favorite YA books, Avalon High is a modern reincarnation story of the famous history of King Arthur and his friends. The characters must identify their medieval counterparts and break the cycle that tends to lead to Arthur’s untimely death.
Coming Up Next: I’m just starting Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, a short novel among Christie’s most-known books. As usual for Christie’s works, it features a suspenseful murder mystery. I believe it follows ten characters who are invited to an island and begin to die one by one. I can’t wait to find out why.
blue lily lily bluebook listbook reviewsBooksfictionmaggie stiefvaterreadseriessupernaturalthe raven cycleYA
Review: The Dream Thieves
Sequels make me wary. When the first book is good enough to convince readers to pick up a second volume, expectations run high and hopes are easily dashed. Not so with Maggie Stiefvater’s The Dream Thieves, the second book in her popular Raven Cycle. If you missed my review of book one, The Raven Boys, you can find that here.
About the book: The ley line is awake, but there’s a new problem with Cabeswater. Namely, it’s not where Blue and her Aglionby friends left it. Ronan still sees it in his dreams, however, and must use his ability of pulling tangible objects from his dreams to help put Cabeswater back to rights. There’s a new man in town, however, who’s also interested in Ronan’s dream capabilities and looks even more dangerous than Whelk. Adam, after sacrificing his senses for Cabeswater’s use, is also battling to restore the magical forest of Cabeswater because the only way to hold onto his sanity with Cabeswater in his head is to balance the surges and outages that the awakened ley line has caused all over Henrietta. Noah comes and goes, helping where he can. Gansey, of course, is busy trying to hold everyone else together, even when they’re hurting him. It seems that the only one who can help him keep everything together is Blue, and maybe she’s starting to feel the same about him…
“In that moment, Blue was a little in love with all of them. Their magic. Their quest. Their awfulness and strangeness. Her raven boys.”
The first book in the Raven Cycle focused heavily on Blue. In this sequel, however, Blue is given very little space in the narration. She’s often present, but her role is lesser in this novel and so the 3rd person narration highlights the characters that are most important to restoring Cabeswater–Ronan and Adam. The reader also sees Gansey with relative frequency, as he tries to lead the group even while its edges fray and his friends lash out at him, but primarily this book is an expansion rather than a continuation. As the story carries onward, we’re also seeing farther back into the characters’ pasts. Blue and Gansey step away from the center of the stage, but when they do appear, the tension between them evolves into something unprecedented in The Raven Boys. The Raven Cycle is not a romance series, but it does contain some romance, and the complications of love start to appear in this volume.
“Kissing’s a lot like laughing. If the joke’s funny, it doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you last heard one.”
Worst aspect: without access to Blue’s thoughts, her minor fights over the wording of the raven boys’ statements come off more antagonistically. She makes good points, but the fact that she never seems to agree with anything the others say makes it seem like she’s always picking a fight. She handles awkward situations with each of them well, but being able to see the boys’ perspectives more prominently makes Blue seem more disagreeable and confrontational. I’m glad she’s there–this boy-filled quest for Glendower needed a female perspective–but I didn’t like her attitude as much in this volume. Also, the fact that she’s the only girl makes me wonder where the smart, rich girls of Henrietta are. If Aglionby is an all-boys private school for the rich and intelligent, where are the girls? Is there another special school, a counterpart to Aglionby? Do private school girls have to find another school in another town? I don’t need more than a one-sentence explanation, but I want to know.
Best aspect: Mr. Gray, the potential antagonist of the novel, is a highly interesting character. I mean, all of Stiefvater’s characters are interesting, but Mr. Gray is the sort of character that readers can spend a whole book wondering which side he’s on. He’s got a creepy past, an uncertain future, and even in the present he’s mysterious. The part that makes him best for this sequel, though, is the fact that he’s nothing like Barrington Whelk. Often sequels recycle bad guys, or create new ones from the same evil mold. Mr. Gray is entirely new and different, deadly with a charming exterior, and nearly every inclusion of him in The Dream Thieves’ narration meant another surprise.
“What a strange thing this was that they all knew that Mr. Gray was certainly not Mr. Gray, and yet they all went along with it. This playacting should have rankled Blue’s sensible side, but instead, it struck her as a reasonable solution. He didn’t want to say who he was, and they needed to call him something.”
The most notable difference between books one and two of the Raven Cycle, however, is the dramatic foray into supernatural territory. There were some otherworldly elements in The Raven Boys, but The Dream Thieves takes the supernatural side of the quest for the centuries-old slumbering king Glendower to a whole other level. Taking things from dreams is only the beginning of the strangeness in this book. If you’re not willing to believe the unbelievable, this may not be the book for you. If you like books that challenge your idea of reality, this is exactly the book for you.
” ‘There isn’t anything else, man.’ ‘There’s reality,’ [Ronan said.] Kavinsky laughed the word. ‘Reality! Reality’s what other people dream for you.’ “
My reaction: 5 out of 5 stars. A rare rating for a sequel, but this one deserved it. I love that each book in this series so far left me desperately wondering what will happen next. A great strategy, Stiefvater, to keep me invested in reading your books. I will definitely be checking out the next volume in the Raven Cycle, probably next month, and it’s one of the books I’m most looking forward to on next month’s list. Usually I’m a little skeptical of supernatural stories, but I’m in this one for the long haul.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown also has an incredible sequel to accompany its phenomenal first book. Although this series is not supernatural, it does take place on futuristic Mars, which is otherworldly in its own way. If you’re looking for a new series that rivals the Raven Cycle with its unique characters and superb writing, check out Red Rising. You can find my complete review of this book here.
What’s next: I’m currently reading Graham Moore’s new historical fiction novel, The Last Days of Night. It’s set in New York City at the end of the 1800’s, and focuses on a young lawyer who’s defending an inventor rival of Thomas Edison’s.
book listbook reviewsBooksfictionmaggie stiefvaterreadseriessupernaturalthe dream thievesthe raven cycleYA
Review: The Raven Boys
October 22, 2016 Literary Elephant 8 Comments
October is a perfect time of year for the supernatural, which means books like Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys, the first volume in a magical YA quartet.
About the Book: Blue is a teenager with a whole family of psychics, but her only power seems to be in amplifying energy for others’ use. Except on one notable St. Mark’s Eve, she sees a spirit while she is helping her aunt catalogue the names of the soon-to-be dead. No spirit has ever appeared to her before, and she’s told that the only reason for a non-seer to see a spirit is that he’s either a true love or has died by her hand. And this spirit is not just anyone, but a Raven Boy, a member of the town’s private school for rich kids. Blue has a self-imposed rule to avoid them, but she worries that he deserves at least a warning. That is, until she meets Gansey and his three best friends. They’re on a quest to find Glendower, the long-lost Welsh king, along a ley line in Blue’s Virginia hometown, a king rumored to have the power to grant a favor to the person who wakes him. Blue is intrigued by the odd group of friends and their unusual, supernatural hunt for Glendower.
“The boys seemed to act as a unit, a single, multiheaded entity. To see any of them without the presence of the others felt a little… dangerous.”
Together, the five of them might have just the right resources to succeed–but they may not be the only ones close on the path to Glendower, and their opponents may be dangerously unstable and perhaps even downright evil. There’s also a ghost who may have something to say about that.
“Gansey was the boy she either killed or fell in love with. Or both. There was no being ready. There just was this: Maura opening the door.”
Sometimes I read a book based largely on its popularity. This was one of those. I did know there would be a hunt for a Welsh king, which was enough to reassure me that I would enjoy its subject matter, but mostly I picked up this book because it’s widely referred to as “good.” So imagine my surprise when I began turning pages and realized I loved everything about this book–“good” is an inadequate description. It doesn’t sufficiently cover:
a) the characters. Every single character in this book is so vastly different and unique, and there are a decent range of them. The narrator shows a little of every main character’s perspective, so the reader sees not only who’s who, but what makes each of them tick. The four Raven Boy friends Blue encounters are all on opposite ends of the (apparently four-sided) personality spectrum. It’s incredible to see what brings each of them together, and how all of their differing motives set them up to search for Glendower. Stiefvater creates such rich characters that feel like they might just walk off the page, which seems essential for
b) the supernatural element. When the book opened with talk of psychics, I was skeptical. But Blue knows skepticism is common and addresses that issue early on, allowing readers to suspend their disbelief and follow her into uncharted territory. Having believable, realistic characters is what makes the supernatural bits feel plausible. I’m not sure I’m a big believer of the supernatural in the real world around me, but Stiefvater makes it possible to read about unusual tricks of energy and otherworldly encounters without thinking constantly, “This could never happen.” And
c) the writing style. The details of this story are colorful and immersive, transporting the reader right into the setting and the characters’ lives. There are enough hints of romance to keep the reader watching, but there isn’t one of those obvious YA loves that starts at hate and ends at dying for each other in two seconds flat. It’s a slow build, as a novel should be. Also, I love that this series seems to be one of those sets where the books tell one story divided into parts, rather than a bunch of smaller self-contained stories lined up. This is one you have to commit to entirely–the first book raised so many questions that I suspect won’t be answered in their entirety until the end of the fourth book, and I certainly will be reading on to discover those answers. And if the witty characters and plot intrigue aren’t enough for you, there’s also some humor mixed in, just to keep things real.
” ‘I’m feeling better,’ he said, as if he’d been ill instead of dead.”
My reaction: 5 out of 5 stars. I was expecting to be entertained by this “good” book. I wasn’t expecting a new favorite YA series, but The Raven Cycle certainly seems to hold that potential. It’s rare for me to find a book in which I am fascinated both by the story and how it’s told, but The Raven Boys is one of those. I will certainly be picking up the second book in this series the next time I’m at the library. Books like this are the reason I believe the YA genre has something to offer readers of all ages.
If you like YA fantasy with a hint of the supernatural, try Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. This one features magic-wielding casters who partake in a major battle of good vs. evil, rooted in southern USA. I didn’t actually like the whole series, but I did enjoy this first book. (I need to read more YA fantasy/supernatural books. And recommendations for me?)
What’s next: I’m currently reading Marissa Meyer’s second book in the Lunar Chronicles series, Scarlet. After that I’m going to need a break from YA, but for now I’m enjoying this quick science fiction fairy tale retelling. Stay tuned to find out how this sequel compares to the first book!
Update: you can now find my complete review of the next book in this series, The Dream Thieves, here!
book listbook reviewsBooksfantasyfictionmaggie stiefvaterreadseriessupernaturalthe raven boysYA
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Simon & Garfunkle Tribute – “Old Friends”
OLD FRIENDS – A tribute to Simon and Garfunkel is a production dedicated to the music of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, the legendary folk duo from New York in the 1960s and 1970s, renowned for their prophetic songwriting about inner city life, their gentle and melodic harmonies and their recognisable songs. It brings new life to the familiar music, and also tells the story behind the legend of Simon and Garfunkel. The show is fronted by a young duo called Marcato (aka Ben van Zyl and Pieter Smit), whose renditions of the music will bring goose bumps to new and established followers of Simon and Garfunkel alike. They are supported by a group of talented and established musicians from STORM Produktionz and the show is produced and directed by the acclaimed musical force of Mel Botes and Richard H Nosworthy.
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Expert Assistance to Like Minded Individuals and Groups
Refugee and Immigrant Health
Support for Humanitarian Efforts
Financial Aid for Medical Students and Health Professionals
Medical and Health Needs of Indigenous Canadians
Rural Health Needs
Fundraising and Charitable Services
Individual Giving with the Canadian Medical Foundation
Planned & Legacy Giving
Wills and Bequests: The Most Popular Planned Giving Vehicle
Appreciated Shares
92 nd Annual North/South Doctors’ Golf Tournament
The most common form of planned gift is the bequest – making a gift through one’s Will. (i.e. Through your estate planning.) Indeed, some 80% to 90% of planned gifts are bequests.
For these Donors, the bequest is one of the smartest options. Leaving a gift by Will permits a Donor to leave a significant gift in the future to benefit the Canadian Medical Foundation all the while providing for their present and future financial security.
As another advantage, if one makes a bequest, a Donor’s estate is entitled to a tax receipt for the full value of the gift, thereby reducing the taxes on the estate that are payable.
Intestacy (Dying without a Will or Estate Plan)
When you die without a Will, you are deemed by law to have died intestate. Intestacy is an unattractive outcome for most people because the government decides how their estate is to be administered. The law divides the intestate’s estate and thereby determines how much each of one’s heirs will receive. Charity receives nothing. For most people, the government having that complete control over the division of their assets is unacceptable.
With a Will, the Donor (in law, called the “Testator”) is provided with a great deal of flexibility. A significant contribution to the Canadian Medical Foundation can be made, without the Donor having to sacrifice any financial security during his or her lifetime.
Indeed, a Will allows the Testator to make his or her own decisions, among other things, about the following matters:
Who will receive the distributions of his or her estate;
The appointment of guardians for minor children; and,
The determination of whom will be his or her Executor.
Types of Bequests
The most common types of bequests are the following ones:
A Specific Bequest: With this type of bequest, the Canadian Medical Foundation would receive a specific dollar amount or a stated proportion of the Testator’s estate. (E.g., “I give to the Canadian Medical Foundation…”)
A Contingent Bequest: With this type of bequest, the Canadian Medical Foundation would receive all, or a share, of the Testator’s estate only in the event of the prior death of other named beneficiaries. (E.g., “If my spouse pre-deceases me, then my entire estate – or, one-third of my estate, not to exceed $5,000, etc. – to the CMF…”)
A Residual Bequest: With this type of bequest, the Canadian Medical Foundation would receive all, or a percentage, of the remainder of a donor’s estate after other specific legacies have been fulfilled. (E.g., “I give to the CMF, 5% of the remainder of my estate, to be used at the discretion of the CMF’s board of governance….”)
A Trust Remainder Bequest: With this type of bequest, the CMF would receive all or part of the principal of a trust established in the Will to benefit named beneficiaries, upon the death of those beneficiaries. (E.g., “Upon the death of named beneficiaries receiving income from a trust established herein, all or a part of the remainder of the trust to go to the Canadian Medical Foundation.”)
A Restricted Bequest: Funds are restricted to the use designated. (E.g., “I give $10,000 to support physician health and wellness programs in Canada…”)
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Marky7235's Blog
CD Of The Day [Random Review]
Archive for 90’s
Cannibal Corpse / Gallery Of Suicide
Posted in CD of the day, music, random, reviews with tags 90's, alternative metal, cd reviews, deathcore, general, grindcore, main page, music, public, random, reviews on 130000008-04:00 12 by marky7235
Gallery of Suicide is the sixth studio album by American death metal band Cannibal Corpse. It was released in 1998 through Metal Blade Records. The album is the second to include George Fisher on vocal duties, and the first album to feature Pat O’Brien on guitars.
The Analysis:
I Will Kill You—-coming out the silence, there is a slight hum that dissolves into the predictable mayhem. George is still perfecting his CC style…but the brutality is nothing less than that. The remarkable thing….you can actually catch some words here and there. Classic!
Disposal Of The Body—-Relentless…..the guitars are freakin incredible on this track. George sounds much more like his current self…delivery line after line of pure puke. The chord changes are incredible….and the speed of the bass is almost inhuman……this is classic stuff!!!!
Sentenced To Death—-Beginning as you would expect, there is a surprising amount of melody to this track. George sounds a bit hoarse on this track…..perhaps that was purposeful? This is incredible fast and the music production is still a bit archaic…but this is Florida Death at it’s best!!!
Blood Drenched—-From the very onset, this is full of a mania that is almost insane. The speed and delivery of the music/vocal makes you just want to grab your skull and scream as loud as you can…this is intense as fuck. you could not ask for more from this band…but we keep getting it anyways!!!! This is fantastic!!!! Whew!!!!
Gallery Of Suicide—-At the onset, you notice the slower pace and the actual melody of the song before the mayhem kicks in and kicks you ass bloody. This is epic…..I love the mood and the chord changes. George is fantastic….the music…delivered at a slower pace is really quite good…I rather like the drudge of the delivery…a favorite of mine!!!
Dismembered & Molested—-The drums that open this track are freakin incredible….the guitars join in and by the time George enters, the track is already a CC classic. there is a noisy element to this song that is even more apparent than most of the others…this is fantastic…another of my favorites…just for the downshift chord changes and the emerging guitar squeals that I love from this band!!!!
From Skin To Liquid—-Another odd track that begins sounding like Pantera to me….this has a deep and melodic darkness that is surprising even to me. The guitars are right on your forehead…the highhats from the drums almost all you can make out. This is an incredible Black Sabbath styled track that makes me smile from the word GO!!!!
Unite The Dead—-Leaving no time for an introduction, the mayhem ensues from the opening strains. Such as you would expect from the title of the song!!!! The vocal is classic and the guitars squeals are becoming more and more regular…I love that more than anything else about this band. I don’t care what they sing about…the brutal instrumentation is all about the appeal for me!!!
Stabbed In The Throat—-Trademark guitars introduce this track….with George close behind. The song is less than remarkable….much of the same is tread on here….but the instrumentation is fantastic. I love the speed and the evil tone of it all…this is fantastic!
Chambers Of Blood—-Squeals abound on this track…bringing an instant smile to my face. The sound seems to be a bit deeper than usual…like this was recorded in a different session or something with a different engineer. The drums smack you right upside the head…but the squeals do it for me…I love this band!!!!
Headless—-Much more clarity right out of the gate, the squeals are all over on this track….YAY!!!!! I love the relentless drums and the remarkable growls that George is able to muster. This is incredible for me…this is when the REAL trademark sound began to take shape…a classic record!!!
Every Bone Broken—-Much of the same, this release is about 4 songs too long…but I am not disappointed with the true integrity of the band. I would like to have this lyric sheet….but I stole this CD so i don’t…lol….my fault. the drums are oustanding…the vocal demented and the guitars a complete wall of sound!
Centuries Of Torment—-This is fantastic….I loved this when i first heard it on the DVD…took me a while to get my hands on it. I love the chord changes…the squeals are deeper and more sedate,….but they are there and makes me smile. george sounds driven as hell…amazing after all these years he is still singing like this!!!!
Crushing The Disposed—-Ending this rather epic release with some huge bass lines, this is fast becoming another of my favorite releases from this band…outside of Kill. I love the energy of this release and an instrumental on it as well….I could never ask for more from this group of guys. I love the Florida scene!!!!
****3/4 out of 5
Michael Jackson / Blood On The Dancefloor : HIStory In The Mix
Posted in CD of the day, music, random, reviews with tags 90's, cd reviews, dance music, general, main page, music, pop, public, R & B, random, reviews on 130000008-04:00 12 by marky7235
Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix is a remix album by Michael Jackson. The album is made up of eight remixes from Jackson’s previous studio album HIStory, and five new songs. Jackson was heavily involved with the production of the new material while the remixes were produced by other artists. The new material dealt with themes such as drug addiction, women and paranoia.
The album received minimal promotion by Jackson’s standards, particularly in the US. Still, a film, two singles (“Blood on the Dance Floor” and “HIStory/Ghosts“) and three music videos were issued as promotion. Reviews at the time of release were largely mixed, some critics felt that Jackson had already explored these musical themes while others criticized what they perceived as weak vocals. Other critics were favorable, with praise issued for similarities to the music of Marilyn Manson and Trent Reznor.
Worldwide sales stand at six million copies as of 2009, making it the best selling remix album ever released. Several contemporary critics view the material in an increasingly favorable light and believe the album could have been more successful—commentators argue that certain sections of the world took interest in tabloid stories about the singer’s personal life over his musical career.
Blood On The Dancefloor—-Delivered with the expected funk and beat flavor, Jackson sounds a bit muted on this track. this almost sounds like a re-tread of many Janet songs that you have heard in the past. I’m not sure why the vocal is pushed so far to the back of the mix…..none the less…this is history and the song is pretty damn addictive!
Morphine—-Beginning with a low hum and some hi-fi sound effects, the song builds rather slowly but has all the elements of a classic Jackson track. This is rather telling…now that the future has taken place…although the song is upbeat…it still leaves me feeling a bit dark. Jackson delivers a pretty aggressive vocal for him….but mellows for the chorus. This is another of those remarkably addictive tracks!
Superfly Sister—-With familiar falsetto and a funkier back beat, this still falls a bit flat for me. This sounds rather forced and reminds me more of Prince than Michael. Not to say that this is a bad track, I just question the sincerity of it all.
Ghosts—-This has a long rather static introduction…when Jackson finally enters the fray he sounds breathless and pushed to the back of the instrumentation. This is less than inspiring for me…the machine beat is too mundane and predictable….leaving me a bit empty. this is ok, but this is by no means classic Jackson!
Is It Scary?—-Fulfilling the need for the quintessential Jackson ballad, this is the filler that is required on any Jackson release. The track….has a rather damn catchy melody….and the sentiment seems real….this is a standout track for me….simply for the swelling of the music and the emotional quality of it all.
Scream Louder [Flyte Tyme Remix]—-Beginning rather sedate, but coming alive within the first bar…there is a funk delivery to this that is priceless. Jackson is so vocally aggressive…recorded with his sister during his angry period, the remix keeps that emotion well in tact. This is huge, overblown but true to the original. I like this!
Money [Fire Island Radio Edit]—-With a nice rap intro, this is refreshing to hear….how did I miss the original version of this song? This is fresh, filled with a great 90’s style dance floor beat and a melody that is irresistible. I love the interludes of spoken/rap vocal. This is fantastic!
2 Bad [Remix]—-This is ok….not quite what i expected from the onset. I love the Chic style guitars and the Wyclef influence. This is nice…but this is not what you expect. I love the aggressive vocal…once again…this is full of anger. When the Refugee Camp joins in on the song. it gives it a whole new sound…I like this!
Stranger In Moscow [Tee’s In-House Remix]—-This is dance floor ready from the very first strain of the song. Jackson is almost his old self with his vocal on this track and the HUGE electronic backdrop is incredible. This is fantastic….the breaks are fantastic and the vocal goes back and forth…from shouting to a slight croon….sucking me right into the heart of the remix! Fantastic…..
This Time Around [Remix]—-Another track that is instantly dance floor ready, this has the classic elements of dance remixes…lots of loops and a fantastic bass back beat. I love this. The vocal is fantastic and the dance oriented organ that runs through the song is classic remix elements. One of my favorites on here.
Earth Song [Hani’s Club Experience]—-This has a nice deep Ambient sound that rather appeals to me…it’s been quite sometime since i have listened to straight up Dance Music…I’ve been caught up in the whole black Metal thing…it is nice to know that it still appeals to me. This is remarkable…the emotion that is delivered from the music alone os outstanding. I really like this….it goes on a bit too long…but what remix doesn’t?
You Are Not Alone [Remix]—-although this remix contains many of the elements of the original track, this is a tremendous re-working of this song. Not nearly sedate as the original, this takes the track to a whole new level…almost filling me with a danceable joy that I had forgotten I had., This is fantastic…I prefer this version over the more sedate original….wonderful!!!
