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SUEZ CANAL - DID IRAN GET THROUGH DUE TO OBAMA'S WEAKNESS?
Two Outcomes Encoded in Torah (2/27/2011 Update)
On February 22, 2011, Iran sent two of its warships through the Suez Canal en route to Syria. Some feared the passage would trigger a war. It would be the first time that Iran sent warships through the canal since its Islamic revolution in 1979. Israel said it would not continue to accept such provocations. On the matrix below, the only ELS of SUEZ CANAL touches EGYPT. ISRAEL is in the open text, as is GO OUT TO WAR. One of two possible spellings of IRAN is on the matrix at an ELS. There have already been 4 wars between Israel and Egypt which have seen involvement with the Suez Canal. In the open text is SURELY YE SHALL NOT COME INTO THE LAND. That turned out to be not the operative phrase, but perhaps GO OUT TO WAR is the eventual outcome. The ultimate destination of the Iranian ships, SYRIA, is on the matrix at the same absolute skip as SUEZ CANAL, though in the opposite direction. Did Iran succeed in getting through due to the weakness of Predident Obama? The usual Hebrew spelling of Obama is alef vav bet mem hey. That is not on the matrix, but an alternate transliteration of his name with the last letter an alef is there. A Fox News story and statistical studies follow the matrix.
Official: Iranian Warships Cancel Plan to Pass Through Suez Canal (Note: the Fox headline turned out to be wrong. The two ships passed through in the canal on February 22, 2011. Part of the Fox story is repeated below.)
Israel Hinting Action Over Iranian Warships
Expert suspects Iran creating conflict
Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that "Israel cannot ignore these provocations," according to ynetnews.com.
"Unfortunately, the international community is not ready to deal with Iran's repeated provocations," Lieberman said, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Lieberman added that the warships were "a provocation that proves Iran's nerve and self-esteem is growing from day to day."
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in an e-mailed statement that "Israel is closely following the movements of the Iranian ships and has updated friendly states on the issue. Israel will continue to follow the ships movements."
Meanwhile, Iran announced plans to deploy warships near Israel and dock at a Syrian port for a year, IsraelNationalNews.com reported Wednesday.
A senior Israeli official told the site that "Israel will know how to deal with it."
Intelligence officials believed that the Iranian warships might have been involved in supplying radical Islamic groups in Yemen with weapons, according to UPI.com. In Washington, the Pentagon declined to comment.
STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MATRIX. The Torah’s only ELS of SUEZ CANAL is the axis term. I never assign statistical significance to an axis term. There was no date on the matrix, so what is on the matrix? WAR was an a priori term. I would have accepted the two synonyms used on the CodeFinder Dictionary, or the open text phrase found, GO OUT TO WAR. There was about 1 chance in 16 for a hit on one of these terms in the open text. After these terms, the names of the nations except SYRIA are not significant on the full matrix. There was about 1 chance in 2 for ISRAEL to be there in the open text, about 1 in 3 for EGYPT in the open text, and an almost certainty that either the 4 or 5-letter spellings for IRAN would be there at some ELS. As for OBAMA, there was about 1 chance in 5 that one of the two spellings checked for him would be on the matrix. The chance that SYRIA would be there (two spellings checked - the word used here is actually the Biblical name, ASSYRIA) at a special case skip (+1, -1, or the absolute skip of the axis term) was about 1 in 29. That makes it the most significant term on the matrix. So, if we remove the phrase SURELY YOU SHALL NOT COME INTO THE LAND, then there was about 1 chance in 19,212 to find the matrix. The phrase GO OUT TO WAR is of concern because the cargo ship may deliver missiles to Syria.
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M&A Advisory Services
Arlington advises New Belgium in its transaction with Lion Little World Beverages
Birmingham, AL | November 20, 2019.
Birmingham, AL – November 20, 2019 Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a leading consumer-focused investment bank, announced today that its principals acted as exclusive financial advisors to New Belgium Brewing Company as it signed a definitive agreement for Lion Little World Beverages to acquire 100% of New Belgium in an all cash transaction.
Arlington advises Dogfish Head in its Merger with The Boston Beer Company
Birmingham, AL | July 9, 2019.
Birmingham, AL – July 9, 2019 Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a leading consumer-focused investment bank, announced today that its principals acted as lead financial advisors to Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Inc. in its merger with The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM), which closed on July 3, 2019.
Arlington Advises Urban Plates in its $38 Million Facility with Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Group
Birmingham, AL | October 1, 2018.
October 1, 2018 - Arlington Capital Advisors, a leading consumer investment bank, announced today that it advised Urban Plates, a California-based, upscale fast casual restaurant brand, in its $38 million growth and working capital facility with Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Group.
Arlington Advises London-based Beavertown Brewery and India-based Bira91
Birmingham, AL | July, 2018.
Arlington Capital Advisors has continued its peerless track-record in global craft beer, representing two more international leaders in the first half of 2018. We represented Bira91 in its capital raise led by Brussels-based Sofina and most recently advised Beavertown Brewery in its minority investment from Heineken.
Arlington Advises NRD Capital on its Acquisition of Ruby Tuesday
Birmingham, AL | December 22, 2017.
December 22, 2017 Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising consumer businesses, advised NRD Capital in its acquisition of Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Arlington’s principals acted as registered securities agents of M&A Securities Group, Inc.
Arlington Advises Short's Brewing on its Minority Investment from Lagunitas
The principals of Arlington Capital Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisors to Short's Brewing Company in its partnership with Lagunitas Brewing Company.
Arlington Advises on Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q and Roark Capital Transaction
The principals of Arlington Capital Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisors on Roark Capital's transaction with Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, a full-service restaurant brand specializing in authentic, made-from-scratch barbecue and Southern inspired cuisine prepared with high-quality, fresh ingredients. Jim 'N Nick's has 37 locations in 7 states and is based in Birmingham, Alabama.
Bill Kraus Joins Arlington Capital Advisors
Birmingham, AL | April 6, 2017.
April 6, 2017 – Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising consumer businesses, announced today that longtime restaurant and consumer financier, William R. “Bill” Kraus has joined the firm as a Managing Director.
Arlington Advises BrewDog on its Minority Investment from TSG Consumer
The principals of Arlington Capital Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisors to Scotland-based BrewDog plc in its partnership with TSG Consumer Partners.
Arlington Advises Bravo Food Service On Its Sale To Four Foods Group
Birmingham, AL | March 31, 2017.
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC and Founders Investment Banking, LLC are pleased to announce that Four Foods Group (FFG) has purchased substantially all of the assets of Bravo Food Service, LLC (Bravo), a leading franchisee of Little Caesars in the Southeast.
Arlington Advises Atlas Keg Company In Its Partnership With Keg Logistics
Birmingham, AL | October 13, 2016
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising consumer businesses, announced today that its principals acted as exclusive financial advisors to Atlas Keg Company in its partnership with Keg Logistics, a portfolio company of Bregal Sagemount. Arlington’s principals acted as registered securities agents of M&A Securities Group, Inc. in the transaction.
Arlington Advises Velvet Taco On Its Partnership With L Catterton
Birmingham, AL | October 7, 2016
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising consumer businesses, announced today that its principals acted as exclusive financial advisors to Velvet Taco in its partnership with L Catterton. Arlington’s principals acted as registered securities agents of M&A Securities Group, Inc. in the transaction.
Arlington Advises Kith Kitchens In Its Partnership With Pfingsten
Birmingham, AL | June 16, 2016
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely-held businesses, announced today that its principals acted as exclusive financial advisors to Kith Kitchens in its partnership with Pfingsten.
Arlington Advises Victory Brewing Company In Its Landmark Alliance With Southern Tier Brewing Company
Birmingham, AL | April 22, 2016
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely-held consumer businesses, announced today that its principals acted as exclusive financial advisors to Victory Brewing Company in its partnership with Southern Tier Brewing Company.
Arlington Advises Maui Wowi On Its Sale To Kahala Brands
Birmingham, AL | November 3, 2015
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely-held consumer businesses, announced today that it served as exclusive financial advisors to Maui Wowi on its sale to Kahala Brands.
Arlington Advises Dogfish Head Craft Brewery On Its Partnership With LNK Partners
Birmingham, AL | September 29, 2015
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely-held consumer businesses, announced today that its principals acted as exclusive financial advisors to Dogfish Head in its partnership with LNK Partners.
Arlington Advises My Fit Foods On Its Investment From Marlin Equity Partners
Birmingham, AL | July 29, 2015
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closelyheld consumer businesses, announced today that it served as financial advisors to My Fit Foods™ on its growth equity investment from Marlin Equity Partners, a global investment firm with over $3 billion of capital under management.
Arlington Advises The EGG & I On Its Sale To First Watch Restaurants, INC.
Birmingham, AL | June 3, 2015
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closelyheld consumer businesses, announced today that it served as the exclusive financial advisors to The Egg & I Restaurants on its sale to First Watch Restaurants Inc.
Arlington Advises Planet Smoothie And Tasti D-Life On Sale To Kahala Brands
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closelyheld consumer businesses, announced today that it served as exclusive financial advisors to Planet Smoothie and Tasti D-Lite on the concepts’ sale to Kahala Brands.
Arlington Capital Advisors Advises Abita Brewing Co. in Partnership with Enjoy Beer LLC
Birmingham, AL | May 8, 2015
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely-held consumer businesses, announced today that its principals acted as exclusive financial advisors to Abita Brewing Co. in its partnership with Enjoy Beer LLC.
Arlington Capital Advisors Advises Catterton on its Investment in Pure Barre
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely held consumer businesses, announced today that its principals acted as exclusive financial advisors to Catterton in its growth capital investment in Pure Barre.
Arlington Capital Advisors Advises on Formation of Good Smoke Holdings, LLC
Birmingham, AL | December 18, 2014
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely‐held consumer businesses, announced today that its principals acted as exclusive advisors on the formation of Good Smoke Holdings, LLC.
Arlington Capital Advisors Facilitates Camp Bow Wow's Partnership with VCA inc.
Birmingham, AL | August 20, 2014
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely-held consumer businesses, announced today that its principals facilitated the sale of Camp Bow Wow to VCA Inc. (NYSE: WOOF).
Arlington Capital Advisors Facilitates Sale of Doc Popcorn to Dippin' Dots
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely-held consumer businesses, announced today that its principals facilitated a sale of Doc Popcorn to Dippin’ Dots Franchising, LLC.
Arlington Capital Advisors Facilitates Investment in Newk's Eatery
Birmingham, AL | March 25, 2014
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely-held consumer businesses, announced today that its principals facilitated a majority investment in Newk’s Eatery by New York based Sentinel Capital Partners.
Arlington Capital Advisors Facilitates Investment in Hickory Tavern
Birmingham, AL | January 23, 2014
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely‐held middle market businesses, announced today that its principals facilitated a growth capital investment in T&B Management, LLC dba Hickory Tavern (“Hickory Tavern” or the “Company”) by Connecticut‐based Rosser Capital Partners.
Arlington Capital Advisors Advised on the Sale of Steel City Crane to Barnhart Crane Rigging Co.
Birmingham, AL | April 4, 2013
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely‐held middle market businesses, announced today that it advised on the sale of Steel City, Inc. d/b/a Steel City Crane ("Steel City" or the "Company") to Barnhart Crane & Rigging Co.
Arlington Capital Advisors Advises Pure Barre on its Transaction with WJ Partners
Denver, CO | October 25, 2012
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely‐held middle market businesses, announced today that it advised and facilitated a private equity recapitalization of Pure Barre Franchising, LLC and its affiliates (“Pure Barre” or the “Company”) by Spartanburg, South Carolina based WJ Partners.
Arlington Capital Advisors Facilitates Investment in Taco Mac
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely‐held middle market businesses, announced today that its principals facilitated a growth capital investment in Tappan Street Restaurant Group, Inc. dba Taco Mac (“Taco Mac” or the “Company”) by Dallas-based CIC Partners.
Arlington Capital Advisors Advises on Sale of Planet Smoothie to Tasti D-Lite
Birmingham, AL | January 6, 2012
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely‐held middle market businesses, announced today that it advised on the sale of Planet Smoothie, LLC ("Planet Smoothie" or the "Company") to Tasti D‐Lite.
Arlington Capital Advisors Advises on Sale of Bytewise Measurement Systems to the L.S. Starrett Company
Birmingham, AL | December 6, 2011
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely‐held middle market businesses, announced today that it advised on the sale of Bytewise Measurement Systems ("Bytewise" or the "Company") to The L.S. Starrett Company (NYSE: SCX)
Arlington Capital Advisors Advises on Sale of Tarrant Hydraulic Service to Motion Industries
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank specialized in advising closely‐held middle market businesses, announced that it advised on the sale of Tarrant Hydraulic Service (“THS” or the “Company”) to Motion Industries, a division of Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC).
Arlington Capital Advisors Facilitates Investment in C2 Education
Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment bank that specializes in advising closely-held middle market businesses, announced that its principals facilitated a growth capital investment in C2 Education ('C2" or the "Company") by San Francisco‐based private equity firm Serent Capital.
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Open Letter to Quebec's Chief Minister
US based Environmental Health Trust and Cancer Association of South Africa have sent a letter signed by over 100 scientists from 28 countries to Quebec's Premier Jean Charest. One can read it here:http://www.rightoncanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Letter-to-Premier-Charest1.pdf
On page 6 of the letter is a section on "Efforts by the asbestos industry to intimidate and silence scientists". In this section, it tells how the Quebec asbestos industry has called the health experts who work at the governments' National Public Health Institute "a little band of Talibans" for opposing asbestos use. And it tells how the asbestos industry in India is threatening scientists.
On page 7, the 100+ scientists who signed the letter make the following appeal to Premier Charest "These actions by the asbestos industry to intimidate and silence scientists are a threat to scientific and academic freedom of speech by vested interests and we call on you, on the eve of your trade mission to India, to categorically condemn such actions against scientists and to give your unequivocal support to your government’s own health scientists."
The letter is reproduced below:
Dear Premier Charest:
As scientists from twenty-eight countries, dedicated to protecting public health, we
appeal to you to respect the overwhelmingly consistent body of scientific evidence and
the considered judgment of the World Health Organization (WHO) that all forms of
asbestos have been shown to be deadly and that safe use of any form of asbestos has
proven impossible anywhere in the world.
We appeal to you to act honourably and to listen to Quebec’s own public health experts1,
prominent health experts across Canada2, as well as the Canadian Medical Association3,
the Quebec Cancer Society4 and the World Health Organization (WHO)5, who have all
called for use and export of asbestos to end.
We wish to draw your attention to the following troubling points, which suggest that your
government is practising a double standard, thus bringing dishonour on Quebec’s
international reputation.
1) Quebec itself is experiencing an epidemic of asbestos-related disease1
« Cessons le mensonge », La Presse, Sept. 16, 2009
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/opinions/forums/200909/16/01-902224-cessons-le-mensonge.php 2
Letter to federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Canadian Association of Physicians for the
Environment et al, Dec. 1, 2009 http://www.rightoncanada.ca/?p=465 3
Canadian Medical Association resolution, Aug. 19, 2009, http://tinyurl.com/yknhlee 4
Canadian Cancer Society, asbestos position http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/Prevention/Specific%20environmental%20contaminants/Asbestos.aspx
World Health Organization, Elimination of Asbestos-Related Diseases,http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/asbestosrelateddiseases.pdf
In Quebec itself, exposure to asbestos is the single biggest cause of worker death. Figures
for 2009 from the Quebec Workers’ Compensation Board show 60% of occupational
deaths were caused by asbestos.6
Other statistics confirm that Quebec is experiencing an appalling epidemic of asbestos-
related disease. Official data shows 134 new cases of mesothelioma reported in Quebec
in 20047 and Quebec’s National Public Health Institute (INSPQ) reports 211 cases of
asbestosis in 20048. It is well recognized that for every case of mesothelioma, asbestos
causes two to three times as many cases of lung cancer.9
This gives a total of 612 new cases of asbestos-related disease in Quebec in 2004 (134
recorded cases of mesothelioma, 211 recorded cases of asbestosis and a conservative
estimate of 268 cases of lung cancer).
From 1992 to 2006, the annual number of Quebec cases of mesothelioma has risen from
92 to 142.10
We note that in 2007, facing high numbers of cases of asbestosis, your government’s
health authorities set up a special program, using a mobile x-ray clinic to travel around
the province and give chest x-rays to construction workers, in an endeavour to identify
and aid workers with signs of asbestosis.11
This is a public health calamity and one that would not have happened if the industry’s
denial of the hazards of asbestos had not been believed. And as leading expert Prof. Paul
Demers of the University of British Columbia states, “Much of the burden of asbestos-
related disease remains unrecognized.”12
We call on you not to export this same public health tragedy to developing countries,
where surely there is more than enough injustice and suffering already.
2) Quebec itself does not use chrysotile asbestos
Confédération des syndicats nationaux, Octobre 18, 2009,
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2009/18/c7806.html7
Statistics Canada, http://cansim2.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.exe?Lang=E&RootDir=CII/&ResultTemplate=CII/CII___&Array_Pick=1&ArrayId=103
INSPQ, Descriptive Epidemiology of the Principal Asbestos-Related Diseases in Québec, 1981-
2004, page 38 http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/955_PricipalAsbestosRelatDiseases.pdf 9
Selikoff IJ, Seidman H. Asbestos-Associated Deaths among Insulation Workers in the United
States and Canada, 1967-1987. Ann N Y Acad Sci 330: 1-14 (1990).10
Statistics Canada, ibid. 11
Programme d’intervention pour la prévention des maladies professionnelles reliées à
l’amiante, Bulletin de santé publique, région des Laurentides, Vol 14, No 1, janvier 2007
http://www.rrsss15.gouv.qc.ca/Maux/mqcv14n1.pdf 12
Prof. Paul Demers et al, School of Environmental Health, University of British Columbia, The
Burden of Asbestos-Related Disease in BC, 2009
Quebec itself uses virtually none of the asbestos it mines, in spite of major infrastructure
projects currently underway. The government’s 2002 policy of increased use of chrysotile
asbestos in Quebec13 is a policy that has not been implemented, as the people of Quebec,
in order to protect their own and their children’s health, do not want asbestos in their
schools, hospitals or homes. Instead, virtually all Quebec’s asbestos is exported to
developing countries, where protections are few and awareness of the hazards of asbestos
almost non-existent.
3) Quebec is removing chrysotile asbestos from its buildings
Your government is spending millions of dollars to remove chrysotile asbestos and other
forms of asbestos from Quebec’s schools, hospitals and buildings, while at the same time
exporting it to developing countries and telling them it is safe. This seems to represent a
high level of hypocrisy.
Furthermore, Quebec has the financial resources, trained experts and specialized equipment to remove dangerous deteriorated chrysotile asbestos from its buildings;
developing countries do not.
4) Quebec itself has failed to achieve “safe use” of chrysotile asbestos
Your government’s own expert Public Health Institute (INSPQ) has published fifteen reports14, all of them documenting that it has proven impossible to handle chrysotile asbestos safely in Quebec itself. The INSPQ states that “safe use” of chrysotile asbestos is likely impossible, particularly for construction workers, and it therefore opposes your government’s policy of increased use of chrysotile asbestos.15
A research project by several of your government’s top health agencies found that, in the
miniscule number of work-places in Quebec still using chrysotile asbestos today, there
was a 100% failure rate to practise “safe use” standards. The report recommended that
equipment containing asbestos be replaced by safer, non-asbestos containing equipment.16
When Quebec itself is unable to achieve “safe use” of chrysotile asbestos, how can anyone pretend that chrysotile asbestos can be handled safely in developing countries, which lack the resources, regulatory controls and technological advantages Quebec enjoys? 13
Government of Québec, Policy Concerning the Increased and Safe Use of Chrysotile Asbestos
in Québec, June 2002, http://www.chrysotile.com/en/chrysotile/regulation/qc-gov.aspx 14
INSPQ reports 222, 233, 250, 293, 393, 616, 651, 815, 927, 942, 953, 954, 968, 986 & 1002.
English translations: reports 292, 342, 394 & 955
http://www.inspq.qc.ca/publications/default.asp?E=p 15
INSPQ Advisory, The Use of Chrysotile Asbestos in Québec, pages 11 & 14, June 2005
http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/394-AdvisoryAsbestosChrysotile.pdf 16
Government of Québec, Projet Provincial – Amiante, 31 déc. 2007,
http://www.santepub-mtl.qc.ca/Publication/pdftravail/projetamiante.pdf
5) There is no safe exposure level for chrysotile asbestos
According to a spokesperson for Quebec’s Occupational Health & Safety Commission (CSST), the government of Quebec has adopted a "zero tolerance" policy for exposure to asbestos.17 We applaud your government for seeking thus to protect Quebec workers from asbestos harm. We call on you to show equal concern for the lives of workers in the developing world.
We are deeply troubled that, instead, your government is endorsing the position of the Chrysotile Institute, telling developing countries that exposure of 1 fibre of chrysotile asbestos per cubic centimetre of air (1 f/cc) is perfectly safe for them18. While this is indeed the position of the asbestos industry, it is not the position of independent experts. The WHO, the Canadian Cancer Society, the U.S. Surgeon General, the fifty countries who have banned chrysotile asbestos, state that there is no safe exposure level for chrysotile asbestos. Exposure levels of 1 f/cc will cause unnecessary disease and death for those exposed.
We find it shocking that the exposure level you endorse for people overseas is a ten times higher than the level permitted by all of the other provinces in Canada, by the U.S., by the European Union and by other Western industrialized countries. It is one hundred times higher than the exposure level permitted in several countries, such as Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
We note that samples taken during a five-year period from 1995 – 2000 for asbestos workers at Thetford Mines showed that the 1 f/cc standard was exceeded in more than 10% of the samples, with workers being exposed to levels from 1.02 f/cc to 5.15 f/cc.19
A recent CBC documentary Canada’s Ugly Secret20 showed workers in India handling Quebec’s asbestos who are exposed to far higher levels than 1 f/cc.
6) Industry misinformation is funded by your government
Chrysotile asbestos represents 100% of the world asbestos trade. It represents ninety-five
percent of all the asbestos ever used. The chrysotile asbestos industry in Quebec, Kazakhstan, Zimbabwe and Russia all claim that chrysotile asbestos can and is being safely used. 17
Asbestos remains leading Cause of Que. work-related deaths, Marianne White, CanWest
News Service, Nov. 5, 2009 http://www.canada.com/health/Asbestos+remains+leading+cause+work+related+deaths/2189125/story.htm
Promotion de l’amiante : Québec persiste et signe, François Cardinal, La Presse, Sept. 22,
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/la-tribune/economie/200909/22/01-904310-promotion-de-lamiante-
quebec-persiste-et-signe.php 19
L’exposition aux fibres d’amiante dans le secteur minier, Turcot & Roberge, Dec. 2001
http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/evenements/symposium-amiante/10h00-TurcotRobergeMines.pdf 20
CBC The National, Canada’s Ugly Secret,
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/The_National/Health/ID=1304445584
The information put out by the asbestos industry is however completely discredited. Health experts in Quebec and around the world have documented and condemned the misleading and untruthful information the industry disseminates.21
We draw to your attention that a favourite expert of the Chrysotile Institute (a registered
lobby group for the Quebec asbestos industry funded by your government22 and on whose board a representative of your government sits23) is Christopher Booker, who has no apparent scientific credentials and who considers climate change, harm from chrysotile asbestos, harm from tobacco smoke and harm from lead in gasoline to all be hysterical hoaxes24.
Recently, the Pro-Chrysotile Movement and Dr Jacques Dunnigan (a long-time employee and spokesperson for the Chrysotile Institute) falsely presented to the Quebec public a U.S. Dept of Health CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances25 as evidence proving that chrysotile asbestos is a low threat to health, noting that chrysotile asbestos is #119 on the list.
What they did not disclose, however, is that the list relates only to clean-up of wastes at
Superfund toxic sites in the U.S., where chrysotile asbestos is not significantly present. If
Dr Dunnigan and the Pro-Chrysotile Movement had bothered to read the list, they would
have seen that amosite asbestos, which they themselves recognize as an extremely hazardous substance, is listed at #131, as less hazardous than chrysotile asbestos, and plutonium, an extremely deadly substance, is listed at #121.
In fact, the U.S. Dept. of Health website specifically provides a warning that the list is
NOT a list of most toxic substances and should NOT be treated as such26.
We find it incomprehensible and extremely disappointing to learn that Radio Canada’s
news program Le Téléjournal presented the list to its viewers as authentic evidence of the
low risk of chrysotile asbestos, when the most elementary journalistic standards, such as
reading the list or the document containing the list, would immediately reveal this
purported evidence to be a hoax.27 It is hard to believe that Dr Dunnigan and Radio-21
Smoke and Mirrors: Chrysotile Asbestos Is Good For You – Illusion and Confusion But Not
Fact, Dr Richard Lemen, U.S. Assistant Surgeon General (Ret) http://worldasbestosreport.org/articles/iatb/page16-20.pdf 22
QUÉBEC ANNONCE SA CONTRIBUTION FINANCIÈRE DE 600 000 $ À L'INSTITUT DU
CHRYSOTILE, Canada NewsWire, 17 mars 2008 23
Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada, http://tinyurl.com/yzcztks 24
Booker & North, Scared to Death: from BSE to Global Warming: Why Scares are Costing Us
the Earth, Chrysotile Institute, Undeniable Facts, pages 29 & 41,
http://www.chrysotile.com/data/Undeniable_facts.pdf25
CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) 2007 list
compiled by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/cercla/07list.html 26
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, What is the CERCLA list?
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/cercla/ 27
Radio-Canada, Le Téléjournal, Dec. 7, 2009
Canada could demonstrate such extreme ignorance and irresponsibility, but the alternative explanation of deliberate deception is even more disturbing.
We note that in an earlier program on chrysotile asbestos, le Téléjournal interviewed five
people, everyone one of whom was a proponent of, and had a connection to, the asbestos
industry. In response to complaints, the Radio-Canada Ombudsman ruled that le Téléjournal’s program was biased and violated the journalism standards of Radio-Canada.
7) Efforts by the asbestos industry to intimidate and silence scientists
We note with dismay that the asbestos industry, as well as Laurent Lessard, a minister in your government who represents the asbestos mining area, have vilified and threatened your government’s National Public Health Institute (INSPQ), thus creating a climate of intimidation to inhibit these health professionals from practising independent science without fear or favour. Bernard Coulombe, who is a director of the Chrysotile Institute and president of the Jeffrey asbestos mine, has called the INSPQ “a little bunch of Talibans”28 and Minister Lessard has spoken of “repercussions” on the INSPQ29.
We note also that the asbestos industry’s supporters have informed your government that they are displeased that the INSPQ’s research reveals health problems caused by asbestos, strongly implying that they would like you to silence the inconvenient truths about asbestos that the INSPQ documents.30
We are extremely disturbed that the asbestos industry in India - Quebec’s number one asbestos customer, with whom the Quebec industry works closely - has recently sent letters to a number of scientists in India saying that legal action will be taken against them if they do not retract their statements and published articles concerning the threat to health posed by chrysotile asbestos.
The asbestos industry, including the Quebec Chrysotile Institute that your government funds, has a long history of seeking to silence, by lawsuits or other means, those who oppose use of asbestos. In November 2007, the Quebec Chrysotile Institute filed a lawsuit in France against the National Association of Victims of Asbestos (ANDEVA), causing them financial and human costs, only to withdraw the case on the court-house steps in March 2009 after the Association refused to be intimidated.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/telejournal/2009-2010/Reportage.asp?idDoc=98290 28
Le Soleil, Nov. 18, 2009, Michel Corbeil, Amiante, une politique sans suivi,
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/affaires/actualite-economique/200911/17/01-922620-amiante-
une-politique-sans-suivi.php29
La Tribune, Les défenseurs n’ont pas l’intention de baisser les bras, 30 nov. 2009, Nelson
Fecteau30
Sherbrooke Record, Quebec sending mixed messages on support for asbestos industry, Dec.
14, 2009, Stephen McDougall, http://www.sherbrookerecord.com/content/view/339155/1/
These actions by the asbestos industry to intimidate and silence scientists are a threat to
scientific and academic freedom of speech by vested interests and we call on you, on the
eve of your trade mission to India, to categorically condemn such actions against
scientists and to give your unequivocal support to your government’s own health
scientists.
8) Sabotage of a U.N. environmental convention
We note that your government and the asbestos industry have successfully lobbied the
Canadian government to block the listing of chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous substance
under a U.N. environmental convention (the Rotterdam Convention), thus preventing the
recommendation of the Convention’s expert scientific body from being implemented and
thus also jeopardizing the mandate of the Convention.
The Rotterdam Convention was created specifically to protect people in developing
countries and countries in economic transition from being harmed by hazardous
substances. It provides the basic human right of prior informed consent, requiring that
countries be informed that a substance they may import is hazardous.
It is extremely troubling to see Quebec instigate sabotage of a U.N. environmental
convention and thus deny a basic human right that is taken for granted in Quebec itself.
This obstruction helps the industry’s sales. But it brings Quebec into international
disrepute.
Under Canadian law, chrysotile asbestos is classified as a hazardous substance, but the
Quebec government has successfully lobbied to prevent it being recognized as such under
international environmental law, thus creating a double standard of protection as if some
lives were less deserving of protection than others.
We note that at the December 2009 Copenhagen Conference you called on Canada to
show stronger commitment to implementing the UN Climate Change Convention. We
ask you to show similar commitment to implementing the UN Rotterdam Convention.
Our appeal to you
In light of the above disturbing facts, we appeal to you, as you are about to leave on a
trade mission to India, to show the integrity and honour that the world expects of Quebec.
We ask that you listen to the overwhelming evidence put forward by independent health
experts, including your own Quebec health experts, and not succumb to the political
lobbying of the asbestos industry.
We call on you, as well as the leaders of the other Quebec political parties, to end
Quebec’s export of asbestos, to stop funding the Chrysotile Institute, to support the listing
of chrysotile asbestos under the UN Rotterdam Convention, to assist the last 340 asbestos
miners and their community with economic diversification and to address the asbestos
disease epidemic in Quebec.
We thank you for giving our request your consideration and look forward with hope and
anticipation to receiving your response.
Devra Davis Sue Janse van Rensburg
Founder, Environmental Health Trust Chief Executive Officer
Professor of Preventive Medicine Cancer Association of South Africa
Mt Sinai Medical Center
Cc: Pauline Marois, chef du Parti Québécois
Sylvie Roy, chef de l’Action démocratique du Québec
Amir Khadir, chef du Québé Solidaire
ON BEHALF OF:
- Dr Richard A. Lemen, Ph.D., M.S.P.H.; United States Assistant Surgeon General,
USPHS (ret.)
- Dr Arthur L. Frank MD, PhD, Professor of Public Health and Professor of Medicine,
Drexel University, Philadelphia, U.S.
- Dr David G. Kern, M.D., M.O.H., Consultant in Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, Formerly, Director, Program in Occupational Medicine and Associate
Professor of Medicine, Brown University School of Medicine, U.S.
- Dr Domyung Paek, MD, MSc, ScD, Professor, Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Korea
- Dr Peter F. Infante, D.D.S., Dr.P.H., Department of Environmental and Occupational
Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University,
Washington; former Director of Standards Review, U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration; Asbestos Dispute Resolution Panel Scientific Expert, World Trade
Organization, 1999-2000, U.S.
- Dr Giuliano Franco MD Hon FFOM, Professor of Occupational Medicine
School of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Professor Konrad Rydzyński M.D. , Ph.D, Director, Nofer Institute of Occupational
Medicine, Lodz, Poland; Coordinator of Environmental Cancer Risks, Nutrition and
Individual Susceptibility, European Network of Excellence
- Dr Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, President, Collegium Ramazzini; Ethel H. Wise
Professor and Chairman, Department of Preventive Medicine; Professor of Pediatrics,
Director, Children's Environmental Health Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, U.S.
- Prof J Myers, Director, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research,
School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- Prof. Dr. Qamar Rahman, FNASc, Dean, Research & Development, Integral University,
- Dr. Linda C. Koo, former Head, Cancer Research Laboratory, Hong Kong Anti-Cancer
Society; former Associate Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong
- Dr David H. Wegman, MD, MSc, Professor Emeritus, Department of Work
Environment, School of Health and Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell,
- Dr Stephen M. Levin, MD, Medical Co-Director, I J Selikoff Center for Occupational
and Environmental Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, U.S.
- Dr Heleno Rodrigues Corrêa Filho, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, UNICAMP –
FCM, Dept. Social & Preventive Medicine CAMPINAS, Brazil
- Dr Sanjay Chaturvedi, MD, FAMS, FIPHA, FIAPSM, Professor of Community
Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi, India
- Dr. Mathuros Ruchirawat, Vice President for Research, Chulabhorn Research Institute
Bangkok, Thailand,
- Dr Bruce WS Robinson, MBBS MD FRACP FRCP DTM&H FCCP, Professor of
Medicine, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Consultant Respiratory Physician,
Dept of Respiratory Medicine, SCGH: Director, National Centre for Asbestos Related
Diseases; Director, International Skills and Training Institute in Health, Chairman, State
Health Research Advisory Committee, Australia
- Dr Guadalupe Aguilar Madrid, Unidad de Investigación en Salud en el Trabajo.
Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Mexico
- David Gee, Senior Adviser, Science, Policy, Emerging Issues, Integrated Environmental
Assessment, European Environment Agency, Denmark
- Dr Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH, Assistant Research Professor, Dept of
Environmental & Occupational Health, School of Public Health, The George Washington
University, U.S.
- Dr Kenneth D. Rosenman M.D., Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Michigan State University, U.S.
- Dr James Huff, PhD, Associate Director for Chemical Carcinogenesis, National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, U.S.
- Dr Colin Soskolne, Professor (Epidemiology), Department of Public Health
Sciences; Academic Coordinator, Office of Sustainability, School of Public Health,
University of Alberta, Canada
- Dr Michael Gochfeld, MD, PhD, Professor of Environmental and Occupational
Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, U.S.
- Dr Gerald V. Poje, Ph.D., Former Board Member, U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard
Investigation Board, U.S.
- Prof. Rodolfo AG Vilela, Depto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública,
USP, Brazil
- Dr Laura S Welch MD, Medical Director, CPWR - The Center for Construction
Research and Training, Adjunct Professor, George Washington University School of
Public Health and Health Sciences, U.S.
- Dr Eduardo Algranti, MD, MSc, DPH, Division of Medicine, FUNDACENTRO,
Ministry of Labour and Employment, São Paulo, Brazil
- Dr Tim K. Takaro, MD, MPH, MS., Associate Professor, Acting Associate Dean for
Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Canada
- Dr Bernard D. Goldstein, MD, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health,
Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, U.S.
- Dr Matthew Keifer MD MPH, Professor, Occupational Medicine, University of
Washington, U.S.
- Dr Lew Pepper, MD, MPH, Assstant Professor Environmental Health, Boston
University School of Public Health, U.S.
- Dr Robert B. Cameron, M.D., Professor of Surgery, UCLA, U.S.
- Dr David Egilman, MD, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family
Medicine, Brown University, U.S.
- Dr Fiorella Belpoggi, Director, Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Centre, Ramazzini
Institute, Italy
- Dr Joseph LaDou, MD, Director, International Center for Occupational Medicine,
University of California School of Medicine, U.S.
- Dr John M Last MD, Emeritus professor of epidemiology, University of Ottawa,
- Prof Karen B. Mulloy, DO, MSCH, Associate Professor, Colorado School of Public
Health, U.S.
- Dr John C. Bailar III, Former Professor, McGill University; Professor Emeritus,
University of Chicago, Scholar in Residence, National Academies, U.S.
- Dr Abby Lippman, PhD, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and
Occupational Health, McGill University; member, Steering Committee, Women and
Health Protection, Canada
- Dr Daniel Thau Teitelbaum MD, Adjunct Professor, Colorado School of Public Health
Denver, U.S.
- Dr Fernand Turcotte, Professor Emeritus of Public Health, Faculté de Médecine,
Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Dr Morris Greenberg, Morris Greenberg, MB, FRCP, FFOM, former HM Medical
Inspector of Factories & Member of the Toxicology and Environmental Health
Division, Department of Health, England
- Dr Ivancica Trosic, Ph.D., Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health,
- Dr Peter Orris, MD, MPH, Professor and Chief of Service, Environmental and
Occupational Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, U.S.
- Professor Andrew Watterson, Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group,
University of Stirling, Scotland
- Dr. Manomita Patra, NRC Research Associate, National Academy of Sciences,
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.
- Dr Ray Bustinza MD MSc, Chargé d'enseignement clinique, Faculté de Médecine,
Médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Dr Hans-Joachim Woitowitz, MD, PhD, Professor Emeritus; former Director, Institute
and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Social Medicine, University of Giessen,
- Dr Leslie Thomas Stayner, PhD, Professor and Director, Division of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, U.S.
- Dr Joachim Schneider, MD, PhD, Professor; acting Director of the Institute and
Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Social Medicine, University of Giessen, Germany
- Dr Bengt Järvholm, Dean, Medical Faculty, Umeå University, Sweden
- Dr C. Eduardo Siqueira MD, ScD, Assistant Professor, Department of Community
Health and Sustainability, University of Massachusetts, U.S.
- Dr Barbara Silverstein, MSN, PhD, MPH, CPE, Research Director, Safety and Health
Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP), Washington, U.S.
- Dr James A Merchant, MD, DrPH, Director, Healthier Workforce Center of Excellence;
Founding Dean, College of Public Health, Professor of Public Health, Medicine and
Nursing, University of Iowa, U.S.
- Dr Tim Morse, Ph.D., CPE, Professor, Certified Professional Ergonomist, Occupational
and Environmental Health Center and Dept. of Community Medicine, University of
Connecticut Health Center, U.S.
- Dr David Ozonoff, MD, MPH, Professor of Environmental Health, Boston University
School of Public Health, Boston, U.S.
- Dr David C.F. Muir, Professor of Medicine, McMaster University, Canada
- Dr John M. Dement, Ph.D., CIH, Professor, Division of Occupational & Environmental
Medicine, Department of Community & Family Medicine, Duke University Medical
Center, U.S.
- Dr Melissa A. McDiarmid, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine, University of Maryland
School of Medicine, US
- Dr Craig Slatin, Sc.D., MPH, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Community
Health and Sustainability, University of Massachusetts Lowell, US
- Bjørn Erikson, Head of Working Environment Department, Norwegian Confederation
of Trade Unions, Norway
- Prof. Shelley Bhattacharya, Environmental Toxicology, Department of Zoology, Visva
Bharati University, India
-Dr Stanislaw Tarkowski, MSc., DSc., Professor, School of Public Health, Nofer Institute
of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland
- Dr Cecile Rose, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver,
Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, US
- Dr Martin Cherniack, MD, MPH , Professor of Medicine, University of Connecticut
Health Center, US
- Dr David F. Goldsmith, MSPH, PhD, Associate Research Professor, Department of
Environmental & Occupational Health, George Washington University, US
- Dr. Morando Soffritti, Scientific Director, Ramazzini Institute, Italy
- Dr Raul Harari, Latino-American Vice-President of the International Society of Doctors
for Environment; member, Collegium Ramazzini and International Commission on
Occupational Health, Ecuador
- Dr Yvonne R.K. Waterman, Sc.D. LL.M., The Netherlands
- Dr Linda Rosenstock, M.D., M.P.H., Dean, UCLA School of Public Health, U.S.
- Alice Freund, MSPH, Program Director, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, US
- Dr Harlal Choudhury, Ph.D., DABT. Non-Resident Indian Scientist, U.S.
- Dr Iman Nuwayhid, MD, DrPH, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences,
American University of Beirut, Lebanon
- Dr Philippe Grandjean, Professor & Chair, Environmental Medicine, University of
Southern Denmark
- Dr Barry Castleman, ScD, Environmental Consultant, US
- Helge Kjuus, Research Director, Department of Occupational Medicine and
Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
- Dr James Leigh, Director, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Sydney
School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia
- Dr Ivan Gut, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., National Institute of Public Health, Czech Republic
- Dr. Cecilia Zavariz, MD., Ph.D. Public Health, Labour Inspectorate, São Paulo, Brazil
- Dr. Arun Kumar, M.Sc., Ph.D, Mahavir Cancer Institute & Research Centre, Bihar,
- Dr Antonio Giordano MD PhD, Director Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and
Molecular Medicine and Center of Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology
Temple University, US; Ordinario di Anatomia Istologia Patologica, Dipartimento di
Patologia Umana ed Oncologia, Laboratorio di Tecnologie Biomediche ed Oncologia
Sperimentale, Siena, Italy
- Dr Maths Berlin, MD, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Medicine, Lund
University, Sweden
- Dr Joseph DiGangi, PhD, Senior Science and Technical Advisor, International POPs
Elimination Network (IPEN), Chicago, U.S.
- Prof. Jock McCulloch, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
- Bernardo Reyes, Director, Instituto de Ecología Política, Santiago, Chile
- Prof. Christer Hogstedt, former Research Director of the Swedish Institute of Public
Health, Östersund, Sweden
- Dr Jim Brophy, Adjunct Professor, University of Windsor, Canada
- Dr Margaret Keith, Adjunct Professor, University of Windsor, Canada
- Dr Marcel Golberg, Pr MG, Faculté de médecine, Paris Ile de France Ouest-Université
Versailles Saint Quentin
- Prof. Daniela Pelclová, M.D., PhD., Charles University; Department of Occupational
Medicine,1st Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech
- Dr John G Edwards PhD FRCS(C-Th), Chair, British Mesothelioma Interest Group
- Prof. Marc Hindry, Université Denis Diderot, Paris, France
- Judy Sparer, Certified Industrial Hygienist, Yale University Occupational &
Environmental Medicine Program, U.S.
- Dr Ana Digon. Médica. Primera Cátedra de Toxicología. Facultad de Medicina. UBA,
- Dr Eduardo Rodríguez. Medico especialista en Medicina del trabajo, Argentina
- Dr Anna Tompa, MD.Ph.D. Dsc., Semmelweis Medical University, Director of Public
Health Institute, Budapest, Hungary
- Dr Kapil Khatter, President, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment,
- Dr Debdas Mukerjee, M.Sc., Ph.D. Non-Resident Indian Scientist, U.S.
- Dr Paul A. Demers, Professor & Director, School of Environmental Health, University
of British Columbia; member of WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer’s
Working Group on asbestos risk
- Dr Zulmiar Yanri, MD, OM, PhD, Member of Parliament Republic of Indonesia;
former Head of National OSH Center, Ministry of Manpower, Indonesia
- Dr Ruth Sara, Arroyo Aguilar, Magister en Salud Publica; Docente de la Facultad de
Medina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
- Dr Anders Englund, MD, Retired Director of Medical and Social Department, Swedish
Work Environment Authority
- Dr. Christopher W. Lee, MD, FRCPC, Medical Oncologist, BC Cancer Agency and
Chair, Mesothelioma & Thymoma Working Group, NCIC Clinical Trials Group Lung
Disease Site Committee, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
NOTE: Institutions named for identification purposes only
Posted by BiharWatch at 12:04 AM
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You are here: Home Basics
Understanding the Battle Between the Philosophers (Aristotle, Ibn Sina, al-Farabi) and the Mutakallimoon (Jahmiyyah, Mu'tazilah, Kullaabiyyah, Ash'ariyyah, Maturidiyyah) Initiated By Jahm bin Safwaan
Posted by Abu.Iyaad, in Basics
Topics: Falaasifah • Falsafah • Mutafalsifah • Mutakallimoon • Jahm Bin Safwaan • Falaasifah • Falsafah • Mutafalsifah • Mutakallimoon • Jahm Bin Safwaan
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This article is a brief introduction to the Philosophers (Falaasifah) and the Speculative Theologians (Mutakallimoon) and the battles between them, but is intended as a very brief introduction for now so that we have a basic overall picture of what happened historically. This needs to be understood because it allows us to have a better appreciation of many of the aqeedah positions of the Mutakallimoon and much of the deviation they fell into, and of the emergence of many positions, views and statements (in creed) that were far, far away from what the Salaf were upon.
Introducing The Players
We need to be familiar with the the following:
The Philosophers: Aristotle (d. 332BC) is known as "the First Teacher". Abu Nasr al-Farabi (d. 339H) is known as "the Second Teacher". Ibn Sina (d. 429H) is known as "the Third Teacher" - these are the actual titles given to them. The latter two are the inheritors of that Greek Philosophy of Aristotle (and Plato), and they championed it and their own beliefs through it. One of their main beliefs was that the "matter" that makes up the universe is eternal and has always been present and another being their rejection of bodily resurrection and the affairs connected to resurrection.
The Mutakallimoon: Are those who used the notions and terminology of metaphysical philosophy (of those atheists and disbelievers such as Aristotle) to argue the case for:
the universe being created,
the existence of a creator,
the plausibility of prophethood and
the plausibility of resurrection.
And they are the Jahmiyyah, Mu'tazilah, Kullaabiyyah, Ash'ariyyah, Maturidiyyah. And they made this proof of theirs to be the "ultimate truth" and the premise they were working on was that the truth of Islam can only be demonstrated through this proof - and in this, they were trying to impress upon those atheist Philosophers. In the course of all this, they were led to the orientation - in agreement with each other despite their different sayings, and with the Philosophers whom they were battling - that the intellect is decisive and definitive over the revealed texts and that the proof of the intellect leads and the revealed text follows. They state this in their own words, and we can dedicate a separate article to that inshaa'Allaah.
Thus a common trait between the Philosophers and the Mutakallimoon is that they put the intellect above and over the revealed texts and consider the proof of the intellect decisive over the revealed texts.
A Concise Summary Of the Philosophers and Speculative Theologians, Their Philosophy and Metaphysics
The Mutakallimoon (Jahmiyyah, Mu'tazilah, Kullaabiyyah, Ash'ariyyah, Maturidiyyah) used an intellectual proof based around the notions of Aristotelian Metaphysics which many of the Atheist Philosophers present in the Muslim lands in that time were very familiar with - they were familiar and conversant with Greek Philosophy and that was the science and philosophy of the day. Jahm bin Safwaan (ex. 128H) was the first to use a crude form of this proof against the Indian Materialist Philosophers called the Sumaniyyah, and the Mu'tazilah likewise were upon this, they too argued with the Sumaniyyah and others, and Abu al-Hudhayl al-Allaaf (d. 235H) was the first to really formalize it for the Mu'tazilah. The Mu'tazilah also incorporated the "Atomism" of Democritus (d. 370BC) into this proof in order to improve it and through which they could argue more soundly for the entire universe being created (on account of being made of indivisible particles that are all alike). Thereafter, Abu Bakr al-Baqillani (d. 403H) simply inherited or borrowed the bulk of it from the Mu'tazilah and laid it down for the Ash'aris by formalizing it in his book "at-Tahmeed".
And all of this, in its roots, was based around the philosophies of the Greeks and in particular the general concepts of Aristotle's "Ten Categories", which to the Arabs were "al-Maqoolaat al-Ashar".
See this article for Aristotle's "al-Maqoolaat al-Ashar":
Top Tips To Become a Better Ash'ari: The 2nd Tip - Know Your Aristotelian Metaphysics Inside Out
http://www.asharis.com/creed/?iowfm
See this article for Jahm bin Safwaan debating the Sumaniyyah:
The Debates of al-Jahm bin Safwan (Summary Execution 128H) With the Indian Materialist Philosophers And the Origins of ta'teel Within the Ummah
http://www.asharis.com/creed/?upfkv
See this article for Abu al-Hudhayl al-Allaaf and the Mu'tazilah, al-Baqillani and the Ash'ariyyah, and the Metaphysical Proof of "hudooth ul-ajsaam":
The Usool of the Ash'ariyyah Are the Usool of the Mu'tazilah: Part 1 - The Intellectual Proof of hudooth ul-ajsaam (Createdness of the Universe)
http://www.asharis.com/creed/?ippev
Aristotle's "al-Maqoolaat al-Ashar"
For the sake of completeness in this article we will mention the "Ten Categories" of Aristotle. These ten categories are supposed to classify everything in the universe in its essence and its qualities - hence "al-jawhar" (substance) and "al-'arad" (incidental attribute, accident).
So here are Aristotle's ten categories, the first deals with "what something is":
substance (jawhar)
The rest are incidental attributes (a'raad) which deal with "how it is":
quantity (al-kam) - dimensions and measurable features, length, breadth, width and so on
quality (al-kayf) - perceived characteristics, color, shape, and so on.
relation (al-idaafah) - how a substance is in relation to others, above, below, right, left and so on.
place (al-ayn) - where it is
time (mataa) answering "when?" - temporal characteristics of the substance
position (al-wad') - how a substance's parts are ordered in relation to each other
action (yaf'al) acting - what a substance is doing
affection (yanfa'il) a substance being acted upon
having (al-mulk) - what the substance has on
As you can see from the above, we are dealing here with bodies (jawaahir, ajsaam) and their incidental attributes (a'raad).
And when you look in both the books of the Mu'tazilah and Ash'aris - whose books are the most abundant from what we have of the heritage of the Mutakallimoon - then you will see that all of their metaphysical talk and the underlying roots for the elaboration of their proof of "hudooth ul-ajsaam" derives conceptually from Aristotelian Metaphysics. The Mu'tazilah introduced the theory of Democritus (another Greek Philosopher) of "Atomism" in order to "tighten up the ship" a little (allowing them to argue more efficiently for the createdness of the universe), and the Ash'aris inherited all of this while differing with the Mu'tazilah on subsidiary issues regarding the proof. The metaphysical language was the underlying fabric that was common to both the Philosophers and the Mutakallimoon.
Because the proof of "hudooth ul-ajsaam", the demonstration of the createdness of the universe, made use of metaphysical language (such as jism, jawhar, 'arad, jihah, makan, tahayyuz and so on) - and because the Mutakallimoon (the Jahmiyyah, Mu'tazilah, Kullaabiyyah, Ash'ariyyah and Maturidiyyah) used this proof and its associated language to argue for certain foundations of the religion such as:
A Creator
Then they were forced to make all their speech about divinity and belief in Allaah through a collection of negations centered around these same terms. They had to do this in order to avoid invalidating their proof of "hudooth ul-ajsaam" which they now considered to be the ultimate truth and upon which the veracity of the revealed texts, of creation, prophethood and resurrection depends. Thus, when you look in all the books of the Mutakallimoon (such as the Mu'tazilah and Ash'ariyyah), that's all you are going to see. They made Tawheed to be "Jawhar and 'Arad" and what follows on from it. This is not the Tawheed that the Messengers came with.
Playing and Toying With the Texts So as Not To Invalidate the Proof
By using this proof, these Mutakallimoon were forced to start figuratively explaining away much of what is in the revealed texts regarding belief in Allaah, since it clashed with their proof and its necessities and would have invalidated it.
As mentioned above, this proof known as "hudooth ul-ajsaam" and "hudooth ul-a'raad fil-ajsaam" - which is to argue that since qualities (sifaat), incidental attributes (a'raad) and events, occurrences (hawaadith) are found in bodies, this proves that bodies are newly-arisen (haadithah) as they could not have put those things (sifaat, a'raad, hawaadith) in themselves, and are thus created. And as it is impossible for there to be "hawaadith" (occurrences) without a beginning, then it proves there is a Creator. This proof is actually false and corrupt and proves the very opposite of what they set out to prove, which is why they were forced to take the stance towards the revealed texts that they have taken.
It was on account of the intellectual proof that Jahm bin Safwan devised that he was forced to speak with the following, amongst many other things:
That Allaah did not speak to Moses - because it would mean an event in Allaah's Essence, and thus making Allaah a body (jism), and thus falsifying His proof.
That the Qur'aan is created - because if Allaah spoke it, it would be an occurrence or an incidental attribute, thus rendering Allaah a body (jism), and thus falsifying his proof.
That Allaah will not be seen in the Hereafter - because if He could be seen, it would be in a direction (jihah), as things are only seen in direction (jihah), and this would make Him a body (jism), thus falsifying his proof.
That Allaah is not above the heaven - because this would necessitate direction, and anything in direction must be a body (jism), thus Allaah would be a body, and thus the proof would be falsified.
That Allaah cannot be described with anything that the creation is described with - because all descriptions that we see are only found in bodies (ajsaam), thus Allaah cannot be described with anything, otherwise it would necessitate that He is a body.
And the usool (foundations) of the deen of the Mu'tazilah, Kullaabiyyah and Ash'ariyyah have their roots in the deen of the Jahmiyyah.
The Philosophers Click On ...
The Philosophers such as al-Farabi (d. 339H), Ibn Sina (d. 429H) who were really heretics, mulhids, and who intended harm to Islam and the Muslims, when they saw the corrupt nature of this proof (they were shrewd and smart people), and they recognized the flaw in it, they took it as an opportunity to attack the foundations of the religion - and these Philosophers (al-Farabi, Ibn Sina) were scholars of the Greek philosophies of Aristotle and Plato, and they believed they were the true inheritors and champions of that philosophy.
The flaw that they saw was that by arguing through this proof, it was necessitated upon the Mutakallimoon that they hold that the Creator was, for "a period of eternity", doing nothing, meaning no action. Because the Mutakallimoon said, as part of their proof that it is impossible for there to be hawaadith (occurrences) with no beginning, they had to say that all of a sudden, without any reason or cause, after doing nothing for "a period of eternity" Allah decided to create. The Philosophers said this is false and corrupt, and said that you have no proof from the revealed texts to prove this, and whatever proofs you bring from the revealed texts for "the creation of the matter of the universe", we'll just make ta'weel of it just like you are doing to the texts of the Attributes.
So basically, the Philosophers, being shrewd, looked at what the Mutakallimoon were relying upon in their proof, found a hole in it and then used that to bolster their view that the universe is eternal.
What the Philosophers Said to the Mutakallimoon in a Nutshell
The Mutakallimoon were simply trying to use the language and terminology of the Atheist Philosophers to prove the universe is created and the existence of a creator and so one of the main things the Philosophers (the likes of al-Farabi, Ibn Sina) were in essence saying was:
Hey! That philosophy is our heritage, and true philosophy is that you start with just pure intellect, rejecting everything, all knowledge and all belief, and then construct reality from that point upwards through pure intellect and philosophical principles. But you "Islamists" you are starting off with a premise that Islam is the truth so you are not real Philosophers and this is not real philosophy. You are just opportunists who are stealing our goods and our heritage (philosophy, Aristotelian metaphysics) to support something which you have accepted blindly. We are the real Philosophers, and what we are involved in is real and true philosophy. We are the real inheritors of the philosophies (of Aristotle and Plato) while you are just pretenders.
So when these Philosophers saw the corrupt nature of this proof used by the Mutakallimoon, they saw their opportunity and pounced. And as these Philosophers believed that the universe is eternal, that the Prophets just made things up to dupe the people so that they would accept faith and belief in the hereafter more easily, and that they, the Philosophers themselves, can become "prophets" and many other beliefs - they turned to the Mutakallimoon and said:
Hey! Thank you very much. As you have now made it clear that whatever is in the revealed texts of speech about Allaah and His Attributes is metaphorical and figurative, and you need to claim this in order to sustain your proof - and we'll agree with you on that (nod, nod, wink, wink to each other) - then likewise, everything in the revealed texts that speak about the creation and resurrection, then all of that is metaphorical and figurative, and the prophets just made it all up, and all of this supports us and what we claim that the universe is eternal, even if there is a Maker for it, it is still eternal, and the Prophets just duped the people with made up things to help them believe, and there is no such thing as "creation" and "resurrection" in reality.
So the proof of "hudooth ul-ajsaam" of Jahm and the Mutakallimoon opened up the door for these people (the Philosophers) and others such as the Qaraamitah Baatiniyyah to start assaulting Islaam and the revealed texts.
So the Philosophers would say that things like the blowing of the trumpet (as-soor), raising of the bodies and their gathering (al-hashr), the scales (al-meezaan) and the bridge (as-siraat) and all of the affairs related to resurrection, and whatever has been mentioned in that regard are all just metaphors, they are not real, they are just things made up by the Prophets who used such expressions to induce belief in the people. And this sounds greatly familiar to what al-Ghazali said regarding the language used in the Qur'an and the Sunnah to describe Allaah - go and take a good, slow, reflective, read of this article, then read it again, twice, no, ten times! Then come back here and read on. The Philosophers said all this because they believed, like Aristotle did, that the universe is eternal, meaning that what the universe is made of, the matter, the substance, has eternally been present, and that the creator simply made what we have now from that matter. And likewise that this matter will not perish, there is no destruction of everything, and no such thing as resurrection. And so they turned to all of those texts with ta'weel, just like the Mutakallimoon turned to the texts of the Attributes with ta'weel, whilst grinning and saying "Thank you very much" to the Mutakallimoon.
And the Qaraamitah Baatiniyyah did the same to the Sharee'ah, so they said that the prayer (as-salaat) is just a metaphor what it really means is "knowing our secrets" or "giving allegiance to our scholars", and that fasting (as-sawm) is to "conceal our secrets" and that the pilgrimage (al-hajj) is to "visit our shaykhs", and they would teach this in isolation amongst themselves - and so they turned to all the actions of worship (al-ibaadaat) with ta'weel, explaining them away and abolishing them.
So the Mutakallimoon turned upon the texts of the Attributes with ta'weel and tahreef, and the Philosophers turned upon the texts of creation and resurrection with ta'weel and tahreef and the Baatiniyyah Qaraamitah turned upon the texts of ibaadah with ta'weel and tahreef.
And what led them, the Mutakallimoon, into such affairs and to open up such an evil door, was that they made Metaphysics (which they took from the likes of the Greeks, and pseudo-Sabean Harranians) to be the foundation of what is the ultimate truth - to prove the existence of a creator, and then holding that an-nadhar wal-istidlaal (inspection, observation and inference) is more or less obligatory upon every individual (i.e. to prove the existence of his Lord through these methods). And all of this is false, corrupt, for the belief in a creator is in the fitrah (innate instinct), the first obligation is to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, alone.
Playing Tennis with the Philosophers
A good parable for showing what happened is this: The atheist Philosophers invited these people (the Mutakallimoon) to a tennis match. So the Philosophers served first and these people agreed to play the game on the court of the Philosophers, on their terms (i.e. their Metaphysics, their terminologies and language). So these people thought it's an easy game and so they returned the ball - but they've been hitting the ball backward and forward ever since and never managed to escape the game because they were stuck with its associated Metaphysics, with which they thought they could easily defeat those Philosophers. So that's where they've remained - stuck with that "Kalaam". And determined to win the game, they were forced to take a certain stance towards the revealed texts, and without taking that stance towards the revealed texts (ta'weel, tahreef), they would have had to withdraw from the game and admit defeat. And there was no way they were going to do that, there was too much at stake now, and so continue the game they did.
And this is why it has been said, as quoted by Ibn Taymiyyah in Bayaan Talbees ul-Jahmiyyah from Ibn Suraij ash-Shafi'ee (d. 306H), and also reported by Abu Ismaa'eel al-Harawi with his isnaad in "Dhamm ul-Kalaam":
Ibn Suraij as-Shafi'ee (d. 306H) said, as narrated from him by Abu Ismaa'eel al-Harawi in "Dhamm ul-Kalaam" and as mentioned by Ibn Taymiyyah in "Bayaan Talbees al-Jahmiyyah":
توحيد اهل العلم وجماعة المسلمين أشهد أن لا اله الا الله وان محمدا رسول الله وتوحيد اهل الباطل الخوض في الأعراض والأجسام وانما بعث النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بانكار ذلك
The Tawheed of the people of knowledge and the jamaa'ah of the Muslims is "I testify none is worthy of worship except Allaah (alone) and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah". And the Tawheed of the people of falsehood is disputing about al-a'raad (incidental attributes) and al-ajsaam (bodies) and the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) was sent with the rejection of that.
And inshaa'Allaah what has been covered briefly in this article will be expanded upon in other articles.
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Imaam adh-Dhahabi on the Jahmites and the Later Mu'tazilite and Ash'arite Theologians Who Reject Allaah is Above The Heavens
A Historical Outline of the Deen Instituted by the Jahmites Subsequently Adopted by the Mu'tazilah, Ash'ariyyah and Maturidiyyah
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iPod: Deal or No Deal
Version Reviewed: v1.52
Requires iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad running iOS 2.2.1 or higher
iTunes Preview Link
It’s been over five years (at time of writing) since DoND started. Its following at the beginining was small, but Bother’s Bar led the charge for the show having watched various foreign versions previously, and noting the pedigree of the production team behind it. Its detractors were quick to shout loudly – it’ll never make it past the original 60 episodes. It’s just luck. Bloody Noel Edmonds. But five years later it remains one of Channel 4’s highest rating shows (although admittedly some way down on what it was getting at its peak), and as ever I WAS RIGHT. You thought the show was about blindly opening boxes? Well actually it’s about the human condition.
So what happens when you take the human condition away and play a straight simulation of the game? A game that involves gambling, butwith no actual jeopardy involved? Well I don’t think it would be much fun, and I’M RIGHT AS I ALWAYS AM YET AGAIN as the app, whilst offering a reasonable interpretation of the game isn’t much fun.
There are four modes: Quick Play (it’s a game of Deal or No Deal), Deal or No Deal (it’s a game of Deal or No Deal, except you have to watch a game from the wings and offer advice first, tha Banker apparently taking notes.), What Next? (a random eight box configuration is given and you have to win as much as possible) and Be the Banker (the computer plays, you make the offers, try and get them to make a poor deal).
For the first three modes, you can select an avatar, many of which seem to be based on past contestants on the actual show, and you can rename them. Your choice is limited to the 22 avaliable, although if you edit one then choose someone else, the original one reverts back to its default.
The first thing to greet you is the terrifying figure of virtual Noel Edmonds, who appears to wear the same expression throughout the game regardless of what is happening. You’re given a box at random and then you play. The dream factory is notionally split into three and you slide left or right to change the place you look at (the slide control is surprisingly difficult to master. And they say it’s just luck.) The avaliable boxes in the area are enlarged towards the bottom of the screen, tap it and the player will open it for you, occasionally with a few written words for good luck. Between boxes the camera focuses on the gameboard.
The £250,000 explosion is present and correct, although for some reason Noel does a 60s dance. I think it’s meant to be a brow wipe of exasperation, and is the most animated he’ll get all game.
After the requisite number of boxes the phone rings, Noel will relate one of about six different things from the Banker (far too much repetition, and lots of it usually irrelevant to the game at hand) before revealing the offer with requisite Banker graphic. In fairness, the offers are fairly decent reflections of what you’d be offered on the show for the boards in an average non-running-element situation, in my experience.
Hang on, what?
At this point you can ask for advice from the wings – a neat touch, except the other players seem to be universally dealers even at the early stages, and occasionally say things which are completely nonsensical. Nice idea, poorly implemented.
Repeat until you deal (in which case during the prove out, the Banker comments still happen as if you were in live play – poor), or you get to the final two in which case you’re offered the swap. Then cheer or groan on the result.
Soundwise, the majority of the game (at least on my iPad) plays out to the rather melancholy “contemplating big decision” music which is fine in its place but completely wrong and makes the game feel more like French arthouse cinema and you will want to end it all before the end. That is except sometimes when the proper box music decides to play (randomly). And I was surprised when having been no actual talking throughout, Noel suddenly said “ooh, £100,000” out of my speaker. I began to think my iDevice was haunted.
Be the Banker isn’t much fun, a till thing pops up at the appropriate place, but you have to do the pence as well. You might appreciate making comedy offers when the only audience is you, but those extra button taps when you just want to make a normal offer each time is quite annoying. There’s no real reward for doing well here either, and if the computer player deals the offer control leaves your hands anyway. Pointless.
What Next? might be fun for a quick play, although I’m intrigued that it says it “won’t keep records of the results”. It doesn’t seem to make records of the results in any mode you play that I’ve noticed.
So that’s Deal or No Deal the app, really. Sure it plays the game, but as an experience it doesn’t really have an awful lot to recommend it.
3 thoughts on “iPod: Deal or No Deal”
Pingback: It’s a high-powered game of strategy… | Bother's Bar
Netizen November 23, 2010
At least it’s cheaper than the DS version. That being said, I don’t think any computer game version of DOND can be much fun.
Brig Bother Post author November 24, 2010
At least it’s cheaper than the DS version.
True, that.
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Name: Dr Craig Macdonald
Occupation: Information Retrieval Lecturer in the School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow
Research Interests: Expert Search; Blog, Web & Enterprise Information Retrieval
Follow @craig_macdonald
Home Contact Publications Thesis Software
The Voting Model for People Search
February 2009. Craig Macdonald, supervised by Dr Iadh Ounis.
PDF (6MB)
The thesis investigates how persons in an enterprise organisation can be ranked in response to a query, so that those persons with relevant expertise to the query topic are ranked first. The expertise areas of the persons are represented by documentary evidence of expertise, known as candidate profiles. The statement of this research work is that the expert search task in an enterprise setting can be successfully and effectively modelled using a voting paradigm. In the so-called Voting Model, when a document is retrieved for a query, this document represents a vote for every expert associated with the document to have relevant expertise to the query topic. This voting paradigm is manifested by the proposition of various voting techniques that aggregate the votes from documents to candidate experts. Moreover, the research work demonstrates that these voting techniques can be modelled in terms of a Bayesian belief network, providing probabilistic semantics for the proposed voting paradigm.
The proposed voting techniques are thoroughly evaluated on three standard expert search test collections, deriving conclusions concerning each component of the Voting Model, namely the method used to identify the documents that represent each candidate's expertise areas, the weighting models that are used to rank the documents, and the voting techniques which are used to convert the ranking of documents into the ranking of experts. Effective settings are identified and insights about the behaviour of each voting technique are derived. Moreover, the practical aspects of deploying an expert search engine such as its efficiency and how it should be trained are also discussed.
This thesis includes an investigation of the relationship between the quality of the underlying ranking of documents and the resulting effectiveness of the voting techniques. The thesis shows that various effective document retrieval approaches have a positive impact on the performance of the voting techniques. Interestingly, it also shows that a `perfect' ranking of documents does not necessarily translate into an equally perfect ranking of candidates. Insights are provided into the reasons for this, which relate to the complexity of evaluating tasks based on ranking aggregates of documents.
Furthermore, it is shown how query expansion can be adapted and integrated into the expert search process, such that the query expansion successfully acts on a pseudo-relevant set containing only a list of names of persons. Five ways of performing query expansion in the expert search task are proposed, which vary in the extent to which they tackle expert search-specific problems, in particular, the occurrence of topic drift within the expertise evidence for each candidate.
Not all documentary evidence of expertise for a given person are equally useful, nor may there be sufficient expertise evidence for a relevant person within an enterprise. This thesis investigates various approaches to identify the high quality evidence for each person, and shows how the World Wide Web can be mined as a resource to find additional expertise evidence.
This thesis also demonstrates how the proposed model can be applied to other people search tasks such as ranking blog(ger)s in the blogosphere setting, and suggesting reviewers for the submitted papers to an academic conference.
The central contributions of this thesis are the introduction of the Voting Model, and the definition of a number of voting techniques within the model. The thesis draws insights from an extremely large and exhaustive set of experiments, involving many experimental parameters, and using different test collections for several people search tasks. This illustrates the effectiveness and the generality of the Voting Model at tackling various people search tasks and, indeed, the retrieval of aggregates of documents in general.
Enterprise Information Retrieval
The Voting Model
Bayesian Belief Networks for the Voting Model
Experiments using the Voting Model
The Effect of the Document Ranking
Extending the Voting Model
Voting Model in Other Tasks
Conclusions and Future Work
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International NGOs Worry over Finding Sponsors
20 Oct 2016 | Civil Society · NGOs · Overseas NGOs · Policy and Regulations · Social Organization
by Liu Haiying
China’s new law on the management of international NGOs is soon to come into force – and leading NGOs working in the country worry that an unenthusiastic bureaucracy may present obstacles to acquiring legal status.
August might normally be a holiday month, but for overseas NGOs working in China it has been anything but relaxing. The Law on the Management of Overseas NGOs’ Activities in Mainland China is going to come into effect on the first of January next year, and since publication in April it has attracted widespread attention internationally and been raised in high-level talks between China and both the US and Germany. The details of how the law will be enforced are still being worked out, and one key element, a “directory of professional supervising units” – bodies allowed to act as official sponsors of overseas NGOs – is due to be published in September or October this year.
China will have a dual registration system for managing overseas NGOs: to have legal status in China, they need to have an appropriate government department act as a professional supervising unit (a “sponsor”) and register with the public security authorities at provincial level or higher. The new law requires the NGOs to find a sponsor before registering, making this key to forming a legal entity. The sponsor is then vividly if unofficially referred to as the NGO’s “mother-in-law”.
The current timetable gives overseas NGOs practically two months to find a sponsor and complete registration. Sze Pang Cheung, Executive Director of Greenpeace East Asia, says that for many years the Chinese government has given tacit consent to the activities of many overseas NGOs in China. And for those NGOs the biggest hurdle to acquiring legal status is not so much political – it will be overcoming the bureaucratic obstacles to registering in accordance with the rules.
Unmotivated mothers-in-law?
Although the law says sponsors provide standards and safeguards, past experiences show that the government departments lack the incentives or requirements to take on this role with any enthusiasm.
These bodies should ensure the NGO is qualified for its role, monitor its activities and help other authorities investigate any breaches of the law. Managing NGOs brings extra responsibilities, but no benefits, says Sze, and there are worries the NGOs could cause problems. So for the sake of a simpler life, they are likely to avoid doing so.
But if NGOs are unable to register due to bureaucratic passivity, what is the point of the new law?
Comparisons can be made with the Foundation Management Regulations of 2004. As of the end of 2015 only 29 representative offices of overseas foundations had registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs due to difficulties in finding sponsors. Statistics show that currently 7,000 overseas NGOs are active in China.
If the bulk of those NGOs fail to find a sponsor, the impact of this law meant to manage their activities will be greatly reduced. For the NGOs themselvesthe matter of greatest concern is whether the detailed rules on sponsors will include incentive mechanisms or binding requirements.
Workload is another matter that may discouragegovernment departments taking on this role. Many interviewees mentioned that if sponsors are set up by sector (such as environmental protection or poverty relief) and there are a large number of overseas NGOs working in a certain sector, checking application documents could involve large amount of time and would require specialist knowledge and staff. It may be necessary for central government to provide staff and funding to help overcome resistance from ministries and other bodies. And although China’s leaders recognize the importance of the law, those who actually implement it may not – creating a barrier to that implementation.
Unclear rules
Many NGOs spoken to worry that being able to find a sponsor depends too much on their access and ability to maneuver, rather than based on clear rules. Some overseas NGOs have long-term cooperative relationships with government bodies and strong financial backing – so they aren’t worried. But many less affluent and unknown smaller organisations working locally on community development, disaster relief, women and children’s issues may never come into contact with ministry officials. Suddenly having to build a relationship with a government body and clear the bureaucracy is a huge challenge.
Some overseas NGOs have therefore made proposals regardingthe “directory of professional supervising units”. One is to widen its scope to include NGOs with government backgrounds (GONGOs), major industry associations and national foundations alongside ministries and other government bodies. These “bridge” bodies have a better understanding of overseas NGOs and would be better able to provide services and supervision. Howard Liu, Oxfam’s China Programme Director, said that this is common internationally – for example the relationship between the Hong Kong Council of Social Services and Hong Kong NGOs. This would also solve the problem of management across different sectors. Many NGOs do not work in one single sector – for example Oxfam works on poverty relief, education, migrant workers, climate change and women’s issues. It would be hard to find a single government body that could manage all areas. But better matches might be found among GONGOs or national foundations.
Also those interviewed reminded policy-makers of the importance of policy continuity. In 2009 the province of Yunnan issued provisional rules for the management of NGOs, intended to be a pilot for a national system, requiring them to submit a file to the authorities.Meanwhile some overseas NGOs have signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with governments at multiple levels. Liu said the new law shouldn’t wipe the slate clean – those NGOs that have submitted files or signed MOUs should not have to start all over again. This may lead to a management vacuum for a certain period, which would be a step backwards.
Hoping for communication
Those bodies to be listed as sponsors are going to be faced with overseas NGOs that they are unfamiliar with.
Zhao Zhonghua, World Animal Protection’s chief representative in China, said that as a service provider the government needs to research and familiarize itself with NGOs – and this is particularly the case with the sponsors. For example some overseas NGOs are foundations – but may not contain the word “foundation” in their names. Therefore the sponsor needs to have a certain understanding of the sector.
And China’s “mothers-in-law” may actually benefit from contact with overseas NGOs. Zhao explained that some overseas NGOs working in China have consultative status with the UN and close links with the public of many countries. China’s government bodies could, by acting as sponsors, deepen their understanding of international society and increase the country’s soft power. If the law is implemented in an appropriate manner, it could be a second opening up to follow that of the 1980s. He suggests the sponsors should have targets for the number of NGOs to manage, with officials being evaluated on their success in achieving that target. And training shouldn’t just focus on the day-to-day business of acting as a sponsor– it should also make them realize the wider value of that role.
Dr. Liu Haiying is a former Senior Researcher and Editor with China Development Brief. She is currently a freelance writer based in Beijing
Translated by Roddy Flagg
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GESA: 5 recommendations
Gastroenterological Society of Australia: tests, treatments and procedures clinicians and consumers should question
1 Do not repeat colonoscopies more often than recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) endorsed guidelines
Colonoscopy, with or without polypectomy, is an invasive procedure with a small but not insignificant risk of complications, including perforation or major haemorrhage postpolypectomy, depending on size of lesion. Surveillance colonoscopies place a significant burden on endoscopy services. Consequently, surveillance colonoscopy should be targeted at those who are most likely to benefit and at the minimum frequency required to provide adequate protection against the development of cancer. Cancer Council Australia guidelines, endorsed by NHMRC, state that if one to two adenomas less than one cm in diameter are removed via a high quality colonoscopy, a follow up interval of five years is recommended. For larger adenomas, three or more adenomas or adenomas containing villous features or high grade dysplasia, which are removed via a high quality colonoscopy, the recommended follow-up period is three years.
Cancer Council Australia, ‘Clinical Practice Guidelines for Surveillance Colonoscopy’, December 2011.
Winawer SJ, Zauber AG, O’Brien MJ, et al. Randomised comparison of surveillance intervals after colonoscopic removal of newly diagnosed adenomatous polyps. N Engl J Med 1993; 328(13):901-6.
5 questions to ask your doctor or other healthcare provider
Communicating with your healthcare provider
Patient guide to managing pain and opioid medicines
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By condition or symptom
By medical test
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By medicine or treatment
2 Do not undertake faecal occult blood testing in patients who report rectal bleeding, or require investigation for iron deficiency or gastrointestinal symptoms
The faecal occult blood test (FOBT) was developed for use in the outpatient setting for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic patients with average risk of colorectal carcinoma. Studies suggest that it has limited positive impact for hospitalised patients who report rectal bleeding or require investigation for iron deficiency or gastrointestinal symptoms, as it is unlikely to change patient management and may in fact delay investigations while waiting for the results of the test. Inappropriate use of the FOBT may lead to unnecessary additional investigations (e.g. colonoscopy), which also carries risks and may limit the availability of such investigations for more appropriate indications.
Friedman A, Chan A, Chin LC, et al. Use and abuse of faecal occult blood tests in an acute hospital patient setting. Int Med Journal 2010;40:107-11.
Ip S, Sokoro AAH, Kaita L, et al. Use of fecal occult blood testing in hospitalized patients: results of an audit. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2014;28(9):489-94.
Sharma VK, Komanduri S, Nayyar S, et al. An audit of the utility of in-patient fecal occult blood testing. Am J Gastroenterol 2001;96(4):1256-60.
Faecal occult blood test
3 Do not continue prescribing long term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication to patients without attempting to reduce the medication down to the lowest effective dose or cease the therapy altogether
While proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective drugs for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), their use has been linked to increased risk of fractures, pneumonia, enteric infections, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and acute interstitial nephritis, particularly among older people who make up the largest proportion of PPI users. While there is insufficient evidence to establish causation, these reports deserve consideration when prescribing long term PPI use. This is especially because some patients may be able to stop PPI use immediately after the initial course of therapy without experiencing symptoms. Even though GERD is often a chronic condition, over time the disease may not require acid suppression and it is important that patients do not take drugs that are no longer necessary.
Choudhry MN, Soran H, Ziglam HM. Overuse and inappropriate prescribing of proton pump inhibitors in patients with Clostridium difficile-associated disease. QJ Med 2008;101:445-8.
Hollingworth S, Duncan EL, Martin JH. Marked increase in proton pump inhibitors use in Australia. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2010;19:1019-24.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and dyspepsia in adults: investigation and management. Clinical guideline 2014.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux
4 Do not undertake genetic testing for coeliac genes as a screening test for coeliac disease
The value of testing for coeliac genes is primarily as a negative test – if the gene test is negative then coeliac disease may be excluded. However as a coeliac gene can be found in approximately one third of the population, a positive result does not make coeliac disease a certainty. Serological testing, in a patient consuming an appropriate amount of gluten, is the appropriate first line screening test for coeliac disease. A small bowel biopsy is then required if serology is positive.
Fasano A, Catassi C. Celiac disease. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:2419-26.
Megiorni F, Pizutti A. HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 in Celiac disease predisposition: practical implications of the HLA molecular typing. J Biomed Sci 2012;19:88.
Serologic tests
5 Do not perform a follow-up endoscopy less than three years after two consecutive findings of no dysplasia from endoscopies with appropriate four quadrant biopsies for patients diagnosed with Barrett’s Oesophagus
Barrett’s Oesophagus (or Barrett’s mucosa) is the term given to a change which occurs in the lining of the lower oesophagus. It occurs in a small proportion of patients with longstanding gastro-oesophageal reflux. The condition requires surveillance because of an increased risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). This usually develops slowly over a period of some years and can be predicted by the finding of pre-cancerous changes (dysplasia) on biopsies. However, systematic surveillance of Barrett’s Oesophagus patients has not been shown to be cost-effective, and no randomised controlled trials have been conducted to compare surveillance with the natural history of Barrett’s Oesophagus. According to currently-accepted guidelines, it is appropriate and safe to examine the oesophagus and check for dysplasia every three years, as cellular changes occur very slowly.
Spechler SJ, Souza RF. Barrett’s Esophagus. N Engl J Med 2014;371:836-45.
Shaheen NJ, Falk GW, Iyer PG, Gerson LB. ACG clinical guideline: diagnosis and management of Barrett’s esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol 2016;111:30-50.
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Christendom Restoration Society
Otto von Habsburg - Oct 2011
Sensus Catholicus - July 2011
Kansas Catholic Family Weekend
Joseph D'Agostino
Dr. Alice von Hildebrand Releases New Book on Dietrich von Hildebrand and Edith Stein
Dietrich von Hildebrand and Edith Stein: Husserl's Students
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI and Dr. Alice von Hildebrand
"When the intellectual history of the Catholic Church in the twentieth century is written," said Pope Benedict XVI, "the name of Dietrich von Hildebrand will be most prominent among the figures of our time."
"Edith Stein was," said Time magazine, "one of the most remarkable women of her time."
Born two years apart, both were converts to Catholicism and students of Edmund Husserl, the noted 20th century philosopher. Although they met during their lives, they only knew each other casually. Yet there were major similarities in their lives.
Noted Catholic author, lecturer and philosopher Alice von Hildebrand has taken on the task of briefly profiling these two great 20th century Catholics, using as her point of reference the memoirs of each. In the case of her late husband Dietrich von Hildebrand, she is the only person who has read his memoirs in their entirety. This, and her life as his wife, make Dietrich von Hildebrand and Edith Stein: Husserl's Students a study like no other.
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Articles submitted by Catholics committed to the restoration of Christendom and the Social Reign of Christ the King.
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← Jacksonville Felony Charges for Possessing Firearm at Florida University
Barton Held in Duval County Jail After Bond Revoked →
There has been a lot of focus on Lonna Barton and William Ruben Ebron after the disappearance of Lonzie Barton. Lonzie Barton is the toddler that has been missing since late June. He was reported missing by Ebron, Lonna Barton’s boyfriend. “Ebron, who was arrested the day the toddler went missing, had been in custody initially on charges of child neglect. Later, he was charged with giving false information to law enforcement after video surfaced that police suggest discredits his story about Lonzie’s disappearance.” The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is treating Lonzie Barton’s investigation as a murder case, although a body has not been found.
As for Lonna Barton, Lonize Barton’s mother, she was also arrested for child neglect and giving false information to police officers in Jacksonville. Her bond was set as $50,000, which she posted. If she used a bondsman, the person that bonded her out of jail likely paid 10% of the $50,000, which is $5,000. She was released from the Duval County Jail, but has now been picked up on new charges. First Coast News reported the story:
Christopher Barton
“Chris and Lonna Barton, the parents of missing toddler Lonzie Barton, were arrested on felony drug charges after selling drugs to undercover cops Tuesday and Wednesday, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office announced at a news conference late Wednesday night. The Bartons had been under surveillance by authorities for weeks, Sheriff Joey Dobson told reporters…. Both had been ‘under the eyes of narcotics investigators with the [Sheriff’s Office] for almost a month,” Dobson said…. ‘This is not about the Lonzie case,’ said the sheriff, who told reporters that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office had not been involved in the drug investigation…. Chris Aaron Barton, 42, Lonna Lauramore Barton, 25, and Shawn Clayton Hall, 32, face charges of sale of Molly — a club drug made of a variety of chemicals — within 1,000 feet of a specific location, possession of Molly and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Sheriff’s Office…. The report also revealed a confidential informant recorded on camera Lonna Barton injecting drugs using a syringe with her husbanding assisting…. At the request of the State Attorney’s Office, Chris and Lonna Barton underwent drug testing Wednesday at the Duval County Courthouse…. The couple had been in court discussing a custody plan for their 5-year-old daughter, who remains in the custody of her grandmother but is allowed supervised visits with her parents.”
What does this mean for Lonna Barton?
This new arrest in Baker County will likely cause her bond to be revoked in Duval County. When you bond out of jail, your criminal case is still pending. During this time period, you cannot violate the law. If you are arrested for a new law violation, your bond may be revoked in the pending case. Then, you will be held in jail with no bond. You will remain in jail until your case has been resolved. I am assuming that Lonna is in the Baker County Jail. Even if she bonds out of jail in Baker County, the Duval County state attorney will likely file a motion to revoke her bond. Then, she will be held in Duval County.
Lonna Barton is in the same boat that Ebron was in when he was arrested for child neglect in Jacksonville Florida. When Ebron was arrested in Duval County, he had pending Florida drug charges in Baker County. The Duval County arrest caused his Baker County bond to be revoked. Like Lonna Barton, Ebron’s bond was $50,000 in Duval County, but he did not post bail. I am speculating, but the reason that he did not post bail in Duval County may have been due to his pending Baker County case.
What does this mean for the Lonzie Barton investigation?
It is obvious that people want to get out of jail. That’s why people hire a defense attorney. They want a bond reduction. They want to make a favorable plea deal. They want the charges dropped. In my experience as a Jacksonville criminal lawyer, co-defendants tend to talk to police when they are in custody. If they are going to talk to detectives, it is a good idea that they speak to their attorneys first and have their lawyers present during the questioning.
From what I have been reading in the local Jacksonville news, police believe that Lonna Barton and Ebron have been lying about what happened to Lonzie Barton. If the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office believes that Ebron had something to do with Lonzie Barton’s disappearance and that Lonna Barton has information about this, they want that information. I have seen co-defendants “flip” and give information to the state attorney or detectives in an effort to receive leniency. I am not saying that this is going to happen with the Lonzie Barton investigation, but it is a possibility. This will depend on a variety of factors.
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Upload a film
Films for 'Peter' (1)
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Peter Sibley is a determined, active man; he enjoys tennis, gardening and exercise. Peter has lived in the same small seaside community of Llandudno for 56 of his 74 years. “Peter After Peter” is an affectionate character study of my neighbour and friend of many years. Previously, Peter worked as a sales rep (special area; typewriters) for Olivetti, winning the Staff Prize year on year for optimum sales. Peter thinks salesmanship is the same as acting and truly believes that his success at one guarantees his success at the other. Five years ago Peter debuted in the short film “Peter”, playing himself. Shortlisted for Ridley Scott’s “A Day in the Life” series, the film was broadcast by South Africa’s national broadcaster. In Peter’s mind, a star was born. “Peter After Peter” follows the stages Peter goes through in order to become a working performer; conceptualising and producing a z-card, meetings with potential agents and various castings. Self-promotion. Failure. Success. Failure. Peter After Peter.
Peter After Peter
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First Look: Last Dungeon PV
During an event on Saturday, the author for the light novel Last Dungeon Toshio Sato confirmed that his series would be receiving a light novel adaptation. Yen Press describes the novel as follows:
Lloyd is a novice adventurer who’s dream is to discover “true strength” in the capital he’s always admired, despite growing up with neighbors who always considered him weak. The story starts with him departing from his hometown, which just so happens to be located right next to…one of the most dangerous dungeons in the world?! Lloyd may think of himself as powerless, but when he goes to the city that serves as the starter town for adventurers, the difference between him and everyone else couldn’t be starker!
Studio LIDEN FILMS (Heroic Legend of Arslan) will be responsible for production. migmi (Layton Mystery Detective Agency) is directing, while Deko Akao (Noragami) is on series composition. Makoto Iino is handling character designs. “Last Dungeon” has been published by GA Bunko since 2017 and is on it’s seventh volume.
If nothing else, this isn’t yet another isekai series. The art doesn’t really do anything to stand out much at all, but there’s a lot of potential in the premise of the show. Wise Man’s Grandchild wound up overachieving considering it’s premise was nothing more than wish fulfillment of the most obvious kind. This series has the potential to be pretty funny if it’s honest about how ridiculous a character like Lloyd is.
Currently, Last Dungeon has no premiere date.
October 21, 2019 October 20, 2019 Sage Ashford 242 Views 0 Comment Anime, Last Dungeon
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An interdisciplinary journal exploring linkages between society, environment and development
Forest Product Use, Conservation and Livelihoods: The Case of Uppage Fruit Harvest in the Western Ghats, India
Nitin D Rai1, Christopher F Uhl2
1 Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), 659 5th A Main Road, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024, India.
2 Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, 208 Mueller Lab, University
Nitin D Rai
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), 659 5th A Main Road, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024, India.
The harvest and sale of non-timber forest products (NTFP) by local communities has been suggested as a possible solution to the often observed conflict between forest use and forest conservation. Recent studies have, however, suggested that the economic rewards might not be constant, and that ecological effects of harvest might be higher than previously believed. In India trade in NTFP has a long history, but few studies have explored both the ecological and socio-economic aspects of harvest. We report here the results of a socio-economic and ecological study on the harvest of fruits from the rainforest tree uppage (Garcinia gummigutta), which occurs in the tropical forests of the Western Ghats. We studied the characteristics of uppage fruit harvest, socio-economic factors that influence harvest, and the ecological effect of fruit harvest under differing tenurial regimes. Our findings suggest that dependence on NTFP harvest by local communities might be problematic due to market instability, patchy resource distribution, inequitable access to forest resources within the village and lack of security of tenure.
Rai ND, Uhl CF. Forest Product Use, Conservation and Livelihoods: The Case of Uppage Fruit Harvest in the Western Ghats, India. Conservat Soc 2004;2:289-313
Rai ND, Uhl CF. Forest Product Use, Conservation and Livelihoods: The Case of Uppage Fruit Harvest in the Western Ghats, India. Conservat Soc [serial online] 2004 [cited 2020 Jan 18];2:289-313. Available from: http://www.conservationandsociety.org/text.asp?2004/2/2/289/49331
HUMANS HAVE HISTORICALLY depended on tropical forests for a variety of plant and animal products (Deneven 1992; Posey 1982). However, recent demand for timber and the expansion of agricultural activities have increased the rate of tropical forest loss. Following an influential study on the potential high economic value of tropical forest to indigenous communities (Peters et al. 1989; see Sheil and Wunder 2002 for a critique), the extraction of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) by local communities was widely proposed as a strategy to stem the rate of deforestation while enhancing livelihoods (Nepstad and Schwartzman 1992; Panayatou and Ashton 1992). As a result, this 'good extractivism' approach, one that 'preserves natural resources while enhancing income' (Almeida 1996), has spawned much research on the role of NTFPs in forest conservation (Peters 1996) and livelihoods (Godoy et al. 1995).
Recent studies on NTFP harvest and trade suggest that an emphasis on NTFP as a major source of income for forest communities might be problematic for several reasons: markets are frequently unstable (Padoch 1992); trade is often controlled by the elite, both locally and regionally (Ribot 2000); access to NTFPs is socially mediated and inequitable (Kumar 2002); most NTFPs occur at low densities (LaFrankie 1994); and the potential for trade is usually low, with only few species being traded (Saw et al. 1991). Furthermore, the lack of security of tenure, a situation commonly encountered in state-controlled forests, often results in such adverse ecological impacts as damage during harvest (Momberg et al. 2000) and suppressed regeneration. Ecological effects have been shown to be higher than expected (Padoch 1992) and economic returns are low (Godoy et al. 2000). There is, therefore, increasing evidence that NTFP harvest in practice often does not follow the concept of 'good extractivism'.
Few studies have simultaneously addressed the ecological and socio-economic aspects of NTFP harvest and trade. In order to fill this gap, we attempted such a study using the case of uppage (Garcinia gummi-gutta), a rainforest tree valued for its fruit. The dried rind of uppage fruit rapidly increased in value in the mid1990s due to the discovery of international markets, thus encouraging members of several Western Ghats village communities to engage in the collection and trade of the product. The village communities in the study area, which are heavily depended on the state-controlled forests for their resource needs, are socially hierarchical. This presented a suitable case to examine the role of NTFP harvest in livelihood enhancement and the ecological impacts of NTFP harvest. The uppage harvest scenario is complicated by a transition from domestic to international markets, the pervasive state control of forests and social stratification within village communities. To gain an integrated understanding of the socio-economic and ecological aspects of uppage harvest, we asked the following questions: Are lowincome households more dependent on uppage than high-income ones? Does the social position of a household determine access to uppage trees and income from uppage rind? What impact does fluctuating uppage market price have on household incomes? What is the pattern of distribution and structure of uppage populations in the village forests? Does the lack of security of tenure influence harvest and affect species ecology?
Natural History and Use of Uppage
Uppage is the Kannada name for Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) Robson (Family Guttiferae), an understorey rainforest tree, restricted to the moist forests of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka (Ramesh and Pascal 1997). Uppage is dioecious, with separate male and female trees occurring in a ratio of 1:1 (Rai 2003). Trees of both the sexes usually commence flower production when they are about 14 cm in diameter. Male and female trees produce flowers from February to April and fist-sized fruits that weigh about 80 g, ripen from July to September during the rainy season. Uppage flowers are pollinated by weevils. Fruits on an uppage tree do not all ripen at the same time. The staggered fruiting ensures that most fruits are eaten by animals, thus ensuring that a large proportion of the seeds are dispersed (Lee 1988). While unripe fruits are green, the ripe fruit is bright yellow, a colour associated with many monkey-dispersed fruits (Janson 1983; Terborgh 1986). Uppage is an important food resource for the common langur (Presbytus entellus), Bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata), common palm civet (Paradoxorus hermaphroditus) and the endangered brown palm civet (P. jerdonii), all of which feed on the pulp. These animals play an important role in the ecology of uppage by dispersing seeds away from parent trees, thereby increasing the probability of survival of seeds and seedlings (Rai 2003). Animals discard uppage rind to the ground after eating the pulp. Collection of fallen rind, after it has been thus discarded, has no overt adverse impact on the ecology of uppage. The seeds of uppage are consumed by two species of arboreal squirrels (Ratufa indica and Funambulus palmaram).
The fruit of the tree is harvested by villagers, who after removing the seeds and pulp, sell the dried rind to traders. The rind of the uppage fruit has been traditionally used in the state of Kerala in India and in Sri Lanka as a culinary additive and fish preservative (Samarajeewa and Shanmugapirabu 1983). The long history of use has resulted in the species being domesticated in home gardens in Kerala for centuries.
The domestic demand for the rind in Kerala kept the price at a steady but low level until the early 1990s. In the late 1980s some studies showed that hydroxy citric acid (HCA), a secondary compound present in the rind of uppage fruit, might be effective in weight loss (Sergio 1988). This finding interested drug manufacturers in the United States of America who touted the drug as a natural solution to obesity (Majeed et al. 1994). Drugs such as Citrin and Citrimax were widely sold over the counter. These neutraceuticals, as drugs derived from natural products came to be called, were aggressively advertised despite a lack of rigorous studies on their efficacy. As a result of the increased demand for these products in Western markets, the price of uppage rind increased rapidly in India.
However, in 1998, the results of a randomised clinical trial showed that a control group, which was given a placebo, lost more weight than the treatment group that was given HCA (Heymsfield et al. 1998). As the results of this study were disseminated widely, primarily on the Internet, the demand for the product declined. The effect on the price of rind in India was dramatic. The price fell from an average of Rs 60/kg ($1.43/kg) in 1999 to Rs 28/kg ($0.66/kg) in 2000, and the price of HCA exported to the US fell from $30/kg in 1999 to $8.50/kg in 2000. Subsequent warnings by various other agencies regarding side effects from the continued usage of the drug have further debilitated demand (Columbia.edu 2000). Exporters also attribute the drop in price to a steep increase in the number of HCA processors and a subsequent spurt in supply. Other reasons cited for the drop in prices are low rind quality due to the harvest of unripe fruit, and the import of uppage fruit from Sri Lanka at lower prices (Suresh Kumar, Sami Chemicals, Bangalore; personal communication).
The Western Ghats in southern India are a 1,600 km long north-south hill range, traversing the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Western Ghats have been identified by Myers (1990) as one of eighteen hot-spots of global biological diversity and more recently as one of eight global 'hottest' hot-spots (Myers et al. 2000). This study was conducted in an area of approximately 49 sq. km in the environs of Kelaginkeri village, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]. Kelaginkeri village is situated at an altitude of 620 m. The average precipitation of about 3,600 mm is largely restricted to the monsoon months of June to October. The tropical wet forests along the crestline and the western slopes, have high levels of endemicity: 12 per cent for birds and 60 per cent for amphibians (Daniels 1991, 1996). The proportion of the area under forest in the district is 79 per cent, which is remarkably high for any district in India.
Areca palm plantations, rice paddies and human habitations occur in the valleys, thus restricting forests to the slopes and hilltops. The valleys, with their perennial streams and shade, offer the best sites for areca plantations, which is the major cash crop in the area. Forest canopy openness depends on use, which ranges from fuel wood collection and green leaf harvest for use as green manure to fruit and honey collection.
The area of Kelaginkeri village, which includes forests within the village boundary, is 15 sq. km. Ninety-three per cent of the area is forest land, including soppinabetta (Census of India 1991). [1] The 1991 national census lists fifty households in the village with a total population of 316 (169 males, 147 females). However, a survey of households in 1999 showed that the number had increased to eightytwo households as a result of division of land among male siblings and recent settlers.
One hundred and thirty species of NTFP are used to varying extents by villagers in Uttara Kannada district (Hegde et al. 2000). The extent of dependence on the forest among households varies. Farmers growing areca, the major crop of the region, use leaves obtained from the forest as mulch; meat-eating non-Brahmins obtain wild game and mushrooms; Brahmins harvest herbs and other plant products for food; and low-income households trade various NTFP even if only marginally lucrative. However, high-value NTFP such as uppage are attractive to all segments of the community. The seed has high oil content of 50 per cent (Mannan et al. 1986). In Uttara Kannada district the oil extracted from seeds of the uppage fruit has been used traditionally in cooking. Though the oil is no longer used as much as in the past, it has ensured that uppage trees in soppinabetta were maintained, and thus available to be harvested by soppinabetta owners when the market for the rind developed in the mid-1990s.
The human population density of 54 per sq. km in Uttara Kannada district is among the lowest in the country (Census of India 1991). The average annual household cash income in the district (Rs 38,745) (Hegde et al. 2000) is 1.2 times the national average (Rs 30,915) (Bhandare and Mukhopadhyay 1998). The higher average income in the district is due largely to the cultivation of areca nut. In the last fifteen years areca has experienced a steep increase in value as a result of the aggressive marketing of ghutka, a tobacco-coated areca product, to which a large number of people, especially youth, have become addicted.
The Structure of the Village Community
The social structure of the Kelaginkeri village community is strongly hierarchical. At the top of this traditional hierarchy is the Havyaka Brahmin community, which is the richest and most politically influential. Havyakas constitute 54 per cent of the eighty-two households in the village. The non-Brahmins in the village are lower in the social order and are to varying degrees considered by the Brahmins to be 'untouchable' depending on their caste. These castes are Kare-vokkaliga (15 per cent of the households in Kelaginkeri), Naik (15 per cent), Siddi (8 per cent), Marathi (7 per cent) and Mahalaya (1 per cent). Brahmins, in the role of the clergy, have for centuries controlled the affairs of the village, effectively stifling participation of other communities in village-level decision making. The practice of social discrimination (untouchability and caste-based discrimination) continues here as it does in the rest of the country, despite the state having declared it unconstitutional and illegal. Brahmins in Kelaginkeri discriminate against nonBrahmins by, amongst other things, preventing their entry into Brahmin houses.
The majority of areca plantations are owned by Brahmins. Non-Brahmins who do not own areca plantations usually work in the plantations of the Brahmins as labourers, and cultivate their (often small) rice paddies in the monsoon when water is available. Areca plantations are the most resource intensive and economically profitable land use in the district. The increased earnings from areca in the mid1980s further concentrated power in the hands of the Brahmins. The lure of greater earnings from areca resulted in many poorer farmers and plantation workers establishing areca plantations by illegally cutting down state-controlled forests. Havyaka Brahmins increased their areca holdings by expanding into adjacent valleys. Farmers with recently established areca plantations, however, continued to work in the plantations of the richer farmers, as areca palms take eight to ten years to yield. Recent converts to areca plantations do not have access rights to the forest for the collection of green mulch, as the practice of granting soppinabetta to areca farmers was abolished in 1975 (Nadkarni et al. 1989). This has resulted in illegal expansion into reserve forests by farmers who have recently established plantations, and the intensification of use of existing soppinabetta.
Forest Access Laws and Property Rights Regimes
There are as yet no clear policies governing NTFP harvest, although steps are being taken towards the formulation of a NTFP harvest policy. In a recent report the Forest Department of Karnataka state outlined a set of objectives for an NTFP use and management strategy (Karnataka Forest Department 1999), which is yet to be instituted. Much of the current extraction occurs rampantly with little monitoring of the impact of harvest. The absence of local institutions has hobbled attempts at achieving resource sustainability.
The rights regimes (sensu Srinidhi and Lele 2000) that exist in the forests of the study area are reserve forest, soppinabetta and minor forest. Though all forest is owned by the state, each category has different usufruct rights. In reserve forests silvicultural operations and extraction of dead wood for subsequent sale as fuel wood are conducted by the state. Limited collection of fuel wood and fodder is granted to local communities, but the granting of these rights is at the discretion of forest officials. The Forest Department auctions the rights to extraction and trade of NTFPs to private contractors. The absence of usufruct rights in the reserve forest results in an 'open access' situation for NTFP collection, where NTFPs can be harvested by anyone as and when they are available.
Soppinabetta is private access forest that occurs only in the three hill talukas [2] of the district: Sirsi, Siddapur and Yellapur. In the 1890s the then British administration leased 9 ha of surrounding forest for every hectare of orchard owned (Buchy 1996; Nadkarni et al. 1989). This was to allow farmers to harvest leaves to use as mulch for areca palm trees. Farmers have complete control over the extraction of fuel wood, fodder, soil and green leaves. NTFP can, however, only be sold to the contractor appointed by the Forest Department. In terms of NTFP harvest, soppinabetta ensures security of tenure to farmers in contrast to open access in reserve forests.
Minor forest is forest land given to the entire village in the ratio of 1 ha of land for every head of cattle. This enables local communities to meet their subsistence needs of fuel wood, fodder and leaf mulch. The harvesting of resources, including NTFP, for commercial purposes is not allowed. After decades of intense use, the vegetation in minor forest is mostly scrub and stunted trees. In the range in which Kelaginkeri village is located, 56 per cent of the forest area is reserve forest and 23 per cent is soppinabetta and 21 per cent is minor forest (Karnataka Forest Department 1999).
Harvest and Trade Scenario
The Forest Department auctions the rights to the harvest and trade of NTFPs biannually. Trade rights for major NTFPs like G. gummi-gutta are auctioned separately, while the auctioning of cheaper and less abundant NTFPs are combined. Rights are auctioned for each forest range, which is the basic administrative unit of forest, measuring about 250 sq. km.
Fifty-seven per cent of the total revenue earned by the Karnataka Forest Department from all NTFP auctions in 1995-97 was from uppage alone, illustrating its prominence in the NTFP trade scenario of the region at that time. However, revenue earned by the Karnataka Forest Department from NTFP in the district is less than 1 per cent of their total revenue (Gaonkar et al. 1998). The meagre revenue accounts for the general lack of interest in NTFP trade. Not surprisingly, the Department has raised concerns about the harvest from the reserve forest of fuel wood used to dry uppage rind, and argued that the revenue earned from auctioning trade rights is not commensurate with the loss of biomass (Saibaba et al. 1996).
The winning bidder assumes complete control of the trade of uppage for the range. These contracts, usually won by affluent business people from outside the area, give individuals, henceforth called contractors, marketing rights to all extracted uppage fruit. The harvest of the fruit itself is done by local people. The short lease period of two years gives contractors little incentive to ensure that NTFP harvest is conducted with minimum impact to the resource base.
Uppage is harvested from reserve forests and from soppinabetta. Fruits are brought to the homes of the collectors where they are de-seeded and the rind is dried in a wood-fired oven, which usually comprises a metal mesh suspended over burning logs. The rind has to be dried within a day of harvest as it tends to spoil quickly in the humid climate.
Harvesters sell the dried rind to a contractor-appointed agent at a price determined by the contractor. The agent gets a commission for each kilogram bought. The contractor collects the rind from the agent at regular intervals. Apart from the agent, there are other buyers who acquire and sell small quantities of rind. These village traders sell uppage to either the legal contractor or to other traders who operate on the black market [Figure 3]. The occurrence of a black market ensures that prices are higher than if the contractor were the sole buyer of the rind. The contractor attempts to curtail this illegal trade by recruiting people to patrol the borders of the range to ensure that uppage is not purloined to a neighbouring range, the jurisdiction of different contractor, where prices may be higher, even if marginally. There is, however, little support for such monitoring either from villagers, who stand to benefit from the higher prices and greater options, or from the Forest Department, who, having auctioned off the contract, does not interest itself in the operational details of harvest and trade. Tensions between traders, and between collectors and the contractor, therefore, run high during the harvest season.
Using data from studies on fruiting and tree densities, we calculated the annual uppage production for Sirsi division to be 3,020,673 kg per year. The official estimate provided by the Forest Department for the period 1997-99 is 1,631,500 kg per year, or 54 per cent the estimated quantity. This disparity in estimates might be due to uppage rind being traded on the black market and under-reporting by contractors.
The contractor stores the dried rind in large sheds in the nearby town of Sirsi, where it is sorted, graded and sometimes adulterated with common salt and charcoal to increase weight. The rind is then sold to HCA processing firms, which are usually located in cities, and are capital-intensive industrial units with the necessary technological expertise to extract HCA from rind for subsequent export. There are about thirty-five processing firms involved in the extraction of HCA in India.
Socio-economic Profile of Kelaginkeri Village
How important is uppage to the household economy of Kelaginkeri village? We determined the effect of participation in uppage harvest on the income of rich and poor, Brahmin and non-Brahmin households, and the level of dependence of households on uppage collection. Information on the socio-economic characteristics of households in Kelaginkeri village was obtained from interviews in May and June 2001. Interviews were conducted at the end of a three-year stay in the village. Fifty-one of the eighty-two households in the village were interviewed. Households were selected to ensure that all castes and income classes were represented. During the interviews we gathered information on:
1. Household structure and income: Number of people in the household; income from agriculture, NTFPs and wage labour; size of landholding and land use. 2. NTFP collection: Number of species collected; quantity collected in 1999 and 2000.
3. Uppage harvest: Number of kilograms of uppage collected in 1999 and 2000; number of years of uppage collection; number of household members involved in uppage collection; time spent on uppage collection and processing; amount of fuel wood used per day in drying uppage.
4. Trade and access: Amount of uppage sold to contractor and on the black market; presence of informal tenurial arrangements; barriers to involvement in uppage harvest.
5. Harvest practice: Preference of harvest mode-climb and harvest or collection of fallen rind; proportion of uppage obtained from soppinabetta, proportion of fruits left on the trees.
Resource Access and Trade
To obtain a description of the policy governing forest resource access and NTFP trade we interviewed forest officials, traders and conservation activists in the town of Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district. Two contractors in Sirsi and Siddapur were interviewed for their perceptions on NTFP trade, quantity of uppage obtained, final markets and profit margins. For an estimate of the significance of the black market, a trader operating on the black market was interviewed. In 1988, prior to the establishment of overseas markets, and the boom in uppage prices, the Bakkala village cooperative located about 25 km from the town of Sirsi, held the contract for trade in uppage rind. We talked to the secretary of the Bakkala village cooperative to evaluate the potential for such village cooperatives being involved in NTFP trade. We interviewed representatives of five HCA extraction firms in Bangalore and Ankola to obtain information on the quantity of rind acquired per year, the price of uppage, the sources of uppage, the price of the finished product, size of the export market and fluctuations in demand.
To determine the density and distribution of uppage in the study area, trees greater than 10 cm diameter at breast height were enumerated in sample plots established in the forests of Kelaginkeri village. The total area sampled was 30.5 ha. The pattern of distribution of uppage in Kelaginkeri was determined by sampling along a 20 m wide, 11.8 km long transect. To determine if the occurrence of uppage along the 11.8 km transect was random or clumped, the transect was subdivided into 50 m continuous sections and the presence or absence of uppage trees in each section was recorded. A non-parametric Runs test was then used to test for randomness.
To determine if the impact of harvest practices varies between the two regimes, reserve forest and soppinabetta, we laid two 1 ha plots in soppinabetta (S1 and S2) and six 1 ha plots in reserve forest [Figure 2]. In the reserve forest two plots (R1 and R2) were in sites harvested by migrant collectors and hence assumed to experience a high intensity of fruit harvest. Two reserve forest plots (R3 and R4) were considered medium-intensity sites due to their close proximity to many households. Two other reserve forest plots (R5 and R6) were considered low-intensity sites as each was harvested by one household as a result of an informal tenurial agreement.
Plots S1, S2, R1 to R5 consisted of three to five parallel sub-plots of size 20x100 m, separated from each other by 100 m. Within each sub-plot the diameter of all G. gummi-gutta trees (>10 cm diameter) was measured. Within each 20x100 subplot, we sampled saplings (0.5-2.0 m height) in a nested 5x100 m plot and and seedlings (< 0.5 m height) in a nested 2x100 m plot. Plot R6 was a 100x100 m plot within which all uppage individuals greater than 0.5 m height were enumerated. All seedlings (< 0.5 m height) were also enumerated within a 40x100 m sub-plot.
The greater security of tenure in soppinabetta helps ensure that harvesters allow fruits to ripen on trees, increasing the probability of seeds being locally dispersed by primates. In the reserve forest, however, fruits are picked when unripe before seeds are fully developed and fruits along with seeds are taken to the households of collectors for processing and drying. We tested the hypothesis that a higher number of seeds are dispersed in soppinabetta than in reserve forest where seeds are removed along with fruits during harvest by comparing the ratio of seedlings (less than 0.5 m height) to trees greater than 20 cm diameter at breast height. A higher ratio would suggest that more seeds are germinating per adult tree.
We used only seedling number as we observed that saplings (plants greater than 0.5 m in height) were periodically cut in soppinabetta during biomass harvest.
Damage caused to trees during harvest was assessed in the six forest plots. If damage to trees was observed, we selected additional trees outside the plots along transects of variable lengths to ensure adequate sample size and recorded per cent damage for each tree encountered along the transect. Damage was observed in the high-intensity reserve forest sites RF1 and RF2 where 187 female trees were assessed for damage. The proportion of branches cut was recorded as per cent damage. Stumps of felled uppage trees were enumerated in the plots and along the transect.
Role of Uppage in Income Generation
The average annual household income of the fifty-one households was Rs 104,229 (US$ 2,316), which is higher than the average annual household income of Uttara Kannada district (Rs 38,745 [Hegde et al. 2000]) or the country (Rs 30,915 [Bhandare and Mukhopadhyay 1998]). A comparison of Brahmin and nonBrahmin household incomes shows a significant difference indicating that the distribution of income within the village is not equitable (t-test, p < 0.001; average Brahmin US$ 3,218, n = 26; average non-Brahmin Rs 1,347, n = 25). The income disparity between Brahmin and non-Brahmin households does not, however, result in differential dependence on uppage, as the relative contribution of uppage to Brahmin (7.7 per cent of household income from uppage) and non-Brahmin (11.6 per cent) households is not significantly differently (Mann-Whitney U, p = 0.39).
We tested the hypothesis that low-income households collect more uppage than high-income households. Households were divided into those with incomes less than Rs 50,000 (n = 16) and greater than Rs 100,000 (n = 16). In 2000 low-income households collected 85-124 kg, which is significantly lower than rind collected by high-income households, who collected 398-432 kg (t-test, p = 0.01). Moreover, the average uppage harvest by low-income households decreased from 122 kg/household in 1999 to 85 kg/household in 2000, while that of high-income households increased from 277 kg/household to 398 kg/household over the same period [Figure 4]. In 2000 households with access to soppinabetta collected 62 per cent of their uppage from it.
It has been hypothesised that with increase in income, households extract fewer NTFP (Godoy et al. 1995). We compared the number of NTFP used by households with incomes greater than Rs 100,000 (n = 16) with the number of NTFPs used by households with incomes less than Rs 50,000 (n = 16). There was no significant difference in the number of products extracted by these two groups (Mann-Whitney U, p = 0.28). Contrary to expectations, richer households harvested, on the average, a higher number of products (2.4 products) than poorer households (1.9 products), but not significantly so. Uppage constituted 83 per cent of the total household income in 2000 obtained from NTFPs by fifty-one households, suggesting that households depend on one, or few, high-value products as and when they become attractive [Table 1].
The drop in demand for HCA in overseas markets resulted in a steep decrease in price of uppage rind [Figure 5]. To illustrate the effect of the fickle price regime on income generation, we compared income from uppage for the years 1999 and 2000, during which time prices fell from Rs 62 per kg to Rs 28 per kg. Though the quantity of uppage collected by the households increased marginally from 1999 to 2000 (12,611 kg to 14,622 kg), the reduction in price resulted in the total earnings from it dropping from Rs 800,969 in 1999 to Rs 436,233 in 2000. The vagaries of external markets and demand could thus be debilitating to the economy of harvester households.
Impact of Harvest
Harvest Behaviour Due to open access in reserve forests, collectors are driven by necessity to harvest uppage before others. The early harvest results in low quality uppage rind as fruits are not fully developed and rind obtained from unripe fruit weighs less than rind from ripe fruit. Reserve forest patches, in some cases having as many as 100 uppage trees per ha, attract collectors from distant villages. There is, therefore, a conflict of interest between migrant harvesters and local villagers who are also involved in uppage collection. Under the current rights regime, local villagers are unable to prevent migrant harvesters from collecting in the reserve forests surrounding their village. Surveys in forests frequented by migrant harvesters have shown that branches were cut in over 50 per cent of adult fruiting uppage trees. The cutting of branches makes the harvest of fruits easier than picking individual fruits from the tree. Often the largest branches are cut, as fruits at the tips of these branches are the most inaccessible. In addition, most harvest occurs early in the season, and as unripe fruits are more difficult to dislodge, it encourages the cutting of branches to the ground where they are then picked clean. The harvest practice in soppinabetta is different. Soppinabetta owners wait for uppage fruits to ripen before harvesting. They usually harvest fruit that has fallen to the ground after ripening or after primates have eaten the pulp and discarded the rind. This results in better quality rind.
Thus, collectors pick rind from the ground only in forests that have secure tenurial arrangements. Picking rind might be more time-consuming than climbing and harvesting trees. This is because not all fruits ripen synchronously and the number of fruits fallen under a tree at any given time is few, necessitating frequent visits to the same trees. However, economic returns from picking fallen fruits are higher as only ripe fruits are obtained when harvested in this fashion in contrast to a mixture of ripe and unripe fruits that are obtained when the entire tree is harvested at once. Rind from ripe fruit weighs more than unripe fruit and sells for about Rs 5 to 10 more per kg than rind from unripe fruit.
Sixty-seven per cent of the forty-two harvesters interviewed preferred to pick fallen fruit than climb trees. They offered such reasons as lesser effort, less dangerous harvest practice, measured pace of work, decreased processing time as ripe fruits are easier to deseed and better quality rind for their decision. Only 26 per cent of the households preferred to climb trees, as that allowed the harvest of fruits from trees in remote areas that might not be possible to be visited on a regular basis or in areas that are harvested by several people.
Population Structure The density of uppage trees ranged from 4 trees/ha to 123 trees/ha, with an average of 29 trees/ha. The result of the Runs test was significant at p <0.001, showing that uppage trees are not evenly distributed in the forests of Kelaginkeri. Data from the belt transect suggests that uppage trees occur in clumps.
A comparison of the sopppinabetta and reserve forest sites shows that there are few juveniles (0.5-2.0 m height) and young adults (1-20 cm dbh) in soppinabetta [Figure 6], due to the clearing of undergrowth periodically for fodder and mulch collection. There is, however, an adequate number of seedlings for adult populations to establish if the existing young trees are allowed to grow. The ratio of seedlings to mature trees is higher in soppinabetta than in the reserve forest with the exception of the reserve forest site RF2 [Figure 7]. The generally high proportion of seedlings in soppinabetta suggests that the practice of collecting fallen rind results in greater seedling to adult ratios. This suggests that picking rind is a more ecologically sustainable harvest behaviour than harvesting fruits directly from the tree. However, such factors as greater mortality of seedlings in intact forest and high rates of seed predation in diverse forest (Rai 2003) might also be responsible for the lower seedling ratios in the reserve forest.
Damage Due to Harvest The cutting of lateral limbs of uppage trees during harvest was observed in areas that are heavily used. In sites RF1 and RF2, branches were cut on 57 per cent of trees, all branches on 8 per cent of the trees were cut, and 11 trees (6 per cent) were cut at the trunk at a height of 1 m with the bole of the tree lying near the stump [Figure 8]. Due to the short history of fruit harvest, extreme impacts such as the cutting of branches and trees are currently confined to the forest patches that are close to high-density villages situated below the Western Ghats from where migrant harvesters originate. An increase in the price of uppage could result in these impacts rapidly spreading to larger areas if local villagers are not given more control and access rights to uppage trees.
Impact of Fuel Wood Collection The drying of uppage rind requires fuel wood, which is collected from the forest. The Karnataka Forest Department estimated that 25 kg of wood is required to obtain 1 kg of dried rind (Saibaba et al. 1996). We estimated the amount of fuel wood used, by weighing the wood required to dry known amounts of rind. We estimated that 10.5 kg of wood is used to obtain 1 kg of dried rind. This was within the range of values provided by harvesters during the interviews. L6l6 (1993) estimated the total above-ground wood production in the area to be 1,100 to 3,100 kg ha -1 yr -1 . The estimate of dry rind produced per ha in the study area is 37.9 kg. Thus, the estimated fuel wood consumption is 398 kg ha -1 yr -1 , which is less than half the lower range of the estimated aboveground wood production in these forests. Although less wood is extracted than total production, it is removed from a smaller area of forest, often close to the harvester household. This might result in a high level of impact on smaller areas of forest.
There is significant disparity in the income of upper-class (Brahmin) and lowerclass (non-Brahmin) households in Kelaginkeri. This variability in household incomes within the village and income distribution is related to the social stratification. It has been shown that most village communities are highly stratified (Agrawal and Gibson 1999). Under the existing social structure, access to resources is biased towards the upper-class households. To ensure equitable resource access 'negotiations that can modify the effects of alienation, hierarchy, and domination' (Agrawal 1999) are necessary.
Higher-income households collect significantly more uppage and a marginally higher number of NTFP species than poor households. High-income households increased the quantity of uppage collected from 1999 to 2000, while low-income households either ceased or reduced collection. This finding contradicts studies that have shown that households with low income are more dependent on NTFPs than high-income households (Gunatilleke et al. 1993). However, Kumar (2002) has shown that in the dry forest of central India high-income households benefit more from the extraction of NTFP than low-income households. Godoy et al. (1995) have also shown that in a Nicaraguan village an increase in household income does not encourage households to specialise on fewer forest products or reduce their dependence on forests. The significantly higher quantities of uppage collected by high-income households is probably a result of the greater access to trees in soppinabetta. In addition, their greater wealth enables them to employ people from Kelaginkeri and from faraway villages to collect rind from the reserve forest. Trees growing in the open canopy soppinabetta, due to their larger size, produce more fruit than those growing in the dense canopy forest (Rai 2003). The greater tenurial security enjoyed by soppinabetta owners enables them to collect ripe fruits, resulting in greater economic returns as ripe fruits fetch higher prices. The lower quantities collected by poorer households might be due to their being involved in labour duties in areca plantations or in their own rice fields whose cultivation only in the monsoons when water is available coincides with the peak uppage fruiting season.
Price of uppage rind fell sharply, resulting in a large decrease in household income. NTFP often show boom-bust scenarios, with significant effects on local incomes. Collectors make the decision to harvest based on limited market information, and often suffer the consequences of market collapse. Padoch (1992) describes a boom and bust scenario in the extraction of aguaje fruit (Mauritia flexuosa) in the Amazon. Prices in local markets showed a six-fold price increase in a week, which then spurred a massive increase in palm fruit harvest, causing a subsequent crash in the price to, or below, the pre-boom value. If local communities are to rely on NTFP, there has to be greater market stability, a scenario that is complicated by an increasingly global trade regime as illustrated in this case study. There is, however, a stable, albeit less lucrative, domestic market for uppage rind in the state of Kerala. Interviews with traders suggest that about 20 per cent of the rind from Sirsi district, even during peak international export, was being directed to markets in Kerala state. The existence of multiple uses and markets for the rind is encouraging for the continued marketability of uppage.
Households in Kelaginkeri specialise on a few high-value NTFP. Despite the diversity of NTFP in the forest (Hegde et al. 2000), households engage in the collection and trade of only a few NTFP [Figure 9], which constitutes 14 per cent of the average total household income, a large portion of which (83 per cent, [Table 1]) is from uppage rind alone. Most NTFP that occur in the forests around Kelaginkeri are either financially unattractive [Table 1] or are at low densities (N. Rai, unpublished data). Similarly, Saw et al. (1991) have shown that only one species (Parkia speciosa) out of seventy-six edible fruit-bearing species (9 per cent of total tree species) in a 50 ha forest plot in Malaysia was harvested for sale. Thus, an emphasis on forest products as a major source of income, as many conservation and development agencies have suggested, might not improve the economic situation of forest-dependent communities. This, therefore, casts doubts over the role of NTFP as a primary income source for forest-dwelling communities.
Seedling regeneration is higher in soppinabetta, indicating that security of tenure might result in stable populations of uppage. Security of tenure rights has been cited as an important factor that ensures sustainable harvest of forest resources (Momberg et al. 2000). The practice of delayed harvest of uppage fruits is seen often in soppinabetta, a more secure tenurial regime, and rarely in reserve forest. Harvesters who lack secure rights of access are tempted to harvest fruits before other collectors, resulting in seeds not being dispersed and a probable reduction in seedling regeneration. Greater security of tenure will ensure that fruits are harvested later in the season, and picked from the ground instead of being plucked from the tree. Collectors who use this mode of harvest cannot, however, harvest over large areas, as uppage fruits can lie on the ground for only one to two days before rotting in the heavy rain that falls during the fruiting season, thus requiring frequent visits to fruiting trees. Lack of tenure security has also resulted in a high incidence of damage to trees during collection. More than half the number of uppage trees in the intense harvest sites was intentionally damaged during harvest. Local control of resources by villagers and ecological monitoring of the uppage population might ensure that damage to trees, usually caused by migrant harvesters, is minimised and that seedling regeneration is adequate.
There have been precedents for the local control of forests in India through the granting of rights of forest use to the entire village, and regulation through a village council (Kothari et al. 1998). In Karnataka, Village Forest Councils (VFC) exist in several villages, but at present their scope is limited to the management of degraded forest and rarely extends to reserved forest. Increasing the authority of VFCs and granting rights of NTFP harvest within prescribed village boundaries will greatly enhance the access rights of local communities.
Uppage trees are not evenly distributed in the forest. How then are resources to be divided amongst the members of a heterogeneous community? Important and empowering as securing rights of tenure is, some questions regarding the process of granting tenure remain. As many NTFP are patchily distributed, drawing boundaries around households might not result in an equitable distribution of forest products. Nor can it be assumed that granting property rights alone will ensure that the larger issues of access to markets, involvement in policy decisions and effective resource management will be addressed (Zerner 2000). Such issues of resource sharing are best addressed by community members and stakeholders themselves, through negotiations facilitated by the establishment of local institutions (Martin and Lemon 2001).
Middle traders are important to NTFP product trade. Gaonkar et al. (1998) have suggested that the current contractual system be replaced by a village-level NTFP cooperative that undertakes the trade of the product directly, eschewing the contractor and other middle traders. The current system is unfavourable to collectors as the price is set by the contractor, and harvesters get a proportionally small share of the final profits. However, due to their experience and contacts with the external markets, traders are more adept at finding markets and absorbing the risk of market collapse. This was corroborated by the experience of a village sales cooperative that had won the contract for uppage trade in 1988 (S. M. Hegde, personal communication). As a result of their inability to effectively market the rind, they lost money over the two years that they had the contract.
We found that the reported estimates of uppage rind bought and traded by contractors might have been underestimated. Contractors might under-report quantities in order to drive down auction prices, and deflate profit estimates in order to offer lower prices to collectors. This has been possible due to the lack of monitoring by the Forest Department and the lack of transparency in trade. Information on actual quantities will enable a better understanding of the impact of NTFP harvest on village household income, size of the trade and the impact on the ecosystem of fuel wood collection. Our results show that the amount of fuel wood required for drying rind is lower than previously published estimates (Saibaba et al. 1996). However, the impact of biomass removal on forest patches might be high, as wood is extracted from areas close to households, thus focusing fuel wood extraction on small areas.
In a review of the uppage marketing regime in the district, Saxena et al. (1997) have argued that although monopolistic NTFP trade regimes may not be conducive to local income augmentation, the ecological effects of such a trade regime are benign due to depressed prices and a quasi-regulated harvest regime. There is, however, little information on the impact of the trade regime on the ecology of NTFP species. The case of nutmeg (Myristica malabaricum) is illustrative of an NTFP that, despite being traded under the contractual system, was over-exploited to the point where harvest and trade were banned by the Karnataka Forest Department (Saibaba et al. 1996) due to extensive tree damage. There is, therefore, little evidence to suggest that changes in the trade regime will result in more benign harvest.
Our study shows that greater local control over forest resources will increase the probability of sustainable uppage harvest, mainly through the harvest of ripe fruits and decreased tree damage during harvest. Transparency in trade and decision making at all levels (state, contractor and harvester) will ensure faster response by all stakeholders to variability in market demand and resource condition. We found a large disparity in access to forest resource within the village. This heterogeneity can be reduced through the representation of non-Brahmins in local institutions, thus giving them a greater voice in resource use decisions. In cases where these structures have been initiated, it has been largely through the efforts of local non-governmental agencies (Jeffrey and Sundar 1999), suggesting that the role of external agencies is critical in ensuring sustainable harvest and equitable distribution of rewards. If communities are to become more dependent on NTFP, a greater involvement by the state and by non-governmental agencies is necessary.
The uppage case shows that NTFP use is dependent on more than just the direct interaction of markets, forests and livelihoods. The paradigm of 'good extractivism' that has fuelled much of the interest in NTFP needs to be re-evaluated in the light of increasing evidence that a complex interplay of factors such as regulation of forest access, social dynamics within the community, unstable trade due to fluctuating market demand, and local and global economic scenarios influence NTFP use. Although strategies evolved for one area can seldom be used in other areas due to differences in the prevailing economic, social and ecological scenarios (Sheil and Wunder 2002), basic aspects such as greater local control, ecological monitoring and transparency in trade appear to be important for NTFP harvest to be sustainable. The skewed distribution of natural resources and opportunities such as land, income and social status are characteristic of most villages in India (Kumar 2002), and possibly many other countries. It is, therefore, critical that the basic issue of social justice be addressed in order for biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation programmes to succeed.
Acknowledgements: This study was part of NDR's dissertation research. We thank Muthatha Ramanathan, Ankila Hiremath and Kamaljit Bawa for comments. We were ably assisted in the field by Arun Hegde, Purushottam Gowda and Parameshwar Hedge. Funding was provided by the Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University; Conservation, Food and Health Foundation; MacArthur Foundation Award to the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security; and the Center for International Forestry Research.[49]
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19. Karnataka Forest Department (1999), Guidelines on Policies and Procedures to be Applied to all Working Plans: Version 2.0. Bangalore: Office of the Chief Conservator of Forests (Working Plans, Research and Training).
20. Kothari, A., R.V. Anuradha and N. Pathak (1998), 'Community-based Conservation: Issues and Prospects', in A. Kothari, R.V. Anuradha, N. Pathak and B. Taneja (eds), Communities and Conservation: Natural Resource Management in South and Central Asia, pp. 25-57. New Delhi: Sage Publications.
21. Kumar, S. (2002), 'Does "Participation" in Common Pool Resource Management Help the Poor? A Social Cost-Benefit Analysis of Joint Forest Management in Jharkhand, India', World Development, 30: 763-82.
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24. Lele, S.M. (1993), 'Degradation, Sustainability, or Transformation? A Case Study of Villagers' Use of Forest Lands in the Malnaad Region off Uttara Kannada District, India', Ph.D. thesis. Berkeley: University of California.
25. Majeed, M., R. Rosen, M. McCarty, A. Conte, D. Patil and E. Butrym (1994), Citrin: A Revolutionary Herbal Approach to Weight Management. Burlingame, CA: New Editions Publishing.
26. Mannan, A., J.A. Farooqi, I. Ahmad and M. Asif (1986), 'Studies on Minor Seed Oils: VII', Fette Seifen Anstrichmittel, 88: 301-2.
27. Martin, A. and M. Lemon (2001), 'Challenges for Participatory Institutions: The Case of Village Forest Councils in Karnataka, South India', Society and Natural Resources, 14: 585-97.
28. Momberg, F., R. Puri and T. Jessup (2000), 'Exploitation of Gaharu, and Forest Conservation Efforts in the Keyan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan, Indonesia', in C. Zerner (ed.), People, Plants, and Justice: The Politics of Nature Conservation, pp. 259-84. New York: Columbia University Press.
29. Myers, N. (1990), 'The Biodiversity Challenge: Expanded Hot-spot Analysis', Environmentalist, 10: 243-56.
30. Myers, N., R.A. Mittermeir, C.G. Mittermeir, G.A.B. da Fonseca and J. Kent (2000), 'Biodiversity Hotspots for Conservation Priorities', Nature, 403: 853-58.
31. Nadkarni, M.V., S.A. Pasha and L.S. Prabhakar (1989), The Political Economy of Forest Use and Management. New Delhi: Sage Publications.
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33. Padoch, C. (1992), 'Marketing of Non-Timber Forest Products in Western Amazonia: General Observations and Research Priorities', Advances in Economic Botany, 9: 43-50.
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35. Peters, C. (1996), 'The Ecology and Management of Non-Timber Forest Resources', World Bank Technical Paper 322. Washington, DC: World Bank.
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38. Rai, N.D. (2003), 'Human Use, Reproductive Ecology, and Life History of Garcinia gummi-gutta, a Non-Timber Forest Product, in the Western Ghats, India', Ph.D. thesis. University Park: Pennsylvania State University.
39. Ramesh, B.R. and J.P. Pascal (1997), Atlas of Endemics of the Western Ghats (India). Pondicherry: French Institute.
40. Ribot, J.C. (2000), 'Rebellion, Representation, and Enfranchisement in the Forest Villages of Makacoulibantang, Eastern Senegal', in C. Zerner (ed.), People, Plants, and Justice: The Politics of Nature Conservation, pp. 134-58. New York: Columbia University Press.
41. Saibaba, K.S., I.M. Nagaraj and K.G. Satyanarayana (1996), A Case Study of Issues Related to the Collection of Garcinia cambogia (Uppage) in a few VFCs of the Janmane Range, JFPM Case Studies 4. Bangalore: Western Ghats Forestry Project, Karnataka Forest Department.
42. Samarajeewa, U. and N. Shanmugapirabu (1983), 'A Cheap Method for Preservation of Fish', Proceedings of the 6th International Congress of Food Science and Technology, 1: 80-81.
43. Saw, L.G., J.V. LaFrankie, K.M. Kochummen and S.K. Yap (1991), 'Fruit Trees in a Malaysian Rain Forest', Economic Botany, 45: 120-36.
44. Saxena, N.C., M. Sarin, R.V. Singh and T. Shah (1997), Western Ghats Forestry Project: Independent Study of Implementation Experience in Kanara Circle. Bangalore: Karnataka Forest Department.
45. Sergio, W. (1988), 'A Natural Food, the Malabar Tamarind, May Be Effective in the Treatment of Obesity', Medical Hypotheses, 27: 39-40.
46. Sheil, D. and S. Wunder (2002), 'The Value of Tropical Forest to Local Communities: Complications, Caveats, and Cautions', Conservation Ecology, 6, available at http://www.consecol.org/vol6/ iss2/art9.
47. Srinidhi, A.S. and S.M. L6l6 (2000), 'Forest Tenure Regimes in the Karnataka Western Ghats: A Compendium', technical report. Bangalore: Institute of Social and Economic Change.
48. Terborgh, J. (1986), 'Community Aspects of Frugivory in Tropical Forests', in A. Estrada and T.H. Fleming (eds), Frugivory and Seed Dispersal, pp. 371-84. Boston: Dr W. Junk.
49. Zerner, C. (ed.) (2000), People, Plants, and Justice: The Politics of Nature Conservation. New York: Columbia University Press.
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5], [Figure 6], [Figure 7], [Figure 8], [Figure 9]
Rai ND
Uhl CF
Natural History ...
The Structure of...
Forest Access La...
Harvest and Trad...
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Appeal of MIRIAM GASSEL and AARON MENDELSOHN, on behalf their daughter CLAIRE MENDELSOHN, from action of the New York City Department of Education regarding transportation.
Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, attorney for respondent, James M. Dervin, Esq., of counsel
ELIA, Commissioner.--Petitioners appeal the decision of the New York City Department of Education (“respondent”) to deny their request for transportation on behalf of their daughter (“the student”). The appeal must be dismissed.
Petitioners are the parents of the student, who attended first grade at the Herschel School, a nonpublic school (“Herschel”), during the 2015-2016 school year. Petitioners are divorced and both reside within the City School District of the City of New York. On February 1, 2016, petitioners submitted a variance request to respondent for transportation to Herschel for the 2016-2017 school year. In this request, petitioners indicated that they were divorced with joint legal and physical custody of the student and requested yellow bus transportation for the student at both petitioner Mendelsohn’s residence and petitioner Gassel’s residence. By letter dated February 2, 2016, respondent’s Office of Pupil Transportation (“OPT”) denied petitioners’ request because their divorce decree indicated that the student only lived with one parent, petitioner Gassel. This appeal ensued. Petitioners’ request for interim relief was denied on March 21, 2016.
Petitioners contend that they share joint legal and physical custody of the student pursuant to a divorce decree and, therefore, respondent is required to provide yellow bus transportation to both petitioner Gassel and petitioner Mendelsohn’s residences. Petitioners seek an order reversing respondent’s decision and granting petitioners’ variance request for the provision of yellow bus transportation to both petitioners’ residences.[1]
Respondent contends that, subsequent to the filing of this appeal, it determined that petitioners shared joint custody of the student and that the student had two primary residences. Respondent further determined that the student was ineligible for yellow bus transportation to and from petitioner Gassel’s residence and instead offered to provide the student with full-fare MetroCard service to and from this residence.[2]
The appeal must be dismissed as moot. The Commissioner will only decide matters in actual controversy and will not render a decision on a state of facts which no longer exist or which subsequent events have laid to rest (Appeal of a Student with a Disability, 48 Ed Dept Rep 532, Decision No. 15,940; Appeal of M.M., 48 id. 527, Decision No. 15,937; Appeal of Embro, 48 id. 204, Decision No. 15,836). Petitioners challenge respondent’s denial of their request for a variance for transportation for the 2016-2017 school year. The 2016-2017 school year has ended; therefore, the issue of transportation for that year is moot (see Education Law §3635[2]; Appeal of Garazha, 55 Ed Dept Rep, Decision No. 16,833; Appeal of Milliman-Estus, 52 id., Decision No. 16,394).
Even if the appeal were not dismissed as moot, it would also be dismissed on the merits. A city school district may, but is not required to, provide transportation to students (Education Law §3635[1][c]). Where such district elects to provide transportation, it must do so equally to all students in like circumstances (Education Law §3635[1][c]; Sands Point Academy, et al. v. Bd. of Educ., 63 Misc 2d 276; Appeal of A.P., 48 Ed Dept Rep 380, Decision No. 15,891). The Commissioner of Education has held that students in different grades are not in “like circumstances” and that city school districts may establish transportation policies that make distinctions by grade level (Appeal of A.P., 48 Ed Dept Rep 380, Decision No. 15,891; Appeal of Cassin, et al., 32 id. 373, Decision No. 12,859).
A board of education has broad discretion to determine how transportation is to be provided (Appeal of A.P., 48 Ed Dept Rep 380, Decision No. 15,891; Appeal of Brizell, 48 id. 128, Decision No. 15,814). In making that determination, a board may balance considerations of safety, convenience, efficiency and cost (Appeal of A.P., 48 Ed Dept Rep 380, Decision No. 15,891; Appeal of Brizell, 48 id. 128, Decision No. 15,814). Moreover, a board of education has both the responsibility and the authority to decide difficult questions in balancing the overall efficiency and economy of a transportation system against the convenience of individual students (Appeal of A.P., 48 Ed Dept Rep 380, Decision No. 15,891; Appeal of Brizell, 48 id. 128, Decision No. 15,814).
At this juncture, the record indicates that respondent has agreed to provide the student with transportation to and from petitioner Gassel’s home and Herschel. The only issue the parties disagree over is whether the student is entitled to yellow bus transportation or public transportation via a MetroCard. The record demonstrates that respondent was not obligated to provide yellow bus transportation to and from petitioner Gassel’s residence and Herschel pursuant to Chancellor's regulation A-801.
Chancellor’s regulation A-801 provides, in pertinent part, that “[w]here contract school bus service is provided, no bus route shall exceed a total one way route length of 5 miles through all stop points.”[3] According to the regulation, this distance is calculated by examining the distance travelled by a school bus on an existing route between the school and the student’s home. After examining all potential routes, respondent’s OPT chief of staff determined that there was no existing one-way bus route from petitioner Gassel’s residence to Herschel which was shorter than five miles. OPT conducted a second distance analysis which determined that no existing bus route could be extended to create a new stop near petitioner Gassel’s residence which would not exceed five miles in length. Therefore, respondent concluded that the student was not eligible for yellow bus transportation but was instead eligible for a full-fare MetroCard which would provide the student with free public transportation between petitioner Gassel’s home and Herschel.
On this record, petitioners have not met their burden to establish that respondent’s decision to deny the student yellow bus transportation between petitioner Gassel’s residence and Herschel was arbitrary or capricious. While petitioners allege that the distance between both of their residences and Herschel is approximately two miles, they submit no proof in support of this claim.[4] Petitioners also failed to submit any evidence that similarly situated district residents were treated differently. Accordingly, on this record, I am unable to find that petitioners’ daughter qualifies for yellow bus transportation (see Appeal of Kates, Goodman and Martinez, 49 Ed Dept Rep 138, Decision No. 15,980).
[1] The parties agree that the student is entitled to yellow bus transportation to and from petitioner Mendelsohn’s residence.
[2] As explained in Chancellor’s regulation A-801, a MetroCard is a card which allows students to utilize various means of public transportation within the City of New York.
[3] Petitioners do not seek an order setting aside Chancellor's regulation A-801, so the only issue before me is respondent's application of that regulation in this case (see Appeal of Haggerty, 50 Ed Dept Rep, Decision No. 16,247).
[4] According to the answer, petitioners also posed an alternative request to respondent whereby the student would be allowed to use an existing school bus stop near petitioner Gassel’s residence. According to OPT’s safety policy, students in kindergarten through second grade are not permitted, for safety reasons, to use an existing bus stop which is more than 0.5 miles from their residence. After two distance assessments, OPT concluded that the closest bus stop was more than one mile from petitioner Gassel’s residence. Petitioners have not submitted any evidence to refute OPT’s conclusions.
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Books & Conversations: Rosebud and Other Stories by Wakako Yamauchi, Edited by Lillian Howan
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Los Angeles, California, 90012
Secret desires, unfulfilled longing, and irrepressible humor flow through the stories of Wakako Yamauchi, writings that depict the lives of Nisei, second-generation Japanese Americans.
Through the medium of Yamauchi’s storytelling, readers enter the world of desert farmers, factory workers, gamblers, housewives, con artists, and dreamers. Elegantly simple in words and complex in resonance, her stories reveal hidden strength, resilience, and the persistence of hope.
Program is free with admission. Reservations recommended to rsvp@janm.org or 213.625.0414 at least 48 hours prior to the event. Include the name, date, and time of the program, as well as your name and the total in your party.
About Wakako Yamauchi:
Wakako Yamauchi was born in 1924 in the desert farmlands of the California Imperial Valley. In 1942, the seventeen-year-old Yamauchi and her family were interned with thousands of other Japanese Americans in Poston Relocation Center in the Arizona desert. She worked as an artist for the camp newspaper, the Poston Chronicle, and there began her lifelong friendship with the writer Hisaye Yamamoto.
Following the war, Yamauchi began writing fiction. Her short story “And the Soul Shall Dance” was published in the groundbreaking Asian American anthology Aiiieeeee! (1974) and later adapted into an award-winning play, beginning Yamauchi’s long career as an acclaimed playwright. Her first collection, Songs My Mother Taught Me: Stories, Plays, and Memoir, was published in 1994. Yamauchi wrote the stories collected in Rosebud in her later years, focusing on the clarity of her language and “telling the story, getting as close to the truth as I can.”
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1月 26 Oshogatsu: New Year’s Celebration
1月 27 Japanese Self-Care: Me-byo
1月 27 Kamakura Zen: A Samurai Legacy
1月 31 7th Annual "Imagine Little Tokyo" Short Story Contest
2月 6 Functional & Alluring: Japanese Bamboo Art
2月 15 Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko L.A. 25th Anniversary Concert (Okinawan Drum-Dancing)
2月 26 Japanese Tea Ceremony: Omotesenke
4月 16 Jerome/Rohwer Pilgrimage 2020
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Definition of a Balanced Scorecard Dashboard
A balanced scorecard dashboard is a set of charts and reports, displayed in a dashboard format, designed to implement the balanced scorecard methodology of business management. With balanced scorecard dashboards businesses can track key metrics that gauge how the organization is performing against corporate strategies. With a balanced scorecard dashboard an organization measures financial, operational, sales and other corresponding metrics to identify the full picture of the organization, hence the "balanced" name of a balanced scorecard dashboard.
How to Create a Balanced Scorecard Dashboard
Creating a balanced scorecard dashboard can be accomplished in a number of ways. The simplest to deploy method is to use already available tools like spreadsheet software to create a set of reports and charts that will be updated on a regular interval. The balanced scorecard dashboard approach requires that managers have access to the metrics information on a regularly updated basis, making tools like spreadsheets ultimately poorly suited for an effective balanced scorecard dashboard. In most organizations, balanced scorecard dashboards are deployed using specialized business intelligence platforms. This form of a balanced scorecard dashboard can provide real-time data delivery and a great deal more power.
Benefits of a Balanced Scorecard Dashboard
The single biggest benefit of a balanced scorecard dashboard is the ability of managers to make decisions quickly and in real-time when identifying areas of the business that are not performing according to expectations. A properly deployed balanced scorecard dashboard should provide users with reports and charts that give insight and provide an easy to use and understand way of identifying areas of the business that are straying from desired results. For this reason a balanced scorecard dashboard should provide visual indicators like conditional highlighting and other measurement tools to provide alert conditions to managers.
Perils of a Balanced Scorecard Dashboard
While the benefit of a balanced scorecard dashboard are immense there are also perils. The biggest challenge of a balanced scorecard dashboard is poor data. In order for the balanced scorecard dashboard to be effective it must be based on metrics and data that are important and relevant to the organization. The challenge, therefore, is for the company to identify the metrics and data sets that best represent whether the company is staying true to its strategic vision. This challenge is not only one at the highest levels of the organization, it must also be identified at the manager level since that's where the balanced scorecard dashboard will provide the most impact.
Getting data to your Balanced Scorecard Dashboard
In order to get the right data into your balanced scorecard dashboard, the first step will be to identify which systems the data lives in. These will often be different for each department and in many organizations will live in different physical servers and software platforms. The balanced scorecard dashboard must be able to tap into these various systems to be effective. In the past the data warehouse was the best way to enable the balanced scorecard dashboard by providing a repository of data that acted as an "aggregator" for the balanced scorecard dashboard. Modern balanced scorecard dashboard systems provide better means of getting to the critical data.
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Why I love shooting with small cameras
Mobility, powerful features and the fact they are always with you
Big unit, little unit on the set of "It's About Love"
This summer, we shot a feature film that was made using 2 different camera platforms, a bigger more traditionally cinematic camera, and an iPhone 5. In general, my experience up till then had been along the lines of “bigger cameras for bigger films and smaller cameras for smaller films.” In pairing up big and small cameras on the shoot of “It’s About Love” I was eager to move both camera sizes into parity on a bigger, more complex film.
There is a ton that I love about working with small cameras, and the next 3 films I am in pre-production on will be shot with an iPhone 6S+ as the main camera. It’s true that the 6S+ takes a big jump in terms of its videography abilities (like 4K resolution capture), but mostly I find that pocketable cinema cameras have some undeniably fun and powerful capabilities that lend themselves to making films of any size and scale. Here are a few things I love about working with little cameras:
You always have them with you. Some of my favourite films I have made have been shot on impulse, including many of my micro shorts. You can’t shoot stuff spontaneously without a camera, and always having one with you actually changes how you see the world around you. By being alert to filmable moments, you only have to reach in your pocket to capture them.
They are mobile and let you get in close to actors without being obtrusive. Yes, you can do this with bigger cameras, but there’s nothing like a little camera to let you float around in the scene like a butterfly, and change your shot based on instinct. A film like "Tangerine" shows how you can bring an audience right into the scene, by nimbly capturing what is happening in the moment.
They allow for new techniques, like “swipescaping” which is a term I coined to describe journeying through an arrangement of static objects with a small camera in ways that can support a narrative spine for a scene. I used this to good effect in the film “Deathbed Regrets.” Again, there’s nothing revolutionary about this except that a small camera lets you do it right here, right now.
You can bulk up a little camera with big camera accessories. While I resist this for all the reasons above, you can in fact make a big camera out of a little one if there is a valid cinematic reason to do so. There is a growing world of accessories like lenses, rigs, external mikes and other goodies that can make your smartphone look and feel like a big cinema camera. Just don’t start forgetting your camera at home, because you’ve left it embedded in all that bigger heavier gear! The camera that’s with you is the camera that shoots.
So those are a few of the things I love about shooting with little cameras. How about you? Feel free to weigh in with your own thoughts and tips. But in the meantime, go make a movie!
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Jumpgate: EVE's Devs and the Friends They Keep
Joe Blancato | 9 Feb 2007 10:36
Op-Ed - RSS 2.0
Over the past few days, news has been trickling out about certain members of the EVE Online development team using their position to give the player corporations (guilds) they belong to an unfair advantage. The story was originally broken by a player who utilized his in-game spy network to listen in on conversations between corporation alliance leaders, looking for intelligence to sell to other alliances, but he stumbled into a controversy that ultimately got him banned from EVE and exposed what could be the most blatant case of developer misconduct in years.
We had a chance to speak with the player in question, who asked to be referenced as Kugutsumen. Kugutsumen infiltrates EVE corporation message boards - via "bribery, social engineering, etc." - for in-game currency as a hobby. In the past, he's spied on the largest alliances in the game in order to provide intelligence to other groups. During a fairly routine run, Kugutsumen uncovered a story that's been circulating the internet over the past few days, a story about cheating developers and the CSRs who tried to cover up their indiscretions.
As he was checking private messages between directors on BoB's (Band of Brothers) official forums, Kugutsumen uncovered messages from a person calling himself Lord Stone (from Reykjavik, Iceland, where CCP is based), who was applying to join Reikoku, a corporation that's part of the BoB alliance, in March of 2005. Lord Stone's life was fairly unremarkable until March of the following year, when he was appointed to be a director in the corporation, someone near the top of the alliance. Later that year, as he was leaving the corporation for "unforseeable reasons," Lord Stone sent a fellow director a private message with a link to CCP's "Jobs" page and said, "If you're still interested in working for us, we have an opening in SysAdmin department. Send your CV to [email protected]."
Nothing too big there; it's a good thing when developers play their game, right?
Well, maybe not. A poster on GameSetWatch who claims to be part of the EVE in-game event team claims shenanigans have gone on in BoB, but reports to GMs have been quashed. "A long term 'joke' by the players is that BoB was run by senior Dev's and ISD [event team volunteers]," the poster said. "We know this too be true and that it is also a known fact that char sales reported to the gm staff were ignored when certain TaCs breaches were known to be done by these people." Recently, the alliance LV was given a heads-up by a volunteer that led to them acquiring a mothership, one of the most expensive ships in the game, ahead of everyone else participating in the event where the ship was given away
But it doesn't end there. Another member of Reikoku, an Ishos Rerajan, was quickly making his way through their ranks. He was eventually appointed the head of their capital ship fleet - ships piloted by players who've logged upwards of a year of training time. One of his duties was to monitor the progress of the pilots below him, meaning he'd have access to their account information, which is in violation of EVE's rules.
Eventually, Ishos Rerajan was exposed as a developer, and per CCP policy had to withdraw from Reikoku. However, a month before he left, he gave the corporation 10 BPOs, (Blue Print Originals). BPOs are worth billions in EVE's in-game currency, and can be a powerful moneymaker for an alliance, as well as an easy way for them to build ships without paying outside producers. Upon discovering Ishos' status as a developer, numerous players alleged he came upon the BPOs by way of cheating.
Furthermore, in a message originally released only to in-game alliance GoonSwarm, Kugutsumen was able to uncover who Ishos Rerajan's owner was. After doing some digging, he determined the person to be Vincent "t20" P, a core EVE developer.
Think of the things you see when you're talking on your guild's message boards. Account sales, hacking programs, account sharing. Now, imagine you're key to the development process of the game you're playing. Where do your obligations lie? To the people you've been playing with for the past couple years, or the people you've been working with for even longer? It's not an easy question, but Vincent/Ishos chose to give away billions of ISK worth of BPOs to his friends and ignore their indiscretions for months.
If you were his employer, what would you do?
Earlier this week, Kugutsumen had five of his accounts banned after offering to work with CCP to help them figure out exactly what happened and what changed hands. Their reasoning was he violated the game's Terms of Service and EULA, specifically:
7. You may not violate any local, state, national or international laws or regulations. ... 16. You may not engage in any activity that increases the difficulty and/or expense of CCP in maintaining the EVE Online client, server, web site or other services for the benefit and enjoyment of all its users. ... 18. You may not communicate, post or publicize any subscriber's personal information within the EVE Online game world or website. ... 25. We reserve the right to ban any user from the game without refund or compensation.
"My first thought was, 'Oh my wife's going to be really happy about this,'" he told me. "Of course it felt a bit weird," but Kugutsumen also has other options. Members of his spy network have offered to transfer characters to him on new accounts if he decides to keep playing.
In public response to CCP's decision to ban him, Kugutsumen posted: "If CCP is not willing to work with the me on a serious issue like this, and rather prefer to ban my accounts and attempt to silence me, then I will have to work with the players so they know the game is rigged and know what they're paying for," and went public with his information. As it made its way to the official EVE boards, his findings sent a tidal wave through the community. Members of BoB - and BoB's enemies - began posting wildly, forcing CCP's message board moderators began auto-deleting posts with certain keywords related to Kugutsumen and his findings. Eventually, the call for action became too loud to ignore, and CCP began an internal investigation into what happened.
Meanwhile, Kugutsumen was conversing over email with Kieron, CCP's Community Manager. Kieron's concluding email read:
Please forgive me for having a hard time believing your statement about your intentions. Instead of taking your concerns to the proper channels and dealing directly with CCP, you have incited the EVE community, besmirched the reputations of a number of innocent players and developers, and much more. Your actions have done damage to this game you profess to love, damage that is going to take a long time to repair.
Until you remove all content on your site concerning these allegations, I have nothing to discuss with you. Removing said content will be the first step in proving the honesty of your intent. As I stated on the forums, CCP is investigating and further outcry will not speed the investigation along.
EVE Online, CCP Games
Kugutsumen acquiesced and closed his site temporarily, trying to help CCP get to the bottom of the situation.
Shortly thereafter, Kieron posted an official response, announcing a completion of their investigation:
Our goal is to provide the best possible game, gaming experience and development process possible. In light of that, we would like to address the recent allegations of CCP employee misconduct. CCP has taken these charges very seriously and since they surfaced we have launched a thorough investigation consisting of an examination of character histories ranging back to their creation as well as into any connected characters owned by the developers involved. This examination was performed by the same internal division which is also tasked with standard periodic audits of all developer and volunteer accounts. Areas of investigation include, but are not limited to: messaging history, financial and transactional history, combat and corporation logs, item and cash transfers and IP logs.
As for the allegations themselves, they consist of two parts. The first part involved a case that happened seven months ago when a CCP employee's identity became public knowledge within his corporation. Per company policy, the incident was investigated and actions taken where appropriate, including the removal of characters whose identities were compromised.
The second part of the accusations stem from a leak of information pertaining to an in-game event arc. Due to the amount of time that has passed since the planning and execution of the event arc, we have not been able to confirm nor deny the veracity of these allegations.
In both cases, these accusations were recently brought forward when a player revealed the identity of numerous CCP employee characters. Since these play characters are known to belong to CCP employees, they will be removed from the game. Many of them have been around since the creation of EVE and it is most unfortunate that these developers are now forced to end their relationships with their in-game friends, but that is our policy when the anonymity of staff members has been compromised.
Last summer, CCP implemented stricter monitoring procedures and audits on all CCP employees' EVE accounts. We are confident that our rigid procedures and protocol will prevent any misconduct or, at least, allow us to quickly discover it, should such an unfortunate scenario arise.
As the community knows well, we at CCP enjoy not only playing EVE Online, but improving EVE and interacting with our playerbase. We feel EVE benefits from the developers playing EVE as any other members of the community do, and to impose artificial limitations -- such as no access to Tranquility or special flagging on a developer's player character -- would greatly hinder the development of EVE.
CCP is very passionate about EVE Online and is committed to its continued growth. We hope that this statement will put this issue behind us once and for all and allow us to continue moving forward with the support of our community.
Which boils down to: "We couldn't prove it using our logging programs, but we deleted the characters we loved so much anyway. Hope you're happy." Understandably, a lot of players were still livid, and were expecting at least one head to roll, but their dissent has been heavily moderated. A popular signature image has been censored, and if you compare the edited thread with the archived original, it's easy to see CCP is still trying to keep a lid on things.
When we contacted CCP for more yesterday, they said, "CCP feels it is important for our community to hear from us directly and firsthand via our official website regarding the recent issues related to EVE Online. Please refer to http://www.eve-online.com for more information."
However, just minutes ago from the time of this writing, CCP developer Vincent "t20" P wrote a a blog post admitting to his misconduct and apologizing for his actions:
Sadly enough, the allegation regarding unlawfully obtained blueprints are, in my case, true. I'm here, laying out the facts of what happened in June 2006 so this whole issue -- which jeopardized my colleagues, my company and our community -- can be put behind us, I hope for the better.
The blueprints in question will be returned to CCP and reintroduced through a new raffle in the future.
Regrettably, my actions inevitably led to a shadow of suspicion being cast on a number of my co-workers, as well as Reikoku and Band of Brothers. I wish to make it clear that I acted alone and my co-workers and corp/alliance mates have been cleared of any alleged wrongdoing.
As much as this is a confession it is also a request for your forgiveness for events of which I'm truly sorry.
And Hilmar, CEO of CCP, made a blog post about updated company policy. Here's a partial excerpt:
A pivotal case was uncovered last summer during a routine investigation of developer accounts. Unfortunately CCP did not act with the same decisive consistency we have used on previous occasions. Those left at the helm chose to react cautiously, as sometimes is appropriate under these circumstances, leading to more leniency and understanding than we are used to in these matters. Upon review I personally would have chosen to act differently, but what's done is done. Difficult decisions always have to be made, and we cannot always second guess how these would appear if, in part, they are revealed to outside parties who do not have the same information to base their choices on.
This particular case, involving a single developer, underlined where improvements needed to be made and we have since focused our efforts on reinforcing rules and processes so that consistent ruling is assured. As of the beginning of January this year, we have been building up a special institution within our company similar to the Internal Affairs divisions of law enforcement agencies. For this team, we have assembled the most ardent hardliners in our ranks. They all fully understand the enormity of what they have accepted to do and we are certain that they will be able to shoulder this responsibility.
To sum up, t20 has admitted to cheating, but as of February 9 has not been terminated for his actions.
But for now, the world turns, and EVE will survive with fewer developers in BoB, though their jobs are presumably safe. But the damage to CCP's credibility may be felt for years to come.
We currently have questions out to CCP and a leader from GoonSwarm, the largest alliance in EVE. As they come in, we'll update immediately.
JR Sutich and Shannon Drake contributed to this article.
UPDATE: Check out our Q&A with Remedial here.
UPDATE 2: While we're still waiting for word back from CCP, they've posted some responses to popular questions from players.
UPDATE 3: We spoke with Kugutsumen again after he corresponded with CCP's Lead GM Grimmi.
UPDATE 4: We've received some emails from people asking why we haven't interviewed BoB yet. We sent out an interview request to them on February 10, to which they replied: "CCP's official announcement can be found on the Eve Online forums. We have no interest in expanding on that."
FINAL UPDATE: CCP has appointed GM Arkanon to be Director of Internal Affairs.
joe blancatoccp gamescheatingeve online
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Previews: Dust 514 Fanfest Preview Slycne 68 Comments
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TURKMENISTAN: Worship without state registration "illegal"
Turkmenistan continues to raid Protestants meeting for worship in different parts of the country, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. One such raid was led by Turkmenistan's former Chief Mufti, Rovshen Allaberdiev, who is now imam of Dashoguz Region as well as being the senior regional Gengeshi (Council) for Religious Affairs official. Allaberdiev and accompanying officials confiscated Christian books during the raid, including personal Bibles. All 22 people present were taken to a local government building, questioned and pressured to sign statements not to attend the church in future. "Some people signed and now some are afraid to come to services, especially new people," one church member told Forum 18. "We were told it is illegal to meet without state registration. But we told them we have already applied for registration and are waiting for a response." In a separate raid in another region, police accused a pastor of violating the Religion Law by praying at a birthday party.
Members of Protestant churches in different parts of Turkmenistan continue to face raids and threats for meeting for worship, local Protestants have told Forum 18 News Service. Officials have stated that meeting for worship without state registration is "illegal". No official has been prepared to explain to Forum 18 why these congregations have been harassed.
Two of the harassed congregations - Path of Faith Baptist church in the northern town of Dashoguz [Dashhowuz] and Light to the World Pentecostal church in the south-eastern town of Mary – are among religious communities which have been seeking legal status in vain for many years. The pastor of one of the congregations is among many Turkmen citizens on the country's exit blacklist (see F18News 2 February 2010 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1403).
The harassment, denial of legal status, exit bans on prominent religious believers, continuing confiscation and censorship of religious literature, and continuing imprisonment of Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors come as Turkmenistan blandly assures the United Nations Human Rights Committee that citizens and other residents of the country enjoy freedom of religion, freedom of assembly and freedom of movement (see F18News 3 February 2010 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1404 and 12 February 2010 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1408).
Despite repeated attempts, Forum 18 was unable to reach Nurmukhamed Gurbanov, Deputy Chair of the government's Gengeshi (Council) for Religious Affairs in the capital Ashgabad [Ashgabat] between 28 January and 1 February. His colleague told Forum 18 on 28 January that Gurbanov was away on a work trip to Lebap Region and would not be back for seven days. He said he was "not competent" to answer Forum 18's questions. The Gengeshi is a key instrument in Turkmenistan's suppression of freedom of religion or belief (see F18News 13 October 2009 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1361).
Right to worship without state registration denied
Turkmenistan's former Chief Mufti, Rovshen Allaberdiev, who is now imam of Dashoguz Region as well as being the senior regional Gengeshi official, raided the Sunday worship service of the Path of Faith Baptist congregation on 20 December 2009, church members complained to Forum 18 on 25 January 2010. Allaberdiev was accompanied by a police officer and three other officials who did not identify themselves. One of them had a camera and took photos of those present.
Officials have claimed that such raids are their "duty" (see F18News 18 April 2008 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1116). Allaberdiev was in September 2009 moved to his latest Gengeshi and state-controlled Muslim religious community post by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov (see F18News 13 October 2009 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1361).
Allaberdiev and his accompanying officials confiscated some 100 Christian books during the latest raid, including personal Bibles. Turkmenistan imposes strict censorship of religious literature (see F18News 12 May 2009 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1294).
The officials took all 22 people present to the local hyakimlik (administration) building in December 2009, where they were questioned and pressured to sign statements not to attend the church in future. "Some people signed and now some are afraid to come to services, especially new people," one church member lamented to Forum 18. "We were told it is illegal to meet without state registration. But we told them we have already applied for registration and are waiting for a response from Ashgabad."
Church members met Allaberdiev and other officials in meetings at the hyakimlik in January 2010, to try to overcome the problems and regain the confiscated literature. In response to church members' pleas to at least hand back personal Bibles, two were returned.
However church members failed to convince officials that they should have the right to worship undisturbed – as is their right under the international human rights commitments Turkmenistan has signed - even after reminding officials that the Baptist church's registration application is being considered. "We're not underground," one church member told Forum 18, "we work openly."
Praying at birthday party illegal
The Pastor of another Protestant congregation in Dashoguz, Yuri Rozmetov of Light of the East church, and his mother were interrogated by police on 28 January. The interrogations happened after police raided a birthday party that evening in Gurbansoltan-eje District, 30 kms (20 miles) west of Dashoguz.
Local Protestants told Forum 18 that police officers arrived together with the District Gengeshi official and entered the home without the owners' permission. Without giving their names or showing any warrant, they began questioning all those present "using psychological pressure". Pastor Rozmetov and his mother were taken to the local police station and questioned from 9 pm until 1 am the following morning.
Police accused the pastor of violating the Religion Law by praying at the birthday party, despite the fact that he had done so at the family's request. Police claimed that he needed extra permission to conduct any religious work in the District and ignored his insistence that the church's registration allows him to conduct religious activity throughout Dashoguz Region. Officials have made similar claims for a number of years (see eg. F18News 18 August 2005 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=632).
On 29 January, the day of his release, Pastor Rozmetov wrote to the Gengeshi office of the Regional Hyakimlik asking why the police and the District Gengeshi official had raided the birthday party, and questioned all those present.
Despite repeated attempts, Forum 18 was unable to reach Gengeshi official and imam Allaberdiev at his office at the Dashoguz Regional Hyakimlik between 28 January and 1 February. His colleague Tekesh Kakajanov told Forum 18 that Allaberdiev was not in the office and refused to answer Forum 18's questions as to why the two congregations are being harassed.
Interrogations of other Protestants continue
Forum 18 has also learnt that a Protestant church in another town faced pressure from the local imam (and state Gengeshi official) in late December 2009 about the same time as the Path of Faith congregation in Dashoguz. The church was accused of conducting illegal activity even though this was included in their state-registered statute. However, church members hope to resolve the problems directly with officials.
In another incident, in the town of Mary members of the Light to the World Pentecostal church – which has applied in vain for legal status - continue to be summoned for interrogation to the local Ministry of State Security (MSS) secret police. "The most recent time was four days ago, when a female church member was taken from her work at 10 am and pressured to write a statement about why she attends the church," Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev told Forum 18 from Mary on 25 January. "She wasn't freed until 7 o'clock that evening."
However, Pastor Nurliev notes that fines are no longer being levied on church members to punish them for religious activity. "I was fined 1,500,000 Manats back in autumn 2008 for what they called illegal religious activity – that was the last time." He said he had paid the fine (then worth 1,990 Norwegian Kroner, 220 Euros or 288 US Dollars).
The man who answered the phone at the Mary Regional Gengeshi office on 1 February put the phone down as soon as Forum 18 introduced itself. (END)
A printer-friendly map of Turkmenistan is available at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/index.html?Parent=asia&Rootmap=turkme.
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Legend (a.k.a. Four Crystals of Trazere) Review & Download
In Adventure Games, In Role Playing Games
Legend a.k.a. Four Crystal of Trazere is a nice isometric role-playing game with real-time fighting scene.
In Legend, the world that we are in is called Trazere, an unknown period during the Middle Ages. Our mission is to visit all dungeons and solve all puzzles to complete the game.
The main characters in this game is Berseker, Troubadour, Assasin, and Runemaster. Each carry unique capability that can help us fight through the way. For Berseker, his main function is fight enemies heads on. For Troubadour, his main function is to play music to enhance the team's fighting spirit. For Assassin, his function is to unlock traps and access unreachable places. For Runemaster, he can prepare many custom spells to kill enemies or assist the team.
Like other RPG games, the characters will upgrade after killing a lot of enemies. We can also buy equipments and magic ingredients in town like below.
Unlike other turn-based RPG, we can control the characters and see them fight with enemies in real-time.
The best part I like about Legend is that we can mix our own spell. With enough ingredients, we can mix a spell that shoot fireball to the whole screen when casted.
Legend is a pretty tough game to be completed. We spend most of our time in dungeon crawling. You need to write down all the notices that you find in the game in order to get clues and solve puzzles.
You can download Legend here. The user manual is included inside the package. Remember to download DosBox first.
Labels: Adventure Games, Role Playing Games
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Keyword: letthisthreaddie
Anna Nicole Smith has died according to ABC News
02/08/2007 12:39:03 PM PST · by kcvl · 25,618 replies · 415,004+ views
Anna Nicole Smith collapsed in her hotel room at the Hard Rock Cafe and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., and was rushed to a hospital on Thursday. A Hollywood, Fla., fire department spokesman told MSNBC TV that the actress was unresponsive when the rescue unit arrived on the scene. Sources confirmed to Access Hollywood that Smith was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital shortly after 2 p.m. EST on Thursday. Access Hollywood also is reporting that Smith was intubated at the scene. Officials told the Miami Herald, "it does not look good."
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You are here: Home » ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5, Episode 8 Recap: ‘Hardhome’
‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5, Episode 8 Recap: ‘Hardhome’
June 4th, 2015 4:27 pm in Movies & TV by Jenna Iacurci - No Comment Yet
Peter Dinklage and Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones’ season 5, episode 8. Photo: Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO.
“Why should the people trust a queen who can’t keep her promises?” — Daenerys Targaryen
At the show’s start, Queen Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) reminds Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) of her promise to kill him should he ever show his face in Meereen again. But Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) together with his smarts for politics, convince the betrayed queen to banish her former white knight from the city instead. Ser Jorah’s devastation is clear, but it is Dany’s pooling tears and steely reserve that make this scene truly heart-wrenching.
And as if we were surprised, taking “no” for an answer is not in Ser Jorah’s vocabulary. He wittingly sells himself back into slavery in order to stay close to his one and only dragon queen, determined to fight for her, if not by her side, then in the newly opened fighting pits.
Later, Tyrion and Dany bond over wine, of course, and their open and witty banter back and forth is effortlessly captivating for mere conversation — most likely due to the excitement that these two impressive and idolized characters are finally meeting each other. After much talk of a brighter future and building a better world, despite his Lannister name, Tyrion wins the title of Dany’s new adviser — though with the added jest of his drinking too much. With two cunning minds, a powerful army and three fearsome dragons, it seems that this new dynamic duo may be an unstoppable force in taking back the Iron Throne. But if something seems too good to be true in this series, odds are it probably is.
Meanwhile, it’s a game-changer for Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) in Winterfell when she realizes — thanks to good ‘ol Reek (Alfie Allen) — that she is not alone in the world after all, but that her little brothers Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) and Rickon (Art Parkinson) are still alive. This realization comes at a key moment, one in which she’s quickly losing hope being married to a psychopath and all, and essentially revitalizes her determination to survive.
Arya Stark’s (Maisie Williams) journey in Braavos continues to drag, with viewers only gaining brief insight into her storyline as she masters her craft and serves the Many-Faced God. Initially, it seems she is content playing little orphan girl “Lana,” but when she’s given a special task by Jaqen H’ghar (Thomas “Tom” Wlaschiha), a satisfied smirk spreads across her face, showing us that Arry is by no means far away — and we’re not the only ones who noticed.
Oh, and Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) is still angry and locked in a black cell at King’s Landing awaiting her trial. Vengeance is a dish best served cold.
Kit Harington and Kristofer Hivju in Game of Thrones’ season 5, episode 8. Photo: Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO.
But that is a moot point given the majority of this week’s episode was filled with something much more interesting — an unforeseen and action-packed battle scene north of The Wall.
The events at Hardhome offer us something that is new to all viewers, book readers and non-book readers alike. What was supposed to be a simple meeting between Jon Snow (Kit Harington), the men of the Night’s Watch and the wildlings, soon turns into an epic battle between the living and the dead. An eerie, white fog emerges from a mountaintop and slowly engulfs the town, bringing indestructible and unstoppable White Walkers with it.
The masterful CGI technology and makeup detail is freakishly real, and the action sequences are so perfectly choreographed that despite the constant fear and heart-pumping adrenaline they inspire, the scenes are beautiful to watch. One part that comes to mind is when hundreds of whites fling themselves off a cliff like mindless lemmings, implacable in their hunger for human meat to feed their army.
Luckily, our favorite pretty-boy, Jon, manages to escape — just after killing a White Walker lieutenant with his sword “Longclaw” (made of Valyrian steel), much to the surprise of the Night’s King. It seems the Lord Commander’s courage has drawn some unwanted attention to himself.
Game of Thrones’ season 5, episode 8. Photo: Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO.
With melancholy music in the background, Jon sails away and watches from safety as the remaining Free Folk are slaughtered. The Night’s King, smug about this runaway victory, walks to the edge of the dock and surveys over all the damage with a hint of a smile on his bony face. And just to rub it in, he lifts his hands in triumph as his once large army becomes even larger with the rise of the dead wildlings, which open their now icy-blue eyes.
Except, the half-hour battle scene, in all its epicness, is slightly diminished when the camera pans out and shows that Jon Snow and the other survivors are moving at a snail’s pace during their getaway, only three feet from shore. I mean, the undead could literally have jumped onto their boat and still killed them if they wanted to. Even the slow-moving giant managed to walk farther than them, practically reaching the boats in the distance already. It was so ridiculous and unexpected that the urge to laugh out loud was not out of place.
Nonetheless, if we thought this battle was larger than life, we can only imagine the “Great War” that’s in store. The sacred words “winter is coming” hold more weight now than ever, and with the White Walkers having made their third appearance so far in the entirety of this series, our giddiness for the war of all wars is revitalized as we wait impatiently for its arrival on the big screen.
Throne Room Notes:
Why couldn’t every episode this season have been as exciting as “Hardhome?” The ending battle made the show, but tiny snippets of other plotlines still demonstrate that this season is dragging along.
I have never seen Sansa so angry — good acting, Sophie Turner.
Poor Cersei — haha not. It’s good to see her getting what she deserves. Not so intimidating dressed in tattered rags, are we?
I’ll keep saying it: I love Tyrion and Daenerys together at last.
Video courtesy of Game of Thrones.
Tune in to HBO, HBO Go or HBO Now this Sunday at 9 p.m. for a new episode of “Game of Thrones!”
Tags: Alfie Allen, Arya Stark, Cersei Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones, Hardhome, Iron Throne, Jaqen H’ghar, Jon Snow, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Many-Faced God, metered, Night's Watch, Peter Dinklage, Reek, Sansa Stark, Ser Jorah, Sophie Turner, Tyrion Lannister, White Walkers, Wildlings
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Dana Nachman Talks about Co-Directing Her New Documentary ‘The Human Experiment’ and the Perils of Chemicals in Everything We Buy →
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Leeds and Hughes breakaway in Sydney opener
Comments Off on Leeds and Hughes breakaway in Sydney opener
CAMS PAYCE Australian Formula 4 Championship leader Luis Leeds has extended his championship lead after victory in Race One at Sydney Motorsport Park on Saturday.
Continuing his Friday form, Leeds started the day by also securing the Castrol Pole Position over Lochie Hughes by two-tenths of a second.
Leeds then got the jump on Hughes at the race start and continued his form for the remaining 11 laps to win by more than three seconds.
“I’m on a roll,” Leeds enthused.
“When you’ve got a car this good underneath you, it’s important to do the job when you’re out there on track. Just keep winning races… There was a lot of degradation when we were out there. I’m looking forward to racing on older tyres in races two and three.”
Hughes was left to be content with second place, but crucially with 18 points to his name. Hughes’ teammate Ryan Suhle encountered a driveline failure prior to the commencement of the race, allowing Hughes to create a buffer between the duo in the standings.
“Just didn’t quite have the pace towards the end there,” Hughes said.
“Luis just got me there at the start. I felt like I could hang with him for the first two laps, but as the tyres started to get hot and drop off, I just started losing the car.
“He started pulling away, I tried to maintain consistent lap times just to keep second place. I think I know what I want [from the car] …and come out tomorrow to show them what we’ve got.”
Antonio Astuti largely had a solitary race to finish third, a few seconds adrift from the leaders and more than seven seconds ahead of Tommy Smith.
“It was good, happy to come home with third,” Astuti said.
“Of course there’s still more room to grow, more positions to make. Overall the car has decent pace, I’m fairly happy with how I’m driving. It’s just that little edge that we still need to find.
“It’s been good weather, awesome cars to drive around here so hopefully the next race I can have a bit more pace and have close racing.”
Jackson Walls defended strongly against Team BRM’s Emerson Harvey to secure fifth place. In what was Harvey’s second circuit race, the young Victorian drove maturely alongside the experienced Patrizicorse driver.
Both of Sunday’s races will be live streamed on formula4.com.au, with Race Two to commence at 12:20pm and Race Three at 3:55pm AEST.
Race One Results
1. Luis Leeds
2. Lochie Hughes +3.3248
3. Antonio Astuti +5.0217
4. Tommy Smith +12.8294
5. Jackson Walls +18.4427
6. Emerson Harvey +18.9153
DNF. Ryan Suhle
Castrol Pole Position
1. Luis Leeds – 1:30.4571
3. Ryan Suhle +0.4070
5. Tommy Smith +0.9940
6. Emerson Harvey +1.0236
7. Jackson Walls +1.8556
Sydney Motorsport Park
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Play Ball Too!
With emotions cooling, more and more Americans are beginning to realize that Mitt Romney's failure to win the White House was not due to Obama's "Celebrity" and "Star Power" but because the GOP Primary debates forced their nominee so far to the Right on multiple issues that it rendered it impossible to capture the 61 Million plus Americans that are generally in the middle of the political spectrum. But after the TEA Party hijacked the GOP and dragged it far to the Right, do we even know where that "middle" is on that spectrum?
But why do political parties allow their primaries to define their candidates, knowing they will have a difficult time convincing Americans they really "didn't mean to take those extreme positions?" Americans have a lengthy tradition of disliking "Flip-Floppers" and Romney was successfully portrayed as one by the Democrats (remember Ambassador Huntsman labeled Romney the "Weather Vane Candidate" in the Primaries). Additional Pro-Life GOP candidates promoting the positions of Evangelical Christians by demanding rights for fetuses under the 14 Amendment's Equal Protection Clause rattled educated Americans aware that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment banned such efforts. As much as the GOP denied engaging in a "War on Women", their candidates' language and their National Platform established during their National Convention in Tampa reaffirmed this objective. Adding Paul Ryan to the ticket did not help as he was one of the main architects of the Anti-Choice Pro-Life platform language (and he lost his home state in this election)!
The GOP also did not help themselves when their Governors began laying the foundation to erase Collective Bargaining in Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida. Folks, many police and fire fighters are traditionally Republicans. But attacking the Unions "activated" so many folks that typically vote Republican into moving solidly into the Democratic fold. Attacking teachers, firefighters, and police is perceived (rightly so) as attacking the majority of Americans represented by the Middle Class. When the GOP and their supporters continued to claim that Obama created "Class Warfare" (see efforts on Fox to do so on a pre-election daily basis), the American Public knew they were being lied to. Just listen to Karl Rove's spinning about his election debacle! Shameful.
When Mitt Romney and the GOP banked on their obstructionist efforts in Congress to tank the economy so they could tailor their entire campaign on Romney's "business expertise", the Democrats engaged a strategy right out of Karl Rove's playbook...attack Romney's strength...Bain Capital. When Romney tried to promote his success at the Utah Olympic Games, Americans found out the Federal government (the one the TEA Party hates) bailed the games out with over a $1 Billion. How hard could it be to save Games with an injection of that kind of cash? Anyway, aren't bailouts abhorred by Republicans?
Mitt Romney also refused to disclose ten years of his tax returns. Americans wondered what that was all about, considering he gave John McCain those returns and McCain determined Sarah Palin was a better choice to serve as his running mate. Sarah Palin! We have heard over and over that America is stacked with "low information voters" and unfortunately I believe that to be true. Why else would folks still be claiming Obama is a Kenyan, a Muslim and someone determined to turn the sovereignty of the United States over to the United Nothing (U.N.)? Someone actually wrote a letter to the editor in our local paper claiming that if re-elected, President Obama would "declare himself KING after four years and never leave office." Huh? Not only is the person writing this letter a real fool, but did she really think her ridiculous letter would impress others into believing this fantasy as well? It is insulting to the Constitution, to the political parties, our institutions and the American public.
Another GOP delusion is that Obama won because we no longer have a "Traditional America." As promoted on Fox News, Obama " suppressed" white voters (according to Fox and Rove) and won by driving the fringe elements to victory. Fringe elements? Are Fox and their supporters that mentally ill? With all of the long lines to vote early, even though GOP Governors signed legislation limiting early voting, are they still in denial that their efforts to really suppress voting was obvious? Fox and their "experts" repeatedly declared that all of the polling showing Obama leading was wrong. They declared Romney would win by a landslide. They claimed Obama ordered security forces in Benghazi to "stand down" not based upon an objective review of material still "classified" but upon their hopes of aiding Romney in the General Election. Why is it that when Hurricane Sandy hit, Fox showed more video relating to Benghazi than the disastrous storm? Why is it they openly attacked GOP New Jersey Governor Chris "Krispy Kreme" Christie when he was actually doing the job he was elected to do?