History [Tony Moran’s History Lesson Remix]—-This is fun….right from the onset. The danceable beat is so addictive….the sounds…all the little blips and beeps are incredible. This goes on forever…but is still remarkably fun. I love the loop that builds and builds…leavin my brain in a frenzy……this is a great end to a classic release…reminding me why I loved the 90’s!!!
Cannibal Corpse / Butchered At Birth
Posted in CD of the day, music, random, reviews with tags 90's, alternative metal, cd reviews, deathcore, general, grindcore, heavy metal, main page, music, public, random, reviews on 120000008-04:00 12 by marky7235
Butchered at Birth is the second studio album by American death metal band Cannibal Corpse. It was released in 1991 through Metal Blade Records.
The album was banned in Germany, due to the violent artwork. The first pressings of the compact disc were wrapped in white butcher paper stamped with the band logo and album title in red ink. Butchered at Birth’s cover also drew a complaint from the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada, which led to record stores being told not to sell the album to persons under 18.[citation needed]
“Rancid Amputation” was given a lounge music re-arrangement by Andrew Hansen of the Australian comedy team The Chaser in July 2006, when the band came under controversy due to their lyrical content prior to touring in Australia.
Meathook Sodomy—-One only has to listen to the early days of this band to realize how incredibly much they have progressed in their sound. Yes, perhaps the sound content is very much the same, but the sound and talent of the band has progressed so much. This opening track is nothing less than pure noise for the most part….until the drums kick in and then we get lively. there is little harmony here….but the chord changes are fantastic. The vocal is just deep and intense…production has gotten so much better. This is a huge blast from the past!!!!
Gutted—-Wow…the sound of this release is so tinny and lacks that huge sound the band now has…none the less, it is as brutal as anything you can buy today. The vocal is incredible and the chord changes make this so recognizable. I like the slower and drudge filled delivery…makes the music even darker. drums are awesome…as always!!!
Living Dissection—-Choppier but still classic, the drums are huge on this track. this is phenomenal…and i’m sure when this was released it shocked the hell out of a lot of Metal fans…this is an archaic yet wonderful version of CC…this is history……so glad I finally got my hands on this shit!!!!
Under The Rotted Flesh—-Leaving you little time to catch your breath, this track actually seems to have a bit of a better sound quality. I miss the guitar squeals that have become so much a part of this band,,,,but the relentless pounding on the skins makes this even better. The vocal is intense as fuck…and the shift changes from the leads makes this a favorite of mine!!!
Covered With Sores—-Perhaps the fan favorite from this release, the delivery is much more accessible to the average everyday metal fan. The vocal is still intense as fuck, but the instrumentation is almost classic Heavy Metal. When the drums really let loose….you are in for a treat……brilliant!!!! Did I just say that…..yeah…I did!!!!
Vomit The Soul—-What a great rhythm section intro with this track…see…there is melody and groove on this shit!!!! This goes back and forth…brutal and catchy as hell…how can you deny the brilliance of this band. This is my favorite track from this release…i love the intermittent double vocal…it makes the song huge…and is just a slight hint of the things that are to cum!!!!!
Butchered At Birth—-As this release continues, I either get used to the sound quality or it seems to almost clear up as it goes on. This is FAST….delivered with venom and produces smiles from me. I love this band…and to think there was a time when I could not stomach this music!!!! Not sure what twisted me….anger maybe?
Rancid Amputation—-Much as you would expect, there are few surprises on this track….the outstanding features are incredible fucking drums and a vocal from hell….the melody of this song….ALMOST sticks in your head…..funny how all my muscles tense when I listen to this shit!!!!
Innards Decay—-Rounding out the release…sounding little different then when it all began, this has a slight guitar squeal to it….I dont think they learned how to do it yet…lol! this is brutal…bloddy and perverted…just as the Dr. ordered!
Bonus Track:
Covered With Sores [ Live featuring George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fischer]—-This allows you to realize how much the band has progressed and how important George is to that progression. The vocal is even more intense and the quality of this live performance is incredible. The melody is there and the energy is infectious…this is a brilliant visitation. This is fantastic!!!!
Cannibal Corpse / Bloodthirst
Posted in CD of the day, music, random, reviews with tags 00's, 90's, alternative metal, cd reviews, death metal, deathcore, grindcore, heavy metal, main page, music, public, random, reviews on 270000007-04:00 12 by marky7235
Bloodthirst is the seventh studio album by American death metal band Cannibal Corpse, and the third to feature George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fisher as vocalist. It was released in 1999 through Metal Blade Records.
George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher – vocals
Jack Owen – guitar
Pat O’Brien – guitar
Alex Webster – bass
Paul Mazurkiewicz – drums
Pounded Into Dust—-Leaving little time to prepare yourself for the onslaught, this track really does live up to its name……from the onset, the classic beatdown is all over the track. George enters and the song takes on an almost demented delivery. This has nice breaks, a fantastic melody,,,,and some screams that are amazing. still a favorite track of mine!!!!
Dead Human Collection—-Relentless drums and a nice guitar squeal introduce the song….George is not far behind. There are huge, nice movements in this track….sklow….fast…slow fast……allowing for an actual melody to form despite the mayhem. this is wonderful…..brilliant and demonic…bloody and beautiful!!!!
Unleashing The Bloodthirsty—-Beginning with a bit more of a dirge, this track in particular, paints a picture of some of the brilliance that is to come with later releases. The slower and bass heavy melody allows even more gore vocals and screams…this was a great recipe to take the band to a higher level….this is a VERY favorite track of mine!!!!
The Spine Splitter—-With 3 seconds to catch your breath, you are smacked once again with the traditional ramblings of CC…this is fantastic. The intermittent growl….mixed wioth the scream makes this monumental. The squealing guitar is nice…but the bass heavy delivery makes it perfect!
Ecstasy In Decay—-Wow…this has a melody right from the opening notes of the song!!!! This is primo stuff……listening to this with headphones, you realize how great the production really is…as the sound travels from ear to ear. George has never sounded better and the bass section of this band is so damn important…this is a classic and fantastic track!!!!
Raped By The Beast—-Nice guitar breaks and squeals right at the start, the vocal is a bit to guttural, but the music rises above it. the instrumentation takes you on a journey all by itself. the drums are incredible and the rhythm section adds layers and layers to the song. the leads come at you almost in waves….just fantastic!!!!
Coffin Feeder—-Wow…what a great bass line……..people think that making this type of music is so easy…this stuff has structure and organization….the more you listen to it, the more you appreciate it. This is not thrash mayhem…this is organized melody placed with insanity?!!!!!
Hacksaw Decapitation—-This is different…..the track comes from the fog and builds and builds until it explodes your eardrums……the onslaught is there….but they actually makes you wait for it……this is worth the wait once the hell breaks loose…this is brilliant….layered, fast and exquisite….the guitarts squeal and make me hard….the vocal hits your gut….and the graveyard comes through your headphones……
Blowtorch Slaughter—-Leaving you little time to catch your breath, this track kicks in again with a vengeance. There are overlayed vocals on this track that makes it really unigue….sometimes giving the song a machine feel. This is full of sustained bass…..huge freakin drums and a bit of vocal manipulation that makes it a favorite!!!!
Sickening—-Returning to full on brutal assault, the band sound in this early release much as it sounds today….afterall, consistency is the key!!!!!
Condemned To Agony—-Ending this release in classic brutal form, the music starts right at the onset in a huge barrage followed by George delivering line after line of perverted fantasy….the guitar breaks and the superhuman drums,………that is what keeps me coming back…the words are fantasy…the music is real as hell!!!!
**** 1/4 out of 5
The Human League / Credo
Posted in CD of the day, music, random, reviews with tags 00's, 80's, 90's, cd reviews, dance music, electronic, general, main page, music, new wave, pop, public, random, synthpop on 200000007-04:00 12 by marky7235
Credo is the ninth studio album by The Human League. It is their first studio album since Secrets in 2001.[1] It has been produced by fellow Sheffield act I Monster[2] and is released on Wall of Sound.
The first single from the album, “Night People” was released on 22 November 2010. Follow up single “Never Let Me Go” was released on 1 March 2011. “Egomaniac” was the second single in Germany, Austria and Switzerland because The Human League secured a slot on a major German TV show for a performance of ‘Egomaniac’. The TV programme aired on Friday 4 March and the single was released the same day. In those three territories the album itself was released on Friday 11 March in order to narrow the gap between the TV airing and the album being available. In the rest of the EU the album was released on Monday 21 March in order to narrow the gap between the release in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and the rest of the continent. The third single, “Sky” was released on 25 July 2011.
Credo was digitally released in the United States on August 16, 2011, with a physical release one week later.
Never Let Me Go—-It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since the release of Secrets, but from the opening strains of this first track, it seems now like yesterday! The synth lines are so damn familiar and comforting….Phil sounds ageless and the girls add their trademark vocals like they have never lived 30 years since we first heard them. This has a fantastic melody!!!! Simply wonderful!!
Sky—-This second single from the release, is yet another synth heavy but familiar sounding track that transports you back in time effortlessly. Oakey sounds so incredible with his deep baritone…the overdubs are fantastic and the ladies quip in here and there making it yet another classic track in an endless career of pure pop pleasure!!!
Into The Night—-This is brilliant…layered with nice synth lines that play over each other wonderfully well, but the song seems a bit empty to me…..lacking a true inspiration…..none the less, this is the League and the track is all you need it to be.
Egomaniac—-My favorite track on this release, this reminds me of all the best tracks from all the best releases. This is wonderfully produced…full of a deeper synth line and an energy that makes me want to dance for days. The underlying blips and beeps that are included makes this even more classic…a true return to form!!!
Single Minded—-Another of those tracks that seems more filler than inspiration, this is still delivered with fantastic instrumentation and allowing Oakey to sing in his higher tone which has always really made me smile! This is wonderful!!!
Privilege—-Deep and stripped almost bare, this has an almost mysterious and down trodden feel to the whole damn. The lyrics are fantastic and the overdubs of Oakey’s vocals are outstanding!!! A classic, different but wonderful track!
Breaking The Chains—-This begins a bit slow…making me wonder where this track was going…but once the chorus smacks you in the face, you will have a smile. this is infectious and full of pop hooks running through the whole song…this is brilliant!
When The Stars Start To Shine—-This has a marching vibe to this song….a bit of a muted vocal and a most infectious melody. Combine these together and you have yet another classic League track….I love the chanted chorus…..making you remember it for days after you hear it the first time…..this is magic!
Get Together—-A brilliant synth line begins this track and allows the entrance of Oakey and his melodic baritone. This is wonderfully brilliant…the girls add to the chorus and allows this track to become huge during the main chorus…this is brilliant!!!
Night People—-Although this lead off single never charted here in the States, I’m convinced it is brilliant none the less. This song moves!!! The synth line is delivered fast and at a frenzied pace…..with a contagious synth line that takes you back in time. The straight ‘clean’ vocal is so infectious. This is brilliant!!!
Cannibal Corpse / Eaten Back To Life
Posted in CD of the day, music, random, reviews with tags 90's, alternative metal, black metal, cd reviews, death metal, deathcore, general, grindcore, heavy metal, main page, music, public, random, The Dead, thrash on 60000007-04:00 12 by marky7235
Eaten Back to Life is the debut album by American death metal band Cannibal Corpse.[1] It was released on 17 August 1990 through Metal Blade Records. The album was banned in Germany (censored versions were not available,[2] but the ban was revoked in June 2006) and other countries because of the violent cover and the extreme nature of the lyrics.[citation needed] Glen Benton of Deicide and Francis H. Howard of Opprobrium (then known as Incubus) perform back-up vocals on “Mangled” and “A Skull Full of Maggots”.
The following statement can be found in the inlay of this album: “This album is dedicated to the memory of Alfred Packer, the first American cannibal (R.I.P.)”
This album has stronger influences of thrash metal than their future releases, as well as a slightly varied vocal style. Their trademark style wasn’t present until their following release Butchered at Birth.
Shredded Humans—-right out of the gate, there is a classic sound to this release that allows the die-hard fan to know whom they are listening to. The vocal is not quite as deep and the guitar squeals are not as present………in fact…you can actually catch a word or two on this debut release. There are nice bass related downshifts……the band is discovering it’s way…this is fantastic…the very beginning!!!!!
Edible Autopsy—-With a much more thrash oriented feel, this almost makes me think of classic Testament…although it is a bit more chaotic. The vocal is so much more accessible on this debut release….and the future is clearly laid out in the sound of this release….it really gives you a feel as to where the band is going. the production is full of tin…..but they all start there right? The intent is so very clear though….the promise of the future is in cement with this release…this is a collectors dream!!!!!!
Put To Death—-Coming out of a split second of silence and building and building in intensity, this is a remarkable track. This is almost classic CC…the vocals are raw and rampaging………the energy is extraordinary…the only difference is the literal so-so version of the music that is presented……but it evolves!!!!!!
Mangled—-The song title matches the intensity of the song perfectly……this is relentless and is the future sound of the band. It is almost impossible to catch even a single word of the song…it comes at you like an Afghan bullet brigade….but the intent and feeling is clear…this is was new and shocking….this was the future for every band that came after in the Florida scene…….and there is none other more known than CC!!!!!
Scattered Remains—-Much more drudge driven at the onset, the drums are incredible on this track…in fact the entire rhythm section is awesome…..the vocal enters and transforms the entire track into mayhem….but the music never looses the focus…this is so much more thrash driven than later releases…….incredible history right here!!!!
Born In A Casket—-Full of mangled guitars and an intense thrash delivery, this track is one of my favorite on this release……there are huge chord changes and musical shifts that really got me…I listen to this over and over. The vocal is as expected……but it is the music that is so powerful on this song….the shift changes only gives us a glimpse of the future,….this is incredible!!!!
Rotting Head—-From the onset, this is much more Metal than Death…….until the vocal….the voice is huge on this track……there is barely a word you can catch….but the intensity is evident. I love the downshift in the music and the super talent it takes to speed up…slow down…almost stop and allow for the bass,……this is incredible……..from the onset, this band was a legend!!!!
The Undead Will Feast—-Nothing remarkable…….deveastating and unrelenting…..as you would expect….the vocal is almost barking punk rock…..would love to hear the band do this circa 2012!!!!!!
Bloody Chunks—-The growl at the onset of this song sets the entire freakin tone….this is so fast and convoluted…you never catch a drift od lyrics…all you get is energy……..wanting to throw yourself in the pit and celebrate the embrace of pure Grind…..
Skull Full Of Maggots—-At the onset, this almost feels like ther are two sets of drums playing at the same time……the trademark guitar squeals make their entrance here…..and the double vocal is incredible….thanks Mr. Benton…no one does is better…..there are incredible down shifts in the song that are key to the delivery……still one of my faves on this release.
Buried In The Backyard—-An EXTRAORDINARY Instrumental!!!!
Born In A Casket—-And indeed, George revisits this classic in a live setting….adding a brutality and range you never thought possible…….the live insertion of this is just brilliant. This man knows this catalog…..and the drums on this track…live……are incredible!!!!!
**** out of 5
Sinead O’Connor / So Far…..The Best Of Sinead O’Connor
Posted in CD of the day, music, random, reviews with tags 00's, 90's, alternative music, cd reviews, general, main page, music, pop, public, random, reviews on 60000007-04:00 12 by marky7235
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O’Connor ( /ʃɪˈneɪd oʊˈkɒnər/;[1] born 8 December 1966) is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra. O’Connor achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song “Nothing Compares 2 U“.
Since then, while maintaining her singing career, she has occasionally encountered controversy, partly due to her statements and gestures such as her ordination as a priest despite being female with a Roman Catholic background, and her expressed strong views on organized religion, women’s rights, war, and child abuse.
In addition to her nine solo albums her work includes many singles, songs for films, collaborations with many other artists, and appearances at charity fundraising concerts.
Nothing Compares 2 u—-Perhaps one of the most stirring videos of the early 90’s , Sinead takes this Prince penned saga and turns it into a tear jerker even all these years later. The incredible orchestration, combined with the melancholy delivery of the voice…come together and create a memory for every single person that has ever heard this song. The stirring video with the teardrop…makes it even more iconic……unforgettable!
Mandinka—-Delivering a remarkably different track from the same release as a single, O’Connor showed her diversity and mass appeal with this song. This has been masterfully remixed numerous times and never seems to lose the energy that it had the very first time I heard it. The vocal is incredible…the instrumentation incredibly contagious and the memory….neverending.
The Emperor’s New Clothes—-From her second release, this is perhaps my favorite release from Sinead……it has depth and growth…although she derailed her career a bit during this time period with her Saturday Night Live Fiasco…..none the less, the music speaks for itself. This track is able to move you…gives you a nice edge and allows you to really think about the words you are hearing….fantastic…..I love this!!!!
The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance—-Probably my second favorite track from O’Connor…you cannot deny the anger…the emotion and the hurt…..all which are real and heartfelt. The vocal is displayed with full histrionics…..never has she sounded better or more genuine…the range is perfect. The music is in line and just feeds the emotion…this is pretty much a masterpiece!
Fire On Babylon—-Yet another track that allows for a huge and fantastic vocal…..there have been some great remixes to this track as well. Sinead is able to be quiet and accelerate so effortlessly…it is simply amazing. I’m flabbergasted by the voice and the content….most all of these tracks really mean something…that is incredibly important!
Troy—-Venturing back to the debut release, this is perhaps every fans favorite track….except mine…lol! None the less, this is an extraordinary song…filled with emotion, vocal stylings that only hinted at the future and an underlying mine field of talent that was to be yet unleashed…this was the beginning….and unforgettable!!!
I Am Stretched On Your Grave—-Returning to her second release, O’Connor delivers a track that really tends to rip my heart out. when you have been close to death or experienced death after death…..I have lived through the AIDS epidemic……lost about 60 friends…..these songs take on a whole new meaning…I have had these very moments that are expressed in this song….so this is very real to me……I understand…..and the instrumentation…full of a nice Celtic flavor adds to the atmosphere!!!!! Very nice!!!!
Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home—-Written by Johnny Mullins and recorded by Loretta Lynn, O’Connor gives a nice twist to this song that was also covered by Elvis Costello on his Almost Blue release. This loses almost all of the Country edge and instead takes on a big Band feel that fits Sinead’s voice remarkably well. This is fantastic…but I think it surprised many people at the time of the release!
John, I Love You—-Without a doubt, my favorite released single from O’Connor…..it is easy to replace the name John with any other and carry the sentiment in you pocket with you the rest of your life…which I have quite successfully done! the song has a bit of stripped down feel…but the vocal adds layers and layers to the song…it becomes huge when O’Connor really opens her mouth…this is beautiful…magical…mystic…forlorn and REAL!!!!
Empire—-One of the few tracks on this release I was not really familiar with, the electronic delivery resonated with me right away. The track has a nice Reggae feel to it that makes it very easy to digest….i really like the ‘World Music’ feel to the song….it is no wonder it is included on this compilation…it is a triumph…I really like this!
I Want Your Hands On Me—-Another throwback track that still sounds fresh at this very moment I listen to it…sometimes there is music that is made that is timeless…..this is one of those tracks….there are some great remixes to this song as well…the breaks in the song are incredible…the energy is never ending…..when Sinead hollers…it is real and stays with you….a classic track!!!!!
Heroine—-Just remarkable…..leaving me aghast everytime I hear this…….truly a masterful interpretation!!!!
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina—-Taking on the most famous track from Evita, O’Connor has the advantage of huge orchestration…..a flowing symphony that matches the emotion of her vocal to a tee. This is a masterful delivery…..I know it has been done before…but this is special….although I love the Donna Summer version more…..this is a damn close second!!!!
You Made Me The Thief–Another of those songs I’m not entirely familiar with, I greeted it with open arms though…I have missed a few releases here and there……shhhhh….don’t tell!!!! Sinead sounds a bit thin here…..the vocal lacks the full feel of her usual delivery….it is pushed way to the back of the mix and the electronics threaten to take over the song…not bad…but not a favorite!
Just Like You Said It Would Be—-Ending this collection much as it started…with an older emotional track, this is another real favorite of mine. Sinead sounds so pure….so concise…so perfunctory and solid. The swan way of singing makes me almost excited…this is a brilliant track…the overlays are extraordinary…the emotion is what i live with everyday……truly magnificent!!!!
CD Of The Day
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The Essential 80’s Vol. 1-5
http://www.wikidordr… on Coldplay / Mylo Xyloto
My Homepage on Cattle Decapitation / Monolith…
My Homepage on Cannibal Corpse / Torture
felipeowen on Florence + The Machine / …
stacy on Gary Numan / Archive 2
1 CD of the day music random reviews
The Essential 80's Vol. 1-5
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Rose Leslie knows exactly how to deal with 'Game of Thrones' spoilers from Kit Harington
By Sam Haysom 2018-03-15 10:38:32 UTC
Rose Leslie is in a position that many Game of Thrones fans would kill to be in. Not only has she starred in the actual show, but she's also engaged to Kit Harington.
Leaving aside the fact that Harington is impossibly chiselled, that also gives her unfettered early access to the final season's storyline, right?
Well, apparently not. According to Leslie, she doesn't want any spoilers.
SEE ALSO: Maisie Williams describes what it was like finding out how 'Game of Thrones' ends
"I remember over in the summer just gone obviously the new episodes for the final season were coming through onto his iPad," she explains to Seth Meyers in the clip above. "And I can read his facial expressions. I don't want to know anything that's going on within his eyes, or anything like that — so I send him packing."
Yep: according to Leslie, she'd banish Jon Snow to a coffee shop whenever a new script came in to avoid his facial expressions.
"I'll be able to gauge," she says. "If he stiffens, then I know someone's dead."
If it was us we'd have demanded to read those things the minute they came through.
Ed Sheeran and Travis Scott are, uh, sea captains in 'Antisocial' video
Topics: Celebrities, Culture, Game of Thrones, kit harington, rose leslie, seth meyers, UK
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22 images of South Dakota we can’t stop looking at
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Photo: Travel South Dakota
THERE IS PERHAPS no other state whose beauty flies as under the radar as much as South Dakota’s. That may be a good thing for South Dakotans since it means their trails, canyons, caves, waterfalls, and lakes offer a serene experience yet to be discovered by the crowds. It’s definitely a good thing for you, the traveler in the know.
If you find yourself in the Mount Rushmore State surrounded by scenes like those below, we think you’ll agree.
Cycling in the Badlands
Badlands National Park isn't just for hiking, camping, and photography—cycling in and around it is almost as otherworldly. There are buttes, canyons, pinnacles, and spires, all encompassed by the Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway.
Photo: faungg's photos
Falls Park, Sioux Falls
Pictured above are the falls of the Big Sioux River in Falls Park, Sioux Falls. Other features in the city's flagship green space include an observation tower, a café, and the remains of an old mill, making for a special escape in the middle of town.
Climbing in the Black Hills
If you're picturing the Black Hills as nothing but dense, rolling forests, you aren't entirely correct. The Cathedral Spires, part of the Needles formation of Custer State Park, seem as if they've been taken from the pages of some fantasy novel—in real life, they make for epic climbing.