To top the GOP delusion off, many GOP leaders in Congress, including Speaker Boehner are demanding Obama come to them and compromise so that they can assert their legislative agenda (even if rejected in the Election). Sounds great, but the GOP Leaders claiming that Obama did not have a mandate conveniently have forgotten that when President George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004 with 284 electoral votes, he said the following;"The people made it clear what they wanted," he said. "I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and I intend to spend it." If this was acceptable language from George W. Bush when he was re-elected in 2004 with 284 electoral votes, how can they demand that Barack Obama COMPROMISE and "share power" when he won re-election with 332 Electoral Votes! Why in the World would the GOP and their leaders demand Obama share anything with them? Because the GOP remains delusional. They cannot appreciate that they lost this election. They cannot fathom how it could have possibly happened. They had tons of money. They had many contributors supporting their Super PACs. They convinced themselves that their narratives and distortions were actually true! But one thing is for sure. Corporations may "be people too" under the screwy Citizens United ruling, but only REAL people can vote, and VOTE they did, for President Barack Obama! Allow me to make this prediction. If the GOP continues to demand Obama compromise and hold the economy hostage, they will be eliminated as a National Party in the 2014 Mid-Term elections when we all witness a major purge of Congress in 2014. Why is it that 33 Senators that are up for re-election in 2014 already agreed to "play ball" with Obama. When will Speaker Boehner and his GOP Caucus begin to play ball too?
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HELP FOR THE HISTORIC LANDSCAPE
Parks and gardens can be works of art: they may be of horticultural, architectural, scientific or historic importance. Above all, parks and gardens provide pleasure, refreshment and tranquillity. They are of great value to the whole community and the Hereford and Worcester Gardens Trust has been established to encourage their protection, conservation and enhancement.
Hereford and Worcester were among the first counties to form an historic gardens trust and many other areas have now formed similar trusts which are also respected for the good work they are achieving. The various county trusts are all faced with similar issues and the Association of Gardens Trusts has been established as an 'umbrella' organisation to enable the sharing of experience, expertise ad ideas. The Hereford and Worcester Gardens Trust provides opportunities for assisting in the restoration and maintenance of historic gardens; it organises visits to notable parks and gardens both within and without the two counties; it runs a winter programme of lectures by specialists in the field, and publishes a regular newsletter containing articles and information on garden history and development in the area. Above all, we hope to persuade everyone in Hereford and Worcester that their historic landscape is worth preserving for the enjoyment of future generations.
Our intention is to work with owners by providing expert advice, practical assistance and lobbying in their support. We will promote the restoration, re-creation and careful management of all gardens of historic or special interest.
In a small country there are many pressures on land. Important parks and gardens become threatened for a variety of reasons such as the intrusion caused by commercial developments, golf courses and new road alignments. The Trust will press for such schemes to make suitable provision for the preservation and enhancement of the historic landscape. Protecting our historic parks and gardens for the enjoyment of future generations
The Knot Garden at Harvington Hall
© Caroline Clist
Berrington Hall © Jane Patton
Holme Lacey Borders by Ernest Rowe 1902 (private collection)
Copyright © 2015 Hereford and Worcester Gardens Trust This website was built using the InstantPro Website Builder from Freeola.com
This website uses cookies to improve functionality. By using this site, you accept the use of cookies on your device. About cookies.
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Reports (3421)
Data & Statistics (580)
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the New Delhi (India)-based independent research and advocacy think tank, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
Sunita Narain
Unlawful Entry: Illegal GM in our food
In a first study of its kind for India, New Delhi-based research and advocacy body Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has exposedlarge-scale illegal presence and sale of genetically modified (GM)
CSE Study
A step in the right direction – says CSE of power ministry’s move to fix starting temperature of room air conditioners at 24oC and not lower to save energy
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says the new proposal of the Ministry of Power to fix the starting temperature of room air conditioners (RAC) at 24 degree C is a step in the right direction, as
Body Burden: Lifestyle Diseases
<p>Lifestyle diseases or non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for more than 61 per cent of all deaths in India.</p> <p>Whether it is heart diseases, respiratory illnesses, cancer, obesity
Lifestyle diseases the biggest killer in India today
<p>The new report from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released yesterday held lifestyle diseases like obesity, mental health, cancer and heart diseases to count a few, as the major killers in India. Revealing the links of air pollution with mental diseases, it stated that air pollution is responsible for 30 per cent of premature deaths in India while every third child in Delhi has impaired lungs.</p>
Pesticide Use
Graded Response Action Plan to control air pollution in Delhi-NCR in ‘Very poor’ and ‘Severe’ categories comes into effect from October 17, 2017- says EPCA
<p>This Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into effect from Oct 17, 2017 to prevent a repeat of the severe air pollution Delhi witnessed after Diwali last year. Measures under the GRAP's 'very poor' and 'severe' categories will remain in force till March 15, 2018 said Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA) appointed by the Supreme Court.</p>
Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA)
Vehicular Pollution
This Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into effect from Oct 17, 2017 to prevent a repeat of the severe air pollution Delhi witnessed after Diwali last year. Measures under the GRAP's 'very poor' and 'severe' categories will remain in force till March 15, 2018 said Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA) appointed by the Supreme Court.
As the festival of Diwali and winter season draw near, Delhi-NCR is gearing up to meet the severe air quality challenge that it faces every year around this time. A Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has
Urban Air Quality
RSPM (PM 10)
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana-CSE
<p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.downtoearth.org.in/dte/userfiles/images/Marathwada(1).jpg" style="width: 320px; height: 214px; margin: 14px; float: left;" />Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is not
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
Congestion on Delhi roads has worsened – says new analysis by CSE of latest Google map data
For daily commuters in Delhi, what has been the experience is now being borne by hard statistics. Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) new assessment of travel time and traffic speed in Delhi shows
Parking Pricing
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2011| July-September | Volume 27 | Issue 3
Risk factors for prostate cancer: An hospital-based case-control study from Mumbai, India
B Ganesh, Sushama L Saoba, Monika N Sarade, Suvarna V Pinjari
July-September 2011, 27(3):345-350
DOI:10.4103/0970-1591.85438 PMID:22022057
Background : In India, prostate cancer is one of the five leading sites of cancers among males in all the registries. Very little is known about risk factors for prostate cancer among the Indian population. Objectives : The present study aims to study the association of lifestyle factors like chewing (betel leaf with or without tobacco, pan masala, gutka), smoking (bidi, cigarette), comorbid conditions, diet, body mass index (BMI), family history, vasectomy with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods : This an unmatched hospital-based case-control study, comprised of 123 histologically proven prostate 'cancer cases' and 167 'normal controls. Univariate and regression analysis were applied for obtaining the odds ratio for risk factors. Results : The study revealed that there was no significant excess risk for chewers, alcohol drinkers, tea and coffee drinkers, family history of cancer, diabetes, vasectomy and dietary factors. However, patients with BMI >25 (OR = 2.1), those with hypertension history (OR = 2.5) and age >55 years (OR = 19.3) had enhanced risk for prostate cancer. Conclusions : In the present study age, BMI and hypertension emerged as risk factors for prostate cancer. The findings of this study could be useful to conduct larger studies in a more detailed manner which in turn can be useful for public interest domain.
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Buccal mucosa urethroplasty for adult urethral strictures
W Britt Zimmerman, Richard A Santucci
Urethral strictures are difficult to manage. Some treatment modalities for urethral strictures are fraught with high patient morbidity and stricture recurrence rates; however, an extremely useful tool in the armamentarium of the Reconstructive Urologist is buccal mucosal urethroplasty. We like buccal mucosa grafts because of its excellent short and long-term results, low post-operative complication rate, and relative ease of use. We utilize it for most our bulbar urethral stricture repairs and some pendulous urethral stricture repairs, usually in conjunction with a first-stage Johanson repair. In this report, we discuss multiple surgical techniques for repair of urethral stricture disease. Diagnosis, evaluation of candidacy, surgical techniques, post-operative care, and complications are included. The goal is to raise awareness of buccal mucosa grafting for the management urethral stricture disease.
Robotic-assisted inguinal lymph node dissection: A preliminary report
PN Dogra, Ashish Kumar Saini, Prabhjot Singh
Penile cancer with inguinal lymph node metastasis is a common cancer in India. Open inguinal lymphadenectomy is the gold standard treatment of metastatic inguinal lymph nodes. We report our experience and technique of robotic assisted inguinal lymph node dissection in two patients presented with palpable inguinal lymph nodes, which to our knowledge is the first reported case series from India.
8 7,925 77
The current role of direct vision internal urethrotomy and self-catheterization for anterior urethral strictures
Deepak Dubey
Introduction : Direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU) followed by intermittent self-dilatation (ISD) is the most commonly performed intervention for urethral stricture disease. The objective of this paper is to outline the current scientific evidence supporting this approach for its use in the management of anterior urethral strictures. Materials and Methods : A Pubmed database search was performed with the words "internal urethrotomy" and "internal urethrotomy self-catheterization." All papers dealing with this subject were scrutinized. Cross-references from the retrieved articles were also viewed. Only English language articles were included in the analyses. Studies were analyzed to identify predictors for success for DVIU. Results : Initial studies showed excellent outcomes with DVIU with success rates ranging from 50% to 85%. However, these studies reported only short-term results. Recent studies with longer followup have shown a poor success rate ranging from 6% to 28%. Stricture length and degree of fibrosis (luminal narrowing) were found to be predictors of response. Repeated urethrotomies were associated with poor results. Studies involving intermittent self-catheterization following DVIU have shown no role in short-term ISD with one study reporting beneficial effects if continued for more than a year. A significant number of studies have shown long-term complications with SC and high dropout rates. Conclusions : DVIU is associated with poor long-term cure rates. It remains as a treatment of first choice for bulbar urethral strictures <1 cm with minimal spongiofibrosis. There is no role for repeated urethrotomy as outcomes are uniformly poor. ISD, when used for more than a year on a weekly or biweekly basis may delay the onset of stricture recurrence.
Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome with testicular seminoma: A report of two cases
Renuka V Inuganti, G Saila Bala, Y Kiran Kumar, Y Krishna Bharathi
Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome is a rare form of male pseudohermaphroditism, characterized by the presence of the Mullerian duct structures in an otherwise phenotypically as well as genotypically normal male. We report two cases of males with cryptorchidism, and seminoma in the undescended abdominal testis along with Mullerian duct derivatives (uterus and fallopian tube).
Budd-Chiari syndrome in urology: Impact on nephrectomy for advanced renal cell carcinoma
Samir P Shirodkar, Mark S Soloway, Gaetano Ciancio
Objectives : Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a poorly understood entity in urology. It results from obstruction of the hepatic veins and the subsequent complications. It has been infrequently reported to be secondary to hepatic venous obstruction from invasion by an inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We report the largest known series of patients with RCC and BCS. Patients and Methods : Ten patients presented to a tertiary hospital with locally advanced RCC with IVC tumor thrombus. All were evaluated and had clinical or radiographic evidence of BCS. All underwent nephrectomy, IVC thrombectomy or ligation, and tumor removal from the hepatic veins. The perioperative and pathological factors were measured. These included estimated blood loss (EBL) and transfusions. Inpatient factors including duration of intubation, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and overall length of stay (LOS) were recorded. The tumor-free status was evaluated. Results : The average age was 59 years. No intraoperative deaths occurred. Two intraoperative complications were noted. The mean EBL was 4244 cc; mean surgery length was 8 hours 12 minutes; and the mean ICU stay was nine days. The overall LOS averaged 13.25 days. One patient died postoperatively of sepsis and multisystem organ failure. One patient required reoperation for an abdominal wall hematoma caused by subcutaneous enoxaparin administration. Average follow-up was 28 months. Five patients are alive with no evidence of disease. Conclusions : Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare entity in urology, with a potential for significant morbidity and mortality. Surgical excision of the primary tumor along with thrombectomy results in alleviation of BCS and improvement in the patient.
Preventive fluid and dietary therapy for urolithiasis: An appraisal of strength, controversies and lacunae of current literature
Mayank Mohan Agarwal, Shwaran K Singh, Ravimohan Mavuduru, Arup K Mandal
Regulation of fluid and dietary intake habits is essential in comprehensive preventive management of urolithiasis. However, despite large body of epidemiological database, there is dearth of good quality prospective interventional studies in this regard. Often there is conflict in pathophysiological basis and actual clinical outcome. We describe conflicts, controversies and lacunae in current literature in fluid and dietary modifications in prevention of urolithiasis. Adequate fluid intake is the most important conservative strategy in urolithiasis-prevention; its positive effects are seen even at low volumes. Of the citrus, orange provides the most favorable pH changes in the urine, equivalent to therapeutic alkaline citrates. Despite being richest source of citrate, lemon does not increase pH significant due to its acidic nature. Fructose, animal proteins and fats are implicated in contributing to obesity, which is an established risk factor for urolithiasis. Fructose and proteins also contribute to lithogenecity of urine directly. Sodium restriction is commonly advised since natriuresis is associated with calciuresis. Calcium restriction is not advisable for urolithiasis prevention. Adequate calcium intake is beneficial if taken with food since it reduces absorption of dietary oxalate. Increasing dietary fiber does not protect against urolithiasis. Evidence for pyridoxine and magnesium is not robust. There is no prospective interventional study evaluating effect of many dietary elements, including citrus juices, carbohydrate, fat, dietary fiber, sodium, etc. Due to lack of good-quality prospective interventional trials it is essential to test the findings of pathophysiological understanding and epidemiological evidence. Role of probiotics and phytoceuticals needs special attention for future research.
Familial transverse testicular ectopia unrelated to persistent Müllerian duct syndrome
Eiji Hisamatsu, Shizuko Takagi, Yoshikiyo Nakagawa, Yoshifumi Sugita
Transverse testicular ectopia (TTE) is rare. Although several familial cases of TTE have been reported, most of them were associated with persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS), which may be inherited as an autosomal-recessive or X-linked recessive trait. We experienced two brothers with TTE unrelated to PMDS. A genetic etiology may be involved even in TTE unrelated to PMDS.
Management of panurethral strictures
Apul Goel, Anuj Goel, Abhishek Jain, Bhupendra Pal Singh
Introduction : Treatment of panurethral stricture is considered a surgical challenge. We searched the literature to present a comprehensive review. Materials and Methods : A review of literature was performed using MEDLINE/PubMed database using terms "urethral stricture" and "urethroplasty." Only articles published between 1990 and 2009 and written in English language were included in the review. Results : The main causes of panurethral strictures are previous catheterization, urethral surgery, and lichen sclerosus. The treatment of each individual case has to be tailored according to the etiology, history of previous urethral surgeries, availability of local tissues for flap harvesting, availability of appropriate donor tissue, and the expertise of the treating surgeon. In patients with complicated strictures, previously failed urethroplasties and in patients with poor quality of urethral plate two-stage surgery is a better option. In all other situations, either a flap or graft urethroplasty or if adequate tissue is not available then combination of flap and graft gives reasonable success rates. Conclusions : Panurethral strictures are relatively less common. For successful results, the surgeon should be experienced and should be familiar with all the treatment modalities.
Emphysematous epididymo-orchitis: A rare entity
Alok Mathur, Anand Manish, Madhukar Maletha, Niti B Luthra
Emphysematous epididymo-orchitis is a rare cause of an acute scrotum and is a surgical emergency. Diagnosis is clinically difficult, and sonography with a high-frequency probe is useful to pick up gas shadows in the scrotal wall or testicular substance. A diabetic patient presented with fever, urinary tract infection, and an acute scrotal swelling. The patient needed orchidectomy and scrotal debridement. As in emphysematous pyelonephritis, this condition occurs in diabetics, and patients may need surgery. There is a need to perform sonography in all diabetic patients with an acutely inflamed scrotum, because detection of gas shadows makes surgical intervention more likely.
Pathological outcomes and strategies to achieve optimal cancer control during robotic radical prostatectomy in Asian-Indian men
Ashutosh K Tewari, Abhishek Srivastava, Prasanna Sooriakumaran, Sonal Grover, Snider Desir, Harveer Dev, Rajiv Yadav, Robert Leung, Maria Shevchuk
Introduction and Objectives : There is a paucity of information in the literature about the characteristics of prostate cancer in the Asian-Indian population. We wanted to evaluate the oncological outcomes of Asian-Indians and Caucasians. We also derived a nomogram for prediction of extraprostatic extension (EPE) and presented biochemical recurrence (BCR) rates in the Asian-Indian population. Materials and Methods : A total of 2367 D'Amico low-risk patients underwent robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for clinically localized prostate cancer between January 2005 and July 2010 by a single surgeon. Of these 56 (2.4%) patients were Asian-Indians and 2025 were Caucasians (85.6%). Univariate and multivariate models were created for predicting EPE. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to develop a predictive nomogram. BCR was defined as a prostate-specific antigen ≥0.2 at any postoperative time point. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to investigate BCR rates. Results : A significantly greater percentage of Asian-Indians compared to Caucasians had EPE (32.3 vs. 16.5; P = 0.01). In multivariate analysis adjusted for significant variables from univariate analyses, Asian-Indian race (P = 0.028), age (P = 0.050), maximum percentage cancer on biopsy (P < 0.001), and pathology prostate weight (P = 0.047) were independent predictors of EPE. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated BCR free rates of 94.6% and 95.4%, for Asian-Indians and Caucasians, respectively, at a median follow-up of 16 months (range 2-70 months). There was no statistically significant difference in BCR rates across the two cohorts (log-rank P-value = 0.405). Conclusions : This study highlights that while Asian-Indians have more advanced cancer variables, their risk of BCR after surgery is similar to Caucasian patients. Further work is required to better understand the social, genetic and environmental factors that affect the biology of prostate cancer in men of Asian-Indian descent.
Preliminary safety and efficacy results with robotic high-intensity focused ultrasound : A single center Indian experience
Shashikant Mishra, Rajan Sharma, Chandra Prakash Garg, V Muthu, Arvind Ganpule, Ravindra B Sabnis, Mahesh R Desai
Background : There are no Indian data of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Being an alternative, still experimental modality, reporting short-term safety outcome is paramount. Aims : This study was aimed at to assess the safety and short-term outcome in patients with prostate cancer treated by HIFU. Settings and Design : A retrospective study of case records of 30 patients undergoing HIFU between January 2008 to September 2010 was designed and conducted. Materials and Methods : The procedural safety was analyzed at 3 months. Follow-up consisted of 3 monthly prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and transrectal biopsy if indicated. All the patients had a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Results : A mean prostate volume of 26.9 ± 8.5 cm 3 was treated in a mean time of 115 ± 37.4 min. There was no intraoperative complication. The postoperative pain visual analogue score at day 0 was 2.1 ± 1.9 and at day 1 was 0.4 ± 0.8 on a scale of 1-10. Mean duration of perurethral catheter removal was 3.9 days. The complications after treatment were: LUTS in seven patients, stress incontinence in two, stricture in two, and symptomatic urinary tract infection in five. Average follow-up duration was 10.4 months (range, 6-20 months). Mean time to obtain PSA nadir was 6 ± 3 months with a median PSA nadir value of 0.3 ng/ml. Two patients had positive prostatic biopsy in the localized (high risk) group. Conclusions : HIFU was safe in carcinoma prostate patients. The short-term results were efficacious in localized disease. The low complication rates and favorable functional outcome support the planning of further larger studies.
Retropubic radical prostatectomy: Clinicopathological observations and outcome analysis of 428 consecutive patients
Jagdeesh N Kulkarni, Dayal Partap Singh, Shweta Bansal, Manisha Makkar, Rohan Valsangkar, Avinash T Siddaiah, Pushkar Sham Choudhary
Aim : We report the outcome analysis of retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) performed in 428 patients in terms of pathological findings, complications, and survival. Materials and Methods : Systematically recorded case reports forms of consecutive 428 RRPs done over a 14-year period were analyzed using the SPSS 14 software. Secondary analysis was done to evaluate era specific (pre and post 2002) changes in clinical features and survivals. Results : Seven-year overall survival (OAS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and event-free survival (EFS) was 83.2%, 82.8%, and 69.8% respectively in our series. Era-specific survival showed higher CSS post 2002, and there was an increase in presentation with organ-confined disease. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed statistically significant impact on era specific outcome. With the improvement in techniques decrease in complications rate and increase in quality of life was noted. Conclusions : Our series spanning over decade demonstrates that RRP is viable option to offer cure to organ-confined carcinoma prostate. Further, there is evidence of stage migration and improvements in outcome in post 2002 patients. Although our series is modest in number, the success rates and outcome data matches those reported in the literature.
Herbo-mineral supplementation in men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia : A double blind randomized placebo-controlled trial
Rajeev Kumar, Vaibhav Saxena, Monis Bilal Shamsi, S Venkatesh, Rima Dada
Introduction : There is insufficient scientific data on the medical management options for idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia (iOATs). We conducted a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of the herbo-mineral supplement, Addyzoa® , in infertile men with iOATs. We also evaluated its effect on semen reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and DNA fragmentation index. Materials and Methods : Fifty infertile men with iOATS were recruited into an institutional ethics committee approved protocol from April to August 2009. Randomization was done using numbered, identical containers. Baseline semen samples were evaluated for routine parameters, ROS level, DNA fragmentation index and TAC. Drug/placebo was administered at a dose of two capsules twice a day for 3 months. All parameters were reassessed at 3 months and clinical side-effects were recorded. The study was registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India and is available at www.ctri.in as study protocol number CTRI/2009/091/000551. Results : Forty-four subjects completed the study, 21 in the drug arm and 23 in the placebo arm. There was no difference in baseline parameters between the two groups. Men in the drug group had significant improvement in mean total motility from 23.2 ± 17.3% to 33.4 ± 23.2% (P-value: 0.008) and mean progressive (Type A+B) motility from 15.7 ± 12.6% to 22.6 ± 18.0% (P-value: 0.024). ROS, TAC and DFI did not change significantly in either group and did not show any correlation with other semen parameters. Conclusions : Treatment with Addyzoa resulted in a significant improvement in total and progressive motility in the semen of men with iOATs after 3 months of therapy. There was no change in the sperm concentration, ROS, DFI or TAC levels.
Current concepts in the management of pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects
Ramanitharan Manikandan, Lalgudi N Dorairajan, Santosh Kumar
Objectives : Pelvic fracture urethral distraction defect (PFUDD) may be associated with disabling complications, such as recurrent stricture, urinary incontinence, and erectile dysfunction. In this article we review the current concepts in the evaluation and surgical management of PFUDD, including redo urethroplasty. Materials and Methods : A PubMedTM search was performed using the keywords "pelvic fracture urethral distraction defect, anastomotic urethroplasty, pelvic fracture urethral stricture, pelvic fracture urethral injuries, and redo-urethroplasty." The search was limited to papers published from 1980 to March 2010 with special focus on those published in the last 15 years. The relevant articles were reviewed with regard to etiology, role of imaging, and the techniques of urethroplasty. Results : Pelvic fracture due to accidents was the most common etiology of PFUDD that usually involved the membranous urethra. Modern cross-sectional imaging, such as sonourethrography and magnetic resonance imaging help assess stricture pathology better, but their precise role in PFUDD management remains undefined. Surgical treatment with perineal anastomotic urethroplasty yields a success rate of more than 90% in most studies. The most important complication of surgical reconstruction is restenosis, occurring in less than 10% cases, most of which can be corrected by a redo anastomotic urethroplasty. The most common complication associated with this condition is erectile dysfunction. Urinary incontinence is a much rarer complication of this surgery in the present day. Conclusions : Anastomotic urethroplasty remains the cornerstone in the management of PFUDD, even in previously failed repairs. Newer innovations are needed to address the problem of erectile dysfunction associated with this condition.
Priapism associated with Niemann-Pick disease in a 15-year-old boy
MV Krishna Shetty, M Udaya Kumar, TK Sen
A 15-year-old boy presented with priapism of 46 h duration. There was no known cause of priapism detected in him. During evaluation, biopsy of the lymph node and bone marrow aspiration detected patient to be having Niemann-Pick disease. He was managed with cavernous aspiration, saline irrigation, and intracavernosal phenylephrine injection. Although priapism is associated with many known diseases, about half of the cases are of idiopathic origin. We are reporting the first case of priapism associated with Niemann-Pick disease in the literature.
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A case of signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of the bladder with spontaneous urinary extravasation
Sanish S Shringarpure, Joseph V Thachil, T Raja, Rama Mani
Primary signet ring cell adenocarcinoma (PSRCC) of the bladder is a relatively rare variant of adenocarcinoma of the bladder with poor prognosis. Also PSRCC of the bladder presenting with spontaneous urinary extravasation is very rare. We present the case of a 48-year male who presented with spontaneous urinary extravasation and was diagnosed to have PSRCC of the urinary bladder on evaluation. He was treated with radical cystectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. This report emphasizes the need to rule out other primary sites of adenocarcinoma in the body, which may metastasize to the urinary bladder.
Cystic retroperitoneal renal hilar ancient schwannoma: Report of a rare case with atypical presentation masquerading as simple cyst
Rishi Nayyar, Nikhil Khattar, Rajeev Sood, Meenakshi Bhardwaj
Schwannoma is a benign soft tissue tumor of neural origin arising from the Schwann cells of the neural sheath. It has rarely been reported in renal or perirenal region. The preoperative diagnosis has mostly been confused with renal cell carcinoma in this location in most previous reports. We report a case that presented with a large "simple cystic" mass at the renal hilum. The preoperative differential diagnosis included hilar renal cortical cyst, renal sinus cyst, ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), or even a hydatid cyst. The final diagnosis was clinched only on histopathological examination.
Are metal ureteral stents indicated in cases of benign upper urinary tract obstruction?
Petros Sountoulides
Metal ureteral stents in chronic obstructions
Daniel Yachia
Urethral stricture disease - Have we found the magic wand?
Nitin S Kekre
IJU VIDEOS
A technique of stenting after laparoscopic ureterolithotomy
Anil Mandhani
Retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy
Pranjal Modi, Jigish Vyas, Pankaj Dholaria, Varun Sharma
Trans-sinus fat laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for parahilar tumors
Rajesh Kumar Ahlawat, Rakesh Khera, Prasun Ghosh, Manav Suryavanshi
Mid-urethral slings in female incontinence: Current status
Ryan M Krlin, Alana M Murphy, Michael S Ingber, Sandip P Vasavada
The advent of the mid-urethral sling (MUS) 15 years ago has drastically changed the surgical management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Both retropubic and transobturator MUS can be placed in the ambulatory setting with excellent results. The tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) sling has the most robust and long-term data, but more recent literature suggests that the transobturator tape sling may offer comparable efficacy in appropriately selected patients. Single incision sling (SIS) is the newest addition to the MUS group and was developed in an attempt to minimize morbidity and create an anti-incontinence procedure that could be performed in the office. The efficacy of SIS remains unknown as the current literature regarding SIS lacks long-term results and comparative trials. The suprapubic arc sling appears to have equally effective outcomes in at least the short-term when compared with TVT. Although evolution of the SIS has led to a less invasive procedure with decreased post-op pain and reduced recovery time, durability of efficacy could be the endpoint we are sacrificing. Until longer-term data and more quality comparison trials are available, tailoring one's choice of MUS to the individual patient and her unique clinical parameters remains the best option.
Management of the stricture of fossa navicularis and pendulous urethral strictures
Shrawan K Singh, Santosh K Agrawal, Ravimohan S Mavuduru
Objective : Management of distal anterior urethral stricture is a common problem faced by practicing urologists. Literature on urethral stricture mainly pertains to bulbar urethral stricture and pelvic fracture urethral distraction defect. The present article aims to review the management of the strictures of fossa navicularis and pendulous urethra. Materials and Methods : The literature in English language was searched from the National Library of Medicine database, using the appropriate key words for the period 1985-2010. Out of 475 articles, 115 were selected for the review based on their relevance to the topic. Results : Etiology of stricture is shifting from infective to inflammatory and iatrogenic causes. Stricture of fossa navicularis is most often caused by lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and instrumentation. Direct visual internal urethrotomy is limited to selected cases in the management of pendulous urethral stricture. With experience and identification of various prognostic factors, conservative management by dilatation and internal urethrotomy is being replaced by various reconstructive procedures, using skin flaps and grafts with high success rates. Single-stage urethroplasty is preferred over the 2-stage procedure as the latter disfigures the penis and poses sexual problems temporarily. Conclusions : Flaps or grafts are useful for single-stage reconstruction of fossa navicularis and pendulous urethral strictures. The buccal and lingual mucosa serves as a preferred resource material for providing the inner lining of the urethra. Off-the-shelf materials, such as acellular collagen matrix, are promising.
Management of urethral strictures
Bladder hernia: Multidetector computed tomography findings
Ankur Gadodia, Raju Sharma, Rajinder Parshad
Herniation of bladder in inguinal hernia is rare, with most cases diagnosed intraoperatively. Preoperative diagnosis is even rarer. We report a case of bladder as content of inguinal hernia diagnosed using multidetector computed tomography.
Pelvic neurofibroma arising from prostate in a case of neurofibromatosis-1
Manisha Jana, Shivanand Gamanagatti, Rajeev Kumar, Sandeep Aggarwala
Pelvic neurofibroma is a rare condition and can be associated with neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1). The diagnosis is primarily based on histopathology, though certain characteristic imaging features like the 'target sign' on T2W MRI are highly suggestive of the diagnosis. We describe a case of pelvic plexiform neurofibroma in a case of NF-1.
Role of combined fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography for bladder tumor
Swarnendu Mandal, Manoj Yadav, Apul Goel
Magnets in stone extraction: Fact or fiction?
Deepak S Nagathan, Amod Dwivedi, Apul Goel
Olfactory detection of prostate cancer by dogs sniffing urine: A step forward in early diagnosis
Manoj Kumar, Swarnendu Mandal, Apul Goel
Long-term results of early endoscopic realignment of complete posterior urethral disruption
Rohit Kathpalia, Swarnendu Mandal, Apul Goel
Is there a role of post percutaneous nephrolithotomy routine computer tomography scan to anticipate complication?
Swarnendu Mandal, SN Sankhwar, Apul Goel
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RESO's web API will make your life easier -- here's how
MLS & Associations
With an application programming interface, data only needs to be accessed when it's used
sirastock / Shutterstock.com
by Victor Lund |
Our industry is in the dawn of a new day. With some measure of struggle, the nations’ MLSs and their vendors have endeavored to adopt a set of standardized fields for data transportation from the MLS system to applications that support the real estate industry.
The RESO Data Dictionary is only 90-percent adopted across MLSs for the current version, and MLSs need to continue to stay adopted by implementing updates.
The RESO web API is a revolutionary next step that reduces redundancy and replication of MLS data.
The future will be two-way API support to allow MLSs to share data and for brokers to load data from any RESO API-supporting update product without manual input directly into the MLS.
WAV Group founding partner Victor Lund is a consultant member of RESO, and WAV Group Communications is RESO’s PR agency of record.
Our industry is in the dawn of a new day.
With some measure of struggle, the nations’ MLSs and their vendors have endeavored to adopt a set of standardized fields for data transportation from the MLS system to applications that support the real estate industry.
I consider this the dawn of the effort because, for the very first time, MLS adoption of the real estate standards are more strictly mandated by the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR’s) MLS Policy.
RESO blossoming
For years, NAR supported and funded the Real Estate Standards Organization, which is referred to by its acronym, RESO. Despite being a free-standing not-for-profit organization with an independent board of directors, the bulk of the funding for this standards organization came from NAR and was supplemented by MLS vendors and a few others.
Today, RESO has blossomed into one of the most collaborative industrywide efforts we have ever seen, with funding from vendors, brokers, associations and MLSs. The effort ties MLS vendors, broker and agent technology vendors, MLS operators, Realtor associations and many brokerages together.
This group is funding and directing a massive overhaul of how information (data) is used today and laying a strong foundation for the future. It has inspired transformation.
Like anything new, different and technical, there is also a massive level of misunderstanding that is frustrating the efforts.
In some small way, my hope is to clarify some things to set some people straight. We try hard to understand before disagreeing and disagree without being disagreeable.
The ‘native’ database and RESO Data Dictionary standards
The MLS system has a “native” database.
When agents enter listing information into that database, they most often enter data that is not RESO-certified. Despite the 1,078 fields and 1,475 values within the most current version of the RESO Data Dictionary, the MLS has additional fields, business rules, database logic and numerated values that are beyond RESO standards today.
With few exceptions, native MLS Databases and listing input forms have not been converted to the RESO Data Dictionary standards.
If MLSs were to adopt the RESO Data Dictionary standards for MLS fields, it would require an MLS conversion.
I imagine that most of you reading this have suffered through an MLS conversion, so you can appreciate the expense and pain that it would cause to convert all 728 MLSs. Moreover, the Data Dictionary has not evolved to cover every MLS field yet (although one day in the near future that may happen).
The only arguments for such a conversion would be to align the data values that consumers see with the data values that are entered into the MLS, and to remove the need to translate the native MLS data to the RESO Data Dictionary standard.
When data mapping means countless custom connections
RESO made a wise choice at focusing standardization on data transport and not on the native MLS system. The chief cause for standardization of transporting data is to eliminate the need for exponential data mapping.
Today, many of the nation’s 728 MLSs are data mapping to the RESO standards — that is 728 data maps. Not such a bad number.
It allows MLSs to maintain their local, custom, native data input and storage while translating that data to the industry standard when it is used for applications that reside outside of the MLS system.
Here is the exponential part. There are roughly 750 technology vendors that RE Technology records as having applications that connect to MLS data.
In the absence of RESO, that would cause 750 vendors to map to 728 MLS data schema for a possible value of 546,000 custom connections between databases.
In the absence of RESO: 546k custom connections b/w databases.
The number becomes even more absurd if you consider a brokerage that wants 10 or 20 applications in their business to talk to each other.
In the old world, a small change each month in 10 percent of MLSs to the data set (that’s 72 MLSs making database changes like adding a field, removing a field or changing the value of a field) would cause thousands of brokerage applications to break because the data mapping broke.
By the way — this does happen today, and it happens every day.
RESO data standards fix most of the daily breaks in data mapping. MLSs are free to modify fields in the native MLS system without disturbing the transport of data to the applications because the data transport is the standard!
It’s a beautiful thing.
With that freedom, MLSs should refer to the RESO Data Dictionary prior to making any field modifications — after all, if you are already changing a field, do it in the manner of the nationwide standard!
The big data problem
The first phase of RESO standards mandates by the NAR was to adopt the RESO Data Dictionary.
Want to know if your MLS is certified? Here is a list of the 74 MLSs that are not RESO-certified.
Every MLSs was supposed to adopt the RESO Data Dictionary Standard policy by January 1, 2016, and RESO provides certification to allow MLSs to demonstrate compliance with NAR.
There is no excuse. They have had almost two years (since Nov. 2014) to adopt the RESO Data Dictionary and become certified.
The RESO Data Dictionary is the set of field names and values that are sitting on the server that a technology vendor connects to.
The RESO standard considers two distinct forms of transporting that data to application vendors.
The first, and the most popular today is called RETS — or “Real Estate Transaction Standard.”
The RETS standard is a protocol for taking all of the data in the MLS and primarily replicating it in the vendor’s database.
Understand RETS
Think of RETS like loading all of the data onto a train, where each car has a piece of data that is in the RESO data format.
The train travels from the MLS station to the vendor station, where it is unloaded and put into the vendor’s product for use by the broker and agent customers.
It’s a one-way train. Sometimes the train takes all of the data (usually once a month or once a week), but most of the time, the train only takes the changes.
The full load can be hundreds of thousands of listings that span 15 years of MLS data with millions of photos, equating to terabytes of data.
Technology companies such as homes.com, Wolfnet, Real Estate Digital, Listingbook and many others that connect to hundreds of MLSs have “trainloads” that add up to a thousand terabytes.
The goal is to keep both the MLS and the database synchronized, so vendors will often tell the train to transport the changes in the database every 15 minutes. A company managing this volume of data is probably incurring a cost of over $10 million in staff and servers to mange it. If you are like me, you have trouble synchronizing your contacts between your phone, tablet and computer.
There is a better way: The RESO web API
An API, or application-programing interface, is a newer, more efficient way for applications to talk to databases.
By now, you may have heard murmurs about the RESO API, or web API. The technical description is pretty nicely explained on this Wikipedia page, but you really do not need to understand the technical components to appreciate the value of the web API for the future of real estate technology programming.
Today, just about every application that connects to MLS data uses the RETS standard.
That presumes that the train is delivering the data every day and the application developer or vendor is hosting the replicated database of the MLS or numerous MLSs on their server.
The beauty of using an API is that the data only needs to be accessed when it is used.
For example, when a consumer does a property search, the application is calling the MLS database directly rather than the vendor’s database.
Ergo — no need to replicate the terabytes or petabytes of data, or to encumber the tremendous effort and expense. It’s fast, secure, less expensive and so on.
You experience APIs every day on your mobile phone. Have you had an experience whereby you authorize an app like Linkedin or Facebook to connect to your contacts and find friends? That is an API!
Ever see a Google map on a web page displaying a location? That is an API!
Clearly, Google does not want everyone to have its maps database — and frankly, the size of that database and the number of daily changes make it absurd to duplicate.
That is why everyone uses the Google Maps API, and that is the same rationale that RESO is deploying for the web API.
RESO’s modern API construction uses something called oDATA, a global transport protocol with off the shelf tools by Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, Apple and many others.
Aside from about 10 percent of the MLSs — MLSs are now publishing the MLS data to servers in the RESO-certified format. However, they are keeping the legacy servers live for awhile to allow technology vendors to migrate. That will eliminate the exponential problem of custom data mapping described above.
Only a handful of MLSs are RESO web-API certified, but this does represent over 200,000 real estate professionals nationwide.
As it turns out, the industry was caught a little flat-footed regarding the amount of time and effort it would take for web API Certification.
The good news is that the floodgates have opened. Two of the three largest vendors have gotten at least one of their MLS clients certified, so the process of getting their hundreds of MLS customers certified is a matter of implementing the API code on each MLS server and submitting their application to RESO.
Only a small handful of real estate technology vendors will use the API out of the gate.
First of all, it is not really available today, so applications in real estate have not been built to leverage the API.
Most legacy applications were built to operate off of the RETS standard. Migrating to an API is a complete rebuild, costing hundreds of thousands or even millions of investment dollars for reprogramming.
WAV Group expects to see the API emerge in new applications for real estate, so it will take some time.
The good news is that it may be revolutionary as technology applications will be able to be developed specifically for the RESO web API, with rapid prototyping and at a lower cost. Data mapping will only happen once regardless of how many MLSs the vendor is connecting to.
The vendor will not need to replicate and store the data. It’s a bright future!
The next big thing for RESO will be a two-way standard for data transport for the RESO web API, which is a standard already in active development within the experts of the RESO community.
Today, the RESO API standard is for moving data out of the MLS. It’s one-way.
With the rapid adoption of MLS data-sharing and projects such as Upstream, the ability to move listings and other data into the MLS will emerge.
Inserting data into the MLS is tricky. The MLS has very specific rules and regulations for adding information into the native database.
A one-way translation from a custom local native database is not terribly hard. However, reversing that stream to allow rules compliant data to be added to the MLS is an entirely different translation.
Because of this complexity, we expect RESO to pick up this discussion. RESO does have a standard called RETS Update that was an optional RESO standard — and poorly adopted. It is being phased out, and a new RETS and web API standard for loading and managing data in the MLS will be developed.
This evolution will allow MLSs to talk to each other, eliminating duplicate listing input. It will allow broker systems to talk to MLS systems and have two-way data sharing, too!
Victor Lund is a founder of the real estate consulting firm WAV Group. Follow him on Facebook or LinkedIn.
Email Victor Lund
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Students talk about suicide prevention at vigil
Wednesday, May 15, 2019 11:45 PM EDT
written by Greg Miller
gmiller@kake.com
Follow @GregMillerTV
At a vigil inside College Hill United Methodist Church, friends of a Wichita-area teen who died by suicide gathered to mourn, but also to spread a message to anyone who may experience suicidal thoughts.
“It’s really emotional,” said Gabby Gestring. “I was devastated… it’s just really hard for me.”
She, in particular, knows the pain all too well.
“I went through that. Seven years. I just want people to know that they can get help. I got help and I stopped getting those thoughts.”
Educators have expressed the importance of conversations about suicides, and Wednesday night, so did spiritual leaders.
“It’s something that we can become insensitive to,” said Jill Sander Chali, pastor of College Hill United Methodist church. “I think such a tragic situation like this reminds us that every single life matters.”
These students feel it’s their responsibility to carry that message forward now.
“People will be there for them,” Gestring said.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline call center expanding
KAKE NEWS INVESTIGATES: Mental health care in our schools
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Jacksonville shooting survivor describes “most helpless feeling”
CBS News August 27, 2018, 7:06 AM Jacksonville shooting survivor describes "most helpless feeling in the world"
An esports participant who lost during a Madden NFL 19 gaming tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, Sunday returned with a gun and fired shots into the crowd. Police said David Katz, 24, of Baltimore, killed two people and wounded nine others before shooting himself dead. CBS affiliate WJAX-TV identified the two who died as 22-year-old Eli Clayton and 27-year-old Taylor Robertson.
Tony Montagnino also competed in Sunday's tournament. The father of two was shot in his lower back and leg.
"I could never see his face because all I could see was the flash from the muzzle of the gun," Montagnino said.
"And then you knew it was gunshots," CBS News correspondent Manuel Bojorquez said.
"And then I knew right away. Yeah," Montagnino replied.
"If you would have told me that I was going to get shot playing a video game, I would have called you a liar," Montagnino added. He said when the shooting started, he immediately dropped to the floor.
"My phone is on the ledge, you know, probably about 10 feet in front of me. And all I can think about is getting my phone so I can text some of my family," Montagnino said, choking up with emotion. "Just let them know, you know, that I care about them, and that's the most helpless feeling in the world."
When the shots first rang out, witnesses said they thought it was a firecracker or balloons popping. No one expected a shooter to turn up at a qualifying round for a video game tournament. Then panic set in and people were trampled rushing for the exits.
A livestream from the event shows what appears to be a red dot flash across one of the players' chests seconds before the first shots ring out. One witness described the "pop pop pop" sounds that "didn't stop."
The first 911 calls came in at 1:34 p.m. local time. Police rushed to the Jacksonville Landing mall.
"There were three deceased individuals at the scene. One of those being the suspect who took his own life," Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said.
David Katz
Buffalo Bills / Twitter
The suspected shooter was identified as Katz, a one-time Madden tournament champion known by his gamer tag "Bread."
Katz lost in Sunday's tournament against Dennis Alston.
"I beat him and I went to shake his hand to tell him good game and he just looked at me and didn't say anything," Alston said.
EA Sports, the makers of the Madden videogame series, expressed condolences and called the shooting "a senseless act of violence that we strongly condemn." The NFL said it is "shocked and deeply saddened." All nine of the wounded are in stable condition.
Police gather at Jacksonville Landing in Jacksonville, Fla., on Sun., Aug. 26, 2018.
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Epiosde 11: ON NARRATIVES.
The very last podcast in this series.
Transcript to the Nordic By Nature Podcast, ON NARRATIVES
Tanya Intro:
Welcome to Nordic By Nature. A podcast on ecology today, inspired by the Norwegian Philosopher Arne Naess, who coined the term Deep Ecology.
In this episode ON NARRATIVES, we hear from four people working to shape more constructive narratives of our relationship to nature in order to increase environmental protection.
First, we hear from Tom Crompton, founder of the Common Cause Foundation in the U.K. whose research into values shows that the dominant narrative of the selfishness of humankind is deeply flawed.
Then, Paul Allen from the Centre of Alternative Technology in Wales presents a positive and attainable vision of the future.
We then hear from Yuan Pan, whose work integrating biodiversity into the Natural Capital Framework at Cambridge University aims to help businesses and policy makers make smarter decisions and start understanding the direct benefits from acting as stewards of the environment and nature’s resources.
Finally, we hear from Rewilding expert Paul Jepson, who is also active in science communication, particularly in the area of nature recovery, science-policy interfaces and public participation. In 2018, Paul published two papers, one with Frans Schepers and Wouter Helmer on putting rewilding principles into practice and a second where he proposed that in Rewilding we are seeing the emergence of a new ‘Recoverable Earth’ environmental narrative. . Paul currently works for the UK-based consultancy Ecosulis Ltd.
SOUND BRIDGE
TOM CROMPTON
Tom Crompton Intro
So, my name’s Tom Crompton. I direct a small not for profit called Common Cause Foundation which works on people’s values, what matters to people, and what shapes what matters to people, and our perception of what matters to our fellow citizens.
As soon as you begin to ask that question of what it is that underpins public appetite for ambitious change, you are led the social psychology of a values, of human motivation.
So, there’s a great deal of data on people’s own values. And there’s very little data on people’s perception of their fellow citizens values.
Tom Crompton from the Common Cause Foundation.
Researching the Impact of Values
We’ve used a standard values questionnaire, the ‘Thoughts Values Survey’
So, we have used that to start to ask people about their own values and then we’ve asked them to think about a typical fellow citizen, to respond about the values that they feel that typical fellow citizen holds to be important
What we find is that with regard to people’s own values, and in line with a great deal of other existing research, we find that people tend to place particular importance on what we call ‘compassionate values’.
So, these are values of friendship and kindness and social justice and equality and honesty and probably also include values of self-direction, values of curiosity and creativity.
So, people hold those values to be very important. And they attach relatively low importance to a set of values which is psychologically stand psychological opposition to those compassionate values. We call them self-interest values, and these include values of concern for finance financial success, or public image or social status.
Around about three quarters of people attach more importance compassionate values than they do to the self-interest ones.
A Fundamental Misunderstanding
So, then when we move on to ask people about what values they feel a typical fellow citizen holds to be important, we find that there’s a widespread misunderstanding that people typically underestimate the importance that a typical fellow citizen places on those compassionate values, and overestimate the importance that they place on the self-interest values.
That doesn’t incidentally seem to be as a result of reporting bias, you might imagine that a participant is perhaps reluctant to acknowledge the importance that they place on those self-interest values, but we are able to control that and that doesn’t seem to be the case.
What we find is that the more inaccurate a person’s perception of the typical fellow citizens’ values, the less connected that person is likely to feel to their community, the less likely they are to have participated civically, recently the less likely they are to voted, and the less supportive they are for action on a range of social and environmental issues for example, homelessness or climate change or inequality, and the lower their wellbeing.
The simple truth that actually our typical fellow citizens care more about one another in the wider world than we might imagine, and we project that where we’re successful in conveying a more authentic understanding of what a typical fellow citizen or a typical person holds to be important.
Then we would anticipate that that would help to strengthen a sense of community strength and commitment to civic participation, strength and public support for action on social and environmental issues and strengthen people’s well-being.
Why Do We Think Others Are Materialistic?
I think we’ve perhaps been told for so long that we have essentially atomised self-interested individuals out to kind of optimise our own… And our outcomes… For our own selfish purposes. You know, it’s such a dominant understanding of human nature that lends right to a right to the natural sciences right to the social sciences that we’ve come to believe in.
And of course, it’s something that when we see people interacting with one another in large numbers it’s very often in a commercial environment, the kind of environment that we know tends to do more to cue or pry those more self-interested values.
So, what we’ve begun to do is to ask what kind of organisation might be able to work to convey to people a deeper appreciation of the concern of the importance that most people attach the most compassionate values.
Social Purpose driven Organisations
If an organisation and an organisation sees or identifies a sense of social purpose in deepening the feeling of community and well-being among the audiences that it engages and then I think a wide range of ways in which he can begin to communicate with those audiences in ways which will facilitate that. I think it would be simply part of it could become part of the patina of how an organisation communicates with its stakeholders.
On Greater Manchester
One area in which has been real interest in this work is in the in the city’s resilience teams have a team that is actually working to think about how the people of Greater Manchester respond to disasters. And of course, traditionally that’s work which has tended to focus on the practicalities of disaster or emergency response. But increasingly there’s recognition that the importance of working upstream that actually it’s how, um, it’s how citizens respond in an emergency. It’s the values which come to the fore in the course of those responses which is so important in shaping how, how collectively, a disaster or an emergency is met.
I think there’s also an opportunity to develop. I suppose a sensitivity to seeing where those values are already in action. And then suddenly or gently drawing attention to them. I think you know so often, we don’t recognise those values in action when we encounter them.
I think the important thing to do perhaps is to develop a sensitivity to seeing those values in action, and then creativity and imagination in thinking about how they might be made more salient, and that’s going to be different in every different organisational context.
Misperceptions from media and advertising
If you think if you think about the reverse side of it if you like. The perception, the misperception that most people are driven primarily by self-interested or selfish urges, that something which is implicit in so many of the ways in which we’re communicated at. By such a diverse range of different organisations. It’s not that that’s coordinated in any way. It’s just that it becomes so deeply embedded in our understanding of what it is that motivates one another, that those are the motivations we reach for, and tacitly connect with. In the course of communicating with people.
The question would be, the question that really interests me is and how do you move beyond the situation with people who are finding themselves to a common interest to a common concern, in the ultimate sense by seeing ourselves as human beings, we recognise that there are values of concern for one another in the wider world that are an inherent part of that identity.
Paul and CAT, The Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales.
My name is Paul Allen. I’m an electrical engineer by training. And in 1988, I left Liverpool and came to work at the Centre for Alternative Technology in XXX in XXX quarry, and I’ve worked here now for 30 years doing A whole range of different jobs.
The Centre for Alternative Technology was set up in the early seventies to help rethink the role of technology for society to make technology work better for citizens, but within the limits of the planet. So, we began experiments with a live lab with a real living inside community, looking at how we provide food, how we deal with waste, how we make the lights come on, in different ways, to try and make them more resilient, done in ways that the people living with them better understand them, and to reduce our ecological impact.
Paul Allen from the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales.
Well back then what was being talked about by the alternative movement was very far from the mainstream thinking. But it was at the cutting edge. And part of it was to have a holistic approach not just to focus on electricity or heat but to think about land use to think about food production to think about composting and waste and how all of those different systems can intersect as well. So that thinking has progressed over 45 nearly 50 years at CAT.
And now increasingly it’s moving into the mainstream, and becoming law, because the mainstream understands the physical limits of the world but also how to build better value better returns for human beings in return for what they’re looking for.
We have to recognise now we are in a climate emergency. We don’t have the option of business as usual for another 15 or 20 years. Now is the time.
So that’s the sort of thing I would suggest that process that needs to go through in all of business and industry almost to light a little candle as the voice of the future generations around the boardroom. Are we really behaving in the way that we need to, to respond to where we actually are in terms of human beings providing for the needs on earth.
Machynlleth, Wales, U.K
What is your company’s mind-print?
I think Corporate Social Responsibility means looking at the – not just the footprint of the business but also the ‘mind-print’ of the business. Looking at me the marketing and the advertising and how that affects social values and the idea of associating to be a successful family or to be an attractive male you have to have a big car, is something that really needs to be challenged, and something in the car industry needs to take responsibility for, because people do need personal mobility, because we want to take the kids to see grandmother. But there’s ways of doing that with buying the service, and having a car when you need it, rather than owning one, that can foster reliable cars, that are designed to last longer, where that sort of resilience and longevity actually helps the business model, rather than designing short life cars that are far bigger and heavier than they need to be. But backing up that huge amounts of merchandising and advertising and product placement.
So we need to challenge those norms.
Transport as an example
The Welsh government is supporting people who use transport, public transport, there is a free bus passes the road and on Saturdays and Sundays, to encourage more people to think about public transport.
We’ve also reached a point in terms of data harvesting where anybody in any town or county can put up a map where everybody puts the journey they want to do so that the local transport providers know who needs to travel where and when and what time so we can develop public transport systems that meet the needs of the citizens.
We’re not talking about delivering a utopia. We’re talking about just changing the infrastructure system, so human beings can continue to evolve within a safe platform, for the next two three four five hundred years.
Technology has to work within a plan that works and is driven by and has social license from citizens. We can’t have citizens lifestyle driven by what works for technology and the profit of corporate interest. And that’s the sort of shift in understanding that I think needs to really get out there.
There is an enormous amount of really exciting really good practice happening.
I’d recommend you have a little look at the Ashton award winners’ website. Yeah with some really good videos and fabulous projects that are really happening on the ground now we just need to be like bees and cross fertilise cross pollinate these projects and help other people find them.
Basically, the problem we face is carbon lock-in, how we deliver housing, transport, food, lightbulbs coming on, that has co-evolved with fossil fuels over hundreds of years, well 150 years at least. So, we need to challenge those complex intertwined relationships. One of the most exciting ways that we see that is smart innovative community scale city scale projects.
One example is something like energy local where if you’re running a community hydro you don’t sell your electricity to the grid at 5:00 being in the house next door buys it at 15 even if they’ve got a virtual private wire network set up where people around the community hydro can buy the electricity cheaper and the hydro gets a better price for it and it builds relationships with citizens.
Or another good example might be at municipal level where Nottingham was running a project called Robin Hood energy. And essentially, it’s run by the Council for the people, buy and sell electricity as affordable as possible to bring the price down and citizens of Nottingham That’s an example of doing things for municipal benefits not for profit.
There’s so much good stuff out there and it is beginning to grow. The trick is to cross fertilise it so everybody can find out and access the really good ideas so we’re not all starting from the beginning.
There’s been technological advances in energy storage but there’s also been big advances in restorative agriculture and rethinking how we can revitalise natural systems to increase their carbon capture as well as improving resilience and soil quality.
I think one of the biggest challenges we face in rising to the climate emergency challenge is the people who are thinking about the solutions are quite often in their own individual silos of expertise.
There are so many core benefits in thinking about energy, food, transport, buildings, together in a single scenario. It also means that very, very big systemic changes as well.
We need to think about how we are supporting land use, what we’re using land for, drawing upon our indigenous wisdom of tradition.
Because if we look back at farms in Wales or in Scotland or in England over 30 40 50 100 years we can find fabulous records of how we used to farm with more cereals more crops more oats more turnips more vegetables and we can draw upon the wisdom not to go back in time but to rethink farm use in the 21st century in a way that helps us understand what the land is produced in the past and can produce in the future so that we can begin to produce a more healthy mix of food for better matches what human beings need to eat whilst also restoring soil quantity quality, and thinking about resilience because we live in turbulent times this turbulent climate turns into turbulent political times and having more resilience built into the system and more local connections and stronger skills verses that are more flexible can help give us a better system to pass over to future generations.
A shift in mindset
Well I think it’s very important to look at the history of seeing ourselves as part of nature. We are nature protecting ourselves rather than we are environmentalists protecting something that’s out there called nature that is nothing to do with us.
Nature provides for all of our lives, the oxygen provides food provide everything that we need. We are part of it. We are part of each other. And that shift is seeing interconnection I think is fundamental in helping change the behaviours that we need to see but also making us happier healthier human beings.
And partly I think there’s cultural norms that need to be rethought the idea that peasants work on the land and people who work on the land are poor and people who work in the urban environment are rich successful people, doesn’t really work out. If you look at how people’s happiness is measured people’s happiness is directly related to their connections with nature and the sense of meaning in nature. And then they feel that what they’re actually doing as social and natural worth rather than just churning out money.
YUAN PAN
Yuan Pan Intro
Hello, everyone. I’m Yuan Pan. And I work with Professor Bhaskar Vira here at the Cambridge Conservation Institute on Natural Capital, particularly incorporating biodiversity into Natural Capital accounts.
Personally, I’m quite a pessimistic person, but when it comes to conservation, thought science, I think we are all quite optimistic. I think most of us are optimistic.
What is Natural Capital?
Natural Capital essentially is an economic term. So Natural Capital is the stock of the world’s natural resources.
The way I see it is a different way of framing the narrative of protecting nature. A story that will hopefully impact with policymakers and businesses. What we’re trying to say is that nature has value towards human society.
And some of that can be economic value, but it can also be other types of body as well. So within this research, we are only focussing on Natural Capital. But of course, I know about human capital and social capital. We’re also concerned with other types of value, like cultural values and kind of the intrinsic value of nature. Nature has value in itself, regardless of whether humans are here or not.
So Natural Capital definitely started out after ecosystem services emerged. So, people tend to use the two terms interchangeably nowadays. So ecosystem services are the benefits that we get from nature. So it’s like a flow of benefits. But Natural Capital is the stock.
And for a lot of businesses, they all doing ecosystem services, valuation or Natural Capital valuation. And I think that’s helping them to highlight that nature is kind of providing a lot of resources for them and they need to keep a resilient, sustainable ecosystem. Otherwise, for all businesses, they have raw materials.
Why take an anthropocentric view?
Stocks will eventually collapse. Basically. I would say essentially the terms are Anthropocentric, so they are human based. Because the definition for both of them is are benefiting human society. But what I have found in my research is that in fact, by using these kind of terms, you’re resonating more with businesses and policy makers, because unfortunately, we do live in a society where most people just concentrate on economic returns. Monetary values and these kinds of terms.
When you talk to businesses, their eyes tend to light up. And the kind of conservation that I did before, a lot businesses, they just tend to shy away from that, I think.
Biodiversity is a very difficult topic within Natural Capital accounting, and my project is trying to incorporate biodiversity in so currently lots of people just ignore biodiversity. And I think part of the reason is even as an ecologist, it’s very hard when I say like, what do you think when I say biodiversity? It can mean a lot of different things, trying to improve the situation with incorporating biodiversity by saying that it does have a lot of value, but the values are hard to measure because it’s the relationships are non-linear and also, they can’t be very easily monetary valued.
Everyone’s hearing this situation about the bees disappearing. And one of the things that people do pick up on when they talk about Natural Capital or ecosystem services is that these are very vital for pollination. But when you look at the research, but we can’t predict what will happen in the future with climate change and with the extreme weather conditions. So, in the future, we might need those other species that currently don’t seem to be performing any functions. But this is the other issue we’ve been talking about that for climate change. There’s, you know, kind of a very specific protection goal like either 1 degree or 2 degrees. And Paul, the reason that I think there’s been more focus on climate change compared to biodiversity protection per say is because climate change is quite easy to conceptualise.
Basically, you have a degree goal that you’re working towards. We can’t we don’t have a very specific protection goal.
Biodiversity objectives?
So, the first question is how much biodiversity do we need to sustain basic functions and processes that we don’t die as a society? But the second question is how much biodiversity do we want? And that’s not necessarily the same. A lot of people would like a very specific protection goal for biodiversity protection, just like climate change is very difficult to actually arrive a threshold value to say how much is it we actually want to protect?
We have a lot research and we have a lot of data, but perhaps there’s no kind of overarching narrative or kind of story that are linking them all together. I mean, currently there are papers regarding that. We need this kind of overarching objective. I don’t know whether you’ve heard of it. This thing called half earth or nature needs half.
It’s a very kind of bold objective that says that we should set aside half of earth for nature.
Basically, I can see that is good to have kind of an overarching, very easy to understand objective.
Functional Traits
I acknowledge the benefits of economic valuation and I have done some projects I’m done. But as an ecologist, I know there’s a lot of things that can’t be valued economically. And one of the things people have been looking into is kind of Functional Traits for like soil, like earthworms, etc. soil organisms or macro invertebrates in the river. I was interested previously in looking at Functional Traits, so people traditionally look at species as an ecologist. So how many species there is an ecosystem. But what people have been finding ecology is that Functional Traits are important to their body size.
Are they decomposing or what kind of specific thing the insect does in decomposition? And the research has been suggesting that we should be more concerned when a whole functional group goes extinct because then the services can’t be provided.
A case study for Nature Protection.
I’ve got a small case study, obviously, in China. So the lake system I worked on in China. It’s the third largest freshwater lake in China. There’s about four or five major cities around the lake. And what happened was there was so much pollution and urbanisation going around the lake that in 2007, people in one city had no access to tap water for about four or five days because there was a blue green algae bloom, basically that the lake constantly has been growing algae bloom. And it was only then I think the government realised that this is a really serious issue because they had to provide bottled water to the community for about four or five days. There was price inflation in the supermarkets and bottled water. And then they had to get people to clean the decomposing algae in the lake as well. So the whole massive event cost them, I think, billions of dollars to actually clean up.
And what some of the scientists later suggested is part of the reason could have been because a lot of the wetlands were reclaimed around the lake and the wetlands were destroyed. And if the wetlands had still remained as a buffer system for taking the pollutants out, then perhaps they wouldn’t have spent so much money trying to mitigate the risk after it happened. So I think with companies as well, they are looking at how do we prevent the risk from happening rather than let it happen. And then it will cost us a lot of money to actually repair the damage that’s been done.
Nature Capitals, Intrinsic Value and Relational Value.
As a researcher I am suggesting there’s multiple forms of value and not just economic value. And I think in terms of changing people’s perspectives or businesses or policy makers, I don’t think necessarily monetary valuation of either Natural Capital ecosystem services is going to do it. I think there has to be like a change in people’s values and opinions like inherent to the media. We’re trying to, I will say, improved a framework of Natural Capital concepts. So Natural Capital essentially, I think the value that’s coming out from there is instrumental value, basically kind of physical values. We can understand like providing water, providing food, etc. But there is also, like I said, with the intrinsic value.
So biodiversity I think has intrinsic value. You know, despite whether we are here or not that it does have a type of value. And lastly, which is this new type of value which is coming up, is called relational values. So how humans relate with nature and kind of how we make decisions about nature, either from kind of a moral or ethical perspective, regardless of whether nature has economic value.
This kind of moral, ethical imperative to protect nature. I think sometimes it does apply to even businesses. So a lot of businesses, they kind of want to have a good image and part of that good image is kind of doing environmental sustainability work. So that’s why I think Natural Capital, an eco-system services colony, is resonating quite heavily with a lot of the business sectors. As a traditional ecologist, I got into this because I love nature, but obviously working in China, I can see that the traditional approach was not working. A lot of businesses, they might not want to deal with biodiversity because even for scientists, it’s quite a complex concept.
Expanding the definition of sustainable business.
We need to work out a way that they need to be aware that biodiversity is important for their sustainable business. Previously, I did work with our local ecological knowledge in China, and the research kind of proved that we had a lot of experts going out to a remote region trying to find an endangered species and we couldn’t find them.
But I interviewed a lot of the ethnic minorities around there and they said, oh, we saw that species like two weeks ago in that river. And they helped me to map out where they’d seen the species. And it helped us to find the species.
Basically, there was a lot of different subject areas and research that needs to be done. That includes not only natural scientists, bills, shows from scientists, economists, accountants, even philosophers, so….
Connectivity to and in Nature
So obviously, you know, as a young ecologist to many years ago, my lecturers, you know, taught about kind of connectivity within the landscape. There is no point in setting aside, you know, national parks or no go zones if there is no connectivity, no corridors between them. This kind of threshold values that they having set for both of us. The I mean, there has been one which is January kind of 11 percent told percent of terrestrial errors should be protected as national parks, but actually the 10, even a 10 or 11 percent one.
It wasn’t based on scientific evidence. It was based on many years ago it in America. They decided that was this on sounded like a good number to protect national parks. And I think the current scientific evidence is showing that, you know, even like eleven percent, which we’re not hitting anyway in some areas is probably not enough.
Have some way that moved onto the half of kind of hypothesis, the kind of idea.
I think urban ecology is also a very important research area and that you can only consider the ones at national parks, but also the fact with urbanisation that people are losing their connectivity to nature. So even if we end up protecting everything in the national parks. But if everything is so urbanised, then children are not you know, they’re not exposed to nature. They’re losing connectivity to nature. They just like playing computer games. And they don’t see the point in protecting nature. I think in the future, it still won’t work.
PAUL JEPSON
Paul Intro.
Yeah, hi, so my name’s Paul Jepson. I’ve been a conservationist all my life.
I’m currently working for a progressive consultancy called Eco Solis and I moved into the enterprise sector just recently, actually after 12 years directing Masters’ courses in the School of Geography at Oxford University.
Prior to that, I was a practitioner working for birdlife in Indonesia and I started my career in urban conservation in Manchester and Shrewsbury in the UK.
Paul Jepson.
Enterprise and conservation.
We now realise that there’s a big role for enterprise in rewilding, landscape restoration. There’s a new area which I’m involved in, which we’re developing, which is working at the intersection of landscape recovery, technology and finance. The configuration of conservation environmentalism does need to change. But if you all work together, you’re more than the sum of the parts.
Really, if we can have change, we need to, you know, increase employment market, if you like. That’s not happening with NGOs, but with technology and actually more distributed organisational types and ways of working. There’s a real opportunity for free enterprise there. We can work for in an entrepreneurial way, for nature, in the environment, in many different sectors.
And for me, the future and the influence comes from informal networks connecting different organisational types in different sectors, working with clients. It’s really looking at code, designing solutions with them, bringing the creative thinking which is encapsulated within rewilding into those conversations.
On Rewilding.
There’s a number of different ways of thinking about rewilding. I mean, my favourite is that it’s just it’s just a label, a label like maybe the labels hippie or punk or whatever, which signify an unsettling sort of reassessment of where we are, maybe a desire to shape up the future. But rewilding is doing that in terms of how we think about nature conservation, our relationship with the environment and so forth.
So, one way of thinking about it is just that new opportunity for people to engage and shape futures, shape futures of nature, the environment, our engagement with it. This is talking a little bit from a Western European perspective, but a lot of our nature conservation has been focussed on protecting conserving benchmark ecosystems or habitats as particular assemblages of plants, specific types of woodlands or grasslands or so forth. Or it’s been about protecting declining species and so forth.
A lot of it has been focussed on elements, units of nature and particular identities of nature. It’s enabled strong law, clear policy targets, management targets and so forth. I think this particularly long term ecology and the advances in that science, which have been enabled by technology, we’ve come to understand past ecosystems much better and come to understand that across much of the world, including Western Europe, grasslands and large herbivore assemblages or mixed wood pastures were the norm and they supported huge diversity and had great resilience and all of these sort of things.
But actually millennia ago, humans wiped out a lot of the big megafauna or we domesticated it. That actually we’ve been living in a world where we’ve internalised ecological impoverishment, both in our culture and in our institutions and in our conservation policy.
There isn’t one nature. There isn’t a pristine nature that there’s multiple past natures. What would happen if, to the extent we can we reassemble in Europe, the large herbivore assemblies?
So things which have been divided like, you know, we only know cattle and horses in the domestic livestock farming. We still have deer in the wild realm. What happens if we just reassembled them all together? There were some very pioneering experiments of this in the Netherlands.
It was quite extraordinary what is happening when this idea of rewilding is put into play. Amazing kickbacks of a nature rebounds at nature habitats on smaller ecosystems like freshwater ecosystems appearing in places which we never knew them. Species which we thought were rare, suddenly returning in abundance and much more dynamic natures. That’s the sort of scientific conservation identity of rewilding.
Us v European versions
And I suppose when we say, well, what does rewilding mean? It means different things to different people. The term originated in North America and there rewilding was much more tied up with concepts of wilderness and maybe Christianity and bring wolves back and top down trophic cascades in Western Europe.
The version of rewilding which I’m involved in is a very pragmatic version which says actually if we’re recovering and restoring nature, we can’t go backwards. We can only go forward so that the rewilding natures that emerge will be different from anything we’ve ever known before. But they’ll be equally as wonderful as nature before. But if we are shaping nature, we can actually shape those natures to solve current problems.
So there’s a very sort of integrated form of rewilding emerging in continental Europe. For instance, on the Dutch Delta, with climate change, there’s increased rain events, pulses of water coming down these huge rivers. But by taking out some dikes, buying a public cultural land a very pragmatic way, using the silt that brick building to re restore these sort of natural river braiding and channelling, bringing in natural grazing. So bringing in herds of of wild eyed horses, cattle, the introducing beavers, again, recreating those large mammal assemblies in these areas, you’re getting incredible nature. But cities and companies have been benefiting from lower flood management and insurance costs. The construction industry benefited from having a source of bricks. People have benefited from just having great areas where you can go and hang out and have a nice time at weekends. And then there’s tertiary tourism economies building of that. So you get these really lovely, neat systems starting to emerge.
Another example of a nature-based solution with rewilding is pragmatic. European version would be based in Portugal.
The kind of climate change adaptation at the centre of the IBM venture is getting drier. There’s rural the population, which is a loss of traditional herding. This is increasing biomass.
That’s leading to intensity of wildfires, which my goodness, what a problem.
But actually doing rewilding and bringing in natural grazing again, you reduce biomass load, so you induce the intensity of wildfires and then you get you can either use them as natural areas for tourism and sort of wilderness type areas or you could do sort of new pastoralist type economies on it. So that’s what distinguishes us as a species on this planet, is the fact that we have this third reality where a lot of what we do and how we act and how we think is shaped by narratives and stories and language and so forth. And many of these narratives, they, you know, they develop over time, they sediments over time, but they really do shape how we think and how we are, how we move ahead and how we relate to each other, of course.
Across the world we are seeing an increasing amount of wildfire outbreaks fuelled on by global warming, biodiversity collapse and climate unpredictability.
Emerging narratives
So I think it’s important we develop a narrative of nature and our relationship with environment, which was a really powerful narrative and it’s achieved much. But it actually is a very cautious and protectionist narrative such that we all sort of wanted to put nature out there and separate and fragile, maybe people who colleagues in other sectors, architecture, urban development, industry or whatever, they haven’t really seen nature as a force which we can engage with to shape futures or shape place based futures. It’s almost saying something is a bit less under threat. We need to put it aside or whatever in rewilding.
We’re seeing a different narrative emerging there that that narrative of empowerment. This is where we’re at. We can’t go back. There’s not a lot point in blaming people. Let’s just stop doing something to make things better. And then there’s narrative elements.
They often talk about pioneer action or people getting together and and through this, starting to reassess how we might do things. Values, world-views and bringing people on board and this sort of momentum.
So, much more of an interactive narrative from which emerges stories of of wellness, I suppose so adaptation, a word which comes to my mind, which you heard, is this notion of offsetting. You know, we offset harm, so companies do that. You know, they’re offsetting their carbon footprint. They’re doing biodiversity offsets. And that’s one way to do it, saying, well, OK. You know, we just feel a bit bad about things. So we’ll we’ll try and offset our impact elsewhere. OK, fine. But again, it’s not saying, well, you know what, I don’t want to feel bad for it. I want to be contribute to a vision and I want to be part of change. Many. Know. I think that’s what many people want.
A narrative of recovery
I woke up one morning. It’s a narrative of recovery. Just was in my head at my breakfast, quickly jumped on my bike, was down into the university and got onto the academic search engines and just started pushing narrative of recovery in two web of science and outputs.
This I mean, a massive amount of literature, but these papers are mental health recovery.
The crucial thing which really grappling me in the link between these narratives and the narratives I was hearing in in rewilding or this new environmentalism is rather than pressuring others to act on our behalf, which is part of the classic campaigning thing of environmentalism.
It was really like, you know, you can’t wait for a national health service or the doctors to sort yourself out. Just sooner or later, you’ve got to start taking responsibility for your own health. And that’s the always the epiphany people have.
And then you start engaging, you start acting, you start beginning just getting together and starting to make projects happen and finding that that new way, that wellness, that recovery in it. So it’s really interesting the term rewilding and how is the original ideas were more associated with classic sort of U.S. wilderness ideas. These ideas in Holland started under the term nature development, which was a sort of technocratic policy, and then the term rewilding has been applied to them all.
Now we talk about semantics, the re prefix. It can either, you know, its Latin origins, it can either mean back or again. And that’s really interesting, that difference. So, what we’re finding is that some people immediately see it as going back, you know, going back to a sort of more wilderness fortress conservation way outside, people telling people what to do.
But actually in this European one, it is really using the rivers again. So, we can re-find engagements with nature, connections with nature.
And it’s really interesting when you look at all of the reworks which the European rewilding seems to align with. So you could say that the way we use urban regeneration, regenerating urban areas is nothing like, you know, you don’t go backwards. It’s always going forward. They look quite different. The recovery, in a sense, you recover a song about injury. You might not ever be the same again, but you recover. How do we think about recovering Earth’s systems, of which we are part of it is the big international agreements and policies, but part of it is just as people getting going on things in their areas, in their competencies, in their places and through that getting this sort of bottom up momentum. We are friendly to the natural asset framework.
Nature Capital or Assets?
For me, capital is quite a linear type of thinking, often capitals. We think about capitals and then they can create flows, you know, so whether it be labour money or natural resources can be an input into a production service.
And sometimes it’s a bit divisive as well. And it sort of gives prominence or pre-eminence to economic logics, whereas assets and assets are actually a lot more meaningful.
I think to people. So, example I use is with culture, with human assets, with infrastructural assets, with institutional assets, and that’s what creates a natural asset. And some of those assets are already here. But we can’t think about restoring recovery and creating new natural assets and new natural assets which are part of that place. Building or place, rejuvenation, regeneration, whatever we whatever we want to call it.
You know, one of these nice things about the rewilding logic, it sort of releases you from baselines. You take inspiration from past nations to shape future natures.
You’re not trying to recreate something so that they create space for different groups to come together and to think about what forms of natural asset they may want and where those natural assets may be. I’ll give the example in the Netherlands that they needed new natural assets along their rivers to adapt to climate change or whatever. It might be in other areas that people are looking for new natural assets to have somewhere to go. Dog walking, which is quite popular in the UK or have somewhere to have a wild experience, somewhere which produces food in a more a healthier and more ethical way.
A dream project
I think the dream client is somebody who had or could create some space where you could do something pioneering contained areas where you’re doing something new, where you’re experimenting, just trying out things new. And people can come and talk about them. They can bring in people who are sort of more progressive, change agent can get involved in them.
They can be used as exemplars for adoption in wider society. I’m talking about innovation hubs, the nature.
A dialogue way, a code design way of changing and bringing about new environmental or new natural futures.
Pioneer demonstration, experimental projects approach. I think it’s a good way of yeah, co design. I think that’s the word co-production of Environmental Futures. With outlined a set of rewilding principles, so sort of guiding principles which aren’t prescriptive but very sort of characterise what rewilding is, so the fundamental of restoring ecological dynamics and processes, taking inspirations from past natures to shoot showed the futures working with restored forces of nature.
A strong sense of place
One of the things we do know from, you know, from theory Anderson’s imagined communities is that nature that nature is very good at place branding and given the sense of nature and this sense of territory and sense of community and belonging.
One of the interesting things is that if their novel, the new natures, which we’re creating, which they are, if we’re reassembling our church for and biotic diamonds. So if they’re not protected by nature conservation legislation because they don’t fit with that. So, you know, the more they become these free spaces and actually you can be much more relaxed about what people do in them. And again, this is happening in the Netherlands, where, if you like the most famous site, gather support. People are allowed just to do whatever they want in it. And of course, the interesting thing is because it’s dynamic and wild and this big stuff walking around. Most people tend to keep to the path. You become human again, you know, so like a bit scared. Nobody is telling you what to do. And if you want to go off. I mean, I did this once. If you want to go in and go off off the footpath and go in and get dirty, look for beavers and have a bit of an adventure, you can do it. But there’s very few people who do that.
We’re in an increasingly regulated society. Whatever the merits of it, there’s much more health and safety, we’re told, to look after ourselves as.
All of this, the opportunity just to get out into natural areas in your town where you can just do what you want. Social norms, rules and regulations. I mean, that that sounds to me to be valuable. It is an interesting thing about nature is that once you start helping it recover, it says thanks so fast.
Nature does have a force.
From anxiety to solutions.
In the 1990s, I worked in Indonesia and I set up the BirdLife International Program there, and for the first part I was working out in eastern Indonesia on parrot conservation, so forth. But then actually after I left that job, I started working as a consultants, mostly with the World Bank and a couple of NGO on on the Sumatran frontier.
And it was a pretty hard time in some mice that, well, two or three things were going on. Really? What one is, you know, you go to a forest area and you go six and play later. And the landscape was totally, totally trashed.
And a in almost turn down these roads, the roads and as swampy areas with just the skeletons of trees stood out.
There a bit harrowing, actually, I realise I mean, at the time I was sort of in this professional, I, you know, doing this sort of way, but it was getting to me partly maybe also got to me because I had such magical times in my backpacker days and tropical rainforests just feeling the aesthetic and the sheer beauty of it and the wonder of it.
You know, just feeling that’s been lost and been lost for it’s the frontier.
But then the other thing which really got me was to other things, really. One was the chaos international NGOs working at ministerial level, World Bank.
And this realisation that we had no control over the chaos of the frontier, just out of control. Big NGO sort of dropping off the real active engagement with the ground.
Well, I listened a bit to Radiohead, but I actually listened to okay, computer and sorted out. You should listen to this. And it just became the soundtrack of my life. And anybody who knows the okay computer algorithm will just know sort of wailing crescendos and then these really rock-hard guitar riffs. And it just became the soundtrack of my life. I think it’s going to be honest. I realise that that period I was I moved into a place where teaching the students then started talking back to us, not just me as selectors and say, look, we don’t want to hear all of this.
You know, all the evidence about the decline of nature and biodiversity loss and blah, blah. You know, we know things were in a bad way. We don’t want to be a future where we’re just defending the inevitable. And, you know, these images are smashing M.E. mind. You know, we want theory, ideas and learning so we can shape the future. And then as part of that, I started looking outwards and I found the work going on in the Netherlands and I started taking field trips out there and then came into this. It doesn’t all have to be like the Sumatran frontier.
Even though we may trash things, there is still opportunities for nature to recover and to work on nature recovery.
Tanya: Thank you for listening to this episode of Nordic By Nature, ON NARRATIVES. You can find more info on our guests and a transcript of this podcast on imaginarylife.net/podcast
Nordic by Nature is an Imaginary Life production. The music and sound have been arranged by Diego Losa. You can find Diego on diegolosa.blogspot.com.
Many thanks to our guests. You can find Tom Crompton on commoncausefoundation.org.
Paul Allen is at the Centre for Alternative Technology, on cat.org.uk.
Your can contact Dr. Yuan Pan’s through the Geography department at Cambridge university in the U.K. Her research into Natural Capital was with Professor Bhaskar Vira at The Cambridge conservation initiative. Please see cambridgeconservation.org. or contact the Natural Capital hub for more information into Natural Capital as well as organisation and company toolkits
Paul Jepson is currently Nature Recovery Lead at the consultancy Ecosulis. Their website is Ecosulis.co.uk.
You can contact Ajay Rastogi via foundnature.org where you can read about the Foundation for the Contemplation of Nature. You can also follow the Foundation on Facebook, and on Contemplation of Nature on Instagram.
Please help us by sharing a link to this episode with the hashtag #tracesofnorth and follow us on Instagram @nordicbynaturepodcast. We are also fundraising for a new series of podcasts on panteon.com/nordicbynature.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on our podcast. Please email me, Tanya, on nordicbynature@gmail.com
Andrew and Kayla Blanchflower: ON BELONGING
Andrew and Kayla Blanchflower are the co-founders of Rogue Dwellings, and Andrew is also a contributer to Dark Mountain magazine. As a family they manifest their environmental activism in their way of life, free from land ownership, and through their presence at Standing Rock.
Andrew and Kayla Blacnflower, and their 5 beautiful kids born to tipi living; Rowan, Ayla, Sequoia, Tamarac and Raven inspire others to see how another type of parallel low-impact life is possible where we consume less and live more.
Living in handmade tipis that they teach others to make and travelling in an old school bus, the family invite strangers in for chai and a chat about life with respect for mother nature. Through their voices and sound recordings, listeners can feel a glimpse of how their everyday life also shapes a closeness to each other and how external resilience can in turn create an inner resilience, that also results in a softer impact on mother earth.
Podcast episode 6: ON BELONGING
TANYA’S VOICE:
SOUND: DIEGO INTRO
Welcome to Nordic By Nature, a podcast on ecology today inspired by the Norwegian Philosopher Arne Naess, who coined the term Deep Ecology.
As Naess once wrote, there seems to be no place for PLACE anymore. The things, we need appear like magic into our lives. For that convenience we often have to sacrifice connection and community. We become isolated from each other as we become more dependent on faceless corporations to provide the things we need, rather than people who produce them. Our ecological selves are being separated from the very idea of home. But somehow, the loss of place is felt, on a deeper level, and the longing for home persists.
According to Naess and deep ecology, we need to articulate what it means to belong to a place.
Number 1. As humans, we are locally and globally connected at all times. Our everyday life patterns and culture interweave with every other living thing. We need to understand this experience if we are to create profound relationships of stewardship for our own lives and the lives of future generations.
Number 2. We must not confuse a place with our own house. We do not own a place. Other humans and non-humans have the right to be part of the ecology of a place. It is important for us to share our sense of place with others, for that a place to thrive. It does not threaten our own identity or way of life to invite others to share the spaces where we feel we belong.
Number 3. Natural experiences are not commodities to be consumed. A place is a living entity, a collection of interconnected ecosystems. A place has a value independent of the services it provides humans. But humans can be an integral and natural part of an ecosystem.
Number 4. There is Wilderness and there is Countryside. One sees Nature as separate to humankind and the other sees humankind as a Keeper of Nature. Both concepts are human constructs.
Number 5. We need to regain a sense of scale. Places and their ecosystems are being degraded by massive amounts of waste. Microscopic damage is also occurring depleting the soil and our nutrition. We must also conserve the invisible equilibrium on which all life relies.
In this episode ON BELONGING, you will hear from three people who have thought a lot about what ‘home’ means to them and what defines our relationship to a place.
First you will hear the words of Andrew and Kayla Blanchflower, tipi dwellers and makers whose way of the life can be an inspiration to all of us to live lighter. Andrew and Kayla met and fell in love in Oregon in the States, and decided to raise their family with a closer contact to the earth and Mother Nature.
You will then hear the voice of Yvette Neshi Lokotz teacher of hand drumming and making, practitioner of the Medicine Wheel or Sacred Hoop healing, and tribal member of the Potawatomi Nation.
Please listen to this podcast with your headphones.
Andrew Blanchflower, founder of Rogue Dwellings.
My name’s Andrew. I’ve lived in tipis since the early ‘90s. The story goes back to those days in Hulme. We would go up to Saddleworth Moors and graze on mushrooms in the autumn. I think that was my first taste of the system that was bigger than any political system that there is the system that is…I could just call it Mother Earth or Gaia right now….
SOUND: Walking through woodland
We’d come back to Hulme like this low rise six story social housing disaster, which was actually great for squats and young, single people and ….I think I’ve forgotten that time of my life my early growing up until my late teens that there was such a longing and such a missing, like, I remember that when I see people in town these days just with that confusion or that… that kind of “there’s something bigger than this, I know that there’s something bigger than this or just something… that has to be more.”
I remember having these conversations the Shenyen who was then named Martin and it would be like: “What was the most amazing life that you could dream of, that you could imagine+” For Shenyen, it was being an ordained monk in India or Tibet. For me it was living in a tipi.
SOUND: Yorkshire-moors.wav
And then it was like “Okay well can we just, do you want to just try moving towards that and see what happens?” And so that’s what happened, and then I met people that live in a tipi community in Wales of all places and my people that live in tipi he’s in Wales all year round to me was a revelation that people could still actually do that.
And I met some of those people at various festivals, at Glastonbury Festival and various healing gatherings, and they were just making a cup of tea around the fire, and I was just perceiving these people like these amazing epic characters that knew how to just boil kettle in a few minutes.
SOUND: BLESSED BE SONG.m4a
SOUND: 2. ANDREW PENNYWHISTLE.wav
INTRO: KAYLA’S STORY
SOUND: 3. BACKGROUND BIRDS KAYLA.wav
I love the way we met. I think it’s, it’s so romantic. He was playing the penny whistle. There was one evening he was playing in this little town called Ashland in Oregon and at night he was playing his whistle on the street. And I was out for a walk. I was actually quite heartbroken that night. And I was going on a walk with a friend, sort of crying and sharing my, my broken heart. And then we parted ways this friend and I, and I heard this whistle in the distance. It just felt so healing and soothing to me and so I decided I would close my eyes and walk to where that whistle was coming from.
And now here we are. However, many years this is later. This is like almost 20 years later and we have five children.
On Tipi Life
ANDREW Basically we live in tipis because we can be on the ground around the fire. Like it’s a way of manifest in our elements directly. I can get wood and water, find the spring or a creek or something. There’s like two basics taken care of as far as elements.
KAYLA At the moment everyone’s busy in the shop. All the kids are in there making things; we’re making shoes for the trip, and making backpacks, a travelling lodge and a bag for the travelling lodge, and Ayla is making some gifts. She wants to bring these baby carriers to give to some kids that she knows over there. Yeah. everyone’s really busy using the sewing machines right now and making things for the journey and that’s a lot of fun.
SOUND: 4. WHITE THROATED SPARROW.m4a
KAYLA So we have five children. All of our children were born to living in the tipi.
That’s sort of one of the things that I kind of captivated me about Andy was that he, he lived in a tipi and he had come from a tipi community in Wales, and he knew how to make them, and how, how to live in them in a way that wasn’t like roughing it or camping but quite luxuriously.
The Blanchflower Family
And so all of our children were born to the tipi. Not all of them were born in it. Some were born outside of the tipi or in water, or our firstborn was born in a birth centre. It was a beautiful birth and it was that birth that then set up the rest for us to be pretty strong about just having him and I be there for the births.
So, we had a midwife for our first child and she was a wonderful woman. She’s dear in my heart. I have sought counsel with her throughout all the rest of our children, but not as a regular midwife and she did not attend any more births.
I’m grateful for her and it really helped me get in touch with the wisdom in my bones of just how to how to birth with a lot of love with whatever family was around.
SOUND: 6. AMBIENT LODGE 1.wav & 7. AMBIENT LODGE WATER.wav
On Tipi Village, from Wales to Oregon
KAYLA It was when we were pregnant with our second child that we wanted to just be somewhere wild where we could feel really comfortable and at home and so we decided to just go to those mountains in the distance, and we set up our lodge, and I don’t know a little while after we set it up maybe some days or so. someone came down and it turned out they were the title holders.
But they loved the Tipi. We made them tea which is what we’ll often do when surprise visitors come. And you know let the fire do its magic on them like it does. They came down and they had tea and they welcomed us and said that they you know they had access to thousands of acres. They opened it up to us. I mean that the short version.
And that’s where the valley the tipi Valley model where Andy came from in Wales had such a strong influence in this little place in Oregon which we ended up calling tipi village.
It’s amazing that those stories, those people, those events, in Wales they’re all of those how far they travelled and how they’re like seeds that floated over and just grew in this other place, and I guess stories do that. They kind of travel like that.
People would come and visit and find out if they wanted to stay for a while or not. It was a pretty organic process because you know, if if people were up for it, fetching wood and water and cooking on a fire, and living with the elements, and dealing with mould and rodents, and you know, rain dripping in and all of these things that have to be dealt with– then they would, you know, they’d make themselves a tipi and rise to it and love it —and
other people would find you know quickly or not so quickly that it wasn’t for them, and so there was no need for any, you know, egos to get involved to say you can be here. You can’t be here. The earth did the sorting out. I guess, maybe.
SOUND: 2b Rattle.wav
ANDREW Tipi Valley in Wales they always had that big lodge that was always open, and it brings so much perspective. If we want new stories new narratives, we can look back to stories that 5000 years old what’s so common in a lot of those folk tales, is the answer to the problem comes from the periphery. It doesn’t come from where we’re looking at the problem. Like it comes a spirit of the lake or an old woman in the roots of the tree or…. But we have to be open to that we have to be at that point. Maybe it’s not going to be until we’re at that point of desperation that we will be open to that and hear it.
SOUND: 8. DINNER BLESSING.wav
On what is home?
Fireplace and FIRE CRACKLING.m4a
Sewing in the workshop tent
KAYLA [00:10:58] What does home mean? These are thinking about these things are really they’re meaningful to me, and we talk about them often in our home. It’s been quite a thread for us because of I guess we kind of considered ourselves as ‘displaced’ which is interesting to say because Andy isn’t from the west of Turtle Island but we made our family there, all the kids were born there this whole village from out of the ground and blossomed there, other children in the community were born there.
For many years we all moved together seasonally. There was a summer grounds and winter grounds and so we’re very connected with a place there.
We moved within a range, a valley, and a mountain range and so we had high elevation camp and we had a low elevation camp.
We often hear that the only place where that’s normal is where you’re at like the Nordic regions is like that that kind of stuff is more widely accepted and known in here. It is a little bit. I mean sometimes we’re in places where we might be a bit more of the freak show. We don’t find so many but enough that we aren’t alone really. Right now, all winter we’ve been living on this beautiful ridge and with three other families.
I mean a community doesn’t need to be a huge amount of people, there’s enough people here where we can bounce off each other and there’s enough, you know, diversity be amongst the different skills between the grown-ups that the kids can like, you know, they go to what’s inspiring for them for input and there’s other children here and they have this wide open wild space to just be in and learn about together.
SOUND: 11. CRACKING FIRE & ROWAN.m4a
On Stories
KAYLA Because I think there is some great power to us knowing the stories of a landscape and feeling how our stories are woven into those stories and then we know our place because we know the land so I feel like home. Place is relevant in talking about home, but I don’t think it’s exclusive to place and I think it could be at least here in the United States, there’s that consciousness of its like its ‘settler colonialism’ that really claims a place and says this is mine.
ANDREW Stories really intimate and woven in with place, like they come from a place and they emerge out of the ground. As far as a new narrative is becoming apparent that a monolithic… a single narrative isn’t really the way forward. It seems like in order to find unity we’re having to kind of decentralise. Someone a few years ago on a radio show was talking about that the only thing that unites us is our uniqueness. Like the thing that unites us does our uniqueness. We’re all different. So the ability to adapt. We’re forgetting how to adapt.
People are forgetting how to write down on paper, through the seduction of convenience, people forget how to feel a bit uncomfortable, and just rise to the occasion. I don’t know what there is to do other than just try and be resilient and adapt.
ANDREW That brings it back to that relationship with place being something more dimensional than mere economics. It is just one single level or dimension of how a holistic relationship to ‘place’ can be.
Rogue Dwelling Tipi in snow
KAYLA I think at that time I might have been very much one to say that home in place were more closely related but then as Tipi village, I mean the story as tragic, and it’s beautiful and it was you know, the land titles shifted hands and that’s a long story.
It was enough for us that push was enough, and we got a school bus real quick and made a quick conversion and got on the road and for the first year I would say we travelled around just traumatized and gutted like we had lost everything that, that meant something to us like the birthplace of our children, and we had such a vision woven in with that place, of a future of a way forward that we were so dedicated to and believed so firmly in.
Tending the land, tending wild plants, returning seasonally, watching it grow, living lightly with a place, as a people, as a community. So then that’s when I think the journey of being separated from place but still maintaining home, began for me personally.
SOUND: NeshiDrumming_6/4/19_2.mp3 (DIEGO Arrangement)
On Standing Rock
KAYLA: And then we kind of heard that call to go to Standing Rock. Well not kind of. It came through really strong. That’s another story. I mean it was quite an incredible direction for us to head in, after having gone through the seven years of tipi village, and being able to be in a bus, with a workshop that made tipis, and we can just pull up to Standing Rock and make shelter and have our home with us. And I think that’s where maybe the journey began to shift for me in realising that home is much bigger than a place because we got there, and it felt like we met our people. I met our people.
And that our people live all around the world, like people were there from so many places, but there was such this common thread that united us. And we kept saying in so many ways it was like we had gone home.
It had such a profound impact on our lives. We were there for a year. It was the land of the paradox for me just the richest place I’ve been.
The spiritual richness was so potent that fire was burning so strong and that’s what kept us there for that long and the poverty and pain that’s there is equally as strong. It’s just the poorest and richest place. And I guess I am speaking beyond our time in camp at Standing Rock because we stayed on further with relatives that we met who live on the various reservations in the Dakotas and lived with them after the camps were closed down in February. We continued on, pitched our lodge with some other people who live between the Pine Ridge Reservation and the Rosebud reservation
On Nature and healing
ANDREW This thing that they pejoratively called the environment as if it’s an issue as if it’s something that needs to be taken care of as if it isn’t the whole of everything. All of life runs through this about out of proportion, I think.
KAYLA We’re all very present. We don’t have anywhere else to be except right at home and with each other. We’d like to say that sometimes it’s kind of like we have seven pairs of eyes were like this one body with all these eyes and all these noses and all these ears just kind of moving through space and time together and and so it feels like we’re that much more aware if we’re in it together taking care of each other paying attention to each other’s bodies. But we heat water on the fire. We have a washtub. That’s how we have baths. The healing journey requires getting sick together.
We’re blessed to have each other to have the family. I send a bit of that good feeling out to those who aren’t as fortunate to have a family container to hold them through their challenging times.
I feel humbled and blessed that we do have that with each other and we have all the time we’re so rich with time so there’s just no hurry or there’s no loss of job money. Getting ill, it has information in there of how to be live even better, how to be more activated in ourselves, maybe.
Our bodies are maps.
On being open
KAYLA With the way we move with in the bus and where we’ve been travelling across the country. It’s sort of been a requirement that we be very open. I mean I guess we could do it in a closed way but I just that’s just not the way we do it. We move really slowly and in a very open way always receiving whatever guests we meet. It’s it’s so curious to me the way a journey can unfold when we go with such open minds and heart.
Especially with technology these days we could really plan our route and plan where we stay and close our reality down so much with all this planning and being so destination bound, and then I think we miss out so much, and so, by being so open, we’re always in contact with so many different kinds of people, which I think grows in our kids a kind of adaptability and some resiliency. and a way to navigate different cultural contexts.
Cosy at home
ANDREW Well the way we’ve done Chai is to serve it straight out of the bus because we have a 1988 Chevy Bluebird school bus like classic American school bus, and that’s what we travel, we carry our whole trip in that which is a tipi and a 28 foot seven-sided tensile tent shop.
So we might just be pulled over in a rest area or in a town and we’ll put a sign up saying “Now serving organic Chai” on the sign is to say. Donations welcome and then we thought it has a poor aesthetic, so we just even scrubbed that off, and people still managed to make donations, and sometimes… sometimes someone wouldn’t leave anything, sometimes… most people leave a couple three dollars to occasionally someone’s left one hundred dollars or bunches of kale or someone’s brought us some venison or Buffalo or whatever.
Hearth living
We pull up in the town and the person who’s got TB poles on the roof is painted brown and it’s got water protective signs on the side and people are curious and often there’s a person in a uniform who’s bold enough to come and talk to us and you know we’ll charm them but. we have to invite everyone in for a cup of tea because if we don’t, if we’re not open, then we’re dangerous and we’re suspicious because we are so different.
And it is curious that there is a longing. People come in and they just smell it. And I don’t know what we smell like anymore, like mostly we just smell like wood smoke, I think, you know we’ll be cooking in there and there was a smell of chai and, time and time again, there’s just that longing for trust.
I think it’s it’s not like there’s no fear there anymore it’s more like a willingness to engage with that fear and maybe that’s what we have to do in order to stop plundering our ecology our environment is just give over and relax and know that there is enough abundance in the world.
Playing and learning skills
SOUND: 10. FIRE COOKING.m4a
Everyday life is our home
KAYLA There’s these threads we have that we bring through wherever we go; the tipi and the fire and all the dailies that are required to keep that functioning and I think those are like it’s kind of the main spokes of the basket. That kind of give it some structure, and some kind of that’s their identity maybe? Maybe it’s maybe it’s like this is what we we are as a family is is what we do. We have our bus and our lodge, and we move seasonally and we don’t claim any one spot but we like to meet lots of people, and love places as we go if it’s planting trees or building labyrinths or developing springs, at different places, or transplanting things, or gathering plant medicines or praying, building sweat lodges.
There’s so there’s so many ways that we engage with the places that we go and love them where we go and then and then we are moving on. But I have to say there is some heartache and sadness about…it’s almost like we have to keep moving because of the way the system is set up.
I’m not entirely like anti…staying in one spot and I don’t. I’m not against that. It’s just not viable unless we do it in this very entitled way. This land ownership thing but tending to a place and loving a place and getting to know the stories of a place and weaving into it, I think that’s profound.I think this is crucial really for a sense of well-being, and for our knowing our own individual place and all of creation.
Even when we look at hunter and gatherer cultures, I don’t think they that people have ever just wandered around that there’s been a purpose. If it’s going for. A certain food that is ready in a certain place with the certain time of year.
When the salmon run or when the maple syrup is flowing, the wild rice is ready.
ANDREW This time last year we were in New Hampshire and we were tapping maple trees where we made 15 gallons of maple syrup and we still have some leftover. It’s that way of just diversifying. From my experience of travelling with indigenous peoples, and indigenous cultures it’s like there’s a resilience woven into those kinds of cultures.
Looking back to the dictionary definition of what Indigenous means, basically emergent from place. If I can emerge from a place like the elements that make my body, that way is to be alive. If I can honour that as much as possible as part of a… like everything else in creation. I am a strand in a multi-dimensional shimmering tapestry of life that is all my relation, which means all my relationships.
So, it’s like we have all these relationships not just the physical well I can see and hear and feel and touch around me. But things that make up what is me they the things within me and without me. How does that shimmer in the way that it’s supposed to in the way that all the rest of creation has the potential to do — if I can perceive it like that?
SOUND: REFRAIN OF 2. ANDREW PENNYWHISTLE.wav
KAYLA There’s intention and purpose. It’s not kind of a bumbling about so working with what we have, it’s been beautiful, there’s people here who take care of this place. They said come and be here for the winter. And so we have, we’ve arrived. We’ve been here as fully as we can. This is art we’ve loved this place. And it’s been amazing. Arriving in the fall when it was all going to sleep. And now being here in the spring in this completely new landscape that we don’t know a lot of these plants and trees and they’re all waking up and coming alive and surprising us at every turn. We had no idea. We were surrounded by trees that were going to give off so much colour in the spring. It’s been beautiful to get to know a new place.
It’s been quite an epic and beautiful journey. A lot of it just feeling like it’s a journey of coming more whole, and a lot of weaving.
I think we weave so beautifully together, Andy and I.
Living light means living in harmony with nature, with the least negative impact
Episode 5: ON HAPPINESS, Transcript
DIEGO INTRO SOUND: ICE SOUNDS
Welcome to Nordic By Nature, a podcast inspired by the Norwegian Philosopher Arne Naess, who coined the term Deep Ecology.
According to Naess’s interpretation of Spinoza, Happiness is best realised through living life to the full out “in the world”. Other philosophies suggest a life of contemplation is the path to enlightenment, the ultimate happiness. In a way it is this struggle to balance our inner values and desires with our external actions and reactions that makes the search for Happiness, an experiential process rather than a destination.
You will now hear from two guests who have dedicated their careers to understanding the relationship of values to our behaviour, and how our sense of wellbeing has a direct impact the wider world around us.
First, you will hear from Tim Kasser, currently a professor of psychology at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, USA. He has performed extensive research on materialism, values, well-being, and environmental sustainability, among other topics. In 2018, he collaborated with the cartoonist Larry Gonick to create a graphic book, HyperCapitalism: The modern economy, its values, and how to change them.
Then you will hear Dr. Karma Ura, President of the Centre for Bhutan & Gross National Happiness Studies located in Bhutan’s capital city, Thimphu. The Centre has a mandate to research Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness, Culture and History of Bhutan, and policy related studies.
Gross National Happiness offers a framework of criteria for policymaking and all kinds of human activity, including that of companies and corporations.
DIEGO SOUND BRIDGE
2 GUESTS VOICES:
TIM KASSER: 22.49 mins total
TIM INTRO
So, my name is Tim Kasser. I’m Professor of Psychology at Knox College which is in Galesburg Illinois in the United States. And I’ve been studying people’s values and goals and how they relate to well-being and ecological damage and other kinds of things for about 30 years now.
Professor Tim Kasser
At the time that I started to move into the ecological work, I had already been doing a lot of work on people’s values and goals and how they related to their own personal well-being, as well as to some social outcomes. And then a guy named Kirk Brown actually approached me and said “Well what about ecological stuff?”
And so we did a study together right around the year 2000 actually where we began to look at how people’s values and goals related to ecological outcomes, so people’s ecological footprints and their ecological attitudes and behaviours. That really sparked my interest and so I started to do more work in that realm.
From a psychology’s perspective there’s all this focus on well-being but pretty much the focus is on how happy is this person, how not depressed is that person, how you know satisfied with life is this person.
But there’s relatively little comparatively about well-being involves living well in a way that doesn’t damage other people’s opportunity to live well and doesn’t damage other species opportunities to live well and doesn’t damage future generations opportunities to live well.
If we really want to understand well-being, we have to get beyond I guess what you would call the user there or what the psychologist would talk about with regard to personal well-being. And we really need to focus on social and psychological well-being as well. 1.51
Hypercapitalism: The Modern Economy, Its Values, and How to Change Them
One of the major things that you would hear from politicians and others was that we can’t focus too much on the environment because that will decrease people’s well-being because they’ll have to give up X and give up y and give up Z.
And so, what we really tried to do, and we were I think the first people to do was to set out to test that idea. So, is it the case that psychological well-being and ecological well-being are incompatible, or might they actually be compatible?
And so in two studies we measured people’s personal well-being so their life satisfaction their experience of pleasant and unpleasant emotions. And then we also measured their ecological footprints and their ecological attitudes and behaviours and what we found was that actually in both samples personal and ecological well-being were positively correlated. That is, happier people tended to also be living more ecologically sustainable lifestyles.
And I’d say a little bit more about that finding from the Brown Kasser study, but I want to note that two years ago I did a summary of the literature on that, and it turns out that that finding that personal well-being and ecological well-being are positively associated has now been replicated about 15 or 20 times in other samples, cross culturally, with lots of different kinds of measures of well-being, with lots of different ways of measuring environmental behaviour as well.
So, it does seem to be a rather robust relationship that Kirk and I discovered back in 2000.
The other thing that Kirk and I were interested in is what is it that allows personal and ecological well-being to be positively correlated.
What were the psychological mechanisms, if you will, which allow those two things to go in concert with each other.
We looked at three different possibilities all of which had some data to support them. So the first one which was the thing I’d been studying for quite a while was people’s values and what we found was that part of why people who are happy are also living more sustainably is that they focus on values for their own personal growth and their own connection to other people and helping the world.
And they focus less on values like making a lot of money having a lot of possessions having the right image being popular. All those values and encouraged by consumer capitalism. So, one of the reasons that people can be both happy and sustainable is if their values orient them in a certain way.
The natural outcome of a focus on those intrinsic value is we call them instead of the materialistic values is to be happy in the moment, is to live more sustainably.
On Mindfulness
A variable that Kirk had been studying for some time, which is called mindfulness. And so, Kirk was one of the early people in psychology to really look at mindfulness, which is the ability to be with one’s thoughts in the moment in a non-judgemental way.
And so again what we found was that people who were more mindful were also living more sustainably and happier at the same time. So, there’s something about mindfulness which conduces towards both of those kinds of wellbeing outcomes.
Hyper Captialism book illustration
And then the third thing we looked at was lifestyle, so probably heard of the idea of downshifting or voluntary simplicity where people decide that they’re going to no longer kind of buy into the normal work and spend lifestyle but instead live a simpler life. And so, in our study we had 400 people 200 of whom were simplify hours and 200 of whom were mainstream Americans. And again, what we found was that those who were voluntary simplify hours were more likely to be both happy and to be living more sustainably.
Now that was actually the weakest of the three factors compared to mindfulness and values but it certainly did seem to matter. So that was essentially what we found and for us that’s a pretty hopeful message because what it suggests is there are things people can do in their own lives their lifestyles with their values with their mental practices which can conducive towards both happiness and sustainability.
And it shows that all those messages telling us that you know we have to sacrifice and give stuff up and that’s going to in order to have a sustainable world that that’s actually doesn’t appear to be true. 6.22
And that’s one of the things we found actually was that all three of those variables we were just talking about were kind of related to each other so people who were more mindful tended to have more intrinsic values and to be less materialistic. And people who were voluntarily simplifying their lives also tended to have more intrinsic values and to be less materialistic.
There’s kind of a grouping of a way of life if you will that I think kind of stems from what people think is important or what people think is not so important that can then lead us to practice our lives in certain ways to make certain choices, which have these real important consequences for people’s own personal well-being, but also for how they treat other people and the planet.
On Intrinsic Values and Nature
The intrinsic values or values for things like your own personal growth for family and for helping the world be a better place. The extrinsic materialistic values are things for money, image, status. And one of the things that we’ve learned in the last 10 or 12 years about those values, is that they stand in a dynamic opposition with each other. They’re in a kind of a tension with each other.
I’ve used the metaphor for a lot of years of a seesaw. You know that children’s playground you know you sit on it one then goes up in the other and goes down. Well the same happens with these values. The more the people focus on those intrinsic values, the less they tend to care about the materialistic values, but the more they care about materialistic values the less they care about the intrinsic values.
So one of the things that we’ve done a lot over the last few years is to do studies where we activate momentarily in people’s minds one or another set of values, and then we see what happens to the other values. So, if we get you thinking about money for example what the research shows is that you’ll care more about money related things and image related things and you will care less about helping other people. But if we get to thinking about intrinsic values, momentarily, then you’ll care about more things like the environment and helping other people, and you’ll care less about things like money and status and power.
What research suggests is that an awareness of nature, probably be one way of activating those intrinsic values of building up that part of the human value system, and getting people more and more focussed on intrinsic values, which is good in and of itself, but it’s also good because what it will do will be to suppress those more materialistic values, because of the way that the human value system is organised.
As you get people thinking about nature and being more and more aware and caring about nature that’s going to build up the intrinsic values which will then suppress the more materialistic values.
And there’s research which actually supports this. There was a study by Neta Weinstein, she exposed people to pictures of nature or pictures of manmade things human made things.
And then she measured how immersed people became in those pictures and then she measured their values afterwards and what she found was that if you gave people pictures of nature and the people became immersed in those then what happened was their intrinsic values went up and they’re materialistic values went down compared to if you showed them pictures of nature and they didn’t get immersed or if you showed them pictures of human made objects.
That makes perfect sense from the value research that we’ve done because essentially she’s kind of activated those more intrinsic values which is going to suppress the more materialistic values.
On WWF Scotland research
WWF Scotland probably 10 or 12 years ago did something called I think was called the Natural Change Project.
There were a lot of different elements to that project but essentially what they did was they found a bunch of kind of leaders in the business political artistic world who didn’t seem actually to care very much about it’s not that they dissed nature or didn’t care about nature but like their lives weren’t organised around trying to improve the environment.
That’s not what they were up to. That wasn’t their main gig. And so for over the next six months or a year or so like that they took these individuals and they did a whole variety of deep eco psychology kinds of interventions which if memory serves culminated with a dawn to dusk so low sitting time in wild nature so people would go out and they would sit down in one spot and basically stay there until it got dark by themselves for you know 12 hours or whatever.
And you know if you read the reports that were coming out of that Natural Change Project and what you found was that as people were reflecting on what all of that experience meant to them they were starting to say it was exactly what we’ve just been talking about, which was that they saw that things like money and status and didn’t really matter to them so much more what they really were more focussed on was things like relationships and things like promoting the community, and things like sustainability.
And then we can expect that if we’ve really shifted people’s values that’s going to have impacts later on in terms of specific behaviours that they engage in for a long, long time.
We’ve got to intervene with businesses. You know I think there’s just no way around that. The issue of course is that if it’s a publicly traded for profit business, at least here in the United States, that means that it has to place shareholder value and profit as its primary concern.
And as we just talked about with regard to the value conflicts, the more that you’re focussed on profit, the less you’re going to care about the environment. And so when push comes to shove, if it’s about making a choice that helps the environment, or a choice that helps make profit, as long as you’re on this publicly traded for profit corporation model, you’re going to hit that barrier.
My recent book is called hyper capitalism the modern economy, its values and how to change them. It’s a cartoon book actually, and my co-author slash illustrator is a guy named Larry Gonic. Cartoon me is the narrator.
And you know at the beginning of that chapter on business it begins with me saying you know that I used to be very dubious about changes in business you know and I’d kind of given up on that. But I think at this point
I think there’s a lot of excitement in terms of what’s happening in the business arena. There’s a lot of interesting cool models out there about alternative ways to organise businesses so that you don’t hit that barrier around profit. You know so if you look at worker co-ops if you will look at benefit corporations if you look at all kinds of other models you can start to see ways in which big organisations and product can try to focus both on profit and on things like sustainability and social justice.
On Hypercapitalism
You know I think capitalism is a particular economic system and we could talk about what it entails. But I think what’s what happened after World War Two and then especially in the late 70s and early 80s in the in North America and in Europe was there was a real shift towards a more extreme form of capitalism than was in place before you know and I think that that’s when you have globalisation coming in that’s when you have much more pushes towards privatisation you see a huge rise in consumerism at that time because you’ve got kind of modern advertising coming out view all different sorts of media especially the television etc. and then you have a lot of deregulation which occurs in many of these countries as well where government steps back and says go at it business you know how to do whatever you can do to maximise economic growth. And so this fetishism of economic growth and of buying stuff and of moneymaking and profit and all the rest really began an era where I don’t think we were in capitalism anymore. I think we had moved on to a more extreme version of capitalism that by putting all of these materialistic values at the forefront began to suppress even more and more and more values like equality values like caring about the environment et cetera.
And indeed it’s around that time when you start to see work hours go back up you start to see indices of inequality go up you really start to see lack of movement on a lot of environmental issues etc. So. So that’s how we understand hyper capitalism to a term that’s been around invented by somebody else. But it definitely seems apt to start to talk about you know what is the political economic social system that we find ourselves under in much of the world at this point.
On Neoliberalism
If you take a look at neoliberalism its fundamental tenets are tenets of deregulation, privatisation, and globalisation. and that you need to have government back off you need to have things as globalised as possible in terms of production and sales, and you again need to get the government out of the law-making business as much as possible so not regulating businesses. And you need to turn over as many government functions as possible to the private sector supposedly because the private sectors motive for profit will make it more efficient and then give everybody better products and better services.
So I think, fundamentally that’s the idea of neoliberalism.
You know again a lot of that emerges out of the out of the post-World War Two destruction and the Cold War the rise of the Chicago school of thought with regard to economics in particular. I think when you really see it hit home is when Reagan and Thatcher are in charge, early 80s that’s when you start to see neoliberalism become dominant in lots and lots of ways. And that’s when you start to then see the expansion into a hyper capitalist society.
That’s the fundamental faith of neoliberalism, well you know that if you turn things over to the invisible hand of the free market and you get government out of the way then good things will happen to me that is the fundamental faith state of neoliberalism.
But I would argue it is a faith statement.
Don’t get me wrong. Capitalism has been remarkably successful in doing what it sets out to do which is to provide a whole lot of products at relatively cheap prices for a whole lot of people and to create a great deal of wealth by its own terms.
Capitalism has been remarkably successful but if you care about equality or if you care about sustainability or if you care about authenticity and well-being, which are things capitalism doesn’t claim to care about, by the way, then you have to really question capitalism.
And again, here’s where we’re back to that fundamental value dynamic. You know the more and more you focus your lives and organisations and society and political structures around maximising wealth and consumption you’ve activated and encouraged those extrinsic values.
And as a result, you care less and suppress those intrinsic values for things like equality and sustainability and all the rest.
If we can trust all of the data we’re getting we know that things are headed down the wrong road.
And so we can either throw up our hands or we can start to develop alternative models.
Well we have to do is to start developing those alternatives and really work on them and figure them out so that we can try to prevent the bad things from happening. If that’s still possible and if it’s not possible then when the bad things do happen, we can say ‘Hey try this, not that!’
Here is the place where I think that the Nordic nations and then the Northern European nations as well you know Denmark and the Netherlands and Germany have been real leaders, have really pushed to develop these alternative models, to develop alternative practices, to try to try to make some changes at a structural levels and in lifestyle levels, to show it’s possible. And again, I would go back to where we started our conversation a while back. What’s also fascinating is that those are some of the happiest nations in the world. You know so and you can argue about why that is, but that the fact remains that these nations that are moving in these more sustainable ways also in study after study, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, and the Netherlands, are oftentimes the among the happiest nations in the world.
It’s actually pretty short period of time that we’ve been under globalisation in the scope of human history, right? it’s been 40 years that’s a blip in this course of history.
When people focus on intrinsic values they focus less on materialistic values they’re happier they act in more pro social ways and they live in more ecologically sustainable ways.
Fundamentally at base the solution is actually fairly simple: How do we orient our personal lives our businesses our communities and our governments around intrinsic values rather than extrinsic values?
Because what all the evidence suggests is that if we can do that materialism will become less important people will be happier people will treat each other more nicely and people will treat the planet more nicely.
Now how to get from here to there is a different issue, but at least like with the thing that makes me optimistic is that there is a ‘there’ I can see. There is a ‘there’ that I can see and that I can understand and that makes sense theoretically from what I know as a psychologist. It has empirical data behind it. It actually is very consistent with almost every spiritual and philosophical tradition which has been around in the history of humanity. And there are people doing it now right. There are people who are living these ways now.
If any listener is out there who thinks these ideas are valid. I would encourage you to work at your city level first to get engaged in the city and try to change your city because I think that cities are where people live and so they. They have their experiences there and what happens at cities. If you can make something work at a city, it provides a model that you can say to another city or to a province or to the federal government ‘hey but it worked here, it worked here. Let’s try it at another place and try it in another place.”
Working at that local level is fundamental and our best shot.
SOUND BRIDGE TO KARMA URA:
Karma Ura’s Upbeat music. His own composition.
I am Karma Ura, and I’m presently the president of the Centre for Bhutan and Gross National Happiness Studies. It is an autonomous government sponsored think tank, and it is located in Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan.
We have mandate to conduct research on Gross National Happiness, policy background studies and culture.
My background is in economics and philosophy at the master’s level, and PhD in International Development. So, all of my professional life, for some 30 years now, has been devoted to Alternative Development, its indicators and statistics on one side, and Buddhist Philosophy, Literature and Fine Arts, on the other.
Incidentally, I am also a painter and I design artefacts and performances. For example, I designed the 1000 denomination currency for Bhutan. I have painted the murals of a whole temple, and designed a national festival which is held on the 13th December every year.
An 18th century mural of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651), considered to be the architect of Bhutan.
On Development
The idea of development is usually introduced from outside. It is a frequently based on idea of industrialisation and an expansion of the economy.
Alternative development involves indigenous ideas about how we should transform our societies. If you have certain different ideas about transformation of society, along with different destination goals, that would qualify as alternative development.
Goal, in the context of Bhutan would be happiness of the people.
The goals of development in the case of Bhutan involves nine domains of Gross National Happiness.
Living standard is only one of the nine goals of development. The others are, Health, Education and Living standards; these are fairly well-known ones and followed everywhere else. Slightly new ones are Good Governance, Environment or Ecological Resilience, and Cultural Diversity and Resilience. So that comes to six domains. But the last three domains are on the frontier of development, and these are Psychological Well-being, Community Vitality and Balanced Time Use over 24 hours. We in Bhutan consider these 9 domains of Gross National Happiness as cause and conditions of happiness.
SOUND: 2. SINGING KIDS BHUTAN.wav
On Gross National Happiness- the background
It was first explicitly coined in 1979 by the fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
For some time, GNH was realised through legislation and policies of the government, led by him. But In 2008 Bhutan became a parliamentary democracy.
Since then governments have been elected through universal franchise, as you know. Constitution was also adopted, and the constitution obliges the government to pursue a quantitative framework of Gross National Happiness, to guide politicians and bureaucrats to the long-term goals of Gross National Happiness.
In 2006, we adopted the concept of nine domains of Gross National Happiness, and along with it, we were directed by the fifth King of Bhutan to create Gross National Happiness Index. Since then we have had a quantitative framework of Gross National Happiness.
Measuring Happiness?
I think we have to be clear, when we talk about happiness, about how its measurement is laid out, what it measures, and on what the comparative ranking of the nations are based. As you know very well, the Nordic countries come on top in the ranking based on subjective well-being. We need to clarify a lot about international comparison and ranking of nations with regard to happiness. The World Happiness Report, I would like to emphasise, is based on a very narrow measurement of happiness to build international ranking.
Ours is much comprehensive and broader, much more probing about reality, and what human beings are. They need not just income. They need to simultaneously many other aspects included in the nine domains of Gross National Happiness.
In ecological terms the leadership and achievement of Bhutan is quite significant in the world.
Amongst the nine domains of Gross National Happiness, one of them is Ecological Diversity and Resilience. And government of Bhutan has been led by the leadership of the Kings to maintain a very high environmental quality, so that people’s welfare, which is dependent intimately with the quality of the environment, is very high. The contributions of Bhutan to the global climate change and environment or positive vision is unusually high.
At the moment 72 percent of the surface area of Bhutan is forest covered. 52 percent of the country is preserved as protected nature. Bhutan is carbon negative. Most of its energy is supplied by hydroelectricity. So it is green energy. People in their daily life has access to nature.
I think sometimes size and scale impresses people. But the aims that are enshrined the United Nations Global Assessment Report released on 6th May 2019, are all met by Bhutan.
All its ideals, all its goals would have been met by Bhutan in the field of environment, climate change and biodiversity. But Bhutan is small to have a global impact. Nevertheless, what it does on a per capita basis is extremely outstanding.
Bhutan as a country has taken extraordinary burden for the sake of global climate and biodiversity.
SOUND: Bells and Nuns-of-bhutan.wav
Nine domains of Gross National Happiness
The nine domains of Gross National Happiness are Psychological well-being, that is emotional and spiritual aspects of wellbeing. Community Vitality: since we are social by nature, companionship and good relations are at the forefront of well-being. Time use: that means nobody should run out of time to do things that are vital to well-being and happiness. We have to have some freedom over our own time over 24 hours.
Ecological Resilience and Diversity. Cultural Diversity and Resilience. Good Governance. Education, Health and Standard of Living. So, these adds up to the nine domains. I listed them separately but in reality, they are highly interdependent.
And so, it is important to see them in relation to each other rather than in isolation.
I think they – the nine domains – are relevant to any place where there are human beings and other sentient beings.
That would take us into the question of how the indicators are constructed and how the indicators are used as benchmark in national planning in Bhutan.
Poverty is minimal definition of well-being. It is a survival definition of well-being. It’s not really well-being. Happiness is a maximal concept of well-being. It is attainable and achievable.
In Bhutan you know the definition of happiness in terms of nine domains is related to measurement. We construct a single number GNH Index and 33 sub-indicators of GNH. Altogether we use about two hundred and thirty different variables to estimate the GNH index and its 33 sub-indicators. So now you can see the distinction of GNH measurement against poverty and subjective well-being. Both the latter measurements are based on a narrower measure of wellbeing.
To simplify things, if an individual were to achieve a perfect score in GNH index, he or she would have to have one hundred and thirty variables. And in these one hundred and thirty variables are drawn from nine domains of GNH.
I’m very familiar with the World Happiness Report because I am one of its council members. The United Nation’s World Happiness Report, first of all, is an outcome of a Bhutanese initiative. The Government of Bhutan organised a U.N. High Level Expert Meeting in April 2012, in the United Nations, in New York. it made two recommendations at that time. One was that governments around the world should make Happiness and Well-being a focus of their public policy. That was the first recommendation. And the second one was that the United Nations should declare our World Happiness Day. So, both were implemented.
Now as a result of this high-level meeting in the United Nations, World Happiness Report came into being, led by John Helliwell and Jeffrey Sachs.
From measuring to policymaking
One of the characteristics of the GNH index, and its 33 sub indicators, is that It can be disaggregated at any level to the nth variable and nth individual. You can disaggregate the achievements across all domains, demographic variables or gender.
This enables us to then see by using GNH indicators as a sort of lens, where and whether there is a gender difference or discrepancy, or age specific discrepancies, geography specific discrepancies. Theses can be picked up so neatly by the indicators which is based on a national survey conducted every four years.
Social and economic planning is done for five years at a time, so our Gross National Happiness survey is done in fourth year and the results are fed into the five-year plan as benchmarks, targets, and policy focus areas.
We can measure by experiential outcomes such as emotions, health and happiness scores etc. or you can measure by means to happiness.
In terms of happiness, I must say that there is a gender difference in outcome. Women in this country score slightly less though it is not very significant at 95 percent confidence. However, this distinction between men and women, in the attainment of happiness, disappears above 50. The performance on the happiness scale is lower for a woman, if we if we compare women and men below the age of 50.
The important thing to appreciate is that Reproductive Health is playing a negative role.Therefore, the government, taking this finding into account is strengthening maternity and child health. It gave a long maternity leave of one year, out of which 6 months is paid. We have only seven days of paternity leave here. The relegation of domestic chores to women and the social care burden which fall traditionally on women, is one of the big problems in Bhutan.
Introduction of cooking facilities and electricity should help resolve gender discrepancy. Electricity up to 100 units is free for rural areas. Education, health, and so many other essential things, such as water supply, are also free.
Karma Ura welcoming PM of Bhutan to an international conference at the Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies.
SOUND BRIDGE: KARMA URA’S MUSIC
ON Gross National Happiness Business Certification
Bhutan is a country which escaped colonisation. And it’s one of the very few countries in the world to have been that fortunate.
This means that the continuity of ideas of what a nation should be, or what human beings aspires have not been smashed by any external ideas.
The continuity of institutions and ideas have been able to survive in this country. Bhutan has continued to be a Buddhist and ecological welfare state.
Because of its adherence to Buddhist welfare and ecological state, free market ideas cannot take complete dominance here. And that is why, the global corporations have not been able to intrude very much.
Bhutanese foreign direct investment rules are very strict. Environmental and cultural bars are very high here.
Those who are just hunting for profit cannot find it very easy to come into Bhutan.
Last year, at the direction of the Bhutanese government the Centre for Bhutan and GNH studies developed what you call GNH business certification.
This assessment will be applied to all corporations and businesses in future.
On evolving Corporate Social Responsibility
For a long time, Corporate Social Responsibility was the end all of business. But the shortcomings in CSR is that it does not require businesses much transparency in how they should make money. It is how they dispose a certain small proportion of the profit. After CSR, a new model of business is benefit corporation or B-corp in short. But GNH business certification is much more advanced in my opinion because it applies the nine domains to the workings of corporations in a very explicit way.
GNH index and 33 indicators is designed for governance purpose. For example, derived from Gross National Happiness’s nine domains is the GNH policy screening tool that the government applies to formulate and pass every policy of the government. For example, 15 policies have undergone GNH policy screening out of 22 policies so far. We will do similar assessment now to corporations by using GNH business certification.
As far as Europe is concerned, next year, in late March 2020, we will be having an international conference in Parma, Italy. One day out of three will be devoted to GNH and GNH business certification.
The Centre for Gross National Happiness and Cultural Studies, Bhutan.
On limits to growth
Bhutan also has a very modest tourism policy.
Foremost for us as a society is that nothing should step beyond our environmental-ecological capacity, and our cultural carrying capacity.
Because of those concerns we limit the number of tourists. It is not to maximise profit. It is only an activity that should be consistent with the carrying capacity of the country. A large part of our country is not opened, but the Western side of the country is already receiving tourist number in excess of its carrying capacity, so we are going to slow down tourism there.
We are slowing down. A new policy will come out to slow down tourism and reduce numbers in western part of the Bhutan, in line with our infrastructure capacity, environmental capacity, and cultural capacity. For example, if a Buddhist festival in a village can take only a hundred tourists, we should limit tourists to 100; the input and output in any sector should be limited to the amount of throughput which you can digest. For example,
if the environment cannot digest then we should put a threshold on the number.
On the spectrum of values
The idea of sustainability is really linked to idea of threshold.
We have to have a certain limit in the size of activity, the size of industry, or the size of the sector. We should not let it balloon out of ecological context. Any industry – let us say, food industry or fashion industry can expand and swallow up the whole non-market areas. We should put a distinction between what is good to put on the market and what should be left out of the market.
Many things about culture should be under ‘non market.’ A lot of things about happiness and well-being is dependent on non-market exchange. Not market exchange.
The reciprocity of time to give social and emotional support, cultural work and social work have a huge value on their own, they do not need to have market exchange value.
The whole sphere of culture and community should be under that kind of non-market relations. Reciprocity rather than transactions in the market. The psychological well-being domain is equally important now with the plague of mental health problems around the world. We need to devise ways in terms of indicators to check on the level of positive emotions across the population, like compassion, generosity, calmness, forgiveness contentment or conversely, we need measure the distribution of negative things like anger, jealousy, fear, sadness. We need to know more about them, because people may be seething with negative emotions although it is not showing up in the GDP.
Politicians will only use hidden negative emotions as another weapon in their hands for polarising the population. Governments need to know the interior world of the citizens – how they feel across the spectrum of negative and positive emotions.
An advance warning mechanism should be found to know the emotional state of the people. If you do not, then the only way to express these latent things will be to vote, which will be seized by polarising politicians. That is not healthy. Before it lands in the lap of radicalising politicians — scientists, psychiatrists, social scientists need to know. Planners need to know so that we can address them.
Karma Ura Walking with Karma Ura & Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dr Lotay.
On Urban Happiness Framework
At this moment we are almost at the end of developing an Urban Happiness framework.
The Probability of being happy or unhappy Is so hugely influenced by whether we live now in urban cities or rural areas.
We have decided to work on urban happiness framework because in the four domains of GNH like psychological wellbeing, culture, ecology and community vitality, we find that urban residents lag behind the rural. They are surging ahead in terms of two domains living standard and education.
Division is emerging in the country between those who live in rural areas and in urban areas. Now we want to reduce this gap. We can assess the current state of city planning, and we can also guide city planning through urban happiness framework. The detail arrangement of the urban planning that is sensitive to well-being and happiness has become urgent, really urgent. It’s a structural issue.
SOUND: KARMA URA’S MUSIC
Tanya Voice:
Thank you for listening to this episode of Nordic By Nature, ON HAPPINESS. You can find more info on our guests and a transcript of this podcast on imaginarylife.net/podcast
The music and sound has been designed by Diego Losa. You can find him on diegolosa.blogspot.com The music you heard with Dr. Karma Ura’s voice was composed by Karma Ura himself.
If you are interested in nature-centred mindfulness please see foundnature.org to read about the Foundation for the Contemplation of Nature. You can follow the Foundation on Facebook, and on Contemplation of Nature on Instagram.
Dasho Dr. Karma Ura: ON HAPPINESS
Dasho Dr. Karma Ura is the president of the Centre for Bhutan & GNH Studies located in Bhutan’s capital city, Thimphu. The Centre has a mandate to research Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness, Culture and History of Bhutan, and policy related studies. Gross National Happiness is a term coined by the Fourth King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in the 1970’s.
Centre for Bhutan and Gross National Happiness Studies, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Dr. Karma Ura’s career has spanned development goals, statistics and indicators, and policy applications, as well as Buddhist literature, fine arts and philosophy. As President of the Centre he also directs programs in The Library of Mind, Body and Sound, which brings together the internal and external aspects of well-being and happiness through research, individual practices and policy designs.
Dr. Karma Ura walking with the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dr Lotay.
Karma Ura has studied to Ph.D level at St. Stephen’s College Delhi, Oxford University, Edinburgh University, and Nagoya University. He has been awarded the ‘Druk Khorlo,’ or Wheel of Dragon Kingdom Award, by His Majesty the King of Bhutan for his contributions to literature and fine arts. Karma Ura is also active as an artist and designer; he has designed numerous artistic artefacts, performances and temple frescoes, and created a national cultural festival that is held every year on December 13th on the scenic mountain pass of Dochula. Karma Ura has shared his expertise on Gross National Happiness across the world.
Dr. Karma Ura at the Centre for Bhutan and Gross National Happiness Studies
Transcript Dr. Karma Ura, from Nordic By Nature Podcast ON HAPPINESS.
Guión Del Episodio 3: Sobre La Resiliencia Interior
Título en inglés: “On Inner Resilience”
Sonido: Música De Diego Losa
Introducción: Voz De Tanya.
Bienvenidos a Nordic by Nature, un podcast producido por “Ecology Today”, inspirado por el filósofo noruego Arne Naess, quien acuñó el término “Ecología profunda”.
Naess utilizó el término “auto realización” para indicar una imagen de perfección, un proceso y un propósito, tanto para una persona como para una comunidad. El podcast “Sobre la Resiliencia Interior”, combina las ideas de Naess sobre “auto realización” y una visión del equilibrio humano. Este contenido sólo debería ser puesto en práctica con un sentido de alegría interior y de benevolencia hacia el mundo.
La “Resiliencia Interior” puede ser definida a partir de ciertas características:
La “Resiliencia Interior” es plena de sentido y deseable, pero en ocasiones puede ser dolorosa. No es un sinónimo de comodidad. Más bien, es un proceso de maduración espiritual, por el cual una persona actúa de una manera más consistente consigo misma como un todo;
La “Resiliencia Interior” es un proceso continuo; puede ser alcanzada a través del conocimiento y el estudio, pero exige una práctica constante que incluye cultivar, comunicar y compartir valores como la compasión;
La “Resiliencia Interior” desarrolla nuevos tipos de habilidades que son necesarias para una transformación personal, incluyendo la empatía, el respeto, la humildad, la construcción de consensos y la co-creación;
Estamos constantemente cambiando y no podemos separarnos de los procesos planetarios de los que somos parte. Nuestra propia salud y bienestar no pueden existir a expensas de otros, ni de la diversidad biológica y cultural que son la naturaleza de la vida.
Ajay Rastogi comenzará introduciéndonos en una práctica de Mindfulness secular y centrada en la naturaleza, que él mismo desarrolló, y enseña actualmente, en la Fundación para la Contemplación de la Naturaleza, en Majkhali, un pueblo de los Himalayas en el Estado de Uttarakhand, en India.
Después escucharemos las palabras de Noor A Noor, un conservacionista egipcio de la Universidad de Cambridge en el Reino Unido, quien describe su propio camino personal hacia la “Conservación” y el Mindfulness, a través de su historia familiar, su experiencia con la música, y los dramáticos acontecimientos de la revolución egipcia de 2011.
Luego escucharemos a Judith Schleicher. Judith nos explicará cómo la meditación diaria le ha ayudado en su trabajo en “Conservación”, después de participar, por primera vez, en un retiro de Vipassana de diez días en Perú, hace siete años.
Finalmente, escucharemos a Christoph Eberhard, antropólogo legal y practicante de las artes tradicionales Chinas e Indias como el Tai Chi Chuan, el Qi Gong y el Yoga. Christoph cree que el diálogo está en el corazón de una transformación plena de sentido: el diálogo con un mismo, el diálogo con otros, el diálogo con la naturaleza y el diálogo con lo trascendente (“the beyond”).
Este podcast está diseñado para que pueda ser escuchado con audífonos. Ojalá puedas hacerte un tiempo y disfrutar escuchándolo.
AJAY RASTOGI
Hola, mi nombre es Ajay Rastogi …. y … nosotros vivimos en el pueblo de Majkhali, en el Estado de Uttarakhand, en la región india de los Himalayas …. y … está a alrededor de 400 kilómetros al norte de Dehli. Desde aquí miramos muchos de los altos picos del Himalaya de más de 6.000 metros.
He sido ecologista y medioambientalista durante gran parte de mi vida.
Ajay Rastogi, Founder of the Foundation for the Contemplation of Nature.
Ajay On The Contemplation Of Nature.
El hecho de que no hayamos sido capaces de hacer grandes cambios en la sociedad, que son necesarios para lograr la sustentabilidad, requiere que revisemos el enfoque que hemos adoptado hasta ahora en los movimientos ambientales. Por esta razón, empecé a pensar que nada sería más transformador que una práctica meditativa que pudiera ser hecha en la naturaleza….
La meditación ha sido considerada como una metodología para la transformación interior.
La Contemplación De La Naturaleza
La contemplación de la naturaleza, una práctica meditativa[1], se realiza en un entorno natural. Es una experiencia multisensorial.
Esto ayuda, porque somos un organismo biológico, y por lo tanto tenemos un impulso inherente para conectarnos con la naturaleza. Es algo para lo que estamos genéticamente configurados, por lo que no es una meditación tan abstracta como muchas otras que la gente encuentra, por lo que es una buena manera de empezar.
Las personas pueden comenzar con esta meditación, y después llegar a niveles más profundos siguiendo cualquier otra práctica que deseen. La meditación en la naturaleza, la contemplación de la naturaleza, definitivamente es un práctica que puede llevarse a cabo cotidianamente, que nos lleva a un nivel de tranquilidad y nos aporta beneficios como la compasión y la bondad, así como una más profunda conexión con la naturaleza y con la comunidad a nuestro alrededor.
Aproximadamente después de 23 minutos de meditación, la tranquilidad que se alcanza gatilla procesos más profundos de relajación fisiológica, lo que lleva al cuerpo y su química interna a un estado mucho más regulado y balanceado. Esta es la llamada “respuesta de relajación”, que es lo que estamos intentando lograr en un nivel fisiológico y psíquico, además de los otros beneficios que entrega la meditación.
Entonces, mientras nos sentamos y observamos con una mirada suave….
A veces podemos no tener acceso a un paisaje natural, pero esta meditación puede ser realizada también en algún interior, utilizando objetos muy sencillos. Luego, sigues los tres pasos de la contemplación que hemos diseñado….
Acerca De La Meditación
Entonces, los tres pasos …. tres simples pasos, son: a) observar la naturaleza con una mirada suave; b) aceptar con desapego gentil; y c) enviar amor con atención simpatética.
Observamos la naturaleza con una mirada suave, permaneciendo en la aceptación con un gentil desapego. No nos interesamos en encontrar ningún detalle. Por supuesto, la mente va a deambular de un lado a otro, pero tan pronto como nos demos cuenta de que nos hemos alejado a la deriva, podemos volver a la contemplación de la naturaleza con una mirada suave.
Un elemento adicional, muy importante en la práctica de contemplar la naturaleza, es “dejar ir”, y esto sucede sólo cuando nos sentamos y empezamos a contemplar, generando un sentimiento de amor con atención simpatética, y recordándonos a nosotros mismos la gratitud, un sentimiento de gratitud. Y continuamos sentados, observando suavemente con la mirada y con un desapego gentil.
“Dejar ir” es no hacer ningún juicio acerca de “dónde estamos” y “qué estamos haciendo”. Éste es un paso trascendental en la naturaleza, y por lo tanto es un aspecto fundamental de la práctica, a través de la cual somos capaces, de alguna manera, de trascender el impulso de juzgar y pensar, al menos por un breve momento.
Voz 2: Noor A Noor
NOOR A NOOR
Mi nombre es Noor A Noor. Soy un egipcio de 28 años, realizando un master de “Liderazgo en Conservación”. Antes de venir a Cambridge, dediqué los últimos 7 años a dirigir la ONG Nature Conservation Egypt, una institución que trabaja en la conservación de los hábitats de especies y de comunidades locales.
Noor Sobre Egipto En 2011
Cuando era pequeño, yo era un niño de ciudad. Mis padres eran muy activistas por la justicia social, y por los derechos políticos y económicos. Sin embargo, no recuerdo que me hayan llevado a la naturaleza …. no fue parte de mi educación.
En 2011, Egipto vivió uno de los más increíbles aunque dramáticos levantamientos, en los que cientos de miles de egipcios salieron a la calle exigiendo más pan, libertad y justicia social. Y obviamente todo lo que se deriva de estos tres componentes. Como resultado, se produjeron cambios significativos. Algunos de ellos fueron para mejor, pero muchos otros fueron para peor.
Nos enfrentamos a una inmensa violencia por parte de las personas encargadas en ese tiempo, específicamente las fuerzas armadas.
Había un constante conflicto con los manifestantes que exigían una completa transición hacia un gobierno más democrático y respetuoso de los derechos humanos. Como resultado, hubo una tremenda persecución, y hasta el día de hoy muchos egipcios continúan siendo perseguidos por el Estado.
Durante ese año 2011, yo, al igual que cientos de miles de egipcios que tomaban parte en estas demostraciones, tuvimos literalmente que correr por nuestras vidas…. las suficientes veces como para darnos cuenta que la vida no es lo que parece, cuando tienes que correr para ponerte a salvo. Pasé entonces de estar siempre preparado para sacrificarme por la causa, a darme cuenta de que en realidad sería más útil para la sociedad si trataba de sobrevivir, y parte de ese darme cuenta vino del hecho de pasar tiempo en la naturaleza por primera vez.
Noor: Descubriendo La Naturaleza
Por primera vez estaba pasando una significativa cantidad de tiempo en la naturaleza, aprendiendo de la naturaleza y enseñando sobre la naturaleza, así como conservando la naturaleza, todo como parte del nuevo trabajo que asumí desde el 2012.
Mientras más entendía la naturaleza, más terminé entendiéndome a mí mismo.
Poco a poco, terminé por encontrarme con el Mindfulness, que al principio odiaba como término porque encontraba que era muy contraintuitivo. Pero mientras más leía sobre Mindfulness, más empezó a resonarme y a hacerme sentido, tanto en un nivel teórico como político y personal. Pasar más tiempo en la naturaleza, ir comprendiendo cómo funciona y dejándome inspirar y sanar por ella … todo eso fue en sí mismo un proceso de Mindfulness.
Esencialmente, tuve que pasar por muchos traumas físicos y emocionales ese año, ya sea infligidos en mi persona, o peor aún, que afectaron a quienes yo cuidaba, e incluso a quienes no conocía, pero con quienes compartía un terreno político común.
El trauma acumulado en esos años, por mí y por miles de otros, se arrastra hasta estos días.
No hay nada romántico en una revolución. No hay nada romántico en un conflicto ni en los levantamientos sociales, porque hay mucho que se sacrifica….
Pero estoy completamente agradecido…. por la manera en que finalmente terminé por responder a estos traumas, en un nivel físico y emocional, por cómo logré alcanzar un mayor nivel de Mindfulness para reducir mis niveles de ansiedad…
…. incluso políticamente. Creo que esto contribuyó a ver de mejor manera cómo podemos…. ser mejor holísticamente como planeta; cómo sobrellevar las inevitables crisis que estamos enfrentando y que continuaremos enfrentando a una tasa exponencial en el futuro.
Después de los levantamientos de 2011, estaba decidido a trabajar en terreno, y terminé dirigiendo una ONG dedicada a la conservación de la naturaleza y trabajando en una empresa de turismo educativo ambiental, llamada Dima.
Me hizo darme cuenta de ciertas dimensiones que estaban relacionadas con nuestra supervivencia, con la sustentabilidad, y con las batallas que estábamos dando por la justicia.
Me di cuenta de la importancia de la naturaleza y de los recursos naturales de los cuales dependemos.
Lo que mucha gente está comprendiendo ahora es que todas las dinámicas políticas, económicas e incluso sociales, relacionadas con nosotros como especie, están directa o indirectamente relacionadas con la manera en que interactuamos con la naturaleza que nos rodea.
El hecho de que continuemos viéndonos separados de aquello que nos mantiene vivos, empezando por la comida, y muchas otras cosas más, incluso el aire del que extraemos el oxígeno que necesitamos, que proviene de otros seres vivos y otros hábitats de este planeta, está en el centro de algunos de los actuales conflictos sobre los recursos naturales, así como de la trayectoria que seguimos hacia el colapso del sistema que nos sostiene.
El concepto de “Ecología Política” es un excelente término para dar cuenta de esta situación. Lo que nos dice este concepto es que siempre que pensemos en recursos naturales, necesitamos pensar en las estructuras políticas, sociales y económicas que imponemos a la naturaleza, si es que vamos a hablar de conservación. Y al mismo tiempo, si lo que buscamos es el desarrollo social, necesitamos pensar en los procesos ecológicos que soportan estos procesos sociales.
Para ser honestos, estamos todos implicados. El teléfono que estoy usando ahora, para hablar con ustedes acerca de la sustentabilidad, los componentes que han sido usados para construir este teléfono, no son sustentables. El café que estoy saboreando en este momento, supuestamente proviene de un proceso que es éticamente correcto, pero finalmente es probable que provenga de algún lugar muy lejano a eso. Esto en sí mismo, que es parte de nuestra cultura de consumo, hace muy difícil que estemos conscientes de todas aquellas cosas que comemos y bebemos, porque hemos llegado a ser muy dependientes de ellas.
Cuando tenía 15 años, mi padre fue encarcelado por el gobierno de Mubarak, el régimen que estuvo en el poder por más de 30 años. Mi padre fue sentenciado a 4 o 5 años de prisión, como castigo por participar en las movilizaciones políticas que se oponían al presidente…. en ese tiempo recuerdo muy específicamente haberme dicho a mí mismo cosas como: ok, tienes un minuto para sentir lo que tengas que sentir … tan pronto como ese minuto pase, cambia el switch. Cambia el switch …. continúa con lo que tienes que hacer en tu día a día, no te rebeles en tu interior, sólo continúa funcionando. Recuerdo perfectamente tener 15 años y estarme diciendo estas cosas. Y aunque obviamente esto puede no ser siempre la mejor solución, recuerdo haberme forzado a mí mismo a hacer esto para desconectarme de la ansiedad y el miedo que estaba en mi cabeza. Sólo para ser capaz de seguir funcionando.
Diez años más tarde, cuando me encontré a mí mismo … reconociendo mi ansiedad por primera vez, ¡me di cuenta de que había estado respirando incorrectamente toda mi vida! (risa), y fue una realización fascinante porque … técnicamente …. no nos enseñan cómo respirar correctamente cuando somos niños… nadie te dice que respires a través de tu estómago cuando eres un niño.
En mi último año de universidad estaba estudiando ciencia política y derecho, y ese último año me involucré en un proyecto para hacer música a partir de la basura.
Así que … nos dedicábamos a… reciclar y reutilizar deshechos para hacer música, y para despertar una conciencia ambiental y social utilizando la música como un medio. Ese proyecto musical, a través de los conciertos que organicé, me ayudó a conocer a la gente con la que terminé trabajando en los años que siguieron.
Voz 3: JUDITH SCHLEICHER (c. 8 Mins)
JUDITH SCHLEICHER
Soy Judith Schleicher. Soy postdoc[2] aquí en el Departamento de Geografía de la Universidad de Cambridge, y también trabajo actualmente como Consultora en el Centro de Monitoreo de la Conservación Mundial del Medio Ambiente de Naciones Unidas.
Siempre he estado interesada en los bosques tropicales, su diversidad, la gente que vive ahí, la diversidad cultural, la biodiversidad, todo eso … tratando de protegerlo, y también de entender mejor a la gente y nuestra relación con ella.
Judith Schleicher at David Attenborough House, Cambridge.
Cuando estaba haciendo mi Phd[3] empecé a meditar … mucho … y luego, cuando tuve la oportunidad de trabajar en la relación entre la naturaleza y las personas, después de mi doctorado, me pareció que todas estas cosas finalmente se reunían.
Desde este lugar, lo que podemos ver es un estacionamiento y mucho concreto. Y tú sabes, si ese es el ambiente en el que crecemos, y que con la edad nos volvemos menos conectados aún, pienso que eso no sólo tiene un impacto muy negativo en nuestro desarrollo personal, en nuestro crecimiento personal y como sociedad, sino que también significa que en el futuro podríamos preocuparnos aún menos por lo que nos queda.
Pienso que lo que es realmente importante es que también miremos hacia nuestro interior. Necesitamos pensar en nosotros mismos, en nuestro propio bienestar, y trabajar en hacer los cambios desde adentro, y luego podremos hacer cambios más allá de nosotros. Y creo que esas son las cosas que realmente necesitan ser parte de nuestro sistema educativo: cómo crecemos, cuáles son las cosas que realmente importan en nuestras vidas.
Los niños pasan tanto tiempo en el colegio, y se les enseñan tantas cosas que involucran sólo nuestro intelecto – sólo pensar en ellas – pero realmente no se piensa en cómo desarrollamos nuestra resiliencia emocional, cómo tenemos que pensar en nuestro bienestar, cómo desarrollamos nuestra propia actitud mental.
Preocuparnos realmente de eso es tan importante. Y si pudiéramos hacer de eso una parte fundamental de la vida de una persona cuando está creciendo, creo que ése sería un cambio positivo inmenso.
Me gustaría mucho ver, por ejemplo, que se impartieran clases de Mindfulness y meditación como parte del curriculum normal de educación, y que entonces la gente pudiera empezar a pensar “qué es lo importante en mi vida” y “cuáles son las cosas que son importantes”.
Si realmente internalizamos todo eso, luego podremos tener una discusión auna escala más amplia … a una escala comunitaria, a una escala social e incluso a una escala nacional, sobre cuál es la dirección en que queremos ir … Pero realmente tenemos que empezar en un nivel personal… Mucha gente no está familiarizada con la meditación, y no sabe realmente lo que significa. Podrían pensar, por ejemplo, que por ser budista entonces tiene connotaciones religiosas, cuando no es necesario que sea así. Puede ser secular y no tener nada que ver con religión.
La espiritualidad no quiere decir que tienes que creer en una religión específica.
Puede ser realmente muy desafiante trabajar en “Conservación” porque siempre tienes que estar peleando una batalla cuesta arriba.
Básicamente siempre te estás confrontando con malas noticias. E incluso la manera en que nosotros mismos hablamos de eso, muchas veces es de una manera muy negativa.
Estaba avanzando en mi campo profesional y muchas cosas iban mal, y entonces una amiga, quien había estado meditando por un tiempo muy largo, desde que era una adolescente, me dijo: “ohh hay un curso de meditación de diez días en silencio, que se hará en Lima, donde tú estás”, y me dijo “por qué no lo haces”? Yo dije “¡seguro!”, pero nunca había pensado en la meditación ni en ninguna de esas cosas. Y luego una noche me dije: “¿por qué haría algo como eso?”
Hice el curso de diez días sin saber nada acerca de él. No sabía lo que era la meditación, no tenía ninguna idea en qué me estaba metiendo. Fue una experiencia fascinante, de esas que te cambian la vida. Quiero decir, en un curso de diez días pasas por tantas cosas y altibajos, pero cada minuto que pones en eso vale la pena. Tuve tantas experiencias positivas, pero la más fuerte fue definitivamente una sensación de paz interior, que nunca antes había sentido de esta manera.
No sólo sabiendo de eso, sino que realmente sintiendo que esa felicidad y contentamiento no tiene nada que ver con algo externo.
Y por supuesto, hay cosas que puedes saber intelectualmente, pero realmente sentirlas es una cosa muy diferente, y experimentarlas…. Ya sabes, por supuesto que siempre hay un desafío de internalizarlo en el día a día, y sin embargo sabes que es un gran regalo que sí puedes experimentar.
He hecho algunos más de estos cursos, y cada vez, al final, es maravilloso cuando no has estado hablando por un tiempo, durante diez días; tu mente está tan focalizada y tan clara, y te das cuenta cómo nos impacta toda esta continua charla, y por toda la información con la que está siendo alimentado tu cerebro todo el tiempo. Realmente te das cuenta de cuál es el impacto…. en cuanto empiezas a hablar, tu mente simplemente …. puff!…. se vuelve loca….
Un primer paso verdaderamente importante es darse cuenta, tú sabes eso que dicen, que sientes que te vuelves más sensitivo, pero quizás es sólo que te das cuenta de algo que siempre ha estado ahí, desde antes de que te dieras cuenta. Esto significa que no podías cuidar de tu cuerpo …. en la manera en que éste necesitaba, con la atención que necesitaba, por el contrario. Tú sabes, los mismos procesos podrían haber continuado, sin que tuvieras forma de darte cuenta del impacto que tenía en ti. Quiero decir, puedo conectar completamente con lo que tú dices[4] acerca de que la naturaleza provee ese espacio en el que puedes desarrollar todas estas cosas.
Supongo que muchas de las cosas que experimento a través de la meditación, antes, estando en medio de la naturaleza, simplemente surgieron de manera natural. Si me siento en un bosque, que es un ambiente que me gusta mucho, nunca me siento sola. Puedo sentirme sola estando rodeada de mucha gente, en un ambiente no natural, pero sé que no me sentiré sola si estoy en medio de un bosque, simplemente estando ahí. Mientras que en nuestra sociedad siempre nos están diciendo que seamos productivos. Tenemos que estar haciendo … tenemos que estar haciendo cosas. Es mucho más sano estar alejado de eso, al menos con cierta frecuencia, y simplemente “estar”, “estar” con la naturaleza, “estar” con otras personas. Y eso es lo que, finalmente, produce contentamiento y felicidad interior. Y la naturaleza provee el natural espacio para hacer eso.
Tu mente está justo en ese momento.
En el curso de meditación en el que he estado ayudando por todos estos años, estaba en la cocina, preparando comida para un grupo de ciento treinta o ciento cuarenta personas, lo que puede ser muy demandante, porque … tú sabes, cocinar para tanta gente y en espacios de tiempo muy restringidos, es lo que mucha gente podría llamar un ambiente estresante, con personas con las que nunca había trabajado antes, pero eran todos meditadores y todos eran conscientes o al menos más conscientes acerca de estas cosas. Y era, no sólo un muy buen trabajo sino que también era muy entretenido y éramos un gran equipo de trabajo … Así que, si pudiera traducir esto a mi mundo cotidiano … sería maravilloso.
Empecé a meditar hace 7 años. Medito diariamente al menos por una hora, algunas veces más. Y eso hace una inmensa diferencia en cómo vivo el día a día. Y también ha hecho una gran diferencia probablemente en la forma en que pienso acerca de la “Conservación”.
Antes de empezar a meditar, toda aquella retórica pesimista y negativa algunas veces puede ser realmente desalentadora, y hacerte sentir que es realmente muy difícil pensar en hacer un cambio positivo, si no tienes esta práctica.
Eso es muy difícil de entender a veces.
Con la meditación también tengo un sentido, más profundo creo, de tranquilidad, tú sabes, de que estaremos bien eventualmente, y que la naturaleza será capaz de hacer frente … Si los humanos podremos hacerlo, bueno esa es otra pregunta. Supongo que … sí, que me ayuda a estar más en paz internamente, de que puedo hacer lo que está en mis posibilidades hacer para luchar por un mundo más justo y más sustentable ambientalmente. Y que puedo estar bien pase lo que pase.
Voz 4: Christoph Eberhardt (C.12.03)
Christoph Eberhard
Soy Christoph Eberhard, soy austríaco, y ahora estoy radicado en el sur de Francia, en Archachon.
Para ponerlo en pocas palabras, toda mi vida ha sido dedicada a … umh … diría que a la búsqueda de la paz, o de la armonía … una armonía viva.
Esto se manifiesta, por una parte, digamos en las ciencias sociales. Tengo una carrera como Antropólogo Legal, entre el derecho y las ciencias sociales, tratando de ver cómo podemos vivir en comunidad de una manera más dialógica, entendiéndonos unos a otros y armonizando unos con otros un poco mejor.
Qi gong class at the Vrikshalaya centre, held by teacher Christoph Eberhard.
Y luego un segundo aspecto ha sido como un diálogo interior y con la naturaleza, y eso se expresa especialmente en mi interés en el arte tradicional, especialmente el arte chino y el arte indio, como el Yoga.
Para mí, la resiliencia interior está en esta dimensión del diálogo …
El diálogo es escuchar, pero no es sólo escuchar con tus oídos, es escuchar con tu corazón, y más aún, es escuchar con tu alma.
Podemos experimentar eso en nuestra experiencia del día a día. Es sólo cosa de tomar un poco de tiempo antes de empezar a hablar inmediatamente, tomando 5 o 10 minutos para armonizar antes de empezar a hacer cualquier cosa.
Sólo dejando que la mente se aquiete, “enraizándose” de cierta manera.
A veces las personas no quieren hacerlo, dicen que no tienen tiempo para hacerlo, pero justamente sentarse así, en silencio, en calma, de cierta manera cambia completamente la atmósfera.
Y si lo haces, encontrarás que las personas están mucho, mucho, mucho más abiertas a un diálogo real, a escucharse unos a otros, a realmente compartir sus experiencias, de lo que encontrarías sin ese tiempo de silencio al inicio.
Entonces, empiezas a dialogar con otro ser humano. Realmente a dialogar, en el sentido de que realmente quieres escuchar a la otra persona, y te permites ser desafiado por la visión de mundo que el otro te presenta, o la sensibilidad que está expresando.
Mientras que por una parte puede ser enriquecedor, algunas veces puede ser muy impactante. Tú sabes … puede ser que no realmente no queramos escuchar ciertas cosas, o que realmente no las escuchemos aún cuando las hayamos oído más de cien veces, y repentinamente tu sientes “Oh wow”…. había algo más profundo que lo que pensaba.
Entonces cuando esto ocurre es … es como un desafío, también, algo que nos lleva a un segundo tipo de diálogo, que es un diálogo que yo llamo “con uno mismo”; empiezas a estar consciente de cuál es, llamémoslo, el horizonte invisible de las acciones y del vivir.
Y para eso, realmente necesitamos el diálogo con otros, porque de otra manera nunca llegaremos a estar conscientes de nuestra propia ventana personal.
Y luego, cuando empiezas a profundizar en este diálogo con otros y contigo mismo, escuchándote más a ti mismo, también empiezas a darte cuenta de que realmente estás conectado con toda la naturaleza alrededor tuyo. Que, en un cierto sentido, una vez que la sensibilidad a escuchar ha sido abierta, bueno, empezarás a escuchar a los árboles, al sol, a las flores, las nubes …. En cierta manera ellas empezarán a hablarte.
Si quieres escuchar, primero tienes que vaciarte a ti mismo, y entonces todo viene y habla contigo. Este es el aspecto dialógico de la naturaleza que empieza a desarrollarse. Entonces, es un diálogo con uno mismo, con los demás, con la naturaleza. Y luego está esta otra dimensión del diálogo que yo llamo “más allá”, o como tú quieras llamarlo, tú sabes, estas cosas que están más allá de las palabras y que no puedes realmente expresarlas, pero que también están ahí.
Algunas veces, cuando hablamos de lo “interior”, nosotros o separamos o distinguimos de “lo exterior”. Por mí, yo diría más bien que la experiencia de entrar en tu interior, o de entrar en diálogo con otros o entrar en diálogo con la naturaleza o con lo que está más allá, es más un proceso de crear vínculos. Cuando hay menos vínculos, puede que tengas una idea o un sentimiento de separación, tú sabes, te sientes separado de los demás, y te sientes separado de la naturaleza, la naturaleza más bien es un conjunto de “objetos” que están afuera, como si fuera un segundo mundo de “objetos”, no una realidad “viviente”.
Incluso algunas personas … se ven a sí mismas como objetos, como robots que se comportan de una cierta manera, pero no como personas con las que interactuamos.
Y la misma cosa con nosotros mismos, incluso nosotros mismos no podemos realmente …. Hacemos nuestro trabajo, hacemos nuestras cosas, con nuestras rutinas. Pero realmente nos estamos considerando como “sujetos” vivientes? como tales?
Hay cuatro dimensiones, y tú puedes empezar por cualquiera de estas dimensiones.
Si eres alguien que ha crecido en un entorno muy natural, quizás tu primer diálogo empiece con la naturaleza. Algunas personas son pastores y están mucho tiempo solos en las montañas. Entonces probablemente para ellos el primer tipo de diálogo que empezarían sería más bien con la naturaleza.
Para personas como yo, que soy más una persona de ciudad, es un desafío mayor al principio, tú sabes. Pero el punto importante para mí es que todas estas dimensiones están siempre ahí. En el momento en que empezamos a abrir una de estas dimensiones, a dialogar con una de estas dimensiones, poco a poco empezamos a darnos cuenta cómo las cosas están mucho, mucho, mucho más unidas de lo que nunca esperamos.
La vida no es un vacío a ser llenado, es una plenitud a ser descubierta. El “otro” no es el vacío a ser llenado. Es una plenitud a ser descubierta.
No es que …. Siempre es fácil decirle a alguien que vea algo que no tiene, que no tiene esto o no tiene esto otro, y construir una imagen que es una versión inferior de ti mismo. Pero ellos pueden hacer la misma cosa, porque desde su punto de vista, tú no tienes esto o no tienes esto otro ni lo de más allá, y así sucesivamente.
No sería más interesante, en lugar de empezar a llenar al otro con tus propias proyecciones, sólo escuchar, abrirte y luego quizás descubrir la plenitud que es el otro?
Simplemente empecé a darme cuenta de que nuestras vidas, hablando en términos generales, muy frecuentemente las vivimos como un vacío a ser llenado.
Tú sabes, todos sentimos que tenemos que tener un cierto estatus social, y sentimos eso en un nivel psicológico, queremos lograr ciertas cosas y alcanzar un nivel económico, lo que está muy bien, mientras no sea algo que necesitemos para llenar nuestras vidas, y en el momento en que nos atrevamos quizás a dar un pequeño paso hacia atrás, puede que encontremos que la vida es realmente muy abundante y que bien pueden todas estas cosas empezar a pasar sin que necesitemos empujar con tanta fuerza.
La plenitud significa empezar a darnos cuenta de todas las relaciones por las que estamos unidos, a través de nuestro ser.
Así como tienes un cuerpo físico, tal como lo considera la ciencia occidental moderna, somo realmente hijos de las estrellas. Quiero decir que …. todos los elementos de los que estamos hechos han sido hechos en las estrellas, así que tenemos de hecho una relación con ellas.
Así que tenemos esta dimensión fisiológica, pero también tenemos nuestras emociones, nuestros sentimientos, tenemos nuestros pensamientos; y en todas esas diferentes dimensiones estamos todos interconectados.
Por medio de la contemplación de la naturaleza exterior, que percibimos como estando afuera, establecemos de hecho una relación, una en la que en un nivel externo puede conducirnos a este sentimiento de que no deberíamos preocuparnos por el medioambiente porque sea nuestra obligación, sino por su belleza. Y así, establecemos esa relación con la naturaleza exterior.
Pero al mismo tiempo, al contemplar la naturaleza exterior de hecho nos conectamos con nuestra naturaleza interior. Puedes usar el término “ecológico”, pero yo simplemente diría que es nuestra naturaleza interior. Aquello de que se trata la vida.
Tú eres parte de la naturaleza.
Cuando digo “naturaleza” … tú sabes que existe la naturaleza, y que la naturaleza es la naturaleza visible que observamos. Y luego está la naturaleza en el sentido de, llamémoslo así, el planeta como un todo. Y el sistema solar y las galaxias, y los multiversos de los que se habla ahora … todo eso es parte de este otro concepto más amplio.
Realmente se va uniendo, al crear vínculos donde no los veíamos, vínculos donde había separación, poco a poco hasta ver que las cosas están mucho más conectadas, lo cual es muy importante en el pensamiento ecologista, empiezas a entrar en estos enfoques más holísticos porque te das cuenta que no puedes simplemente cortar las cosas en pedazos, porque siempre están relacionadas y cada vez que cambias o afectas algo, siempre tendrá un efecto en la totalidad.
Si empiezas a practicar Qi Gong, si empiezas a practicar cualquier movimiento, hazlo con tu cuerpo relajado, tomándole el gusto a lo que estás haciendo, quizás haciéndolo despacio, y haciéndolo conscientemente. Poco a poco lo que vas a empezar a sentir es lo que los chinos frecuentemente denominan Qi[5], que es “energía”.
Nuevamente lo que es experiencial, una sensación que puedes tener al inicio, es un poco de hormigueo en los dedos, o bien puedes sentir algo de calor que empieza a aparecer, y luego si continúas, en algún punto puedes sentirlo más en tu interior, como una sensación magnética. Algunas veces puedes tener una sensación como de electricidad, simplemente permaneciendo sentado y observando tu respiración … De hecho, incluso si sólo haces esto pero lo haces todos los días, y lo haces por un par de horas cada día, y así una y otra vez, al comienzo vas a estar más en un nivel psicológico. Estarás sólo pensando sobre esto y sobre lo otro. Pero más adelante, en algún momento, cuando estas cosas empiecen a decantarse un poco más, tú, como un vaso de vidrio con agua que se mezcla y después empieza a decantarse, empezarás a sentirte más claro y más transparente. Cuando esta etapa empieza a ocurrir, las cosas empiezan a circular por tu cuerpo, eso es básicamente todo lo que es el Qi.
Estas cosas son muy reales.
Y esto me lleva a la reacción a esta experiencia. La cultura en la que vivimos, lo digo bien, la cultura de ciudad, tú sabes, somos una sociedad tecnologizada, embota muchas de nuestras experiencias.
Si tú vives en la naturaleza, y “tienes que” vivir para sobrevivir en la naturaleza, tus sentidos están mucho más refinados que los sentidos que podemos tener quienes vivimos en las ciudades. Así que, en cierta manera, de nuevo hemos colonizado nuestra mente, e incluso ahora me sigo dando cuenta de cuan colonizada está mi mente.
Es un muy, muy gran proceso de aprendizaje también … porque empiezas a darte cuenta de que … tengo una inteligencia innata, mi cuerpo entiende ciertas cosas. Ok. Tienes que estar atento. No es que no tengas que hacer nada. Tienes que estar atento, tienes que tratar de escuchar, tienes que practicar. No es que simplemente llegas y no haces nada. Y una vez que aprendes poco a poco a saber, a diferenciar entre lo que son tus ilusiones y tú, y qué cosas son reales, en aquello que sientes…
No somos dioses, no somos los dueños de la naturaleza, o los reyes de la naturaleza … no, sólo somos una parte de ella, una muy pequeña y humilde parte de ella.
Humildad … la importancia de la humildad.
Te reconoces a ti mismo como una maravilla del universo. Es fascinante. Y mientras más humilde te sientes, en cierta manera, más hermoso es todo.
Voz De Tanya:
Gracias por escuchar!
Nordic by Nature podcast es creado gracias al apoyo del Ministerio Nórdico. Por favor ayúdanos compartiendo el link de este episodio con el hashtag #tracesofnorth y síguenos en Instagram en la cuenta @nordicbynaturepodcast. Nos gustaría escuchar tus pensamientos en nuestro podcast. Por favor escríbeme un email, a Tanya, a la dirección nordicbynaturepodcast@gmail.com
También estamos en Patreon, si quieres apoyarnos con una donación para mantener la continuidad de estos podcasts y realizar una segunda serie. Búscanos en www.patreon.com/nordicbynature
Si estás interesado en conocer más acerca de “Mindfulness” y “Pensamiento Resiliente”, por favor lee acerca de los retiros en el Centro de Ajay Rastogi www.foundnature.org, y sigue a la “Fundación para la Contemplación de la Naturaleza” en Facebook y a “Contemplación de la Naturaleza” en Instagram.
Noor a Noor trabaja en Nature Conservation Egypt. Por favor búscalo en www.natureegypt.org. Puedes seguir a Noor en Twitter en @Nxoor.
Puedes seguir a Judith Schleicher en Twitter en @j_schleicher.
Puedes encontrar a Christoph Eberhard en su canal de Youtube “Dialogues For Change”, o en Twitter en @PeaceDialogues.
Sonidos diseñados por Diego Losa. Búscalo en diegolosa.blogspot.com.
[1] Agregado por el traductor.
[2] Postdoc: abreviación de Post Doctorada.
[3] Phd: Doctorado.
[4] Parece referirse a alguien que está presente en la conversación, durante la grabación.
[5] En español se pronuncia “chi”.
Episode 3: ON INNER RESILIENCE, Transcript
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Transcript episode 3: ON INNER RESILIENCE
Welcome to Nordic By Nature, a podcast on ecology today, inspired by the Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess, who coined the term Deep Ecology.
Naess used the term ‘self-realization’ to indicate a kind of imagined perfection, a process, and a goal for both for the individual and for community. This podcast: On Inner-Resilience combines Naess’ idea of Self realisation with a view of human equilibrium, but it should only be used if it includes a sense of inner joy and benevolence to the world. It can be defined by a number of characteristics:
Number 1. Inner Resilience is meaningful and desirable, but it can sometimes be painful. It is not synonymous with comfort. It is a process of spiritual maturity, where a person acts more consistently from themselves as a whole.
Number 2. Inner Resilience is a continuous process. It can be achieved through knowledge and learning, but it demands a consistent practice that includes the cultivating, communicating and sharing of compassionate values.
Number 3. Inner Resilience evolves new types of skills that are needed for transformation; including Empathy, Respect, Humility, Consensus-building, and Co-creation.
Number 4. We are constantly changing and cannot be separated from the planetary processes that we are part of. Our own health and wellbeing cannot exist at the expense of others, nor the biological or cultural diversity that is the nature of life.
Ajay Rastogi will begin by introducing the secular, nature-centred mindfulness practice, that he developed and teaches at the Foundation for the Contemplation of Nature in the Himalayan village of Majkhali in Uttarakhand, India.
Ajay Rastogi at the Foundation for the Contemplation of Nature, India.
Then you will hear the words of Noor A Noor, an Egyptian conservationist at the University of Cambridge who describes his own personal path into conservation and mindfulness – through his family, through music, and through the traumatic experiences of The 2011 Egyptian Revolution.
We will then hear Judith Schleicher. Judith explains how daily meditation has helped her with her conservation work, ever since she attended a 10-day Vipassana retreat in Peru 7 years ago.
Lastly, we meet Christoph Eberhard, legal anthropologist and practitioner of the Chinese and Indian traditional arts Ta Ji Chuan, Qi Gong and Yoga. Christoph believes that dialogue is at the heart of meaningful transformation- dialogue with oneself, with others, with nature, and the beyond.
This podcast is designed for you to listen with headphones.
I hope you can make some time to simply enjoy listening.
Ajay:
Hi my name is Ajay Rastogi.
And we live in the village of Majkhali. It’s in the state of Uttarakhand, in the Indian Himalayan region.
And it’s about 400 kilometres north of Delhi. And we overlook the high Himalayas. Many 6000 meters high peaks from maybe. I have been an ecologist and an environmentalist for a large part of my life.
The fact that we are unable to make big changes in the society which are needed for sustainability required that we also relook at the approach that we have taken so far in the environmental movements.
So, for that reason I was thinking what can be more transformative than a meditative practice, which can be done in nature.
Meditation is being considered as the methodology for inner transformation.
The contemplation of nature is done in a natural surrounding.
It’s a multi-sensory experience.
It helps because we are a biological organism and, therefore we have an inherent drive to connect with nature. It’s kind of we are genetically wired, so it is not that abstract as many people find many other meditative practices to be. So, it is a good beginning.
People can begin with it and then get to deeper levels of meditation whichever part they want to follow. But meditation in nature contemplation of nature is definitely an approach which can be done on a daily basis and it leads to that level of tranquillity and gives us the benefits of the meditation the compassion the kindness and the deeper connection to the natural law as well as to the social community around us.
At about 23rd minute a tranquillity factor causes deeper trigger or physiological relaxation. Which brings the body and the internal chemistry, in a much more regulatory and balanced way.
That’s called the relaxation response, and that’s what we are trying to achieve, also at the physiological level besides the psychic and other benefits, that the meditation will bring.
So, as we sit and observe with a soft gaze
One may not have access to such landscapes so it can be done indoors.
And it can be done with very simple objects of nature, then following the three steps of native contemplation that we have designed.
So the three steps simple three steps is observe nature with a soft gaze except with gentle detachment and send love with sympathetic attention.
Observe nature with a soft gaze, we accept the gentle detachment remaining. Not interested in finding details. Of course, the mind would wander here and there but as soon as we realized that we have gone further and drifted we can come back to observe nature with a soft gaze.
One additional element which is a very important element of Need contemplation practice is to let go and this happens by just as we sit down and begin our contemplation, we send love with sympathetic attention, we just remind ourselves of the gratitude the feeling of gratitude. And then we sit, observe softly with a gaze, and continue a gentle detachment.
The let go is not to make any judgment about where we are What are we doing. And this is a step which is a transcendental in nature and therefore it is very therefore itself a fundamental aspect of the practice that we are able to somehow transcend this call of judgment and thinking mind at least for a little while.
Noor A Noor:
My name is Noor Noor. I’m a twenty-eight-year-old Egyptian doing a masters in Conservation Leadership. Before coming to Cambridge, I spent the last 7 years managing Nature Conservation Egypt which is an NGO, working on the conservation of habitat species and local communities.
Growing up I I was a child of the city. My parents Were very active for social justice and for political rights and economic rights. However, they didn’t bring me into nature… it wasn’t part of my upbringing.
In 2011, Egypt saw one of its most incredible yet traumatic uprisings where hundreds of thousands of Egyptians went to the street to call for bread, freedom, and social justice. And obviously everything that stems from those three components.
As a result significant changes came about some of them were for the better but lots of them were for the worse. We were met with huge violence. Met with huge violence from the people that were in charge at the time specifically the armed forces or the army.
There was constant conflict between protesters that are calling for a complete transition to a more democratic,
Human rights-oriented government. And as a result…There was heavy persecution and Egyptians still remain heavily persecuted by the state.
Throughout 2011, myself as well as hundreds of thousands of other Egyptians who were taking part in these demonstrations, had to run for their lives. More than enough times.
To realize that that that life isn’t really as it seems once you’ve actually had to run for your life.
I had went from always being prepared to sacrifice myself for the cause to realizing that I am actually more useful let’s say, if I try to survive, and part of that realisation came the by spending time and nature for the first time.
I was spending a significant amount of time in nature and learning about nature and teaching nature as well as conserving nature as a part of my new jobs that I had assumed in 2012 and by spending more time in nature.
By understanding nature more I ended up understanding myself more. Bit by bit I ended up encountering mindfulness.
Which at the beginning I hated as a term because I felt it was very counter intuitive. The more I read up into mindfulness the more it really resonated. On a theoretical level, on a political level, and on a personal level. By spending time in nature by understanding how it works, by letting oneself be inspired and be healed by nature; That in itself is a mindful process.
Essentially one had encountered so much physical and emotional trauma in that one year whether inflicted upon myself or even worse seeing it inflicted on those that I cared about or even those that I did not know. But we share the common political ground. Accumulated traumas from that still are carried by myself as well as thousands of others to this day.
There’s no romanticisation of revolution there’s no romanticisation of Conflict and uprising. But I am absolutely grateful… because of how I ended up having to respond to these traumas.….. even politically How to better see how we can…be better as a holistically as a planet…. Get through the inevitable crises that we are facing and will continue to face at an exponential rate in the future.After the 2011 uprisings I was adamant on working in the field and I ended up getting a job managing an NGO working in nature conservation as well as working with a company that does educational environmental tourism and it’s a company called Dima. It made me aware of certain dimensions relating to our survival to relating to sustainability relating to the battles that we are trying to fight for justice.
I realized the importance of of Nature, and of the natural resources that we depend on.
What many people are realizing now is that all political and economic and even social dynamics relating to us as a species to us humans as a species are directly or indirectly related to our relationship with surrounding nature. The fact that we continue to separate ourselves from the things that keep us alive. Starting from our food all the way to even the air that we breathe in the oxygen that comes from that comes from other living beings and other habitats on this planet.
Our separating ourselves from the nature we depend on, is at the heart of some of the existing conflict over resources, as well as the trajectory that we’re taking towards the collapse of the systems that support us.
Political ecologies is excellent as a term in encompassing this. It says that…Whenever we look at nature and its resources, we need to think about the political, social and economic structures that govern nature. If we’re going to talk about its conservation.
And at the same time, if we’re looking at development; We need to think about the ecological processes that support. These social processes.
To be honest, we’re all implicated.
The phone that I’m using now to speak with you. About sustainability the components that were used to make this phone are not sustainable. The coffee that I am sipping on at the moment is is it supposed to be ethically sourced but in the end, it’s probably come from somewhere very far away. That in itself, we’ve become so dependent on these things.
Back when I was 15, my father was imprisoned by the Mubarak regime. Or The regime that was in power in Egypt for 30 years. My father was sentenced to four five years in prison. At that time, I remember specific telling myself things like alright. You have a minute to feel whatever you want to feel
And then as soon as that minute’s done. Switch it off. Switch it off, go back continue about your day don’t revel in your head, just move along and I remember being 15 and telling myself these things. And while obviously that might not always be the best solution. I remember forcing myself to just to be able to disconnect from the anxieties and the fears in my head.
To be able to just continue to function. Ten years later when I found myself…. Acknowledging my anxiety for the first time, I realized that I’ve been breathing wrong my entire life. We’re not taught how to breathe when we’re kids no one tells you to breathe through your stomach when you’re a child.
In my last year of university I was I was studying political science and law and then my last year I got involved in a music project that made music out of garbage.
So recycling and upcycling waste to make music and to raise environmental and social and political awareness using it using music as as a means. That music project introduced me to the people that I ended up working with for the years to come.
I’m Judith Schleicher. I am a postdoc in the Geography department here in the University of Cambridge and I also work together currently as a consultant with U.N. Environment world conservation monitoring centre. I’ve always been interested in tropical forests the diversity the people who live there the cultural diversity biodiversity everything and trying to protect that and also understanding people and the relationship with them better. When I was doing my PhD I started meditating a lot and then when there was opportunity to work on the relationship between nature and people after my page that just seemed to bring all these things together.
From this location what we can see is concrete and a parking lot. And you know if that’s the environment people grow up and we even get less connected with age I think that not only has a very negative impact on our passive development in our personal growth and our society but it also means that in the future we might care even less about what we have left. I think what is particularly important is that we also look inwards we need to think about ourselves our own well-being and work on making the changes from within. And then we can make changes beyond that. And so I think those are the kind of things that really need to be part of our education system how we grow up. What are the things that really matter in our lives.
Children spend so much time in schools being taught so many things that are just involving our intellect in terms of thinking about it but they don’t really think about how do we build emotional resilience how do we think about our wellbeing how do we think about it own mindset. Really taking care of that is so important. And if we could make that a fundamental part of a person’s life when they grow up from where they grew up I think that would be a huge positive change.
I would love to see for example mindfulness a meditation being part of the normal school curriculum and then people start thinking about what is it that matters in my life. And what are the things that are important.
We really internalize all of those things and then we can also have the discussion at a much broader scale. As a community scale to society scale as a national scale of which the direction we want to go into. But it really has to start at a personal level. So. Many people are not familiar with it and they don’t really know what it means. They might as you said for example Buddhism whether they have religious connotations when it doesn’t have to.
It can be secular. Nothing to do with religion. Spiritual doesn’t mean that you have to but even one specific religion. It can be really challenging to work in conservation because you’re always fighting an uphill battle. Basically you’re always confronted with bad news and also the way often we talk about it is in a very negative way.
I was improving my fieldwork and lots of things were going wrong. And then my friend said who’s been meditating for a very long time. She’d started when she was a teenager and she said oh there’s this meditation course. Ten-day silent course coming up, and in Lima where are, It’s like why didn’t you just do it? I was like sure I’d never thought about what meditation is or anything.
So I was like Sure. And then one night I said I was like Why would I do that.
I just did this 10-day course without knowing anything about it. I didn’t know what meditation was. I had no idea what I would get myself into. I was amazing experience life changing. I mean in a 10 day course you go through so many things and ups and downs but every minute you put into it it’s worth it. I had so many positives but the strongest one was definitely this sense of inner peace that I’ve never felt that way before.
Not only just knowing but really feeling that happiness or contentment has nothing to do with anything external.
And of course, that’s things that we might intellectually know but really feeling it is a very different things and experiencing it. You know of course there is always daily struggles of internalizing it. And that will continue that knowing that is a very big gift to experience. I’ve done a few of these courses and every time at the end it’s just so nice when you haven’t talked for while.
For 10 days as your mind is just so focussed and so clear and you realize how we are impacted by all this chatter and so much information being fed into our brain all the time you really realize what the impact is. As soon as you start talking your mind just goes crazy.
One very important first step is awareness. So you know when you’re saying that you feel you become more sensitive but maybe you’ve just become aware of something that was always there as just that before you weren’t aware of it. So that means you couldn’t look after your body in the way that it needed attention maybe otherwise. You know. The same processes might have gone on is just that you wouldn’t have been aware of the impact it had on you. I mean I can totally connect with what you said about nature providing that space where you can develop all these things. Many of the things that I experienced through meditation of I guess they just came naturally in nature before. If I sit in a forest which is the environment I love, I feel never alone. I can feel alone be surrounded by lots of people are being in a non-natural environment. But I will not feel alone if I’m just in a forest and just being. Whereas in our society we always tool we have to be productive. We have to be doing we have to be doing things. It’s much more healthy to move away from that at least some time and just be be it with nature or be it with other people. And that is what ultimately creates contentment and happiness from within. And Nature provides the natural space for doing that.
Your mind is just in the moment.
The meditation course where I was helping over the years, so I was in the kitchen we were cooking 430 140 people. Which is it can be very demanding because you know cooking for so many people and very strict, strict time slots is probably what many people would call a stressful environment with people I’ve never worked together with but they were all meditators and they’re all aware or at least much more conscious about these things. And it was not only a work very well it was also good fun and we were great teamwork. So, if I could translate that into my day to day world everyone would be amazing.