See more: 8 experiences you can only have in South Dakota
Sunset over the Missouri
The Missouri is the longest river in North America, and that leaves room for plenty of amazing sunsets. Part of its 2,341-mile flow cuts right through South Dakota (dividing East River from West River) before mixing with the waters of the Mississippi. Multiple lakes and reservoirs provide endless opportunities for water sports.
The Corn Palace
Mitchell, South Dakota, is home to The World's Only Corn Palace, the exterior adorned in decorative corn and other grains. Almost half a million people visit every year, and the building is home to exhibitions, concerts, and events like the annual Corn Palace Festival. It's during this time every year that, apart from visitors gathering for live music, good food, and carnival rides, the palace itself gets adorned with new organic accoutrements and freshly redecorated.
Buffalo Roundup, Custer State Park
You've never seen our national mammal like this. Watching 1,300 buffalo get herded by fearless cowboys and cowgirls is something unique for both your eyes and your ears—hearing 5,200 hooves hitting the turf, you'll think the Earth is moving under your feet. The Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup is held each year at the end of September.
South Dakota sunflowers
This particular scene may seem remarkable to outsiders, but sunflowers actually span the entire state. Roughly 875 million pounds are produced every year, making SD—not Kansas—the true "sunflower state."
See more: 8 adventures you didn't know were possible in South Dakota
Backcountry camping in the Badlands
It's one thing to tour Badlands National Park—it's another to go off on your own and explore its alien features and stark landscape day and night with nothing but your pack. Backcountry camping here doesn't require a permit, but you should definitely stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center before you head out. Expect to be rewarded with incredible scenery and unfiltered night skies.
The faces of Mount Rushmore are carved out of granite and touch 5,725 feet above sea level. But they're also only part of what visitors should expect to experience on a trip to the memorial—the surrounding trails and visitor center will greatly enhance your time here.
A South Dakota wacipi
Few places have as strong a Native American heritage as South Dakota. Pictured above is a wacipi, or powwow, where even visitors are urged to take part in song, dance, and storytelling. There are dozens going on every year; if you attend, be respectful and follow proper etiquette.
Roughlock Falls
The Roughlock Falls Nature Area, where these falls can be found, is arguably the most photograph-worthy spot in the Black Hills. Surrounding catwalks make the falls themselves especially easy to navigate. When you're there, keep an eye out for the elusive American dipper—a bird that can swim underwater.
See more: 8 ways South Dakota will surprise you
Art Alley, Rapid City
Located between 5th and 7th Streets in downtown Rapid City, Art Alley started out as a public arts project and has since gone viral. It's just one of the many ways South Dakota expresses its creative side.
Red Shirt Table
On the western boundary of Badlands National Park and part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is Red Shirt Table, a table mountain roughly 10 miles long. The highest point in the Badlands is here, coming in at 3,340 feet.
Photo: LAPAS Photo Archive
Bison statue, Rapid City
Unique art like this can be found across the state thanks to artists like John Lopez and his undeniable skill with scrap metal. The bison has become a symbol of South Dakota's past, present, and future.
Photo: Bri Weldon
Black Hills Central Railroad
The 1880 Train, a 19th-century steam locomotive, still runs between Hill City and Keystone, South Dakota. Operating from May to October, it's a 10-mile ride one-way through the scenic landscape of the Black Hills.
Crazy Horse Memorial
The world's largest mountain carving in-progress rests in South Dakota's Black Hills, not far from the more celebrated faces of Mount Rushmore. The Crazy Horse Memorial was started in the 1940s and is still being worked on to this day.
Stockade Lake
Custer State Park has five lakes, with Stockade Lake being the largest (and most popular). With a swimming beach, hiking trails, and fishing, Stockade is a natural stop on any Black Hills itinerary—the site of the region's first gold discovery is nearby, too.
South Dakota stargazing
All that prairie and mountainous wilderness makes for some pretty amazing stargazing. Yes, there are many hidden benefits to having a low population density.
Photo: Austin Matherne
Looking to experience an 1800s Gold Rush as authentically as possible? Head to Deadwood, South Dakota, as the entire town is on the National Historic Register. Its gaming halls are keeping it as alive today as they did 100 years ago.
Wildlife in Custer State Park
Custer State Park is South Dakota's first and largest state park, comprising 71,000 acres in the Black Hills. In terms of wildlife, it's primarily known for its bison herd, though there are plenty of other animals that call the park home.
Photo: Custer State Park
Jewel Cave National Monument
More than 180 miles of mapped passages make this the third-longest cave system in the world. It's 13 miles from the town of Custer in the Black Hills, and visitors can come year-round—just be prepared to duck between calcite crystals with your hardhat and headlamp.
Spearfish Canyon
This is one of those views you normally just wouldn't normally associate with South Dakota...which makes it all the more impressive. Find it in Spearfish Canyon. Apart from the obvious climbing and hiking opportunities here, the area is absolutely teeming with wildlife: eagles, mule deer, and even the occasional bobcat roam these hills.
This post is proudly produced in partnership with Travel South Dakota.
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Steinhausen, Meta (1879 - 1969) (9) + -
Carl (8) + -
Davis' (8) + -
May Bragdon Diary, November 27, 1905 – December 1, 1905, p. 78
Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Davis, Helen Alling (4/19/1871 - 4/12/1950), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Rochester Orphan Asylum (Rochester, N.Y.), Cro' Nest (Rochester, N.Y.), Cook Opera House (Rochester, N.Y.), Flinch
May Bragdon Diary, December 6, 1906 – December 11, 1906, p. 220
Bragdon, Katherine Elmina (12/30/1837 - 9/6/1920), Bragdon, Henry Wilkinson (9/6/1906 - 3/15/1980), MacArthur, Mary (3/12/1869), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Rogers, Mabel S. (b. 11/17/1870), Rogers, Isabella (1856? - 4/8/1911), MacArthur, Steinhausen, Theodore D. (1874 - 1944), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Goulding, Gertrude (3/17/1867 - 6/12/1933), Cro' Nest (Rochester, N.Y.)
May Bragdon Diary, July 3, 1905 – July 4, 1905, p. 16
Joiner, Edith M. (7/3/1868 - 7/4/1935), Davis, Frank Allen (3/21/1873 - 6/1/1953), Gilmore, Joseph H. (b. 9/9/1863), Cutler, James Goold (4/24/1848 - 4/21/1927), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Davis', Davis, Lillian May (1871 - 1910), Davis, Frances Freeman (1838? - 1915), Davis, Charlotte Gleason (4/12/1861 - 1938), Davis, Hamilton Clark (10/14/1864 - 2/10/1947), Peruzzi, Carl
May Bragdon Diary, July 15, 1905 – July 22, 1905, p. 19
Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Crichton, Catharine M. (b. 1866?), Baker, Lura Ophelia (8/13/1870 - 1922), Davis, Charlotte Gleason (4/12/1861 - 1938), Joiner, Edith M. (7/3/1868 - 7/4/1935), Hutchison, Laura B. (b. 1870), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Diana
Hutchison, Laura B. (b. 1870), Penfield, Florence (1853? - 1935), Flack, Ethel L. (b. 1877), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Davis, James Clement (3/16/1863 - 9/3/1951), Bragdon, Katherine Elmina (12/30/1837 - 9/6/1920), MacArthur, Mary (3/12/1869), Baker, Lura Ophelia (8/13/1870 - 1922), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Garfield, Helen C. (1835 - 7/18/1911), Davis, Charlotte Gleason (4/12/1861 - 1938), Ojibway (Pointe au Baril, Ontario)
Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Cutler, James Goold (4/24/1848 - 4/21/1927), Scott, Anna Page (1863 - 1925), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Bragdon, George Chandler (4/29/1832 - 8/7/1910), Clark, Edith E. (1884? - 1934), Hillman, Edith V. (1879? - 1923), Weller, Frieda (1889 - 1926?), Steinhausen, Theodore D. (1874 - 1944), Cro' Nest (Rochester, N.Y.), Zoroaster (d. 1909), Zendavesta
May Bragdon Diary, March 22, 1907 – March 28, 1907, p. 245
Bragdon, Henry Wilkinson (9/6/1906 - 3/15/1980), MacArthur, Mary (3/12/1869), Joiner, Edith M. (7/3/1868 - 7/4/1935), Bragdon, Katherine Elmina (12/30/1837 - 9/6/1920), Davis, Helen Alling (4/19/1871 - 4/12/1950), Cutler, James Goold (4/24/1848 - 4/21/1927), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Davis, Frances Graham (9/9/1906 - 10/6/1983), Davis, Charlotte Gleason (4/12/1861 - 1938), Baker, Lura Ophelia (8/13/1870 - 1922), Hutchison, Laura B. (b. 1870), Gilmore, Joseph H. (b. 9/9/1863), Arnold, James Burns (1881 - 1957), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Caswell, Herbert Marshall (b. 1860?), Scranton, Edgar M. (1860 - 1910), Duffy-McInnerny Co. (Rochester, N.Y.)
May Bragdon Diary, June 6, 1907 – June 8, 1907, p. 267
Bellamy, Charella (1865? - 2/16/1920), Joiner, Edith M. (7/3/1868 - 7/4/1935), Joiner, Mort (d. 1910), Steinhausen, Amelie (b. 7/14/1902), Bradshaw, Alice (b. 3/14/1889), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Bragdon, George Chandler (4/29/1832 - 8/7/1910), Connolly, Nan (b. 1880), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Wilkinson, Charlotte Coffin (4/24/1833 - 8/3/1909), MacArthur, Mary (3/12/1869), Samovar (Rochester, N.Y.), Sibley's (Rochester, N.Y.), Flinch
May Bragdon Diary, August 30, 1905 – September 2, 1905, p. 40
Joiner, Edith M. (7/3/1868 - 7/4/1935), Bragdon, Katherine Elmina (12/30/1837 - 9/6/1920), Goulding, Gertrude (3/17/1867 - 6/12/1933), Humphrey, George P. (1864 - 1952), Baker, Marie (b. 1845), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Hutchison, Laura B. (b. 1870), MacArthur, Mary (3/12/1869), Flinch
May Bragdon Diary, January 27, 1906 – February 1, 1906, p. 95
Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Bragdon, George Chandler (4/29/1832 - 8/7/1910), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), MacArthur, Mary (3/12/1869), Bragdon, Katherine Elmina (12/30/1837 - 9/6/1920), Cro' Nest (Rochester, N.Y.), Sibley's (Rochester, N.Y.), Baker Theatre (Rochester, N.Y.)
Moore, Nan, Andrews, Jane M. (1859 - 1948), Clark, Edith E. (1884? - 1934), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Bragdon, Katherine Elmina (12/30/1837 - 9/6/1920), Baker, Lura Ophelia (8/13/1870 - 1922), Cutler, James Goold (4/24/1848 - 4/21/1927), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Wilkinson, Charlotte Coffin (4/24/1833 - 8/3/1909), Joiner, Edith M. (7/3/1868 - 7/4/1935), Sibley's (Rochester, N.Y.)
Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Bragdon, George Chandler (4/29/1832 - 8/7/1910), Moore, Nan, Bragdon, Katherine Elmina (12/30/1837 - 9/6/1920), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Sibley's (Rochester, N.Y.)
May Bragdon Diary, July 8, 1903 – August 12, 1903, p. 156
Hillman, John Constantine (1865 - 1932), Joiner, Edith M. (7/3/1868 - 7/4/1935), Caswell, Caroline (1825 - 1915), Wolfe, Alice Louise (b. 1857?), Bragdon, George Chandler (4/29/1832 - 8/7/1910), Bragdon, Katherine Elmina (12/30/1837 - 9/6/1920), Hillman, Edith V. (1879? - 1923), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Steinhausen, Margaret (b. 7/14/1902), Steinhausen, Amelie (b. 7/14/1902), Cutler, James Goold (4/24/1848 - 4/21/1927), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Gilmore, Joseph H. (b. 9/9/1863)
Bragdon, George Chandler (4/29/1832 - 8/7/1910), Frey, Amelie D. (1882 - 1966), Frey, John Donald (1/6/1903 - 1981), Davis, James Clement (3/16/1863 - 9/3/1951), Frey, John Bemish (9/22/1871 - 1953), Baker, Lura Ophelia (8/13/1870 - 1922), Hawley, Mary Cornelia (8/27/1868 - 1/12/1939), MacArthur, Mary (3/12/1869), Rogers, Mabel S. (b. 11/17/1870), Davis, Charlotte Gleason (4/12/1861 - 1938), Davis, Helen Alling (4/19/1871 - 4/12/1950), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Perfect Little Ladies
Davis, Helen Alling (4/19/1871 - 4/12/1950), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Goulding, Gertrude (3/17/1867 - 6/12/1933), Hillman, John Constantine (1865 - 1932), Baker, Lura Ophelia (8/13/1870 - 1922), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Dady, Thomas F. (b. 1853?), Frey, Amelie D. (1882 - 1966), Davis, James Clement (3/16/1863 - 9/3/1951), Cro' Nest (Rochester, N.Y.), Hahnemann Hospital (Rochester, N.Y.)
Bragdon, Katherine Elmina (12/30/1837 - 9/6/1920), Davis, Helen Alling (4/19/1871 - 4/12/1950), Hutchison, Laura B. (b. 1870), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), MacArthur, Steinhausen, Meta (1879 - 1969), Williams, Herma Louise (1885 - 1957), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Davis, Lillian May (1871 - 1910), Stowell, M. Louise (1861 - 1930), Mechanics Institute (Rochester, N.Y.)
Bragdon, Claude (8/1/1866 - 9/17/1946), Bragdon, Charlotte (8/26/1872 - 12/15/1907), Bragdon, Katherine Elmina (12/30/1837 - 9/6/1920), Hillman, John Constantine (1865 - 1932), Wilkinson, Josephine (10/22/1862 - 3/3/1943), Wilkinson, Henry Wilhelm (11/20/1869 - 12/8/1931), Wilkinsons, Arnold, James Burns (1881 - 1957), Cutler, Joseph Warren (7/13/1857 - 1934), Gilmore, Joseph H. (b. 9/9/1863), Baker, Lura Ophelia (8/13/1870 - 1922), FitzSimons, Lucinda Leona (b. 1863?), Cro' Nest (Rochester, N.Y.), Lake Ontario, Flinch
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Broadway Buzz: Hoop Dreams Come True! Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and the Cast of Magic/Bird Score Big on Opening Night
It was nothin’ but net as basketball drama Magic/Bird, starring Kevin Daniels as Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Tug Coker as Larry Bird, opened on the Great White Way. Directed by Thomas Kail and penned by Eric Simonson, the play chronicles the fierce competitive streak and eventual friendship of NBA icons Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird. The show officially bowed on April 11 at the Longacre Theatre before a star-studded crowd that included the real Magic and Bird. After a fast-paced performance from the cast, including Deirdre O’Connell, Peter Scolari, Robert Manning Jr. and Francois Baptiste, celebs such as Rooney Mara, Rosario Dawson and Penny Marshall joined the company at the Edison Ballroom to celebrate. Click below to get in the game on the opening night of this intense sports drama.
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HomeBookingsTalent
Known by his first name thanks to his universal presence in US culture, Andy Madadian is a celebrated figure in American music. This Armenian-Iranian singer-songwriter and actor currently lives in Los Angeles and first rose to stardom in the music industry way back in 1985, going on to collaborate with true music superstars such as Jon Bon Jovi. Andy is such a success that he holds the honour of the highest number of popular hits in Persian popular music. Early in his career he was part of the hit duo Andy & Kouros and together the pair released four albums including the hugely successful Balla in 1990. After a split in 1992, the duo both went on to have successful careers and have reunited several times, due to popular demand.
As a solo artist Andy has put out fifteen albums and his last three singles have all hit the top spot in the charts. He fuses a wide array of styles from rock to pop to dance in his own charismatic manner and has picked up nominations for the likes of Best Male Artist, Best Live Act, and Best Entertainer of the Year at the World Music Awards. Andy was also part of a famous recording session for WORLD PEACE ONE, featuring some of the most successful artists in the world all coming together to promote peace. An ever-popular character with a huge arsenal of hits that always get people excited, Andy remains a unique crossover star.
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Taimane Gardner
Kid Creole and the Coconuts
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Converting biomass by applying mechanical force
March 15, 2019 , University of Münster
The molecular structure of cellulose, to which nanoscientists applied mechanical force (green arrows). The hydrolysis reaction changed dramatically as a result. Credit: Saeed Amirjalayer et al./Angew Chem
One of the greatest global challenges is the efficient use of renewable sources in order to meet the increasing demand for energy and feedstock chemicals in the future. In this context, biomass is a promising alternative to existing fossil sources such as coal or oil. Cellulose plays a decisive role here, because it accounts for the largest fraction of the natural carbon storage. These reservoirs are crucial for the production of both fuels and basic chemicals. In order to utilize its full potential, the chain-like structure of cellulose must be broken up. This can be done by a so-called hydrolysis reaction, which, however, is difficult due to the atomic structure of cellulose and has been very costly so far.
Researchers at the University of Münster (Germany) headed by Dr. Saeed Amirjalayer and Prof. Harald Fuchs and and the University of Bochum headed by Prof. Dominik Marx have now succeeded in identifying a new reaction mechanism in which cellulose can be converted highly efficiently using mechanical force. This so-called mechano-catalytic reaction could lead to the development of an efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective process for the conversion of biomass. The study has been published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
Background information and Method:
Using a hydrolysis reaction, the cellulose backbone can be broken down into individual molecular building block. These molecular building blocks are the actual basis for producing fuels or chemical feedstocks. In their search for ways to make the hydrolysis reaction more efficient, researchers have already found evidence in earlier studies that mechanical forces can influence the process of conversion.
So-far it has not been possible to elucidate the influence of mechanical force during each individual reaction step at the atomic level. However, this level of insight is needed to develop a corresponding efficient and resource-efficient process. In the now published work, the scientists show that the use of mechanical force on the cellulose molecules, over a certain level, has a significant influence on the reaction.
To do so, the nanoscientists carried out so-called atomistic modelling. These enabled them to follow the individual steps of the hydrolysis reaction in detail and at the same time to apply a mechanical force on the molecular structure. The researchers calculated so-called energy profiles, which describe the energy pathway along the reaction coordinate with and without the influence of mechanical forces. What they succeeded to show is that stressing the molecular backbone of the cellulose had a strong influence on the hydrolysis reaction. On the one hand, the energy required to activate the process was significantly reduced. On the other hand, an increased mechanical force even made two of the usual three reaction steps superfluous. "By means of our atomistic models we could explicitly investigate the influence of mechanical force on the reaction mechanism", says leading author Dr. Saeed Amirjalayer, who works as a group leader at the Institute of Physics at Münster University and at the Center for Nanotechnology (CeNTech). "This enabled us to elucidate a previously unknown and highly efficient reaction pathway for the conversion of cellulose," he adds.
The new results not only confirm the experimental observations, but also show the potential to control molecular processes with the help of mechanical force. "Among other things, we were able to show that the so-called proton affinity in cellulose can be increased region-selectively by mechanical force," Saeed Amirjalayer explains.
The scientists therefore hope that this work will not only enable an efficient and environmentally friendly process for the conversion of cellulose, but also lead to the development of novel mechano-responsive substances, such as plastics. These substances could be easily recycled by mechanical forces after usage.
More information: Saeed Amirjalayer et al, Understanding the Mechanocatalytic Conversion of Biomass: A Low-Energy One-Step Reaction Mechanism by Applying Mechanical Force, Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2019). DOI: 10.1002/anie.201811091
Journal information: Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Provided by University of Münster
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Researchers unmask Janus-faced nature of mechanical forces with supercomputer
The consortium of motile and cellulose degrading bacteria can be used for solid state cellulose hydrolysis
Understanding why cellulose resists degradation could lead to cost-effective biofuels
Researchers observe enzymes breaking down cellulose to aid the production of biofuels
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© 2019 - Macy’s Garage, Ltd.
Macy’s Garage
When I arrived on the scene in 1952, The Macy family had been pumping Sunoco gas and repairing cars in the same location for nearly 20 years. Cliff had long since retired and sold out to Grandpa Roy, who now ran the whole operation with his son (my Dad) Phil. Throughout the 1950's, I loved to visit "The Station" whenever I could. I could always find some way to get dirty (and into trouble for it), and if a car happened to be up on the rack for service, I was under there in a flash to have a look. By 1960, Dad moved on to a more promising career and I had a part-time job pumping gas every day after school and on Saturday. I learned about customer service, integrity, and the importance of doing a job right the first time; all of those qualities which had helped Macy's Garage survive through the tough times of The Depression and WWII. They say that leaded gas was harmful to children, so today we have to make do with an unleaded variety. I loved the smell of leaded gas, and the exhaust fumes that went along with it. As far as I can tell, the only negative effect that I suffered was in becoming addicted to cars, airplanes, and anything else that burns fossil fuels for motive power. I'm sure that I still have traces of Sunoco 260 running through my veins today! In 1967, at the wise old age of 14, I purchased a 1940 Pontiac Coupe from the local junk yard to build a Chevrolet V-8 powered Hot Rod. The car was running and drivable shortly after my 16th birthday, and I kept it for the next 28 years. (Then I got stupid and let it get away from me!) When Grandpa Roy retired from the service station business in 1969, the Macy's Garage tradition continued on a casual level at my home garage where I would rebuild engines, transmissions and carburetors for all of my friends. I also had to learn new skills that were needed to transform "The Coupe" into a true show stopper, skills such as body work, paint, and interior trim. Somewhere during my formative youth, I also acquired a taste for British sports cars. At various times "The Coupe" shared garage space with an Austin Healey Sprite, Triumph TR6 and an MG Midget, but what I really wanted was a TR4. Today, my current fleet of collector cars consists of multiple TriumphTR2's, TR3's, TR4's, and TR250’s (plus a '57 Chevy Sedan Delivery and a fiberglass '33 Ford Vicky), but mostly I'm just your basic car guy at heart with a big list of other makes and models that I'm always yearning for. Throughout the years, there's always been some kind of activity at Macy's Garage, as I maintained this sideline 'business' to help others maintain and improve their special cars. Today, following a career piloting airliners and corporate jets, Macy's Garage is once again a full time operation, employing 10 passionate and meticulous car guys who pamper 16-20 of our clients' Triumphs each and every day in our 12,000+ sq. ft. of paint and workshop space. Whether it's routine service or a ground up restoration, helping to keep these cars on the road is something that will always give us a great amount of pleasure. While this may be the new age and the 21st century, I'll never abandon the old fashioned principals of honesty, integrity, customer service, and quality workmanship that I learned so well in the last century. Those very same qualities are what sustained the original Macy's Garage for so many years, and will never go out of style as far as I'm concerned. My team here at Macy’s Garage are like family, our clients become our friends, and the cars cars are like our children. I wouldn't have it any other way!