I started meditation 7 years ago. I meditate daily at least one hour a day sometimes more. I mean it makes a huge difference to my day to day life. And it’s also made a huge difference of how I probably think about conservation.
Before I started meditating all that gloom and doom rhetoric sometimes can be really disempowering and make you feel just really difficult to think that you can really make a positive change in what if you don’t.
So that is very difficult sometimes to grasp. With meditation I also had a sense that you know we’ll be fine eventually, and nature will be able to cope whether humans were kept to cope. That’s a different question. I guess yes it made me more peaceful from within that I can do whatever I can in my possibilities to fight for a more just and more environmentally sustainable world. But I can be fine with whatever happens.
I’m Christopher Eberhard… I’m Austrian. Now, I’m based in the South of France, Archachon.
To put it in a nutshell like my whole life has been devoted to, um, I would say a quest for peace, or harmony; a living harmony.
So, it manifested on the one hand, let’s say more social sciences. I had a career as a legal anthropologist, between Law and Social Sciences, trying to see how we could live together in a more dialogical way, understanding each other and harmonizing each other a bit better.
And then the second aspect was like dialogue with inner dialogue and with nature and that especially expressed itself in my interest with the traditional arts especially the Chinese Internal arts and Indian arts like yoga.
For me like this inner resilience would be in this question of dialogue.
Dialogue is listening but it’s not only listening with your ears it’s listening with your heart. And even more than that is listening with your soul.
We can experience that in our very, very day to day experience it’s just like taking some time not starting to speak immediately taking five minutes or 10 minutes just to harmonize, before doing something.
Just letting the mind settle, being rooted in a certain way.
Sometimes people don’t want to do it, they say they don’t have time to do it, but actually just this sitting quietly, calmly, in a certain way completely changes the whole atmosphere.
And if you do it, you would find that people are much, much, more open to real dialogues, to listening to each other, to really sharing their experiences, than if you do it without that quiet time at the beginning.
So, you start to dialogue with another human being. Really dialogue, in the sense that you really wanted to listen to that person, and you, you let yourself be challenged, by maybe the world view that he presents or the sensitivity that he’s expressing.
While it may on the one hand be enriching, but sometimes it may be very shocking. You know. We, we may not really want to hear certain things, or we do not really hear certain things until we have heard them back a hundred times and then suddenly you’re like “Oh wow. There was something deeper than I thought.”
So when this happens it’s, it’s a kind of a challenge, also, some that leads to a second kind of dialogue which is the dialogue with which I call with ‘oneself;’ you start to become aware of what our, let’s call it invisible horizon of action and living things.
And for that actually we need the dialogue with others, because otherwise we can never become aware of our own personal window. And then when you start to deepen this dialogue with others and yourself by listening more to yourself. You also start to realize that actually you are connected to the nature all around you.
That in a certain way, once the sensitivity to listening has been opened up, well, you start to listen to the trees to the sun then the flowers to the to the clouds, in a certain way they talk to you.
If you want to listen, first you have to empty yourself, and then everything come and talks to you. The dialogical aspect of nature which starts to unfold. So, it’s a dialogue with oneself, with the others with the nature. And then there’s this other dimension which I call like beyond, whatever you want to call it, you know, these things which are beyond words and you cannot really express it, but which is also there.
Sometimes, when we talk about inner, we kind of separated or distinguish it from outer. For me, I would rather say that the experience of also entering in yourself, or entering in dialogue with nature or with the beyond, is more a process of creating links, where there was more links you may have had an idea of a feeling of separation, you know, you’re feeling separate from the others, and you’re feeling separate from nature.
Nature is more objects which are outside; the second world of objects. It’s not living reality.
Even some people… who just see them like objects and some robots which there, which behave in a certain way, but they’re not really persons that we interact with.
And the same thing with ourselves, and we may even ourselves not really…. We do our work. We do our things when our routines. But are we really considering ourselves as another living subject, as such.
There’s four dimensions —and you can start from any of these dimensions.
If you’re somebody who has been growing up in a very natural surrounding, maybe your first dialogue starts with nature. Some people they’re shepherds and they spend lots of time alone for months in the mountains. So probably for them the first kind of dialogue which would start is more like a dialogue with nature, and then the dialogues may come.
For people like me and more like a city person. And so, it’s more confronted with people at the beginning, you know. But the important point is to say that for me all these dimensions are always there. At the moment when we start to open one of these dimensions, dialogue of one of these dimensions, little by little we start to realize how everything is much, much, much more linked together than we ever expected.
It’s not just it’s always easy to go someone see what they don’t have is they don’t have that they don’t have that they don’t have that, and just construct them like the inferior version of yourself, but they can do the same thing, because from their point of view, you don’t have this and don’t have that and don’t have that and so on.
Wouldn’t it be more interesting, instead of trying to fill the other with your own projections, and your own ideas, to just listen, open up and then maybe discover all the plenitude the ‘other’ is. I just started to realize that our lives generally speaking sometimes very often a void to be filled.
You know, we, feel that we have to have a certain social status and we feel that we have to on a psychological level we want to achieve certain things and economical level, which is wonderful, as long as it is not something we just do because we need to fill our lives, and at the moment that we dare to maybe step back a little we may just find out that life is actually very rich and well these things may be happening without us trying to push too hard.
Plenitude means you start to realize all the relationships that you, you are knotting together, through your being.
Just like you have a physical body, considering like a modern western science, we are actually really children of the stars. I mean that is …all the elements that we made of are made in the stars, so we have actually a relationship with them.
So, we have this physiological level, but then we have our emotions, we have our feelings, we have our thoughts; in all these different dimensions are all interlinked. By the contemplation of outside nature, which we perceive as being outside, we actually establish a relationship, one which on the outside level may lead us to this feeling that we that we should not care for the environment because it’s our duty, but because of its beauty. And so, we establish that relationship with the outside nature.
But at the same time, contemplating the outside nature also actually refers us back to our inside nature. You can use the term ecological, but I would just say our, inner nature. What life is about. (laugh)
You are part of nature.
When I say nature, you know there’s nature, and nature there’s the visible nature that we see. And then there’s nature in the sense of let’s call what is the whole planet. And the solar system and the galaxies, and now they are talking about multiverses — all this is part of this other broader concept.
It really links, creating links where we didn’t see links, links where there was separation, little by little to see that things are so much linked, which is very important in the ecological thinking, you start to enter into this more holistic approaches to things because you realize you cannot just cut things into pieces, they’re always related and whenever you change something, someone always has an effect on the whole.
If you start practicing any Qi Gong, if you start practicing any movement, which you will do with the relaxed body, tasting what you’re doing, maybe doing it slowly, and doing it with awareness. Little by little what you will start to feel is what the Chinese often call Qi which is energy.
Again which is experiential, the one feeling that you may have at the beginning, is you will feel some tingling in the fingers or you may feel some warmth that will come, and then if you continue at some point you may feel it more inside, kind of a magnetic feeling. Sometimes you get somewhat like electric feel to it, just the quiet sitting and watching your breath…. Actually, even if you just do this but like you do it every day, and you do it for a couple of hours every day, and so on and so on– at the beginning you are very much in the psychological state. You’re just thinking of this and thinking of that.
And then at the moment, when these things start to settle a little –you like a glass, water and mixed and then it settles and becomes more clear and more transparent. When that stage starts to happen, things start to circulate in your body, that’s like basically what is the whole Qi.
These things are very real.
Christoph at the Foundation for the Contemplation of Nature, India.
So that brings me to the reaction to the experience. The culture we live in, now I’m talking well, city culture, you know like a technological society. It blunts us to a lot of our experiences.
If you live in nature, and you have to live to survive in with nature. Your senses are much much more refined than the kind of senses that we may have like you know living in the cities. So in a certain way we again we colonised our minds and even now I still realise how much my mind is colonised
Very, very, big learning process also…..because you start to realize I do have an innate intelligence, my body does understand certain things, OK. You have to put the awareness. It’s not that you don’t have to do anything. You have to put the awareness. You have to try to listen. You have to practice. It’s not just coming like if you don’t do anything. And once you know little by little to learn, to make the difference between what is your illusions, and your and what things are real, in those what you feel.
We are not gods, we are not the masters of nature, or the kings of nature, no we are just a part of it, a very humble tiny part it.
Humility, the importance of humility.
You recognize yourself as a wonder of the universe. It’s amazing. And the more humble you become, in a certain way, the more beautiful the whole thing becomes.
Nordic by Nature Podcast is an ImaginaryLife.net production created with the support of the Nordic Ministries Please help us by sharing a link to this episode with the hashtag #tracesofnorth and follow us on Instagram @nordicbynaturepodcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on our podcast. Please email me, Tanya, on nordicbynaturepodcast@gmail.com
Noor A Noor worked for Nature Conservation Egypt. Please see www.natureegypt.org. You can follow Noor on Twitter, @Nxoor.
You can follow Judith Schleicher on twitter @j_schleicher (spell it out). You can find Christoph Eberhard’s through his youtube channel, Dialogues for Change or Twitter, @PeaceDialogues.
Sound designed by Diego Losa. See diegolosa.blogspot.com
Judith Schleicher, ON INNER RESILIENCE
Ajay Rastogi and I went to Cambridge University and had the honour to be shown around David Attenbourough House and the Depeartment of Geography by PhD fellow Judith Schleicher. Judith is part an active member of Extinction Rebellion, a growing movement that is demonstrating and campaigning for increased climate change awareness and action. She is also a regular meditator and helped us to hold a nature-centred mindfulness session and seminar at David Attenbourough House.
Judith’s work with UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre looks at the links between the environment, human wellbeing and poverty. The pursuit of human wellbeing is one of the primary goals for Society and is a key focus of the #SustainableDevelopmentGoals (#SDGs), adopted in 2015.
Transcript of Judith Schleicher, ON INNER RESILIENCE
I’m Judith Schleicher. I am a postdoc in the Geography department here in the University of Cambridge and I also work together currently as a consultant with U.N. Environment world conservation monitoring centre. I’ve always been interested in tropical forests the diversity the people who live there the cultural diversity biodiversity everything and trying to protect that and also understanding people and the relationship with them better.
When I was doing my PhD I started meditating a lot and then when there was opportunity to work on the relationship between nature and people after my page that just seemed to bring all these things together.
I would love to see for example mindfulness a meditation being part of the normal school curriculum and then people start thinking about what is it that matters in my life.
And what are the things that are important.
We really internalise all of those things and then we can also have the discussion at a much broader scale. As a community scale to society scale as a national scale of which the direction we want to go into. But it really has to start at a personal level. So. Many people are not familiar with it and they don’t really know what it means. They might as you said for example Buddhism whether they have religious connotations when it doesn’t have to.
I was improving my fieldwork and lots of things were going wrong. And then my friend said who’s been meditating for a very long time. She’d started when she was a teenager and she said oh there’s this meditation course. Ten day silent course coming up, and in Lima where are, It’s like why didn’t you just do it? I was like sure I’d never thought about what meditation is or anything. So I was like Sure. And then one night I said I was like Why would I do that.
And of course, that’s things that we might intellectually know but really feeling it is a very different things and experiencing it. You know of course there is always daily struggles of internalising it. And that will continue that knowing that is a very big gift to experience. I’ve done a few of these courses and every time at the end it’s just so nice when you haven’t talked for while.
For 10 days as your mind is just so focussed and so clear and you realise how we are impacted by all this chatter and so much information being fed into our brain all the time you really realise what the impact is. As soon as you start talking your mind just goes crazy.
Episode 2: ON SURVIVAL Transcript
Direct link to Transistor:
https://share.transistor.fm/s/39486f1f
In the second episode On Survival, we have 3 strong voices who understand the need for radical, system change. First you hear the words of Monica Kucia, culinary curator in Warsaw, who talks about how to take the ego out of food. Then you will hear Design Leader Daniel Wahl, author of Regnerative Cultures who speaks about bioregional development. Finally, we hear Helena Norberg-Hodge, author of Ancient Futures, and founder of the NGO Local Futures.
Transcript to the Podcast
Tanya’s Voice: Welcome to Nordic By Nature: ON SURVIVAL.
It’s been a hot summer with amazing electrical storms and unpredictable weather. I’ve been at home reading about the Norwegian Philosopher Arne Naess.
He defined the term Deep Ecology and offered a serious vision for systemic change.
For example;
Number 1. Humanity cannot survive without Nature. We need to design all our systems and concepts around that notion. Our current economic model of perpetual growth, for example, is not viable, nor useful for the dignity of mankind.
Number 2. Diversity is life. We need to cultivate biological and cultural equity locally, as well as reducing carbon emissions globally. Our co-existence with nature is dependent on the equity of our global community and the legal and moral right of every living being to exist as part of an ever-changing eco-system.
Number 3. Organizations must review their societal purpose and enable sustainable livelihoods. Our governments and organisations need to declare a global climate emergency and mobilise together.
You will hear three people working towards this change.
First, culinary curator Monika Kucia, explains how she takes the ego out of serving food. Monika runs a farmer’s & producers’ market in Warsaw and hosts cultural food events that connect all types of people.
Then you will hear from design leader and educator Daniel Wahl. Daniel’s book Designing Regenerative Cultures is must for anyone interested in transformative innovation.
Lastly, you will hear Helena Norberg-Hodge, author of Ancient Futures, a seminal work that compares the way of life in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, before and after globalisation.
I hope you have time to sit back and relax and listen to this podcast with your headphones.
My name is Monica Kucia, and I’m a food writer and food curator so I design culinary events that are also artistic and have some social aspect.
Everything I do seems to be around food, but I find more and more when I get older that it’s everything is actually connected and if food is the medium that I use in my work it’s never only about food.
It’s always about connections relationships is about art is about history.
It’s about family and this what really makes my heart beat faster if I see that I can I’m able to join all these aspects around a table, and around the taste around experience of eating or cooking.
I think I was sort of born with this intuition like you know you. So, I started to being interested in food very early. Like when I was a teenager. And then when I started writing about it like 20 years ago, it was just fascinating that it’s so different in every region, and also it’s very different in every personal story. Probably you have a completely different story than I have.
We actually can say that there is the food voice. There is something that you express about yourself through the food. So this is what I started exploring probably 13 years ago when I published the first book. It’s like the sun and everything else is like sort of moving around it.
It’s sensual because it involves all our senses, and also it connects people because it’s about feeding and feeding is giving the energy. So it’s about the flow, how it goes between the people.
Everywhere I go, I meet food people, I always connect with them instantly. They have similar sensitivity or a similar approach to many things. They are more open maybe. So it’s a big tool for making friends, for talking about anthropology, for also having fun and enjoying yourself.
It is everything in one, you know! (laugh)
As humanity, as people we went wrong somewhere. Probably in the 20th century or even maybe before that when there was the industrial revolution. I would blame the mass production basically and the greed and indulgence.
It’s more now about pleasing oneself than about feeding myself. You know it’s not always that if I want to please myself it’s actually good for me or good for other people or good for the planet.
So because we have means and we have the global system we can have any food we want.
And in the end it’s not a good thing. It destroys nature.
But what I’m saying is that we went wrong and maybe there is no way back. But what we can do now is make our personal choices that are wise and we should use our knowledge and awareness to stop the process of destroying our home which is the earth.
So, we started doing the farmer’s market in Warsaw in April.
We prepared it for a long time. And the idea is to bring the real food with the real people that are making it to the people who live in the inner city.
We have some markets with organic food in Warsaw, we have markets with producers’ other markets.
In this area, where we started it, in Praga, Centrum Praskie Koneser, there is nothing like that. So we thought that it’s good to give it a shot.
And for me what’s really important is that there is a relationship possible, that you can talk to the person who produces the food. So, it changes our attitude, and the way we are used to do shopping, nowadays, that you just come to the shelf and pick whatever you want, because you are the king, the king of the supermarket.
And here is a person who’s touched all these sausages or fish or veg or cheese or anything else that we have there with their own hands.
This is personal. Shopping becomes personal. In this situation that you just come you get to know these people. It’s more for me. It’s very important to respect these people so just to show them respect because they work very hard and they give us very good quality healthy food.
For me it’s a work of turning around the idea of shopping. It’s more about me coming to these people to get my food to feed my family rather than being the picky gourmet customer who just looks for the best product.
I think we should really support each other, and we should really change the proportions in my opinion. This is how it should be. So, the village feeds us so we should appreciate them, and we should respect them.
We don’t value food anymore because it was so cheap. It can be so cheap, and it’s so easily obtainable. We are facing the fact that it might change during our lives like that the food will not be that easily obtainable
I had a grandmother in a little village, and she worked really hard because it was like a small farm and everything was from this small farm. Everything we had what it means that there was no trash. There was no garbage. Nobody would ever take any trash because there wasn’t any.
There was a shop in this village, and it was open twice a week for I think four hours. There was no plastic, so I remember buying like notebooks for writing. There was not much in this shop so they would produce everything for themselves exchange with the neighbours. And it was very hard life. It was not fun.
Waking up at 5:00 in the morning. It’s not something that we would regard as this nostalgic sentimental vision of the village.
So, what I’m saying is that I understand that we have become so comfortable like in the cities like this probably two percent of older people in the planet that we have the access to the goods from all over the world.
And we don’t have to really work with our hands obviously nowadays they have machines they have resources from the European Union they get money is very different.
The Simple Life is hard at the simple basic one small farm with two cows and one pig farm.
It’s just hard life.
Therefore, we should appreciate and respect the people who still take the effort and they actually do it with their own hands, rather than eat the artificial food becomes less and less actual food. It becomes a product.
It becomes processed item that has no connection with where it comes from. Usually we don’t know what it comes from. We don’t ask this question when we buy. I don’t know readymade pizza. You don’t really ask the questions Where do the ingredients come from.
Climate change. This is something that I think most people don’t really take seriously.
This is us being lazy. It will finally probably kill us if we keep doing it.
Cooking some potatoes and some carrot. And it doesn’t take that long.
This is more about our approach. People make choices and sometimes it’s more important to do something else.
But still I observe here in Poland that we have had so much ready-made food, in the last five years that I have never seen before.
Still with this huge interest in cooking in food in the culinary program’s culinary books, all these like celebrities there is more and more ready-made food cooking becomes a luxury. In a way with our farmers market is a struggle. I would say.
We need to convince people that it’s better to come there to get to know these people and come every week. To have your ex straight from the farm, to have your meat if you eat meat, and to have other things straight from the people. But this is the effort. And this is in your mind.
This is how you see yourself how you would see the community how much you connect.
I never would say that food is the most important thing, because people can be extremely healthy and destroy their relationships destroy the planet destroy themselves in different aspects, like emotionally or spiritually.
So, what I’m saying is that food is just one of the factors.
I don’t believe that anything can be taken apart like separate from other things. Food is something that everybody needs every day. True, but if you live in harmony and I’m not saying I live in harmony but I know some people who do they have this sense of proportion.
So, there is the place for food but they are not crazy about it.
We want the children to be healthy so they shall eat healthy food.
But you know when you don’t respect yourself and don’t mean good for yourself you will never understand why do you need this healthy food.
It’s about the relationships you have. It’s about the family you create friendships.
If you mean good for yourself and for the others. If you are an openhearted then you eat the food that actually nourishes your and is good for you. And you are aware of all the aspects because you are aware.
So, food is actually a part of mindfulness I would say as much as anything else, like sleeping, loving food just reflects our attitude towards us towards the planet towards other people.
This is the same is about clothes, making clothes, buying new clothes, new shoes.
If we realize how much effort and pain and struggle there is behind these foods or the clothes or other goods that we are getting if we realize how cruel it the businesses, then we would really make different choices probably as consumers.
So, it’s not just white western world. It’s more about economic power.
This why if you want to be fair it’s better to buy locally because then if you know what it comes from you can say that you do honest choices.
Yeah. Otherwise you never know.
So, this why coming back to these communities.
I’m for example in this group on Facebook that it’s only with my neighbour it’s like not neighbours in my building because I know them personally.
But like in the district in the area I think this is the future. There is a lot of exchange. There is a lot of no money business.
We have the currency. Avocados or wine aren’t the currency, something that we all want.
More like a barter. But there is also the currency.
This is something that it’s so informal.
There is no bureaucracy.
I just lend you my bike because you need, it and I trust you, and you will give it back after two days, and I trust with that.
And this is normal behaviour and It’s nothing new. Like people have lived like this forever probably.
Because we depend on each other.
But what I’m saying is that with the global globalization and then with this problems that it brings with itself, the only solution is to get back to these roots, to something that is real and it’s just close to you and you can touch it. I just believe that the future is sensual. Getting to make stuff with our hands, really.
I believe this is the only rescue.
We will never create a proper paradise probably here. But when I’m creating my events the things that I’m doing with the food, around food, connected with culture and rituals and some traditions and history.
I just see that people want to have something real.
This is really what wakes them up.
It brings real value rather than just fun or entertainment. What I believe and what I’m doing is to get people involved rather than present something. So, they are your words and they can judge it.
If you are a part of something, then you feel responsible for it, because it depends on you. It’s up to you. You are a participator. And this is what I believe also in gastronomy, like, this why I work with the village women with homeless people, with the like really unknown cooks.
What I’m saying is that when you have the famous chef and the creation of course you relate to this person or to the dish you can get very touched very emotional.
But on the other hand, you have this chef who wants to be famous and then you have the customer who also wants to be regarded as of a higher status because they can eat in this place because they have money.
This is about ego.
This is not a simple exchange.
It’s more about the status and about the whole spectacle but meaning like “showing off.”
What’s more important, more interesting to explore, is all these worlds of other people who also feed their families, feed other people, but they don’t do it to show off.
We’re all makers and we are all capable of doing things.
I also go to the little villages to listen to old people who still sing the old songs like real folk music.
I’ve been told that in the traditional singing the songs is more most important, so the song goes through the singer. We are only passing it through.
Also, the recipe the traditional whatever, spaghetti carbonara, or Polish broth or Pierogi or whatever; we are just transmitting.
We are the stewards, and this is about not being too humble because you can be a great steward, but you don’t own it and here it is the song doesn’t belong to anybody. It belongs to the community and the singer has the privilege to sing it.
When there is less ego than you just enjoy the process because you are connected, and you are a part of something bigger than you.
And I think that this is what really makes us feel really safe, like beings, that we are connected, because this is what we all want, somewhere inside.
In the food area it’s also for me important to remember that food is about actually about feeding you feed your family.
You feed yourself your feed your community in whatever way you can because you can feed them with water so you can feed them with films you can feed them with food.
Especially in Polish. There is the word in Polish, Poshivina, it is more like ‘giving life’ and it means food. This is very important for me to remember this. I’m just serving. I’m serving something but you respect me for serving this to you. There is no power game in it.
This is how I tried to create the events and… and I have had this experience for several years now that people need it.
I don’t believe in the fixed national, nationality like in the way that my identity is solid, because I’m the traveller and everybody’s a traveller.
If my life is a journey, then I’m changing. I’m just an inhabitant of the earth, basically, at the moment.
Anything is sort of solid like a monument it’s never real. And if something is real nobody will take away it from you. It’s impossible.
We are flowing with whatever is happening through the history. And please remember that kitchen is something that never stops. It’s always changing.
If we say about traditional cuisine to what point do we refer?
What year? What period? It’s like telling fairy tale.
It’s constantly changing because people bring products because we are omnivores, so we eat everything.
It’s constantly changing.
There is no other thing that changes so fast as cuisine, as the food to world.
I’d rather say “Kitchen in Poland” than Polish cuisine.
People are scared and they need to hang on to something, because they don’t want to accept the fact that it’s all about insecurity.
This is also about the ego.
Nature will win anyway.
Nature doesn’t need us. It’s not like that we aren’t an important factor for an age. If you watch Chernobyl. Yeah? it’s growing back. So, the nature will deal with this problem when there is not more humans.
Maybe we are coming to a disaster. I don’t know.
But also, only my intention matters.
So if I do the right thing as much as I can do I try hard.
It’s about my heart.
It’s not about anything else.
I’m not optimistic for humanity. It’s about system. It’s about the big money that is behind these things that are happening, that took us to this point where we are.
This is about fossil fuels. This is about global politics.
The system is just making it more dangerous for the planet.
The ego is the centre, or central problem is the ego.
Daniel Christian Wahl
My name is Daniel Wahl. I used to be a marine biologist, got disheartened with reductionist science and lack of including other ways of knowing into the way we do science, and ended up doing a Masters in holistic science at Schumacher college.
At that point, I realized the power of Design in putting this new holistic world view of Gaia theory and Goethian and holistic science interaction, and have been on this path of a sense of exploring how we can redesign the human presence and impact on earth within our lifetime, so we can actually have a future as a species, because we are currently facing the possibility of short term human extinction, if we don’t fundamentally change our ways.
Life is a planetary process. And we are part of that planetary process.
I work a lot now within with the term regenerative design and regenerative development.
Sustainable being something that is really ways of doing things that don’t add any more damage to the system.
And restorative and regenerative, going beyond that, and actually trying to undo the damage that we’ve done over so many decades and centuries of very unsustainable practices.
So, it’s very much about finding solutions that come out of ‘place.’
That attuned to the story that the place itself wants to tell, and the people who have lived with it for generations. But it also is central that it’s about enabling their capacity – of the people who actually live in that place to respond to change as in an inevitable.
My belief is that design has a huge part in making that possible.
Well, the process of the United Nations responding to climate change has been painfully slow.
With the Paris breakthrough, there’s been some form of commitment of staying under two degrees average warming globally. But more recently the IPCC has revised that, and has said that it’s necessary to actually stay below one point five degrees. The reality is we’re not on track at all.
We’re on track to six seven eight degrees warming which basically would mean the unravelling of ecosystems around the globe and the end of civilization as we know it.
The most recent report actually it was November 2008 in gave the world 12 years to fundamentally respond to this crisis. But I think that again the IPCC has a tendency to be conservative, so they don’t get criticized. And 12 years is too long of a window of opportunity to give ourselves.
I think Antonio Guterres the Secretary General of the U.N. in September last year was probably more on the mark by saying that if we don’t respond within the next two or three years, in the way that is unprecedented in terms of international collaboration, then we might have triggered runaway climate change to a point that even if we decide afterwards to do something about it, it would be too late.
We don’t even know half or more than half of the species yet that exist. Particularly the species in the soil microbes. We’re just at the beginning of cataloguing them all.
And really that’s where soil fertility starts, and with it the foundations for higher lifeforms.
It’s really understanding that every single species does matter and has a role to play in creating this collaborative symbiotic system that is basically life as a planetary process.
And we’re part of it, and we’re completely dependent on it.
I strongly believe in the power of design.
I think ultimately, it’s about design as human intentionality expressed through interactions and relationships. It covers product design but it also covers other more complex issues like monetary systems, transport systems our whole economic system and even the way we do research in the different academic disciplines.
There’s a design decision at the beginning of each discipline. So, basically any act human intention has a design element in it.
In that sense, the most powerful design intervention is the meta design intervention of changing people’s world views and value systems, and the stories we tell about each other and in our relationship to nature. When you shift that then our perceived and our real needs shift.
And with that our intention shifts in everything down stream changes.
I think design is powerful and designers very often oversell it, and most design schools still haven’t actually woken up to how critical design and deep ecological design thinking could be to the survival of our species.
There are a lot of companies out there who are supplying things we don’t really need or they’re supplying them in a way that is based on programmed obsolescence and turnover of products.
And I don’t think that that kind of business practice has a future.
I think we need to create much more durable products that much more easily repairable at a local level.
But we also need to create products that are to some extent, the components are more recyclable. But really if you go deeper, you realize that most of the materials we make things out of, we’re going to run out of sooner or later.
So, all that thinking around Circular Economy and two loops in the Circular Economy diagram with a cradle to cradle diagram, the industrial metabolism and the biological metabolism, they’re really just concepts.
Ultimately, we’re going to have to shrink the industrial metabolism because most of the materials in that cycle we won’t be able to recycle forever.
So, one of the big oversells around that is this concept of upcycling. It doesn’t actually work to up cycle things indefinitely, unless you have a free source of energy and there is no such thing.
We’re really needing to fundamentally shift our material culture towards more bio-materials that are regenerative grown, in the region, for the region, and based on the resources that that particular ecosystem has to offer.
It has to be done in such a way that it doesn’t destroy the rest of the ecosystem. So, the contrary, it has to be done in a way that it regenerates the ecosystem.
Basically, these companies are beholden to their shareholders. They operate within a system that is fundamentally exploitative and degenerative. Then that system is our current economic system.
The way that we’ve designed money and the way money is created and the way that we have differential interests on deposit and loans and therefore create an economic playing field that is based on a zero-sum thinking, so basically on winners and losers. And while we have a system like that, and we have that necessity that a national economy needs to grow at a minimum at 3 percent per annum otherwise it collapses,
There are a lot of top-level sustainability minded CEOs that really do care, and yet they are stuck in a system where to some extent, most of what they do is moving deck chairs on the Titanic.
Ultimately, they really need to consider that maybe the assumption that these companies, just because they’ve been around for 100 years, have to be around for another hundred years, might be an erroneous assumption.
Maybe some of these companies actually have to program for their own… or design for their own death in ways that they can then re-emerge in like a phoenix from the ashes, as knowledge networks that help more regional production and regional consumption [00:09:39] With the innovation and development that they’ve been very good at.
That’s at the CEO level.
But for a lot of people who are working in these companies, who are beginning to see that their children are not going to school on Fridays because they’re claiming they’re right for a Liveable Future. Or they see London being disrupted by the Extinction Rebellion and more and more people getting more and more verbal about the fact that it’s five past 12.
We don’t even have a guarantee that we are still going to be able to make it if we do things fundamentally different now.
Most people today are still somewhat stuck in beginning to realize how profound the changes are that we are now called to do individually, as communities, as nations, and as one human family. And at the same time making sure our kids are in school, and that we can pay their bills, so the food’s on the table.
But we are facing transformative change in a way that these incremental innovations, and these incremental changes, just aren’t going to make it in time. So, hold onto your hat.
We have to relearn how to collaborate.
Moving from competitive advantage to collaborative advantage. And realizing that we’re all in this together. Living Spaceship Earth is in danger of collapsing on us.
We’re living in a dream-nightmare, that that tells the story that was somehow separate from nature that culture and nature are not one.
I’m increasingly thinking that working by regionally is the scale at which we can make the biggest difference.
Bio- regionalism has been around since the late 1960s, and this whole concept of re habitation re inhabiting our bio regions, and reconnecting to the biological cycles, the ecological cycles of those regions,
Increasingly also the conversation about what would sustainable cities look like– Understand that it is a reconnection of the city back to its region. So, I could definitely see that there could be models developed in Sweden.
It’s the same with a lot of regions that people have strong allegiance to their particular region.
And so, I think that’s a great starting point because one of the core things about regenerative development and creating regenerative cultures is that they are born out of the uniqueness, the bio cultural uniqueness of place.
They are sensitive to both the ecological and biological uniqueness of the ecosystems they inhabit, but they also are sensitive to the historical cultural dimension, of how people have lived in relationship with nature, and with the elements and with climate, and with the patterns of that particular place, and I think it makes …makes a lot of sense to rekindle those regional identities, but to not do so in a sort of parochial “Let’s go back and pull up the draw bridges, and create lifeboats in a turbulent world” But as understanding that that is the scale of action for a globally collaborative effort to heal the planet, that we have raped and pillaged, basically, and in doing so possibly also heal ourselves, heal our relationship to each other and heal the relationship between humanity and nature.
I know that in Costa Rica there’s a movement to create a bio-regional regenerative development case study in one part of the country. And actually the whole country is looking at adopting regenerative development as.. as their main development strategy.
Things are shifting.
Luckily, I also see that there’s a confluence of movements in all walks of life like people trying to transform business from within.
In recent years the Capital Institute started initiatives to work with people in regions to create these “regen” economy hubs at the bio regional scale.
This movement is growing and the different players unnecessarily fully aware of themselves.
I’m also thinking of the Planetary Health Alliance with network of universities and research institutions around the world doing the research and looking into the connections between planetary health ecosystems, Health Population, Health and individual health.
We need to really understand the intrinsic value of our life and planetary health to the whole community of life.
And then there’s organizations like Common land in the Netherlands who’ve developed functional strategies to do large scale ecosystems restoration, working with local farmers, and local landowners, in specific areas around the world, and transforming entire regions that are between 500,000 and a million hectares.
The momentum is building.
I think the next two years are critical. I’m still hopeful.
We are actually going to see this transformative change to become a global emergency response.
It’s only now that we’re slowly beginning to link up the people who have pioneered works in sustainable cities and sustainable architecture and in more bio-materials construction methodologies and so forth with new and pioneering in buy materials and product design, with all the wonderful work that is in kind of Earth Care and earth healing, eco-therapy, from permaculture to agroforestry to analogue forestry and all these other techniques that have been around for a while and have been improved over years and years of experimenting.
We also have lots of case studies to point out that we can if we choose to have a positive impact on the environment that we inhabit. There are plenty of places around the world where large scale regenerative agricultural projects have shown impressive ways; the before and after that is possible in 15, 20 years.
I am thinking of the Lös plateau example that John Low (?) was now founded the ecosystems respiration camp Foundation reported on in the early 2000s. In China, an area of hundreds of square kilometres was being transformed from arid eroding semi desert, to lush terraces that are bio productive with the springs coming back and the tree cover being permanent again, and basically increasing the carbon content in the soil, drawing down carbon from the atmosphere, improving the bio productivity of the area, improving the hydrology of the area, improving the amount of food that it generated and so on.
These things are possible, and there are examples all over the world.
The way that life creates conditions conducive to life is by continuously experimenting with novelty, and so things keep changing. Our planet sits within larger systems as well, that also affect how the conditions on our planet change.
There is no destination sustainability. There is no destination regenerative culture. It is a continuous community-based process of learning of how to adapt and how to respond creatively to change.
[00:20:13] To do so in ways that we enable people to discover their own essence, their unique contribution to making the system more vibrant and more vital and more valuable. But in all levels of value. not just in economics to economic terms.
We all have to walk that path. That is what life is all about. To be adaptive, resilient and regenerative — respond to change.
I’m Helena Norberg Hodge and I’m the director of Local Futures, an international charity. For the last almost 40 years I’ve been promoting what I call ‘decentralization’ or ‘localization’. And that’s because I had the experience of working in cultures that had not been affected by the global market. Cultures like Bhutan and Ladakh, and later on a lot of experience with places like Laos and many parts of the world.
In the mid 70s, Ladakh or Little Tibet, it was a part of the world that had not been colonized nor developed in the modern era. And there I found people who were still providing for all their basic needs from their own resources producing a range of things, some vegetables, grain, they kept animals there had their own architectural tradition of local materials. They still wove their own clothes from their own wool. And I started at first working on a dictionary, and travelled, actually walked through the whole region, it’s about the size of Austria. But in this high-altitude desert there were small villages, that survived by irrigating the desert from glacial melt.
As I got to know the people, I found that they were the most relaxed, the most joyous, the most vibrant people I had ever met.
I also saw that the opening up to the area to outside development was beginning to bring rapid change.
So, I ended up starting projects to demonstrate an alternative to conventional development, which among other things included demonstrating renewable energy as an alternative to fossil fuels.
I also had my eyes open to the craziness in the global market.
So, I literally saw in a very short period after the area was opened up have having been sealed off for a long time. But that had travelled for more than a week over the high Himalayan mountains coming in and being sold for half the price of butter that came from the farm next door.
So, this opened my eyes to then doing studies around the world as I was invited to speak or to start projects similar to the one in Ladakh. So that included Bhutan. I was in parts of Africa, invited to Mongolia, to Burma Myanmar, to Laos and everywhere I went. I would keep my eyes open for this. What was happening with the global market and what it was doing to the local production and local producers.
And I found the same pattern; in Mongolia where they had 20 million milk producing animals, in Ulan Bator, most of the butter came from Germany.
In Kenya, I found butter from Holland crossing half the price of local butter and as I returned to Europe. I found the same thing.
I became a passionate advocate of the need to strengthen local economies worldwide.
Small producers; farmers, fishermen, forest workers that were producing a range of things from diverse, adapted species of animals, and plants were being replaced by bigger and bigger monocultures. And they were being pushed off the land into bigger and bigger cities and in those cities, there were fewer and fewer jobs.
Traditionally in these cultures there had been no such thing as unemployment.
As people were driven off the land into larger and larger cities, all of them created through huge investments in fossil fuel-based infrastructure, there was the beginnings of tensions between people who had lived side by side in more local economies, based on local resources where they were interdependent.
Now suddenly they were dependent on anonymous institutions lost bureaucracies.
And there was this dreadful artificial scarcity of livelihoods of jobs.
After only about a decade of opening up the local market the local economy to outside development these pressures led to violent conflict– to bloodshed. People had lived together side by side for generations.
Most people have never experienced intact local economies.
We have a historical development where colonialism and slavery already destroyed more diversified self-reliant local economies. So, once you have destroyed the fabric of interdependence local interdependence fabric or more diversified production, based on biodiversity, then it’s very hard to see a clear path towards localization.
Most people are not looking at the global system.
This is not about good guys and bad guys. At some level we all know that we depend on the living world, we all know that the real economy is the earth. But there is very little clarity I think about the way that we have lost sight of that.
Politically left and right in this regard is completely meaningless.
Finding a way back to a genuinely sustainable way, will require recognizing first of all that, that food is the most important production product that we have. It’s the only thing that every person needs every day. The only thing.
To allow a system where governments are continuing to subsidize greater and greater distance between each individual and the source of their food. That that inefficiency is responsible by far for the ecocide that we’re witnessing.
We have today a system that has allowed this to go so far, that countries routinely import and export the same product.
The US exports about a billion tonnes of beef and turns around and imports about a billion tonnes of beef …. The UK exports as much butter and milk as it imports. Right now, the UK is exporting 20 tonnes of bottled water to Australia. Australia is exporting 20 tonnes of water to the UK.
On top of that in this global food system we now have big business, being basically condemned to roam the world for the cheapest labour and that means that they will fly fish from Norway to be de-boned in China and it’s flown back again.
Apples were flown from England to South Africa to be washed and flown back again. This is going on, on a massive and increasing scale, while we talk about climate change.
At the same time the emissions from those planes and giant container ship that are shipping things back and forth. Those emissions are not even calculated.
This is not about some…one evil corporation or that every CEO is evil or that every government is completely self-interested.
This is about blindness to the workings of a global system that we are simply not looking at. And it requires effort.
We need to look at the trends from a global point of view but look at them on the ground.
Local governments are responding more to the needs of people and the needs of the natural world.
Both people and nature are diverse. This is a fundamental principle of life. A fact.
And we change from moment to moment.
This is true of every plant of every animal and everything that lives.
We must change the economy so that we do not destroy that uniqueness and that life.
What is wonderful is that from the grassroots and very often through just individual initiatives, people have had enough experience, there are a whole proliferation of positive initiatives that when you analyse them from a structural point of view, you see they are about localization. They’re about reconnecting production and consumption and they’re about adapting and respecting the limits and the needs of the living world.
When we made changes to the food economy, we’re making very fundamental very important changes.
People care most people care in every position. We want to do the right thing.
Even in some of the newly emerging hubs for localization, towns like Portland, Oregon, or ‘here I am now’ in Byron Bay Australia. People are moving there because there is more human scale community interaction. People are known more for who they are what they do what they think their values.
So those are far more attractive places to live.
The wonderful thing about localizing is that there is a structural relationship between shorter distances between the market and the farm so that the local market, the market closer to the farm, not only accepts diversity but demands diversity.
It can’t use 20 tons of straight carrots. It becomes economically interesting for the smaller farmer, or even for a bigger one that decides to localize, in order to survive economically, to start diversifying.
So I know of examples of farmers in America that were you know had been pressured to grow monocultures of tobacco almost all in or near bankruptcy, barely able to survive, who then would just convert a few acres of their land to a diverse range of vegetables to sell in the local market, and were then able to start getting back on their feet again.
If we look globally, we can see there is such an urgent need to restore diversified food sovereignty.
Allow people and farmers to produce for themselves first and then keep some of their land or some of the effort for export whether to tourists or to another market.
Trade has always been there. So, this is not about ending trade.
When we start really exposing what’s going on and we understand our absolute need to reduce energy consumption wherever possible but more importantly, all laws to restore biodiversity on the land then a very different picture emerges.
We need to look at how taxes subsidies and regulations are used to favour monopolies. No self-respecting capitalists would actually believe in subsidizing monopolies but that’s what’s going on.
You do feel that there is a shift going on.
There is waking up it’s almost like an intuitive reawakening to what’s in our DNA.
You know we evolved more connected to one another and to the living world. And you just see people coming out of the cities longing for that reconnection to the earth and to community.
Community building combined with a deep spiritual reconnection to nature is an amazing therapy.
So, if we just open our eyes, we would see a very, very, clear path to healing, at the deep psychological personal spiritual level and healing the earth.
It’s amazing how many people are actually wanting to live a life of deeper connection and caring.
There are many ways that people are beginning to come together.
One of them of course is local markets.
There are also local business alliances.
There is local financing, where various forms, where people when they understand about localization start finding ways of creating for instance a revolving fund in their neighbourhood or with their local group that may be starting a food co-op that may be starting a garden at their children’s school.
There are new singing groups.
One of things that held us together as communities in almost all traditional cultures was that we sang and dance and made music together.
Only with the industrialization and commercialization of our lives, that we become a spectator culture.
This localization actually starts to help us regain many of the skills that we all have. And many of the strengths we have which have, we don’t experience when we lead our anonymous consumer lifestyles.
The most important thing we can do as individuals is to seek out like-minded people near where we live, cook a meal together and once we start opening our eyes to it we already feel so much better.
We already have greater faith in humanity. We realize the problem is not humanity. The problem is the in human scale of an economic system that we simply have not been looking at.
This is about how the global population can start providing for its needs and enriching its local economy. I want to see a growth. I want to see growth in healthy plants healthy animals. I want to see a growth in the number of jobs. I want to see a growth in the number of businesses.
Through the mega mergers, it looks like we’re just going to have one pharmaceutical company providing for the whole world. One seed company one water company.
No, we need to shift it so we have a genuine growth of proliferation into a number that is appropriate and that are all that’s the goal of localization; not to end trade but to restore democracy and to restore the responsibility of business to respond to ecological and cultural realities.
Thank you for listening to second episode of Nordic By Nature, ON SURVIVAL.
Thank you very much to Monica Kucia.
You can find Monika on Facebook – (spell Monika Kucia) or her website http://sialababamak.pl/ sia la baba mak
The Polish folk music you heard is from two different singing groups. The first group is from Gołvunecki who are making pierogi.
The Second Singing Ensemble you heard is from Dobrowoda. They have been singing together since 1968. The group have received the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Award.
Monika told me their names: (names listed)
Thank you also to Daniel Wahl.
You can find Daniel Wahl on Twitter, @DrDCWahl
And on Facebook at Regenerative Cultures and at Ecological Consciousness.
Daniel’s book Designing Regenerative Cultures is published by Triarchypress.net.
Daniel also has a blog on Medium at Design for Sustainability.
See DanielChristianWahl.com
And finally thanks to Helena Norberg Hodge.
Helena is the founder of the International Alliance for Localization and the not for profit Local Futures. Please see local futures dot org for tips on how to get started making changes in your local area.
Music and sound has been arranged by Diego Losa and you can find Diego on his web site, Diego Losa dot blogspot dot com.
If you are interested in mindfulness and resilient thinking please read about Ajat Rastogi and his village homestay retreats on found nature dot org. The retreats are based in a village called Majkhali in Uttarakhand India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. You can follow the Foundation for the Contemplation of Nature on Facebook and follow Ajay on Instagram at Contemplation of Nature.
Nordic by Nature is an Imaginary Life dot net production created with the support of the Nordic ministries. Please help us by sharing a link to this podcast with the hashtag #tracesofnorth. And please follow us on Instagram at Nordic by Nature Podcast.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on our podcast so please email me. Tanya on Nordic by nature at imaginarylife.net
We are fundraising on Patreon!
Helena Norberg-Hodge, ON SURVIVAL
Helena Norberg-Hodge is the author of Ancient Futures (1991), a seminal work about traditional systems, globalization and change in the Himalayan region of Ladakh. She is a leading proponent of localization as an antidote to the problems arising from #globalization and founder of the International Alliance for Localization (IAL) in 2014.
Helena Norberg-Hodge also produced and co-directed the award-winning #documentary film The Economics of Happiness (2011), and along with Jerry Mander, Doug Tompkins, Vandana Shiva, Martin Khor and others, she co-founded the International Forum on Globalization (IFG) in 1994.
She is also the founder and director of Australian-based not-for-profit organisation # Local Futures, previously known as the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC). Local Futures is “dedicated to the revitalization of cultural and biological diversity, and the strengthening of local communities and economies worldwide.”
Helena Norberg-Hodge, Nordic By Nature Podcast Transcript.
On top of that in this global food system we now have big business, being basically condemned to roam the world for the cheapest labor and that means that they will fly fish from Norway to be de-boned in China and it’s flown back again.
Apples were flown from England to South Africa to be washed and flown back again.
This is going on, on a massive and increasing scale, while we talk about climate change.
We need to look at the trends from a global point of view but look at them on the ground. Local governments are responding more to the needs of people and the needs of the natural world.
And we change from moment to moment. This is true of every plant of every animal and everything that lives.
So I know of examples of farmers in America that were you know had been pressured to grow mono-cultures of tobacco almost all in or near bankruptcy, barely able to survive, who then would just convert a few acres of their land to a diverse range of vegetables to sell in the local market, and were then able to start getting back on their feet again.
There is local financing, where various forms, where people when they understand about localization start finding ways of creating for instance a revolving fund in their neighborhood or with their local group that may be starting a food co-op that may be starting a garden at their children’s school.
SOUND: 9. FREESOUND 98846__djgriffin__tibetan-nuns-monlam-chant-prayers-bodgaya.wav LOUDER & LONGER
Nordic by Nature Podcast – Out now!
Direct Link to Transistor: https://share.transistor.fm/s/51f13fa5
Nordic by Nature is a new type of mindful and spacious sound-crafted audio podcast inspired by Arne Ness, the Norwegian philosopher who coined the term Deep Ecology.
In ten episodes, and with a global perspective, Nordic By Nature explores human, social and personal resiliency and adaptability that is needed for these challenging times.
The podcast is sent from Sweden and the foothills of the Himalayas by two colleagues who met in 2017; Tanya Kim Grassley and Ajay Rastogi. The podcast is intended to be listened to like an extended exercise in mindfulness; the soundscape has been designed by sound artist Diego Losa.
In the first episode On Activism, we have 3 strong voices who represent many thousands more at the forefront of change.
First you hear the words of Satish Kumar. To people in the ecology movement, Satish Kumar needs little introduction. He has been a world leading activist for over 50 years. In his early 20s, inspired by Gandhi and British peace activist Bertrand Russell, Satish embarked on an 8,000-mile peace pilgrimage together with E.P. Menon.
They walked, without any money, from India to America, via Moscow, London and Paris, to deliver a humble packet of ‘peace tea’ to the then leaders of the world’s four nuclear powers. Satish sends a message to all activists out there! “You are doing something great,” he tells us. All important social change was driven by protest.
After Satish, we meet Marijn van de Geer, a Dutch national, living in London, and active member of the growing, grassroots movement Extinction Rebellion, that staged a 10-day demonstration across London, in April 2019, preceding the UK parliament declaring a climate emergency. Marijn takes us by the hand through the Rebellion, why it is so necessary, and the experience of 10 days non-violent protest.
The Extinction Rebellion Logo – a call for radical action.
We then will hear Siti Kasim, celebrity lawyer and human rights activist who is passionate about the rights of the indigenous people in the Malaysian peninsula, the Orang Asli.
Hashtags to copy: tracesofnorth, Deep ecology, Arne Naess, Tracesofnorth, ecology, conservation, resilience, UNSDG, The Nordics, decolonisation, transformation, bioregionaldevelopment, peace dialogue, sustainability, climate crisis, biodiversity, global challenges, society and culture, monikakucia, danielwahl, helenanorberg-hodge, satishKumar, extinctionrebellion, climateuprising, sitikasim, ajayrastogi, tanyakimgrassley, Sweden, swedishstyle,
Episode 2: ON SURVIVAL
Simple landing page and text to share on social media:
Hashtags to copy/paste: arnenaess, deepecology, tracesofnorth, monikakucia, danielwahl, danielchristianwahl, rejuvenativecultures, helenanorberg-hodge, ajayrastogi
Noor A Noor, Conservationist, Cambridge University
Judith Schleicher, PhD Fellow at Cambridge University
Nordic by Nature is an Imaginary Life production, created with the support of the Nordic Ministries (Norden.org) and in partnership with The Foundation of the Contemplation of Nature. Please help us by sharing a link to this episode with the hashtag #tracesofnorth, and follow us on Instagram Many thanks to Satish Kumar and Elaine Green for their ongoing support and encouragement. Satish is also the editor of Resurgence magazine, and the guiding spirit behind the internationally-respected Schumacher College in the UK. Many thanks to Marijn van de Geer, founder of the consultancy Resolution: Possible, Thanks to Extinction Rebellion members Emma Wallace and Sophie Jenna who also shared their Rebellion sound recordings with us. Please read more about the movements demands for transparency and climate justice on their website. Thank you to Siti Kasim, lawyer, activist and writer of the column Siti Thots on the Star Online. The flute music is a nose flute played by an indigenous Orang Asli man from the Temiar tribe in Kelantan. All the sounds have been arranged by Diego Losa.
You can follow Ajay’s project at the Foundation for the Contemplation of Nature and connect on Facebook and Contemplation of Nature on Instagram. Press contact: nordicbynature@imaginarylife.net Become our patron with even a small donation via Patreon!
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
Podcast core team:
Tanya Kim Grassley, Creator & Host
The podcast is an Imaginary Life AB production. Tanya’s Imaginary Life is a network of creative professionals crossing research, strategy and design. Imaginary Life supports forward-looking organisations to facilitating co-creative processes to redefine their vision, values, design philosophy, brand strategy and shape better communications methods suited to transformation and change. www.imaginarylife.net
Ajay Rastogi, Co-host
Ajay Rastogi is the cofounder of the Foundation for the Contemplation of Nature where he runs courses in Resilient Leadership. Ajay won the Global Maverick Teacher award for this work in 2016. Ajay has has developed the nature-focussed mindfulness method for opening dialogue called the Contemplation of Nature.
www.foundnature.org
Diego Losa, Sound Designer
Each podcast begins with a 5-minute meditative spoken word audio journey. We then hear the voices of our guests, accompanied with sound samples and music arrangements that give space for reflection and open up an emotional connection with the speaker. Born in Buenos Aires, Diego Losa is a master of ’concrete music, sound engineering and contemporary digital tools. He is also professor at the EICAR (International Film school of Paris) at the Regional Conservatory of St Etienne and the Sorbonne University (France) and he composes pieces for film, dance, contemporary performance, television and radio.
http://diegolosa.blogspot.com
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Supporting girls becoming women
20/06/2016 ParentingDaughters, PubertyLucinda
What do you remember about becoming a teenager? Three things about my thirteenth birthday stick in my mind. The first is being thrilled to receive a pair of blue and yellow suede ‘disco skates’. The second is my grandmother sucking in her breath and telling me, “You’re a teenager now. There’s trouble ahead!” And the third is that right after that I lost control skating down a hill and badly skinned my knees and chin.
Secular Western society doesn’t do much to mark the transition from childhood to adulthood. So when a friend recommended a group which supports girls as they move into puberty, Cordie and I went along and in June 2015 Cordie began ‘Girls Journeying Together‘.
Over the last year the girls have met up once a month to explore topics related to growing up. In world which puts a great deal of pressure on young women to look and behave in certain ways, I love the way Kim, who led the group, encouraged the girls to take regular quiet time to tune in with themselves, and to try always to be true to themselves.
While the girls met, we mums would chat over a walk or coffee, our conversation enriched by thought-provoking questions Kim gave us that complemented what she was exploring with the girls that month. In this way, the mothers were able to share our journeys as our little girls become women, which included reflecting on our own experiences of growing up. We found this process surprisingly healing, as we each let go of emotional baggage we’d unconsciously been carrying around since our own teens. I’m sure we all emerged better equipped to support our daughters and to enjoy our changing relationships with them.
We were also inspired by the positive experiences a few of the women had when they were our daughters’ age. Many of the mums recalled starting their periods as a time of secrecy and embarrassment, but hearing one woman talk of being taken out for a celebratory meal, and another being given a special gift to mark the occasion gave us all ideas for how we might do things differently with our own daughters.
An end-of-journey celebration
Last Saturday marked the end of the girls’ year together. To celebrate, Kim invited us mums to join our daughters for a ceremony and party. The girls were asked to prepare something which would show their friends a side of them they may not have seen – to talk about a hobby, for instance. The mums, meanwhile, were asked to think about how our daughters have changed over the last year, and to be ready to hold a metaphorical mirror up to them, reflecting back how we see them.
Managing our overexcitabilities at an intense ceremony
Cordie and I relished the focus the final ceremony provided, but as we absorbed the intense emotional energy of the group, we also had to deal with our OEs.
The combination of my enthusiasm and my OEs means I worry about dominating groups. And while I’m worrying about whether if I’ve said too much (or too little), I waste energy monitoring myself, which leaves me less present to what’s going on around me. What I loved about the girls’ group celebration was that during Kim’s opening meditation she reminded each person in the group to be herself, “no need to be any different, however that is at this moment. Not to have to perform or try to be anyway other than each of us are this evening.” With those beautiful words** I felt myself relax. I remembered that I was among loving friends and that it was the combining of our unique individual energies that made the space so special. (Wouldn’t it be nice if we could see the whole world that way?)
Cordie also had a wobbly moment. For her presentation she chose to sing and play guitar. She sings beautifully, and even though nerves caused her voice to waver slightly, no one noticed and everyone obviously enjoyed her performance. But because she didn’t do her best, Cordie got very tense and upset, which took her attention away from the celebration. Fortunately Kim was on hand to provide loving reassurance (of the kind that we often hear more easily from a non-parent!) and Cordie recovered.
When it was my turn in the spotlight, during the ‘hold a mirror to your daughter’ ritual, I acknowledged not only Cordie’s courage in performing in front of the group but – even more important – her growing willingness and ability to move through the intense negative feelings she sometimes feels. It’s not always easy, but when we’re stuck, simply setting an intention to change our negative thinking is an important step in setting ourselves free to be present to the joy that’s around us. Which in Cordie’s case included entertaining her friends with her singing and playing for most of the subsequent party. 🙂
** I wrote to Kim, asking her to remind me of the special words she used which so put me at my ease. Here’s part of her reply:
“Basically, as in girls’ group, I want everyone to feel ‘right’, however it is that they are feeling. Too often we can make ourselves wrong, or think ourselves wrong, and that is one of the things that we seek to stop ourselves doing over the year in girls’ group – so that we can let ourselves relax and just be who we are, whoever that is today.”
Isn’t that beautiful?
Website – Find out more about Girls Journeying Together at Rites for Girls
Podcast – Listen to Kim speak beautifully about the challenges girls face growing up and how we can support them in this podcast.
Book – The Emerging Woman: How to Celebrate Your Daughter Growing Up by Kim McCabe
Rites of passage (webpage) – a look at how puberty rites and coming of age ceremonies are celebrated around the world.
What do you remember about becoming a teenager?
How are you supporting (or did you support) your child’s transition into and through puberty?
Do you know of any resources about supporting boys growing up?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below, or on the Laugh, Love, Learn FaceBook page.
If you’d like to receive my weekly posts about life in an overexcitable family direct to your inbox, just fill in your email address in the box below or top right.
How Do I Know If My Child Is Highly Sensitive, Has SPD, Is Gifted or Has OEs?
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Lauderdale Live Festival 12/8/13- All photography by Kim Reed
The organizers of Lauder Live in sunny Florida chose an ideal spot for a "winter" festival. Held literally meters from the sparkling Fort Lauderdale River Walk, the two-day fest featured a dynamic selection of talent and 80-degree weather.
Having missed the first day, I could only listen to the name "Jillette Johnson" being mentioned over and over from her performance early in the day on Saturday. Others gushed over Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors and then Robert Randolph and the Family Band, while old and young laughed about dancing the night away to pop veteran Huey Lewis and the News.
On the second sunny day of Lauderdale Live we were treated to a half dozen acts with a decided southern folk/rock bent. Opening was Holly Williams, who is first known as the granddaughter of Hank Williams SR, but newly respected as a solid singer/songwriter in her own right. After a short break (kudos to the whole crew for getting each band on and off in record time throughout the day)The Wild Feathers stormed the stage to present most of their debut album. We hardly recovered from their performance when duo Shovels & Rope appeared and gave an equally lively performance for an adoring contingent of fans. Having never seen them live, I was impressed with their material, talent and enthusiasm.
Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires
The smiles from Shovels and Rope had hardly faded by the time former Drive By Trucker Jason Isbell and his band (featuring his new bride Amanda Shires) took over. They dipped into his new record Southeastern and made a whole new crowd of admirers, as well as satisfying those already hip to Isbell's raucous brand of southern rock. Ending the fest were veterans Indigo Girls and headliner Lyle Lovett, each sprinkling their sets with both old and new material.
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ГлавнаяМагазин антиквариатаКниги и периодикаFrederic P. Miller 1974 75 New York Rangers Season
Frederic P. Miller 1974 75 New York Rangers Season
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1974–75 New York Rangers season was the 49th season for the team in the National Hockey League (NHL). A league realignment had the Rangers moved into the new Patrick Division within the Campbell Conference, where the team finished 2nd with 88 points. They qualified for the playoffs, losing in the preliminary round to the New York Islanders 2–1 in a best of two games series.
Frederic P. Miller 20 Mule Team
В. Г. Глушкова, В. В. Курнышев Региональная экономика. Основы те
Ваза керамическая 21' (Fengxi)
Науково-практичний коментар Закону України «Про порядок виїзду з
Frederic P. Miller 2004 Texas Longhorns Football Team
Ваза РЕНЕССАНС в подарочной коробке
Frederic P. Miller Kyle XY Characters
Nota Bene 10
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Iraq optimistic about promoting electricity industry in cooperation with Iran
Iraq is optimistic about developing the electricity industry in cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, said Iraqi Minister of Electricity Louay al-Khateeb.
The Iraqi energy minister made the remarks after a meeting with the Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, IRNA reported.
Al-Khateeb said that a joint committee has been formed for operationalizing previous agreements for updating the Iraqi electricity system.
The Iraqi minister said, “We will continue imports from Iran until Iraq’s gas fields and power plants achieve self-sufficiency.”
Energy imports from Iran are temporary and will last two or three years, he pointed out.
In February, Iran signed an agreement to extend exports of 1,200 megawatts of electricity to Iraq.
Iraq is the biggest importer of electricity from Iran. It needs more than 23,000 megawatts of electricity to meet domestic demand but the US invasion have left its power infrastructure in tatters and a deficit of some 7,000 megawatts.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the agreements, Ardakanian said debts have been scheduled and repayments have begun.
The Iranian minister said Tehran would cooperate with Baghdad on the reconstruction of the war-stricken country's power industry and training in human resources.
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Foreign Students at Brock University
by S. James Wegg
This article first appeared in the March 22, 2002 edition of the St. Catharines Standard
The journey of a lifetime from the Sudan to St. Catharines
“When you arrive in Rwanda, and you really love your people, and would like to contribute to the future … you decide to stay,” writes former refugee student Innocent Kabenga four months after returning to his native country for the first time since fleeing shortly after his birth.
For Sudanese student Tong Abenego Akok, being in Canada means “I am now a citizen of my country of origin and my country of asylum.
“I have respect for everyone’s ideas and equality. I want to give something back,” he says with determination as we discuss his first year in Niagara as a refugee student sponsored by the World University Service of Canada’s (WUSC) Student Refugee Program.
Having just returned from the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, I was eager to learn more about a charitable initiative that did not depend on sponsorship “deals,” clever accounting, or willful blindness to achieve its intended result.
In the late 1990s, Akok, a native of Sudan and member of the d’Inka Atote tribe, had finished his secondary education and wanted to continue his studies at university. However, the prerequisite was compulsory military service, which had become a one-way ticket to the front lines of the war torn country for many of his friends. His Christian instincts and responsibility to family forced him, like Kabenga many years previously, to abandon his home for a refugee camp in Kenya.
Without a financial sponsor Akok could not continue his schooling. WUSC was his only hope. But even though he qualified through language and skill testing for a placement, there were not enough openings. He waited another year.
When I asked how he reacted to WUSC’s suggestion of enrolling in a Canadian university, his thoughtful face burst into a toothy grin “Yes! But of course I will go,” he said.
The neophyte flyer’s two-day journey began last August in Jomo Kenyatta Airport then he was routed through Johannesburg, Paris, Montréal, finally ending in Toronto. “I was so tired, but then I saw my name on a sign held by Susan Spearey, (chair of the Brock WUSC committee). She drove me to my new home and helped get me settled.”
Spearey’s involvement as a volunteer is a labour of love. “His baggage was missing, immigration was slow; he looked shell-shocked but poised,” she recalled. “He gamely tried everything the cafeteria had to offer, but more in search of something familiar than from hunger.”
“It’s important to have people from different cultures in our population,” says Dr. David Atkinson, president of Brock University. “We learn from each other even as tolerance and understanding increase.”
For 15 years, the students, faculty and administration of Brock University have raised funds and donated services to ensure that the WUSC-selected refugee gets a good start both educationally and culturally. Nearly $11,000 is required to provide tuition, accommodation, food, clothes and a small living allowance.
Atkinson feels it’s a good investment. “The longstanding participation by Brock and many of its faculty in international research initiatives has ensured that this program, which must compete with a growing list of other projects looking for support, remains a priority.”
The refugee program at participating universities is a needed balance to the very competitive pursuit of other international students who have the means to pay the exponentially higher tuition fees than those charged to Canadians.
After the first year, the refugees must fund themselves. Part time jobs and student loans fill the financial requirements, but support continues in other ways. Friendships evolve, compatriots found, and members of the local community—particularly during the holiday periods—open their homes and their hearts to these lonely students who will repay this kindness and unequivocal acceptance many times over in the years ahead.
The events of Sept. 11 caused an unsettling and difficult time for many immigrants and refugees. Atkinson was pleased to report that there have been no related incidents or backlash on campus.
Kabenga, settling in to his new job as an assistant lecturer at the University of Butare, offered to return Brock’s generosity: “If bin Laden continues his threats against North America, I will sponsor you as landed immigrants in Rwanda,” he wrote.
Akok is also grateful. “I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity, which has made my family so proud,” he says. “I only wish that more students could have a chance to participate.”
The local WUSC committee agrees. Faculty and staff are being asked to contribute and a student referendum will be held in the fall to endorse a levy.
Unlike the American Red Cross, which required litigation to force it to distribute some of the funds donated for disaster relief, at Brock it can be seen first-hand that charity does begin at home.
January 2003 - Update:
The students of Brock University have overwhelmingly approved an ancillary fee for the Student Refugee Sponsorship Program. 81% voted in favour of the referendum question during polling in December.
The seemingly small levy of $0.20 per half credit and $0.40 per full credit will produce $15,000-20,000 annually—enough to fund another refugee student in association with the World University Service of Canada’s sponsorship program.
“Extensive promotion by the Brock Students’ Union of the need for this funding made the difference this time,” said committee member Warren Franklin. “Last year’s referendum failed when we didn’t reach quorum, but [this time] Rachel Cipryk (also on the WUSC student committee) used her extraordinary organizational skills and got the vote out.”
Twenty-three hundred voted, more than double the requirement.
Contributions have also been made by the University, faculty and staff members, and from ongoing fund-raising events. JWR
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Source - S. James Wegg
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Where will you travel today?
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8h x 10w in
ImagesThumbnailsBack
Inventory Number NA000042
Size 8h x 10w in
Material Vintage Gelatin Silver Print
Country of Origin United States
FOR RELEASE: Immediate - November 30, 1966
PHOTO NO.: 66-H-1469
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER, HAMPTON, Va.
This oblique view of the Moon recorded by the Lunar Orbiter II shows the crater Copernicus just below the horizon. The wide angle lens photograph was taken at 7:05 p.m. EST on November 23 with the spacecraft's cameras tilted 17 degrees from the horizontal. Copernicus, 60 miles across and two miles deep, was formed by the impact of a giant meteorite. The rim of the crater is surrounded by angular blocks, up to 150 feet across., ejected by the impact. Steep cliffs, 1,000 feet high, are landslide scarps, down which masses of rubble have slid. Strings of gentle craters in the foreground were formed by impact of fragments ejected from the large crater. Keyhole shaped crater in the foreground is Fauth about 13 miles long and 4,500 feet deep. It lies 33 miles south of Copernicus. The round hills in the foreground are ancient rocks projecting through younger volcanic rocks. Lunar Orbiter was 28.4 miles above the surface and about 150 miles south of the center of Copernicus when the pictures were taken. This photograph was transmitted from the spacecraft to the Deep Space Network Station at Goldstone, Calif. on November 28. Lunar Orbiter is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration Project managed by the Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
FOG Design+Art 2017
‘Moon Rock’ Exhibit at Jason Jacques Gallery Displays Early Photos From Space June 2019
McMoon: Those grainy Moon photos from the 60s? The actual high-res images looked so much better.
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{Nerd Blast} A Murder on Jane Street by Cathy Cash Spellman
12:00 AM {Nerd Blast} A Murder on Jane Street by Cathy Cash Spellman, JBN, Jean Book Nerd Official Nerd Blast 3 comments
Publisher: The Wild Harp & Company, Inc. (July 16, 2019)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
ASIN: B07QSC84TF
Praise for CATHY CASH SPELLMAN
“...Almost impossible to put down. The Author has the ability to produce one powerful scene after another and the action draws you helplessly on...” ―Publisher’s Weekly on So Many Partings
“...A cross between The Thorn Birds and Ragtime...” ―ALA Booklist on So Many Partings
“Flows along with an inexorable narrative current that propels the readers from one involving episode to the next.” ―Booklist on So Many Partings
“An energetic plot that never takes a breather.” ―Kirkus Reviews on Paint the Wind
“A western extravaganza.. a plot teeming with outsize characters.” ―Publishers Weekly on Paint the Wind
“I have never read a book or connected with an author who has touched me so deeply – as a mother, a grandmother, and another psychic kindred soul!” ―Elizabeth Taylor on Bless the Child
“This book has really touched my heartstrings as both a mother and grandmother. And Cathy Cash Spellman is one hell of a writer!” ―Maureen Stapleton on Bless the Child
“With a seductive, at times spellbinding style, author Spellman (An Excess of Love) incorporates ancient myths into an entrancing romantic thriller.. Spellman succeeds in capturing the reader’s close attention as an unrelenting sense of foreboding drives the narrative forward with power.” ―Publisher’s Weekly on Bless the Child
A brutal murder.
A heinous secret
A deadly conspiracy.
The brutal murder of the little old lady next door puts FitzHugh Donovan on the case. A retired New York City Police Chief, he knows a cover-up when he sees one and his Irish Cop conscience can’t let that happen.
Now, Fitz, his family and his quirky band of Bleecker Street Irregulars are ensnared in the bizarre secret the woman died to protect.
Is this a 75-year-old cold case turned hot again, or an unspeakable crime-in-progress that could alter the course of the world?
Fitz doesn’t yet know how high the stakes are, that failure isn’t an option, and that the little old lady was so much more than she appeared. But he’s trying to keep everyone alive long enough to find out.
Characters you’ll care about, dark shocking secrets, and disturbing similarities to today’s political scene, will keep you turning pages to an ending you won’t see coming.
You can purchase A Murder on Jane Street at the following Retailers:
Photo Credit: Dakota Cash
Multiple New York Times and International Bestsellers, a Paramount Movie, book sales in 22 countries, Cathy Cash Spellman writes stories about love, friendship, adventure, and history. Known for her big sprawling sagas and memorable characters, Cathy writes the kind of stories women like to lose themselves in, and then remember long after the book is done.
Her books range through several genres: contemporary, historical, mystery, mystic and romance. Several take place in two time-frames, both current and historical.
Bless the Child was a Paramount movie in 2000, starring Kim Basinger and Jimmy Smits, and Paint The Wind has been optioned for film and TV.
Cathy is an Astrologer, Martial Artist (Black Belt Goju Ryu Karate) and has expertise in Chinese Medicine, several alternative healing modalities and many metaphysical disciplines.
She has written for Self, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Mademoiselle, Cosmo, Penthouse, Mode, Kung Fu and many other magazines about women, health, empowerment, sexuality, spiritual philosophy and Astrology. She blogs for The Huffington Post and The New York Times.
PastTours
Calvin F. June 24, 2019 at 3:17 PM
Very interesting, thanks for sharing. Cheers on the blast
John Smith June 26, 2019 at 3:44 PM
Thank you for this stirring book! It sounds sophisticated!
Sunnymay July 12, 2019 at 4:18 PM
Oh, I do love a mystery and one with a little old lady sounds delightful.
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Polly Peabody to Caresse Crosby
Caress & Clytoris
Here’s an interesting name-evolution story.
Mary “Polly” Phelps Jacob was born in 1891 in New York to a blue-blooded family that could be traced back, on both sides, to colonial America.
She was an enterprising person, and in her early 20s — fed up with the corset-like undergarments of the era — she invented and patented a “backless brassiere.” (She constructed the first one out of handkerchiefs and pink ribbon.) Today, she’s credited with the invention the modern bra.
With her first marriage in 1915 to Richard Peabody, her name changed to the almost cartoonish Polly Peabody. (One of their two kids, legally named Polleen, also went by Polly.)
But that marriage didn’t last and, following the divorce in 1922, Polly married bon vivant Harry Crosby, with whom she’d been having an open affair. At first she went by Polly Crosby, but Harry declared that Polly needed a better name:
Clytoris, an early suggestion, was sensibly saved for the family’s second whippet (the first was named Narcisse Noir). They told Caresse’s daughter Polleen that she was named after a Greek goddess.
After deciding upon “Caresse,” the wealthy couple moved to Paris and “lived a theatrically mad, bad and Bohemian existence.” With the help of their small publishing house, Black Sun Press, they became close to many Lost Generation artists and writers, including Ernest Hemingway.
Harry committed suicide two months after the stock market crash of 1929 (which kicked off the Great Depression). Caresse’s life post-Harry was slightly less colorful, and she used name “Mary Caresse Crosby” slightly more often, but was still primarily known as Caresse.
Sources: Polly Peabody, The Bohemian Blueblood Who Invented the Bra, Mary Phelps Jacob (Caresse Crosby), The Crosbys: literature’s most scandalous couple
P.S. Did you know that the name Caresse started appearing in the U.S. baby name data back in 1949?
Categories: Name Spotlight Tags: caresse, ernest, harry, mary, polleen, polly, richard
Previous Post Unusual Baby Name: Vice President
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Litigation Update: JustCBD Files Motion to Dismiss Class Action Lawsuit
by Jesse Mondry
http://www.marijuanadrugfacts.com/cbd/litigation-update-justcbd-files-motion-to-dismiss-class-action-lawsuit
A couple of months ago I wrote a “Hemp/CBD litigation forecast.” (See here.) One topic of that post was the rise in class actions against Hemp-CBD companies and I noted the consumer class action complaint filed against JustCBD in the Southern District of Florida, Case No. 0:19-cv-62067-RS. The gravamen of the complaint is that JustCBD overstated the quantity of CBD contained in its products on numerous occasions and in violation of representations and warranties it made in connection with selling its products. The plaintiff seeks to represent a class of persons defined as all persons in the United States who purchased JustCBD products that contains specific representations about the amount of CBD in the product. I write today with an update on that case.
On November 18, the defendants filed a joint motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim. This type of motion – for the unfamiliar – must be filed before a defendant answers the complaint and may be filed against some or all of the claims in the complaint. In simple terms, a motion to dismiss argues: “Court, even if everything alleged in the complaint were true, the plaintiff could not win her lawsuit, so the lawsuit should be dismissed.” More technically, federal courts apply the standards set forth in two Supreme Court cases, Twombly and Iqbal, colloquially referred to by lawyers as Twiqbal. The guiding principle of these opinions is whether the complaint “plausibly” alleges a claim for relief and courts deciding these motions apply the following principles:
Although the court must accept as true all facts asserted in a pleading, it need not accept as true any legal conclusion set forth in a pleading.
The complaint must set forth facts supporting a plausible claim for relief and not merely a possible claim for relief.
Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief is a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense.
A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.
Mere conclusory allegations do not suffice.
Although a complaint that does not plausibly allege a claim for relief will be dismissed, a plaintiff may be given leave to amend her complaint to cure the pleading deficiency.
The defendants filed a densely packed 27-page motion, let’s go over some of the key arguments that I’ll simplify in some respects for the sake of brevity:
Gaddis alleges he purchased two JustCBD products in November 2018 (Honey Tincture and Ribbons) and apparently tested the CBD content of one of the products, which he alleges was below the amount listed on the label. But Gaddis purports to bring claims on behalf of a class claiming that every product sold by JustCBD (roughly 50 different products) is mislabeled. Defendants argue that Gaddis lacks standing to assert claims for products he did not purchase. This appears a well-founded argument. In Twiqbal terms, the issue is whether the court may reasonably infer from Gaddis’ allegations every JustCBD product (roughly 50) had a lower CBD content? Or is Gaddis limited to bringing claims regarding only the products he purchased? I expect the defendants have the better argument here, which if accepted by the court would significantly constrain the class action and the potential liability of the defendants.
Gaddis seeks to pierce the corporate veils of the various entities he sued, alleging that a parent company “dominates and controls all aspects” the subsidiaries’ operation. But in Florida – as in most jurisdictions – piercing the corporate veil is a drastic measure taken only in rare circumstances. Defendants argue that the mere fact that one company is a corporate parent or affiliate is insufficient to pierce the corporate veil and that Gaddis’ allegations simply do not plausibly plead the circumstances necessary for a court to reasonably infer that the subsidiaries are “mere instrumentalities” of the parent. I believe the defendants have a good argument here as courts are generally loathe to disregard the corporate forms. A ruling in favor of the defendants would further limit the ability of Gaddis and his attorneys’ to reach into the pockets of the defendant corporations.
Gaddis alleges that he and the Class suffered economic injury as a result of the defendants’ conduct. Namely, that they paid a “price premium” for the JustCBD products based on defendants’ express representations about the CBD content of the products. Defendants argue that Gaddis has not plausibly plead a “price premium” injury because he did not plead the specific price he paid, how the price he paid compared to competitors, or how the competitors’ products are comparable to the products he purchase. This argument is persuasive, the deficiency in pleading probably is one that could be corrected. What I mean is that were the court to rule in favor of defendants on this argument, I expect the court would allow Gaddis to try and remedy the deficiency by filing an amended complaint.
Defendants’ motion includes several other arguments including attacks on Gaddis’ claims for (i) violations of New York’s General Business Law §§ 349, 350, (ii) fraud, (iii) violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and (iv) breach of express and implied warranties. I won’t get into those here except to note that fraud claims are subject to a heightened pleading standard under the federal rules and that at least some of the purported deficiencies may be curable.
We will continue tracking this lawsuit and update the blog accordingly. In the meantime, any company involved in selling Hemp-CBD to consumers ought to be working closely with their regulatory attorneys to avoid getting snared by a class action lawsuit. For more reading about advertising and other statements about products see here, here, here, here and here.
Class Action Lawsuit Hemp-CBD companies JustCBD
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Social Media Bans on CBD Ads Make No Sense
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CBD Intro Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of over 1000 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis plant. CBD...view more
Hemp-CBD Pet Foods Are Everywhere But Are They Legal?
According to recent reporting, pet industry spending is expected to reach $96 billion by 2020 with...view more
Canada • CBD
Border Woes: Transporting CBD into Canada is Not OK
In a recent tweet, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminded us that transporting CBD oil...view more
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The European Union has approved a CBD-based medicine as a treatment for seizures associated with...view more
The FDA and FTC Regulatory Overlap Means Twice as Much...view more
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued warning letters to three unnamed...view more
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Nokia Android phones are coming, but it is not the same Nokia we knew and loved
“The upcoming Nokia Android smartphones are being made by HMD Global and Foxconn”
Ever since Android became the de facto mobile operating system for most smartphone manufacturers, we’ve always wanted to see a Nokia smartphone running Android. While we did get to see a stilted fork of Android on the Nokia X (review) and XL, the dream of a true-blue Nokia Android phone for many fans never really came to life. But wait… for the past few months we’ve been hearing a lot about Nokia-branded Android smartphones coming in 2017. In fact, the latest news at the time of writing this article is that Nokia smartphones will be announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) – arguably the most popular trade show in the world for smartphones – in 2017.
While all this sounds great, there is a catch and you might not like the sound of it. The Nokia Android phones of the future are not being made by the same Finnish company we knew and loved in the past. Allow us to explain.
Microsoft acquired Nokia’s mobile and services division in late 2013 for $7.5 billion — just for comparison Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19.7 billion — to bolster the manufacturing of smartphones running its proprietary Windows Phone operating system. The Lumia-branded smartphones were conceptualised and made mostly in Nokia’s Finland plant. However, it is widely believed that acquiring Nokia was a bad business decision for Microsoft. Which is precisely why Microsoft ended up writing off the entire purchase by paying a $7.6 billion impairment charge in July 2015. The company also cut close to 7,500 jobs, catastrophic to say the least. The situation was so bad that Finland actually criticised Microsoft for breaking promises and wanted the Redmond tech major to find jobs for the laid off employees.
If you are wondering what happens to Lumia smartphones… it is being reported widely that Microsoft is consolidating the entire smartphone division to make a Surface phone: one for the loyalists, and, of course, to realise its ‘Windows on every device’ strategy.
Furthermore, it would be safe to assume that the Nokia that made some iconic phones – like the Nokia 3310, Nokia N95, Nokia E63, and more – has moved on. The company’s realigned strategy now aims at manufacturing equipment for mobile networks and broadband infrastructure. In America, Nokia makes infrastructure for major networks like AT&T and Verizon Wireless, and in India Nokia networks was pivotal for setting up Airtel’s 4G network in Maharashtra.
Now, where does that leave Nokia-branded Android smartphones? This is where the confusing part begins and you might want to concentrate hard on each and every word.
(Also read: 10 Nokia phones we wouldn’t mind buying even today)
Firstly, you need to know that Foxconn has a subsidiary called FIH that offers product development and after sales services for phones. Also, a new private-equity-backed Finnish group was formed recently by former Microsoft and Nokia employees called HMD Global Oy. Coming to the most important point, Foxconn and HMD paid Microsoft $350 million for its feature phone division. Yes ‘feature phone division’, you read that right.
However, this begs the question – who is making these Nokia-branded Android smartphones, slated for launch next year at MWC, if Foxconn and HMD purchased only the feature phone division? So essentially, the duo of Foxconn and HMD has also inked a separate agreement with Nokia itself — the company that is now more concerned about network equipment than anything else. According to this agreement, Foxconn and HMD will work together to make new smartphones and tablets running Android, and use the Nokia brand name to sell it across the world. In return for using the brand name, Nokia gets a seat in the board of HMD in spite of the fact that the Finnish brand hasn’t invested a single penny in the private-equity backed company. Furthermore, Nokia will be paid a per-device licensing fee for using its brand name. This deal is expected to be completed by the end of this year, which is possibly why we are taking an educated guess that HMD’s presence at MWC 2017 indicates the company will showcase new Android smartphones in Barcelona.
To sum it all up, Nokia-branded Android smartphones are coming next year but those will not be made entirely by Nokia but by Foxconn and therefore it might not share the same DNA of Nokia devices from the past. What you might get is a Nokia Android phone that could be just like any other Android phone from any manufacturer because Foxconn makes most of them anyway. Augmenting this theory is the fact that a large chunk of the money to buy Microsoft’s feature phone division was actually put in by Foxconn.
Having said that, there is still a strong Nokia connection in the new entity HMD because the CEO of HMD is Arto Numella, head of Microsoft’s Mobile Devices business for Greater Asia, Middle East and Africa, and an ex-Nokia employee. And, the President of HMD is Florian Seiche, who served as the Senior Vice President for Europe Sales and Marketing at Microsoft Mobile, and has worked with Nokia before. This does give us some hope that Nokia’s Android smartphones will have their own unique character. Let’s wait and watch until MWC 2017.
Tags : Mobiles, Nokia, Smart phones
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Longwood Central School District » Community » Longwood Journey » Hamlets » Yaphank » Buckingham Family Cemetery
YAPHANK, L.I., N.Y.
The cemetery is located on the south side of Main St. approximately 100 yards east of the General Store and behind a high fence. The area is wooded and the stones are hard to spot.
The area is now part of the Suffolk County Police dog training area. The stones were copied on 5 Aug. 1962 by ELBERT N. CARTER.
1. ELIZA HOMAN, wife of SAMUEL HOMAN, d. 9 Feb. 1854 age 24 years 1 mo. 6 days. f.s. E.H.
2. DANIEL HOMAN, Jr. d. 17 Jan. 1827 in 40th year. f.s D.H.
3. ENCY CORWIN, wife of JOSIAH CORWIN, d. 28 April 1824 age 31 yea f.s. E.C.
4. ENCY HOMAN, relic of DANIEL HOMAN, d. 31 Dec. 1816 age 67 years. Note: Homan notes also list-her as DELIVERANCE.
5. DANIEL HOMAN d. 17 March 1814 age 66 years.
6. DEBORAH JONES, relic of JONATHAN JONES & first the wife of JONAS BUCHINGHAM, d. 20 Aug. 1842 in 72nd year. Note: L. Phillips listed the date of death as 1812.
7. SALLY G. BUCHINGHAM, d. 31 July 1843 age 48 years 9 mo. 14 days
8. JONAS BUCHINGHAM, d. 25 Feb. 1815 in 46th year. f.s. J.E.B.
9. JAMES E. BUCHINGHAM, son of DANIEL & SARAH BUCHINGHAM, d. 16 March 1816 age 9 years 7 mo. 12 days. Note; the f.s. on #8 probably belongs to this one. I missed # 9 when I copied the stones, and copied the data from the notes of L. PHILLIPS.
This cemetery was a family plot on the old DANIEL HOMAN farm. It was latter known as the old GIRARD place and still latter was a game preserve.
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Bow Wow And Soulja Boy Claim Their Joint Mixtape Is The New Watch The Throne
Madeline Roth madfitzroth 10/25/2016
It is the year 2016, and Bow Wow and Soulja Boy have just dropped a joint mixtape. What a time to be alive.
Ignorant Shit boasts 11 fresh tracks, including a sole feature from Rich The Kid. The collaborative project comes eight years after Bow Wow and Soulja Boy’s “Marco Polo,” which was followed by a highly publicized beef that found them trading half-assed jabs at each other in a bunch of YouTube videos. Clearly, they’ve settled their differences.
As for the new music itself, there’s a lot of braggadocio-filled bars over trap instrumentals. Take the seven-minute title track, for instance, which finds the two rappers bragging about how “stupid rich” they are and vowing to take Kylie and Kendall Jenner to Hawaii. They even call Ignorant Shit the new Watch the Throne, which ... uh ... sure. It’s not like Watch the Throne 2 is ever happening anyway, so this may as well be our consolation prize.
For those of you going, “Wait, isn’t Bow Wow retired?!” the answer is ... almost. He announced earlier this year that he plans to retire from rap after releasing his seventh, Snoop Dogg–produced album, Nylth. So it sounds like Ignorant Shit isn’t quite his last hurrah before he hangs up the mic for good.
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What Is ‘Phil’s Quick Capsule Review’?
A Review Site With A Difference.
‘Phil’s Quick Capsule Review’ (a nod to legendary comedian Bill Hicks who coined the phrase when he reviewed ‘Piece Of Shit’ movie Basic Instinct)… where a perfect 10 is rarer than a rain free British summer!
Written by Phil Hobden – UK based podcaster, writer and former filmmaker. Part of the All Things Film network…
Films I've Watched in 2013
Phil's Quick Capsule Review
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Tagged: New Releases
Home » Tag: New Releases
Sharknado Week: Sharknado – A Quick Capsule Review
by Phil Hobden Quick Review
Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Sharknado. Yes. Shark-bloody-nado. Hell I have ZERO idea what I can say about this film other than if you think the title sounds silly then this is a film you will hate with an extreme passion. If like me the title sounds all manor of awesome, then there’s a lot to love in this knowingly cheesy, cheap as chips, barking mad Sharks in a tornado movie. For everyone else, I’d probably recommend avoiding this. Genius. Mad genius.
Best Bit: Chainsaw + Shark = Fun
Rent, Borrow, Buy, Stream: Buy
If you liked this try: Ghost Shark (UR); Sand Shark (UR); MegaShark vs Crockosaurus (UR)
Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★
Author: Phil Hobden
For related articles click here
Aug 13, 2018 Dec 28, 2018 Tagged: 2/10, 2013 Films, 6/10, 8/10, Action Films, All Things Film, Blog, BluRay, BluRay Releases, DVD, DVD Release, DVD Releases, Filmsploitation, Ghost Shark, Giant Animals, Horror, Mash Ups, MegaShark vs Crockosaurus, New Films, New Releases, Phil Hobden, Phil's Quick Capsule Review, Phil's Quick Reviews, Quick Capsule Review, Quick Reviews, Review, Reviewed, Reviews, Sand Shark, Sharknado, Sharknado 4, Sharknado 5, Sharknado 6, Syfy Comment
Avengers Week: Thor The Dark World : A (Not So) Quick Capsule Review
With Avengers: Infinity War opening this week, Phil’s Quick Capsule Review will be rerunning the reviews of some of our favourite Marvel Films!
The Review: For me the original Thor film was my second , least favourite Marvel adaptation after Captain America (sorry Capt.). It wasn’t bad but it always felt like it was missing something special. Now, two years later and bolstered by an appearance alongside his Avengers buddies, the Blonde, buff god returns in what is a far more well rounded and successful movie.
The Story: Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
Firstly let’s get this out the way. Thor 2 is actually really good. Excellent in fact. Of all the Avengers films, it’s probably the most ‘together ‘ . It has a simple story, which moves at pace, with action and drama but keeping it tight enough to come in at under 2 hours. It even manages to get around (at least MOSTLY get around) the standard CGI monster fighting CGI good guy trope that has hobbled the end of every Avengers film since Iron Man.
A large reason why the film works so well is the sublime decision to once again sit an unlikely candidate in the director’s chair. Be it Jon Favreau for Iron Man or James Gunn for the upcoming Guardians Of The Galaxy, Marvel have a knack of picking the right man for the job. This time out respected TV and Game Of Thrones director Alan Taylor brings a more even vision to the film, much more suited to the material than Kenneth Branagh, and obviously revels in having a larger that his usual budget to play with. The action is clean and well shot, and best of all you can see every punch, every explosion and every insane flying spaceship moment.
Oh and talking of flying Spaceship moments… director Taylor is obviously a fan of 80’s cheese fest Flash Gordon, being that he borrows a considerable part of the films finale for the attack on Asgard. Not that I’m complaining as the mix of sci-fi, Norse legend, super hero and action make for a pleasant change form the usual Earth bound Marvel world.
Hemsworth once again proves he is a man of considerable talent, delivering action alongside comedy and the occasional pathos. Naturally Natalie Portman has little to do (as is the female role generally in a Marvel film) but she remains a welcome addition, as does the returning Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston (once again a stand out as Loki) and Anthony Hopkins (as his most gravelly). Rene Russo even gets to kick arse, which is nice. As for former Dr Who and professional grump Christopher Eccleston he does good with his limited bad guy role, but in reality with the added make up and FX it could have been anyone as Dark Elf leader Malekif.
In truth the film has little against it, other than maybe an element of familiarity, and ends up being one of the best blockbusters of the year. Maybe not as good overall as Iron Man 3, but certainly more fun. For the most part.
So overall a good script, great characters and some snappy dialogue alongside standout action sequences and a fast pace mean that deservedly Thor The Dark World will be another hit for Marvel. Truly a studio that cant seem to get it wrong.
Apr 27, 2018 Dec 28, 2018 Tagged: 2013 Films, 8/10, Action Film, Avengers, Avengers Assemble, Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America, Comic Book Adaptations, Comic Book Films, Comic Book Movies, Marvel, New Films, New Releases, Review, Review Round Up, Reviews, Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi Film, Sequels, Stan Lee, The Avengers, Thor 7 Comments
Blog: All Things Film – Headrush (2003) Reviewed
by Phil's Quick Review Uncategorized
Sometimes just sometimes you have one of those days where NOTHING goes right. This day was one of those. Cannes. It was hot (properly hot in the mid 30’s), I’d dressed in jeans and not shorts meaning I was sweating like innocent man on death row. Every person we’d spoken to had given us the bums rush and punting our current film around buyers we’d been rejected more than the pork pie at a Bar Mitzvah I’d already watched two films, neither of which I remembered a day later let alone a year or so down the line. Then again I did sleep through one and half of them.
Tired, annoyed I was dragged to one final film of the day… a Irish comedy that had a small role by some bloke from some band I liked. Begrudgingly I went, grumpy and hot . I sat down in the cinema preparing myself for two hours of time passing or maybe, just maybe a quick kip. So to say I wasn’t in the mood for another film was a mild understatement, let alone a comedy.
With all that in mind, it’s even more a credit to this film then that within minutes of the opening titles I was laughing myself to tears. Headrush hit the spot… a well observed, humours and funny stoner comedy.
The film follows Charlie a down on his luck pothead – kicked off the dole and dumped by his girlfriend convinced by his best friend T-Bag, with help from their dealer Blowback that they should be crime lord The Uncle new drug mules. Conceiving an elaborate scam to smuggle a consignment of Cocaine back from Amsterdam they meet The Uncle’s nephew Razor Rupert and convince him that they’re up for the job. As they lay their plans, each one egging the other on, each one refusing to admit to any fear, a series of events begin to unravel their carefully laid plans.
HEADRUSH is a stoner comedy and, if that ‘s your bag, it certainly is one of the better of the sub-genre… although considering recent additions have been the un-memorable DUDE WHERE’S MY CAR and HAROLD & KUMAR GET THE MUNCHES it isn’t saying much. Writer/Director Shimmy Marcus, making his feature film debut, delivers an assured film showing a talent for comic timing and really coaxing some impressive performances from it’s relatively inexperienced cast.
Leads Wuzza Conlon and BP Fallon, as stoners Charlie and T-Bag, play their roles well but the real gem in this movie is the acting debut of New Yorker, Fun Loving Criminal and all around legend Huey Morgan. Morgan is hysterical as the comfortable in woman’s shoes-drug dealer ‘The Yank’. For a hard as nails former marine, Morgan happily sends up his tough image and in doing so provides the real stand out moments of this comedy.
It’s not ALL good. Director Marcus needed to rain in guest star Berkof who is stupidly over the top and never quiet seemed to know what accent he was trying to do. A more experienced director may have pulled him back, allowing a measured rather than needlessly showy performance to come through. But the faults aren’t all Berkof as once again that ugly demon of money raises it’s head on occasion, no less in the hysterical van sequence which is just calling out for seemingly budget busting exterior shots. Instead we get some pretty badly staged studio based shots and van wobbling. I also noticed the film does loose it’s charm a little on repeat viewing but only a little and these small issues are just that small issues in a film that otherwise is brimming with well observed comedy.
But alas so far this film hasn’t made it to the UK – one of the many quality films that for whatever reason hasn’t found a release. To be honest the films sales agent, Park Entertainment, should be shot for not being able to bring this movie to a UK buyer. They have a real gem here, funnier than most Brit comedies of recent times the film, accompanied by rave reviews where ever it has played, has a charm and style that allow it to more than stand out from the crowd and heralds Shimmy Marcus as a name for the future.
In short: A gem of a comedy… funny, surreal and totally enjoyable from start to finish.
Sep 18, 2014 Feb 4, 2018 Tagged: 2003 Films, 7/10 Films, B.P. Fallon, BluRay, BluRay Release, BluRay Releases, Cannes, Digital, DVD, DVD Release, Film Reviews, Head Rush, Huey Morgan, Karl Argue, New Releases, Review, Review Round Up, Reviews, Watch, Wuzza Conlon, Youtube 9 Comments
Blog: All Things Film – Non Stop Reviewed
by Will Strong A Blog Grosse Point Geek Uncategorized
During a routine Transatlantic flight, Air Marshall Bill Marks (Liam Neeson), receives a series of text messages from an unknown person, threatening to kill a passenger every 20 minutes unless a $150 million ransom is paid by the airline. Thinking he is being wound up, he dismisses the texts as a sick joke, however things start taking a turn for the worst when the bodies start piling up and Marks finds himself being framed as the chief suspect.
Its then down to the beleaguered air marshal and a plucky passenger (Julianne Moore) to find out which of the passengers is the villain and stop the air force from shooting down the plane.
It had to happen, I knew it couldn’t last. 2014 was going so well – just about every film id seen so far this year had been superb. The Wolf of Wall Street, 12 Years a Slave, Dallas Buyers Club – all brilliant, even the Robocop remake wasn’t bad. So, being the total sucker for an action film that I am, I merrily toddled off to my local Cineworld to watch this stinking pile of pants.
Now Non Stop should have worked – Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore are always good value, its produced by the legendary Joel Silver (Predator, Lethal Weapon, Die Hard etc.), the plot seemed interesting, the trailer screamed “top action movie” – hell even the poster looked great. Not only that, when it was released in the US, it flew straight to the top of the box office with a $30 million opening weekend!
So what went wrong I hear you cry? Well friends, just about bloody everything.
For a start the script is woefully awful, with characters that are cliché’ to a fault. Marks is a grieving alcoholic, one of the stewardesses is having a fling with the co pilot, everyone on the plane is made to look suspicious and of course there’s the obligatory vomit inducing, teddy bear wielding 9 year old, who (predictably) is on her 1st flight by herself – laugh? I nearly asked for a sick bucket.
As far as the performances go, the normally superb Neeson seems to have just shown up for the money and is by turns cheesy, and ineffective in the lead role. Julianne Moore fares no better, her bland character given no depth or backstory – quite what an actress of her ability and range is doing in this nonsense is beyond me. Jaume Collett Serra’s direction is uninspiring , boringly by the numbers and criminally fails on every level to crank up any tension or deliver one half way decent action scene. Even the shootout at the films climax lacks any and all excitement – I mean how hell does a director screw up a scene showing the mighty Liam Neeson flying through the air firing a handgun??! Answer – you just don’t – it aint the done thing old son.
Dammit there’s no place for films like this anymore, you could get away with it in the 80’s and 90’s but not now. The next two years are going to be some of the most exciting times the cinema has ever seen. Talented directors like JJ Abrams, Chris Nolan and Joss Whedon, are out there right now, taking their time developing sharp scripts and good stories, –basically making damn sure that we, the punters get our money’s worth.
OK, yes I’ll admit that Non Stop isn’t the worst film I’ve ever seen and it passed the time well enough, but If I wanted to see a rehash of the likes of Executive Decision or Air Force One – id simply just watch them again.
All I would say is that, if studios are going to recycle and redo old films , then at the very least write a good script, throw in a few decent characters, and for God’s sake don’t bore me! It was done brilliantly last year with the fantastic Olympus Has Fallen and there is no reason it shouldn’t have been done here.
Liam you are better than this, and to producer Joel Silver – a word to the wise, the glory days of the 80’s are over mate, get some inspiration and stop living on the past.
Author: Will Strong
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Jul 7, 2014 Jan 2, 2019 Tagged: 2014 Films, Action, Anson Mount, Blog, BluRay, BluRay Releases, Cinema, DVD, DVD Release, DVD Releases, Film Reviews, Grosse Point Geek, Guest Blog, Jaume Collet-Serra, Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Lupita Nyong'o, New Films, New Releases, Review, Reviewed, Reviews, Taken, Thriller, Will Strong, Writing Comment
Blog: All Things Film – RoboCop (2014) Reviewed
In the not too distant future, Detective Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman-TV’s The Killing), is mortally wounded in the line of duty, desperate to save him, his wife (Abbie Cornish) agrees to let Michael Keaton’s sinister Omnicorp and Gary Oldman’s brilliant scientist rebuild him as – you guessed it – Robocop – a part man, part machine, indestructible law enforcer who soon has the criminals of Detroit on the run. Until that is, Murphy’s human side starts to take over and, defying his corporate masters, sets out to solve his own murder.
In 1987 the now defunct Orion Pictures made the potentially crazy decision to give the then unknown Paul Verhoeven several million dollars to direct a futuristic sci fi film, about a cyborg cop, featuring a cast of virtual unknowns.
What could have been a bog standard Judge Dredd/Bionic man, direct to video, B movie, turned out to be anything but.
Blood soaked, peppered with quotable one liners (“id buy that for a dollar!”, “Guns, Guns, Guns!”) a brilliant score by Basil Poledouris, outstanding action sequences, one of the most evil bad guy’s ever committed to celluloid and a wry intelligent humour that slyly thumbed its nose at corporate America –the original Robocop deservedly remains one of the greatest sci fi action movies ever made.
When it was announced that a remake was in the works, legions of naysayers and fan boys where naturally up in arms crying sacrilege, which was further compounded, months later, when said geeks were up in arms after photos of a new sleek black Robo Suit were put on the net along with rumors of studio interference and meddling.
So it was to most peoples surprise that when Robocop 2014 was released last week, it turned out to be pretty decent – sort of.
So whats good? – Well for a start the cast is excellent – Kinnaman, as Murphy/Robo is superb and a future leading man in the making, Oldman is effortlessly brilliant as usual and Michael Keaton is fantastic as the head of OmniCorp. The action is well staged, Jose Padilla’s direction is very inventive, the visual and make up effects are impressive and the film is never less than very entertaining.
There are quite a few things wrong – first and foremost, it simply isnt as good as the original, out goes all the blood, gore, one liners, swearing and complete lack of political correctness that made the 1987 film such a joy and in comes a bloodless PG 13 version that seems to want to appeal to a more sensitive mass market. The baddies – whilst enjoyable- cant touch the 1987 version’s motley crew of psychos, and Samuel L Jackson’s shouty TV host is completely pointless and ineffective.
I have nothing against remakes – Oceans 11, 3:10 to Yuma and The Departed were all brilliant – but they were remakes of films that were ether foreign, not very good in the first place or were so old that no one had seen them for decades. This is not the case with Robocop – and whilst Jose Padilla’s film is never less than enjoyable – one cant help feeling that the cast, director and budget could have been put to use on something more original – this of course is the fault of the studio – remake a well known film with a built in fan base, do a PG-13 version so as to appeal to a wider audience and –hey presto – a box office friendly franchise is reborn with minimal effort put in.
The trouble with Robocop 2014 and many others like it, is that it’s a remake of a very well known, well loved movie that (along with its sequels) is still available on dvd, and is shown on TV and Netflix on a regular basis. Therefore its still very much in the public consciousness – the result is that the filmmakers are set up for a fall before even one person watches the finished product – produce something original and different and you are accused of ruining an already good movie, or just do a straight remake and get told that you are rubbish because you have no new fresh ideas – basically dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t – and whatever anyone says – people will always compare it with the original movie.
In summary I would cautiously recommend Robocop, as it’s good solid entertainment, well made and very well acted – and I’d be interested to see a sequel – as Robocop 2 and 3 –(released in the 1990’s) were appalling.
However Hollywood needs to start being brave, move away from making easy money movies, and concentrate on producing fresh stories -now id buy that for a dollar.
Jul 2, 2014 Jan 2, 2019 Tagged: 2014 Films, Action, Blog, BluRay, BluRay Releases, Cinema, DVD, DVD Release, DVD Releases, Film Reviews, Gary Oldman, Grosse Point Geek, Guest Blog, Joel Kinnaman, Michael Keaton, New Films, New Releases, Reboot, Remake, Review, Reviewed, Reviews, Robocop, Robots, Samuel L Jackson, Sc-Fi, Sci-Fi, Will Strong, Writing 4 Comments
Blog: All Things Film – Warrioress Review
by Phil's Quick Review All Things Film Blog Other Cr*p Uncategorized
In a world where two forces come together and do battle, only the honest true survivor will win. No, I am not referring to the warring factions in writer/director Ross Boyask’s latest fight fest but, rather, my close friendship to him versus what I think of his film.
I know Mr. Boyask (who frequents these here reviews) is known to us all, but I have nothing but extreme bodily fluids and appreciation for what he manages to do on an extremely limited budget. I know he doesn’t care for friendly hyperbole in the face of genuine honesty, and sycophancy is not something I am known for. He has assured me that he does not mind me going public with my opinion.
So it is with this delicate preamble that I lay my cards on the table; Warrioress is, quite frankly, a mixed bag.
Warrioress (spell check be damned) stars stuntwoman/actress/weapons master/writer/songwriter/singer Cecily Fay as Boudiccu – a rather feisty badass who is sent on a quest ostensibly to rescue some female slaves from a cave, and then eventually fight another supreme warrioress for the title of warrioress. I think. Bloody spell check. Double-click Warrioress, right click, “ignore”.
There, that seems to have solved the red underline.
Much of the first half of the film deals with a lot of exposition in the form of an old woman foretelling of two swords – or something to that effect. Shades of Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet permeate the entire script – in particular, the dialogue. It’s not suggested when the story is set, and so we are led to believe that it’s possibly a long, long time ago. I’ll come back to this later in the review.
I’ll be honest, I was quite confused with the set-up and decided to roll with the beats. And beats are what the film has a multitude of. It’s obviously a case of scenery defining the narrative, and on this count the film delivers.
The production value of Warrioress is astounding – and better still, for any wannabe filmmakers out there, demonstrates with relative ease just how relatively easy and worthwhile it is to attain. I gather a lot of the film was shot in Epsom, Surrey – and the scenery there is utilised very well.
Coastlines make an appearance as well as a derelict Nazi-themed building (dressed up, naturally) and what seems to be the remains of a castle. I have no idea what the location was, but caught on a fortunate sunny day, really adds to the feel of the film. The costume design, and some of the set design, is inspired and well crafted.
The action sequences are really where the film shines. This is now Ross’ third feature film, and a lot has been learned from the previous two. The shooting and cutting of the frenetic action scenes are genuinely rewarding and, in particular spots – notably about twenty minutes in with a girl wielding a spiky ball and chain – the action scenes are most impressive.
Boyask wisely packs the picture with many of them, ranging from one-on-one style “come hither for an ass kicking” face offs, to gangs of black-dressed guard-types diving into an onslaught. If you’ve seen Ten Dead Men, you’d note the ambitious backflips, stunt work and associated physical mayhem. Here, it’s dialed up further and slowed down where necessary. The action scenes are terrific.
Sadly, the same cannot be said for the script. Swathes of dialogue could easily have been excised to reduce the running time from its current 92 minutes down to an ultra accessible 80. But more than that, the running time isn’t the issue – it would tighten the lulls between the fights. And when the film lulls away from the action, it’s almost a near-parody of itself. Certain cast members, who will forever remain unnamed, are flat-out bad performers. They do look the part, for the most part, but some of the delivery is not on target.
It’s been shot on video, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears – particularly the latter – have obviously been employed to create this terribly ambitious movie. The latter of which has apparently fogged up the lens for the occasional out-of-focus shot. Obviously shot on a zero budget, this is precisely what has made it ambitious; Warrioress proves it is virtually impossible to craft something altogether near-perfect with a minimal budget. But that’s not to say it’s not a success. It is. I know I couldn’t pull this off; sticking to my middle-of-the-road dramas (one of which features Mr. Boyask in an extra capacity) is difficult enough, without having scantily clad Essex girls bouncing around and walloping each other in the nuts.
My last criticism are the accents of the characters. By turns awful and reasonably convincing – I said I’d return to the time this film was set – there is a none-too-subtle reminder that perhaps these characters, due to the nature of their accents, are possibly from 2009. Which unfortunately begs the question; when are the police going to get wind of them acting as medieval superstars and come and carry them away Monty Python and the Holy Grail style? Alas, ‘tis not the case. Warrioress is taking itself far too seriously for that. So seriously in fact, that around the midway point the movie employs its own musical song and dance segment courtesy of Ms. Fay. I acknowledge the intent of including this sequence but… sorry mate, that part flat-out doesn’t work for me.
If you’re an action junkie, and enjoy combat movies, I guarantee you will find a lot to enjoy here. On this kind of budget, and with this kind of determination, Boyask fancifully reveals that one can get REAL close to the real action article – and on that level, I enjoyed it.
Now, someone PLEASE give Ross a decent budget and take his pen away.
WARRIORESS is released on the 26th May 2014
Author: Andrew MacKay
May 24, 2014 Feb 4, 2018 Tagged: 2014 Films, Action, All Things Film, Andrew MacKay, Blog, Blogs, BluRay, BluRay Release, BluRay Releases, British Films, DVD, DVD Release, Exclusive, Film Reviews, Independant Films, Martial Arts, New Releases, Review, Review Round Up, Reviews, Sneak Preview Comment
Review: The Motel Life (Cinema)
by Phil's Quick Review Other Cr*p Uncategorized
The Review: I love it when the title of a film aptly sums up precisely how thrilling and entertaining the experience of sitting through it is like. Take The terminator, for examples, or perhaps even Twelve Angry Men (and RoboCop) – those two titles tell you what’s going to happen; gear you up for a giddy ride.
Then there’s shite like The Motel Life starring Emile Hirsch and Stephen Dorff, which does precisely the same. Only don’t be fooled by the title this time around; The Motel Life is much, much more boring.
The aforementioned superstars play brothers – in childhood they’re approximately the same age, and now in adulthood, it seems Dorff has gained about fifteen years on his sibling. A quick trip to the iMDB informs us that Dorff is a clear decade older than Hirsch. But it gets better – Hirsch is a clear decade older than his love interest played by Dakota Fanning, who for all intents and purposes (and especially in the America) is not quite at the requisite age yet for having been dumped a while ago by this loser and considering taking him back.
But anyway, I digress. The Mote Life is directionless twadlle. Dorff hits and kills a youngster with his dumpster truck – or something – and dumps the body on a frozen river and legs it. He tells his brother, and they decide to flee. But dickhead Dorff throws his toys out of his pram, feels sorry for himself, and shoots himself in the leg. His amputee leg. Oh dear.
In the hospital, and the cops are getting wise. Dorff now needs Hirsch to rescue him. I know, this all sounds like a Fargo-ish crime thriller, right?
This is dreary, slow-paced utter buffoonery which brings about memories of films far richer, certainly better written and infinitely more enjoyable than this pretentious piece of twattery. I rarely use the word “pretentious” around these here parts because it’s often misused. But here, I mean it sincerely. All this ‘action’ is punctuated by fatal halts in the ‘narrative’ flow to include animations of stories being told by Hirsch to…. well, whichever character will listen. This is a slam dunk deadbolt in the gears of a movie that has real trouble gargling its engine to roll past the 80 minute run time.
Dakota Fanning is haphazardly miscast as the love interest – but fair dos, she’s so underused anyway, it barely seems to matter. Hirsch on numerous occasions has eye drops bled into his tear ducts just before the directors shout action to ensure the tears are real. Dorff is… God knows what he is, but he is ‘it’ and then some. Annoying, I think is the word. It’d be quite fair to align The Motel Life to Of Mice and Men in more than a number of ways. My God this film is mind-numbingly tedious.
And this narcoleptic hogwash needed TWO directors? Ha. Yeah – one to read the newspaper, and the other to hold it up for him, no doubt. Yawn.
Reviewed By: Andrew MacKay
Apr 3, 2014 Feb 4, 2018 Tagged: 2013 Films, 2014 Films, Andrew MacKay, Cinema, Cinema Films, Cinema Release, Drama, Emile Hirsch, Kris Kristofferson, Mystery, New Films, New Releases, Review, Review Round Up, Reviews, Stephen Dorff, Thriller, Upcoming Films Comment
Review: How To Make Money Selling Drugs (DVD/BR)
by Andrew Mackay Other Cr*p Uncategorized
The Review: Matthew Cooke, editor of Amy Berg’s incredible Deliver Us From Evil writes and directs this “does exactly what it says on the tin” expose that explores how any ordinary civilian can make it in the drug game.
At first – and for the majority of the run time – the film dresses itself up as levels of a video game, starting at “Level 1: Getting Started” all the way through to “Becoming a Cartel Lord”. Its slapdash nihilism in the treatment of customers and how to run your game is almost satirical. What it actually is, as we learn through the stages, is that it’s sarcasm dressed as propaganda. By the time we realise the driver of this vehicle is a staunch proponent of the legalisation of marijuana and, heck, any currently illegal drug, it’s all too late.
Frequently peppered by genuine former drug bods (including LAs Freeway Ricky Ross) and Florida’s multimillionaire Brian O’Dea, and with surprisingly frank revelations from Eminem, Susan Sarandon and 50 Cent – to name a mere handful – the film seems about as legit as you’d ever which for; a sort of Guerrilla Drug Dealer’s handbook. It comes as no surprise that each level also comes with its warnings; you will probably end up murdered or in jail, or become an informant – and the stakes invariably rise with each level.
It’s a cute, fascinating approach to the topic at hand, though: I can envisage some less fortunate members of society stumbling across this online or on television and treating it without even the slightest hint of satire or sarcasm.
How to make Money Selling Drugs is a fascinating watch, punctuated by some superb animation/text replete with statistics and charts, showing just how screwed we are in the Western world because of illegal narcotics. It zips along at a brisk pace. It may not come as a surprise, also, to know that Big Pharma in the States is among the final “levels”; that alcohol, tobacco and now all these virtually unpronounceable pharmaceuticals peddled to the great unwashed are the real enemy; that the “War on Drugs” is a self-facilitating licence to print money, and that the former DEA Agents and Uncle Sam raid-mongers have now left the game to set up opposition rallies to overthrow the real kingpins in charge: the government. It’s an argument put forth by the movie rather expertly – not least, the crowning achievement here is Cooke’s success in making all this information palatable for any cretin that may have sat down in front of this expecting it to be an extended YouTube tutorial for a fast buck.
The moral of the story? Stay away from drugs. Chase the cash, not the suitcase of white powder. Above all else, don’t get high on your own – or anyone else’s – supply. The risks aren’t worth it. Your chances of getting hit by shrapnel as a purely innocent civilian and surviving are far higher than if you enter the game at all. How to make Money Selling Drugs is a tale as old as the hills, telling us nothing new, effectively serving as a stark reminder of what is patently obvious to us already.
What it is, also, is an expertly handled and a real spotlight on Matthew Cooke’s expertise. I look forward to his next topic
Mar 22, 2014 Jun 20, 2016 Tagged: 2013 Films, 2014 Releases, 7/10, 8/10, Andrew MacKay, BluRay, BluRay Releases, Crime, Documentary, drugs, DVD, DVD Release, DVD Releases, New Films, New Releases, Review, Reviews Comment
Review: Escape Plan (DVD/BR)
The Review: Former prosecutor Ray Breslin (Stallone) makes a living breaking out of maximum-security prisons and exposing any weaknesses in the buildings and operations. The CIA offers him a lucrative, hush-hush assignment to break out of a top-secret government prison, and Breslin takes the job against his better judgment. Breslin stages a mock arrest that veers off the rails when his captors destroy a hidden communications link to Breslin’s associates (Ryan and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson). He awakens in a glass cell inside a windowless super-max prison, where warden Willard Hobbes (Caviezel) informs him that he will stay for the rest of his life. As planned, Breslin stages a fight and ends up in solitary, where he studies the prison structure. He befriends fellow inmates Javed (Faran Tahir) and Emil Rottmayer (Schwarzenegger) and begins planning his escape.
I can’t say I was particularly surprised by the narrative’s twists and turns, as the film practically labels its characters “Villain” or “Hero” in neon lights. Nevertheless, there is plenty of entertainment to be had watching Stallone, who has the most screen time, work his magic inside the prison. Breslin has done this for years and is quite infamous for breaking down procedures and seemingly inescapable security systems, much to the chagrin of those who paid big bucks to put them in place. He quickly notices seams around his mysterious cage, but must rely on Javed and Emil to move his jailbreak plans forward. The interior of the prison is nicely realized, and is a combination of sleek glass lines and futuristic S.W.A.T. gear.
The big action pieces are fairly generic, but Stallone and Schwarzenegger sell the man-to-man combat. Schwarzenegger’s character is used as comic relief, and the actor clearly enjoys hamming it up to scam his captors. The supporting cast does thankless work, but it’s always nice to see familiar faces in modest roles. Escape Plan never threatens to recreate Stallone and Schwarzenegger’s glory days, but it’s a definite improvement over their recent films.
In summary if you like a good action movie, with a 80s feel this is for you. For me this is worth a watch and Stallone and Schwarzenegger will have at worst al least entertained for the two hour duration.
Reviewed By: Julian Connelly
Mar 15, 2014 Feb 4, 2018 Tagged: 3/10, 80's Films, Action Film, BluRay, BluRay Releases, DVD, DVD Release, DVD Releases, New Films, New Releases, Review, Review Round Up, SciFi Film, Stallone, Team Up Movies 4 Comments
Review: Fantastic Man (DVD/BR/Digital)
The Review: You Need To Hear This is proud to present ‘Fantastic Man’ a documentary investigating Nigerian musician William Onyeabor, a man shrouded in mystery and myth. Directed by Jake Sumner (Alldayeveryday) the film tells the story of a label’s attempt to track William down, speaking to fans such as Damon Albarn, Caribou and Femi Kuti and travelling to Nigeria to meet those who’ve worked with him in a bid to uncover the truth about his story.
What is evident from the start is that William was a highly regarded musician, ahead of his time in every way. There are a lot of questions asked in this documentary and a lot are left unanswered! A good example being where and how did he fund the purchase of the equipment he had and where would he have sourced this from, when you consider the time he was making records in. In the main as well he self funded his album releases.
I guess that in a large part the mystery that surrounds William is that he’s not wanting to be found, not wanting to be in the public spotlight. You get the feeling that the music was a small part of his life and he now does not want to walk this road again. He refuses interviews on more than one occasion, as do others in Nigeria. This is a well thought out and put together documentary, I believe it’s worth half an hour of everyone’s time, and covers the life and works of William Onyeabor in a good level of depth.
Mar 12, 2014 Feb 4, 2018 Tagged: 2014 Films, BluRay, BluRay Releases, digital release, DVD, DVD Release, DVD Releases, Film Reviews, Independent Films, New Films, New Releases, Review Round Up Comment
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Home › Top Stories › SKY IS CLEARING ON CLOUDY GUAM ECONOMY ›
SKY IS CLEARING ON CLOUDY GUAM ECONOMY
Submitted by piradmin on Mon, 02/07/2005 - 00:00
By Joe Murphy
HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Feb. 7) - I was driving into Hagåtña the other day when suddenly the clouds above me drifted away and I saw an incredible patch of blue sky. The volcanic haze that was giving the island so much trouble had blown away, at least temporarily.
I decided this was very symbolic for Guam. Things, especially economic things, may have turned around.
It has been a long dry period, since the 1990s, when a huge development was taking place up at LeoPalace. They were talking then about a billion-dollar development there.
But something funny happened to the Japanese economy and that, mixed with a bad plane crash on Guam, the 9-11 attacks, the Iraq war, the SARS epidemic and a couple of terrible typhoons put us in a hole that was very difficult to extricate ourselves from. We kept looking for those blue skies, but clouds seemed to cover them for years.
Let me count the ways that the economy is getting better.
The Guam International Airport reported an increase in profits of $2.3 million for the 2004 year, compared to 2003, which saw a loss of more than $16 million.
Passenger arrivals for Guam last year increased by 28 percent, from 1.2 million in 2003 to 1.5 million arrivals in 2004. Not only that, but the airport became aggressive in pursuing federal funding and has grant agreements in excess of $21 million for capital projects, including the lengthening of a runway.
The island finally got off the dime in picking a site -- Dandan -- for the new landfill. While the people in the south are not happy about the proposed site, it is something that has to be done. It is expected that this new landfill will cost in excess of $100 million in total. They are shooting for a 2007 opening, and at last closing the Ordot dump.
Probably the most encouraging piece of business on Guam is the announced build-up of the island's military infrastructure. The Air Force had previously told of $100 million in construction contracts that should be awarded this year. The Navy, too, is planning on a good deal of construction and additional berthing of ships here.
The problem that will be created by all this construction, of course, is the old Guam bugaboo -- we'll need to import foreign workers to do the jobs. We used to have several thousand alien workers in days past, but they have mostly gone away. It would be nice if those jobs went to local people, but I don't think you can count on that happening.
The civilian community can't be ignored in this construction boom either. It was just announced that five auditorium theaters will be built in the Agana Shopping Center by a firm called Tango Theaters, at a cost of $150,000 apiece. The Agana Shopping Center is in the process of a complete. To me, the whole center looks great. They have done a nice job in reconstruction.
Work is now under way at the University of Guam. A new Jesus S. and Eugenia A. Leon Guerrero School of Business and Public Administration building is being erected on the campus. The old "A" and "B" buildings have already been torn down. The university is, of course, a key player in the resurgence of Guam.
When we talk about kick-starting Guam's economy, there are other avenues of capital coming to the island. If we privatized, or floated bonds for the improvement of the island's water system, we're talking of spending more than $100 million in pipe laying and construction.
We're also planning on building several new schools, and not just the government of Guam, but the military as well.
The new owners of Guam's telephone system are going to be spending big bucks in the years immediately ahead to upgrade the telephone system and get into the TV aspect of the industry.
And some day, with a little luck, and a lot of politics, Guam's residents will receive their war claims, which will infuse more millions into what should be a red-hot Guam economy.
Looking at the big picture, I find myself in a debate of sorts. I don't know if I want to learn how to run a bulldozer or a crane. I do know that we're going to need a lot of skilled people to do both in the years immediately ahead.
Joe Murphy is a former editor of the Pacific Daily News. Write him at jomurph@netpci.com.
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RightNation.US: A Tow Truck Driver Repossessed an NYPD Officer's Car - RightNation.US
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A Tow Truck Driver Repossessed an NYPD Officer's Car Then, He Ended up in Handcuffs Rate Topic:
#1 MTP Reggie
<no title>
Group: +Gold Community Supporter
A Tow Truck Driver Repossessed an NYPD Officer's Car. Then, He Ended up in Handcuffs.
By Amanda Farinacci
PUBLISHED 8:02 PM ET Jun. 07, 2019 UPDATED 11:26 PM ET Jun. 07, 2019
<More Here>
Jose Rodriguez has been a repo man for three years.
"It gets crazy sometimes," he said.
But he said he experienced nothing as crazy as what happened May 30, when he was driving near the 120th Precinct stationhouse and came across a Nissan Maxima wanted by the bank because of three missed payments.
He said he logged the Maxima into his tracking system, lifted it onto his tow truck and was about to walk into the stationhouse to notify police when a green pickup pulled in front of him.
"I was stopped by one officer over there, saying, 'Hey, that's a police officer's car,' with a police sergeant that was off-duty that I didn't know — with him completely blocking me in. He told me, what I'm doing? 'You got to drop the car,'" Rodriguez recalled, standing near the scene of the incident.
Rodriguez said the Nissan's owner showed up, offering to make his back payments.
But the repo man said he told them it wasn't that easy: once a car is on the tow truck and logged in, it's the bank's property.
Rodriguez said police then surrounded him, accused him of auto theft, and arrested him for possession of stolen property — a felony.Rodriguez said police then surrounded him, accused him of auto theft, and arrested him for possession of stolen property — a felony.
"This is totally wrong. This should have never happened," said Rodriguez's boss, Anthony Destefano.
Rodriguez said one officer reached into his truck to take his surveillance cameras, but not before one of the cameras snapped a photo. The officer's hand and face can be seen in the background. Rodriguez says he has the image because the camera immediately sent it to the cloud.
The repo man said the officers removed the Nissan from his tow truck, drove it away, and took him into custody, where he spent more than 20 hours in jail.
"This is a repossession, a legal repossession, from the banks, with a court order," Destefano said.
When he appeared in court, the felony charge disappeared, replaced by misdemeanor charges of falsifying documents and possession of police scanners, allegations he denies.
But his truck has still not been released. It was still sitting on Richmond Terrace, immobilized by a boot, eight days after the May 30 incident. And he's still waiting for the return of everything taken from him, including his phone, laptop, iPad, and cameras.
#2 RIPUSA
Group: Bronze
I've said it before, I'll say it again; cops are nothing but a glorified street gang.
#3 Taggart Transcontinental
RIPUSA, on 09 June 2019 - 07:59 AM, said:
Hold on now, NOT ALL COPS act like these idiots. Most of us do the right things day in and day out. This by the way is false arrest, and I hope the IA does the proper thing and investigates it. The statement by the cop saying he would make his back payments is enough. Don't slander the rest of us with this group of idiots decisions.
#4 Buckwheat Jones
Pretty broad brush you’re painting with, don’t you think? Tag here has posted a lot of experiences over the years, and he doesn’t fall into the category you’ve described. I’d like to think that most cops don’t.
Taggart Transcontinental, on 09 June 2019 - 09:15 AM, said:
The statement by the cop saying he would make his back payments is enough.
Every deadbeat says that when their vehicle has already been lifted.
MTP Reggie, on 09 June 2019 - 09:55 AM, said:
I would agree, this guy uses his position to gain from it. Hell I hate taking a 10% discount for food when patrolling. Its all about appearances so people can't paint broad brush strokes like done here. Problem is cops get paid crap when compared to the risk they put out there, but so do Soldiers so meh.
#7 Rock N' Roll Right Winger
Pissing off all of the right people
Group: Silver
Every one of those officers involved with this deserve to be suspended without pay and/or fired.
They clearly broke the law, lied and abused their authority.
It happens more often than most people will ever know, especially in the big cities.
#8 Bookdoc
Daddy's little girl
Group: +Silver Community Supporter
True story. I was opening a new fast feeder and I always stopped at local police headquarters to introduce myself and give contact info in case of a break-in or something like that. As the store was on a main highway, I also stopped in at the State Patrol HQ. They took the info and I asked the captain about discounted food for troopers (company policy for officers at that time). He appreciated my asking and told me that it embarrassed the officers as they were not allowed to accept. My crew was trained accordingly and my estimation for State Troopers went up! :2cents:
#9 Tikk
Oh Rrrrrreeeaaaally?
Every single police officer involved in this should lose their job. And be charged with wrongful arrest.
#10 Confessor
Group: +Copper Community Supporter
Bookdoc, on 09 June 2019 - 12:06 PM, said:
I can tell you from experience, I appreciate the gesture but wish businesses did not try to pay for cops meals or discount them. One, because I signed up for the job and expect nothing more than my pay ( plus it embarrasses me). Two, we already get a bad rap from people, and some folks see this and assume we expect it. Three, citizens that pay for my meal before I can, only cause me to pick up someone else’s tab at some point. I can also say that the citizens of the community I work for make my job worthwhile every day. I can’t leave the station without getting a thank you for what I do. For me, that is worth being bought or discounted a hundred meals.
More on point, those chumps need to be suspended at the minimum. Another case of thousands of cops doing right, and some idiots flushing all that work down the drain 😡
#11 zurg
Confessor, on 09 June 2019 - 05:58 PM, said:
Hopefully (I’m guessing likely) there’s pressure from inside that station to hold those officers culpable.
#12 Ladybird
zurg, on 09 June 2019 - 06:03 PM, said:
Fat chance.
Ladybird, on 09 June 2019 - 06:07 PM, said:
How do you know this? Because it’s NYC?
#14 Squirrel
I’ve never had a bad experience with a police officer when I’ve been polite. Weather the officer is black, white, Mexican or purple. Granted getting one dwi in my life was a bad experience for me. But I deserved it the interaction with the officer was fine. I get pulled over for anything I say yes sir, no sir, etc. the dwi 20 yrs ago I got out of the car stood at parade rest and said yes sir, no sir and answered honestly. 15 yrs army in 4 states and over seas I was stopped by a few for speeding etc. I can’t think of one that was out to just be an azz. I respect the hell out of them doing that job for that pay. Not too many people would.
#15 Bookdoc
Squirrel, on 09 June 2019 - 06:19 PM, said:
Agreed=I also remember small town cops being helpful when I was hitchhiking in my college years-one even put me up in the jail overnight and his wife brought breakfast and he drove me 8 miles to a better road. Yes, I have gotten tickets and am always respectful. My brother was a trooper and told me how to behave. He, unfortunately, left it after he had to shoot a guy and then his marriage broke up. It's a tough job and I could not do it.
Why do I feel this way, which is what "fat chance" means?
Observation. And no, not just the NYPD.
I’m trying to understand if it’s a more general “lots of cops are like that” or “lots of cops in NY are like that” or “lots of cops anywhere will cover up for their police buddies” or .... something else.
Believe half of what you see and nothing you hear.
#19 Liz
***-----------***
Group: Moderator
I have tremendous respect for the police but hey, this is Staten Island. :P I grew up there and this comes as no surprise. And yes, not everyone there is a jerk.
#20 gravelrash
I wish they all were punk rock girls
True, Eric Garner was not available for comment.
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Mark S. Kuhar, Editor
Mark S. Kuhar, based in Ohio, is the editor of Rock Products, Cement Americas and Frac Sand Insider. After graduating from Ohio University, and working in industrial and public service jobs for several years, he began his editorial career in 1987 as an assistant editor on Pit & Quarry and Concrete magazines. Since taking over the helm of Rock Products, he has continued to develop new products to serve the aggregates industry, including the Crushing & Breaking Spec Guide, Frac Sand Insider e-newsletter, Frac Sand Insider Conference and Expo, the Rock Products Latin American Aggregates Seminar at ConExpo Latin America, The Aggregates Almanac and the International Cement Seminar. SEMCO Publishing, with Rock Products, Cement Americas, Concrete Products and The Asia Miner, is the market share-leading publisher of print advertising and digital content for the construction-materials industry.
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Sansad Ratna
(Top performers of Indian Parliament)
PRS India
Prime Point Foundation
Sansad Ratna - Top performers of Parliament
"India is a rich country of poor people" - Mr Anandrao Adsul, Award Winning MP
11:42 AM Interview 4 comments
K. Srinivasan presenting the Sansad Ratna Award to
Mr Anandrao Adsul MP at Mumbai
Four MPs were presented with 'Sansad Ratna Award 2012' on behalf of Prime Point Foundation, at IIT, Madras on 14th April 2012. Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Former Governor of West Bengal presented the Awards.
Mr Anandrao Adsul, Hon'ble Member of Parliament from Amravati, Maharashtra constituency is one of the Sansad Ratna Award Winners, for his outstanding performance in overall tally and also for being No 1 in asking 'Questions' in the current 15th Lok Sabha. He was also No 1 in asking 'Questions' in the earlier 14th Lok Sabha. Till 30th March 2012, he has asked 754 Questions.
Since Mr Adsul could not attend the Award function at Chennai on 14th April 2012 due to his ill health, K. Srinivasan, Chairman of the Prime Point Foundation personally handed over the Award to Mr Adsul at Mumbai on 19th April 2012.
After handing over the Award, he also recorded his Lok Sabha experience and as to how, he could get the benefit for his constituency through raising questions. Mr Adsul quoted some examples of his success story. At the same time, he also expressed his concern over the growing scams. He was quoting, "India is a rich country with poor people", meaning that our scams are in lakhs of crores. However, he appealed to the new generation to enter into political system and improve the system for betterment.
Please listen to his interesting interview. (11 minutes).
This video can also be seen from the following link.
http://youtu.be/FNUyu0HpGUM
Three cheers to Parliament
11:16 AM article No comments
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article3321341.ece
Chennai comes up with innovative ideas. ‘Prime Point,' set up by a gentleman known in true Tamil Nadu-style as ‘Prime Point Srinivasan,' has instituted a set of awards for parliamentarians called Sansad Ratna Awards. ‘PP' felicitously chose Ambedkar Jayanti for the conferment ceremony this year and conferred the honour on four MPs:
Anand Rao Adsul — Number 1 in Questions (754). The total tally of debates, private bills and questions raised — 784.
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir — Number 1 in private bills — 20 in number. Questions raised — 755.
S.S. Ramasubbu — Number 3 at the all-India level with a total score of 742 questions. Attendance — 97 per cent.
Arjun Ram Meghwal — Number 1 in debates with 251 debates to his credit. Attendance — 100 per cent.
I was asked to do the honours, I do not know why. I have never been elected to a legislative body. Nor am I ever likely to be. But then the “gracing” of occasions is ever done by those singularly unqualified for the role. Seated on the dais at the IIT-Madras auditorium with me was one who was eminently suited for the event, the veteran Era Sezhiyan. An opposition MP for 22 years, Mr. Sezhiyan has shone as a studious parliamentarian whose lack of interest in the perks of that position has been diametrically opposite to his fascination for the work-opportunities Parliament gives to a serious legislator.
Rajaji once said: “It is easy to fast sitting at home on Ekadasi but very difficult to fast sitting in the middle of Modern Café at meal time”. Whether or not the award-winning MPs have been on a metaphorical fast or working away during “meal time,” they have been clearly conscientious legislators.
As I applauded them, I could not but recall to myself Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's words spoken on November 4, 1948 in the Constituent Assembly: “The parliamentary system differs from a non-parliamentary system inasmuch as the former is more responsible than the latter but they also differ as to the time and agency for assessment of their responsibility. Under the non-parliamentary system, such as the one that exists in the U.S.A., the assessment of the responsibility of the Executive is periodic. It takes place once in two years. It is done by the electorate. In England, where the parliamentary system prevails, the assessment of responsibility of the Executive is both daily and periodic. The daily assessment is done by Members of Parliament, through Questions, Resolutions, No-confidence motions, Adjournment motions and Debates on Addresses. Periodic assessment is done by the electorate at the time of the election which may take place every five years or earlier. The daily assessment of responsibility which is not available under the American system is far more effective than the periodic assessment and far more necessary in a country like India. The Draft Constitution in recommending the parliamentary system of Executive has preferred more responsibility to more stability”.
The early Lok Sabhas and Rajya Sabhas more than rose to the standards of “daily assessment” set by Dr. Ambedkar, especially in MPs' stellar debating contributions. The lyrically thoughtful Nehru was matched by the rasping Kripalani. The Houses were well-served by the laser-eyed Feroze Gandhi, the fiery Bhupesh Gupta, the impassioned Hiren Mukherjee, the sedate Lakshmi Menon, the thermal Violet Alva, the acerbic Rammanohar Lohia, the excoriating Nath Pai, the striking Renu Chakravartty, the diligent Minoo Masani, the startling C.N. Annadurai, and, of course, the poetic Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
But even in our ‘own' times, the recent debate on the Lokpal Bill saw some exceptional speeches. Pranab babu, Sushma Swaraj, Kapil Sibal, Rahul Gandhi and Sandeep Dikshit spoke with persuasion in the Lok Sabha, as did Arun Jaitley, Sitaram Yechury, D. Raja, Shobhana Bhartia and Abhishek Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha. As a citizen, as a voter, I felt proud hearing them and knew that Dr. Ambedkar would have felt proud hearing them as well, because they were actuated by a clear sense of parliamentary accountability.
The Lokpal debate brought in many dimensions of the issue, each critical, each controversial. No one spoke like the other. Indeed none could have, for each came from different political addresses. Yet, basically, what they were all saying was: The world's largest democracy deserves the world's best Parliament. We may be far from that state yet, but the country should trust the institution to rise to the occasion whenever necessary.
But so high are those “occasions,” so tall our expectations, so pressing our needs for Parliament's attention, that our disappointment at its failure to meet our aspirations blinds us to the advantages of “daily assessment”.
Such an assessment would add up to an impressive tally by any standards. If untouchability has been abolished in our country, let us acknowledge the fact that it has so been abolished by the wisdom of the founding fathers of our Constitution and our Parliament. If that ugly stain on our society — dowry — has been outlawed in our country, it is by an Act of Parliament. Likewise, land reforms were brought in by Parliament, police reforms, prison reforms, labour law reforms, and an enactment, perhaps the first of its kind in the world, for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Gifts to the country
All these are the gifts of our early Lok Sabhas and Rajya Sabhas to the country. They also bent to heed popular opinion, most notably, in the amendment to the States Reorganisation Bill, which had in a rather wooden manner proposed a composite state of Bombay, to divide it far more realistically into Maharashtra and Gujarat.
One might say all that ‘happened' in the golden days of Jawaharlal Nehru.
And so it did. But then the record has continued. The landmark reservation of seats for women in our local bodies happened long after and, in our ‘own' times, if domestic violence has been made a crime in our country, it is by an Act of Parliament; if the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is a fact of life today, giving employment and wages and nourishment to millions, it is because of Parliament; if the Right to Information is a household name today, being utilised across the length and breadth of India, and the Right to Education Act promises education to all of India's children, it is because of Parliament. If several States have Lok Ayuktas and the Centre may — inshallah — soon have a Lokpal, it is again because our legislatures have responded according to their own lights to public opinion, to public campaigns.
We ought not to take a measure of Parliament's height (and that of our Legislative Assemblies) on a low tide. Nor put the tape to where an exceptional high-scaler has reached. We should go by the mean level of our legislative record.
Something missing
And yet, there is a sense of something missing in our parliamentary record, something that is slipping through the fingers, almost.
‘Committee work' in Parliament and in our Assemblies can be exacting. But then, some seem to work far harder than others. And on the floor of the House, some attend regularly, others frequently, yet others fleetingly, and another category, only selectively.
And speeches? Some make a tidy number of them. Others opt for silence. It has been said speech should improve upon silence. Individual silence cannot improve on ambient silence, except in a Rishi's hermitage. Walkouts too are optional, as is raising one's voice beyond the requirements of audition, stepping into the Well of the House, tearing up documents. Those options are more visibly exercised.
Individual legislators do shine, sparkle and even stun us by their good performance. But going by the strict standards of responsibility that Dr. Ambedkar spoke of, it is Parliament as a whole and our Legislative Assemblies as a collectivity, that must be seen to pass the tests — rigorous, exemplary tests prescribed by him.
The most important step that needs to be taken in the matter of improving the “daily record” of our legislatures is to increase substantially the “daily” nature of its business — in other words, to have them meet oftener, sit longer, conclude the listed business. The Ministries in New Delhi bemoan the number of Bills that are “languishing” in Parliament. The Lokpal Bill is only one among many bills, each of great import, that are just unable to come up for discussion. Surely, this situation needs remedying.
The people of India will not begrudge the happy perquisites of MP-ship and MLA-ship if they are proportionate to the work put in, to high attendance, to the number of serious questions-per-session, and quality debates on bills. The people of India are generous. But as they also happen to be hugely intelligent, they want to see a good perk-work balance.
(The writer is former Governor of West Bengal.)
"Inspiring action will make legislatures as role-models" - Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
11:19 AM speech No comments
Dr Abdul Kalam's message being screened
3rd Annual Awards function was held by Prime Point Foundation at Indian Institute of Technology-Madras on Saturday the 14th April 2012 to honour four top performing Lok Sabha MPs with 'Sansad Ratna Award 2012'. Please click for more details.
On 10th April 2012, K. Srinivasan, Founder of Prime Point Foundation met Dr Abdul Kalam, Former President of India and briefed him about this event. After conveying his greetings, he also gave a short message to be screened on that day.
In his exclusive message, he has suggested the legislatures to perform 'inspiring action', which can motivate youth to enter into politics and governance.
He also suggested three important actions in their constituency viz. (1) restoring water bodies, (2) improving the literacy ration and (3) providing skill development centres. Dr Abdul Kalam said that undertaking such inspiring action, will make them as 'role-models'.
The message was screened at the start of the Award function, which was well received by the audience and by the award winning MPs. As suggested by Dr Abdul Kalam, they also announced openly to take up specific activities in their constituency as 'inspiring action' to become role-models.
Please watch this video (3 minutes)
You can watch this video from here also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVBciOghnBA
"Slandering Parliament amounts to slandering ourselves" - Gopalkrishna Gandhi
Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Former Governor of West Bengal
Prime Point Foundation, presented the Sansad Ratna Awards 2012 at Indian Institute of Technology-Madras on Saturday the 14th April 2012 to top performing 4 MPs. Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Former Governor of West Bengal and the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Rajaji presented the Awards.
After presenting the Awards. he gave an inspiring and poetic speech for nearly 18 minutes. During his speech, he stressed that the people should not slander Parliament and it amounted to slandering ourselves. He also quoted the example of the Acts of Parliament abolishing dowry and untouchability, which still remained unabolished from the society. He said, the Parliament was a great Institution and it could find solution for many things. He also appealed the Parliamentarians to find solutions for eradicating black money and corruption.
Please listen to the inspiring speech of Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi. The text of his speech may be downloaded from
http://www.prpoint.com/cg140412.pdf
This video may also be watched from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WugyQcnC5G0
Full text of his speech:
Esteemed Shri Era Sezhiyan, Award-winning Hon’ble MPs on the dais, esteemed Director of the IIT, Sri Srinivasan, Sri Sudarshan, ladies and gentlemen.
It is an honour to share the dias with Sri Era Sezhiyan.
Sri Somnath Chatterjee has said Sri Sezhiyan hs been untouched by the distortions and aberrations of our Parliamentary system. He is absolutely right.
Rajaji once said it is easy to fast sitting at home on Ekadasi but very difficult to fast sitting in the middle of Modern Café at meal time. Sri Sezhiyan has performed that miracle
Chance has to be the best designer.
Who or what but pure coincidence could have conjured four names of parliamentarians with the perfect blend of legislative credit and with all four belonging to different parties, different regions, different languages ?
One defect in design has however been left by that architect of concurrent incidence. I refer to the fact that all winners are men. A reservation – by utter chance – for women in the play of the hand that devises these awards would be felicitous.
I salute chance.
But I do so without detracting from the inherent merit of the MPs who have been conferred the Sansad Ratna-s. They have not achieved what they have achieved by chance, or by a fluke. They have earned their distinction.
I applaud the winners, I celebrate their achievement, I commend their example to their peers.
And yet I cannot but express a contrary opinion today. And that is : Not just these MPs, and their award winning predecessors but every MP should been found to have done as well or as well as these three. Some have to excel. They have to stand out. Even in the Defence Forces, where every man or woman in uniform has the same valour, the same discipline, the same courage, some do get Vir Chakra-s, some Param Vir Chakra-s. But Vir they all are.
Is the case the same with our legislators ? Some may shine, some may sparkle, and some may stun by their calibre, but are they all Ratna-s ?
Membership of the Houses of Parliament requires a level field of performance in what may be termed the basics of parliamentarianism. Has that been happening ? Some are regular in their attendance, others are frequent visitors. Some put a good number of questions, others keep their queries themselves. Some make a tidy number of speeches. Others opt for silence.
Excellence is optional. Should pass-mark performance be optional too ?
It has been said speech should improve upon silence.
But silence cannot improve on silence, except in a Rishi.
And shouting cannot take the place of speech, except in a public meeting and that too only when the amplification-system has failed.
Attendance, interpellations and speeches in legislatures are of course optional. And Hon’ble Members are entitled to opt for those forms of conservative conduct. But walk-outs too are optional, as is raising one’s voice beyond the requirements of audition, stepping into the well of the House, tearing documents, hurling objects. That option is frequently exercised.
But, on a larger plane, is parliamentary accountability optional ?
Is legislative duty a matter of choice ?
Is giving one’s worth as one elected to one’s electors subject to the whimsies of volition ?
Today is a magnetic anniversary, Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary. Let us ask his memory that question. I feel like saying to him ‘Sir, you will be glad to know Parliament has a Committee on Ethics’. I can hr him rejoin with ‘ I did not know ethics can be achieved by a committee…Do they decide on what is ethical by consensus, by majority vote or by the casting vote of its chair ?’
And I do not have the answer to that.
If that were possible, how much good, how much welfare, how much progress we could achieve by ‘committee’ !
Alas, reality is ever a teaser.
There are grades of performance in Parliament as there are elsewhere. And one may not expect uniformity in standards of dedication. In fact one may definitely expect the opposite. One may expect variations, wide and oceanic variations in individual records.
Parliament represents the essences of India.
Parliament is in fact, ‘Essential India’.
Therefore it is important, I think, that not just individuals but Parliament as a whole passes tests, rigorous, exemplary tests. What is important is that the integrated will of the people as reflected in that body of the essences of India, be of the first rank, of the first water.
And there, let us note the fact that in all its successive avatars, the Parliament of India has shown itself to be an extraordinary institution.
Even as forum for debating, let us acknowledge the fact that we have some extraordinary spealers there. The recent debate on the Lokpal Bill saw some exceptional speeches, of which must mention those of Sri Pranab Mukherjee, Smt Sushma Swaraj, Sri Arun Jaitley, Sri Sitaram Yechury, Sri Sandeep Dikshit, Sri Abhishek Singhvi, Smt Shobhana Bhartia, Sri D Raja. There are others who spoke effectively and persuasively as well, but these names com readily to my mind.
As a citizen, as a voter, I felt proud hearing them. Dr Ambedkar would have felt proud hearing them. I felt the people of India were speaking through them.
I do not and never shall subscribe to the cynical diminishing of our Parliament that some attempt. I do not and shall not join in any chorus of abuse hurled at that institution. For to call Parliament by any synonym of slander is to slander ourselves. Not that we as a people do not deserve to hear bitter truths about ourselves ; we do. But then we are of elements so mixed, of virtues and vices so fluxed, of highs and lows so contradictorily constituted, that we should know better than to judge too harshly or in haste an institution that is made in nothing save our own image.
Just as we as individuals, as house-holders, as institution-makers have moments when we rise above our own average, when we overcome our limitations and seek to raise ourselves to a degree of elevation above that which is natural to our state, just as we have, shall I say, moments of high reflection or deep introspection, and just as we, with all our mortal weaknesses, can sometimes rise above ourselves to an act of courage, or of candour, of credit and of commitment, so also the Parliament of India can rise and has risen, time and again, to give to its people, to those that have brought it into being, in other words, to us, the gift of its innate greatness, the fruit of its inherent wisdom, and indeed, the dower of its ripened instincts.
So high are our expectations of Parliament, so pressing our needs for its attention, and so steep our sense of its obligations to us, that our dismay and our disappointment, our sadness and often our shock at its failure to meet our aspirations blinds us to what it has done.
If that ugly stain on our society – dowry – has been outlawed in our country, it is by an act of Parliament. If dowry is still asked for without shame and given without demur, that is by our acts.
If domestic violence has been made a crime in our country, it is by an act of Parliament. If women and infants are still beaten by despicable brutes in male form, it is by acts of society.
If untouchability has been abolished in our country, let us acknowledge the fact that it has so been abolished by the wisdom of the founding parents of our Constitution and our Parliament. If that ugly stain on our society – dowry – has been outlawed in our country, it is by an act of Parliament. Likewise, land reforms were brought in by Parliament, police reforms, prison reforms, labour law reforms, and an enactment, perhaps the first of its kind in the world, for the prevention of cruelty to animals. All these are the gifts to the country of Parliament. And the same Parliament has bent to heed popular opinion , most notably, in the amendment to the States Reorganisation Bill which had in a rather wooden manner proposed a composite state of Bombay, to divide it far more realistically , into Maharashtra and Gujarat.
One might say all that ‘happened’ in the golden days of Jawaharlal Nehru.
And so it did. But then the record has continued.The landmark reservation of seats for women in our local bodies happened long after and , in our ‘own’ times, if domestic violence has been made a crime in our country, it is by an act of Parliament, if the NREGA is a fact of life today, giving employment and wages and nourishment to millions, it is because of Parliament, if the RTI is a household name today, utilised across the length and breadth of India, and the RTE Act promises education to India’s children, it is because of Parliament. If States have Lok Ayuktas and the Centre may – inshallah – soon have a Lok Pal it is again because our legislatures have responded according to its own lights to public opinion, to public campaigns.
We need to salute Anna Hazare for his campaign. But just imagine for a moment a country where there was no parliament, no democracy, who would Anna Hazare have addressed ? Who would have taken his demand for steps against corruption and black money forward ?
I could go on and give more examples, but do not need to. Not in Chennai, which has sent some of the finest Parliamentarians of the world to the apex legislature of India.
Let us not judge Parliament by its low tides. Let us not measure its bench marks by the lines left on its side by receding foam-lines of sediment and dross. They do not represent the golden mean. At the other end of the spectrum, let us not see it by the leaps of its great shooting stars either, for they too are exceptional.
Let us rather judge that institution, which is nothing else than our own integrated political intelligence at work, by its averages. There we shall see a balanced picture.
Having said this, let me say the following and close:
Parliament is by definition a vessel of dignity. Let those who row it row with knowledge. It will empower them.
Parliament is like a planetarium where the convex sky must glitter with the glow and sparkle of the entire spangled firmament, not by the episodic spark of meteors, comets and shooting stars. Those can add to the wonderment of Parliament , but not compensate for the sullen starlessness of its average sky.
Parliament cannot be held by its makers in anything but confidence, faith. Parliament hs to be the home of visvasam.
Preoccupation with the monetary, travel or status perquisites of legislative membership when proportionate to preoccupation with serious work will never be begrudged by the people of India. We are a generous people. But when that preoccupation is out of balance, it can jar. We are an intelligent people.
Finally, it is time Parliament gave India solutions to three important problems that beset us:
A solution to the ogre of black money.
A solution to the related demon of corrupt practices, including the use of intimidation, physical and psychological, in elections.
A solution to what Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan called “widespread inefficiency and gross mismanagement of resources”.
There is a fourth contribution that requires to be made as well. We are facing certain risks, national risks. There is the distinct prospect flowing from climate change of a water shock and a food shock. We have of course the ever-present prospect of an energy shock, fuel shock. And we have the seemingly increase frequency of natural disasters like earthquakes. We were all shaken up on 11 April by the 8.6 that lay epicentred in Indonesia. Now, earthquakes today are no different from earthquakes millennia ago. They may be more frequent, but in their intrinsic nature they are the same as always. Yet they kill more viciously now, not because the earthquake per se has become more vicious but because the congestion of buildings and of populations has become so dense that the impact is that much worse.
What does all this have to do with Parliament?
It has everything to do with Parliament because Parliament is our essence and we must be told by it of the risks that we face, the dangers we must prepare ourselves for. Parliament must be both th harbinger of good news and initiator of great steps but it must also be the messenger of the bitter herbs of much-needed medicament in terms of honest truths told. It must give us confidence and also take us into confidence.
Let us be proud of our Parliament and all our Legislative Assemblies, but let us strive to make them what they are meant to be.
Four MPs honoured with 'Sansad Ratna Award 2012'
9:10 AM Award function No comments
Prime Point Foundation, Chennai every year honours the top performing Parliamentarians during April / May for their performance till the end of Part I of Budget Session of that year.
3rd Annual Awards function was held at Indian Institute of Technology-Madras on Saturday the 14th April 2012, to honour the following four MPs with 'Sansad Ratna Award'. Details of the individual performance is given in our earlier posting.
1. Mr Anandrao Vithoba Adsul, Shiv Sena MP from Amravati, Maharashtra
2. Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, BJP MP from Chandrapur, Maharastra
3. Mr S S Ramasubbu, Cong MP from Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu
Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi presents the award to Mr S S Ramasubbu MP. K. Srinivasan (left), Mr Era Sezhiyan (centre) and Dr Bhaskar Ramamurthy (right) looking on
4. Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal, BJP MP from Bikaner, Rajasthan
Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi presents the award to Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal MP. K. Srinivasan (left), Mr Era Sezhiyan (centre) and Dr Bhaskar Ramamurthy (right) looking on
The Sansad Ratna Awards-2012 were presented by Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Former Governor of West Bengal (grand son of Mahatma Gandhi), in the presence of Mr Era Sezhiyan, veteran Parliamentarian and Dr Bhaskar Ramamurthy, Director of IIT-M.
Mr Anandrao Adsul and Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir could not be physically be present to receive the Awards. However they interacted with the audience through 'mobile' from their place.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam had given an exclusive message for this function, which was recorded on 10th April 2012. This video was screened for the benefit of the audience. In his message, Dr Abdul Kalam suggested the politicians to become 'role models' by undertaking 'inspiring action'. He said, that would further inspire the youth to take up politics and governance. His message is separately published in the next posting.
After presenting the Awards, Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi , in his inspiring and poetic speech, appealed to every one not to slander the Parliament. He said, it would amount to slandering ourselves. He also quoted that there were various acts enacted by the Parliament to prevent dowry, untouchability, etc. Still, the society violated such acts and followed their own practises. His inspiring speech and the full text is published separately.
A National Seminar on 'Youth in Politics and Governance - Challenges and Opportunities' was held earlier with Mr S S Ramasubbu MP, Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal MP and Mr R Bhagwan Singh, Executive Editor of Deccan Chronicle as panelists. This panel discussed encouraged the educated and service minded youth to enter into politics to take forward the wheels of the nation.
There was another panel discussion in the evening to discuss the 'Role of Civil Society'. Ms Jothimani (Cong), Ms Vanati Srinivasan (BJP), Ms Revathy (CPM), Ms Ajitha Karthikeyan (Political journalist) and Ms Bhavana Upadyaya (Social activist) as panelists. This panel discussed the various issues that are preventing the youth to enter into politics.
The purpose of this seminar is to discourage the 'cynical' attitude of the society against 'politics as an institution' and to applaud good politicians, who are running the country. This seminar was organised jointly Prime Point Foundation and Humanities and Social Science Department of IIT, Madras.
The event was anchored by Sneha Gore and Bhanu Gomes.
Indian Overseas Bank supported this event as main sponsors.
Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Bank of Maharashtra, UCO Bank and Corporation Bank also supported this event. Good Relations india was the PR Partner for this event.
Please see the photo stream.
Four MPs to be honoured with 'Sansad Ratna' Award
7:09 PM Award function, Information No comments
Prime Point Foundation at the close of first part of the Budget Session every year honours the Members of Lok Sabha for their outstanding performance. Mainly, the Members are assessed based on their (a) asking questions, (b) participation in debates, including raising important issues under Rule 377. 193, Zero hour discussions, etc., (c ) introduction of private members bills and (d) attendance.
Based on the data and information released by Lok Sabha, PRS Legislative Research has released the performance data as on 30th March 2012. Based on the data, Prime Point Foundation will be honouring the following 4 MPs with Sansad Ratna Award, for their outstanding performance in the Lok Sabha till the end of 30th March 2012 (Part I of X Session).
Mr Anand Rao Adsul : Shiv Sena MP from Amravati, Maharashtra. He stands No 1 for the Questions asked in the Lok Sabha. He has asked 754 Questions. Besides, he has also participated in 27 times in various Debates. He has also introduced 3 Private Members Bills. The total tally is 784.
Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir BJP MP from Chandrapur, Maharashtra. During this 15th Lok Sabha, he has introduced 20 Private Members Bills and stands No 1 under this category. He has also asked 658 Questions and participated in 77 Debates. His total tally is 755.
Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal: BJP MP from Bikaner, Rajasthan. He has participated 251 times in debates and stands No 1 under this category. Besides, he has also asked 389 Questions and introduced 13 Private Members Bills. He has attended 100% of all the sittings upto X Session. He stands No 1 under this category also. His total tally is 653.
Mr S S Ramasubbu: Cong MP from Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu. He stands No 3 in the overall tally for the entire Lok Sabha and also No 1 among Tamilnadu MPs. Till 30th March 2012, he has participated in 99 debates, asked 643 questions. The total tally is 742. He has also attended 97% of the sittings.
Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi (Former Governor of West Bengal Government), Mr Era Sezhiyan (Veteran Parliamentarian) and Dr Bhaskar Ramamurthy (Director of IIT) will be honouring these MPs at IC&SR Auditorium, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras on Saturday the 14th April 2012. This event coincides with Dr Ambedkar Jayanthi, the architect of Indian Constitution.
Besides the Award function, Prime Point Foundation jointly with Humanities and Social Science Dept. of IIT-M has planned two panel discussions. The theme of the first panel discussion is 'Youth in Politics and Governance - Challenges and Opportunities'. The top performing MPs will be in the panel and share the views.
In the evening, another panel discussion on the theme 'Youth in Politics and Governance - Role of Civil Society' will be held with all new generation women panelists. This panel will discuss about the role of educational institutions, media and NGOs in creating awareness about this among the youth.
The purpose of this Award function and the seminar is to motivate the youngsters to get awareness about our democracy and to involve themselves in the governance and policy making process.
For more details contact prpoint@gmail.com
How to track performance of MPs and MLAs?
11:08 AM Information No comments
L to R: Bharathi Thamizhan, Tonusree, K Srinivasan
and Era. Sezhiyan
Indian Election Commission conducts elections every five years to elect MPs and MLAs for the Parliament and various State Assemblies. The media hype dies down, after the elections are completed. Unless there are some big issues or chaos in the Houses, neither the media nor the general public give serious attention to the performance of the elected members. This process goes on for ever and the media hype starts when the next elections are announced.
PRS Legislative Research is a non profit research body at Delhi established in 2005. They conduct various researches on the bills, questions, debates of the Parliament and various state Assemblies. They also periodically put out their analysis in their website. While, US and UK have many such research bodies to analyse the performance of Legislatures, India has only one such research body.
Chennai Press Club and Prime Point Foundation jointly organised a workshop on 24th July 2010 for working journalists at Chennai to create awareness about the tracking of the performance of MPs and MLAs, with the support of PRS Legislative Research.
The workshop was inaugurated by the veteran and well known Parliamentarian Mr Era Chezhian. During his inaugural speech, he expressed concern over the reduction in number of sittings of Parliament during the past few years. Before 1980, the Parliament used to meet for 120 days every year and now it has come down to around 60 days. Mr Chezhian was also expressing his concern over the suppression of freedom of press by many Governments.
Please watch and listen to the presentation made by Ms Tonusree on the various aspects of tracking of legislators. Please click to play the video.
This video may also be watched form the following site:
http://youtu.be/wWKep2EiAKg
http://blip.tv/file/3927897
Please watch the photographs taken during the occassion.
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About this Award
Prime Point Foundation has been honouring the top performing Members of Parliament based on their performance in the House. (Questions raised, debates participated, issues raised, private bills introduced and attendance),
From 2012, the Foundation has named this award as 'Sansad Ratna Award'.
EMail id: prpoint@gmail.com
Dr Abdul Kalam greets UnSung Heroes
Inspiring speech by Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi
Award function (36)
Performance analysis (3)
performance data (12)
TOP 10 CLUB (1)
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Seeds of Silence:finding space with God
Quotes about silence
Spiritual Accompaniment
Reading Group: Bradford
Below are details and links to a selection of writings about silence by Dr Alison Woolley, Director of Seeds of Silence.
Some are based on her PhD research, whilst others appeared in popular Christian media, such as The Church Times or Retreats 2017, published by The Retreat Association.
New book just published, Jan 2019
Women Choosing Silence:
Relationality and Transformation in Spiritual Practice
by Dr Alison Woolley
20% DISCOUNT: click here and use promo code FLR40 at Routledge checkout
This book discusses Alison's research findings about the role, value and impact of chose practices of silence in the faith lives of contemporary Christian women.
Based in her in-depth interviews with 20 women in the UK, conducted as part of her theology PhD, it explores how their engagement in silence-based prayer brings about transformation in the women's relationships with God, with themselves and with others.
For the book description click the link or see the shorter version lower down this page.
Click here for reviews, book description and ordering
Click the image to read the 'Back Page Interview' with Alison in The Church Times from the beginning of Lent in March, 2017.
'A discipline of silence is hard work and often demands sacrifice on some level.'
Click the image to read a pdf version of Alison's article, Exploring Silence, written for The Retreat Association's 2017 Handbook, below.
The Retreats 2017 Handbook contains 11 further articles and information about over 230 retreat locations in the UK and beyond.
To order a copy of Retreats 2017, and to explore The Retreat Association website, click on the handbook image.
To buy click here
This book contains Alison's chapter based on her PhD research into the role, value and impact of chosen practices of silence in contemporary Christian women's spiritual journeys.
Alison Woolley, 'Silent Gifts: An Exploration of Relationality in Contemporary Christian Women's Chosen Practices of Silence', in Nicola Slee, Fran Porter and Anne Phillips, eds., The Faith of Women and Girls: Qualitative Research Perspectives (Farnham: Ashgate, 2013), 147-159.
This book contains Alison's chapter about silences in research interviews. However, its focus on exploring how new self-knowledge emerges when silence is fostered in one-to-one relationships makes valuable reading for those involved in Spiritual Accompaniment and pastoral care. Based on the methodology she evolved for her PhD research, the chapter interrogates the importance of paying attention to periods of silence throughout all stages of the research process.
See Alison Woolley, 'Wholly Sound: A Feminist Reframing of the 'Problem' of Interview Silence as a Methodology for Discovering New Knowledge', in Nicola Slee, Fran Porter and Anne Phillips, eds., Researching Female Faith: Qualitative Research Methods, (London: Routledge, 2017), 155-170.
Click here for more info and ordering
Women Choosing Silence: Relationality and Transformation in Spiritual Practice, (London: Routledge, Jan 2019).
This book offers readers a detailed account of Alison's research into the role, value and impact of chosen practices of silence in the faith lives of contemporary Christian women. Including many accounts of women's descriptions of their engagement in practices of silence, and the ways that it transforms their relationship with God, with themselves and with others, it presents a moving portrayal of the impact of this ancient Christian spiritual discipline in women's lives today.
A description of the book:
Silence is long-established as a spiritual discipline amongst people of faith. However, its examination tends to focus on depictions within texts emerging from religious life and the development of its practices. In contrast, this book investigates chosen practices of silence in the lives of Christian women today, evidencing its potential for enabling profound relationality and empowerment within their spiritual journeys. Opening with an exploration of Christianity’s reclamation of practices silence in the twentieth century, its substantive theological and empirical exploration of women’s practices of silence demonstrates that, for some, silence-based prayer is a valued space for encounter and transformation in relationships with God, with themselves and with others. It urges practical and feminist theologians to re-examine silence’s potential for facilitating the development of more authentic and responsible relationality within people’s lives. This unique study provides new perspectives on practices of silence within Christianity, particularly amongst women. It will, therefore, be of significant interest to academics, practitioners and students in theology and religious studies with a focus on contemporary religion, spirituality, feminism, gender and research methods.
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The voice of the Filipino wrestling fan
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31 Days of Wrestling (12/10/18): Wreck It, Rowdy (Wrestlemania 34, Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle vs. Triple H & Stephanie McMahon)
By George Carlos Pastor Monday, December 10, 2018
Welcome to the 31 Days of Wrestling, ladies and gentlemen. Once again, we're at that point where we take a look back at the past 11 months of pro wrestling (and as much as possible, the last month as well) and cherry-pick one match for each day of December from a list of bouts that defined the year in our beloved sport. Most matches will be good, while some may not be; what matters is that they helped build the perception and reputation of the kind of wrestling 2018 produced for us.
Ronda Rousey, Olympic bronze medalist in judo, former Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion, Former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, first female UFC Champion, Armbar Aficionado...
...professional wrestler.
There's a vocal majority among the MMA fanbase that scoffs at the art of pro wrestling, dismissing it as nothing more than fake, play-fighting, and reserved only for kids. And yet what's funny is that there are numerous MMA fighters who are fans of pro wrestling, and are unashamedly vocal about it, too.
Enter Ronda Rousey, one of the most polarizing figures in the sport of MMA. She's brash and unapologetic, and she totally doesn't give a damn about her bad reputation. She ruled her division with her mastery of Judo and her deadly proficiency with the armbar. She was at the top of her game. So when she suffered back-to-back knockout losses and eventually announced her desire to pursue professional wrestling, many fans were vocal about their opinions towards her decision.
Despite all her accolades, all the medals and the belts that she won, the pro wrestling ring is still a different animal. Forget about a low-pressure start as well, as her first in-ring match was booked at none other than WrestleMania 34. What was everybody thinking?! Even when we factor in that she would be teaming up with a Hall of Famer in Kurt Angle against Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, it was still a daunting task for any wrestler. And this was for her debut.
But then a magical thing happened. Ronda Rousey did not suck. Yes, smarks. She was actually pretty decent in her debut match. Of course, there will be debates over this being a result of her being carried by her partner and their opponents' level of experience. But at the end of the day, Rousey really looked like she belonged in a WWE ring.
Major props do go to the other three wrestlers in the match. Her fellow Olympic medalist Kurt Angle and Triple H had an amazing reunion in the ring. It was an absolute treat seeing Angle dish out his patented suplexes over and over. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, amazing entrance and all with that motorcade, absolutely played up the tease for the Ronda tag. Time and time again, the power couple worked on Angle to keep Rousey away from facing Stephanie. But when it did finally happen, bah gawd, was it so much more fun. It's hard to see Judo in a pro wrestling ring because a good majority of the moves overlap with most other grappling arts, especially wrestling. But Rousey just makes it her own. When she does a throw, you know it's Judo.
The only gripe, the only thing that someone could ever complain about here, would have been how Stephanie McMahon was able to defend the armbar for so long. That's it. It seemed too unrealistic. With how many arms Rousey had taken in mere seconds, this should have been the death touch. But this is pro wrestling after all, and these are Stephanie McMahon's stomping grounds. Let's just chalk it up to experience.
BUT HOT DAMN, THIS MATCH WAS FUN. There were way too many spots to single out as the best, but seeing the double submission from the Olympic team was a thing of beauty. When tones of rivalries past between Angle, Triple H, and Stephanie made itself known, it showed that this match wasn't just about Rousey's debut.
In the end, the predictable finish happened. Rousey was finally able to isolate Stephanie McMahon and make her tap out to the armbar. But this match was way more than that. It was entertaining from start to finish and did not at all feel the least bit dragging. Was it the greatest match during WrestleMania? Not at all, but it was a performance that deserved its place on the card.
So what made this match special, even more so in 2018? It has to be that pro wrestling and MMA can definitely mix. They have done so for years. And yet, a vast majority of MMA fans have put blinders on whenever the topic of the art is being discussed. Rousey making the jump into the squared circle shouldn't be viewed as fleeing to safer waters, where her past opponents can't catch her anymore.
She is a vocal fan of pro wrestling, and that shouldn't be held against her. What she chooses to do and where she chooses to place her talents should not be at the whim of fans. Lest people forget, there was someone else in that ring who did pretty much the same thing. There was someone who eventually chose to pursue a path that others in the same field turned their noses at. It was none other than her tag team partner, Kurt Angle.
So yes, this match was a middle finger to those who laughed at her decision, and a double-flipped bird to those who made fun of where she chose to go. And she didn't care about her bad reputation.
31 Days of Wrestling is Smark Henry's way of celebrating the matches that helped define wrestling in 2018.
Read our previous entries:
1. Winnipeg Boys Conquer the Tokyo Dome (Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho, No DQ match for IWGP US Heavyweight title, Wrestle Kingdom 12)
2. Roman Reigns Finally Becomes Universal Champion (Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns, SummerSlam 2018)
3. The Man Is Last Woman Standing (Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch, Last Woman Standing match for SmackDown Women's title, Evolution)
4. Kenny Omega, Finally IWGP Heavyweight Champion (Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega, 2-out-of-3 Falls match, Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall)
5. The Resurrection of Daniel Bryan (AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship, WWE SmackDown Live 11/13/18)
6. Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa, Unsanctioned match (NXT TakeOver: New Orleans)
7. The Lightbringer Has Arrived (Ralph Imabayashi vs. Quatro for the PWR Championship, PWR Live: Homefront)
8. The First Ever Women's Royal Rumble (Royal Rumble 2018)
9. To Surpass God (Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi, G1 Climax 28 Finals)
31 Days of Wrestling Kurt Angle Ronda Rousey Stephanie McMahon Triple H WrestleMania 34
Labels: 31 Days of Wrestling Kurt Angle Ronda Rousey Stephanie McMahon Triple H WrestleMania 34
#FinisherFriday (1/17/20): Rainmaker
By Wreddit_Regal Friday, January 17, 2020
EXCLUSIVE: Jan Evander vs. GrabCamus for the AOW Championship at PWR Mabuhay ang Wrestling
By Ricky Jay Publico Saturday, January 18, 2020
The Grapevine (1/13/20): Join the Broken Order
By Romeo Moran Monday, January 13, 2020
SmackDown RunDown (1/10/20): Be Jealous!
By Ricky Jay Publico Monday, January 13, 2020
Theme Song Tuesday: I Hear Voices In My Head
By Stan Sy Tuesday, January 14, 2020
The Hall of Pen
Anthony Cuello
Ardelle Costuna
BJ Recio
Enzo Tanos
George Carlos Pastor
Jocs Boncodin
Lance Tan Ong
Marck Rimorin
Michael Bueza
Migz Llado
Mikey Llorin
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Pepe Serapio
Ricky Jay Publico
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Smark Henry
Stan Sy
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"The Senyorito" Jake De Leon
bodonium
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Art of War Wrestling
© Smark Henry 2017
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Silversprite
Collecting and analysing evidence of effective game use in education
Tag: motivational
Systematic literature review
The September 2012 issue of Computers and Education contains the paper:
A systemic literature review of empirical evidence on computer games and serious games.
Authors: Thomas Connolly, Elizabeth Boyle, Ewan MacArthur, Thomas Hainey and James Boyle.
Abstract: This paper examines the literature on computer games and serious games in regard to the potential positive impacts of gaming on users aged 14 years or above, especially with respect to learning, skill enhancement and engagement. Search terms identified 129 papers reporting empirical evidence about the impacts and outcomes of computer games and serious games with respect to learning and engagement and a multidimensional approach to categorizing games was developed. The findings revealed that playing computer games is linked to a range of perceptual, cognitive, behavioural, affective and motivational impacts and outcomes. The most frequently occurring outcomes and impacts were knowledge acquisition/content understanding and affective and motivational outcomes. The range of indicators and measures used in the included papers are discussed, together with methodological limitations and recommendations for further work in this area.
My notes: This is an excellent review of nearly 130 papers, from 2004 to early 2009, concerned with the use of computer and serious games in learning. It’s an easy read, but has much substance, presented in a neutral manner.
More information at:
Author JohnPosted on November 11, 2014 June 14, 2016 Categories EvidenceTags affective, behavioural, cognitive, data, education, empirical, impacts, learning, literature review, motivational, perceptual, review, systematic1 Comment on Systematic literature review
July 2018, Turin: The Game is the Message November 12, 2017
April 2018, Tampere: Making Games October 31, 2017
Rejoining DiGRA June 6, 2017
Violet March 5, 2017
December 2017, Lisbon: Games and Learning Alliance February 28, 2017
July 2017, Manassas: Serious Play February 2, 2017
October 2017, Graz: Games Based Learning January 28, 2017
Game designing, again. At last. January 25, 2017
“Notes” categories
Games on academia
Text adventures
Listed on this website
ResearchGate.net
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Sinlung / Northeast
Northeast Residents Protest Against Police Inaction in Molestation Case
Sinlung Says: No matter how much effort you put in protest, education. Things will never change. This is INDIA.
You don't look, eat, talk, walk like Indians. Get OVER it and try to MOVE on.
Either you get independence from India or suffer the consequence like this for living in India.
By Shubhomoy Sikdar
The Hindu North East community of Capital protesting against the mishandling of a female lawyer from Nagaland at the Tis Hazari court in New Delhi, on Tuesday. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt
A Naga lawyer and others were assaulted on court premises
A large number of Northeast residents of the Capital took out a protest march to the Bar Council of India office here on Tuesday against the alleged molestation of a Naga woman lawyer last week by a lawyer and the subsequent assault on her friends and counsel by advocates at the Tis Hazari court.
So far, the police have registered two different cases. While Inder Narain, accused of molestation, was immediately arrested and subsequently released on bail, other lawyers, who allegedly thrashed those accompanying the victim during her court appearance last Friday, have not been arrested yet.
The protesters included various groups representing the Northeastern residents of the city and were supported by the Jawaharlal Nehru Union Students’ Union activists.
Blaming the police for inaction in the assault case, the students said it was because of the police’s attitude the attackers are roaming free. They also questioned the Delhi Police on some of the recent promises made to the people from the community.
Alleging that such actions by lawyers compromised the sanctity of the law, the protesters demanded that the BCI suspend the licence to practise of the accused.
Describing how the events in the court room panned out on the day of the incident, Maivio J. Woba, president of the Naga Students’ Union of Delhi, who was one of the victims, said they were chased down on the court premises and beaten up without any provocation.
The protesters were initially stopped a few metres away from the BCI office and after a discussion with the policemen present there, were allowed to go till the main gate. Finally, some of the representatives went inside and submitted a memorandum to the BCI office bearers. The BCI representatives assured them that their demands would be looked into.
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Deadly New Jersey shootout started with 'targeted' attack on kosher market, officials say
Updated: 11:28 AM EST Dec 11, 2019
By Jason Hanna and Madeline Holcombe, CNN
Tuesday's deadly shootout in New Jersey began with a deliberate attack on people inside a kosher market, with surveillance video showing the shooters calmly exiting a van and firing into the store with long guns, city officials said Wednesday.That attack, and a lengthy shootout with police that followed at JC Kosher Supermarket in Jersey City, left six people dead -- including three people in the market, a police officer and the two shooters, authorities said."There were many other (potential) targets available to them that they bypassed to attack that place," Jersey City Department of Public Safety Director James Shea told reporters."We do feel comfortable that it was a targeted attack on the Jewish kosher deli," Mayor Steven Fulop said.Investigators don't yet know why the shooters attacked the store, and therefore they aren't labeling the attack as anti-Semitic, Shea said.Still, Fulop said officials would be meeting Wednesday with Jewish community leaders. And in neighboring New York, state police have increased patrols near synagogues and Jewish establishments, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.The afternoon store attack led to chaotic scenes over several hours in the city across the Hudson River from Manhattan, with heavily armed officers taking over city streets, pulling up in armored personnel vehicles amid the sounds of sirens and gunshots.Two police officers happened to be near the store when the attack happened and rushed there immediately. They transmitted information to colleagues and were shot, but they likely saved lives, Shea said. It wasn't immediately clear if one of them was the officer who died."Had they not been there in that location, more than likely more people would have died," Fulop said.Police haven't released the names of the shooters.What the video shows, according to officialsThe latest account conflicts with what authorities initially said Tuesday, which was that the shootings spanned multiple locations. CNN affiliates initially reported that the gunfire began at a cemetery.On Wednesday, Shea and Fulop tried to set the timeline straight.Police have said the shooting began around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.Surveillance video shows a van moving slowly through the city's streets before stopping in front of the store, Fulop said."The perpetrator stopped in front of there, calmly opened the door with two long rifles -- him and the other perpetrator -- and began firing from the street into the facility," Fulop said."We now know this did not begin with gunfire between police officers and the perpetrators, and then moved to the store. It began with an attack on the civilians in the store," Shea said.Besides those killed, three other people -- two police officers and a civilian -- were injured by gunfire, authorities said.Police have said a stolen U-Haul truck also was part of the investigation, and was being examined by a bomb squad.Officers saved lives, officials saysChaotic scenes ensued when the shooting began. Commerce near the gunfire virtually shut down, and schools went on lockdown. Continuous gunfire could be heard in the city for one harrowing 20-second stretch before 2 p.m.The first two responding officers "placed themselves in the line of fire" and were shot, Shea said."Within seconds, more Jersey City police officers responded to their calls, pulled them out of the line of fire and continue to engage the two people carrying guns inside the store," Shea said."Without that response immediately from those police officers ... with the amount of ammunition (the shooters) had, we have to assume they would have continued attacking human beings," Shea said.The slain officer was identified as Detective Joseph Seals, a 15-year veteran of the department, police said. He is believed to have been ambushed, according to a law enforcement source.Seals was part of a statewide anti-violence unit, and Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly told reporters credited him with removing "dozens and dozens" of handguns from the streets in Jersey City.Two officers and one civilian were initially reported to be in stable condition after being struck by gunfire, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said via Twitter. The wounded officers were identified by Kelly as Ray Sanchez and Mariela Fernandez. They were both treated and later released.Mayor says a meeting with Jewish community leaders will come WednesdayThough investigators haven't concluded the attack was anti-Semitic, Fulop said officials would meet "with leadership in the Jewish community" on Wednesday.Fulop noted on Twitter Wednesday he is "Jewish and proud to live in a community like #JerseyCity that has always welcomed everyone.""Hate and anti-semitism have never had a place here in JC and will never have a place in our city," Fulop tweeted.New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio added Tuesday that officers have been deployed to protect the Jewish community in his city."Although there is no credible or specific threat directed against New York City, I have directed the NYPD to assume a state of high alert. Tonight, NYPD assets are being redeployed to protect key locations in the Jewish community. Tomorrow, we will announce additional measures," de Blasio tweeted Tuesday.Cuomo, while announcing increased patrols around synagogues in his state, said Wednesday that anti-Semitism was on the rise across the country and people must "stamp out this vile disease wherever we see it.""New York is a proud home to the Jewish community and we will continue to reject hateful acts whenever and wherever we see them," Cuomo said.City shuddersNew Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, who announced his office is leading the criminal investigation, said he and his staff are mourning with the city."We recognize the fear that communities rightfully feel after traumatic incidents such as these, and we are committed to providing all resources necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of our fellow residents," Grewal said.Jersey City Public Schools had a delayed start on Wednesday morning in the wake of the shooting.In a brief news conference Tuesday evening, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy praised the efforts of law enforcement, who "responded to this incident not knowing what they were entering, or if they would even make it out.""If not for them," Murphy said, "I shudder, we shudder to think about how much worse today could have been."The New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association tweeted: "We need a lot of prayers right now for Jersey City officers. Keep all those involved in your thoughts."
JERSEY CITY, N.J. —
Tuesday's deadly shootout in New Jersey began with a deliberate attack on people inside a kosher market, with surveillance video showing the shooters calmly exiting a van and firing into the store with long guns, city officials said Wednesday.
That attack, and a lengthy shootout with police that followed at JC Kosher Supermarket in Jersey City, left six people dead -- including three people in the market, a police officer and the two shooters, authorities said.
"There were many other (potential) targets available to them that they bypassed to attack that place," Jersey City Department of Public Safety Director James Shea told reporters.
"We do feel comfortable that it was a targeted attack on the Jewish kosher deli," Mayor Steven Fulop said.
Investigators don't yet know why the shooters attacked the store, and therefore they aren't labeling the attack as anti-Semitic, Shea said.
Still, Fulop said officials would be meeting Wednesday with Jewish community leaders. And in neighboring New York, state police have increased patrols near synagogues and Jewish establishments, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
The afternoon store attack led to chaotic scenes over several hours in the city across the Hudson River from Manhattan, with heavily armed officers taking over city streets, pulling up in armored personnel vehicles amid the sounds of sirens and gunshots.
Two police officers happened to be near the store when the attack happened and rushed there immediately. They transmitted information to colleagues and were shot, but they likely saved lives, Shea said. It wasn't immediately clear if one of them was the officer who died.
Detective killed in New Jersey shooting was in charge of getting guns off the streets
2 gunmen dead after shooting in New Jersey kills 4 people, including police officer
"Had they not been there in that location, more than likely more people would have died," Fulop said.
Police haven't released the names of the shooters.
What the video shows, according to officials
The latest account conflicts with what authorities initially said Tuesday, which was that the shootings spanned multiple locations. CNN affiliates initially reported that the gunfire began at a cemetery.
On Wednesday, Shea and Fulop tried to set the timeline straight.
Police have said the shooting began around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Surveillance video shows a van moving slowly through the city's streets before stopping in front of the store, Fulop said.
"The perpetrator stopped in front of there, calmly opened the door with two long rifles -- him and the other perpetrator -- and began firing from the street into the facility," Fulop said.
"We now know this did not begin with gunfire between police officers and the perpetrators, and then moved to the store. It began with an attack on the civilians in the store," Shea said.
Besides those killed, three other people -- two police officers and a civilian -- were injured by gunfire, authorities said.
Police have said a stolen U-Haul truck also was part of the investigation, and was being examined by a bomb squad.