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Gallery TR4-4A
Gallery TR250-6
When I arrived on the scene in 1952, The Macy family had been pumping Sunoco gas and repairing cars in the same location for nearly 20 years. Cliff had long since retired and sold out to Grandpa Roy, who now ran the whole operation with his son (my Dad) Phil. Throughout the 1950's, I loved to visit "The Station" whenever I could. I could always find some way to get dirty (and into trouble for it), and if a car happened to be up on the rack for service, I was under there in a flash to have a look. By 1960, Dad moved on to a more promising career and I had a part-time job pumping gas every day after school and on Saturday. I learned about customer service, integrity, and the importance of doing a job right the first time; all of those qualities which had helped Macy's Garage survive through the tough times of The Depression and WWII. They say that leaded gas was harmful to children, so today we have to make do with an unleaded variety. I loved the smell of leaded gas, and the exhaust fumes that went along with it. As far as I can tell, the only negative effect that I suffered was in becoming addicted to cars, airplanes, and anything else that burns fossil fuels for motive power. I'm sure that I still have traces of Sunoco 260 running through my veins today! In 1967, at the wise old age of 14, I purchased a 1940 Pontiac Coupe from the local junk yard to build a Chevrolet V-8 powered Hot Rod. The car was running and drivable shortly after my 16th birthday, and I kept it for the next 28 years. (Then I got stupid and let it get away from me!) When Grandpa Roy retired from the service station business in 1969, the Macy's Garage tradition continued on a casual level at my home garage where I would rebuild engines, transmissions and carburetors for all of my friends. I also had to learn new skills that were needed to transform "The Coupe" into a true show stopper, skills such as body work, paint, and interior trim. Somewhere during my formative youth, I also acquired a taste for British sports cars. At various times "The Coupe" shared garage space with an Austin Healey Sprite, Triumph TR6 and an MG Midget, but what I really wanted was a TR4. Today, my current fleet of collector cars consists of multiple TriumphTR2's, TR3's, TR4's, and TR250’s (plus a '57 Chevy Sedan Delivery and a fiberglass '33 Ford Vicky), but mostly I'm just your basic car guy at heart with a big list of other makes and models that I'm always yearning for. Throughout the years, there's always been some kind of activity at Macy's Garage, as I maintained this sideline 'business' to help others maintain and improve their special cars. Today, following a career piloting airliners and corporate jets, Macy's Garage is once again a full time operation, employing 10 passionate and meticulous car guys who pamper 16-20 of our clients' Triumphs each and every day in our 12,000+ sq. ft. of paint and workshop space. Whether it's routine service or a ground up restoration, helping to keep these cars on the road is something that will always give us a great amount of pleasure. While this may be the new age and the 21st century, I'll never abandon the old fashioned principals of honesty, integrity, customer service, and quality workmanship that I learned so well in the last century. Those very same qualities are what sustained the original Macy's Garage for so many years, and will never go out of style as far as I'm concerned. My team here at Macy’s Garage are like family, our clients become our friends, and the cars cars are like our children. I wouldn't have it any other way! Back to History-1
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Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in the WTO
Energy Subsidy Reform
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December 2017 |
Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in the WTO: Options for Constraining Dual Pricing in the Multilateral Trading System Anna Marhold
Issue Paper
l Climate and Energy
Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in the WTO: Options for Constraining Dual Pricing in the Multilateral Trading System Anna Marhold Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC), Tilburg University, Netherlands
Published by International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) International Environment House 2 7 Chemin de Balexert, 1219 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 917 8492 Fax: +41 22 917 8093 [email protected] www.ictsd.org Publisher and Chief Executive: Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz Senior Associate: Ingrid Jegou Programme Officer: Sonja Hawkins Junior Programme Officer: Björn Dupong Acknowledgements This paper is produced by the ICTSD Programme on Climate and Energy and is part of the E15 Initiative Engagement track on disciplining fossil fuel subsidies. The author wishes to thank Gary Horlick, Ingrid Jegou, Rob Howse, Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, Bjorn Dupong, and Vasyl Chornyi for their indispensable input to the preparation of this paper. The author is also grateful for suggestions and/or valuable comments received by participants present during two “Dialogues with WTO Delegates” workshops on the theme of fossil fuel subsidy reform organised by ICTSD in the framework of the E15 Initiative, in June and September 2017. ICTSD is grateful for the generous support from its core donors including the UK Department for International Development (DFID); the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA); the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Danida); and the Netherlands DirectorateGeneral of Development Cooperation (DGIS).
ICTSD welcomes feedback on this publication. This can be sent to Sonja Hawkins ([email protected]) or Fabrice Lehmann, ICTSD’s Executive Editor ([email protected]). Citation: Marhold, Anna. 2017. Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in the WTO: Options for Constraining Dual Pricing in the Multilateral Trading System. International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD). Copyright © ICTSD, 2017. Readers are encouraged to quote and reproduce this material for educational and non-profit purposes, provided the source is acknowledged. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivates 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICTSD or the funding institutions. ISSN 2225-6679
TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
DUAL PRICING AS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY HARMFUL FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY
UNDERSTANDING DUAL PRICING IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GATT/WTO 6
OPTIONS FOR CONSTRAINING DUAL PRICING IN THE WTO UNDER EXISTING RULES
4.1 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade: Articles XI and XVII
4.2 Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
4.3 Anti-Dumping Agreement
BEYOND EXISTING RULES: HOW CAN THE WTO CURB DUAL PRICING AND PROMOTE FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORM?
5.1 Amending the ASCM: Inspiration from TTIP Negotiations and the EU–Ukraine DCFTA
5.2 Offsetting the Impacts of Dual Pricing by Creating Policy Space to Support Green Energy
5.3 Including Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform on the WTO Agenda
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ADA
Anti-Dumping Agreement
anti-dumping duty
ASCM
Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
countervailing duty
DCFTA
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement
European Communities
fossil fuel subsidies
FFFSR
Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform
Group of Twenty
GATT
GBER
General Block Exemption Regulation
Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference
Sustainable Development Goal
state trading enterprise
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
FOREWORD Two years after the world’s governments adopted the Paris Agreement on climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, climate action has reached a crossroads. While the United States, the largest carbon emitter, has expressed its intent to leave the Paris Accord, climate change is becoming increasingly pronounced. The international community’s need to act on climate change and reduce emissions is thus more urgent than ever. The use of fossil energy remains the biggest cause of greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing the climate challenge therefore requires a shift from fossil fuel production and consumption to clean energy use and increased energy efficiency. In practice, however, all major economies continue to subsidise the exploration, processing, and use of fossil fuels, thereby undermining the prospects of a speedy transition. Members of the G20, G7, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation have committed to phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and the international community has introduced relevant provisions to this end in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. Progress to implement these commitments has been slow however. What appears to be missing is a legally binding tool for disciplines. The multilateral trading system has an important role to play in this context. With the binding nature of its agreements and its effective enforcement mechanism, the World Trade Organization (WTO) could make a difference if members agreed on international rules that discipline the use of fossil fuel subsidies. It is against this background that ICTSD, through a series of analytical papers and dialogues, seeks to explore options on how to strengthen the international trade system to assume the challenge of climate change by disciplining fossil fuel subsidies. As part of this endeavour, Anna Marhold, Assistant Professor of International and European Law at Tilburg University, has authored the present paper, discussing energy dual pricing in the broader context of fossil fuel subsidy reform and exploring avenues to constrain the practice within the framework of the WTO. The analysis has been informed by a series of workshops held in Geneva with trade delegates in 2016–17 and builds on work undertaken by the joint ICTSD-World Economic Forum’s E15 Initiative. It serves as a basis for the continuation of the project, which aims to outline options and lessons for disciplining fossil fuel subsidies through the trade system and to inform the deliberations of trade and climate delegates and policymakers towards a more sustainable future.
Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz Chief Executive, ICTSD
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Dual pricing is a practice through which resource-endowed states sell their energy resources at significantly lower prices on the domestic market compared to the price on the export market. Dual pricing could be considered an environmentally harmful fossil fuel subsidy: states that maintain dual-pricing policies are not incentivised to curb their CO 2 emissions, but are instead encouraged to keep burning “cheap” fossil fuels through below global market domestic prices, to the detriment of switching to cleaner forms of energy. This paper discusses the practice of dual pricing in the broader context of fossil fuel subsidy reform. In view of climate change mitigation, the World Trade Organization (WTO) should contribute to this reform and play an active role in curbing and phasing out such environmentally harmful subsidies. The paper explores avenues for constraining dual pricing within the framework of the WTO by proposing options under existing rules, as well as suggesting changes to the system beyond current WTO rules. The piece suggests that WTO members wishing to take action against dual-pricing policies maintained by other members could explore bringing a case to dispute settlement on the basis of specific provisions under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM) and/or the Anti-Dumping Agreement (ADA). Bringing a case would send a strong signal that dual-pricing policies are not immune to being challenged in a WTO dispute. Moreover, it is likely that this would function as a trigger to rapidly include talks on broader fossil fuel subsidy reform on the WTO agenda. Beyond existing rules, WTO members should consider revisiting the negotiation of a prohibition of dual pricing within the WTO legal framework. This could be part of larger efforts to reform subsidy rules. Although efforts to include a prohibition on dual pricing have been unsuccessful in the past, momentum has been created by climate change mitigation commitments and the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recent accomplishments by the European Union (EU) in tackling dual pricing also serve as a successful example: the topic of prohibiting dual pricing has, for instance, been included in Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations. An actual prohibition of dual pricing has been taken up in the recent EU– Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. Apart from using the multilateral trading system to curb dual pricing, its negative environmental effects can be offset by creating more policy space for green energy. For this, a more sophisticated redrafting and rethinking of current subsidy rules is essential. The WTO could take inspiration from the instruments the EU provides for its member states to this end, such as the Guidelines and Block Exemptions for green energy. While these may be solutions for the longer term, at present it is crucial that members of the WTO include the topic of phasing out fossil fuel subsidies on its agenda as soon as possible. One way of ensuring this would be to issue a Ministerial Declaration during the upcoming 11th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11), stressing the importance of fossil fuel subsidy reform in view of climate change mitigation.
1. INTRODUCTION This paper discusses the practice of energy dual pricing in the broader context of fossil fuel subsidy reform. The World Trade Organization should contribute to this reform and play an active role in curbing and phasing out such environmentally harmful subsidies in view of mitigating climate change. Therefore, the paper approaches dual pricing from the angle of environmentally harmful fossil fuel subsidies. The contribution explores ways to constrain dual pricing within the framework of the WTO in two manners: by proposing options under existing rules, as well as suggesting changes to the system beyond WTO the current legal toolkit. Energy dual pricing is a practice through which resource-endowed states, for instance through their monopolistic state trading enterprises, sell their energy resources at significantly lower prices on the domestic market compared to the price on the export market and/or the prevailing global market price for the commodity in question.1 It is in effect a multitier pricing system, through which domestic prices are kept artificially low vis-à-vis the export price for the commodity in question. Dual-pricing policies are most commonly applied by resource-rich states possessing large quantities of geographically unevenly distributed energy commodities for which the
demand is, overall, high and constant. These factors combined allow a state using these policies to exercise its market power (UNCTAD 2000, 16; Fliess and Mård 2012, 24). Prime examples of resources subject to dual pricing are coal, natural gas and petroleum; however, historically, dual pricing has been applied to other (raw) materials as well.2 The main rationale for states to maintain dual-pricing policies is to provide their energy-intensive industries with cheap fuel inputs, thereby gaining an advantage over competitors.3 Concrete examples of dual-pricing policies are those that have been administered by Russia, Ukraine and countries in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), notably Saudi Arabia (Pogoretskyy 2009; Tarr and Thomson 2004; Pogoretskyy and Melnyk 2016; Selivanova 2008; Ripinsky 2004). For instance, dual-pricing schemes have led to capital-intensive investments in the Saudi petrochemical sector.4 In effect, it could consequently be argued that states give unfair advantages to their energy-intensive industries, as the inputs for these industries are available domestically at below global market prices. In essence, this results in a type of inverted subsidy which is facilitated by charging a higher price for the commodity on the export market, thereby allowing the price on the domestic market to be kept artificially low.
1 See e.g. WTO (2010, 173–4), and generally on dual pricing Pogoretskyy (2011, 213ff), Selivanova (2008), Behn (2007) and Ripinsky (2004). 2 For instance on leather and soybean oil, see e.g. the WTO dispute in DS126 Australia – Automotive Leather, GATT dispute (1981) L/5142 Spain – Measures Concerning Domestic Sale of Soyabean Oil – Recourse to Article XXIII:2 by the United States (L/5142) (unadopted), and log and lumber in the softwood lumber saga between the United States and Canada concerning log export bans (note that this was to offset tariff escalation by Japan to force export of logs not lumber to Japan), see DS257 United States – Final Countervailing Duty Determination with respect to certain Softwood Lumber from Canada, DS264 United States – Final Dumping Determination on Softwood Lumber from Canada, DS277 United States – Investigation of the International Trade Commission in Softwood Lumber from Canada. Note that electricity dual pricing also exists but is a somewhat separate issue, see Pogoretskyy (2011, 213–14) and will not be discussed here as this paper focuses on the curbing of fossil fuel subsidies. 3
A relevant question in this context is also e.g. whether China’s differential rebate of value-added tax (a lower rebate on upstream products to favour exports of downstream products) could be considered actionable, see WTO, WT/DS501/1, G/L/1141, China – Tax Measures Concerning Certain Domestically Produced Aircraft, Request for Consultations by the United States (10 December 2015) and European Parliament (2016, 12–15). Also see Pogoretskyy (2011, 213–14).
4 Especially OPEC members (Saudi Arabia) and Russia are notorious for implementing dual-energy pricing policies, see e.g. Quick (2010, 194–5).
It is contested whether dual-pricing policies are illegal under the WTO per se and the issue remains unresolved in the multilateral trading forum. It is certain, however, that dualpricing policies at least have an impact on international trade and cause trade-distorting effects, inter alia by affecting the competitive balance between energy-intensive industries and the inputs for products of such industries (Pogoretskyy 2011, 247). Depending on the form dual-pricing policies take, a strong case could be made of their inconsistency with WTO law (Pogoretskyy 2011, 247; WTO 2010, 173). However, this exactly touches upon the core challenge we face concerning these practices: dual pricing can be administered in various forms, most frequently through export taxes, quantitative restrictions or through state monopolies (WTO 2010, 173–4). Because of their fluid features, it is difficult to deal with dual-pricing policies in a straightforward “one size fits all” manner in the multilateral trading system. For instance, although Article XI of the GATT prohibits WTO members from maintaining export restrictions, dual-pricing policies may escape this article if they are administered through export taxes (not regulated by the GATT).5 The Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and the Anti-Dumping Agreement, which will be elaborated upon in this paper, are also relevant for dual-energy pricing. Regarding the ASCM, for instance, it could be argued that the practice of dual pricing is an inverted type of subsidy contrary to ASCM Article 3 or 5.6 Dual-pricing policies expose the asymmetry and diverging interests between energy net-exporting and net-importing WTO members. However, aside from having trade-
distorting effects, such policies are moreover accompanied by substantial negative environmental externalities. Through dual pricing, states support their national fossil fuel industry at the expense of developing cleaner means of generating energy. As a consequence, dual pricing encourages wasteful consumption of fossil fuels, condones energy-intensive industries profiting from cheap fossil energy inputs, and discourages investment in cleaner forms of energy and increasing and updating innovation and energy efficiency in their sector (Pogoretskyy 2011, 215). In this sense, dual-pricing practices fit into the broader category of environmentally harmful fossil fuel subsidies. This paper will present options for constraining dual pricing beyond its trade-distorting effects, and will refocus the discussion on dual pricing as part of the bigger challenge of combating climate change. It will approach dual pricing from the perspective of the broader task to reform environmentally harmful fossil fuel subsidies. Therefore, the aim is to move past just the potentially discriminatory nature of dual pricing and lay out options for disciplining these practices in the WTO system in view of their negative environmental impact. After providing some background, the paper explores two main avenues for dealing with dual pricing: First, it will discuss what possibilities exist under current WTO rules. Second, it will proceed to consider what action the WTO can take beyond the current legal toolkit in the wider context of fossil fuel subsidy reform. It will be argued that the WTO is a crucial actor in eliminating dual-pricing policies and can facilitate and significantly contribute to fossil fuel subsidy reform.
5 GATT Article XI (General Elimination of Quantitative Restrictions); Mavroidis, however, argues that while export taxes escape the disciplines under Article XI GATT, they must observe the obligations in GATT Article I (Most Favoured Nation) and could also be potentially captured under a non-violation complaint, see Mavroidis (2015, 87). 6 Article 3 (Prohibited Subsidies) and Article 5 (Actionable Subsidies) of the ASCM, concluded 15 April 1994, 1867 U.N.T.S. 14.
2. DUAL PRICING AS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY HARMFUL FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY Considering their negative environmental impact and the way dual-pricing policies are administered, they can fit into the broader category of harmful fossil fuel subsidies (FFS). FFS is an overarching term for subsidies granted by the government towards the production and consumption of energy from fossil fuels.7 FFS are involved in the energy industry, as well as in the industries that use energy as an immediate input (one can think of heavy industries such as steel, glass, cement, petrochemicals, etc.) (Steenblik 2010, 186 and 187). Globally, coal, petroleum and natural gas are heavily subsidised (IEA 2017; Clements et al. 2013, Appendix A). FFS come in a wide range of forms, varying from direct cash transfers to producers and consumers, to more covert practices such as indirect support mechanisms, tax exemptions, rebates, price controls, trade restrictions, limitations on market access, and energy conservation subsidies.8 Overall, FFS can be divided into two categories: consumer subsidies, which are targeted at reducing the price for domestic consumers; and producer subsidies, aimed at increasing domestic supplies.9 FFS can be further divided into “pre-tax” and “posttax” subsidies (Coady et al. 2013). The first type implies that the price paid by a household or firm is below the actual costs for distribution and supply, while the latter occurs when the taxes levied are below their efficient level, including the failure to internalise the negative environmental externalities of the fossil fuel in question. FFS are wasteful and have a
negative impact on the environment: research indeed demonstrates that FFS displace cleaner alternatives and keep the fossil fuel industry artificially afloat (IEA, OECD and World Bank 2010, 11). Despite the trade-distorting, wasteful and environmentally harmful effects of FFS, many countries opt to maintain them for reasons of security of supply, industrial policy, protectionism, economic benefit, protection of labour-intensive industries (employment), and access to energy. Dual-pricing practices, depending on their design, can fit either of the categories of FFS (consumer and producer subsidies, pre- and post-tax). For instance, energy consumers and producers may benefit from artificially low prices for energy (pre-tax consumer and producer subsidies). Alternatively, producers may receive tax breaks on their industrial energy bill (a post-tax producer subsidy). Through dual pricing, this is compensated for by the higher price on the export market for a particular fossil fuel. This way, dual pricing allows for setting the domestic price of energy artificially low. From the perspective of climate change mitigation, this means that states are not incentivised to curb their CO2 emissions, rather to the contrary: countries that maintain dualpricing policies are encouraged to keep burning cheap fossil fuels through below global market domestic prices, to the detriment of switching to cleaner forms of energy. In this sense, dual pricing incentivises wasteful consumption of fossil fuels and contributes to increased CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. Moreover, it
7 The International Energy Agency in 2006 stated that one of the biggest barriers concerning energy subsidies in the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a lack of up-to-date empirical data and analysis. Studies undertaken on energy subsidies in OECD countries show a remarkably large variance in results, due to the different methodologies used and the variety of definitions of energy subsidy incorporated; see also IISD (2017) and IEA (2017). 8 The EU, for instance, uses so-called “capacity remuneration mechanisms” to maintain back-up energy capacity, usually in the form of fossil fuels, see European Commission (2017b). 9 Steenblik (2010, 186); Asmelash (2015, 267); Coady et al. (2013, 5–7). Consumer subsidies occur when the prices paid by consumers (including firms and households) are below the costs for supply, including the costs for transport and distribution of energy. Producer subsidies imply that prices for energy supply are above this level (when fossil fuels are traded internationally, the supply costs are based on the international price). However, it may at times prove challenging to make a clear distinction between consumer and producer subsidies.
thereby undermines the competitiveness of renewable energy. It is for these reasons that it is of the essence to curb dual-pricing practices, as part of the bigger challenge to reduce and reform FFS. The International Energy Agency is convinced that phasing out fossil fuel subsidies is one of four essential policies to keep the world on track for the 2°C global warming target at no net economic cost (IEA 2017). Even a partial phase-out by 2020 would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 360 million tonnes, which equates to 12 percent of the reduction in greenhouse gases needed to hold a temperature rise to the target level (European Parliament 2017, 5). Hence, the case for fossil fuel subsidy reform is a pressing one. Unfortunately, clear standards in reporting and curbing FFS, even among the frontrunners in their reform, the G20, are lacking.10 Consequently, many states, including those of the G20, continue to subsidise their fossil fuel industries heavily. A major obstacle in curbing FFS is that the current ways in which they are instituted remain opaque and unclear, not least because an international standardised system to comprehensively monitor them is missing (Coady et al. 2013, 5; Steenblik 2010, 184). The situation is such that even in data-rich countries, substantial disagreement exists as to how much the energy sector is subsidised and the method by which this is calculated, but their estimated amount is vast.11 In many instances, it may be difficult to expose the existence of a fossil fuel subsidy in the first place. Sometimes, the only available means of measuring its existence is to investigate energy
prices within a national jurisdiction (e.g. strikingly low energy prices for consumers, below their international market price).12 However, some important first steps towards monitoring and eliminating FFS have been made: Already in 2009, the G20 made a commitment to phasing out FFS, viewing them as wasteful and inefficient (G20 2009). Its actions so far have mainly concentrated on voluntary selfreporting and voluntary peer-reviews on FFS (Asmelash 2017, 7–8). In addition to the G20, the G7 has also vowed to eliminate FFS by the year 2025 in its 2016 Ise-Shima Leaders’ Declaration (G7 2016, 28). While this is a good start, obstacles to further progress are still manifold, such as the lack of a standardised, clear and mutually agreedupon terminology. Especially on terminology used, substantial disagreement persists among the members of the G20.13 Additionally, better monitoring and data would greatly contribute to determining the legal definitions relevant for FFS reform. Last but certainly not least, it is also necessary to develop a workable mechanism to enforce the promises the G20 has made regarding the phasing out of FFS. For any effort to be successful, it is vital to enact an enforcement mechanism with hard, potentially intermediate deadlines that countries must adhere to in phasing out their FFS. Apart from the G20 and the G7, Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFFSR) is another initiative that has made an active effort to change the status quo regarding the monitoring of FFS, by providing analytical and administrative support to promote FFS reform. While this support is
10 The challenges surrounding this are clearly explained in Asmelash (2017, 6–9). 11 For instance, in the US, they amounted to around US$600 billion in the year 2011 (Coady et al. 2013, 5). 12 Steenblik (2010, 184). When fossil fuels are traded internationally, the costs for the export market are based on the international price. Regarding the right benchmark, the question is whether it should concern the global price for the energy commodity or the production cost. The OECD has mentioned in its producer subsidy studies that producer subsidies for oil could be specific if they are used by a group of industries. For this, they must be distinguished from consumer subsidies. 13 For instance, Asmelash (2017) points out that Saudi Arabia defines fossil fuel subsidies in such a way that it excludes the vast amount of subsidies it provides for fossil fuel consumers by setting domestic oil prices below international prices.
vital, it remains a voluntary initiative with little decisive power.14
to reform must make progress on these important matters.
The importance of FFS reform also features prominently on the agenda of other global and regional initiatives. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, for instance, recognise that reducing the carbon intensity of energy is a key objective in long-term climate goals.15 The Paris Agreement also carefully mentions that one of its goals is “making financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development” (UNFCCC 2015, Article 2(c)). Fossil fuel subsidy reform is moreover discussed in the framework of the Energy Working Group of the regional AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation.
Beyond the FFS reform efforts outside of the WTO, the multilateral trading system can make a significant contribution in curbing FFS. One step in the right direction would be to address environmentally harmful dual-pricing policies in the forum. The WTO offers the capacity both in terms of a broad membership as well as in terms of its substantive mandate. Although the WTO is primarily an organisation tasked with issues pertaining to international trade, the consensus among the WTO membership on the need to combat climate change is undisputed: most WTO members have committed to curbing their CO2 emissions pursuant to the climate goals in the framework of the SDGs, as in Goal 7. These commitments are in addition to those made by the G20 and FFFSR. After giving a brief overview of dual pricing in the GATT/WTO context, this piece will explore the manner in which the WTO and its membership could play an active role in curbing dual pricing.
Realistically speaking, though, it is evident that despite the fact that the inevitability of FFS reform has attracted worldwide attention, FFS will be not be eliminated overnight and gradual reform seems the most feasible solution. Nevertheless, countries committed
14 See generally Asmelash (2017); set up in June 2010, FFFSR is an informal group of non-G20 countries aiming to build political consensus on the importance of fossil fuel subsidy reform. Current members are Costa Rica, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. 15 SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, http://www.un.org/ sustainabledevelopment/energy/.
3. UNDERSTANDING DUAL PRICING IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GATT/WTO Dual pricing is by no means a new topic in the multilateral trading forum and has been a recurring issue in GATT/WTO negotiations for decades. It has been extensively written about by academics and policymakers alike, albeit mainly covering its trade-distorting aspects, and not its adverse impact on the environment.16 This approach is not a problem per se, as combating trade-distorting practices and negative environmental impacts may very well go hand in hand, although it is likely that the negative environmental impacts of dual pricing outweigh the trade-distorting effects. This paper, however, places the emphasis especially on the need to tackle dual pricing in view of its negative impacts on the environment and combating climate change. Discussions on dual pricing entered the multilateral trading forum for the first time during the oil crises of the 1970s, in connection with “restrictive” practices in natural resources trade, and the accompanying diverging interests between net exporting and net importing countries. Talks regarding export restrictions and export taxes were included on the agenda of the Tokyo Round.17 The discourse was fuelled mostly by concerns of the United States and the European Union (see, e.g. GATT 1974). The US was chiefly worried about cheaper inputs for domestic industries of members maintaining dual-pricing policies, which it considered an unfair trade practice. The EU (then European Communities, EC) in addition expressed concerns about the higher price of Russian gas exported to the EU due
to dual-pricing policies. However, it should be mentioned that the US behaved inconsistently about dual pricing in 1980, when the EC challenged US price controls on natural gas while maintaining export bans in the Subsidies Committee. The US replied that this was not a subsidy because it was distributed throughout the whole economy: de facto the first recorded manifestation of what was to become ASCM Article 2 on specificity 15 years later. Despite this stint of inconsistency in the 1980s, the US has generally pushed for including clear provisions on dual pricing either in the GATT or in a separate agreement.18 However, there was strong resistance by oil producing and exporting countries to binding commitments and no agreement on this subject was reached (Graham 1979a; 1979b; 1980; Leal-Arcas, Filis and Abu Gosh 2014; see also Shih 2009, 439). The topic returned to the agenda during the Uruguay Round, when a Negotiating Group on Natural Resource-Based Products was established in 1987, with a mandate, apart from energy commodities, also including forestry, fisheries, non-ferrous materials and metals.19 GATT members opposed to dual pricing attempted to readdress the issue and proposed the development of a new code (GATT 1989b, para. 5; UNCTAD 2000, 17; Selivanova 2007, 11). Energy-endowed states, however, yet again resisted establishing any binding rules on trade in natural resources (GATT 1987, Selivanova 2010). Furthermore, there was an attempt to include a specific provision on dual pricing of government-supplied inputs into the
16 See as a selection of authors, Selivanova (2008), Behn (2007) and Ripinsky (2004). As an exception, Pogoretskyy (2011, 214–16), did address the negative environmental impacts of dual pricing, while other authors have focused more on its trade-distorting effects. 17 During the Tokyo Round, export restrictions were taken up in various fora, namely in Group 3(b), see GATT Doc. MTN/3B/9, 1 May 1974; see GATT (1989). 18 See the articles by T. R. Graham, the then United States Trade Representative: Graham (1979a, 20 and 31; 1979b, 161; 1980, 226ff); Leal-Arcas, Filis and Abu Gosh (2014, 123). 19 UNCTAD (2000, 18); See the US submissions in MTN.GNG/NG3/W/2, MTN.GNG/NG3/W/13 and MTN.GNG/NG3/W/23 and the European Community’s submission in MTN.GNG/NG3/W/37. Together with the United States and the European Commission, the Negotiating Group argued that these practices could distort international trade and grant a competitive advantage to exporters, therefore constituting prohibited subsidies.
draft of the ASCM during the Uruguay Round negotiations, unfortunately without success. The issue of dual pricing re-emerged again in Doha Round negotiations on rules as the US and the EU, alas ineffectively, proposed expanding the category of prohibited subsidies under Article 3 of the ASCM (Yanovich 2011, 22; Espa and Rolland 2015, 6). The EU was of the opinion that Article 3.1 should also cover “the provision, by the virtue of government action, of goods to domestic production on terms and conditions more favourable than those generally available for such goods when destined for export” (Espa and Rolland 2015, 6–7). Unfortunately, the proposal did not gain traction among WTO members.20 In broad terms, the debate on dual pricing in the multilateral trading forum can accordingly be summarised as follows: WTO members opposed to dual pricing have historically argued that states administering dual-pricing policies are indirectly subsidising their energyintensive industries by providing them with cheaper inputs. Members maintaining dualpricing policies, on the other hand, believe they are merely exploiting their comparative advantage, using dual pricing as a development tool to diversify their economies, leaving the issue unsettled in the WTO. However, despite these unsuccessful attempts to establish some binding rules on the issue within the multilateral trading forum, some progress has been made regarding dual pricing
in past years, especially in the context of WTO negotiations over the accession of new members. Dual pricing was, for instance, raised in the context of the accession of Saudi Arabia (2005).21 The Russian Federation, in its accession in 2011, even went a step further and tied some of its export duties on energy products, committing to phasing them out over time, while also making commitments on dual pricing.22 For non-petroleum gases, for instance, the export duty will decrease to zero over the implementation period of the Accession Protocol (four years).23 Regarding export duties on crude oil, as well as some other oil products, Russia moreover committed to a formula that calculates the duties on the basis of the world price of oil.24 These commitments are, however, tailored narrowly to natural gas. The question whether, and to what extent, both Saudi Arabia and Russia have lived up to their accession commitments on energy also remains unanswered. While these developments point to the fact that dual pricing remains a widely utilised practice among members, it also signals a positive development, namely that despite the contested legality of dual pricing, acceding members are willing to make binding commitments on the issue. It demonstrates that dual pricing can be subject to negotiation. Negotiating binding commitments on dual pricing could thus offer a partial solution to the problem, at least with respect to nations that are in the process of acceding to the WTO (of which a fair share, such
20 Additionally, the fact that the US and EU did not achieve what they wanted regarding dual pricing can also be attributed to their insistence on protectionist Anti-Dumping provisions and a refusal to deal with Brazil and India on Item (k) of Annex I to the ASCM Agreement (export credits). 21 Accession Protocol: WT/L/627 (11 December 2005); WTO (2005), stating in para. 28: “In response to a question from a Member of the Working Party, the representative of Saudi Arabia stated that all petroleum based and natural gas-based products in Saudi Arabia were made available to all users regardless of whether the users were Saudi or foreign owned. He noted that currently domestic sales of heavy naphtha were not subject to any discount and were priced at the prevailing international price. Prices of exports of these products, he confirmed, were based entirely on international market conditions.” 22 See Russia’s Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods, Schedule CLXV, Part V, pp. 853 and 870; HS Convention: The Harmonised System Convention (Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System), 14 June 1983, 1503 U.N.T.S. 167, Chapter 27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes. 23 Russia’s Schedule; HS Convention; see also on Russia’s final commitments generally, Pogoretskyy and Melnyk (2016). 24 Accession Protocol: WT/L/839 and WT/MIN(11)/27 (22 August 2012); WTO (2011, Annex 1).
as Algeria, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Sudan, are major fossil fuel energy producing and exporting countries). If, in addition to this, there is an increased awareness-raising of the negative environmental impacts of dual pricing, acceding countries may be incentivised further to undertake binding commitments on the issue. A main motivator would be that curbing dual pricing could significantly contribute to the reductions of CO2 emissions that countries have committed to under the Paris Agreement. Of course, ensuring binding commitments on dual pricing would merely offer a partial solution to the problem and
does not solve dual-pricing practices that are maintained by existing WTO members. But it is of the essence to realise that we are looking at dual pricing through a different lens than in previous decades: in GATT/WTO history the objective of tackling dual pricing was to ensure that exports would become cheaper. Today, in view of curbing CO2 emissions, the goal would be the opposite, namely to make domestic consumption of fossil fuels more expensive, including outputs from downstream industry in the countries that apply dual-pricing policies. The next section will explore how the WTO can address dual pricing through current rules.
4. OPTIONS FOR CONSTRAINING DUAL PRICING IN THE WTO UNDER EXISTING RULES The previous sections made it clear that there are two dimensions to dual pricing: the purely trade-distorting aspect of the practice, and the negative environmental impact of dual pricing in the context of curbing harmful FFS. As mentioned in the introduction, there are convincing arguments that dual-pricing practices violate current WTO rules, especially under the GATT, and the ASCM and ADA.25 Although the WTO is a forum primarily set up to deal with matters that affect cross-border trade, it can, and should, contribute positively to eliminating dual pricing and thereby its negative impacts on the environment. This section explores options for tackling dual pricing under existing rules in view of their environmental impact and FFS reform. WTO members can resort to individual remedies in offsetting the negative trade-distorting and environmental effects of dual pricing, as well as taking plurilateral and multilateral action, which will be addressed later. A crucial missing link regarding action against dual pricing and/or FFS in the multilateral trading forum is that none of these issues have (yet) been dealt with and clarified through WTO dispute settlement.26 An explanation for this may be the fact that energy has not featured prominently in the forum until relatively recently (Marhold 2013; Selivanova 2007). Another reason may be the reality that curbing FFS is a collective action problem: FFS are so omnipresent that WTO members would not want to risk raising the issue in the dispute settlement system for fear of causing perceived self-inflicted harm. However, this is a faulty assumption, as leaving FFS reform unaddressed is significantly more harmful. More awareness-raising among all WTO members on the negative environmental
impacts of FFS is therefore of the utmost importance. The most likely scenario in which disputes concerning dual pricing or FFS could arise in the WTO is if these practices negatively affect trade and the national industry of another WTO member. For instance, a case could be brought if a domestic industry of a WTO member suffers significantly from dual-pricing policies by another WTO member that result in cheap energy inputs for competing industries. While such action would not be strictly motivated by environmental concerns, it could nevertheless have a knock-on effect on curbing the practice in favour of the environment. The following discussion on the GATT will exclusively deal with Articles XI General Elimination of Quantitative Restrictions) and Article XVII (State Trading Enterprises), as these are of particular relevance to dual pricing. Note that when considering the arguments, Article XX GATT defences should always be kept in mind, as members utilising dual-pricing policies may argue that the practice serves certain legitimate and social objectives, especially when it concerns volatility in global markets. 4.1 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade: Articles XI and XVII 4.1.1 Article XI (General Elimination of Quantitative Restrictions) A dual-pricing measure, if administered in a way that restricts quantitative exports of the energy resource (apart from duties, taxes or other charges), may fall foul of Article XI.1 of the GATT, which prohibits quantitative import and export restrictions on goods. Members maintaining restrictive measures on fossil fuels can do so in the hope of causing a
25 It should be mentioned that avenues for constraining dual-pricing polices under the ASCM and ADA are solely applicable to trade in goods, not in services. 26 For a study exploring why this may be the case, see Asmelash (2015), and generally De Bièvre, Espa and Poletti (2017).
higher (artificially inflated) demand for such vital goods on the export market, followed by an increase of the export price vis-à-vis the applied domestic price (Pogoretskyy 2011, 219; Marhold 2016, 479–82). On tackling dual pricing through Article XI.1, it should be noted that the ultimate goal would not be to ensure export prices of the fossil fuel in question would drop to the same (artificially) low price level as maintained in the exporting country. For this would not solve the negative environmental impact of dual pricing: fossil fuels would continue to be wastefully burned. The idea would rather be that domestic and export prices would even out by invoking this article, ensuring that the exporting country would domestically start charging the higher, globally prevailing market price for the fossil fuel in question. This will enable green energy to become more competitive and incentivise countries that apply dual-pricing policies to switch to cleaner means. Paragraph 1 of GATT Article XI.1 reads as follows: No prohibitions or restrictions other than duties, taxes or other charges, whether made effective through quotas, import or export licences or other measures, shall be instituted or maintained by any contracting party on the importation of any product of the territory of any other contracting party or on the exportation or sale for export of
any product destined for the territory of any other contracting party. A caveat is in place here, however: it is essential to determine at what stage in the process Article XI.1 becomes applicable to the natural resource in question (think, e.g., of the practice of the OPEC production quota) (Marhold 2016; Cossy 2012). While case law suggests that the wording of Article XI.1 should be interpreted broadly (see e.g. Japan – Semiconductors, Argentina – Import Measures, and India – Quantitative Restrictions), it is unclear to what extent it would cover production quotas and ceilings on fossil fuels in their natural state (i.e. before extraction, when still in the ground).27 Many would argue that this falls within the sovereignty over natural resources of the member in question pertaining to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1803 on the Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources, and would not be subject to WTO disciplines.28 With regard to natural resources, there is a fine line between quantitative export restrictions and production quotas. Evidence of this is China’s binding commitments on export duties on critical raw materials in its Accession Protocol. China agreed to tie its export duties on several raw materials and rare earths, and eliminate other export restrictions (such as licensing), a central issue in the China – Raw Materials and China – Rare Earths cases.29 After China was found in violation of its commitments by the
27 Japan – Trade in Semiconductors (L/6309 – 35S/116) (Report of the Panel Adopted on 4 May 1988) paras 104–9; Panel Report, Argentina – Measures Affecting the Export of Bovine Hides and Import of Finished Leather, WT/DS155/R and Corr.1, adopted 16 February 2001, DSR 2001:V, p. 1779; Panel Report, India – Quantitative Restrictions on Imports of Agricultural, Textile and Industrial Products, WT/DS90/R, adopted 22 September 1999, upheld by Appellate Body Report WT/DS90/AB/R, DSR 1999:V, p. 1799, para. 5.119; and Marhold (2016, 484–5). 28 UN General Assembly Res. 1803 (XVII) (18 December 1962) “Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources’; see on the international law principle of Sovereignty over Natural Resources and the history of the UNGA Resolution generally, Schrijver (2008). 29 Appellate Body Reports, China – Measures Related to the Exportation of Various Raw Materials, WT/DS394/AB/R / WT/DS395/AB/R / WT/DS398/AB/R, adopted 22 February 2012, DSR 2012:VII, p. 3295; Panel Reports, China – Measures Related to the Exportation of Various Raw Materials, WT/DS394/R, Add.1 and Corr.1 / WT/DS395/R, Add.1 and Corr.1 / WT/DS398/R, Add.1 and Corr.1, adopted 22 February 2012, as modified by Appellate Body Reports WT/DS394/AB/R / WT/DS395/AB/R / WT/DS398/AB/R, DSR 2012:VII, p. 3501; Appellate Body Reports, China – Measures Related to the Exportation of Rare Earths, Tungsten, and Molybdenum, WT/DS431/AB/R / WT/DS432/AB/R / WT/DS433/AB/R, adopted 29 August 2014; Panel Reports, China – Measures Related to the Exportation of Rare Earths, Tungsten, and Molybdenum, WT/DS431/R and Add.1 / WT/DS432/R and Add.1 / WT/DS433/R and Add.1, adopted 29 August 2014, upheld by Appellate Body Reports WT/DS431/AB/R / WT/DS432/AB/R / WT/DS433/AB/R.
Panel and the Appellate Body, China actually resorted to transforming its export duties into a production quota on these raw materials, much in line with OPEC’s restrictive practices on petroleum.30 The issue becomes more difficult if dual pricing is administered through an export tax. Export taxes, in contrast to export restrictions, are admissible under the GATT. Historically, access to markets and reducing protectionism was a bigger challenge under the GATT than export restrictions: the GATT was negotiated to protect importers from protectionist measures.31 Dual pricing by means of an export tax on an energy commodity favours the economy of a member applying the tax in three possible ways. First, it can contribute to the general budget of the state. Second, it can benefit the energy industry of that state directly. Third, it causes a discrepancy between the total price for the good on the export market and the domestic price for the commodity, leading to the aforementioned cheaper inputs for competing energy-intensive industries. While export taxes may not be protectionist in the narrow sense towards the industry of the exporting country, they do nevertheless accord an advantage to the (industry of the) member applying the tax, thereby arguably being protectionist in the wider sense. In this context, it is worth noting that the fact that export taxes are not explicitly regulated in the GATT does not imply that a member cannot challenge them in dispute settlement. Since case law has taken on a very broad definition of restrictive practices as to what constitutes a de facto quantitative restriction, a panel would have to decide on the issue of whether the effect of the export tax in question would amount to a de facto export restriction in violation of GATT Article XI.1. In this light, the implications of a partial WTOwide reform of disciplines on export taxes
should be explored. Generally speaking, taxes are levied domestically by governments on income, property and sales. A tariff, on the other hand, is a tax imposed on imported (or exported) goods and services as a tool available to shape international trade policy. It could be argued, though, that export taxes, although not regulated in the GATT, in effect function as export tariffs, as they restrict cross-border trade. An effective option could be to ensure that WTO members transform any export tax they maintain into an (export) tariff. This would significantly increase the transparency of the use of export taxes and dual pricing, as they would be subject to Article II.1 of the GATT (Schedules of Concessions). This feature would also facilitate the negotiation and reduction of dual pricing maintained through export taxes. Alternatively, members may try to offset export taxes on fossil fuels by imposing a carbon tax on the energy commodities in question. As fossil fuels are slowly decreasing in their competitiveness owing to the rise of clean and renewable energy, export taxes may become a less attractive option, especially if the importing country is no longer in desperate need of the fossil fuel as a result of a more varied energy mix, offering a broader choice in cleaner energy. 4.1.2 Article XVII (State Trading Enterprises) Article XVII.1 of the GATT on State Trading Enterprises prescribes that if a WTO member maintains a state trading enterprise (STE), “such enterprise shall, in its purchases or sales involving either imports or exports, act in a manner consistent with the general principles of non-discriminatory treatment prescribed in this Agreement for governmental measures affecting imports or exports by private traders.” What exactly constitutes an STE remains vague and open to interpretation, which may prove to be problematic. However,
30 Rolland (2012); and generally, Espa (2015). 31 Most articles in the GATT focus on eliminating import barriers and there are very few discipline barriers on exports. One example that illustrates this is the asymmetry between the treatment of import tariffs (GATT Article II) versus export tariffs (no equivalent GATT article). Although export tariffs are increasingly being negotiated, they remain much less frequent, see Bagwell, Staiger and Sykes (2015, 129).
it may be assumed that traditional governmentowned or government-controlled fossil fuel enterprises (such as Saudi Aramco) would fall into this category.32 Moreover, Article XVII also covers enterprises that have been granted “special rights or privileges” by the government (Pogoretskyy 2011, 220–2). Selivanova is of the opinion that special rights and privileges are assumed if “it appears that rights or privileges can be considered exclusive or special if they enable the enterprise to influence trade flows” (Selivanova 2008, 100; Pogoretskyy 2011, 2202). This is an important addition: major energy exporting states often operate through stateowned energy enterprises and dual-pricing policies have significantly impacted the terms of the global trade in fossil fuels. This implies that if a state-owned energy company of a WTO member, qualifying as an STE, maintains dualpricing policies, the STE would be likely to be behaving in a discriminatory manner contrary to Article XVII.1 (and not solely in accordance with commercial considerations, Article XVII.2 GATT).33 WTO members wishing to act against members maintaining dual pricing should explore this avenue as well. 4.2 The Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures 4.2.1 Dual pricing as a prohibited or actionable subsidy The Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures is the agreement most relied upon that could effectively deal with dual-pricing practices. Numerous scholars and policymakers, such as Selivanova, Pogoretskyy, Rolland and Espa have explored avenues for taming dual pricing by means of the ASCM. In addition to these, this section raises additional options available under the agreement.
The rationale of the ASCM is to protect WTO members’ national industries from the negative cross-border effects of subsidies maintained by another WTO member. Article 1.1 ASCM determines that a subsidy exists if there is (a)(1) “a financial contribution by a government or any public body within the territory of a Member,” or (a)(2) “any form of income or price support in the sense of Article XVI of GATT 1994” by a government or public body in a WTO member, through which (b) a benefit is conferred upon its recipient. Article 2 ASCM furthermore determines that the subsidy must moreover be deemed “specific” to be subject to the provisions of the ASCM. The ASCM distinguishes between prohibited subsidies (Article 3 ASCM) and actionable subsidies (Article 5 ASCM). Pursuant to Article 4 of the ASCM (Remedies), WTO members negatively affected by a subsidy of another member essentially have two options. They can refer the case to dispute settlement in the hope that a panel will deem the subsidy either prohibited or actionable and order its withdrawal and/or removal of its adverse effects.34 If the subsidising member does not follow the recommendations rendered in WTO dispute settlement, the affected member may take countervailing measures according to Part V of the ASCM. The affected member may initiate countervailing investigations, possibly leading to the application of countervailing duties (CVDs) in accordance with the agreement (Article 11 ASCM). Once it has been established that a certain measure qualifies as a subsidy in the sense of the ASCM, there are thus several options for redress for WTO members. The crucial and controversial difficulty here is, however, to ensure that we can fit dual pricing into the definition of a subsidy within the meaning of the ASCM.