Officers saved lives, officials says
Chaotic scenes ensued when the shooting began. Commerce near the gunfire virtually shut down, and schools went on lockdown. Continuous gunfire could be heard in the city for one harrowing 20-second stretch before 2 p.m.
The first two responding officers "placed themselves in the line of fire" and were shot, Shea said.
"Within seconds, more Jersey City police officers responded to their calls, pulled them out of the line of fire and continue to engage the two people carrying guns inside the store," Shea said.
"Without that response immediately from those police officers ... with the amount of ammunition (the shooters) had, we have to assume they would have continued attacking human beings," Shea said.
The slain officer was identified as Detective Joseph Seals, a 15-year veteran of the department, police said. He is believed to have been ambushed, according to a law enforcement source.
Seals was part of a statewide anti-violence unit, and Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly told reporters credited him with removing "dozens and dozens" of handguns from the streets in Jersey City.
Two officers and one civilian were initially reported to be in stable condition after being struck by gunfire, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said via Twitter. The wounded officers were identified by Kelly as Ray Sanchez and Mariela Fernandez. They were both treated and later released.
Mayor says a meeting with Jewish community leaders will come Wednesday
Though investigators haven't concluded the attack was anti-Semitic, Fulop said officials would meet "with leadership in the Jewish community" on Wednesday.
Fulop noted on Twitter Wednesday he is "Jewish and proud to live in a community like #JerseyCity that has always welcomed everyone."
"Hate and anti-semitism have never had a place here in JC and will never have a place in our city," Fulop tweeted.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio added Tuesday that officers have been deployed to protect the Jewish community in his city.
"Although there is no credible or specific threat directed against New York City, I have directed the NYPD to assume a state of high alert. Tonight, NYPD assets are being redeployed to protect key locations in the Jewish community. Tomorrow, we will announce additional measures," de Blasio tweeted Tuesday.
Cuomo, while announcing increased patrols around synagogues in his state, said Wednesday that anti-Semitism was on the rise across the country and people must "stamp out this vile disease wherever we see it."
"New York is a proud home to the Jewish community and we will continue to reject hateful acts whenever and wherever we see them," Cuomo said.
City shudders
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, who announced his office is leading the criminal investigation, said he and his staff are mourning with the city.
"We recognize the fear that communities rightfully feel after traumatic incidents such as these, and we are committed to providing all resources necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of our fellow residents," Grewal said.
Jersey City Public Schools had a delayed start on Wednesday morning in the wake of the shooting.
In a brief news conference Tuesday evening, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy praised the efforts of law enforcement, who "responded to this incident not knowing what they were entering, or if they would even make it out."
"If not for them," Murphy said, "I shudder, we shudder to think about how much worse today could have been."
The New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association tweeted: "We need a lot of prayers right now for Jersey City officers. Keep all those involved in your thoughts."
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Daria Kasatkina vs Caroline Wozniacki French Open 2018 Preview
June 2, 2018 Aaron Higgs Tennis News 2015, Tennis Previews & Predictions No comments
Caroline Wozniacki remains in control of her destiny in the WTA rankings, with her spot at No.1 confirmed if she wins a second straight slam this year – however unlikely that may seem. She faces her first tough test in round four, playing the Russian Daria Kasatkina. They have already met twice this year with Kasatkina being successful in straight sets on both occasions.
Having to beat Danielle Collins, Georgina Garcia-Perez and Pauline Parmentier for a spot in the fourth round is not particularly the toughest route for a player but the second seed dealt with it with the minimum of fuss. She won the first 8 games against Parmentier before eventually settling for a 6-0 6-3 victory against the Frenchwoman. “I feel pretty good,” she said. “I think I played some solid tennis, and I’m happy to be through to the fourth round here again.”
Kasatkina is in the last 16 thanks to a three set win over Maria Sakkari, beating the Greek 6-1 1-6 6-3. Surprisingly, it is her first French Open fourth round and just the second at a slam in her career. Kasatkina is a former Girls champion at the event, having beat Ivana Jorovic in the final 4 years ago. Justine Henin was the last player to win both, having won the the junior event in 1997. While the No.14 seed is far from a favourite to win the title, a run to final would not be the most suprising thing. The bottom half collapsing has provided opportunities for many a player to make a name for themselves.
Despite two wins over Wozniacki this year, she won’t be taking another victory as given. “She’s a really tough opponent to play, and we’ve never faced each other on clay before. It’s going to be a completely different match than the ones we played. It’s going to be a tough one for sure, and I have to prepare well,” Kasatkina said.
Prediction – Daria Kasatkina in three sets
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About Engage by Design
November 21, 2011 Engage by DesignAmp, Consultancy, Design Consultancy, Design Instruments, Dialogues, Disciplines, Education Students, Higher Education, Interventions, New Ways, Olivia, Research And Development, Research Arm, Rodrigo, Social Enterprise, sustainability, Textiles, Transformation, Tutors, Value Structure, Zoe
This post comes to you from Engage by Design
Engage by Design is a social enterprise developed through our final Master research in sustainability and design. As a consultancy we specialise in strategic interventions that aim to support the transformation of your product or service into a more sustainable one.
Engage by Design’s research arm intends to act as a platform which enables dialogues and actions between a diverse range of disciplines around sustainability and design.
Rodrigo Bautista
Rodrigo is an Industrial Designer and has worked in many different industries including media, products, services and telecommunications. Today his work focuses on strategic interventions and tools to apply sustainability and design instruments within a company.
Zoë Olivia John
Zoë’s background in Fashion & Textiles has lead her into the research and development of better ways to integrate learning about sustainability for Higher Education students and tutors, particularly within the F&T programme. She is interested in finding new ways to readdress our value structure from one of linear economic quantity to one of circular quality.
Please drop us a line and say hello.
Engage by Design is a social enterprise developed through the final Master research of Rodrigo Bautista and Zoe Olivia John in sustainability and design. As a consultancy they specialize in strategic interventions that aim to support the transformation of your product or service into a more sustainable one.
Rodrigo Bautista – Rodrigo is an Industrial Designer and has worked in many different industries including media, products, services and telecommunications. Today his work focuses on strategic interventions and tools to apply sustainability and design instruments within a company.
Zoë Olivia John – Zoë’s background in Fashion & Textiles has lead her into the research and development of better ways to integrate learning about sustainability for Higher Education students and tutors, particularly within the F&T programme. She is interested in finding new ways to readdress our value structure from one of linear economic quantity to one of circular quality.
Go to Engage by Design
Welcome to Engage by Design
November 14, 2011 Engage by DesignAmp, Design Consultancy, Design Instruments, Dialogues, Disciplines, Education Students, Higher Education, Interventions, Knowledge Network, Network Partner, New Ways, Olivia, Research And Development, Research Arm, Rodrigo, Social Enterprise, sustainability, Tutors, Value Structure, Zoe
Engage by Design is our newest knowledge network partner. You will find all of their posts syndicated here, or you can head right over to their site here: Engage by Design
Arcola Theatre Launches New Eco-Theatre Plans
December 16, 2009 Arcola2008 Olympics, Arcola Theatre, Arup Associates, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Birds Nest, Boris Johnson, Consultancy Services, Design Consultancy, Design Innovators, Dynamic Spaces, Environmental Sustainability, Feasibility Study, Integrated Architecture, London Development Agency, Multidisciplinary Design, Seat Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Theatre Consulting, Three Cheers, Urban Realm
At London’s City Tuesday, representatives from Arcola Theatre and sustainable design innovators Arup present plans for the creation of a new eco-theatre in Dalston, East London.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said, “As world leaders gather in Copenhagen, Arcola Theatre is at the forefront of how London’s arts organisations can champion the environment. We have to take robust yet practical steps to make our city more energy efficient. This has the added benefit of playing a pivotal role in the wider redevelopment of this part of the city, making the urban realm more pleasant. Three cheers for Arcola for raising the bar.”
Developed though a feasibility study funded by London Development Agency, the project will be the UK’s first major arts venue to place environmental sustainability at the core of construction, programme and operations.
Mehmet Egen, Artistic Director and founder of Arcola Theatre said: “Our new building will include an exquisite 350 seat theatre allowing us to create an even greater and more diverse programme, building on our past nine years of success.”
Dr Ben Todd, Executive Director of Arcola Theatre, said: “Wrapped around the main stage will be dynamic spaces to accommodate our ever-growing environmental sustainability and community engagement programmes. Our aim is to create a place Da Vinci might call home where creative people across multiple disciplines drive innovation for a sustainable and equitable future.”
Global engineering and design consultancy Arup has been appointed to provide theatre and acoustical consultancy services; whilst Arup Associates, Arup’s multidisciplinary design studio, will provide an integrated architecture and engineering design. Arup’s iconic projects include the Sydney Opera House, and the Birds Nest and Water Cube stadiums for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Neill Woodger, director of Arup’s theatre consulting and acoustics business said: “Our task is to conceive a theatre that exemplifies sustainability. It must provide the highest levels of artistic experience, whilst being affordable to build and economical to operate. It must contribute positively to the environment and local community and lead the way in promoting the shift to more ecological lifestyles. This is the first public venue to use a sustainability framework to define the brief and conceptual design, and it will set a new level of performance in theatre design.”
The expanded Arcola Theatre will include:
A main house theatre seating 350 (500 standing), suitable for mid-scale theatre and opera productions
150 and 80 seat black-box studio theatres, similar to those Arcola already run
An extensive foyer, spilling out on to the public realm, with bar/café/restaurant and informal meeting spaces
Incubator units for scientists and engineers developing sustainable technologies
A Bike Hub with storage and change facilities, close to public transport nodes
Public garden and growing spaces
The new Arcola Theatre will be located at the heart of Dalston close to the new Dalston Square development and a new East London Line station. The project is part of a wider London Development Agency (LDA) funded project Making Space in Dalston. This exemplary project, led by the LDA’s Design for London team, is bringing together diverse stakeholders to choose and deliver strategic improvements in public realm resources across Dalston.
Cllr Guy Nicholson, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “Hackney Council is committed to supporting Arcola’s ambition to create an innovative new eco-theatre; ensuring that Arcola continues to contribute to the cultural excitement that is Dalston.”
Project partners include:
Integrated Design (architecture and engineering) – Arup Associates
Theatre and Acoustical Consultants – Arup
Sustainability Consultants – Juhi Shareef Associates
Bar/cafe/restaurant Consultants – Ignite Hospitality Consultants
Project Management – Mouchel
Quantity Surveyors – William G Dick
Funders – Design for London & London Development Agency
Host – London Borough Hackney
Project Director, Dr Ben Todd of Arcola Theatre is one of the 2009 London Leaders for sustainability and the launch event is supported by the London Sustainable Development Commission.
PRESS RELEASE ENDS
More details and hi-resolution images: www.futurearcola.com/press
Arcola Theatre was founded in 2000 by its present Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen and Executive Producer Leyla Nazli. From humble origins Arcola has grown to become an important London and UK venue serving both as receiving house and producer of its own critically acclaimed work. Arcola has strong links with the local community, delivering an extensive programme of participatory arts for all ages. Since 2007 Arcola has been working with local and international partners across arts, science and engineering to drive mass adoption of sustainable lifestyles. Arcola Theatre is a Regularly Funded Organisation of Arts Council England. www.arcolatheatre.com
Arup is the creative force behind many of the world’s prominent building, infrastructure and industrial projects. Founded in 1946 with an enduring set of values, Arup’s unique trust ownership fosters a distinctive culture, an intellectual independence and encourages truly collaborative working. www.arup.com
Arup Associates is the integrated design studio of the multinational consulting engineering group Arup. Started by Sir Ove Arup more than four decades ago to develop his concept of total architecture, Arup Associates offer a radical alternative to conventional architectural practice, creating pioneering holistic design that is focused on people. The studio practices multidisciplinary design where engineers and architects work side by side in embedded teams in a single practice. Teamwork is at the core of our structure. www.arupassociates.com
Mouchel is a consulting and business services group that builds great relationships with clients in the public sector and regulated industry to make a difference to customers and communities. Operations include highways, water, rail, property, housing, education, energy, management consultancy and ‘business process outsourcing’ in a wide range of disciplines. Mouchel has more than 11,000 employees, 123 offices in the UK and an audited turnover of £740.6 million. Mouchel was awarded ‘Top 20 Best Big Companies to Work For’ status in March 2008 in the annual Sunday Times rankings. In March 2008 it also achieved Two Star accreditation from awarding body Best Companies for an outstanding level of employee engagement across the company. www.mouchel.com
Juhi Shareef Associates (JSA) is a consultancy specialising in sustainability for events and the creative industries. JSA has a particular focus on the role of cultural institutions in sustainable development and has recently returned from the COP 15- related Culture Futures event, working on engaging the cultural sector in moving towards an ecological age by 2050. www.juhishareef.com
Ignite Hospitality Consultants is a pioneering Hackney-based agency, providing marketing, strategy, branding, design and concept development for hotels, restaurants and bars in the UK and internationally. A collective of consultants under one roof provide support to Start-Up or Grown-Up hospitality operators in driving sales, growth and improving efficiency. www.ignitehospitality.com
William G Dick Partnership LLP is an Chartered Quantity Surveying practice. Established for over 25 years, the practice prides itself in providing clients with an enthusiastic and pro-active service. www.williamgdick.co.uk
London Borough of Hackney is working with Transport for London, the London Development Agency and local partners in the regeneration of Dalston. Work is centred on Dalston Square – a new public square bordered by a new East London Line Overground station, new shops, new homes and a new library and public archive. Across Dalston a programme of public realm improvements will integrate new developments with the existing town centre, and enhance the cultural mix. www.hackney.gov.uk
London Development Agency (LDA) works to improve the quality of life for all Londoners – investing in jobs, skills and growth. In Dalston, the LDA has worked with the London Borough of Hackney, Transport for London, architects and developers to capitalise on the East London Line extension. The new housing developments around Dalston Junction will create a new public square and other facilities. The London Development Agency – through the Making Space in Dalston project led by its Design for London team – will invest a further £750,000 in improving the wider public realm in Dalston; this includes the feasibility study for Arcola’s future theatre. www.lda.gov.uk
London Sustainable Development Commission was established in 2002 to advise the Mayor of London on making London a benchmark for sustainable cities. The Commission is made up of a individual experts from the economic, social, environmental and London governance sectors. The Commission’s London Leaders programme brings together London’s leading lights in sustainability, to deliver change, and inspire others to do the same. www.londonsdc.org
Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives. As the national development agency for the arts, we support a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts. Great art inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves, and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2008 and 2011, we will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk
Go to Arcola Energy
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« Zimbabwe’s opposition says Mengistu may face extradition to Ethiopia
Short- term paid work: Assistance with Film Translation Needed »
Q-Tip to play an Ethiopian drug dealer in the film ‘Holy Rollers’
Published by Tadias Magazine February 5th, 2009 in Reviews. 1 Comment
Q-Tip returns to the world of film with Holy Rollers, a character-driven drama, inspired by a true event from the late 90s when a young man from the Hasidic community was caught trafficking ecstasy into the US. Q-Tip will play an Ethiopian drug dealer in the indi drama, alongside Jesse Eisenberg (Sam Gold), a young Hasidic man seduced by the money, power and misplaced sense of opportunity; Justin Bartha (Yosef), a young man in his community who is already mixed up in the complicated and dangerous world led by an Israeli drug dealer played by Danny A. Abeckaser. (Source: EURweb)
More on Q-Tip from EURweb.com
On November 4th of last year, a historic day for many reasons, hip-hop icon Q-Tip released one of the most acclaimed albums of 2008- The Renaissance (Universal Motown).
A reflection of the genre’s golden age and progression into new musical territory, the album continues to catch the ears of music fans across the globe. “If you want rap music with a shelf life longer than milk, take a listen to Q-Tip’s The Renaissance,” proclaims Newsweek. Read more.
Today, Thursday, February 5th, Q-Tip is slated to appear on PBS’s Tavis Smiley show.
1 Response to “Q-Tip to play an Ethiopian drug dealer in the film ‘Holy Rollers’”
1 lilkuk Feb 24th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I like him he is the best raper.
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Board index » General » General issues
last movie you seen & rate it ?
[ 87 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
edders23
Post subject: Re: last movie you seen & rate it ?
Location: Stamford Britains prettiest town till SKDC ruined it
Sussex wrote:
Stan and Ollie.
If you are old enough to remember seeing them on the telly as a kid with your family (50 +), 10 out of 10. Brilliant and really moving.
If you are younger than that then maybe 8/9 out of 10.
Oi that's ageist I am more than old enough to remember seeing them and buster keaton and the keystone cops but will NOT be going to watch this
Taxis Are Public Transport too
Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !
rayggb
Stan and Ollie,good but not particularly funny.7 ou10
The favourite ' 6 out of 10,
Mary queen of Scots ' better than above 8 out of 10.
Location: 1066 Country
Bohemian Rhapsody - 9 out of 10. Love the music.
Oceans 8 - 6 out of 10. Expected it to be 1 out of 10.
Papillon - 7 out of 10. Never going to be as good as the original.
The Sisters Brothers - 9 out of 10. Great Western.
Upgrade - 6 out of 10.
IDFIMH
Not sure if Finding Neverland can be classed as a film, but anyway.
10 out of 10. Incredibly moving and sad.
Debbie does Doncaster
10 inches out of 10
Chris the Fish
wannabeeahack wrote:
AND RATE IT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related
Mary Poppins 2 - 6 out of 10. Ok ish. Nowhere near as good as the original.
Creed 2 - 6 out of 10. See above.
Vice - 9 out of 10. Brilliant, a must watch for those that think US Presidents aren't that bright.
First Man - 9 out of 10. Expected a run of the mill film, but really really good story.
A Star is Born - 7 out of 10. Some good music but this film has been done better before.
After the Music Stops - 9 out of 10. Can't believe I actually enjoyed a Bros documentary.
Abacus - 9 out of 10. Brilliant documentary about the only bank to be prosecuted following the 2008 banking crisis.
Tolkien 8 out of 10. If you are a Tolkien fan it would have been 10 out of 10.
The Girl in the Spiders Web 9.5 out of 10. Really good.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Didn't expect to like it but 7 out of 10 for the first 95% of the film, 10 out of 10 for the ending. Probably the best ending I have seen in a film this century.
Angel has Fallen. Not bad, 7 out of 10.
Light of my Life. Hmmmm, 5 out of 10.
The Kitchen. Hmmmmm 5 out of 10.
I am Mother. Typical Si Fi film with nothing ending IMO. 6 out of 10.
Star Wars Episode 9.
Will tell you after I get back from the Midnight showing.
And no I'm not a super fan/nerd, but a good mate is and he bought the tickets.
The conjuring 2
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!
8 out of 10.
Not a massive Star Wars fan but my mate said it was good, and mini mini Sx who was also there said it was good too.
And they are both super fans.
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Comics about Fox News .
You might also be interested in Strange Brew about:
journalism, journalists, media, media biases, televisions, television news.
View all subjects for Strange Brew.
Check box to limit search to Strange Brew.
Use these links to see comic strips about by comic strip.
Strange Brew Image #20498
Cartoonist(s): John Deering
Comic/Cartoon: Strange Brew
Image Number: 20498
Caption: Choose only one. Actual end - of - the - world news coverage. A televised California car chase. A fox news producer in hell.
Strange Brew Image #149048
Caption: Look, I know you're crowded here, but I have to talk to Han before dad visits us. Fox News.
Caption: We're researching hysteria as an inexhaustible energy source. CNN. FOX. Cable News.
Caption: FOX NEWS. "We Report, You Decide." RIPLEY'S "Believe It Or Not."
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$250 million needed for metro line to HCMC airport
Released at: 10:25, 16/11/2016
Photo: Duc Anh
Pre-feasibility study completed for Metro Line No. 4B-1 to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
by Khanh Chi
HCMC's Metro Line 1 may extend to Dong Nai and Binh Duong
Investment policy pushed for HCMC's Metro Line 5
HCMC proposes use of Japanese ODA for metro line
Ho Chi Minh City’s Management Board of Urban Railways (MBUR) has confirmed that South Korean consultants have completed a pre-feasibility study on the Metro Line No. 4B-1 project (the branch line to Tan Son Nhat International Airport).
“The project will be submitted to the government for investment policies by the first quarter of 2017, with the feasibility study to be conducted next year and approval sought from the government,” a representative from MBUR told VET.
It is estimated that construction of the project may begin by the first quarter of 2019 and be completed by 2024. The route stretches 2 km underground from Hoang Van Thu Park to Tan Son Nhat and includes underground stations at both ends.
The project has total investment of around $250 million, in which loans from South Korea total about $224 million, with the remainder being reciprocal capital from the State budget.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee previously sent a document to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) proposing technical support from the South Korean Government for the branch line from Cong Hoa Station (Metro Line No. 5) to Tan Son Nhat.
The 4B-1 branch line is excluded from the city’s planning for urban metro lines. Because of increasing numbers of people heading to the airport, the city has had to conduct new research on build the branch line. Once operational it is expected to meet high demand among passengers for travel from urban districts to Tan Son Nhat.
Metro Line No. 4B-1 is connected to Metro Line No. 5, which in turn is connected to Metro Lines No. 1, 2 and 3A.
According to the city’s metro line planning, to be approved by the government, there will be eight metro lines: Metro Line No. 1 from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien (20 km and perhaps extending to Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces), Metro Line No. 2 from Thu Thiem to the Cu Chi Urban Area (48 km), Metro Line No. 3A from Ben Thanh to Tan Kien (20 km), Metro Line No. 3B from Cong Hoa Intersection to Hiep Binh Phuoc (12 km), Metro Line No. 4A from Ben Cat Bridge to Hiep Phuoc Urban Area (36 km), Metro Line No. 4B from Gia Dinh Park Station to Lang Cha Ca Station (5.2 km), Metro Line No. 5 from Saigon Bridge to Can Giuoc Bus Station (17 km), and Metro Line No. 6 from Ba Queo to the Phu Lam Roundabout (6 km).
It was recently announced that Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has agreed to support Ho Chi Minh City in conducting research on extending Metro Line No. 1 to neighboring Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces. MBUR and a group with METI consisting of the Nippon Koei Company Limited and the Tokyu Corporation have proposed a detailed plan for the extension to the provinces.
metro line
urban railway
Tan Son Nhat airport
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SonKim Land a double winner at International Property Awards
Lands of riches
Initial costs in green apartments offset later
WeWork opens 2 new HCMC locations
Lotte E&C & TTC Land to develop property projects
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Electric Vehicle Designs
February 25, 2018 June 2, 2016 opo cox Electric Car Battery
The recent development from California based begin-up firm Much better Place, there are a lot to be cheered about by electric car retrofitter. This method requires additives to preserve the chemical reaction steady, and researchers say creating such a battery obtainable to the public is still a decade away. The web site in Belgium will hence turn out to be a important plant for electric mobility at the Volkswagen Group. For example, a normal car battery is measured in inches (9 x 12 x 7). The car battery industry is well established and at the present time, size is inextricably tied to capacity.
The mission of MIT Technology Evaluation is to equip its audiences with the intelligence to recognize a globe shaped by technology. A car with a 280 mile initial range, with a pack degraded to 60%, nonetheless has a useful variety of 168 miles – which is lots for most people’s everyday commuting, even factoring in heating/cooling loads, rain, wind, and so forth.
So, you are going to see a lot of new offerings of extremely cool and desirable electric and hybrid SUVs and minivans. The Spark Electric and Fiat 500e, also diminutive electrics, are a bit pricier but provide something in exchange: style in the kind of the 500e and a ton of torque from the Spark. Along with that strength, the electric Golf offers 83 miles of range on a full charge.
When you add all these additional expenditures up, an electric automobile like the Model S has almost four times reduce CO2 per mile than an equivalent gas-powered auto,” says a Tesla spokesperson. Electric automobiles have not only turn out to be feasible, but they are now expected to start rolling off the assembly lines of key automobile manufacturers. The dynamic wireless charging technology is an sophisticated version of a static wireless charging technique for automobiles already becoming created by Qualcomm. The process is referred to as regenerative braking and it can recover about 15% of the power that the automobile utilised.
Opt for the optional six.6kW on-board charger and you are going to also get a 7-pin mode three sort 3 cable, which operates on compatible public rapidly chargers. In terms of power efficiency, electric cars are a lot more effective than gasoline cars. Smart’s Electric Drive ($25,750) is presently the only electric car with a convertible choice and remains the most affordable model for drivers who want to go green. Aceleron stems from a Brunel assignment to develop a technologies or approach to resolve a sustainability issue.
designs electric vehicle
Shop For Automobile Accessories On the web At L.A. Auto Accessories Store
Sensible ForTwo Hatchback Review
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writerSandy
potions & herbs
Hollow Bones
"In our life there is a time of wonder. Walking with the ancient ones as they share their world. And the dancing voices are carried by the wind. As I walk this sacred ground, I know I'm not alone, and I thank Mother Earth." ~Alex Davis, Seneca Cayuga
Allow me to introduce you to a brand new author and a very dear friend of mine, Mimi Sebastian, with her debut novel THE NECROMANCER’S SEDUCTION.
ImaJinn Books is offering a special deal to celebrate the release of the first book in
the Necromancer Series. The ebook of The Necromancer’s Seduction will be
available for $.99 for one week only! Find the book on Amazon here and on Barnes &
Noble here.
Noemi Ghirghi writes as Mimi Sebastian and raised herself on books and the strange and unusual with an unhealthy dose of comics and Saturday morning cartoons. Loving
angst-filled romance thrown in the mix, she decided to blend all those elements in a steamy mix in her first Urban Fantasy series, the Necromancer Books. The first book, The Necromancer’s Seduction, debuted July 15, 2013, with ImaJinn Books.
Noemi spent two years in the Ivory Coast with the Peace Corps and loves to introduce
tid-bits from her experiences in her writing. She’s a member of Romance Writers
of America and the Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal chapter of RWA. A transplant from the beaches of Florida, Noemi now wanders the desert in Phoenix, AZ, and attempts to balance writing with a day career, fantastic family, and household diva: her Amazon parrot.
How would you describe your book?
Sexy, creepy, sad, sometimes funny. It’s the first in a three book series about the journey of Ruby, a necromancer. In Necromancer’s Seduction, the supernatural community insists she transform a slain witch into a revenant to track a killer, which starts a series of events. Ruby forms an unlikely alliance with a witch, a zombie, and Ewan March, a demon warrior who sets her senses on fire. She’s always distrusted demons and Ewan is no exception, but circumstances push them closer together, and Ruby not only finds it harder to resist him, she isn’t sure she even wants to.
Ruby’s power almost has a mind of its own and influences her in negative ways. And there are limits, lines a necromancer should never cross, because it warps them, so it’s fun to explore what happens to her when she crosses those lines.
In my mythology, without giving too much away, necromancers were born from the interference of the demons in the human realm. Necromancers have the ability to reanimate the dead, and create zombies and revenants. I expand beyond those abilities with each book, which plays into the necromancer/demon mythology.
What genre is your book?
A hybrid between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. It has elements of both.
How did you get interested in writing this genre?
The strange and unusual has always fascinated me. I loved watching In Search Of as a kid. With the book, I liked exploring how supernatural characters deal with living in the
“normal” world.
Stand alone or series?
Necromancer’s Seduction is the first in a three book series.
Which characters do you plan to continue?
A tricky question! All of them play a part in all three books, but…some may not make it
to the end.
What part of the research was most interesting to you?
I enjoyed researching about necromancer abilities and expanding their mythology.
How did they originate? The answer to this question forms the basis for the series and the main conflict of the book. It’s very exciting. I found all sort of stuff regarding necromancer powers in mythology and in gaming. Necromancers can do lots of crazy stuff, such as extracting disease from the dead and inflicting them on the living.
Music or quiet while writing? If music, what?
Sometimes I like listening to classical music, the atmospheric, fun stuff like Four Seasons by Vivaldi or Danse Macabre by Saint Saens and Bach. I like movie soundtracks, Man of Steel and Pirates of the Caribbean (to play while writing my pirate book). Finally, I like listening to a mix of indie rock, trip hop, and reggae, stuff from the 80s and 90s like Soundgarden, The Cure, Violent Femmes.
If your book is made into a movie, who do you picture playing the main
characters?
For Ruby, I like Rachel McAdams. Henry Cavill for Ewan, and Ryan Gosling for Lysander. And Charlie Hunnam for Adam. Kara is a tough one, but I envision a young Winona Ryder.
What are your current projects?
I’m finishing Book Two in the Necromancer Series: The Necromancer’s Betrayal, while also writing Book Three of the same series. I also aim to self-publish a pirate historical romance I wrote called Devil’s Island.
What other hobbies are you passionate about, besides writing?
Family and friends. I love the ocean and anything you can do in or around the ocean. I sometimes go a little nutty living in the desert (Phoenix). I’ve lived in West Africa,
Brazil, and Montenegro, and I love immersing myself in other cultures. When you travel and really interact with local cultures, you realize how amazing the world and its people are. I have a great interest in social justice and try to volunteer when I can, and I always try to support local businesses.
Writer, witch, mother and wife. Order of importance is a continual shuffle.
Yes, I want to become a member of the Blog Updates Mailing List.
13 Yule Lads
Beautiful Bride
Caganer Figurine
Candy Cane Flavors
Carlton Hill
Christmas Pickle
Corvid Magic
Crow Magic
David Richo
Deaths In The Desert
Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival
Hryla
Informal Marriage Ceremony
Jarl Jung
Marriage Blessing
Mexican Border
Northern Arizona Snow
Proposed Import Tax
Raven Magic
Shadow Self
Sinoloan Cartel
Suspense Writing
Weird Holiday Traditions
Wendy Rule
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OUR UNIQUE TV SHOWS
Enjoy the best Australian TV shows for free!
We are dedicated to the art and science of modern storytelling. We produce creative and interesting shows in a range of different genres for all age groups. Our producers are some of the most talented people in the media industry who love making artistic shows exclusively for TV2 AUSTRAILA. At TV2 we produce and broadcast TV Series, Reality TV Shows, events, music videos, and telefilms to entertain, educate, and inspire our worldwide audience. You can watch our shows live or on demand from anywhere in the world on any device for free.
OUR LATEST TV SHOWS FOR VIEWING
Watch the latest TV shows online now!
THE EVENT goes inside beauty pageants, the most popular nightclubs, fashion shows and more from all around Australia…
Watch the previous episodes on demand now!
A motivational television talk show that is introducing Australian faces such as celebrities, artists and business people by exclusive interviews.
The award-winning professional speaker ‘Cath Vincent’ undeniably walks her talk and is living proof of what happens when you Wake Up Your WOW!
Every day we play the most popular Australian music videos on TRACKS and showcase the very best of Australian singers, musicians and bands …
In each episode of the show, Dr Sirous Ahmadi will provide you the most important information about different types of visas …
As the most greatest home cooks compete in the ultimate culinary battle, all while being mentored by Deepak Kumar …
Learn some great new art tips, visit destinations around the world and hear some amazing stories all here on Colour in Your Life.
SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE goes behind the scenes to reveal how everyday people went from basic beginnings to high flying success…
Miss Ysanne Holt, an educator and nutritionist showcase a range of nutrition related products and ignite the curiosity of every foodie.
VICTORIA'S ISLANDS
In this series we are taking you to some Islands that until now, most people never even knew it existed and you might be surprised to find that …
A great TV show to get inspired and learn about cultures, arts, lifestyle and tourism activities, while enjoying the adventurous journey.
Is a great Sport Exercising TV Show for beginners, all the age groups and genders, which you can practice in any indoor or outdoor locations …
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Car and Minibus Parking Near Twickenham Stadium From Only £19
Why Park With Us?
Booking/ Dates/ Prices
Where The Money Goes...
NFL Arizona Cardinals v LA Rams
NFL Minnesota Vikings v Cleveland Browns
Recommended Twickenham Stadium Parking is available to BOOK from only £19 for cars, minibuses and coaches at Nelson Primary School in Whitton, Twickenham,TW2 7BU. We're less than a mile from Twickenham Stadium- about a 10-15 minute walk. Twickenham Parking is currently available to book for The Guinness Six Nations matches England v Ireland and England v Wales. We also have parking for The Clash- Bath Rugby v Wasps in April and the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final in June.
Toilets are available before and after each match. We open 4 hours prior to kick-off and close 2 hours after the match ends. Before the match you can come early and bring a picnic, or visit Whitton High Street which is only a 3 minute walk away and has many cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, supermarkets and pubs.
Twickenham rugby parking can booked online for the following events:
Sunday 23rd February 2020 England v Ireland- Guinness SIx Nations- BOOK HERE
Saturday 7th March 2020 England v Wales- Guinness Six Nations- BOOK HERE
Saturday 18th April 2020 The Clash- Bath Rugby v Wasps- BOOK HERE
Saturday 10th June 2020 Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final- BOOK HERE
Full information about our car park opening and closing times can be found on our Booking/Dates/Prices page.
We have been running a car park here for over 25 years. Our car park is managed and run by PTA volunteers and we aim to provide a friendly and efficient experience to all of our customers. All of the funds that we raise go to the school to pay for books, equipment, transport, activities and to improve facilities for the children. We are very grateful to all of the rugby supporters and music fans who book with us- many of whom park here year after year.
We recommend that you book in advance to guarantee your space as we usually sell out.
Any extra spaces on the day are sold on a first come, first served basis.
Please note diversions and road closures in the Twickenham area may be in place before and after matches and concerts. We are outside of the road closure zones.
The best way to reserve your space is to book online but we also accept postal bookings too.
Nelson Primary School PTA is a Registered Charity No 1015232
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The impact of cloud computing on the UK’s IT industry
Home The impact of cloud computing on the UK’s IT industry
DT, March 13, 2013 March 13, 2013 , SaaS, Uncategorized, Cloud Computing, cloud market, cloud-native competitors, Impact of Cloud, IT industry, 0
Pete Swabey| Information-age
They may have taken some persuasion at first, but UK organisations are now happily buying cloud computing services. In a recent study, IT analyst firm TechMarketView estimated that the UK cloud market grew by around 38% in the 2011/12 tax year, reaching a combined total of £1.6 billion. Clearly, this has huge ramifications for the IT industry. Companies that have sold products for decades are now frantically trying to turn themsevles into service providers, before they are disrupted by cloud-native competitors.
The UK’s IT industry has so far had mixed success at adapting to cloud. There have been some successful start-ups, such as Huddle and Kashflow, and in the financial services vertical some traditional vendors have made progress in moving to the cloud model.
But other software companies have been less successful at switching to SaaS, and there is not much of a UK infastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) market to speak of at all.
Furthermore, there is a growing sense that, unless providers start offering greater value, cloud computing may make the IT business fundamentally less profitable.
From a buyer’s perspective, the turmoil is a good thing. Cloud computing is unlocking competition, and therefore innovation, in previously stangant software markets. For suppliers, though, there are some rocky years ahead.
According to TechMarketView’s recent study, software-as-a-service represents 70% to 75% of the UK cloud market, and around 13% of the total software market.
It is growing fast – by around 30% a year – but that cannot last for ever, says TechMarketView’s Angela Eager.
“We’re approaching a make-or-break time for SaaS,” she explains. “It’s had a lot of success in the externally facing applications, like CRM for example, but to maintain or improve on current growth levels, SaaS needs to get much deeper into the enterprise. It’s got to prove itself in the ERP environment.”
In the UK, however, there has not yet been a standout success in SaaS ERP, or CRM for that matter. Instead, Eager says, one area where UK suppliers have had some success with SaaS is in the financial services industry vertical.
“The biggest one is Fidessa, which sells trading and risk management software,” she says. “Fidessa is putting a lot of investment into SaaS, and is building its own data centres.”
Other examples include asset portfolio analysis provider StatPro, which has “bet the business on SaaS”, Eager says, and capital markets software vendor First Derivatives.
“These companies are all growing revenues while making the transition to SaaS, which I consider to be a success,” she says.
Two other areas where UK companies have made SaaS a success are accounting and HR software. Eager says that local companies have an advantage in these areas because they can tailor their software to UK regulations.
One example of a UK SaaS accounting success story is KashFlow. The company claims it has doulbed its revenue every since being founded in 2005, although that growth reportedly slipped to 90% in 2012.
KashFlow is an example of a cloud-native start-up succeeding where established, on-premise providers have struggled, says Eager. “Often it’s these smaller companies who are not tied down with the legacy, on-premise business model that have the freedom and flexibility to actually make progress in SaaS,” she says.
The obvious counterpoint to Kashflow is Sage, the UK’s largest software vendor. “Sage has paddled around the SaaS area for so many years but hasn’t committed to it,” Eager explains. “It has very cloud heavy iniative at the moment but there hasn’t been much execution around it yet.”
It’s really difficult for convential vendors to even understand how to do cloud, let alone be successful at it
Phil Wainewright, chairman of cloud trade body EuroCloud UK, agrees. “It’s sad really to see how Sage has repeatedly missed out on opportunities.
“That’s true of all the conventional on-premise vendors,” he adds. “It’s really difficult for them to even understand how to do cloud, let alone be successful at it.”
This is especially true of mid-tier software companies, which the UK’s few remaining software suppliers all tend to be. “They serve the middle market, which is inherently conservative. That means their customers aren’t forcing them to innovate, but eventually newer companies will come along and take their business.”
Wainewright says that European cloud providers face the same challenges as traditional software vendors when it comes to international expansion.
“In the UK or any other European country, you reach a certain level of success and then you’ve got to cross a border,” he explains. In Europe, that means translating your product into different languages and tailoring it to the local laws. “This just makes it that much harder to get to scale.”
There are exceptions to this rule, however, such as cloud document management provider Huddle. “Huddle is really the standard bearer for the UK cloud industry,” he says. “They’ve got very strong funding, they are starting to establish themselves in the US but they’re still very much headquartered in the UK.”
Another example is Bristol-headquartered retail management SaaS vendor BrightPearl. “BrightPearl has got a presence in the UK, but has really plowed most of its money into the US market.”
When it comes to infrastructure-as-a-service providers in the UK, “there is not alot worth mentioning,” Wainewright says.
Hosting providers including Memset and Outsourcery have both recently launched IaaS offerings, and Elastichosts “is really doing a proper job”, he says, but IaaS is still mostly dominated by Amazon Web Services.
“IaaS is a race to the bottom and you’ve got to have the huge scale to be able to compete,” he says.
Telecommunications providers, including BT and Virgin Media Business, have attempted IaaS offerings, but so far not convincingly to Wainewright’s mind.
It is not for want of trying. BT has been trying to find a viable utility computing strategy since at least 1995, he says. “If it’s true that you can learn from your mistakes, then BT should be brilliant at cloud computing.”
“But I don’t think any of the telcos understand cloud,” he adds. “This is partly because it involves software, which they were never any good at doing.”
Profit warning
Profitability is the elephant in the room in terms of the SaaS business model
Wainewright is of the view that all IT resources will eventually be delivered from the cloud – although some of those clouds will be operated privately. “The only software vendors that will remain will be those that are able to develop a cloud application or infrastructure offering that is attractive to other companies,” he says.
If this is true, how will it change the UK’s IT industry? One cause for concern – from the suppliers’ perspective – is profitability.
“Profitability is the elephant in the room in terms of the SaaS business model,” says TechMarketView’s Eager.
She points to companies such as Salesforce.com, which have been undeniably successful in growing revenues, but have consistently lost money doing so. “I have certainly seen the UK companies take a hit in terms of their profitability by moving to SaaS,” she adds.
Of course, the SaaS providers argue that they are investing in growth and will be profitable when that growth levels off.
Eager is not convinced. “When I ask suppliers when do they think their SaaS operations are going to be profitable, I don’t get a clear answer,” she says. “I get the sense that vendors themselves don’t know when it is going to occur.”
She believes that if SaaS provider want to be more profitable, they will have to increase their prices. To do that, they will need to offer customers more value, through data services, analytics and the like.
For the business model to work, though, this added value has to be built into the SaaS product, not delivered through a traditional IT services operation. “They have to find a one-to-many model, not one-to-one.”
In all, TechMarketView believes that the move to SaaS will be deflationary for the UK IT market – businesses will simply end up spending less money on IT. But while that’s bad news for supplier, it is of course good for buyers.
“Many of the large software vendors have got very comfortable in recent years,” she says. “But when you have a market that is dominated by a few large providers, they don’t innovate fast enough.”
By removing the barriers to entry into the software market, cloud should deliver faster innovation, greater choice and better prices for IT buyers, Eager says.
“If you thought there was a lot of competition in the last few years, it’s only going to intensify.”
Will data be the new cloud computing oil?
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How will IoT impact the aging population in Singapore?
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Home > Blog > Featured > Last Man Hanged: Author Barry Dickins on Ronald Ryan’s story
Last Man Hanged: Author Barry Dickins on Ronald Ryan’s story
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the last capital punishment carried out in Australia: the hanging of Ronald Ryan.
On 3 February 1967, amidst widespread outrage and protests, Ryan was hanged. Even some of the jurors who had found him guilty signed petitions calling for the sentence to be commuted to imprisonment.
Many questions about the case remain unanswered: Ryan was convicted of murdering prison officer George Hodson during an escape from Pentridge Prison, but did he really fire the fatal bullet? And, given that it was the first enforcement of the death penalty in Victoria in 20 years, was Ryan’s hanging a political ploy by a premier campaigning on a tough stance on law and order?
Here, playwright and author Barry Dickins shares some insights on what drew him to Ryan’s story, and the unique voices he included in the research for his new book, Last Words: The Hanging of Ronald Ryan.
What of course drew me to the Ronald Ryan story was the horror of a remembered execution and that rememberers needed to speak out in order to go upon the public record to clear thoughts and crippling emotions once and for all; the saga of the 18-month wait for Ronald was trauma enough but to endure promises of a reprieve only to see that dashed too seems to anyone, writer or just public minded citizen, something approaching barbarity during the flashy ’60s.
Ronald was sacrificed to guarantee election victory and as a writer I needed to set down my feelings for our reading public. Thank God for books!
The little known aspects of Ronald that are missing is his voice and, since he was never interviewed, the only record of it is included in the recollections of his three daughters whom I interviewed in my research; my friendship with Prison Governor Ian Grindlay and his wife Audrey also proved invaluable because of the incredible soulfulness of their anecdotes and whimsy of shared tales when I was a guest of theirs at their home dining table.
Their secrets they openly shared with me as they liked me and they trusted my outlook and knew I would be honest with all my writing.
The best lesson learnt by me was the value of listening to the daughters of Ronald with greater duty of care in order to secure their sacred recollections for the heart and soul of the book; the deed of human presence and human listening is what gave the book its life and my imagination is the fellow escaper.
Last Words: The Hanging of Ronald Ryan is out now.
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Category: CBS Network
How The Strongarm Public Relations Resulted in Most Of The Media Getting It Wrong
Click above for the full excerpt from Barbie Nadeau’s new book.
This is surely one of the worst cases of misreporting and malicious bias in all of media history. It’d be very nice (though don’t hold your breath!) if journalism schools and media owners examined the firestorm to stop it ever happening again.
Consider just the US hall of shame.
The CBS network and its 48 Hours division (the worst in broadcast media), the ABC network and its 20-20 division (pretty bad), the Fox business network and the self-infatuated Lis Wiehl (pretty bad), and Fox news on cable and the screaming Geraldo Rivera (very bad).
Also in the broadcast media, CNN and the screaming Jane Velez Mitchell (very bad), ABC and a snowed Oprah Winfrey (very bad), and King-5 Seattle and the terminally biased Linda Byron (consistently among the worst).
And among the print media Vanity Fair and the addled Judy Bacharach, the New York Times and the besotted Timothy Egan, Time magazine and the addled Nina Burleigh, and Marie Claire and the addled Jan Goodwin.
And please remember: this is the SAME media that turned a blind eye to the Micheli sentencing report on Guede, and appears to be trying hard to do the same (not one of them is translating it) to the Massei sentencing report on Knox and Sollecito.
Here is Barbie Nadeau describing how the sharp-elbowed Knox/Marriott public relations bombardment warped Americans’ take on the case.
Coverage of the crime began to diverge on the two sides of the Atlantic. From the vantage point of Perugia, it seemed as though the Knox family’s American supporters were simply choosing to ignore the facts that were coming to light in Italy….
The American press hung back, at first, objective and somewhat disbelieving that such a wholesome-seeming girl could have any connection to such a sordid foreign crime, and then, as the family stepped up its defense, increasingly divided between two camps that would become simply the innocentisti””those who believed she was blameless””and the colpevolisti, those who did not. In Perugia, these labels governed access…
Of the handful of American journalists in Perugia in late 2007 and early 2008, none got access to the Knox family without certain guarantees about positive coverage. Within months, the family decided to speak on the record primarily to the American TV networks, often in exchange for airfare and hotel bills. Most of the print press was shut out. And the TV producers learned to be very cautious about being seen with people like me, lest the Knox family should cut them off.
But as interest in the case grew, an odd assortment of American talking heads attached their reputations to Amanda’s innocence. An aggressive support group called Friends of Amanda formed in Seattle, headed by Anne Bremner, a media-savvy criminal lawyer who had cut her teeth as a tough prosecutor in Seattle’s King County Court…
Very quickly, [PR manager David] Marriott lost control of the situation. As he spoon-fed the Knox-approved message to American outlets that couldn’t afford to send correspondents to Italy, those of us on the ground in Perugia began passing his contradictory e-mails around as entertainment during the long days in the court.
[We reporters in Rome] began what would be a two-year battle against the Seattle message machine, incurring personal attacks and outright threats.
We rather like the Daily Beast book, for its splash of cold water on the media, and for its highly accurate accounting of the court proceedings and of the voluminous evidence the judges also describe in their report.
We also believe that although Meredith’s family did not participate, Barbie Nadeau has strong compassion for them, and a sense of real loss over Meredith.
Posted by Peter Quennell on 04/02 at 08:16 PM • Permalink for this post • Archived in Hoaxes against Italy, 9 Mignini v Knox hoax, 11 No court bent hoax, 12 Rabid media hoax, Hoaxes Knox & team, 13 AK persona hoax, 16 Interrogation hoax, 20 No-PR hoax, Hoaxers from 2007, Knox-Mellas team, Hoaxers: media groups, ABC Network, CBS Network, CNN Network, NY Times, Time weekly, News media & movies, Great reporting, Nina Burleigh • Comments here (13)
CBS Producer of Most Biased Perugia-Case Reports Pleads Guilty To An Unrelated Crime
CBS 48 Hours producer Joe Halderman plead not guilty just a few months ago to a blackmail attempt against a popular late-night comedian.
Yesterday, as the report above shows, Joe Halderman really changed his tune.
He now pleads guilty as charged - and he is apparently very relieved to be receiving only 4 to 6 months behind bars, a fine, and community service.
Slimy ethics at play. Not to mention criminal behavior, and a nasty intent to hurt others.
Unsurprising, really, that he worked for 48 Hours.
The CBS production team of Halderman, Longhini and Ely Hulse have tried very hard for two years to sell the American public on the fiction of an innocent Amercian girl being railroaded by corrupt and incompetent foreigners.
The CBS documentaries on Perugia have been exceptionally biased and xenophobic, worse even than those of ABC, highly one-sided, pandering to the Knox family, ignoring of Meredith as the real victim, and absolutely riddled with factual errors.
In particular the CBS team went to town on Prosecutor Mignini, having Doug Preston in his predictably shrill and cowardly manner rant on at great length about him.
This has all been documented here on TJMK.
CBS have never apologized for their anti-victim bias, or their sliming of Italy and the official participants, or their misrepresenting of even the most basic of facts. And now in an example of real poetic justice, one of their lead producers is a convicted criminal, and he has to spend 4 to 6 months behind bars.
We hope that Halderman reflects on his crimes against the trusting American public while inside, as well as his bizarre crime against a CBS colleague.
Posted by The Machine on 03/11 at 04:21 AM • Permalink for this post • Archived in Hoaxers from 2007, More hoaxers, Hoaxers: media groups, CBS Network, News media & movies, Terrible reporting, Media news, Other legal processes, Those elsewhere • Comments here (2)
Producer Of CBS Reports On The Case “Crazy, Desperate, Stupid, And/Or Unscrupulous” ?
Meet Joe Halderman. A CBS producer in New York. He now stands accused of blackmail.
None of the four US networks that have attempted coverage of Meredith’s case has a good record for impartial reporting, or anything remotely like a firm grasp of the prosecution evidence as actually presented.
Not one of them seems to be aware of the very careful pre-trial process or the very damning Micheli report.
Nevertheless, the overall records of NBC, ABC and CNN seem to show some slight attempt at balance.
NBC produced two extremely good Dateline documentaries, which still represent the standard to beat. ABC has a reporter in the court in Perugia, Ann Wise, who we often quote on TJMK because her reporting is generally impartial and good.
And although CNN aired the one-sided Larry King Show last week, and the wild-eyed Jane Velez Mitchel panel discussion (now disappeared from YouTube) in which the lunatics appeared to be running the asylum, CNN did have some good reporting in the early days of the case, and we hear they will attempt to report better.
CBS undeniably is the worst of the worst.
CBS has repeatedly spread bias and misinformation and slimed Italian professionals and witnesses, and for that matter Italy itself, throughout the past two years.
Here is our post on one disaster of a CBS report. And here, here, here, and here are our posts on another.
Joe Halderman of CBS (above) co-produced both of them.
Several weeks ago, Joe Halderman was arrested and charged with blackmail for apparently attempting to stiff CBS comedy host David Letterman for two million dollars.
Mr Halderman, a producer for the real-life crime show 48 Hours, entered his plea as he appeared in court in Manhattan on a charge of attempted grand larceny.
Speaking earlier, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said that the offence, if proven, was punishable by a prison term of five to 15 years. “Our concern here is extortion and that’s what we’re focusing on,” he said.
Mr Halderman was arrested following an undercover police “sting” operation at a New York hotel, during which he was allegedly recorded setting out his blackmail demands to Letterman’s lawyer.
Now it is being reported in New York that Joe Halderman’s story is taking a really bizarre turn.
One of the last 48 Hours stories that CBS Newsman and accused David Letterman blackmailer Joe Halderman worked on - airing just one month before he allegedly launched his plot to extort the late-night host - involved a ransom scheme…
It’s a run-of-the-mill true-crime tale of murder and deception, but it features one detail that seems strange in retrospect: The sister of one of the victims, who never got her brother’s remains from the Philippines after his murder, at one point received creepy anonymous e-mails from someone claiming to have her brother’s ashes, and offering to sell them to her….
The strange thing is, in the story Halderman reported, the ransom scheme goes haywire: The man behind the e-mail ends up attracting attention to himself and gets arrested for Rios’ murder….
We came across the weird synchronicity between Halderman’s day job and his after-hours scheming while going through his old 48 Hours segments and looking for signs that they may have been produced by someone crazy, desperate, stupid, and/or unscrupulous enough to engage in blackmail.
Hmmm. Apparently Joe Halderman is crazy, desperate, stupid, and/or unscrupulous enough to mislead a large segment of the American population about the real facts of Meredith’s murder.
Real crime seems a small step from there.
Three others who Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau might also want to keep a close eye on are CBS junior producer Sara Ely Hulse, CBS reporter Peter Van Sant, and CBS consultant detective Paul Ciolino!
All have shown themselves extremely ignorant of the basic facts of the case.
Email exchanges with the obviously obsessively pro-Knox producer Sara Ely Hulse have suggested to us that, among many other key facts of the case, she was not aware of the following:
Amanda Knox had a criminal record in Seattle.
Amanda Knox had met Rudy Guede on a number of occasions.
Amanda Knox was not questioned for 14 hours without an interpreter.
A woman’s bloody shoeprint in Knox’s size was found on a pillow in Meredith’s room.
The seemingly extremely amateurish detective Paul Ciolino was responsible for conducting the farcical experiment in Perugia in the first CBS documentary linked-to above where he could not even get the STREET right before claiming this was a railroad job from hell.
And reporter Peter Van Sant channeled some of the worst libels about Prosecutor Mignini - baseless claims about satanic sects and so on - without even being able to spell Prosecutor Mignini’s name properly!
It seems to us very odd that both Sara Ely Hulse and Paul Ciolino appear to be members of the Free Amanda Knox Facebook group. Does CBS have any guidelines at all on ethical matters or standards of reporting?
On second thoughts…. Do we REALLY have to ask?
Above: CBS reporter Peter Van Sant who repeated online unfounded libelous smears about Prosecutor Mignini
Above: Junior CBS producer Sara Ely Hulse, an obsessed Knox fan who participated in CBS’s two fiascos.
Above: CBS consultant Paul Ciolino who ran a farcical test in Perugia and also slimed prosecutor and police
Above: Indecisive CBS producer Doug Longhini who with Joe Halderman produced CBS’s two fiascos
Posted by The Machine on 10/23 at 07:51 PM • Permalink for this post • Archived in The officially involved, Hoaxers from 2007, Paul Ciolino, More hoaxers, Hoaxers: media groups, ABC Network, CBS Network, News media & movies, Media news, The wider contexts • Comments here (6)
Italy Shrugs: Why Amanda Knox’s Testimony Seems To Have Been A Real Flop
Posted by Nicki
Posting from Milan (image below) where we also have been watching Knox testify in Italian.
Here are just three of the disbelieving headlines on the testimony that have been appearing in the Italian press.
All of Amanda’s wrong moves (La Stampa)
Amanda growls but Patrick bites (Il Giornale)
Amanda: I am innocent. But many “I don’t remembers” start popping up (ANSA)
As many of us were expecting, Amanda’s testimony has backfired. She came across not as confident but arrogant, not as sweet but testy, not as true but a fake who has memorized a script, an actress who is playing a part but not well enough to fool the public.
It is true that the Italian media and public opinion in general have not been very benign with Knox. But not for the reasons that the American media seem to want to push.
Let’s make it clear, Amanda Knox is not on trial because Italians are unaccustomed to or even “jealous” of her freedom and lifestyle”¦ The first time we read these “explanations” we found them quite laughable.
But for many or most Italians the initial amusement has now given way to a profound irritation. Amanda Knox’s lifestyle is shared by hundreds of thousands of Italian girls, who like partying and sex as much as she does - or even more - and they live a happy carefree life with no fear of being perceived as “bad girls.” They behave no differently from any other girl of the same age in America or in any other Western country.
Dear American media, welcome to the 21st century and to globalization! Please put aside pseudo-romantic and passè vision of a country where all men chase American girls because Italian women are not as approachable for “cultural” reasons: Italian men are into foreign girls no more but no less than Italian girls are into foreign boys.
They generally greatly like Americans because of their great interest and curiosity for a country and its people that many Italian youngsters have only known through books or movies. Amanda Knox is not on trial because she is American and therefore too “emancipated”. She could even be from the North Pole as far as Italians are concerned.
What really matters to them is to find the truth about Meredith’s murder and to do real justice for her terrible death. Italians don’t much like Amanda primarily because they perceive her as a manipulative liar, who is suspected of having committed a heinous crime for which there is a whole stack of evidence - and they perceive this even more-so after this last week’s court hearings.
In addition, the US media’s seemingly endless bashing of the Italian justice system, and of the whole country, most recently by CBS and ABC, has definitely made things worse.
The Italian police are NOT known to be particularly violent - although, agreed, it may happen when they’re dealing with violent males suspects from Eastern Europe or Africa, or in the streets when they have to deal with a riot. Violence is NEVER used with white, female college students from Italy, America or elsewhere.
And Italy is a sovereign state with a great juridical tradition. Receiving condescending lectures by the media of a country where the death penalty is still applied in many states comes across as more than insulting - it is utterly ridiculous. Before you judge the “backwardness” of the Italian justice system, you should at least first read Cesare Beccaria’s amazingly humane Of Crimes And Punishments (written in 1764) and perhaps you’ll reconsider.
If the American media just cannot understand that there are alternatives to the “American way “, that may not be so bad after all. But they should at least show some respect for a foreign, sovereign state and its people.
If the media can’t even manage to do so - and they really want to help Amanda - the best thing to do now is to go quiet and let the Italian justice work at its pace and according to its own principles. If Amanda is only guilty of arrogance, callousness and narcissism, she will be free soon.
Dear American followers of Meredith and, for that matter, also friends of Amanda Knox. May I speak right to you, and right past the media?
There has been no character assassination, no demonization, no great wave of hate and revenge, no mad prosecutor, no Satan theory of the crime, no invented evidence, and no massive bumbling.
What there has been is a whole stack of evidence and a VERY careful process. Kernit in effect described all the evidence in his extraordinary 150 questions.
And on Friday and Saturday, Amanda Knox for better or worse chose to answer NONE of them.
Posted by Nicki on 06/14 at 02:55 PM • Permalink for this post • Archived in Trials 2008 & 2009, Knox on stand, Hoaxes against Italy, 2 Italian mileu hoax, 3 No evidence hoax, 9 Mignini v Knox hoax, Hoaxes Knox & team, 13 AK persona hoax, 15 Single alibi hoax, 16 Interrogation hoax, 17 Fake memory hoax, 20 No-PR hoax, 24 ECHR appeal hoax, Hoaxers from 2007, Knox-Mellas team, Hoaxers from 2011, Knox Book, Hoaxers: media groups, ABC Network, CBS Network • Comments here (12)
CBS Reporter’s Bizarre Claims About Prosecutor And Reporters
Posted by Skeptical Bystander
Peter Van Sant of CBS is the slightly confused-looking reporter in the images above and below.
In promoting his “48 Hours” report tonight, which by all accounts seems intent on equaling CBS’s record for worst report on the case, Mr Van Sant has come out with an interview which is an absolute classic for how not to do such things.
First, consider Mr Van Sant’s remarks about one of the prosecutors in the case.
As for the accusation that Kercher was killed over a sex game, Van Sant cites an Italian blogger for putting that notion into the prosecutor’s mind. Van Sant said the blogger claims that she speaks to a dead priest who tells her what happened at crime scenes.
The blogger told the main prosecutor in the Knox trial, Giuliano Minnini (sic), that this was a satanic sex game and that’s how the theory started, Van Sant said.
Sliming of a prosecutor in this fashion has already been strongly protested against by Amanda Knox’s own defense team.
And the prosecutor in question, one of two (real name: Mignini), many weeks ago made clear that he had NOT listened to the Rome blogger (had locked her up in fact), is NOT especially pushing any particular theory of motive for the crime, is NOT especially central to the continued momentum of the trial - and has actually started a lawsuit against PRECISELY this kind of libel!
Second, consider Mr Van Sant’s remarks about the reporting of the case.
Among the many (actually rather neutral and non-inflammatory) journalists on the case that Mr Van Sant seems intent on sliming is of course Andrea Vogt of the Seattle PI. He all but refers to her by name and it seems rather obvious who he had in mind.
Ms Vogt is the reporter from the Pacific Northwest who is based in Bologna, Italy and who has been covering this case for the Seattle PI for over a year. Many observers have been impressed with her thorough, objective and factual reporting, particularly since the trial phase began.
Anyone who has been following the case knows how non-objective and pro-defense much of the reporting has been in the US, and how much fluffy air time has actually been arranged by the family-hired PR firm Marriott and company.
So the particular focus of Mr Van Sant’s criticism is really surprising. After claiming that Italy has the most irresponsible tabloid press on the planet and that local Seattle papers like the Times and the PI can’t afford to send reporters to Italy to cover the story, he explained that they hire “stringers”. Apparently these stringers simply translate articles from the Italian tabloids into English and, via the local newspaper circuit which publishes them, they get recycled and become legitimate news.
Mr Van Sant actually uses the terms “filtered” or “laundered”, as if he were talking about Mafia money being invested in life insurance policies.
The Seattle PI has enough problems without having to deal with this irresponsible and possibly defamatory remark. And Andrea Vogt, who to our knowledge is the only “stringer” working on this case who is filing stories for the PI, has been providing some of the best coverage of this case to US readers.
There are many good reasons for this: Ms Vogt is fluent in Italian and lives in Italy for much of the year; and she is a talented writer and an intelligent reporter. But most important, she has been making the trek from Bologna to Perugia and back, and spending Fridays and Saturdays in the courtroom for hours on end.
She recently wrote a piece on the mood in Seattle for Panorama, an Italian publication. For that article, she interviewed people in Seattle—including friends of Amanda Knox.
I would imagine that as soon as each daylong court session ends, she sits down - like the other serious reporters covering this case - and tries to turn out a fair and accurate report of the day’s event under very tight deadlines. Her reporting for the PI has been excellent and fair.
It is not only unfair, it is also dishonest to imply that Andrea Vogt is translating Italian tabloids and trying to pass it off as original reporting. If this interview with Mr Van Sant is any indication, then CBS viewers tonight may be in for an evening of fiction.
In which case, I think I’ll watch “The Greatest Story Ever Told” or “The Sound of Music” instead. Closer to reality than is CBS….
Posted by Skeptical Bystander on 04/11 at 08:10 PM • Permalink for this post • Archived in The officially involved, The prosecutors, Hoaxes against Italy, 8 No motive hoax, 9 Mignini v Knox hoax, 10 Mignini MOF hoax, Hoaxes Knox & team, 20 No-PR hoax, Hoaxers from 2007, Knox-Mellas team, Hoaxers: media groups, CBS Network, News media & movies, Terrible reporting • Comments here (18)
Powerpoints #1: A Witness Trashed By Paul Ciolino For CBS In Fact Looks Very Credible
The CBS Network is right now at Number One in the American TV network audience wars.
CBS is one of the very best parts of the Viacom brand. It has come to be so liked, watched and respected in the US in part because it has long been dominant in the area of fine investigative reporting.
So why has CBS’s 48 Hours coverage of the Meredith Kercher case been so uniformly appalling? So biased, so emotional, so full of hyperbole and so FACTUALLY FLAT-OUT WRONG?
We frankly don’t know. But we continue our series examining past CBS reporting of the case, and revealing it for the almost consistent junk it has been.
[ADDED: CBS HAS REMOVED THE VIDEO, POSSIBLY BECAUSE IT MADE WILD CLAIMS AGAINST THE POLICE WHICH COULD SEE CBS IN COURT]
Posted by Kermit on 10/24 at 03:56 PM • Permalink for this post • Archived in Overview Powerpoints, Crime hypotheses, Evidence & Witnesses, Real locations, Other witnesses, Hoaxers from 2007, Paul Ciolino, Hoaxers: media groups, CBS Network, News media & movies, Terrible reporting • Comments here (4)
Jan Goodwin In MarieClaire Magazine Shows Extraordinary Bias
[click for larger images]
I’ve just read perhaps the most shockingly biased article yet about the case.
It is by Jan Goodwin and appears in the magazine Marie Clare. Here’s the opening paragraph:
Studying abroad should have been a grand adventure. Instead, Amanda Knox has spent a year in jail, accused by a corrupt legal system of murdering her roommate.
For starters, the journalist makes the wild and unsubstantiated accusation that the Italian legal system is corrupt.
Amanda has been sitting in prison for a year now, while the Italian press dissects her past and her behavior, framing her as a sex-crazed ugly American who didn’t properly mourn the death of her roommate. Did she kill her, or is Amanda but the latest in a long line of women deemed guilty in the court of public opinion for acting in ways that subvert the script? Be it the U.K.‘s Kate McCann or Australia’s Lindy Chamberlain, both of whom were judged harshly in the disappearances of their daughters, a woman’s demeanor and the way she grieves is sometimes her greatest crime.
Have the Italian press really spent a year dissecting Amanda’s past and her behaviour? I certainly haven’t seen one reference to Amanda being an “sex-crazed ugly American” in the Italian press and I’ve been reading the Italian articles for months.
Jan Goodwin seems very confused.
Amanda is sitting in jail, not because she has been found guilty in the court of public opinion for acting in ways that subvert the script, her demeanor or the ways she grieved, and Amanda showed no grief whatsoever over Meredith’s death, but because the evidence against her is overwhelming.
The judges at the Italian Supreme Court told Amanda: “The clues against you are serious.” The judge at the preliminary hearings in the case, Claudia Metteini, also noted that there were “serious clues of guilt”.
Jan Goodwin’s article goes onto to say:
On the morning of November 2, everything changed. As she remembers it, Amanda returned home from a night at Raffaele’s and found a few drops of blood in her bathroom and the door to Meredith’s bedroom locked.
Jan Goodwin should have researched her story more carefully. If she had seen the photograph of the blue bathmat in the bathroom, she would know that it wasn’t “a few drops of blood”, but actually a bloody footprint. It’s apparent that Jan Goodwin really knows very little about the case:
They broke into Meredith’s bedroom and discovered her lying in a pool of blood, half-naked, her windpipe crushed in an attempted strangulation and her throat partially slashed.
There were three knife wounds on Meredith’s neck. Two lesser wounds, but the final one was delivered with such brutal force, it left a huge, gaping hole in Meredith’s neck. There was nothing partial about it. Whoever inflicted the fatal wound wanted to kill Meredith.
Jan Goodwin’s article seems deliberately misleading to give the impression that there isn’t much evidence against Amanda and Raffaele:
Three days after the murder, the senior police investigator on the case sought out Amanda and Raffaele to question them. When he discovered them casually eating in a pizza restaurant, he grew suspicious. Soon after, they were arrested. “That was how it started,” says Paul Ciolino, an American forensic examiner who was the primary investigative adviser for the Innocence Project, which has helped exonerate more than 215 prisoners jailed in the U.S.
No, the police were actually suspicious of Amanda and Raffaele because they both lied to the postal police from the very first time they spoke to them.
Example: they told the postal police they had phoned the police and were waiting for them. Raffaele admitted in his witness on 5 and 6 November they hadn’t actually phoned the police before the postal police turned up unexpectedly:
I tried to force the door but couldn’t, and at that point I decided to call my sister for advice because she is a Carabinieri officer. She told me to dial 112 (the Italian emergency number) but at that moment the postal police arrived.” He added: “In my former statement I told you a load of rubbish because I believed Amanda’s version of what happened and did not think about the inconsistencies.
CCTV footage shows the postal police arriving at the cottage at 12.35 on 2 November. Raffaele phoned the police at 12.51 and 12.54.
[Quoting Paul Ciolino again] “I was stunned that this was why he suspected Amanda and her boyfriend were involved in the crime,” he says. “These two kids, never in trouble, classic middle-class college students “” it’s ludicrous that they were implicated.”
Amanda Knox was arrested for hosting a party that got seriously out of hand with students high on drink and drugs and throwing rocks into the road, forcing cars to swerve.
The students then threw rocks at the windows of neighbours who had called the police. The situation was so bad that police reinforcements had to be called. Amanda was fined $269 (£135) at the Municipal Court after the incident - Crime No: 071830624.
Amanda’s friend Madison Paxton makes the following comment: “The papers have called her a drugged-up skank, and that’s just incredibly untrue. She respects her body; she doesn’t like to party too much.”
I think Amanda’s neighbours would wholeheartedly disagree that Amanda doesn’t like to party too much. Amanda herself made the claim that she had smoked so much cannabis she (conveniently) couldn’t remember much about what happened on the night of the murder. She doesn’t sound like somebody who doesn’t like to party too much.
In grade school, Amanda’s soccer teammates nicknamed her “Foxy Knoxy” because she would crouch down like a fox on the playing field. European tabloids picked up on the name, calling her “Foxy Knoxy: a sex-mad American party girl.
European newspapers, including the quality newspapers, called Amanda by the nickname she called herself. She would have known at the age of 20 that the word “foxy” has sexual connotations. Amanda made a conscious choice to use a nickname with sexual connotations. The newspapers were simply using the nickname that she used.
After her arrest, Amanda was detained by the police and interrogated for 14 hours.
Actually, Amanda was being questioned as a witness, and the claim that her interrogation lasted 14 hours has widely been demonstrated to be untrue.
I’m struggling to find a single correct fact in this next paragraph:
Since then, the police investigation has been chaotic and bumbling. Take the alleged murder weapon, a cooking knife that belonged to Raffaele. Amanda’s DNA was found on the handle “” not surprising, since she used it for cooking “” and officials said Meredith’s DNA had been found on the blade. But new DNA evidence released shows that after 183 attempts to match the material on the knife to Meredith’s DNA, there is only a 1 percent chance that it is hers, making it unlikely that the knife is, in fact, the murder weapon.
At a recent hearing, Renato Biondo, from the forensic police, said, “We are confirming the reliability of the information collected from the scene of the crime and at the same time, the professionalism and excellence of our work.” Paolo Micheli wanted independent confirmation that the forensic scientists had followed all the correct procedures and their findings were completely accurate. Renato Biondo provided this confirmation unequivocably.
The crime scene wasn’t “violated”. The possibility of Meredith’s bra clasp being contaminated was excluded by Patrizia Stefanoni, and she also confirmed that Meredith’s DNA was on the blade and Amanda’s DNA was on handle of the knife that was hidden in a shoe box at Raffaele’s apartment.
The defence lawyers were putting on brave faces, but that hearing proved a truly disastrous day for Amanda and Raffaele. Raffaele had been placed in Meredith’s room, removing her bra, and Amanda’s DNA was on the knife that was almost certainly used to kill Meredith.
A knife that had been intentionally cleaned. A knife that was placed on Meredith’s bed sheet and that left a bloody trace on it. A knife that matches the wound on Meredith’s neck.
The claim that there is only 1 percent chance of the DNA on the blade belonging to Meredith is not surprisingly not attributed to anybody, let alone an independent forensic expert.
The following statement is outrageous and deeply offensive to the victim herself:
There is also no indication that Meredith was subjected to sexual violence..
This is a claim that has been frequently made by Amanda’s Knox supporters.
To suggest that there was consensual sexual activity between Meredith and Rudy defies belief. Meredith did not consent to any of the unspeakable horrors that were inflicted upon her that night.
Jan Goodwin follows a well-rehearsed and overused script when outlining the case for Amanda’s “innocence”:
Miraculously, Amanda did finally get a break when the Italian supreme court tossed out the results of her interrogation this past spring on the grounds that she had not been provided with a lawyer or interpreter.
Miraculously?!
What Amanda Knox’s supporters invariably forget to mention is that one of Amanda’s statements in which she admits to being at the cottage on the night of the murder was not “tossed” out by the Italian Supreme Court. Her letter to the police is almost identical in content to the statements that were not admitted as evidence. This incriminating letter was admitted as evidence.
Jan Goodwin should have written a balanced and objective article, not an anti-victim piece, and done some actual reading and research. She has instead written for MarieClaire what is essentially a free advertisement for the Free Amanda Knox Campaign.
She could have asked pertinent questions, such as why did Amanda deliberately and repeatedly lied to the police, or why did Amanda and Raffaele give not only conflicting witness statements, but also completely different accounts of where they were and what they were doing on the night of the murder.
But Jan Goodwin seemingly didn’t. And presumably MarieClaire’s editor paid her, regardless.
Posted by The Machine on 10/23 at 04:00 PM • Permalink for this post • Archived in Hoaxers from 2007, Paul Ciolino, More hoaxers, Hoaxers: media groups, CBS Network, Innocence Project, News media & movies, Terrible reporting • Comments here (3)
Test Your Grasp Of The Evidence: Locate The Witness’s Apartment
The Meredith case is a puzzling and very complicated one, with a talented, hard-working and very appealing girl student, Meredith Kercher, as its sad victim.
Set in an exotic old Italian university town (which normally sees no murders) in another country and under another legal system for most followers. With the main reporting in Italian.
With the victim of one nationality and the suspects of three other nationalities. With limited public information released by police and prosecutors, and with some smoke blown by the defense teams and their enablers.
Analyzing the case based on the public information available at any one time might remind you of peeling the layers of onions. A lot of onions.
The pro-evidence community now on this forum (it recently moved there) has been peeling those onions for nigh on a year now, and you can read many of their impressive achievements on their previous site here.
Here now is one example of the peeling of an onion. It concerns the evidence of a close neighbor who claims to have heard some telling sounds. Despite some attempts to harass her, the signora and her testimony emerge looking pretty credible.
Signora Nara’s House
Signora Nara (her first name) lives in an apartment somewhere above the house of the victim and one of the defendants. She thinks she heard a terrible scream - and then some running footsteps down in front of her apartment somewhere above the girls’ house.
Where her place is really matters because, if she is too far away or at the wrong angle, her evidence becomes a lot less credible.
You need all of these shots to understand her situation. The essential clue as to which one it is is hiding in plain site here. It was Kermit on the pro-evidence forum (Kermit knows Perugia and has studied the key locations in great depth) who first spotted it, around 10 days ago.The answer is at bottom here.
First we show the shots without any captions. Try to figure out their meaning.
And then down below, we again show the SAME shots, with the relevance of each of them explained.
1. Images Without Any Clues
2. The Various Clues Hiding In Plain Sight
Below: Signora Nara’s apartment is in fact clearly visible somewhere in this shot
Below: The girls’ house cannot be seen from the basement floors of those house
Below: The roof of the girls’ house CAN be seen from apartments one flight up
Below: These are the steel stairs where Signora Nara says she heard climbing footsteps
Below: Again, these are the steel stairs where Signora Nara says she heard climbing footsteps
Below: Th main street south of her apartment; her front door is in a passage left of and parallel to this
Below: This is that parallel passage, here at its west end, emerging (left) onto the stairs by a park
Below: A CBS investigator and a translator in that passage outside Signora Nara’s front door
Below: The CBS investigator and translator again in that passage - at the ground-floor flat
Below: Her bathroom window seen from the parking facility at what is the BACK of her unit
Below: Here are two shots of Singnora Nara looking to the left and down from that bathroom window
Below: here is a shot of her on her balcony looking down and to the left - to the girls’ house
Below: Here are two shots of the roof of the girls’ house; they are from one floor above Signora Nara’s
Below: Here is the roof of the girls’ house in daylight from a similar location - not very far away
Below: And its gravel parking area where she claims she heard some of the footsteps
And The Vital Clue Is…
Below: The vital clue is this bathroom window - surrounded by an extensive mock window facade
And Therefore Her Apartment Is…
Below: The ONLY second-level apartment with a mock facade and balcony is above the trees at center here
With due appreciation to Kermit for first tackling this onion…
Posted by Peter Quennell on 09/28 at 11:55 AM • Permalink for this post • Archived in Evidence & Witnesses, Real locations, Other witnesses, Hoaxers: media groups, CBS Network • Comments here (5)
Why CBS Should Report Better - Way Better - On This Case
Pizzey makes at least two mistakes in this gushy little report from Rome on CBS News
The short-form trial can normally result in a 1/3 reduction in the sentence - the 2/3 claim appears to be baseless.
Rudy Guede “admits” to having sex with the victim - better make that “claims” to have had sex, widely disbelieved.
CBS continues its abysmal track record of being one of the most factually-challenged sources on the case.
Click here for the rest
Posted by Peter Quennell on 09/18 at 10:49 PM • Permalink for this post • Archived in Evidence & Witnesses, Other witnesses, Hoaxers from 2007, More hoaxers, Hoaxers: media groups, CBS Network, News media & movies, Terrible reporting • Comments here (2)
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Networked_Performance / physical
Turbulence.org Commission: “besides,” 3 Networked Performances
Turbulence.org Commission: “besides,” 3 networked performances by Annie Abrahams and Martina Ruhsam:
June 11, 12, & 13 online http://bram.org/besides at 19:00 (CET), 1:00 pm (EDT) (find your local time) Streaming by Ivan Chabanaud/mosaika.tv.
Annie and Martina will investigate the performative potential of real time computer-mediated communication. By listening to each other’s gestures (in a visual and acoustic sense) they will choreograph each other’s actions, despite Annie being in Montpellier, France and Martina in Berlin, Germany. Will they be able to create an intimate space within two webcam windows framed side-by-side on their screens? What will emerge when two vulnerable bodies, their silences, fragmented communication, a few mundane objects, and a lot of uncertainty collide? Continue reading
Jun 7, 14:07
Turbulence Commission: “Condition:Used” by Anna Pinkas
Turbulence Commission: Condition:Used by Anna Pinkas:
Condition:Used gathers bits and pieces of intimate spaces found online to create domestic scenes made out of paper. The pieces of furniture comprising these uncanny miniatures are replicas of items for sale on eBay: The listings’ images were transformed into printable/foldable paper templates, assembled to form intricate scenes, photographed, and displayed on the Condition:Used website. The visitors can click on each element in the dioramas to get a detailed view and a screenshot of its original eBay page. They are also invited to download and print any of the templates to create their own “paper doll house.” Continue reading
Turbulence Commission: “Empire State” by Steve Klise
Turbulence Commission: Empire State by Steve Klise [To observe, visit after sunset EST. To create, visit anytime]
Empire State transmits camera flashes from the Empire State Building’s observation deck in New York City to the virtual observation deck of your computer screen. It also provides step-by-step instructions on how to create a LEGO replica of the iconic building, which lights up every time a visitor takes a photograph of Manhattan at night. Empire State is a continuous feedback loop of physical and virtual architectures (building/model/code) and of the perceptions of sightseers both on-site and on-line. The actual is recorded, translated, transmitted, and received. The observers are the observed. Continue reading
The Sixth Room
The Sixth Room at the Venice Biennial:
The Sixth Room is a digital tool that visually represents the network of virtual and physical audiences visiting Sarah Sze’s Triple Point, both in Venice at the United States Pavilion and online over the course of la Biennale di Venezia. Constantly updated, The Sixth Room data represents an ever-changing visual record of public engagement with Triple Point.
Coordinated by Nell Breyer, previously a research affiliate at MIT’s Center for Advanced Visual Studies and designed by Catherine D’Ignazio from MIT’s Media Lab, The Sixth Room is accessible online and on mobile devices. Continue reading
Moving Without A Body: Digital Philosophy and Choreographic Thoughts
Moving Without A Body: Digital Philosophy and Choreographic Thoughts by Stamatia Portanova, MIT Press:
Digital technologies offer the possibility of capturing, storing, and manipulating movement, abstracting it from the body and transforming it into numerical information. In Moving without a Body, Stamatia Portanova considers what really happens when the physicality of movement is translated into a numerical code by a technological system. Drawing on the radical empiricism of Gilles Deleuze and Alfred North Whitehead, she argues that this does not amount to a technical assessment of software’s capacity to record motion but requires a philosophical rethinking of what movement itself is, or can become. Continue reading
Virtual space, Game space as Artistic Medium [ Brentford]
Strata-caster by Joseph Farbrook :: August 25 – October 14, 2012 :: Watermans Seminar 6 (Virtual space, Game space as Artistic Medium) – Chaired by Jonathan Munro – with Joseph Farbrook, Corrado Morgana, Rui Filipe Antunes and Parag K Mital :: August 25; 5:00 – 7:00 pm :: Watermans, 40 High Street, Brentford, UK.
Strata-caster is an exploration of the topography of power, prestige, and position. The art installation exists in the virtual world of Second Life, a place populated by over 50,000 people at any given moment. Although virtual and infinite, it continues to mirror the physical world, complete with representations of prestige and exclusivity. Continue reading
Local Flux
Genevieve Bell, “Context is Everything”
locative media
The New Aesthetic: Waving at the Machines
Click on image to go to video. Transcription of talk here. Related: James Bridle’s The New Aesthetic and Bruce Sterling’s An Essay on the New Aesthetic. Continue reading
Apr 2, 15:55
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Category: Depopulation
DisclosureGate: Former Congress members bribed over Cheney’s secret Mars program
Vancouver, B.C. – In an exclusive interview broadcast live over YouTube on February 8, 2015, Citizen Hearing on Disclosure co-author Alfred Lambremont Webre, JD, MEd, responded to comments from CHD funder Tom Clearwater regarding the DisclosureGate report released by NewsInsideOut.com. The report offered whistleblower testimony and evidence of an insider witness to fraudulent actions and a cover-up surrounding the failed Disclosure Petition VII hosted on the White House website. In an official response Tom Clearwater indicated his lack of surprise concerning anomalies surfaced through the report while errantly citing “patterns in Mr. Webre’s life” as key to understanding its origins.
During the interview, former Citizen Hearing on Disclosure board member Alfred Lambremont Webre, JD, MEd, clearly illuminated the deep origins of DisclosureGate as emerging from within the U.S. military-industrial-governmental complex and its New World Order overseers, citing both Stephen Bassett and Tom Clearwater as “handymen” in the cover-up of a secret Mars Colony Corporation-based NWO depopulation agenda. Their works reportedly included bribing former members of Congress who heard testimony at the Hearing to silence discourse concerning U.S. activities on Mars and the role there of former U.S. Vice President Richard B. Cheney.
Tom Clearwater’s official response is appended to the original DisclosureGate report. The following is a transcript of Alfred Lambremont Webre, JD, MEd’s response to Tom Clearwater and the DisclosureGate report recorded live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It has been edited for clarity.
“As I understand it, Tom Clearwater, who’s a Vancouver lawyer and philanthropist, who we have actually interviewed (because he’s a very forward-looking mind and innovator), has now issued a statement in which he goes into denial around the irregularities that have come up around the Citizen Hearings Petition, which were the result of a whistleblower coming forth from the Citizen Hearing and approaching NewsInsideOut as a news outlet.
“Mr. Clearwater unfortunately made this an ad hominem about Alfred Webre, who had nothing to do with this, basically. I thought that I would come on the air and make several things very, very clear, because here you have substantial monies; one million dollars. I know for a fact that Mr. Clearwater’s family is outraged at him for having spent his inheritance and their family money on Mr. Bassett’s Citizen Hearing on Disclosure. I would be outraged also because I’m outraged at Mr. Bassett and I so notified Mr. Clearwater.
“Let me give some background. One of my jobs in the 1970s and early eighties was that I was a consultant to the Ford Foundation and its public interest environmental law program. I had to evaluate their programs when they funded the Environmental Defense Fund and the NRDC [Natural Resources Defense Council]. I’m well familiar with the protocols that go into looking at funding proposals. It is highly irregular to look at a funding proposal and to cut out the principals that had developed that funding proposal over time.
“I was a co-founder of the Citizen Hearing along with Mr. Bassett going back to 2005, 2006, 2007 and my name was up on the Internet as a member of the board on the public website. There was a very important reason for that. It wasn’t just Alfred Webre as a person. It was because I represented a whole line of research which had to do with the extraterrestrials on our nearest planet, that has to do with Mars. Now I know of at least eight whistleblowers from top secret U.S. programs on Mars that have come forward.
“This includes Lieutenant Commander Andrew D. Basiago, U.S. Marine Corps Captain Randy Cramer, Special Section and others who have shown that the U.S. has a presence on Mars, probably since the 1960s. We’re already 60 years into the presence there. Randy Cramer has been part of the Mars Defense Force. He spent 17 years in the Polar Regions with the U.S. Marines on peacekeeping and combat missions with the Martian reptilian and the Martian insectoid (mantid) civilizations and knows all about the Mars Colony Corporation.
“In fact, the Mars Colony Corporation contracted with the U.S. Marine Corps and the Mars Defense Force to provide these peacekeeping arrangements for the Mars Colony Corporation. The person who was in charge of the Mars Colony Corporation all these years was one Richard B. Cheney. That’s of extreme importance to the U.S. Congress, to the U.S. Executive, to the public at large and to the news media. Yet when the one million dollars was supposed to be given by attorney, let me emphasize that, attorney Tom Clearwater (and he emphasizes to me that he was at the top of his class). He should know this. It’s called due diligence. An attorney is under a double diligence to give and to ensure that all of the parties in a proposal are represented and that there is no fraud and negligence, which occurred here.
“I’d go beyond negligence. I’d go to fraud because it’s the U.S. Congress that has been defrauded, it’s the public that has been defrauded because the three trillion dollar U.S. program on Mars with Martian extraterrestrials, including the reptilian civilization, the mantid civilization and the Martian human civilization have been kept out of the public record by the nefarious, unlawful (under fiscal law), under breach of trust actions of Stephen Bassett and Tom Clearwater, Attorney at Law.
“Yes, I wish to speak up. I’m providing a total of six articles that go into the evidence behind this. I provided it at the time.
“What Mr. Bassett did was unconscionable. Out of the million dollars Mr. Bassett gave twenty thousand dollar bribes to each of the former congressmen who were there to keep quiet about life on Mars. I contacted each of the former senators and representatives directly on that.
“One of them, the former senator from Alaska had been a former correspondent along with me with PressTV. We had been on panels together and I told him, “You are being defrauded. You’re accepting twenty thousand dollars and you’re withholding the truth about the three trillion dollar U.S. program on Mars, about the extraterrestrials: the mantids, reptilians, the humans, the dramatic exopolitical drama that’s being placed on Mars.” The human Mars Colony Corporation headed up by Dick Cheney that has set up a secret gene pool to allegedly populate the Earth after the New World Order supposedly eliminates or depopulates the current what they call “surface dwellers.” Henry Kissinger has the word “useless eaters” for the surface dwellers.
“That is what Steve Bassett and Tom Clearwater did. They were doing the handiwork of a New World Order cover-up. Fortunately, as they say, they broke themselves against the law again.
“Now whether or not the public will listen to this broadcast and will listen to these facts now that they have broken the law with regard to petitions that are on the White House website, we will see. Mr. Bassett has shown himself to be completely lawless in the past. We will see whether he continues to be completely lawless and continues to cover up the U.S. mission on Mars and all of the extraterrestrial civilizations on Mars for his own convenience.
“Who knows what sort of payoffs Stephen Bassett has gotten for this. And who knows what payoff Tom Clearwater, who is saying, to try and involve me in the cover-up that he used a million dollars of his family’s money, who are now vehemently objecting to his use of that money, for a cover-up.”
Prior Journalistic Investigations of Stephen Bassett by Alfred Lambremont Webre, JD, MEd:
HEARINGS & BASSETT COVERUP OF LIFE ON MARS AND US BASES ON MARS
Is Upcoming “Citizen’s Hearing” an ET Coverup and more? See: http://ufodigest.com/article/upcoming-citizens-hearing-et-coverup-and-more
FROM Andrew D. Basiago “I join all living US chrononauts in urging a boycott of the Citizens’ Hearing. See: http://exopolitics.blogs.com/exopolitics/2013/04/from-andrew-d-basiago-i-join-all-living-us-chrononauts-in-urging-a-boycott-of-the-citizens-hearing-.html
Citizen Hearing intentionally misleads former Sen. Mike Gravel on nature of U.S. relations with extraterrestrials See: http://exopolitics.blogs.com/exopolitics/2013/04/citizen-hearing-intentionally-misleads-former-sen-mike-gravel-on-nature-of-us-relations-with-extrate.html
BASSETT FINANCIALLY UNETHICAL, CUTS OUT CO-FOUNDER OF PROJECT AS PART OF MARS COVERUP
Steve Bassett raises $1 million on proposal for Citizen Hearing co-authored by Alfred Webre, arbitrarily refuses Webre opportunity to testify on 1977 Carter White House ET Study See: http://exopolitics.blogs.com/exopolitics/2012/11/steve-bassett-arises-1-million-on-proposal-for-citizen-hearing-co-authored-by-alfred-webre-arbitrari.html
BASSETT & OTHERS MIND CONTROLLED
Bassett, Huneeus and Greer’s Brain-Mind Entrainment by Manipulatory Extraterrestrials See: http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/vida_alien/alien_humanitymanipulationalien53.htm
UFO/ET Citizen Hearing Director/Witness Stephen Bassett’s Anomalous Eye Movements See: http://one-vibration.com/video/ufo-et-citizen-hearing-director-witness-stephen-bassett-s?xg_source=activity#.VNffSsYfksc
DisclosureGate: Activist cites ethical breaches, cover-up, withdraws Petition/CHD support
Roundtable: Pleiadian nuke destroyed Mars ecology? Cheney ran Mars Colony Corporation
Marine Corps: Plan to replace humanity with Mars elite DNA colony
MH370: CIA front Inmarsat’s SIGNINT Iran nuclear missile secrets revealed
Cheney’s ‘Kiss of Shame’: A satanic torture conspiracy revealed
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Joshua Radin. Hotel Cafe Tour. 2008
Anya Marina
Jason Reeves
Jon Foreman
NEEDTOBREATHE
Tyrone Wells
Interview: Sugar & the Hi-Lows Channel the Classics On New Album ‘High Roller’
(Click on any photo to launch gallery)
Rascal Flatts Celebrate Album And Film Release In NYC
CATEGORIES: Concert Reviews, Features, News, Q&A
Rascal Flatts have been making music together for over a decade. With eight albums under their belts, it’s nearly inconceivable that the popular country trio almost called it quits.