32 Saudi Aramco, also known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is the national petroleum and natural gas company of Saudi Arabia. 33 Although it should be noted that it may make commercial sense to charge a higher price abroad than domestically, depending on the market. If purchasing power abroad is higher than in a domestic market, then charging a higher price abroad than domestically is understandable. 34 Note, however, that the case would need to meet the “pass-through” test as elaborated on by the Appellate Body in Softwood Lumber IV, see Appellate Body Report, United States – Final Countervailing Duty Determination with Respect to Certain Softwood Lumber from Canada, WT/DS257/AB/R (2005) para. 143; also see Pogoretskyy (2011, 226).
Depending on the form a dual-pricing measure takes, there is a plausible argument to be made that it can fit the definition of a subsidy within the meaning of Article 1 of the ASCM. For instance, the government provision of cheaper input prices of energy for energy-intensive industries, made possible through dual-pricing practices, could be considered a “government provision of goods and services,” albeit in an unconventional “inverted” manner (WTO 2010, 173–4; Pogoretskyy 2011, 236). The line of reasoning is that the government provision of a natural resource at less than fair market value (the dual-pricing practice) confers a benefit within the meaning of the ASCM to the domestic producers of the member, resulting in an actionable or prohibited subsidy. Intermediate consumers (firms) can be considered to be subsidised this way, as they have lower input prices for their energy-intensive industries (WTO 2010, 173–4; Pogoretskyy 2011, 236). While this reasoning may not be able to catch all dual-pricing schemes, it may be effective for some. For this reason, a governmentally instituted dual-pricing programme could be seen as a form of financial contribution under Article 1.1 of the ASCM.35 The challenge here is that if the revenue of dual-pricing schemes confers a general benefit/ aggregate welfare to the member, it may not be deemed specific in the sense of Article 2 ASCM and therefore not fall into the legal definition of Article 1. Consumer, as opposed to producer subsidies are especially difficult to qualify as specific, as they often confer a general advantage to a large category of consumers in a member (Mavroidis 2012, 524; Quick 2010, 195). However, it could be argued that dual pricing confers a specific benefit to the energy industry (i.e. an upstream subsidy to the energy industry) and industries that have an intensive input of energy. In this sense, it would be sensible to focus on dual pricing as a subsidy to producers, attempting to prove that dual pricing confers a specific benefit on them within the meaning of Article 2 ASCM.
Article 5(c) ASCM prescribes that a subsidy has an adverse effect on a WTO member when the subsidised imports cause “serious prejudice” to the interests of another member, making them actionable (Van den Bossche and Zdouc 2013, 785). Article 6 ASCM elaborated on this notion of “serious prejudice,” and determines under what conditions it may arise. The panel in Korea – Commercial Vessels elaborated, moreover, on the concept of “serious prejudice” as being concerned with negative effects on a member’s trade interests regarding a particular product. This can concern a loss of import or export volume or market share, adverse price effects, or both, in the relevant market (Van den Bossche and Zdouc 2013, 786). If a complaining member can prove that dual pricing as a subsidy affects it through one of the means mentioned in Article 6 ASCM, “serious prejudice” is deemed to exist and will make the subsidy actionable. Exemplary here is the recent case the United States has launched against China (China – Subsidies to Producers of Primary Aluminium), claiming the actions of the latter in the aluminium sector violate WTO subsidies rules and cause “serious prejudice” to other WTO members.36 The dispute could be considered as dealing with dual pricing on aluminium: the US claims that China is undercutting global prices for aluminium and artificially expanding China’s market share through providing artificially cheap state-directed loans, coal, electricity and raw materials to the industry. The case is currently in consultations, but may possibly set a precedent with respect to dual pricing. To summarise, if a certain dual pricing measure met the threshold of the definition of a subsidy under Article 1 of the ASCM, an affected WTO member could argue that the practice is contrary to Article 3 or Article 5 of the ASCM. The affected member could subsequently resort to dispute settlement or CVD investigations. Countervailing duties would be a particularly effective tool in offsetting the negative effects
35 Article 1.1(a)(1)(iii) ASCM; WTO (2010, 173ff). 36 WTO, DS519, China – Subsidies to Producers of Primary Aluminium (in consultations).
of dual pricing: it would allow states to take unilateral action against dual pricing and make it less appealing for countries to maintain dual-pricing policies. However, it may also be risky to use CVDs for environmental matters as they would be likely to be applied in a discriminatory way, not to mention that CVDs favour large markets, as their uncompetitive local producers have no need to export. But, as already mentioned, this has not been subject to dispute settlement so far and only a case could give certainty about the matter. Last but not least, it is important to mention Article 25 ASCM (Notifications) with respect to dual pricing and FFS more generally: Pursuant to the Article 25.2, members “shall notify any subsidy as defined in paragraph 1 of Article 1, which is specific within the meaning of Article 2, granted or maintained within their territories.” Members should indeed enhance their subsidy notification under this article, especially with regard to FFS, including dual pricing (Asmelash 2017, 13–14). However, as has been discussed, at the heart of FFS reform lies a collective action problem, making self-notification of FFS more difficult to enforce under current subsidy rules. Article 25.10 ASCM on counter-notification may offer a solution in this respect (Asmelash 2017, 13-14). The article states: Any Member which considers that any measure of another Member having the effects of a subsidy has not been notified in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article XVI of GATT 1994 and this Article may bring the matter to the attention of such other Member. If the alleged subsidy is not thereafter notified promptly, such Member may itself bring the alleged subsidy in question to the notice of the Committee. Article 25.10 ASCM consequently allows WTO members to bring FFS, including dual pricing, to the attention of the country imposing them,
as well as the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. 4.3 The Anti-Dumping Agreement 4.3.1 Countering dual pricing by adjusting the dumping margin Apart from the ASCM, the Anti-Dumping Agreement can also be a useful, and perhaps even more realistic, tool in countering the negative impact of dual pricing, considering the existing case law.37 In the sense of Article 2.1 ADA, a product is dumped if it is introduced into the commerce of another country at less than its normal value. Dumping exists where the “normal value” of the product exceeds the “export price.” Closely related to the subsidies debate, it could be argued that dual pricing is a case of “reversed input dumping,” that is, that goods which benefited from cheap energy inputs by means of below market energy prices can and are dumped on the market of the importing country (e.g. steel products) as a result of those cheap inputs domestically (Pogoretskyy 2011, 239). The logic here is that the actual price for the product, in absence of anti-competitive practices, would have been higher on the export market. A WTO member may apply anti-dumping duties (ADDs) against members involved in dual pricing (Article 9 ADA).38 For that, the member in question will have to prove that the dumping is causing it injury, and that there is a causal link between the dumping and that injury (Article 3.5 ADA). First, one must determine the “normal value” of the dumped product, and subsequently the relevant “export price,” to establish whether dumping exists. To prove that imports are dumped because they benefited from artificially maintained low domestic prices for energy, a member may use one of the alternative methodologies for calculating the normal value of the product.
37 Agreement on Anti-Dumping: Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, April 15, 1994, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1A, 1868 U.N.T.S. 201. 38 Note, however, that according to Article VI:5 GATT, a WTO member cannot at the same time institute CVDs and ADDs to the same instance.
Such a methodology would entail constructing the normal value of the product in question based on the cost of production in the domestic market of the exporting member, except for the cheap energy input. Prices for the energy input would need to be adjusted to reflect their higher nature, as charged elsewhere. This would allow the anti-dumping authority to determine that the actual normal value of the imported product is higher than the price charged on the export market, and on this basis, it could establish dumping. However, it remains uncertain to what extent the ADA permits determining the normal value in this manner.39 With respect to dual-pricing practices, the calculation methodology can be based on the substitution of exporters’ actual energy costs by comparing costs in surrogate countries, which allows members that have been affected adversely by the dumping to inflate the dumping margins (Article 2.2 ADA). In essence, this allows members to construct the “normal value” differently, taking into account the cheap input of, for example, natural gas from Russia. At present, there are two such cases pending in the WTO, European Union – Cost Adjustment Methodologies and
Certain Anti-Dumping Measures on Imports from Russia and EU – Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Cold-Rolled Flat Steel Products from Russia.40 In essence, the EU acted against dual-pricing policies from Russia and instituted ADDs against imports of ammonium nitrate and cold-rolled flat steel products, using an alternative method for establishing the normal value of the product.41 In both instances, Russia is objecting to the way the EU has calculated the anti-dumping margin. While this solution does not primarily target the environmentally adverse impacts of dual pricing, the application of ADDs provides states with an effective tool that, if successful, will have a deterrent effect on dual-pricing practices. It should be mentioned, however, that ADDs are a double-edged sword in this respect: It is estimated that two-thirds of EU ADDs are on renewable energy (technology), such as solar panels from China.42 This in and of itself is not a problem if dumping is indeed taking place. If correctly applied, ADDs on renewable energy technology do offer domestic producers of clean energy protection from dumped imports.
39 Costs can in any case not be calculated by disregarding the actual prices paid, see in particular the case law in DS427, China – Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty Measures on Broiler Products from the United States, Report of the Panel (2013), and DS473, EU – Anti-Dumping Measures on Biodiesel from Argentina, Report of the Appellate Body (2016). 40 WTO, DS494, EU – Cost Adjustment Methodologies and Certain Anti-Dumping Measures on Imports from Russia (Second Complaint 7 May 2015, Panel established but not yet composed), and WTO, DS521, EU – Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Cold-Rolled Flat Steel Products from Russia (in consultations). 41 Based on the EU’s Basic Regulation, Article 2(3) and Commission Implementing Regulations, respectively. 42 See e.g. Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 1238/2013 of 2 December 2013 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and key components (i.e. cells) originating in or consigned from the People’s Republic of China (OJ 2013 L 325, p. 1).
5. BEYOND EXISTING RULES: HOW CAN THE WTO CURB DUAL PRICING AND PROMOTE FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORM? The options available under the current WTO legal toolkit, as discussed, would provide a WTO member, or group of members, solid grounds for challenging dual-pricing policies of another member. At a minimum, bringing such a case to the multilateral trading forum would certainly attract attention to the necessity of phasing out dual-pricing policies. It would also send a strong signal that such policies are not immune to being challenged in WTO dispute settlement. Moreover, it is likely that such a move would function as a trigger to rapidly include talks on broader FFS reform on the WTO agenda. In addition to the possibilities under existing rules examined in the previous section, the following section will highlight avenues for addressing the issues of dual pricing and FFS reform that go beyond existing WTO rules. First, some suggestions are given on how subsidy rules could be reformed to curb dual pricing. By means of conclusion, the section will explore what role the WTO could play in contributing to broader FFS reform by looking at examples from other legal regimes: it is imperative that the organisation and its membership recognise the importance of phasing out dual pricing and of FFS reform and the crucial role the WTO can and should play therein. The options put forward in this section will additionally ensure greater transparency regarding the way FFS and dual-pricing policies are instituted, which is ultimately a precondition for their successful reform. Many have argued for amending the existing rules on subsidies in the WTO, as these rules are considered outdated in light of developments
in recent years on the need to scale up clean energy production and combat climate change (Rubini 2015; Howse 2010; Horlick and Clarke 2016; Espa and Rolland 2015). In fact, they led to absurd outcomes in the Canada – Renewable Energy case, where the Appellate Body had to resort to legal acrobatics to avoid deciding that a feed-in tariff was a subsidy within the meaning of the ASCM.43 Certainly, there are several ways through which reform of WTO subsidies disciplines could contribute to constraining dual pricing. 5.1 Amending the ASCM: Inspiration from TTIP Negotiations and the EU–Ukraine DCFTA It has been explained how dual pricing can be considered an inverted input subsidy that affects cross-border trade. Amending the ASCM to add dual pricing as a prohibited subsidy to Article 3.1 ASCM would therefore be a straightforward manner to discipline the practice under WTO law. As previously mentioned, the EU and the US have indeed proposed exactly this in the past.44 However, it was also noted that this, and comparable proposals by WTO members, have been unsuccessful in the multilateral trading context up to now. Nevertheless, efforts to include dual pricing in the list of prohibited subsidies in Article 3.1 ASCM should be revived at least in the medium and longer term, for two reasons: first, because momentum has been created in view of climate change mitigation commitments and the 2030 SDGs; second, because recent successful examples of including dual pricing in other major treaty negotiations and, more importantly, in provisions of treaty texts exist.
43 WTO, Canada – Renewable Energy / Canada – Feed-in Tariff Program Appellate Body Reports, Canada – Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector / Canada – Measures Relating to the Feed-in Tariff Program, WT/DS412/AB/R / WT/DS426/AB/R, adopted 24 May 2013, DSR 2013:I, p. 7 (para. 5.246). 44 Espa and Rolland (2015, 6) and Yanovich (2011, 22) note that both the US and the EU proposed expanding the category of prohibited subsidies under Article 3, with the EU proposal stating that Article 3.1 should also cover “the provision, by the virtue of government action, of goods to domestic production on terms and conditions more favourable than those generally available for such goods when destined for export.”
These examples give us an indication of what form such an addition to the ASCM could take. Here, we especially consider proposed draft treaty texts in the EU–US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, and the inclusion of a provision on dual pricing in the EU–Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) in the context of the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement.45
The negotiation of a prohibition on dual pricing has been included at several stages of the TTIP. Already in 2013, the EU proposed to include dual pricing in its talks with the US, as it is convinced that it can improve competitiveness and transparency in raw materials and energy markets (European Commission 2013a, 3). In its initial position paper, the EU stated:
This exact wording has disappeared from the draft treaty text proposed by the EU in 2016, and was replaced by an article on export pricing, which amounts to the same as dual pricing:
Government intervention in the price setting of energy goods on both the domestic market for industrial users and of energy goods destined for export purposes should be limited. A prohibition on dual pricing should further limit the possibility for resource rich countries to distort the market and subsidize sales to industrial users thus penalising foreign buyers and exports. (European Commission 2013a, 3) Subsequently, the EU in its first TTIP treaty text proposals of 2013 included draft articles (Articles C–F) on export restrictions, domestic price regulation, dual pricing and trading and export monopolies (European Commission 2013b). The draft article on dual pricing (Article E) states that: neither Party or regulatory authority thereof, shall adopt or maintain measures resulting in a higher price for exports of raw materials and energy goods to the other Party than the price charged for such goods and materials when intended for domestic industrial consumption.
The exporting Party shall upon request of the other Party provide the necessary information to substantiate that a different price for the same raw materials and energy goods sold on the domestic market and for export does not result from a measure prohibited by paragraph 1.
A Party shall not adopt or maintain a higher price for exports of goods to the other Party than the price charged for such goods when destined for the domestic market, by means of any measure such as licenses or minimum price requirements.46 While TTIP negotiations may currently have been put on the back burner, the approach and text proposed by the EU could be partially used for reforms of the ASCM to include dual pricing. The United States has been generally a proponent for many of these issues that the EU identified for TTIP negotiations, including the opposition to dual pricing and export restrictions (Benes 2015, 17). In fact, these draft TTIP provisions were inspired by successful commitments on dual pricing by acceding WTO members and a provision in the North American Free Trade Agreement (European Commission 2013a). Reinserting such a provision into the ASCM would therefore provide the necessary consistency in dual pricing regulation in international trade agreements. More importantly, another example that may inspire ASCM reform is the successful inclusion of a prohibition on dual pricing in the EU– Ukraine DCFTA. This recently concluded treaty
45 European Commission (2017a); USTR (2017). The EU–Ukraine DCFTA is part of the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, L161/3 (29 May 2014), see Chapter 11. 46 Article XXX (Export pricing), European Commission (2016).
contains a chapter on Trade-Related Energy (Chapter 11). Articles 269–71 in Chapter 11 form its centre of gravity and explicitly prohibit any forms of dual pricing and related discriminatory measures when trading energy. Article 269(1) prescribes that the price of gas and electricity supply shall be determined solely by supply and demand, although parties are allowed to regulate for the purposes of “general economic interest” (Article 269(2)). If parties do decide to do so, they have to ensure that the regulations and calculations thereof are published prior to their entry into force (Article 269(4)).
WTO members wish to include a rule on dual pricing in the ASCM or in a potential plurilateral agreement on (renewable) energy, the provisions in the EU–Ukraine DCFTA may provide some guidance, in addition to the proposed TTIP text. Leastwise, it should be ensured that acceding WTO members that maintain dual-pricing policies should take up provisions of this kind in their accession protocols. Additionally, when considering the broader reforms of subsidy disciplines, the way fishery and agricultural subsidies are being reformed could provide inspiration with regard to FFS reform.47
Dual pricing is prohibited altogether by means of Article 270 (Prohibition of Dual Pricing). This “GATT-plus” style commitment is a very clear stance on the practice, and in line with the EU position on dual-pricing policies of the past decades. Although the prohibition does not link dual pricing with subsidisation directly, it does so implicitly by including all measures that may result in dual pricing:
neither Party or a regulatory authority thereof, shall adopt or maintain a measure resulting in a higher price for exports of energy goods to the other Party than the price charged for such goods when intended for domestic consumption. (Article 270(1)) The same applies with respect to customs duties and quantitative restrictions, which are prohibited, unless they are justified on grounds of public policy or public security; protection of human, animal or plant life or health, or the protection of industrial and commercial property (Article 271(2)). Such restrictions or measures may not constitute a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between the parties. The EU–Ukraine DCFTA thus offers a very clear example in practice on what legal form a prohibition on dual pricing can take. If
Another way to address the negative effects of FFS in the WTO, instead of solely focusing on disciplining them, would be to refocus on the opposite: ensuring the legitimisation of support for green energy under the ASCM. The effect of this can balance out the asymmetry that currently exists in the WTO regarding green subsidies. While there is no case in dispute settlement on FFS, green and renewable energy programmes are often a target of dispute settlement proceedings in the WTO (Asmelash 2015). Ensuring legitimisation of green subsidies would not necessarily entail the reinstatement of lapsed Article 8 of the ASCM, as this article proved ineffective when in force (Wu 2015, 2–3). Rather, a more sophisticated redrafting and rethinking of the rules would be necessary to create sufficient policy space for this purpose. The WTO could learn in this respect from the current EU rules on state aid (the European quasi-equivalent of subsidy rules).48 Although the extent to which EU rules are compliant with WTO subsidy disciplines is questionable, they are certainly more progressive regarding the promotion of support to clean and renewable energy (Marhold 2015).
47 See, in particular, on this, “Related Disciplines and Sources of Analogy,” section 3 in Trachtman (2017), and for parallels with agricultural subsidies, Josling (2015). 48 Article 107 and 108 of the Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 2008 OJ C 115/47.
Under EU law, two instruments are available for member states to comply with the EU rules on state aid. The first are the “Guidelines on State Aid for Environmental Protection and Energy 2014–2020” (European Commission 2014), which provide detailed instructions for EU member states on designing their support for green energy, ensuring that these remain in line with EU state aid law. The goal of the guidelines is to offer a market-based approach towards green energy support schemes, gradually decrease subsidies and ensure such support schemes are more responsive to price signals. Similarly, the WTO could develop such guidelines for its members, ensuring that members can design their support for green energy in a WTO-consistent manner a priori. Second, EU state aid law provides for a sophisticated set of accepted “exceptions” to state aid rules in the form of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).49 As is well known, the ASCM does not provide for an exceptions clause, and the applicability of GATT Article XX to the ASCM is ambiguous and remains untested (Rubini 2015; Howse 2010). The GBER, however, in Section 7, Articles 36–43, declares certain elaborate categories of state aid towards green energy compatible with the internal market, provided that they meet the detailed and stringent requirements set out in the articles. When considering the reform of WTO rules on subsidies, the detailed and well thought-out EU Block Exemption Regulation could serve as a model for designing exceptions to the ASCM. The sooner such options are explored and discussed in the WTO, the better. 5.3 Including Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform on the WTO Agenda Although section 3 of this paper pointed out that trade-distorting aspects of dual pricing have been an ongoing issue of debate in the WTO for several decades, a wider discussion on the harmful effects and environmental impacts
of FFS in the multilateral trading forum has been absent. Former Director-General Pascal Lamy emphasised that the inability to include talks on FFS reform was a missed opportunity: Similarly, the on-going political debate on reforming fossil fuel subsidies has largely bypassed the WTO. The surge in world energy prices in recent years has drawn high-level attention to fossil fuel subsidies, including by the G20. The link between subsidies, consumption of energy and climate change has added a new dimension to the debate. Given that WTO members have decided to tackle the issue of environmentally harmful subsidies in the fisheries sector as part of the Doha Round, the absence of this topic from the WTO radar screen can be considered as a missed opportunity. (Lamy 2013a; see also 2013b, 121) However, nothing prevents FFS reform from becoming a topic of discussion in the WTO now, and there seems to be no better time, considering the low oil prices, and, more importantly, the climate commitments most of the WTO members have undertaken in view of the 2015 Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. The WTO and its membership should therefore aim to include the topic of phasing out FFS on the WTO agenda immediately, or at least as quickly as possible. One way of ensuring this would be to issue a Ministerial Declaration during the upcoming 11th WTO Ministerial Conference, stressing the importance of phasing out FFS and mitigating climate change. At the outset, efforts should centre around awareness raising rather than binding commitments: the primary goal would be to ensure the issue of FFS reform is openly discussed in the forum in the first place, for instance within the framework of the Committee on Trade and Environment. Apart from initiating discussions on FFS reform, the WTO could also contribute to
49 European Commission, Commission Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty (Text with EEA relevance); OJ L 187, 26.6.2014, pp. 1–78.
more transparency on FFS through the Trade Policy Review Mechanism. As Asmelash argues, members’ Trade Policy Reviews could include a category on FFS reform and restrictive practices in natural (energy) resources (Asmelash 2017, 14). This would allow a categorical review of countries’ progress and actions in FFS reform.
restrictions, domestic energy regulation, trade facilitation and transit issues (ICTSD 2011). It should be mentioned, though, that all members, even those that do not participate in the plurilateral agreement, would have to adopt it by consensus, as set out in Article X.9 of the WTO Agreement.50
Moreover, members should explore options for a plurilateral agreement on (sustainable) energy. Plurilateral agreements have a narrow group of signatories and are tailored to deal with issues of specific interest to a substantial group of WTO members. The agreements currently in force are the Trade in Civil Aircraft Agreement and the Government Procurement Agreement (WTO 2017). Several policymakers and academics have demonstrated what the advantages of such an agreement could be (Marceau 2010; ICTSD 2011). One of the main arguments it that the current WTO rules, although applicable, are not necessarily suited to dealing with the intricacies of the energy sector. A plurilateral agreement on (sustainable) energy could suit like-minded WTO members interested in a better-equipped set of rules on energy, and would moreover offer the perfect framework for elaborating on rules curbing FFS and constraining dual pricing. A potential agreement could contain a clause that would multilateralise concessions if a critical mass of WTO members become part of the agreement (ICTSD 2011, 63). Apart from policies constraining dual-pricing practices, the agreement could additionally focus on key trade-related issues for (sustainable) energy, such as tariffs, non-tariff barriers, subsidies, government procurement, services, export
For such initiatives to gain ground, it is moreover essential that the WTO builds bridges with other organisations and initiatives involved in FFS reform. This is imperative to avoid duplication and to strengthen and streamline existing efforts in FFS reform, allowing for a greater political push. This should go beyond coordinating efforts among the WTO and the G7 and G20. FFS reform initiatives in the WTO could also be linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the commitments in the Paris Agreement, as the Paris Agreement stipulated that countries must regularly submit nationally determined contributions detailing how they will contribute to holding back a global increase in temperature of 1.5°C. These nationally determined contributions could contain sections on action undertaken in the area of FFS reform and could even be linked in this regard to WTO Trade Policy Reviews. The WTO should also coordinate with other organisations involved in FFS reform, including the International Energy Agency and the International Monetary Fund. This process can start out as bottom-up exploratory talks on standardising terminology, monitoring and notification methods, as well as exploring the welfare policies needed if FFS are replaced.
50 Article X.9 WTO Agreement: Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, April 15, 1994, 1867 U.N.T.S. 154, 33 I.L.M. 1144 (1994).
6. CONCLUSION Dual pricing policies have been at the centre of heated debates in the multilateral trading forum for decades. However, the focus of these discussions, mainly instigated by net energy importing WTO members, has predominantly been on the trade-distorting aspects of dual pricing, neglecting the significant negative impact that these practices have on the environment. The adverse effects of dual pricing on the environment emanate from the fact that countries sell their fossil fuel energy domestically at far below the global market price, thereby incentivising wasteful consumption and hampering the diversification of cleaner energy sources. In view of efforts to combat climate change, the aim of this paper was to view dual-pricing practices through the lens of harmful fossil fuel subsidies. It demonstrated that curbing dual pricing could substantially contribute to emission reductions in line with the 2030 SDGs. This piece argued that the WTO is a crucial forum for facilitating this. It explored possibilities to curb dual pricing using options under the current legal toolkit, as well as suggesting amendments to current rules. Under existing rules, WTO members opposed to dual pricing could challenge members maintaining these practices, for instance on the basis of GATT Articles XI (General Elimination of Quantitative Restrictions) and XVII (State Trading Enterprises). Dual pricing could moreover be challenged under the ASCM as an actionable or prohibited subsidy. The Anti-Dumping Agreement would also provide an avenue for curbing the practice when adjusting the “normal value” of the dumped product, considering the cheaper inputs of energy of the dumping country. Subsequently, the paper explored how the WTO could tackle dual pricing beyond the existing rules of the multilateral trading system. It, inter
alia, suggested revisiting the idea to amend the ASCM to include dual pricing as a prohibited subsidy under Article 3.1. Negotiators should examine the EU–Ukraine DCFTA provisions and the draft treaty texts in the context of TTIP negotiations for concrete examples on what form provisions on the prohibition of dual pricing could take. The negative environmental impacts of dual pricing could also be offset by ensuring the creation of policy space to promote green energy, something that can be difficult to justify under current WTO subsidy rules at present. The design of rules on EU state aid can serve as an inspiration for this. In particular, the European Commission’s Guidelines on State Aid for Environmental Protection provide a notable example on how EU member states can design their support policies for green energy in a way that is consistent with state aid law. Similarly, the WTO could draft a set of such guidelines for its members. Moreover, the WTO should consider amending its subsidy rules to exempt certain forms of support for green energy. The EU’s General Block Exemption Regulation offers an elaborate model for what form such exemptions may take. For any such efforts to be fruitful in the WTO forum, however, it is of utmost importance that the WTO includes broader discussions on fossil fuel subsidy reform on its agenda. While discussions may be initiated in a bottom-up, informal manner, they could lay the ground for the WTO to take tangible steps to increasing transparency and, eventually, reforming and reducing fossil fuel subsidies. For instance, transparency on the administration of FFS could be increased significantly by including a category on fossil fuel subsidies in members’ Trade Policy Reviews. Last but least, WTO members should explore the issuance of a declaration on fossil fuels subsidy reform during the upcoming MC11.
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Howse, R. 2010. “Climate Mitigation Subsidies and the WTO Legal Framework: A Policy Analysis.” Geneva: International Institute for Sustainable Development. ICTSD. 2011. “Fostering Low Carbon Growth: The Case for a Sustainable Energy Trade Agreement.” ICTSD Global Platform on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainable Energy. Geneva: International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development. IEA. 2017. “Energy Subsidies.” Database. International Energy Agency. http://www.iea.org/weo/ energysubsidies/. IEA, OECD and World Bank. 2010. “The Scope of Fossil-Fuel Subsidies in 2009 and a Roadmap for Phasing out Fossil-Fuel Subsidies.” Joint Report, International Energy Agency, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and World Bank. IISD. 2017. “Global Subsidies Initiative.” International Institute for Sustainable Development. http://www.iisd.org/gsi/. Josling, T. 2015. “Rethinking the Rules for Agricultural Subsidies.” E15 Task Force on Rethinking International Subsidies Disciplines. Geneva: International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and World Economic Forum. Lamy, P. 2013a. “Lamy Calls for Dialogue on Trade and Energy in the WTO.” Speech to Workshop on the Role of Intergovernmental Agreements in Energy Policy, at the World Trade Organization, 29 April 2013. https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/sppl_e/sppl279_e.htm. Lamy, P. 2013b. “Trade and Energy: The Case for a Greater WTO Role.” In The Geneva Consensus: Making Trade Work for All. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Leal-Arcas, R., A. Filis and E. S. Abu Gosh. 2014. International Energy Governance: Selected Legal Issues. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. Marceau, G. 2010. “The WTO in the Emerging Energy Governance Debate.” In Global Challenges at the Intersection of Trade, Energy and Environment, edited by J. Pauwelyn. London: Centre for Economic Policy Research. Marhold, A. 2013. “The World Trade Organization and Energy: Fuel for Debate.” European Society of International Law (ESIL) Reflections 8 (2). Marhold, A. 2016. “WTO Law and Economics and Restrictive Practices in Energy Trade: The Case of the OPEC Cartel.” Journal of World Energy Law and Business 9: 475–94. Marhold, A. 2017. “EU State Aid Law, WTO Subsidies Disciplines and Renewable Energy Support Schemes: Disconnected Paradigms in Decarbonizing the Grid.” TILEC Discussion Paper No. 2017-029. Tilburg: Tilburg Law and Economics Center. Mavroidis, P. C. 2012. Trade in Goods, 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Mavroidis, P. C. 2015. The Regulation of International Trade, vol. 1: The GATT. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Pogoretskyy, V. 2009. “The System of Energy Dual Pricing in Russia and Ukraine: The Consistency of the Energy Dual Pricing System with the WTO Agreement on Anti-Dumping.” Global Trade and Customs Journal 4: 313–23. Pogoretskyy, V. 2011. “Energy Dual Pricing in International Trade: Subsidies and Anti-Dumping Perspectives.” In Regulation of Energy in International Trade Law: WTO, NAFTA and Energy Charter, edited by Y. Selivanova. Alphen a/d Rijn: Kluwer Law International.
Pogoretskyy, V., and S. Melnyk. 2016. “Russian Energy and the WTO: Overview of the Accession Negotiations of the Russian Federation and Final Commitments.” In The Uppsala Yearbook of Eurasian Studies, edited by K. Hober et al. London: Wildy, Simmonds & Hill. Quick, R. 2010. “Dual Pricing.” In Global Challenges at the Intersection of Trade, Energy and Environment, edited by J. Pauwelyn. London: Centre for Economic Policy Research. Ripinsky, S. 2004. “The System of Gas Dual Pricing in Russia: Compatibility with WTO Rules.” World Trade Review 3: 463–81. Rolland, S. E. 2012. “China – Raw Materials: WTO Rules on Chinese Natural Resources Export Dispute.” ASIL Insights 16 (21). Rubini, L. 2015. “Rethinking International Subsidies Disciplines: Rationale and Possible Avenues for Reform.” E15 Initiative. Geneva: International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and World Economic Forum. Schrijver, N. J. 2008. “Natural Resources, Permanent Sovereignty over.” In Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, edited by R. Wolfrum. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Online edition, www.mpepil.com. Selivanova, Y. 2007. “The WTO and Energy: WTO Rules and Agreements of Relevance to the Energy Sector.” Issue Paper No. 1. Geneva: International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD). Selivanova, Y. 2008. Energy Dual Pricing in the WTO: Analysis and Prospects in the Context of Russia’s Accession to the World Trade Organization. London: Cameron May. Selivanova, Y. 2010. “Managing the Patchwork of Agreements in Trade and Investment.” In Global Energy Governance: The New Rules of the Game, edited by A. Goldthau and J. M. Witte. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press. Shih, W.-C. 2009. “Energy Security, GATT/WTO, and Regional Agreements.” Natural Resources Law Journal 49: 433–84. Steenblik, R. 2010. “Subsidies in the Traditional Energy Sector.” In Global Challenges at the Intersection of Trade, Energy and Environment, edited by J. Pauwelyn. London: Centre for Economic Policy Research. Tarr, D., and P. D. Thomson. 2004. “The Merits of Dual Pricing of Russian Natural Gas.” World Economy 27: 1173–94. Trachtman, J. P. 2017. “Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reduction and the World Trade Organization.” ICTSD Climate and Energy Issue Paper. Geneva: International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD). UNCTAD. 2000. Trade Agreements, Petroleum and Energy Policies. UNCTAD/ITCD/TSB/9. New York: United Nations. UNFCCC. 2015. “Adoption of the Paris Agreement.” United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Conference of the Parties, 21st Session. FCCC/CP/2015/L.9/Rev.1, 12 December. USTR (United States Trade Representative). 2017. “Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP).” https://ustr.gov/ttip. Van den Bossche, P., and W. Zdouc. 2013. Law and Policy of the World Trade: Texts, Cases and Materials, 3rd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
WTO. 2005. “Report of the Working Party on the Accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the World Trade Organization.” WT/ACC/SAU/61,1 November. WTO. 2010. World Trade Report 2010: Trade in Natural Resources. Geneva: World Trade Organization. WTO. 2011. “Report of the Working Party on the Accession of the Russian Federation.” World Trade Organization. WT/ACC/RUS/70, WT/MIN(11)/2. WTO. 2017. “Plurilaterals: Of Minority Interest.” World Trade Organization. https://www.wto.org/ english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/agrm10_e.htm. Wu, M. 2015. “Re-examining ‘Green Light’ Subsidies in the Wake of New Green Industrial Policies.” E15 Initiative. Geneva: International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and World Economic Forum. Yanovich, A. 2011. “WTO Rules and the Energy Sector.” In Regulation of Energy in International Trade Law: WTO, NAFTA, and Energy Charter, edited by Y. Selivanova. Alphen a/d Rijn: Kluwer Law International.
www.ictsd.org
Other recent publications from ICTSD’s Programme on Climate and Energy include: • How the WTO Can Help Tackle Climate Change through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: Lessons from the Fisheries Negotiations Heloisa Pereira, 2017 • Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reduction and the World Trade Organization Joel P. Trachtman, 2017 • Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Subsidies in the G20: Progress, Challenges, and Ways Forward Henok Birhanu Asmelash, 2017 • Three-Dimensional Climate Clubs: Implications for Climate Cooperation and the G20 David G. Victor, 2017 • Making the Global Economy Viable for the Future: A Trade and Climate Agenda for the G20 ICTSD, 2017 • Global Rules for Mutually Supportive and Reinforcing Trade and Climate Regimes James Bacchus, 2016 • Enabling the Energy Transition and Scale-up of Clean Energy Technologies: Options for the Global Trade System Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, 2016 • Rethinking Subsidy Disciplines for the Future Gary Horlick and Peggy A. Clarke, 2016 • Subsidies, Clean Energy, and Climate Change Ilaria Espa and Sonia E. Rolland, 2015 • Securing Policy Space for Clean Energy under the SCM Agreement: Alternative Approaches Robert Howse, 2013
About ICTSD The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) is an independent thinkand-do-tank, engaged in the provision of information, research and analysis, and policy and multistakeholder dialogue, as a not-for-profit organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland. Established in 1996, ICTSD’s mission is to ensure that trade and investment policy and frameworks advance sustainable development in the global economy.
Report "Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in the WTO"
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District>
About MPS>
District News>
MPS Alumnus Chris Gardner Visits Bradley Tech
MPS welcomed back one of its own this week for an inspirational session with students at Lynde and Harry Bradley Technology and Trade School. Chris Gardner, a 1971 graduate of MPS Washington High School, is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, philanthropist, and subject of the book and film “The Pursuit of Happyness.”
Gardner spent time with about 100 students in the school library. He talked about his high school days, his journey depicted in the movie, and how he overcame the struggles in his life. Gardner also showed a presentation that outlined the pathway that led him to success, and offered tips to students to help them map out their own roads to success.
Gardner is currently on a ten-city tour with the goal of speaking at 100 high schools to empower students with his message, “Permission 2 Dream.” His recent book is “Start Where You Are: Life Lessons.”
“Hearing an alumnus like Chris Gardner, who came from the same neighborhoods as many of our current students, is a golden opportunity,” said MPS Superintendent Dr. Keith P. Posley. “After hearing Chris speak, our students can truly visualize themselves setting goals and putting in the hard work to reach them. We are grateful for his inspirational visit.”
Got a story to share? Tell us about it!
About Milwaukee Public Schools
Milwaukee Public Schools is committed to accelerating student achievement, building positive relationships between youth and adults and cultivating leadership at all levels. The district’s commitment to improvement continues to show results:
More MPS students are taking college-level Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses;
The MPS Class of 2018 earned $86+ million in scholarships; and
MPS is home to seven of the state and nation’s top high schools according to U.S. News and World Report and the Washington Post.
Learn more about MPS
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← You say you want a revolution…the Cuba Chronicles, Part II
You say you want a revolution…the Cuba Chronicles, Part IV →
You say you want a revolution…the Cuba Chronicles, Part III
Las Terrazas, where today's story begins.
When is a nature reserve not a nature reserve?
This was the question as we spent the day a few hours to the west of Cuba, in the province of Pinar del Rio. We were heading to Las Terrazas, a famed ecological preserve located close to the Sierra del Rosario mountains. I was prepared for beautiful vistas, exotic plants, animals that were too pretty to be tasty.
What I found was a tropical showpiece, a Theresienstadt in the Antilles.
Located in today’s Czech Republic, Theresienstadt was a Jewish ghetto created by the Nazis to house prominent Jews from Germany, Austria and then-Czechoslovakia. It developed a rich educational and cultural life among those deported there, yet many saw it as a façade for the horrors that occurred, similar to the atrocities in other ghettoes across Europe.
Theresienstadt’s most infamous period was when it was used as a propaganda tool by the Germans to prove that Jews were treated humanely in the Third Reich. Red Cross officials saw clean, orderly streets, well-fed, happy children and adults developing music, the arts and theatre. It was all a ruse. All the shops and cafes were fiction. The overcrowded Jews were conveniently shipped to Auschwitz. There was even a film made of the hoax in 1944; all those responsible for filmmaking were also deported to death camps in Poland.
On the surface, this seems like an incredibly harsh comparison. After all, Theresienstadt was the scene of brutal slaughter in a system of mass genocide. No such naked aggression was going on here. I had yet to really feel the iron fist of Cuban repression (the midget cop from the night before notwithstanding), and the whole area of Las Terrazas was just gorgeous, even under the torrential rain.
Yet this place just didn’t look like the other Cuban settlements we’d see on the countryside. It certainly didn’t look like Havana.
Its story is straight out of the Theresienstadt playbook. The area had been the province of an old coffee plantation and a patchwork of local growers until the government decided to come in and build “ecologically friendly” housing for the farmers. The locals were given a choice: move into these houses or “stay on their land.” I sure saw a lot of the folks who chose the new housing, yet those who refused seemed noticeably absent.
The place was colorful, clean (at least, compared to most rural areas in Latin America), rather neatly organized. Even the barnyard animals seemed placed in just the right areas: chickens roaming where they should, guinea fowl prowling ever so carefully on the rails, dogs and cats keeping a respectful distance from the tourists.
This had to be an obligatory stop on any foreign tour of Cuba. There were at least three, maybe four tour buses in the area, all of which were stopping in almost the exact same places. Few locals were walking about, but there were plenty of Europeans gawking and poking their pudgy faces in every direction.
After an introductory drink (or two, in my case) we proceeded towards the clinic for this area, where we’d get our first taste of Cuba’s vaunted health care system. This, along with education, was one of the pillars of the revolution. Most of the Cuban government’s reputation worldwide is based on its health care. So it’s best we look at it in more detail.
“Everyone has the right to health protection and care. The state guarantees this right;
– by providing free medical and hospital care by means of the installations of the rural medical service network, polyclinics, hospitals, preventative and specialized treatment centers;
– by providing free dental care;
– by promoting the health publicity campaigns, health education, regular medical examinations, general vaccinations and other measures to prevent the outbreak of disease. All the population cooperates in these activities and plans through the social and mass organizations.” – Article 50, Cuban Constitution, 1976
No one can really argue with the spirit of the goal of universal health care as described in Cuba’s constitution. Nor can there be argument in the dedication of Cuban doctors to their work in treating their compatriots, often with pitiful pay, poor resources and less-than-perfect conditions.
Inside the doctor's office at Las Terrazas
Yet when I met one of the doctors at Las Terrazas, I got the distinct feeling that he was hiding something—or that he was forced to hide something.
He rattled on the standard answers about vaccinations, neonatal care, procedures for diagnosis, etc. There were some questions, though, which made him squirm somewhat before he could formulate the “correct” answer. Medicines, HIV/AIDS, operations, nutrition—in each instance, I could see the doctor want to say what’s on his mind, but instead give a stock answer.
Who was pulling the strings? The tour guides? The nurse? Someone nearby we didn’t see? Again, the veil is, albeit slowly, lifting on Las Terrazas (cue Theresienstadt again).
I am not an expert on Cuban health care, so I won’t go into a huge critique of the system. I will state this, however: there is calculable evidence that former Communist regimes such as the Soviet Union, as well as current ones like China, have had a dubious history of corrupting, fabricating or distorting their own statistics in order to look better than their Western rivals. Cuba could very well be in the same boat.
Furthermore, the statistics reported to the UN and the World Health Organization was not compiled independently. They report what the Cuban government gives them as statistics, to be accepted in good faith. Any tours of facilities are done with the guidance of government officials or functionaries, thereby opening the possibility for distortion. Heck, I rarely believe what my own government tells me, let alone a government that guards its information as tightly as Cuba’s.
The showpiece that was Las Terrazas revealed itself again in two locations. The first was the home of a local artist named Lester Campa. His studio abutted his one-story house, the typical Las Terrazas construction of off-white stucco and brightly colored shutters. Campa, of course, was a must-see stop on the tour, as bus after bus of foreigners tramped through his studio to ogle and occasionally purchase his work; which revolved around juxtapositions and natural/manmade congruencies (my term—I guess I can bullshit enough to be an art critic, too.)
Campa explained to us the difficulties in producing art students in Cuba. There are few art schools for training, as well as the usual complaint of lack of facilities. Looking at his well-fortified stash of oils and acrylics from Europe, however, proved otherwise. So, too, did a sneak peek at his house: flat-screen TV, new kitchen appliances, nice furniture.
The revolution’s been very, very good to Lester Campa. I guess he was following the Cuban Constitution, which states:
“ there is freedom of artistic creation as long as its content is not contrary to the Revolution…” — Section D, Article 39, Cuban Constitution, 1976
The last stop was Maria’s house. Maria was an old woman with a face worn from a hard life, yet quick with a smile and welcoming of us foreigners and our hard cash. She had a small coffee shop overlooking the valley, and we all partook of some local brew (which made everyone much more vigorous, believe me.)
Inside Maria's house.
Her house, like Lester Campa’s, seemed very atypical. She had a nice TV set (not a flat-screen, but a better-quality tube set), decent furniture, and a china cabinet full of tchotchkes that would put a Jewish grandmother to shame.
Plus, just nearby, was both a gift shop and a green-clad officer of the Ministry of the Interior, or MININT. Was this sad-looking man in fatigues the real man in charge in Las Terrazas? Maybe I was paranoid, but in hindsight, it seems more and more plausible.
I left the “biosphere reserve” in a daze: what exactly did I just see? This could not be a typical countryside town. Especially since the roadside between Las Terrazas and Vinales, where we’d be staying, was dotted with half-built, dilapidated shacks and one-room stucco blocks that no tour guide would want to point out.
Fortunately, there was enough later to make me forget my cynicism, at least for one night.
View of the valley from Los Jazmines
The Los Jazmines hotel overlooked a gorgeous valley, with giant monoliths rising like tropical bon-bons on the horizon, sheltering a patchwork of fields, houses and overgrown brush. It was out my balcony, taking pictures of this place that I started to really love Cuba, to really enjoy this place, regardless of my own skepticism about certain “contrived” aspects of the day. Nevermind all the bullshit about tours, the “canned” answers from political functionaries or the cattle-call of tourist traps; this was a great country.
The booze, as usual, certainly helped. Dinner was punctuated by rum, a gift from our group leader to all of us. My mates and I quickly dispatched our bottle in short order (although I think I took in the lions’ share—if anyone at my table can verify that.). Apparently there was a party going on in the town down in the valley, so a fair amount of us proceeded down to enjoy the evening.
Through the night, we danced, drank, shot the shit and really started to bond. I met an Englishman who looked at us in awe; again, we Yanks have quite a difficult road to get to this island. My salsa moves were still intact—thanks to Latin breeding on my mothers’ part—and I danced like I hadn’t in years.
The most interesting, and unnerving, part of the night was when I met an apparent “local.” We chatted and drank and got to know each other. Then the following exchange was made:
“Anything you want, man. Anything you want, let me know. You know, girls? You like girls?”
“No, no sorry, man. Thanks, but I have a girlfriend, so…no thanks…”
“Oh…you like boys? You like little boys?”
There must be someone out there who can figure out this quantum leap in logic.
The night concluded with a walk up the valley back to the hotel, in moonlight. I hadn’t been in real rural areas in a while, so the quiet took some getting used to. The walking was also difficult, as a bottle of rum, numerous beers and an oncoming blister had slowed my gait somewhat.
Yet the night was indescribably beautiful—just us, walking up the hill, talking about all sorts of subjects. I mainly stayed quiet, trying to digest all that had happened that day, and the day previous.
It brought me back to my previous question. Las Terrazas, I figured, was a showpiece, a Theresienstadt-type of community meant to show the world what Cubans can do when presented with a problem. Yet I wasn’t convinced that this was really Cuba.
From that night, I would need to look beyond the group, and break the first cardinal rule of the tour. It would be the only way to keep an open mind.
Part IV will feature some inspiring artists, thoughts on tobacco, an elementary school, and soul-searching in a Havana night.
Tagged as Comedy, Commentary, Communications, Cuba, Cuba travel, Cuban Constitution, Cuban Health Care, Cuban history, Cuban politics, Cultural Literacy, current events, Curriculum, Education, Educational leadership, History, Humor, Humour, Las Terrazas, Latin America, Latin American history, Latin American Travel, Los Jazmines, Media, Opinion, Pinar del Rio, Social studies, Teachers, Teaching, Terezin, Theresienstadt, Travel, Vinales, World History
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What we Googled in 2015
by Heather Kelly @heatherkelly December 16, 2015: 10:04 AM ET
Nothing gets people Googling quite like the passing of a celebrity. But in 2015, some of the most searched-for deaths in the U.S. weren't famous people at all, but regular people who died while in police custody.
Google (GOOG) released its annual roundup of what the U.S. searched for this year. They aren't the top searches by volume, but top "trending" searches, meaning they saw the biggest spikes. The list breaks out results by category, like people and natural events, including one just for "losses."
People we lost
The third most searched for death was Sandra Bland, an African American woman who was found hanging in her jail cell in July, three days after being arrested during a routine traffic stop. Freddie Gray, who died from spinal cord injuries while in police custody, was fourth on the list.
The passing of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown's daughter Bobbi Kristina topped the list, followed by longtime ESPN anchor Stuart Scott.
Biggest searches of the year
The most searched for topic overall wasn't someone who died, though he came close. It was former basketball player and Keeping up with the Kardashians fixture Lamar Odom, who was found unconscious in a brothel in October.
Not all searches were morbid. The top trending searchers of the year were mostly on lighter topics.
1. Lamar Odom
2. Jurassic World
3. American Sniper
4. Caitlyn Jenner
5. Ronda Rousey
Breaking news stories
As big news stories unfolded, people went to Google for updates and answers. Google Trends dug into the top global stories this year, with an interactive graphic that looked at how the stories spread around the world and the most pressing questions people had about them.
Google's biggest news story of the year was Paris. When terrorists attacked the French city on November 13, people around the world asked "What happened in Paris?" "Why did ISIS attack Paris?" and "Is it safe to travel to Paris?"
There were more than 897 million searches related to the Paris attack. By comparison, here are the other major stories we searched for and the top question for each.
The Oscars, 406 million ("What were the Oscar statuettes made of during World War II?)
Cricket World Cup, 323 million ("How many overs in a World Cup cricket match? ")
Nepal Earthquake, 85 million ("How can I donate to the Nepal earthquake?")
Volkswagen emissions scandal, 13 million ("Who owns Volkswagen?")
Water on Mars, 10 million ("How long does it take to get to Mars?")
Google is where we go with the truly important life questions, and this year was no different. The most searched for question beginning with "What is..." was "What is 0 divided by 0?," likely inspired by a sassy Siri Easter egg.
1. What is 0 divided by 0?
2. What is Ashley Madison?
3. What is a buckeye?
4. What is the Charlie Charlie Challenge? (Spoiler: An online game that may or may not summon demons.)
5. What is a lunar eclipse?
Healthy aspirations
For better or worse, Google is also a popular first stop for looking up symptoms. In 2015, people were most worried about the flu, gallbladder infections, measles, listeria and sinus infections. Last year, the biggest health concern was Ebola.
Weight loss is another popular topic, as people searched for the calorie counts of their favorite unhealthy snacks.
Bad news: Taco Bell's Grilled Stuft Nachos have 570 calories, and one slice of that Little Caesars bacon-wrapped deep dish pizza will cost you 450 calories. And for all of you who've eaten too many things wrapped in bacon, you're not alone in searching for fad diets, like the 20/20 diet, Carb cycle diet, and Paleo diet.
Popular How Tos
One of the ten most Googled questions of the year was "How to lose 10 pounds in a week?" (A possible answer: Stop eating Grilled Stuft Nachos.) Tech help accounted for many of the other popular questions.
1. How to use the new Snapchat update
2. How to solve a Rubix Cube
3. How to get legendary marks (in the video game Destiny)
4. How to play Charlie Charlie
5. How to upgrade to Windows 10
6. How to get the new emojis
Politics, dogs, selfies
Google also looked at trending searches for sports, movies, and politics. It should come as no surprise that the top trending politician of 2015 is Donald Trump, followed by Bernie Sanders and Carly Fiorina. Deez Nuts, the 15-year-old who registered as an independent candidate for president, was sixth.
Our hunger for selfies continued in 2015, as we searched for self portraits of Malia Obama, Miss Lebanon and Al Roker.
Finally, our love for our pets got its own category. The most popular canine-related search was the eternal mystery, "Why do dogs wag their tails?"
CNNMoney (San Francisco) First published December 16, 2015: 10:04 AM ET
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How to get your retirement savings on track
by Walter Updegrave @CNNMoney December 30, 2015: 10:26 AM ET
I'm in my 30s and want to know whether I'm on the right track for retirement. How do I go about doing that? -- Mike, Connecticut
The close of one year and the start of a new one is a good time to take a fresh look at your retirement planning to determine whether you're making progress and, if not, take steps to improve your prospects. Unfortunately, many people fail to do such an assessment at any time of year. Fewer than half of workers have tried to calculate how much they need to save for a comfortable retirement, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute's 2015 Retirement Confidence Survey, and nearly 40% admit that they simply guess about how much they'll need rather than do an analysis.
Which is a shame because evaluating whether you're on track isn't all that difficult. The easiest way to get a handle on where you stand is to rev up a good retirement income calculator that uses Monte Carlo simulations to make its projections. By plugging in such information as how much you've already managed to save, how much you're contributing to retirement accounts each year and how much of your current income you'll need to replace in retirement, you can come away with a pretty good sense of whether you're making adequate headway toward a secure retirement.
There are several online calculators that can help you with such an assessment. I'm partial to the T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Calculator because it's easy to use and, unlike other tools that attempt to identify your "Retirement Number," or the size of the nest egg you need to accumulate in order to retire, the T. Rowe tool estimates the chance that you'll be able to generate the lifetime income you'll need to maintain your standard of living in retirement. By focusing on income rather than a lump sum, I think you end up with a better sense of where you stand, whether you're making progress and how various moves might be able to improve your odds of success.
Related: One easy way to grow your retirement income
Here's an example. Let's say you're 35 years old, earn $50,000 a year, have one year's salary already saved for retirement and that each year you contribute 10% of pay to your retirement accounts. And let's further assume that you invest your savings in a mix of 80% stocks-20% bonds. Based on that scenario, the calculator estimates that you would be able to generate 75% of your pre-retirement salary from a combination of Social Security plus draws from your retirement nest egg with a 56% chance of sustaining that income at least until age 95. In short, if you continue on the path you're on in the example above, you have a little better than 50-50 shot at a reasonably comfortable and secure retirement.
But one of the benefits of doing this sort of analysis is that you can also easily see how you might improve your retirement prospects. Increase your annual savings rate from 10% of pay to 12%, for example, and voila! Your chances of retiring on 75% of your pre-retirement salary climb from 56% to 64%. Boost your savings rate to 15%, and the probability increases to 73%. And if you save at a 15% annual rate and stay on the job two more years, your chances jump to 86%, in part because your Social Security benefit increases by roughly 15% for delaying two years but also because the extra years on the job allow you to contribute more to your retirement accounts and provide more time for those accounts to grow.
Related: 5 money resolutions to make in 2016
By the way, people who are already retired should go through a similar analysis, except that instead of homing in on their saving rate and planned retirement age, they should focus mostly on whether they'll be able to continue their current level of spending without outliving their nest egg. Retirees can use the T. Rowe calculator or the American Institute for Economic Research's Retirement Withdrawal Calculator, as both essentially estimate how long your savings might last given your current rate of spending and how your money is divvied up between stocks and bonds. Whichever tool you use, I recommend retirees also do a retirement budget to get a more accurate sense of how much they'll need to spend to maintain their standard of living.
I want to emphasize that these and similar tools yield projections, not certainties. A lot can happen over the course of a long career (and a long retirement) that no calculator or tool can foresee. The markets could take a nosedive or deliver subpar returns for a prolonged period. You might not be able to maintain your savings regimen because of a job loss. A financial emergency could force you to dip into your savings.
But by going through this sort of exercise initially and then and re-doing it periodically with updated information about the size of your retirement account balances, how much you're saving or spending, etc., you can gauge your progress and make necessary adjustments as you go along. This sort of monitoring and occasional tweaking can give you a more realistic sense of whether you're really prepared for your post-career life and prevent you from finding on the eve of retirement that you're way, way behind where you need to be.
Related: The 5-minute 401(k) investment plan
Ideally, you should combine this check-up with a review of your investments to ensure that your retirement portfolio is invested in a way that is likely to generate adequate returns while remaining consistent with your tolerance for risk. As part of that investment review, you may want to rebalance your holdings and even consider doing some tax-loss harvesting in taxable accounts, or selling shares to realize capital losses that can offset realized capital gains and, possibly, ordinary income. To have such losses count for the 2015 tax year, you must sell the shares before the end of the year. (If you do sell to realize a loss, take care that you don't screw up the maneuver by running afoul of the "wash-sale" rule.
If you're not comfortable doing this sort of retirement check-up on your own, you can always turn to a financial adviser for help. But if you eventually want to have a secure retirement, you need to find out where you stand and, if necessary, start making moves to enhance your prospects.
More from RealDealRetirement.com
Why You Should Disregard 2016 Predictions And Focus Instead on What Really Matters
Do You Have Financial "Street Smarts"? Take This Quiz
4 Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your 401(k)
CNNMoney (New York) First published December 30, 2015: 10:26 AM ET
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Author Spotlight no.242 – Jacob Singer
Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the two hundred and forty-second, is of multi-genre writer Jacob Singer.
Jacob Singer was born in Potchefstroom, South Africa. He schooled at the Central School, and Potchefstroom High School for Boys. After a three-month stint in the South African Navy as a ballottee, he went to London to study Pharmacy at Chelsea Polytechnic. It was there, after reading an article in the Readers Digest about the Tomlinson Report, that he realized the horror of the apartheid system in South Africa.
He became friendly with John Farmer, whose stepfather, Reg Sinclair was Chairman of Wilkinson Sword and Steel. They lived in Slough, and it was on a walk through the fields behind the house, after he and John walked to the top of a white tower, that they met a young girl who was hiding “from my security guards,” she said. A friendship was formed remembered to this day.
Returning to South Africa, five years later, he met and married Evelyn Jackson. Today they have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.
Living in Potchefstroom, a small town 72 miles from Johannesburg, Jacob became involved in the fight against the apartheid system of the National Party, that ruled the country after WWII. Believing that direct confrontation could never work, Jacob became a member of the National Party, at many meetings arguing and voting against the harsh laws being inflicted on the Indian and Coloured community in Potchefstroom. The National Party eventually asked for his resignation.
In his Pharmacy, he thumbed his nose at apartheid, by having Indian and Coloured staff working on the floor with the White staff, dressed in the same uniforms. Yes, he did make many enemies in the town, because of this, but he also made many friends. One of those friends was the Member of Parliament for Potchefstroom, Louis le Grange, a member of the National Party.
When years later, Louis was made Minister of Police, Jacob asked him, “Louis, after the horror of Sharpeville, and the death of Steve Biko, how can you accept this position?”
“Less people are killed, now that I am the Minister,” he answered.
A few years later, Jacob received a message from Louis, asking him to form a committee in Potchefstroom, to start educating the Africans that lived in Ikageng, the African township just outside the town.
“I would like you to start teaching them how to govern,” he wrote in a letter to Jacob. “Look for the leaders of the township, and meet with them at least once a month. They must learn committee procedures so that when they do take over the country, they will know how to manage and rule it effectively.”
Jacob formed a committee, with three friends. Seven Africans who were prominent leaders in Ikageng, joined them.
A year later, when in a riot, young students starting throwing stones at their school in Ikageng, he asked that all the leaders of these students meet in his pharmacy at 6 am the next morning. Five young children were there at 6 am. When they offered him their names, he told them, “No, I don’t want to know who you are. Let me call you A, B, C, D, and E.” He told them that education was very important to them, especially if they one day wished to rule the country; that rather than stone the school, they should stone Municipal Buildings or any building that housed a Government supporter.
After an hour, they left, promising that they would stop stoning the school.
Later that morning, Brigadier Stemmet of the South African Security Police visited the Pharmacy. He asked Jacob for the names of the 5 students that had visited him that morning. “With pleasure,” Jacob answered, “their names are A, B, C, D, and E.” Brigadier Stemmet walked out of the Pharmacy,
“We will no longer offer you or your family any protection!” he shouted angrily as he left the Pharmacy. That night, Gamboo, the families Bouvier dog was poisoned.
It was then that he encouraged his children to emigrate from South Africa. They chose Canada, and he and Evelyn joined them six years later once they had settled down, and no longer needed financial support.
It was then, leaving Potchefstroom and living in Johannesburg before emigrating to South Africa, that he wrote his first book Brakenstroom. Brakenstroom is a book of short stories about people he knew and stories he had heard from friends and family.
His second book, The VASE with the MANY COLOURED MARBLES was written while living in Vancouver, Canada. “It is a story I have lived with all my life,” he said when asked about the book. The Characters are people I knew, and still know.
WHY I STARTED WRITING.
Growing up in South Africa as a child, was a wonderful experience. My mother loved and took care of me, but it was my Nanny that cleaned my room, made my bed, put away the clothes that I had left lying on the floor, and made my meals every day. She became my surrogate mother, walking me to school at 7 am every morning; playing with me when I came home from school, and making sure that I did my homework every day. It was only at supper time and weekends that I would spend time with my parents.
During the School holidays, when I was 15 years old, I would go to the Municipal swimming pool during the school holidays, intent on improving my swimming. Also, all my friends had gone to Habonim Camp at Leaches Bay in the Cape. It was then that I met Marla (not her true name). We would both spend the day at the pool, lying in the sun, burning a dark brown. When, at the end of the day, we would go to the local cinema, I could prove that I was a White, by showing my skin was white below my swimming costume line. Marla unfortunately could not. I had to have my father phone the manager and tell him that Marla was a White, and therefore could be let in.
It was years later that I met Marla’s mother, and listened to the story she told me. I have lived with it all my life, and decided that it was a story that had to be told.
It took me close to 5 years to write The VASE with the MANY COLOURED MARBLES. It is a story about Emily Kleintjies, how she jumped the racial barrier of apartheid, becoming a White, changing her name to Emma Kline. It was a difficult story to write bring back many painful memories.
Emily was classified by the South African race laws of that time as being a Coloured. In the 19th Century, the Coloured people of South Africa had similar rights to the Whites in the Cape Colony, though income and property qualifications affected them disproportionately. In the rest of South Africa, they had far fewer rights, and although the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910 gave them the right to vote, they were restricted to electing White representatives only.
“You must understand, Emily,” her father mumbled, “as part of the Coloured Community in South Africa, today we are classified as second class citizens by the government.”
“What does that mean?” Emily asked, not quite understanding what he was saying.
“You have grown up in District Six, amongst both Blacks and Whites, and you have been treated as equals by them. South Africa as a whole does not treat us as equals. The Whites come first, we the Coloureds with the Indians second, and the Blacks are at the bottom with the Coolies and Chinese somewhere in-between. When you go into Cape Town proper, you have seen benches marked, ‘For Whites Only.’ We as Coloureds are not allowed to sit on those benches.”
“But I have often sat on them, and no-one has bothered me,” Emily interrupted.
“I know,” her father answered, “that is because you were born with a lighter skin than any of us, and with hair that is light brown, long and straight. No White would think you were a Coloured. I know of many in our community who are angry at these laws, where the Whites squeeze us from the top, while the Blacks squeeze us from the bottom. We have to take cheap work, because the Whites do not believe that we are as clever as they are. They treat us like slaves, while many of our women are treated like whores at night, and our children age and die long before they should.”
After I had written it, I found an editor who made me rewrite the entire story. “You will write it as though you are writing a movie,” she advised. It took another year to rewrite.
I had written the book as two books. The first book was about Emma, the mother and the second book about Marla, the daughter. I was advised to combine both books into one book.
I had two friends read through the book, and check my facts. Once they had done this, I self published, after 15 publishers rejected the book. They all told me that in today’s world of eBook publishing, they were only publishing known authors.
You can find more about Jacob and his writing via… his website: www.jacobashersinger.com
If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at https://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/submission-information/opportunities-on-this-blog (the spotlights are option (a)) or email me for details.
As I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t unfortunately review books but I have a list of those who do. If there’s anything you’d like to take part in, take a look at Opportunities on this blog.
I welcome items for critique for the online writing groups listed below:
Posted in: ebooks, interview, non-fiction, poetry, short stories, writing | Tagged: 5pm fiction, agent, Amazon, author, author interview, author spotlight, Barnes & Noble, Barnes and Noble, biographers, biography, blog, blogger, blogging, books, characters, children’s, competitions, copyediting, copyeditor, copywriter, copywriting, cozy mysteries, creative writing, crime, crime series, crime thriller, crime thrillers, critique, critique groups, debut novel, editing, editor, erotic romance, erotica, exercises, Facebook, fantasy, fantasy horror, fantasy writer, feedback, fellow authors, fiction, fiction author, five senses, flash fiction, free verse, future tense, Goodreads, grammar skills, graphic novels, guest blog, guest blog post, guest post, haiku, haiku poem, hendecasyllabic, historical, historical author, historical writer, horror novel, humorous, humour, iambic pentameter, indie, interview, interview with writer, interviewees, Jack Singer, Jacob Singer, Jane Wenham Jones, Kobo, LinkedIn, literature, memoirist, Morgan Bailey, morgen bailey, Morgen with an e, multi-genre, murder mysteries, murder mystery, mystery author, mystery series, mystery suspense, non-fiction, Northampton, novelist, novelists, novels, open mic nights, pantoum, paranormal, paranormal romance, paranormal romances, past tense, pinterest, poem, poet, poetry, poetry collection, poetry collections, poetry exercises, poetry magazine, poetry slams, present tense, pseudonyms, publisher, publishing, query letters, reading books, red pen, rejection letter, rejection letters, rejections, rhyming, rhyming poetry, romance, romance fantasy, romance writer, romantic suspense, science fiction, scriptwriters, second person point of view, second person viewpoint, self-publishing, short stories, short story group, Smashwords, sonnet, story a day, Story A Day May, story author, story authors, story collections, story writer, submissions, suspense novelist, suspense thriller, tanka, terza rima, travel memoir, travel writer, triolet, Twitter, vampire, villanelle, Waterstones, western, western author, Wordpress, writer, writer interview, writing, writing competitions, writing events, writing exercises, writing fiction, writing group, writing magazines, writing novels, writing poetry, writing prompts, writing workshop, YA, young adult novels, youtube
Report from Greenacre Literature Festival – 18th May 2013
Today’s online writing groups’ poetry and story exercises: 24 May 2013
4 thoughts on “Author Spotlight no.242 – Jacob Singer”
Yvonne Hertzberger says:
I have read “the Vase With The Many Coloured Marbles” and enjooyed it very much. It certainly gives a fresh look at both a time and a country many of us don’t think about much. The story is engaging and the characters well drawn.
Jacob Singer says:
Thank you Yvonne. Today I have to go for a Stress test at the hospital. The stress of marketing the book is getting to me. Having you tell everyone that you enjoy the read, reduces that stress a lot. Hell… I thought writing the book, telling the world what was and how we lived was bad enough, but finding readers? It makes one ask, ‘why write if no-one wants to read?’ Well, it is there for posterity. My grandkids and their children will one day understand South Africa as it was.
Pingback: Singer FOR FREE! Get Your Free E-Book Right Now! | Novel Ideas | Hey Sweetheart, Get Me Rewrite!
Pingback: Bestselling Author Jack Singer Won’t Be Returning to South Africa | Chris Keys
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Home » Musicians » Janiva Magness
Janiva Magness
Award-winning vocalist Janiva Magness is among the premier blues and R&B singers in the world today. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty and beauty born from her life experience. A charismatic performer known for her electrifying live shows, Magness is a gutsy and dynamic musical powerhouse. She received the coveted 2009 Blues Music Awards for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year and for Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year, an honor she also received in 2006 and 2007. She has received eleven previous Blues Music Award nominations. Magness has been performing for almost three decades, logging thousands of miles on the road and appearing 150 nights a year at clubs, theatres and festivals all over the world.
Her rise to the top was far from easy. Born in Detroit, Magness was inspired by the blues and country she heard listening to her father’s record collection, and by the vibrant music of the city’s classic Motown sound. By her teenage years, though, her life was in chaos. She lost both parents to suicide by the age of 16 and lived on the streets, bouncing from one foster home to another. At 17, she became a teenage mother who gave up her baby daughter for adoption. One night in Minneapolis, an underage Magness sneaked into a club to see blues great Otis Rush, and it was there that she found her salvation and decided that the blues were her calling. Magness recalls, “Otis played as if his life depended on it. There was a completely desperate, absolute intensity. I knew, whatever it was, I needed more of it.” She began going to as many blues shows as possible, soaking up the sounds of her favorite artists, including Johnny Copeland and Albert Collins. She immersed herself in records by James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and all the other R&B greats.
Listening to these blues and soul artists and watching them live, sparked Janiva and gave her life direction. Her first break came several years later, while working as an intern at a recording studio. She was approached by her boss to sing some supporting vocals on a track. Finding her voice, she soon began working regularly as a background singer.
By the early 1980s, Magness made her way to Phoenix and befriended Bob Tate, the musical director for the great Sam Cooke. With Tate’s mentoring, she formed her first band, Janiva Magness and the Mojomatics, in 1985 and before long the influential Phoenix New Times named her group the city’s Best Blues Band. She moved to Los Angeles in 1986 and slowly began finding work. She recorded her second studio album, “It Takes One To Know One,” in 1997. After three more independent releases, Janiva signed with Northern Blues and recorded “Bury Him At The Crossroads” in 2004 and “Do I Move You?” in 2006.
Magness signed with Alligator in 2008 and released her stunning label debut, “What Love Will Do,” to massive critical acclaim, putting her in front of an audience of millions and expanding her ever-growing fan base. Her 2010 CD, “The Devil Is An Angel Too,” is where she cuts to the heart and soul of each song with grit, heart and fierce passion, making it her most compelling release yet.
Janiva Magness’ deeply emotional music, sung with passion, conviction and soul, and her ability to connect with an audience, assures her place among the blues elite. With “The Devil Is An Angel Too” and her explosive live shows hitting cities across North America and Europe, Janiva Magness continues to spread her empowering message of hope through music.
Love Wins Again by James Nadal
The Devil is an Angel Too by Chris M. Slawecki
Bury Him At The Crossroads by Jim Santella
My Bad Luck Soul by Ed Kopp
Janiva Magness Celebrates New Release "Stronger for It" in...
Award-Winning Janiva Magness to Release "Stronger For It" March 13
Love Wins Again
Blue Elan Records
The Devil is an Angel...
Bury Him At The...
NorthernBlues Music
My Bad Luck Soul
Blues Leaf Records
Big Bill Broonzy
guitar, acoustic
Duke Robillard
guitar, electric
guitar, slide
Deborah Coleman
Katie Webster
Angela Strehli
Shemekia Copeland
Kenny Neal
Last Updated: June 9, 2016
Instrument: Vocalist
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