CBS Local caught up with Rascal Flatts at their film premiere last night (April 5) in New York. The band discussed their latest album Changed, which was released Tuesday, their film and future endeavors. Their eighth studio album and first LP with Big Machine Records, Rascal Flatts said the excitement of album release week never wears off.
“We’ve been more excited about this one then we’ve been in a long time,” Jay DeMarcus said. “We feel like we’ve got renewed energy and a resurgence of the spirit of what Rascal Flatts was about to begin with.”
For my complete review and interview, visit CBS.
April 6, 2012 | | (0) comment
"See Through You"
Willie Shaw's sultry new song mesmerizes upon first listen.
YOU SING I WRITE
Music Reviews, Interviews, Concert & Album Reviews
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"[Marxism] [UCE] The Jewish Voice for Peace Attack on Alison Weir: JVP Loses Its Balance":
"JVP’s entire accusation against Weir is based on guilt by association . . . "
The core concept of Judaism is the concept of uncleanliness, the taint which occurs by virtue of coming into contact with the Unclean (menstruating women, the dead, and the whole food thing). Such concepts are not unique to Judaism, as religion itself seems to be a set of lists of the good and the bad, but the Jews are obsessed with it. It is thus no surprise that Jews are completely comfortable with attacking opponents of Jewish supremacism using guilt by association, a clear logical fallacy, and something which many of the rest of us find deeply intellectually offensive. The rest of the attack consists of the usual Jewish supremacist rhetorical - definitely not logical - approach that any challenge to Jewish supremacism is just disguised 'anti-Semitism' (thus hiding the truth of the facts behind the irrelevant supposed motives of the conveyor of the facts), exactly the way any world-revolves-around-us group would handle any situation. Of course, Weir's real deep problem is she musters piles and piles of damning information which the Jews are trying to hide.
"SPIEGEL Interview with Julian Assange: 'We Are Drowning in Material'":
"SPIEGEL: Do you see a potential blackmail situation?
Assange: They wouldn't leak transcripts of tapped phone calls as that would draw focus to the spying itself. The way intelligence services launder intercepts is to extract the facts expressed during conversations; for example to say to their contacts in the media, "I think you should look into this connection between this politician and that person, what they did on that particular day."
SPIEGEL: Have you got a documented example in which this sort of tactic has been used?
Assange: We haven't published one yet about a German politician, but there are examples of prominent Muslims in different countries about whom it was leaked that they had been browsing porn. Blackmail or representational destruction from intercepts is part of the repertoire used.
SPIEGEL: Who uses these methods?
Assange: The British GCHQ has its own department for such methods called JTRIG. They include blackmail, fabricating videos, fabricating SMS texts in bulk, even creating fake businesses with the same names as real businesses the United Kingdom wants to marginalize in some region of the world, and encouraging people to order from the fake business and selling them inferior products, so that the business gets a bad reputation. That sounds like a lunatic conspiracy theory, but it is concretely documented in the GCHQ material allegedly provided by Edward Snowden."
"Greece’s Lesson For Russia — Paul Craig Roberts" Russia's recent success is largely based on the fact it has never allowed itself to bask in the false sentimentality of American propaganda.
"India bribery scandal: Mysterious deaths, massive coverup?" As late capitalism relies increasingly on the 'signalling' of various credentialing systems, the systems become increasingly corrupt.
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T cells and hypertension
A primer on the T cell response to antigen
The role of isoketal-activated DCs in hypertension
Outstanding questions
Commentary Free access | 10.1172/JCI77766
Is hypertension an autoimmune disease?
Jordan S. Pober
Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Address correspondence to: Jordan S. Pober, 10 Amistad Street, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA. Phone: 203.737.2292; E-mail: jordan.pober@yale.edu.
Find articles by Pober, J. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
First published September 17, 2014 - More info
Published in Volume 124, Issue 10 on October 1, 2014
J Clin Invest. 2014;124(10):4234–4236. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI77766.
First published September 17, 2014 - Version history
DC isoketal-modified proteins activate T cells and promote hypertension
Annet Kirabo, … , Jackson Roberts II, David G. Harrison
Oxidative damage and inflammation are both implicated in the genesis of hypertension; however, the mechanisms by which these stimuli promote hypertension are not fully understood. Here, we have described a pathway in which hypertensive stimuli promote dendritic cell (DC) activation of T cells, ultimately leading to hypertension. Using multiple murine models of hypertension, we determined that proteins oxidatively modified by highly reactive γ-ketoaldehydes (isoketals) are formed in hypertension and accumulate in DCs. Isoketal accumulation was associated with DC production of IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-23 and an increase in costimulatory proteins CD80 and CD86. These activated DCs promoted T cell, particularly CD8+ T cell, proliferation; production of IFN-γ and IL-17A; and hypertension. Moreover, isoketal scavengers prevented these hypertension-associated events. Plasma F2-isoprostanes, which are formed in concert with isoketals, were found to be elevated in humans with treated hypertension and were markedly elevated in patients with resistant hypertension. Isoketal-modified proteins were also markedly elevated in circulating monocytes and DCs from humans with hypertension. Our data reveal that hypertension activates DCs, in large part by promoting the formation of isoketals, and suggest that reducing isoketals has potential as a treatment strategy for this disease.
Annet Kirabo, Vanessa Fontana, Ana P.C. de Faria, Roxana Loperena, Cristi L. Galindo, Jing Wu, Alfiya T. Bikineyeva, Sergey Dikalov, Liang Xiao, Wei Chen, Mohamed A. Saleh, Daniel W. Trott, Hana A. Itani, Antony Vinh, Venkataraman Amarnath, Kalyani Amarnath, Tomasz J. Guzik, Kenneth E. Bernstein, Xiao Z. Shen, Yu Shyr, Sheau-chiann Chen, Raymond L. Mernaugh, Cheryl L. Laffer, Fernando Elijovich, Sean S. Davies, Heitor Moreno, Meena S. Madhur, Jackson Roberts II, David G. Harrison
T cells are required for significant blood pressure elevation in mouse models of hypertension. Recent evidence suggests that the treatments that raise blood pressure in these animal models also cause oxidation within DCs, resulting in formation of isoketal adducts of self-proteins, which activate antigen-presenting functions of these cells and serve as a source of modified self-antigens. T cells specific for these modified self-antigens then produce cytokines that promote blood pressure elevation, consistent with the idea that hypertension is an autoimmune response to altered self. Here, I will review the new evidence for this idea put forth by Kirabo and colleagues in this issue of the JCI, identify a number of as yet unanswered questions, and discuss some of the therapeutic implications.
Hypertension is the major modifiable risk factor for death in individuals with cardiovascular disease (1); however, this complication cannot be controlled in 8% to 12% of patients (2). Therapies based on new pathogenetic insights into the development of hypertension could have significant clinical value. One possibility is that hypertension is a form of autoimmunity (3). David Harrison and coworkers first showed in 2007 an unanticipated role for T cells in two common models of hypertension in mice (4). Specifically, treatment either with angiotensin II or with deoxycorticosterone acetate plus NaCl (DOCA-salt) barely elevated blood pressure in RAG1-deficient mice, which lack T and B lymphocytes compared with WT mice; however, adoptive transfer of syngeneic T cells in RAG1-deficient animals restored treatment-induced blood pressure elevation. The initial Harrison study linked increased blood pressure to T cell production of TNF-α, and subsequent work revealed that T cell–derived IL-17A is also required to sustain hypertension in animals (5). IL-17A targets vascular smooth muscle cells (5–7), but it is not clear whether this results in hypertension. IL-17A–mediated injury to the kidney is an alternative mechanism for the development of hypertension. Angiotensin II can increase cytokine production by T cells but only when the T cells are first activated by cross-linking the T cell receptor (TCR) for antigen with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (4), a widely used experimental surrogate for antigen recognition. If T cells are actually activated by recognition of a specific antigen in hypertensive animals, what might this antigen be? The study by Kirabo et al. in this issue of the JCI now suggests an answer (8).
To put the findings of Kirabo and colleagues into context, it is important to consider how T cells respond to antigen. Each naive T cell (i.e., one that has emerged following thymic development but has not yet encountered a specific antigen) expresses a structurally unique TCR that differs from every other TCR and is specific for a small number of closely related short peptides in a noncovalent complex with one of a number of highly polymorphic membrane proteins encoded by genes within the MHC. During thymic maturation, the repertoire of developing T cells is purged to eliminate both T cells that cannot recognize peptides from self-proteins bound to self-MHC and T cells that recognize peptides derived from self-proteins with high affinity. This maturation process leaves only the T cells that react poorly to self-peptides but can recognize with higher affinity peptides derived from nonself-proteins, typically those from invading microbes that bind to self-MHC (9). However, naive T cells that recognize structurally modified peptides derived from self-proteins are not eliminated. For example, some individuals possess T cells that recognize self-peptides in which arginine residues have been enzymatically modified to citrulline and are then displayed by the allelic forms of a specific class II MHC molecule (HLA-DR4). This recognition of modified self can result in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (10), explaining why there is a much stronger risk for developing RA in individuals who have inherited an HLA-DR4 allele. In general, a link to specific MHC alleles is a common feature of autoimmunity (11).
To initiate a T cell response, naive T cells must receive three distinct signals: specific antigen (the peptide bound to the MHC molecule that is recognized by its TCR); one or more antigen-independent boosters (costimulators) of T cell responses (such as CD80 or CD86, which engage CD28 on the T cell); and secreted cytokines that promote T cell expansion and differentiation (12). Specialized antigen-presenting cells, known as DCs, provide all three signals, but DCs must first be activated in order to elicit a response from naive T cells (13). DC-activating signals include molecules expressed by microbes, such as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), or molecules released from injured cells, known as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Both PAMPs and DAMPs function to localize DC activation to sites of infection or tissue injury, at which DCs acquire antigens prior to migrating to secondary lymphoid organs, in which the antigen is presented to naive T cells that express a relevant TCR. Antigen-activated T cells proliferate, producing a clone of daughter cells specific for the relevant antigen, and these differentiate into effector cells of various types. While there are very few naive T cells that can recognize a particular antigen, proliferation creates many effector cells that can do so. If the eliciting antigen is eliminated, most effector cells die off, but some become long-lived memory cells that can rapidly redifferentiate into new effector cells if the same antigen reappears, such as occurs during reinfection or in response to primary infection following vaccination. This expanded pool of memory T cells is the basis of immunological memory (14).
This background provides context for the current findings of Kirabo and colleagues. First, infusion of angiotensin II or DOCA-salt to produce hypertension generated ROS in DCs through phagocyte oxidase. Importantly, it is the mediators of hypertension, not hypertension per se, that stimulates ROS production, as normalizing blood pressure with hydralazine did not prevent ROS formation. Second, ROS in DCs caused lipid oxidation, resulting in formation of isoketal adducts of various self-proteins. These isoketal-modified proteins were detectable by immunostaining, and the specific scavenger 2-hydroxybenzylamine prevented their formation. Third, isoketal-modified proteins behaved like DAMPs, activating DCs to upregulate MHC molecules, costimulators CD80 and CD86, and cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and IL-23, all of which was preventable by 2-hydroxybenzylamine. It should be noted that Kirabo and colleagues found that isoketal adducts unexpectedly reduce rather than activate the ability of DCs to present a model antigen, an unexplained observation. Fourth, DCs pulsed with isoketal-modified self-proteins were able to activate in vitro proliferation and cytokine production of memory T cells from hypertensive but not control animals. Finally, transfer of isoketal-activated DCs raised blood pressure in WT animals that have T cells but not in those lacking them. Cumulatively, the findings of Kirabo and colleagues (8) suggest that peptides derived from isoketal adducts of proteins behave as modified self-antigens, activating naive T cells to become IL-17A–producing effector cells. Thus, hypertension, like RA, may be an autoimmune disease to modified self.
While the report by Kirabo et al. greatly advances the understanding of how hypertension-inducing stimuli may activate T cells to produce IL-17A, several questions remain unanswered. First, what type(s) of DCs are relevant for initiating this T cell response? This issue is complicated, as monocytes, macrophages, and DCs are heterogeneous and plastic, and their relationship to each other is disputed (15). Still, this question could be addressed by separation of activated DCs prior to adoptive transfer. Second, which DC receptors recognize isoketal adducts as DAMPs? Most (if not all) of the relevant receptors for PAMPs and DAMPs are known, and mice are available in which these receptors and their adaptor molecules have been knocked out; therefore, this question should be readily addressable. Third, what is the actual antigen recognized by the activated T cells? Not all citrullinated peptides activate T cells of patients with RA. This issue may be approached by isolating peptides from the MHC molecules on activated DCs and/or by testing synthetic isoketal-modified peptides. Fourth, do these observations in mouse models apply to hypertensive humans? Kirabo et al. found that circulating myeloid cells in hypertensive individuals (both controlled and uncontrolled) have measurable levels of isoketal protein adducts, which are not present in normotensive individuals. Fifth, are these myeloid cells activated to present antigens, and do hypertensive individuals have circulating memory T cells that are responsive to isoketal-modified proteins or peptides? Finally, if human hypertension is an autoimmune disease, is there a link to a specific MHC allele? Remarkably, although the MHC was not identified in initial GWAS of hypertension, the most recent GWAS report noted an association between hypertension and the HLA-DQB1 allele; however, this must be independently validated (16). Future studies should be able to test the hypothesis that antigen-presenting cells expressing HLA-DQB1 may be especially effective at presenting isoketal peptide adducts to T cells that share this allele.
The most important implications of the study by Kirabo and colleagues relate to the possibility of potential therapies for hypertension. If the isoketal-stimulated adaptive immune response contributes to human hypertension, could targeting this pathway reduce the blood pressure of patients refractory to current antihypertensive drug therapies? Antioxidants have failed to provide clinical benefit in heart disease (17), but this may reflect the fact that ROS mediate both beneficial and pathological effects. The mouse data presented by Kirabo et al. suggest that a specific scavenger of isoketals could be protective without interfering with beneficial ROS functions. While global immunosuppression may be far too high a price to pay for reducing blood pressure, observational studies of blood pressure in patients on immunosuppression therapy for other reasons may be highly informative. Specific IL-17A or IL-17 receptor blockades with monoclonal antibodies have shown positive effects in clinical trials for psoriasis (18). Some of these patients were undoubtedly hypertensive, and the effects of inhibition of IL-17A and IL-17 on blood pressure could be examined. Interestingly, high dietary salt intake, which increases sodium ion concentration in the interstitium of the secondary lymphoid organs without increasing plasma concentration, favors the differentiation of autoreactive IL-17A–producing T cells (19). Thus, salt restriction, already recommended for hypertensive patients for hemodynamic effects, may also be an effective immunomodulatory strategy. Finally, tolerogenic therapies for autoimmunity (20), such as stimulating regulatory T cells with self-antigen plus low-dose IL-2, appear to be on the horizon. Now that we have candidate antigens, perhaps this is an approach that could be safely translated to patients with refractory hypertension.
J.S. Pober is supported by a grant from the NIH (HL051014).
Conflict of interest: The author receives research grant support from AbbVie and Alexion.
Reference information: J Clin Invest. 2014;124(10):4234–4236. doi:10.1172/JCI77766.
See the related article at DC isoketal-modified proteins activate T cells and promote hypertension.
Yusuf S, et al. Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. Lancet. 2004;364(9438):937–952.
Sarafidis PA, Georgianos P, Bakris GL. Resistant hypertension--its identification and epidemiology. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2013;9(1):51–58.
Rodriguez-Iturbe B, Pons H, Quiroz Y, Lanaspa MA, Johnson RJ. Autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2014;10(1):56–62.
Guzik TJ, et al. Role of the T cell in the genesis of angiotensin II induced hypertension and vascular dysfunction. J Exp Med. 2007;204(10):2449–2460.
Madhur MS, et al. Interleukin 17 promotes angiotensin II-induced hypertension and vascular dysfunction. Hypertension. 2010;55(2):500–507.
Rao DA, et al. Interleukin (IL)-1 promotes allogeneic T cell intimal infiltration and IL-17 production in a model of human artery rejection. J Exp Med. 2008;205(13):3145–3158.
Eid RE, et al. Interleukin-17 and interferon-gamma are produced concomitantly by human coronary artery-infiltrating T cells and act synergistically on vascular smooth muscle cells. Circulation. 2009;119(10):1424–3142.
Kirabo A, et al. DC isoketal-modified proteins activate T cells and promote hypertension. J Clin Invest. 2014;124(10):4642–4656.
Lo WL, Allen PM. Self-peptides in TCR repertoire selection and peripheral T cell function. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2014;373:49–67.
Wegner N, et al. Autoimmunity to specific citrullinated proteins gives the first clues to the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis. Immunol Rev. 2010;233(1):34–54.
Trowsdale J, Knight JC. Major histocompatibility complex genomics and human disease. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2013;14:301–323.
Curtsinger JM, Mescher MF. Inflammatory cytokines as a third signal for T cell activation. Curr Opin Immunol. 2010;22(3):333–340.
Steinman RM, Hemmi H. Dendritic cells: translating innate to adaptive immunity. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2006;311:17–58.
Zielinski CE, et al. Dissecting the human immunologic memory for pathogens. Immunol Rev. 2011;240(1):40–51.
Mildner A, Jung S. Development and function of dendritic cell subsets. Immunity. 2014;40(5):642–656.
Tragante V, et al. Gene-centric meta-analysis in 87,736 individuals of European ancestry identifies multiple blood-pressure-related loci. Am J Hum Genet. 2014;94(3):349–360.
Ozkanlar S, Akcay F. Antioxidant vitamins in atherosclerosis — animal experiments and clinical studies. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2012;21(1):115–123.
Brown G, Malakouti M, Wang E, Koo JY, Levin E. Anti-IL-17 phase II data for psoriasis: a review. [published online ahead of print February 20, 2014]. J Dermatolog Treat. doi:10.3109/09546634.2013.878448.
van der Meer JW, Netea MG. A salty taste to autoimmunity. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(26):2520–2521.
Getts DR, et al. Current landscape for T-cell targeting in autoimmunity and transplantation. Immunotherapy. 2011;3(7):853–870.
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'I felt like we were being kidnapped' San Francisco couple says Uber driver wouldn't let them out of SUV
SAN FRANCISCO -- A San Francisco couple says an Uber driver refused to let them out of the car on the way to the airport this month.
Brian Resler and his wife said they felt like they "were being kidnapped" after the Dec. 8 incident.
The couple was returning home to the Bay Area from a trip to Disneyland. Their original flight to John Wayne Airport in Orange County got diverted from San Francisco to Oakland because of weather, so they left their car at Oakland Airport.
Since their return flight was still to SFO, Alaska Airlines offered to order them an Uber back to their car at Oakland airport.
Resler said Alaska Airlines entered a generic Oakland destination in the Uber app, instead of the airport, and the driver didn't seem to understand.
"That's when he started yelling at us and said that we were trying to trick him and that we were stealing from him, and that's when all of a sudden, we had been stopped in the middle of the road, he peeled out and hopped onto the entrance ramp to the highway," Resler said.
Refusing to let him and his wife out of the SUV at the Oakland Airport, Resler said the Uber driver got on a nearby freeway.
"We started getting a little more panicked," Resler said. "We're begging and pleading him to just stop, just let us off anywhere. We'll call another car, we'll figure out a way there. We offered to give him cash to let us out of the car, and he just continued to yell at us, and so finally I called 911."
The Uber driver eventually got off the freeway, where Oakland Police met them. Resler said police spoke to him and his wife, as well as the Uber driver.
From there, Resler and his wife ordered a Lyft to Oakland Airport.
Frustrated with what he felt was an insufficient response from Uber on the matter, Resler contacted our sister station KGO-TV.
The station reached out to Uber on Wednesday, which said the driver no longer works for Uber:
In a statment, Uber said: "What's been described is disturbing, and we have removed the driver's access to the app. We stand ready to support law enforcement with their investigation."
san franciscooaklandkidnapkidnappingrideshareuberinvestigation
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ann burnett
Writer of Many Things
It’s Festival Time Again!
August 21, 2019 / annburnett
The sun is out, the schools are on holiday and the festivals are in full swing.
The Fringe by the Sea Festival is held every year in August in the seaside town of North Berwick. Stalls and marquees are set up by the harbour, just below the Seabird Centre and a packed programme of speakers, workshops, personal development therapies, music and kids’ activities is filled with visitors from all airts and pairts, as we say hereabouts.
Parking in such a small, popular spot is difficult, so to ease the congestion, and do our bit towards saving the planet, we left the car at home and took the bus there. It was a leisurely deedle-dawdle through pretty little villages, their roadside stone cottages filled with kaleidoscopic flowers, and past fields of barley and brassicas, with stunning views towards the Firth of Forth and the Bass Rock. It took twice as long as driving but who cares? We weren’t in a hurry.
We settled ourselves into the Spiegeltent ready for our first speaker, Doug Allan. He is a film cameraman who has worked extensively with David Attenborough on series such as Blue Planet and who specialises in filming in the Arctic and Antarctic. He had many stills and film clips which had us gasping in amazement at the beauty of the Poles and appalled at the damage we are inflicting on it. Doug spoke strongly about the need to act now, not just as individuals but to force governments to do far more now otherwise, as he called it, we face climate breakdown. He gave the audience much food for thought.
Ian Rankin is one of Scotland’s most successful crime writers and his character, Inspector Rebus, now retired, refuses to do just that. Ian has recently donated 50 boxes of his manuscripts and correspondence to the National Library of Scotland, and his interviewer had picked out some of the items that were in the boxes. Rejection letters, letters from the likes of Ian Crichton Smith and Alexander McCall Smith, a certificate for reciting Burns’ verse aged 8 or 9 – all brought back memories of his early life in Cardenden, his first attempts at writing a novel and his later successes, and the problems of introducing a pet in his books. The body count can rise exponentially but whatever, happens, don’t harm the dog – or forget to mention it. Readers apparently get very upset by that. And all spoken about in his trademark casual, friendly manner.
The following week, the Edinburgh Book Festival opened in Charlotte Square. It has now grown so large and successful that it has spilled out into George Street as well. What better occupation than to wander round a tent filled with books, books and more books! I know of no greater pleasure than to spend time in among books, browsing and reading snippets of them before choosing some to buy. So much, much more satisfying than clicking on Amazon’s website and waiting for the purchase to be delivered. And as for downloading on to a kindle…. a featureless, bland experience. And after buying them (as usual, far more than I meant to) carrying them home in the special Book Festival bag, cradling them carefully on the bus until, at home, I can settle down to reading them. Bliss!
But before that, speakers Kaite Welsh and Caroline Lea spoke about their historical thrillers set in Edinburgh and Iceland. Kaite’s book, The Unquiet Heart, was triggered by the Edinburgh 7, the first women to become medical students at the University, and who suffered many trials and tribulations in their attempts to become doctors. Kaite’s main protagonist finds herself defending her fiancé from a charge of murder while trying to study medicine.
Caroline spoke about her love and knowledge of the old Icelandic sagas and the belief in the supernatural, still apparent today, among some Icelanders. Her book, The Glass Woman, begins with a hand apparently waving from the sea ice and the attempts by some men to bring it back on shore despite one of them, in particular, not wishing to do so.
Then to something completely different – afternoon tea with food writer and broadcaster, Ghillie Basan. While munching our way up the plate stand and sipping at the whisky supplied, we listened to Ghillie talk about her life experiences which had developed her love of spices and flavours and how to match whisky to various foods. Despite living as she described it, in ‘the back of the back of beyond’ in the Scottish Highlands and frequently being snowed up in winter, she still manages to produce interesting and flavourful meals, helped by her kitchen drawers packed full of spices which she obtains from her spice merchant in Istanbul. Her latest book is Spirit and Spice, where she talks of her life with food and includes many mouth-watering recipes.
Plenty of food for thought in all of that!
books, Edinburgh, Uncategorized
Blue Planet, Book Festival, Caroline Lea, David Attenborough, Doug Allan, festival North Berwick, Ghillie Besan, Ian Rankin, Kaite Welsh
← Progress – or Not?
Gathering in the Harvest →
3 thoughts on “It’s Festival Time Again!”
annestenhouse
Great post, Ann. Will look out for Kaite’s book as, like you, I’m very taken by the drama of the Edinburgh Seven. anne stenhouse
annburnett
Thanks, Anne. Kaite mentioned a book written by Jex- Blake’s partner, Margaret Todd, writing as Graham Travers – Mona McLean, Medical Student, which she used for background in writing her book
That is a lot of cake! It looks fabulously luscious, but is that for two people? And with whisky? It’s not a combination I’d have thought of.
Sorry, sidetracked by envy, there, Ann. Sounds like a wonderful festival, and seems to have resulted in some interesting buying. I do like the sound of The Glass Woman. I’ve added it to my list of ‘wants’ which might turn out to be my Christmas wish-list.
It’s Publication Day!
Publication Days
Festival Fireworks – New Edition
Gathering in the Harvest
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Hoof 'n' Horn
Hoof 'n' Horn provides opportunities for students to develop a greater knowledge of the animal science industry and to unite and promote it. Contact Dan Shike for more information.
The Horticulture Club is comprised of members from majors across campus that come together for educational and recreational events. From floral arranging to stomping grapes, this club is an active group with a passion for all things horticulture.
The Hospitality Management Association provides students of any major the opportunity to learn more about the hospitality industry, make contacts within the industry, and provide opportunities to meet new people interested in hospitality.
Illini Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
Illini ACT is an award-winning organization for students who are interested in all aspects of agricultural communications. From networking to exploring career opportunities, Illini ACT offers students a means of contact with professionals in the agricultural communications industry. The club's mission is to stimulate interest in the agricultural communciations profession, promote the interchange of ideas among students and faculty, and provide professional development opportunities for its members.
Contacts: Taylor Ruth and Healther Cupps-Miller
Illini Agricultural Mechanization Club
The Illini Ag Mech Club provides opportunities for students and faculty to become better acquainted, for students to hear and talk with speakers from industry, and for students to work together and with faculty on club projects and activities.
Contacts: Lane Simpson
Illini Algae Club
Students in Illini Algae Club can partner with ABE graduate students to help with projects using algae, to learn laboratory techniques, and help advance current research. The club also helps educate students about the industry and current developments. Beyond the ABE department, the club organizes its members, sometimes in conjunction with other organizations, to facilitate involvement in competitions begging for new projects on both local and national scales. Students are encouraged to join for the learning experience and the opportunity to gain laboratory experience working with relevant systems in algae and bioenergy sustainability.
Contact: Christopher Guida
Illini Dairy Club
The Illini Dairy Club promotes the dairy industry by providing activities for interested people, Cow Olympiad, judging teams, regional meetings, and the PDCA Calf Sale. Find the club on Facebook.
Contact: Phil Cardoso
Illini Equestrians
Illini Equestrians promote interest in the art of horsemanship and expand knowledge and expertise in the fields of equine management and techniques. Also to provide students, staff, and faculty of the U of I that have an interest in horses to meet and enjoy horse-related activities with others having the same interest. Members given a chance to participate in all aspects of planning and managing horse shows and clinics throughout the year.
Contacts: Erica Lemay
Illini Equine Rescue Society
Illinois Equine Rescue Society (I.E.R.S.) raises money and supplies volunteers to local equine rescues and functions as a student outreach group, educating the community on proper equine care. I.E.R.S. also acts in cooperation with local equine rescue agencies to help rehabilitate and facilitate the adoption of rescued horses.
Contacts: Jessica Brady
Illini Foresters
Illini Foresters represents and advances the interests of students of forestry in student affairs and campus activities; promotes fellowship among forestry student faculty and alumni; and furthers students' professional development.
Contacts: Connor Sible
Illini Poultry Club
The objective of the Illini Poultry Club is to provide social, academic, and professional events and activities for anyone interested in poultry and other avian species and to provide further knowledge and understanding of poultry science and the poultry industry through these activities.
Contacts: Kayla Kauffman and Jeremy Stutchman
Illini Pullers
Illini Pullers' main objective is to design and manufacture a 1/4-scale pulling tractor for the ASABE International Student Design Competition held annually in Peoria, Illinois. The competition lets students strengthen the knowledge learned in class and apply it in a real-world setting, preparing for career successes. As a team member, one can focus on design and manufacturing, business operations, or both. Students gain invaluable hands-on experience as well as sharpen their time-management and problem-solving skills. Check Illini Pullers out on Facebook.
Contacts: Jason Pike and Alan Hansen
Illini Urban Farmers
The mission of the Illini Urban Farmers organization is to provide hands-on learning experiences through speakers, research, industry linked design projects, and community outreach that will professionally and personally develop all students and others involved with the organization in implementing sustainable urban agriculture.
Contacts: IUF-Prez@gmail.com and Paul Davidson
Illini Wildlife and Conservation
The Illini Wildlife and Conservation Club is for students interested in wildlife care, conservation, and wildlife and exotic veterinary medicine. The club schedules speakers ranging from veterinarians to primatologists for their monthly meetings and hosts events such as wet labs at the veterinary hospital. The club also takes trips once a semester to locations in the Midwest such as St. Louis Zoo and the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Indiana. Check them out on Facebook
Contact: Jessie Birckelbaw
Meat Science Club
The Meat Science Club enhances educational opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in the meat and animal science industries. Students participate in competitive events on and off campus, which extends their knowledge of the industry. The club also provides a connection between students and various employment and professional development opportunities.
Contact: Ben Peterson
Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences
Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) promotes leadership development, enhances academic skills, facilitates networking, and fosters diversity in the food, agricultural, and related sciences. Check out MANRRS on Facebook.
Contacts: Hugo Calderon and Jesse Thompson
National Agri-Marketing Association
The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) provides meaningful opportunities for students to practice their managerial skills (planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and controlling) and demonstrate their leadership abilities. The organization has regular professional chapter meetings, seminars, and social events. These meetings provide students the opportunity to become highly visible as prospects for employment after graduation.
Contact: Caitlin McClure
Off Road Illini
Off Road Illini is the University of Illinois Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Mini-Baja Team. The team designs, builds, and races a single-seat off-road car in the SAE collegiate competition series. Off Road Illini provides an excellent source of hands-on knowledge of basic engineering principles, with the reward of the creation of a car by the end of the school year. Find them on Facebook.
Contact: Off Road Illini
Pre-Vet Club
Pre Vet club provides resources and opportunities for students interested in veterniary medicine to gain valuable experience. Activities include monthly meetings with lectures related to veterinary medicine, shadowing programs, social activities and fundraising. Find us them on Facebook
Contacts: Tori Daniels
Production Animal Club
Production Animal Club is for students looking to gain more experience with production animals such as sheep, cattle, swine, and poultry. No experience is necessary - experience will be provided through participation in the club! This club is not just for pre-vet students.
Contact: Annie Ryan
Red Bison
Red Bison is the University of Illinois’ student organization for ecological restoration. Moreover, we’re one of the ONLY restoration-focused student groups in the whole Midwest!
Contact: redbison.rso@gmail.com
Rodeo Club
Rodeo Club promotes rodeo on a collegiate level and increases interest in the sport, as well as allow the students to participate in rodeo events. Check themout on Facebook.
Contacts: Allison Tregoning and Jocelyn Delhotal
Sigma Alpha
Sigma Alpha is a professional agricultural sorority that promotes scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship among its members. The sorority was founded in 1978 at the Ohio State University by five women who wanted an alternative to the social Greek sorority system. Sigma Alpha has become a national organization of more than 50 chapters and more than 2,200 members have been initiated. Sigma Alpha is an affiliate of American Agri-Women.
Contact: Ali Nation
Student Dietetic Association
The Student Dietetic Association is the advocate of the dietetic option in Food Science and Human Nutrition, serving the students and local community through promotion of optimal nutrition, health, and well-being.
Contact: U of I Student Dietetic Association
Soil and Water Conservation Society
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign student chapter of the National Soil and Water Conservation Society works to educate students on the conservation and sustainable management of soil and water resources. Also known as the Illini Soil Judgers, the organization provides students with hands-on experience in soil and water conservation and opportunities to meet with professionals in the field.
Contact: illinisoiljudging@gmail.com
Students for Enviornmental Concerns
Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS) is a registered student organization of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as well as a student program of the University YMCA. SECS promotes environmental action on campus by either spearheading campaigns ourselves or collaborating with other organizations on projects that lead to a greener Earth. Come join us every Wednesday at 6:30 PM at the University YMCA located on Wright Street in Champaign.
The Green Observer
The Green Observer is the only environmental publication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is a magazine that is completely student-run and is open to all students interested in environmental issues, journalism, illustration, graphic design, and web design. We publish four issues per year that include articles about local environmental concerns, environmental classes and RSOs, tips for environmentally-conscious lifestyles, recycled crafts, and much more. The Green Observer meets every Monday at 5:30pm at the University YMCA
The Wildlife Society
The Wildlife Society's University of Illinois Student Chapter is comprised of students interested in promoting wildlife conservation and is open to all students here at the University of Illinois. Goals of the organization include providing opportunities to gain experience and knowledge about wildlife biology, conservation, and management, and fostering campus and community awareness of wildlife issues. See the Organization's bulletin board in the first floor West hallway of Turner Hall.
Teachers4Creatures
Teachers 4 Creatures is dedicated to educating and interacting with the local community and schools to increase knowledge about companion animals. Five committees focus on different aspects of the companion animal field, which include anti-breed discrimination, puppy mill education, exotic animals, dog bite prevention, animal-assisted activities, and feline overpopulation. Visit the club's Facebook page and Instagram for more information on upcoming events.
Contacts: Rebecca Back
US Green Building Council Student Chapter
USGBC Students-UIUC is a registered student organization, whose goal is to advance US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) mission to move towards a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. We are officially affiliated with the USGBC, the governing committee for the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program. USGBC is helping advance spaces that are better for the environment and healthier for us to live, work and play in and remains a key driving force in the green building sector. USGBC Students-UIUC has monthly meetings that focus on current topics on green building concepts from a variety of disciplines.
Contact: usgbcstudents.uiuc@gmail.com
Contacts & Help Graduate Students
ACES Academy of Teaching Excellence
Teaching Matters
Grading and Academic Records
Advising Guide
Developing Courses
128 Mumford Hall
1301 West Gregory Drive
ACES-Academics@illinois.edu
ACES Career Services
Suite 115, ACES Library, Information, and Alumni Center
1101 South Goodwin Avenue
Contact ACES
© University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Wikipedia pages with incorrect protection templates, 1946 births, Living people,
People from Mount Airy, North Carolina
The Citadel Bulldogs football coaches
High school football coaches in the United States
Maryland Terrapins football coaches
Murray State Racers football coaches
People from Carroll County, Virginia
Radford University alumni
Virginia Tech Hokies football coaches
Virginia Tech Hokies football players
Frank Beamer
File:Frank Beamer.jpg
Beamer at age 59
Sport(s)
(1946-10-18) October 18, 1946 (age 73)
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Maryland (GA)
The Citadel (DL)
The Citadel (DC)
Murray State (DC)
Head coaching record
0–1 (I–AA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
1 OVC (1986)
3 Big East (1995–1996, 1999)
4 ACC (2004, 2007–2008, 2010)
5 ACC Coastal Division (2005, 2007–2008, 2010–2011)
AFCA Coach of the Year (1999)
Associated Press Coach of the Year (1999)
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award (1999)
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (1999)
George Munger Award (1999)
Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (1999)
Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1999)
Joseph V. Paterno Coach of the Year Award (2010)[1]
3x Big East Coach of the Year (1995–1996, 1999)
2x ACC Coach of the Year (2004–2005)
Frank Beamer (born October 18, 1946) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Virginia Tech, a position he has held since 1987. From 1981 to 1986, Beamer served as the head coach at Murray State University. He is currently the winningest active coach and longest tenured coach in Division I FBS.
Early life and playing career Edit
Beamer was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina,[2] grew up in Fancy Gap, Virginia, went to high school in Hillsville, Virginia, and earned 11 varsity letters in high school as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He then attended Virginia Tech and was a starting cornerback for three years on the football team, playing in the 1966 and 1968 Liberty Bowls. He graduated in 1969 and attended Radford University for graduate school while serving as an assistant football coach at Radford High School.
Coaching career Edit
Beamer's college coaching experience began in 1972, when he became a graduate assistant for the University of Maryland, College Park. After one season, he became an assistant coach at The Citadel under Bobby Ross. He spent seven seasons at The Citadel, the last two as the defensive coordinator. He moved on to become the defensive coordinator at Murray State University in 1979 under Mike Gottfried. After two seasons, he was promoted to head coach and compiled a record of 42–23–2 (.642) in six years. On December 22, 1986, Beamer was hired as the head coach at Virginia Tech. Beamer was to replace Bill Dooley, whose nine-year tenure was the most successful in terms of total wins and winning percentage in school history. Beamer signed a four-year contract worth $80,000 annually. Virginia Tech's new athletic director, Dale Baughman, who was hired to replace Dooley in that capacity, received criticism for hiring Beamer. "Some people have questioned this decision because he is not a big name," Baughman said at the time. "But it's a sound decision, and I'm standing by it."[3]
Beamer took over a Virginia Tech football program that was largely unsuccessful in its first century, having reached only six bowl games to that point. Beamer has since built the Hokies into a perennially ranked team.One of his biggest successes was a winning record against the sec(40-27). In 25 years at the helm of VT, his overall record is 209–98–2 (.680), making him far and away the winningest coach in school history. His teams have made 19 consecutive bowl appearances, and Beamer has gone 8–11 in those 19 bowls, including 1–5 in BCS bowls and 1–1 in BCS-precursor Bowl Alliance bowls. During the bowl streak, Beamer has amassed a record of 185–58 (.761).
Head coach Beamer's total compensation before bonuses for the 2012 season will be $2,288,204, this includes his salary, privileges & car, a retention incentive, and additional income from sponsors including Nike & other marketing rights.
During Beamer's tenure at Virginia Tech, the program has evolved from independent status to a member of the Big East Conference to a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. His teams have won three Big East championships and four ACC titles. Beamer has been named the Big East Coach of the Year three times, in 1995, 1996, and 1999. In 1999, he won a number of national coach of the year honors when he led Virginia Tech to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl, where they lost a bid for the national championship to Florida State. Beamer was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2004, his first year competing in the conference. He repeated as ACC Coach of the Year in 2005 while leading his team to the ACC Coastal Division title and an appearance in the inaugural ACC Championship Game. His team was also given the Fall Sportsmanship Award in its inaugural season in the ACC.[4]
Frank Beamer is currently the winningest active coach in Division I FBS.[5]
Beamerball Edit
File:Frank Beamer takes the field.jpg
During Beamer's tenure at Virginia Tech, putting points on the scoreboard has become a full team effort with the offensive, defensive and special teams units. Often when the team scores one or more non-offensive touchdowns, the style of play is described as "Beamerball". Since Beamer's first season in 1987, a player at every position on the defensive unit has scored at least one touchdown, and 35 different players have scored touchdowns on Virginia Tech's special teams.[6]
Personal life Edit
File:Fancygap.jpg
Beamer is married to the former Cheryl Oakley and has two children, Shane and Casey. Shane played football at Virginia Tech and was a member of the 1999 team that advanced to Sugar Bowl to play for the national championship. He is currently the associate head coach and running backs coach alongside his father at Virginia Tech.[7]
In July 2006, Beamer and his wife, Cheryl joined with Virginia publishers Mascot Books to publish their first children's book Yea, It's Hokie Game Day!
In 1954, when Beamer was seven years old, he used a push broom to help keep a pile of burning trash in place. When the job was done he returned the broom to the garage, not knowing that its bristles were still smoldering. A spark ignited a nearby can of gasoline, that exploded in front of him. His 11-year old brother, Barnett, saved him by rolling him around on the ground, but Frank was left with burns on the right side of his neck, chest and his shoulders. Over the next few years dozens of skin grafts left him with permanent scarring.
Beamer is also a direct descendant of Floyd Allen and the notorious Allen clan, the fierce mountain men who shot up the Carroll County, Va. courthouse in a spasm of violence in 1912 that left five people dead, including the judge, prosecutor and county sheriff. This bit of Beamer's family history helps explain why he was such a powerful voice in Blacksburg after the Virginia Tech massacre, after which he said the important thing was not to allow the act of violence to define the university. “We can’t let one person destroy what goes on here every day, the caring, the thoughtfulness. We can’t let one person destroy that.” ("Tempered Steel: How Frank Beamer Got That Way")
Head coaching record Edit
Bowl/playoffs
Coaches#
AP°
Murray State Racers (Ohio Valley Conference) (1981–1986)
1981 Murray State 8–3 5–3 T–2nd 9
1982 Murray State 4–7 2–5 T–5th
1983 Murray State 7–4 4–3 4th
1984 Murray State 9–2 5–2 T–2nd 13
1985 Murray State 7–3–1 5–2 T–2nd 17
1986 Murray State 7–4–1 6–1 T–1st L NCAA Division I–AA First Round 18
Murray State: 42–23–2 27–16 AP rankings from NCAA Division I–AA Poll
Virginia Tech Hokies (NCAA Division I-A Independent) (1987–1990)
1987 Virginia Tech 2–9
1989 Virginia Tech 6–4–1
1990 Virginia Tech 6–5 25
Virginia Tech Hokies (Big East Conference) (1991–2003)
1991 Virginia Tech 5–6 1–0 ‡
1992 Virginia Tech 2–8–1 1–4 ‡
1993 Virginia Tech 9–3 4–3 4th W Independence 20 22
1994 Virginia Tech 8–4 5–2 2nd L Gator† 24
1995 Virginia Tech 10–2 6–1 T–1st W Sugar† 9 10
1996 Virginia Tech 10–2 6–1 T–1st L Orange† 12 13
1997 Virginia Tech 7–5 5–2 2nd L Gator
1998 Virginia Tech 9–3 5–2 T–2nd W Music City 19 23
1999 Virginia Tech 11–1 7–0 1st L Sugar† 3 2
2000 Virginia Tech 11–1 6–1 2nd W Gator 6 6
2001 Virginia Tech 8–4 4–3 T–3rd L Gator 18 18
2002 Virginia Tech 10–4 3–4 T–4th W San Francisco 14 18
2003 Virginia Tech 8–5 4–3 4th L Insight
Virginia Tech Hokies (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2004–present)
2004 Virginia Tech 10–3 7–1 1st L Sugar† 10 10
2005 Virginia Tech 11–2 7–1 1st (Coastal) W Gator 7 7
2006 Virginia Tech 10–3 6–2 2nd (Coastal) L Chick-fil-A 18 19
2007 Virginia Tech 11–3 7–1 1st (Coastal) L Orange† 9 9
2008 Virginia Tech 10–4 5–3 T–1st (Coastal) W Orange† 14 15
2009 Virginia Tech 10–3 6–2 2nd (Coastal) W Chick-fil-A 10 10
2010 Virginia Tech 11–3 8–0 1st (Coastal) L Orange† 15 16
2011 Virginia Tech 11–3 7–1 1st (Coastal) L Sugar† 17 21
2012 Virginia Tech 7–6 4–4 4th (Coastal) W Russell Athletic
Virginia Tech: 216–104–2 114–41 ‡ The Big East did not begin full round–robin play until 1993
National championship Conference title Conference division title
†Indicates BCS bowl, Bowl Alliance or Bowl Coalition game. #Rankings from final Coaches' Poll.
°Rankings from final AP Poll.
College football portal
List of college football coaches with 200 wins
↑ "Coach Frank Beamer reflects on his place amongst all-time greats". Washington Post. 20 December 2010. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/hokies-journal/2010/11/coach_frank_beamer_reflects_on.html.
↑ "Frank Beamer: Head Football Coach". Hokie Sports. Virginia Tech. http://www.hokiesports.com/staff/beamer.html. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
↑ Smith, Tim. "Beamer realizes dream to coach Virginia Tech," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 24, 1986. Page D3.
↑ "Football :: Frank Beamer". hokiesports.com. http://www.hokiesports.com/staff/beamer.html. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
↑ "Coach Frank Beamer reflects on his place amongst all-time greats". washingtonpost.com. 2010-11-27. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/hokies-journal/2010/11/coach_frank_beamer_reflects_on.html. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
↑ http://www.hokiesports.com/football/notes/20111022.pdf "2011 VT Football Game Notes"
↑ [2] 2009 OVC Football Media Guide
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frank Beamer.
Virginia Tech profile
Frank Beamer at the College Football Data Warehouse
v · d · eMurray State Racers head football coaches
Irby Koffman (1924)
Carlisle Cutchin (1925–1930)
Ray Morgan (1931)
Roy Stewart (1932–1940)
Jim Moore (1941)
No team (1943)
Jim Moore (1946–1947)
Fred Faurot (1948–1955)
Jim Cullivan (1956–1959)
Don Shelton (1960–1966)
Bill Furgerson (1967–1977)
Mike Gottfried (1978–1980)
Frank Beamer (1981–1986)
Mike Mahoney (1987–1992)
Houston Nutt (1993–1996)
Denver Johnson (1997–1999)
Joe Pannunzio (2000–2005)
Matt Griffin (2006–2009)
Chris Hatcher (2010– )
v · d · eVirginia Tech Hokies head football coaches
E. A. Smyth (1892–1893)
Joseph Massie (1894)
Art C. Jones (1895–1896)
Charles Firth (1897)
J. Lewis Ingles (1898)
James Morrison (1899)
Eugene Davis (1900)
A. B. Morrison, Jr. (1901)
R. R. Brown (1902)
Charles Augustus Lueder (1903)
John C. O'Connor (1904)
Sally Miles (1905–1906)
C. R. Williams (1907)
R. M. Brown (1908)
Branch Bocock (1909–1910)
L. W. Riess (1911)
Jack E. Ingersoll (1916)
Charles A. Bernier (1917–1919)
Stanley Sutton (1920)
B. C. Cubbage (1921–1925)
Andy Gustafson (1926–1929)
Orville Neale (1930–1931)
Henry Redd (1932–1940)
James Kitts (1941)
Herbert McEver & Sumner D. Tilson (1942)
No team (1943–1944)
Herbert McEver (1945)
James Kitts (1946–1947)
Robert McNeish (1948–1950)
Frank Moseley (1951–1960)
Jerry Claiborne (1961–1970)
Charlie Coffey (1971–1973)
Jimmy Sharpe (1974–1977)
Bill Dooley (1978–1986)
Frank Beamer (1987– )
v · d · eCurrent head football coaches of the Atlantic Coast Conference
Steve Addazio (Boston College)
Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
Jimbo Fisher (Florida State)
Randy Edsall (Maryland)
Dave Doeren (NC State)
Scott Shafer (Syracuse)
Jim Grobe (Wake Forest)
Coastal Division
David Cutcliffe (Duke)
Paul Johnson (Georgia Tech)
Al Golden (Miami)
Larry Fedora (North Carolina)
Paul Chryst (Pittsburgh)
Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech)
Mike London (Virginia)
Note: Pittsburgh and Syracuse join the conference on July 1, 2013
Frank Beamer – championships, awards, and honors
v · d · eAFCA Division I FBS Coach of the Year winners
1935: Waldorf
1936: Harlow
1937: Mylin
1938: Kern
1939: Anderson
1940: Shaughnessy
1941: Leahy
1942: Alexander
1943: Stagg
1944: Widdoes
1945: McMillin
1946: Blaik
1947: Crisler
1948: Oosterbaan
1949: Wilkinson
1950: Caldwell
1951: Taylor
1952: Munn
1953: Tatum
1954: Sanders
1955: Daugherty
1956: Wyatt
1957: Hayes
1958: Dietzel
1959: Schwartzwalder
1960: Warmath
1961: Bryant
1962: McKay
1963: Royal
1964: Broyles & Parseghian
1965: Prothro
1966: Cahill
1967: Pont
1968: Paterno
1969: Schembechler
1970: McClendon & Royal
1974: Teaff
1975: Kush
1976: Majors
1977: James
1979: Bruce
1980: Dooley
1981: Ford
1983: Hatfield
1984: Edwards
1985: DeBerry
1987: MacPherson
1988: Nehlen
1989: McCartney
1990: Ross
1991: B. Lewis
1992: Stallings
1993: Alvarez
1994: Osborne
1995: Barnett
1996: Br. Snyder
1997: Carr
1998: Fulmer
1999: Beamer
2000: Stoops
2001: Coker & Friedgen
2002: Tressel
2003: Carroll
2004: Tuberville
2006: Grobe
2007: Mangino
2008: Whittingham
2009: Patterson
2010: C. Kelly
2011: Miles
2012: B. Kelly
v · d · eAssociated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award winners
1998: Snyder
2001: Friedgen
2002: Ferentz
2003: Saban
v · d · ePaul "Bear" Bryant Award winners
1988: Holtz
1993: Bowden
1994: Brooks
1998: Bi. Snyder
2001: Coker
2005: Brown
2006: Petersen
2010: Chizik
2011: Gundy
2012: O'Brien
v · d · eBobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award winners
1982: MacIntyre
1984: Wacker
1986: Sheridan
1989: Curry
1991: Welsh
1992: Robinson
1994: Goldsmith
1996: Sutton
1997: Price
2000: O'Leary
2004: Johnson
2011: Swinney
v · d · eEddie Robinson Coach of the Year winners
1964: Parseghian
1970: Agase
1971: Devaney
1983: Schnellenberger
2004: Meyer
2005: Weis
2006: Schiano
v · d · eGeorge Munger Award winners
2002: Willingham
2008: Leach
v · d · eWalter Camp Coach of the Year Award winners
1970: Blackman
1974: Switzer
1976: Burns
1978: Powers
1979: Mackovic
1981: Sherrill
1982: Stovall
1983: White
1984: Morrison
1991: B. Bowden
1993: T. Bowden
2010: Kelly
Name Beamer, Frank
Short description American college football player, college football coach
Date of birth October 18, 1946
Place of birth Mount Airy, North Carolina, United States
Retrieved from "https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Frank_Beamer?oldid=127940"
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Leading independent distributor of Pro Audio, Music Creation, and Musical Instrument products
23dB Productions Launches New Studio Employing Connectivity Solutions from Focusrite
Posted byAMS Admin September 14, 2019 November 14, 2019 Posted inFocusriteTags:Focusrite
After five years spent building a successful and respected brand for its work in music production, live-sound recording and mixing, and podcast production, 23dB Productions now has a new studio facility in Ft. Lee, New Jersey. A backbone of their workflow is their arsenal of Focusrite interfaces: the ISA Two microphone preamp; multiple Clarett 8Pre Thunderbolt audio interfaces; the Scarlett OctoPre eight-channel mic preamp; and a highly portable Scarlett 2i2 interface. No matter what the project is, in the studio, on the road or on location, Focusrite is how 23dB Productions – and its co-owners Fela Davis (Above Left) and Denis Orynbekov (Above Right) – connect to the world.
There’s plenty to connect with. Since they began in 2014, 23dB Productions’ portfolio has grown to be sizable and diverse. It includes The Art of Music Tech, a video web series interviewing legendary engineers, producers, and musicians such as Leslie Ann Jones, Jeff Bova, and Matt Knobel, among others. They’ve also mixed live and in the studio for such acclaimed and diverse acts as Swiss Chris, Ron Carter, Jose Feliciano, Meshell Ndegeocello and Christian McBride, for whom they also now produce the Low Down podcast and show on Sirius XM Radio’s Real Jazz channel. Their mobile recording services have been deployed at Live Nation NYC venues Music Hall of Williamsburg and Bowery Ballroom, and they’re involved with archiving for the Jazz Museum’s oral-history initiative Harlem Speaks, an interview series whose guests have included bassist Reggie Workman, historian and scholar Dan Morgenstern, writer Stanley Crouch, and NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
With that kind of client range, sonic quality and reliable performance are critical, and Focusrite provides plenty of both for 23dB Productions. “The Clarett interfaces are fantastic, both as mic pre’s and as converters,” says Orynbekov, who has recorded, mixed and mastered tracks for MTV’s Real World Explosion, PBS Roadtrip Nation, and Best In Ink on Oxygen. “It lets us operate at 24/96 when we choose to, and we’re able to run two or three sets of monitors through it. It’s our main interface with the Logic software we use for recording and editing.” Outside the studio, the Scarlett 2i2 is a lightweight but powerful portable interface for remote projects, including recent multitrack projects for Atlantic Records. “We’ve been using Focusrite gear now for a little over three years, and it’s changed how we work,” says Davis. “We have access to the same great mic pre’s and converters in the studio and on location, which means we have consistently great-sounding results on every project. Compared to what we had been using before, everything now is so much easier with Focusrite, because the sound is always right there, you don’t have to work to get it, so we’re more productive. Focusrite has been as good for our business as it has been for our sound.”
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CARB Compliant Parts and E.O. Search
Executive Order D-590
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Executive order D-590 was approved by the California Air Resource Board on June 24, 2005 for emissions compliance and installation on vehicles in New York and California. This executive order approved parts marts manufactured by S&B Filters /.
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Approval Details
This Executive Order approved the specified parts on on June 24, 2005.
As of Saturday, January 18th, 2020 this Executive Order has not been overturned or superceeded.
Approved Parts
75-1530-0 2002-2003 Dodge Ram 5.9L
This Executive Order may be listed as:
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Gophers' Tenacious Defense Paves Way to Win Over Scranton
Scranton (11-4, LC 3-1) 33 40 73
Goucher (4-11, LC 1-3) 41 40 81
Pts: Ethan Danzig - 19
Reb: John Vitkus - 5
Ast: 4 Players (#02, #12, #22, #41) - 4
Pts: Chris Outing - 19
Reb: Chris Outing - 7
Ast: Chris Outing - 7
TOWSON, MD – The Goucher men's basketball team toppled Scranton University for the first time in program history with an 81-73 win at home in the Decker SRC Arena Saturday afternoon.
Four Goucher players scored in double digits with senior Chris Outing leading the way with 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Outings performance with seven assists eclipses a career-high of five (1/13/16) in which he had against Moravian last season.
Also in double digits were seniors Jesse Mondry and Tre Galloway III with 18 and 15 points, respectively. Galloway also collected six rebounds for the Gophers.
Freshman Dwayne Morton distributed the ball for four helpers in the game to join his six points. Fellow freshman Keon Butler played a key role on defense, collecting three steals and creating chaos amongst the Royal players.
Junior Ethan Danzig, with 19 points and four assists, led the Royals. Senior John Vitkus paced the team with five rebounds.
Goucher's defense came out of the gate with tenacity and created chaos within the Royal's offense causing turnovers and poor shot selection.
The Gophers held the lead for the opening 10 minutes of the game, before relinquishing it to Scranton briefly, and jumping back out front with 9:44 to go in the first half.
By the intermission, the Gophers created an eight-point cushion over the Royals, 41-33.
Scranton came out of the break and grabbed the lead, 48-47, with 14:36 to go, but Goucher quickly snagged the lead away again a minute later on an Outing layup.
The Gophers did not surrender the lead for the remainder of the game, riding hot shooting.
Goucher closed the game 81-73 to earn their first Landmark win of the season.
Coach's Thoughts:
"This is a great team win. I'm very proud of our effort and the contributions from our entire team on both ends of the floor"
The Gophers remain at home and end their three-game homestand against Catholic University at 7PM. Goucher has failed to top Catholic in the last four meetings and is 13-45 overall. The last Gophers victory over the Landmark foe came during the 2013-14 season, 78-71.
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Alpharetta Law Firm
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Diesel Jeans Company Files For Bankruptcy
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Top Bankruptcy & Divorce Attorneys in Alpharetta
myATLlaw, Slipakoff & Slomka is an Alpharetta Law Firm comprised of both Bankruptcy attorneys and Family Law lawyers located in Alpharetta, GA. We have been helping people just like you for over 25 years. With years of experience serving Metropolitan Atlanta, myATLlaw decided to expand their services by adding “brick in mortar” offices to better support the needs of its clients. One of our newest additions has been to open the office in downtown Alpharetta. Where ever you may be located in Atlanta, chances are we have a convenient location for you. At myATLlaw’s Alpharetta Bankruptcy and Family Law Office, you will now have access to professional, kind and helpful service you need while considering your options with either divorce or debt solutions. At myATLlaw, Slipakoff & Slomka, we have been there ourselves before so we know how it feels. We really want to help you get your life back. Contact the Bankruptcy Attorneys and Divorce Attorneys in Alpharetta, GA today to find out what we can do for you.
In the 1830s, the Cherokee people in Georgia and elsewhere in the South were forcibly relocated to the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) under the Indian Removal Act. Pioneers and farmers later settled on the newly vacated land, situated along a former Cherokee trail stretching from the North Georgia mountains to the Chattahoochee River. One of the first permanent landmarks in the area was the New Prospect Camp Ground (also known as the Methodist Camp Ground), located beside a natural spring near what is now downtown Alpharetta. It later served as a trading post for the exchanging of goods among settlers. The city’s name is a variation of a fictional Indian girl, Alfarata, in a 19th-century song, “The Blue Juniata”. -wikipedia
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Mon to Sat – 9:00am to 6:00pm
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French, 11 results 11
Secretariat Records, 159 results 159
International Institute of Intellectual Co-operation, 10 results 10
Archives and Documentation of International Organizations, 3 results 3
UNDP, 49 results 49
UNESCO Research Centre on Social and Economic Development in Southern Asia, 3 results 3
Regional Centre for the Training of Educational Planners, Administrators and Supervisors, 3 results 3
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, 3 results 3
International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (proposed), 2 results 2
Indian Institute of Technology, 1 results 1
UNESCO. Participation Programme, 1 results 1
Fondation Rhône-Poulenc (France), 1 results 1
Asia and the Pacific, 169 results 169
Netherlands, 1 results 1
Pakistan, 1 results 1
Iran, Islamic Republic, 1 results 1
Indonesia, 1 results 1
Welcome India
FR PUNES AG 1-IICI-A-III-43
Telegram from the Ministry of Education of India to Dr. Chakravarty, The Hague, informing that credentials and President's full powers were posted and authorising to sign the Convention...only if provision for ratifications clause exists
Telegramme from the Ministry of Education, India.
Telegram from the Ministry of Education of India to UNESCO informingthat Dr. N.P. Chakravarty was appointed India's Delegate to the Intergovernmental Conference for Protection of Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
Telegram from the Ministry of Education, India.
Note of the Ministry of Education of India to the Director-General of UNESCO informing that Mr. Narenda Singh, Second Secretary or Mr. S. Sinha, First Secretary of the Indian Embassy at The Hague will attend the Intergovernmental Conference...
Note of the Ministry of Education, India.
Instrument de ratification par l'Inde de la Convention et du protocole pour la protection des biens culturels en cas de conflit armé
Lettre en date du 4 juin 1958 transmettant l'instrument.
Instrument de ratification par l'Inde de la Convention et du Protocole
File contains instrument of ratification and letter of transmission from the India Government dated 4 June 1958.
Radiogram from the Ministry of Education of India notifying that B.N. Lokur, Indian Delegate is invested with powers to sign the Universal Copyright Convention
Annex II to the Agreement on Technical Assistance between Unesco and the Government of India
Regional Centre for the Training of Educational Planners, Administrators and Supervisors, New Delhi
Agreement concerning the modification of the original structure of the Centre
The Agreement is the yellow copy, unsigned.
Statement by the Government of India concerning its participation in UNESCO Book Coupon scheme as Purchaser of Book Coupons and as Supplier of Books and Publications of learned societies and universities for a period of nine months
Conférence internationale des fouilles - Documentation - Indes
Adhésion par l'Inde - International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)
Adhesion by India.
Participation programme Project 4926 - Meeting of teachers and experts to discuss educational methodes most likely to develop understanding of the Cultures in different regions, to be held in 1960 …$ 2,000 - Ref. Ed/890.182
Programme of participation - Special Agreement - Project 2.32.3 (PP-1961/62) BMS/9/97 - "One expert in marine biology for one year as Curator of the International Collections at the Indian Ocean Biological Centre"
Participation programme 1961-1962 - Project 1.1512.6 (PP) 1961-62 Code 090 BMS/9/97 - One expert for education for international understanding for 12 months
Participation programme 1961-1962 - Project 5.131.4 - Ref. MC/46/17/1805 - Regional Workshop on the Production of Low-cost Visual Aids
Project 4930 - Organization of Orient - Occident Week in India …$ 3,000 Ref. MCR/912.974 of 25 May 1960
Participation programme - Project 4724 - Asia Theatre Institute - Equipment $ 2.000 - Financial aid for meetying, $ 500 - Four study grants ( $7.500) - Ref. AIE/829.597
Participation programme - Project 3723 - Research Centre on the Social Implication of Industrialization in Southern Asia - Agreement with the Government of India
Project No. 5523 - Ref. MC/795.239 - Equipment up to the value of $ 4,400 - Fellowship: Unesco contribution: $ 600
First addendum to the Plan of Operations for the re-organization and expansion of the teaching of science to students throughout the school stage in India
File contains a copy and a signed original First Addendum. The Addendum follows on the 1967 Plan of Operations.
Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur - Plan of operation (IND-11)
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-293-3-1-2
Central Scientific Instruments Organization
[Plan of Operation - Central Scientific Instruments Organization] - Adjustment advice No. 2
[Plan of Operation - Central Scientific Instruments Organization] - Amendment No. 1
Teacher training for engineering colleges, Warangal (IND-43)
Teacher training for engineering colleges, Warangal (IND-43) - Adjustment advice no. 2
Refining and petrochemical division, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehra Dun (WS.0566.137) (IND.29)
National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology at Ranghi, Bihar
Plan of Operation - National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology at Ranghi, Bihar (WS/1166.93 RIO/PRG)
Mechanical Engineering Research and Development Organization, Durgapur
Postgraduate Agricultural Education and Research Project
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-293-3-12
Postgraduate Agricultural Education and Research Project revision form
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-293-3-12-1
Photocopy.
General Education IND/68/013/I/01/13
India - Instrument of Ratification - Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Paris, 17 October 2003)
Plan of Operation for the Project on "Conservation and Preservation of the Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi and Satdhara" in India (Funds-in-Trust)
1 Instrument de Plan d'opérations
Instrument of accession of India - Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, Ramsar
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-398-398/33-1
Letter of transmission
India - Protocol to Amend the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-398-C-10
Letter of transmission of the Instrument of Accession by India to the Protocol to amend the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat
Instrument de ratification de l'Inde - Convention concernant la protection du patrimoine mondial, culturel et naturel
Seat Agreement between UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of India concerning the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development as a UNESCO Category 1 Institute
Agreement between UNESCO and the Republic of India concerning the Establishment of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences as an International Training Centre
FR PUNES AG 15-IBI-6-2-3-C.50
Part of Archives and Documentation of International Organizations
Conférence permanente des Hautes Etudes internationales. Indes anglaises
FR PUNES AG 1-IICI-K-IV-17
Statement of the Government of India concerning its willingness to participate in the Unesco Coupon Scheme as a purchaser of coupons for the acquisition of scientific material
Note from the Deputy Secretary to the Government of India to the Director-General notifyng that Mr. N.B. Lokur will represent India at the Intergovernmental Conference on Copyright
Inde - Convention universelle sur le droit d'auteur et protocoles I, II et III
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-52-134
Instrument original de ratification.
Convention Universelle sur le Droit d'auteur - Révision - Inde
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-52-B-96
Instrument de Ratification et texte de la Convention. Lettre d'envoi du 7.1.88.
Protocol of a meeting between representatives of the Government of India, Unesco, the Ministry of Higher Education USSR and the Main Board for Economic Relations on Establishing a Higher Institute of Technology, Bombay
India - Full Powers - Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, The Hague, 26 March 1999
Teacher training for engineering colleges, Warangal
Plan of Operation - India - Six Regional Engineering Colleges
Refining and petrochemical division, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehra Dun - Contract between Unesco and l'Institut français du Pétrole, des carburants et lubrifiants (IFP)
Refining and petrochemical division, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehra Dun - Amendment no. 1 (IND-29) May 1968
Plan of Operation - National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology at Ranghi, Bihar (WS/1166.93 RIO/PRG) - Adjustment Advice No. 1 (IND-48) (APS/67-68-3092)
Plan of Operation - National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology at Ranghi, Bihar (WS/1166.93 RIO/PRG) - Adjustment Advice No. 2 (IND-48)
Plan of Operation - Post-graduate education of Engineers (IND. 104)
Postgraduate Agricultural Education and Research Project revision form - Phase II (IND/73/020/A/01/13)
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-293-3-12-A/293/3/13.2
[Postgraduate Agricultural Education and Research Project] Revision
Curriculum Development for Technical Education (IND/77/015/A/01/13)
Exchange of notes between United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Government of India regarding the National Fundamental Education Centre of India - Project no. 1525-090
Exchange of Notes between United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Government of India regarding the establishment of the Asian Theatre Centre - Project no. 4623
Exchange of notes between United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Government of India regarding one on Rural Youth Work - Project no. 1615-090
Participation programme 1961-62 - Project 4.71.2 - Ref. BMS/9/97 - Collection of sets of colour slides, etc. on Western Art for the Gallery of Western Art in the National Museum, worth $ 2,000
Participation programme 1961-62 - Project 4.422.4 - Ref. BMS/9/97 - One expert in Science Museums for three months and $ 2,000 worth of equipment
Participation programme 3.421.3 - 3403 - 090 ED.235.5022 et 22A - Amendement to agreement of 14 May 1963
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-172-34b
Project 5411 (MC/Ch/872.098) - Television with all India
Participation programme project 3.421.3 - 3403 - 090
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-172-34a
Project 5411 Equipment for product, filmstrips
Programme of participation: Microfilm of the manuscripts and historical document kept in India archives and libraries
Participation programme 5.121.12 - 5117 - 090
Agreement concerning new premises of the Regional Office for Science and Technology for South and Central Asia concluded with the Government of India
File contains a copy of the Agreement, attached schedules and a copy of the 1973 Gazette of India, as well as the memorandum on the transfer of the Agreement to the Archives.
Instrument of ratficiation by India - [Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property]
Project 3.52.8-540
FR PUNES AG 8-LEG-A-298-3-a
UNESCO Research Centre on Social and Economic Development in Southern Asia - India
Agreement between Unesco and the Government of the Republic of India
Inspection missions to Asia - Reports: Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, India, Pakistan, Iran, Thailand
FR PUNES AG 8-SEC-CAB-DDG 1-10-DDG 1/13/99
New Delhi Declaration
Copy of Education for All Summit Framework.
Instrument of Ratification by India of the Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific
Memorandum of Agreement on the International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (ITCOocean) between UNESCO-IOC and the Earth System Science Organisation through the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Ministry of Earth Sciences
Agreement on Technical Assistance between UNESCO and the Government of India
Annex I to the Agreement on Technical Assistance between Unesco and the Government of India
Amendment to technical assistance agreement
Statement of the Government of India concerning its willingness to participate in the Unesco Coupon Scheme as a purchaser of coupons usable for the acquisition of films
Full Powers of the Ministry of Education of the Government of India nominating Shri B.N. Lokur as a representative of the Government of India at the Intergovernmental Conference for adoption of an Universal Copyright Convention and authorizing him to sign
Original Instrument. Full Powers.
Pleins pouvoirs pour la conférence de révision de la Convention Universelle sur le Droit d'Auteur, Paris, 5-24 juillet 1971
Instrument original de pleins pouvoirs.
Note of the Ministry of External Affairs to the Director-General of UNESCO informing that Dr. N.P. Chakravarty, former Director General of Archaeology has been appointed India's Delegate to the Intergovernmental Conference...
Original instrumental. Note of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Full Powers of the President of India delivered to Dr. N.P. Chakravarty as the Plenipotentiary and Representative of the Government of India with full Powers to negotiate, conclude and sign the Convention...
Original instrument. English translation.
Plan of operations for the Inter-Regional Seminar on Ground-water in Hard Rocks - Agreement between Unesco and the Government of India
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About the author.
Dublin Decoded tours: art, architecture & history
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Arran Q Henderson
History, Art & Architecture, Dublin & abroad. Also highlighting Dublin walking tours by Arran & Dublin Decoded.
Answers to Italian Renassaince Artists Quiz…
Recently we posted a picture quiz on Italian Renaissance artists. Press that link to have a go? before you read the answer below! Readers simply had to try to identify the artists, and/or their works, using the questions and hints below… Here are the answers!
First section. Proto- Renaissance.
Question #1 What’s the name of the author of this beautiful work, below? and where did he hail from?
#1. This above is a work by Ambrogio Lorezetti, c1290-1348, fro Sienna, in Tuscanny, central Italy. It’s not hard to see below why he’s generally acknowledged as being the first in Italian Art to use true, mathematical linear perspective, something we usually associate with later artists like Paulo Ucello in the, (significantly later) quttrocentro in Florence. Astonishingly, Lorenzetti was much earlier. He was a younger contemporary of Giotto, (c1267-1337), only dying 11 years after Giotto.
Q#2 This work below, (by the same artist as above) what does it depict? Who is kneeling before the Pope.
It’s a another, second work by work by the same Ambrogio Lorezetti, this time showing St Benedict, kneeling in front of the Pope. The, very early use here of mathematical linear perspective is even more marked.
#3- A work by Giotto. Where would you find it?
A#3- In the Scronvegni or Arena Chapel, in Padua, an iconic and in its time, an immensely influential work, now often regarded as a s bridge from the medieval to the early Renaissance in Western Art.
Next section, Quattrocento
#4- This astonishing achievement was the first large dome constructed since antiquity. What is the building? and who was the architect?
A#4- The distinctive dome belongs of course to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the cathedral of Florence. The legendary architect was Filipo Brunelleschi. (1377-1446) He was the first to construct a large dome since antiquity, since the time of the ancient Romans.
Q#5- Who is the sculptor? and who is the subject of, the saint, depicted in this work below?
Answerr to #5: – This is a work by Brunelleschi’s friend and contemporary, the Florentine sculptor Donatello (c1386-1466) It represents St George, in one of the exterior niches in the Orsanmichele, which was the chapel, offices, grain-store and general home, of Florence’s powerful trade guilds. All the guilds had to commission statutes of their different patron saints, and the statues are by some of the greatest sculptors of the age. St George was, and still is, the patron of the Arte dei Corazzai, the gild of armourers. The originals of all the Orsanmichele sculptures (and there are others by for example Andrea Pisano, by Lozenzo Gibertti and by other Florentine greats) have in fact now all been taken to different museums, like the Bargello and the Academia, to protect them from the elements. But you’d hardly know the difference, the replacements in the niches are such perfect replicas.
#6- Another, even more extraordinary work by the same sculptor, Donatello… But who’s the subject? And in what city would you find this monumental masterpiece?
Answer to #6- : The amazing equestrian statue above is another work also by Donatello. It depicts the mercenary general or “condottiere” Gattamelata. It’s in Padua. This, and the equally superb work depicting another condottiere, Bartolomeo Colleoni sculpted by Andrea Verrocchio in Venice, (picture below) are the greatest two equestrian statues to come out of the Renaissance. Large-scale bronze casting, especially of complex shapes like these, is notoriously difficult. So each work represents an amazing technical as well as artistic achievement.
above: not part of our quiz, but another brilliant, huge equestrian statue: Bartolomeo Colleoni. by Andrea Verrocchio, Venice.
Question #7- And which early Italian Renaissance painter is responsible for this work, below?
Answer to #7- This lovely gracious Madonna and child Enthroned, is by Fra Angelico, (1395-1455) the painter and Dominican friar. He painted as part of a whole series of works decorating San Marco in Florence, a complex of church and convent, (the convent is today a museum, and so this work is still there in its original home). It was commissioned and paid for by Cosimo de’ Medici the Elder, and completed sometime c1438-42.
Question #8 -what Florentine quattrocento genius painted this marvel of perspective below, still in situ at the church of Santa Maria Novella?
Answer to #8- Anyone who’s ever arrived in Florence by train will have faced the church of Santa Maria Novella, as they stepped out of the lovely 1920s train station of the same name. The station is directly opposite the church, and named after it. The amazing fresco above is inside: The Holy Trinity, by Massacio, a tragically short-lived but highly influential artist of the quattrocentro.
Question #9- okay, moving on, A little bit later now. There are even more famous work than this one, (work below) by this so-called “third generation” Florentine painter. He painted some of the most instantly recognizable, most iconic images of the Renaissance. By the way that’s his self-portrait on the right, looking straight at you. What’s his name?
Answer to #9:- This is an Adoration of the Magi, a famous work by Sandro Botticelli, painter of even more iconic works Primavera (first image below) and Birth of Venus. (to right)
#10- Here below is a detail, from another work, by the same artist pictured above. But what iconic book of poetry was it designed to illustrate?
Answer to #10:- Well, you already know its another work by Sandro Botticelli. And we’re sure you knew or correctly guessed, the famous book of poetry was Dante’s Inferno, a work that inspired some of the greatest artists in history. I’m a particular, and very long-term fan of the illustrations of 19th century French artist Gustave Doré. Anyway, the work above is by Botticelli. Look at those devils! A truly nasty, vicious, vision of hell!
Question 11- This work (below) was started by one famous Florentine artist, famous both in his own right, but also for leading a studio that contained and trained some of the greatest names of the Renaissance. So two questions here: 11a- Who started this work? and 11b- Who finished it?
Answer 11 We asked you two questions here, firstly, who started this work? The answer is Andrea del Verrochio, who sculpted that second, incredible Bronze horse we mentioned in the extra information to answer number. Verrocchio also ran a studio that contained and trained some of the greatest names of the Renaissance.
We also asked you 11b- Who finished the painting above? The answer to that is Verrocchio’s favored apprentice and sucesssor, Lorenzo de Credi (1459-1537)
Question 12- we spoke above Andrea del Verrochio, whose busy studio trained a whole stable of great artists. This work below was also a collaboration, between the same master, but a different apprentice. Who was this second apprentice, who reputedly painted the angels here below?
Answer to #12: The two angel kneeling on the left, are reputedly, and famously, by a young Leonardo Da Vinci. They almost certainly are by Leonardo, scholars agree. But the story, I think first put about by Georgio Vasari, (who was full of these old canards) says that when the master saw the dazzling work done by his young apprentice, he threw down his brushes, and swore he’d never paint again. That, I think we can safely say, is apocryphal.
Section 3- High Renaissance.
question #13 Okay, pretty confident you either guessed the answer to the last question or more likely, already knew it. So not too worried about giving too much away with this one either. Below is a mature work, an iconic work, by the “apprentice” involved above. As you know it’s in a refectory, a dining room, in an old monastery or priory. But in what city? This is question #13 by the way, – (an aptly numbered 13)
Answer 14: The Last Supper, by Leonardo. It’s in Milan.
#14- and this work, below, in Rome, is by his slightly younger, equally legendary contemporary? Part of a huge, and immensely complex scheme, that took around seven years to complete. There’s a ahem, clue on the image but I decided not to cut it out. If you’re still here, this will be a breeze anyway. Artist and location?
It is of course a detail, one of the Sybyls, from Michelangelo huge series of frescoes on the Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
#15- And two works below, by the third member of the traditional High Renaissance apex trio. Firstly, what is his name?
Answer to #15- The work above and below are of course both by Raphael.
But Question #16- and far more difficult, who was the female subject of this portrait, scion of a powerful dynasty who ruled Milan in Lombardy?
This is Caterina Sforza. A truly formidable woman.
Section 4- Venice.
Question #17- We’ve glanced at the sons of Sienna, Florence and Rome. Let’s not forget the Venetians. This man who painted this beautiful, enigmatic Allegory below came from an entire family of famous Venetian painters, and his brother in law was even Andrea Mantegna. But what’s the name of the artist of this Allegory?
Answer #17: Giovanni Bellini
Question #18 – We all know the patron saint of Venice is St Mark, (whose body the Venetians, not to put too fine a point on it, basically stole from Constantinople! ) Here below is a moment from that famous theft, dignified by this dramatic work “Finding the body of Saint Mark” But who’s the artist?
Answer #18: the artist was Tintoretto.
Question #19- and our Penultimate question and artwork, here by the most famous Venetian painter of them all. He was famous for his use of colour. A certain type of red in women’s hair is even named after him. He exerted a huge influence on later artists, notably Peter Paul Rubens. Here he paints a woman with a mirror, perhaps echoing Jan Van Eyck’s Arnofini Wedding portrait, and also pre-figuring later painters, like Velazquez (and indeed Ireland’s own genius Sir William Orpen). But who was this legendary Venetian artist?
Answer #19: It is of course a work by Titian.
Last work: Baroque.
20- Final work. Last, but very definitely not least, this superb female artist of the 17th century, painting very powerfully in the style of Caravaggio. Preconceptions and social conventions made it almost impossible for women to be painters in the Renaissance or Baroque era, but this woman’s father owned a studio and so she worked alongside him, becoming an accomplished artist in her own right. A thug working for the family studio raped her, but, although clearly marked by the experience, she recovered and prevailed, to become one of the greatest Italian painters of the 17th century.
So, last question- who is the brilliant artist, responsible for this work?
Answer #20: This is Judith and Holofernes, by the brilliant 17th century artist Artemesia Gentilesschi. It depicts the Israelite, the beautiful widow Judith who saved her people by seducing, then decapitating, the besieging general Holofernes.
Hope you enjoyed the pictures, questions, and bits of hints and extra information. No need to leave your answers, but by all means leave a comment, it’s always great to hear from readers.
For people in Dublin, or passing through Dublin, if you’d like to become a real Robert Langton, and do our Dublin Decoded famous “How to Read a Painting” symbol tour at the National Gallery of Ireland, (pictured above) then 2 things are advised.. 1-see the tour spec here. but more crucially 2- sign up for the newsletter, which will alert and advise you each time we run the tour, (usually once a month).
“How to Read a Painting” also bookable as a private event. See you there sometime
Until the next post, all the best!
Dedicated to Emmeline. who always matched, then surpassed her brother in art history. xx
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February 7, 2015 February 10, 2015 Arran HendersonUncategorized
One thought on “Answers to Italian Renassaince Artists Quiz…”
That’s my weekend history of art lesson over. Got quite a few right answers too. I should have known them all though—my mother taught history of art and this was her favourite period.
If you've enjoyed the piece above, please leave a comment, love to hear from you. Cancel reply
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Alumni News : Feb 12, 2018
Art of Love: Ramon and Margaret Raposo
By Marissa Secades
Students often remember Beaty Towers for the luxury of on-suite bathrooms and kitchenettes, but for Ramon and Margaret Raposo, they remember the apartments as the place where their love story began.
Margaret, an English major, and Ramon (BDESF in Design ‘74) moved into Beaty Towers in the fall of 1972.
“Daily, I would walk by the different students in the commons area and say hello to all those I had already met by name,” Margaret said. “The ‘Hi, how are you?’ was for those whose names I did not know. Ray has pointed out to me that he was a ‘Hi, how are you?’ for a few weeks”.
“I arrived fashionably late to a Beaty Towers dance on the night of Oct. 14, a Saturday,” Margaret remembered.
After taking a break, the band started to play again and Ramon asked Margaret to dance.
“We started dancing and he did this dance I wasn’t familiar with. It was called the Penguin, something he had learned in Miami, and seemed quite hip,” she said.
After the dance, the two took a stroll down Museum Road to the Florida State Museum.
“We ended up talking all night, learning all about each other,” Ramon said.
The next day, Margaret returned to the commons area in hopes of running into Ramon again.
“I pretended to read some Shakespeare in the reading room, all while waiting to see if Ray would show up. He finally did and we talked some more,” she said.
Margaret asked Ramon to watch The Poseidon Adventure with her. Ramon happily said yes.
“We continued to date and soon became a couple,” Ramon said. “We dated during our junior and senior years all while living at Beaty Towers, and although it was never easy, our love for each other never wavered.”
They both graduated in June 1974. Ramon moved to New York for a job opportunity while Margaret returned to Virginia. “By January 1975, tired of being apart, we reunited in Miami, and exactly a year after graduating, we got married” Margaret said.
The Raposos have two adult sons, Ryan and Brad, who are both big Gator fans as well.
“We still love the University of Florida and we go back to Gainesville for Homecoming weekend every year. It’s a yearly revival visit to where our UF love story started forty-five years ago,” Ramon said.
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AURORA PRIZE
2019 Aurora Prize Laureate announced as Yazidi activist Mirza Dinnayi
The Stories of the People Close to Us
Submitted by global_publisher_JR on Mon, 10/03/2016 - 13:42
Andreea Tănase is an independent photo journalist from Romania with more than 10 years of experience. Over the course of her professional career she has addressed various topics and explored Romanian life and culture. Tănase has worked for top newspapers and collaborated with major magazines and photo agencies in the country and abroad.
Read more about The Stories of the People Close to Us
100 Armenians Who Changed the World
Submitted by market_publisher_es on Thu, 03/05/2015 - 15:59
Armenians are an ancient nation whose sons and daughters have made quite an impact on the human history. Science, art, politics, finance – you’d be hard pressed to find a field, in which Armenian men and women don’t thrive. Their talents have made our world a much better place, so here are their names for the grateful descendants to remember*!
Read more about 100 Armenians Who Changed the World
Submitted by global_publisher_JR on Fri, 02/05/2016 - 13:07
Harsh winters are rare in Yerevan, and any snow that falls usually melts away quickly. But on those few days when temperatures fall below zero and snow blankets the city, Yerevan turns into a magical set for a winter fairytale. Do enjoy these aerial images of Armenia’s winter wonderland!
Read more about Bird’s Eye View
A Beautiful Place
Submitted by global_publisher_JR on Thu, 03/03/2016 - 11:53
Armenia's Tavush Region, which borders Azerbaijan to the east and Georgia to the north, is one of the country’s greenest: the region is home to 40 percent of Armenia’s forests. With picturesque mountains, deep canyons, a soft climate and architectural monuments sprinkled throughout, the region is rightfully considered one of Armenia’s most beautiful landscapes.
Read more about A Beautiful Place
Armenians Who Rock the World
Most music connoisseurs have heard of Komitas, but Armenians’ musical talents extend way beyond classics. Below is a selection of the world’s coolest Armenian rockers, meticulously prepared by our staff musician. Turn up the volume and enjoy!
Read more about Armenians Who Rock the World
Armenian Treasures
Over the centuries Armenians have had an influence on many a local culture and the world civilization at large. It is difficult to argue the Armenian people’s tremendous potential and their contributions to a wide range of discoveries that have changed the world.
Read more about Armenian Treasures
Underground rivers, traces of ancient eruptions, enormous craters and waters with magical healing powers - the wonders of the Armenian plateau are limitless! Join us as we try to take them all in.
Read more about Set in Stone
Lessons from the past
Submitted by global_publisher_JR on Wed, 11/23/2016 - 09:58
By Rouben Indjikian, Professor at Webster University Geneva
On September 25, 2013 the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia marked the 100th anniversary of its founder Hovhannes Indjikian, a well-known historian. Why should a former colleague who passed away in 1990 be still so honored? Above all because of the heritage of scientific and exemplary human and patriotic values and acts, which he bequeathed to his younger colleagues and all of us.
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Cavemen’s Kingdom
Nature was the chief architect of ancient lodgings on the Armenian plateau, and lava became the first construction material. For thousands of years, the local population dwelled only in caves and grottos. In the meantime, the country’s landscape kept changing as lava destroyed everything in its wake, crossed riverbeds and hunting paths and drove cavemen deeper into their rocky shelters.
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Travel to Armenia: FAQs
Submitted by global publisher on Fri, 11/13/2015 - 01:28
So say you have been persuaded to come visit that most hospitable and breathtaking of countries: Armenia. Now there are practicalities to think about, questions to be answered and concerns to be addressed. All kinds of wonderful travel websites can help you prepare and plan your trip, but you also might want to hear it from the source, that is, from Armenians themselves. Below you will find our answers to the most frequently asked questions about visiting Armenia, with more in this series to come. Sugarcoating free and spoken from experience!
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How Monuments See Us
Submitted by global publisher on Mon, 11/23/2015 - 15:32
We walk by all sorts of statues and monuments every day, our eyes accustomed to the sight. But as we look at them, we don’t always realize that they are looking back at us. Do you ever wonder how a monument sees you? We brought our video drone along for a walk around Yerevan and took some areal shots, getting as close to the statues’ eyes as possible. Here’s what we saw.
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The Photographic Eye of the Beholder
Documentary photography often calls people's attention to issues that tend to get swept under the rug, avoided or purposefully forgotten. Time and again, photographers appeal to our conscience to help nudge us out of shells and comfort zones and into unedited reality.
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The Mountainous Island
The Armenian plateau, also known as the Armenian Highlands, is located in the east of Asia Minor. On the territory of about 400 000 sq. km the Iranian and Anatolian plateaus bumped, forming a mountain chain (a similar fact can be observed in the Pamirs). Although the plateau is indeed named after the Armenian nation, the country itself occupies only a part it.
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Armenian Booze to Enjoy Responsibly
Submitted by global publisher on Tue, 10/13/2015 - 16:15
The British can claim gin and Americans can claim bourbon, but what drinks can Armenians claim? Armenians have been around for so long that it’s hard to know for sure: some common drinks, like wine and beer, may even have their origins in Armenia. Historical records and recent discoveries show that they’ve been produced there for millennia.
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Voices from the Middle Ages
The Armenian miniatures are examples of the Armenian national art of miniature painting from the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and some Armenian colonies. Armenian book miniatures, some examples of which date back to the 6th century, are especially known for their vibrant colors and stylistic diversity. Armenian miniatures are also characterized by exquisite patterns and ornaments. Besides their artistic and historical value, they are a priceless source of information for scholars of Armenian music, theater, ethnography, crafts, agriculture and the history of flora and fauna.
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Nedia partners news
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« Vision for an Austin metro-wide light rail system
Grassroots effort proposes small light rail starter project for an authentic “mobility bond” measure »
Support grows to include urban rail in November “mobility” bond package
J.D. Gins, member of Urban Transportation Commission, at May 10th meeting, argues for recommendation to Austin City Council to include rail transit in November bond package. ARN screenshot from COA video.
On May 7th, Austin voters resoundingly defeated Proposition 1, an effort by “gig” taxi firms Uber and Lyft to exempt themselves from several regulatory measures applying to other taxi services operating in Austin. In response, Uber and Lyft have both suspended their operations in Austin.
An interesting result is that interest has surged in the possibility of an urban rail alternative – mainly focused on an electric light rail transit (LRT) starter line for the Guadalupe-Lamar corridor – being added to a proposed package of “mobility” bond measures this coming November. In a May 12th news segment, for example, KXAN-TV News reporter Chris Sadeghi noted that “As Uber and Lyft leave the conversation on mobility options in Austin, it could provide urban rail the opportunity to re-enter it.”
At its regular meeting of May 10th, the City of Austin’s Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) unanimously passed a resolution presented by board member J.D. Gins (see photo at top of this post) recommending that “the City Council consider rail options including, but not limited to, a minimum operating segment as part of the 2016 bond proposal.” Reporting on this development, KXAN reporter Sadeghi interviewed UTC member Mario Champion. As Sadeghi related, “Because there have been studies and plans already conducted into the feasibility and design of rail projects, Champion said the commission is hopeful the process to getting an election item on the November ballot can move quickly.”
“We could dust off those plans and learn from the community what was good about them and what was not good about them” Champion told the reporter.
Resolution passed by Urban Transportation Commission recommends City Council consider including rail transit in November bond package. Screenshot by ARN from COA PDF. (Click to enlarge.)
Also covering the UTC recommendation for putting rail on the ballot, KEYE-TV News reporter Melanie Torre interviewed Andrew Clements with the Central Austin Community Development Corporation (CACDC). “Clements has been pushing for an urban light rail for years, but where the rail goes is critical to its success” reported Torre. Clements and the CACDC had played a key role in providing information on urban LRT for UTC members.
“All along North Lamar and Guadalupe there’s already density that would support light rail” Clements told Torre, adding “We’ve known since probably the 1970s that’s the best place to put light urban rail first.” Torre explained that “Years down the road, rail construction could expand north toward Rundberg Lane, east down Riverside Drive and south down Pleasant Valley Road.”
According to the KEYE report, CACDC is proposing a first segment that would “span from Crestview Station to Republic Square Park in downtown” at an estimated cost of about $465 million (2016 dollars). (The CACDC route replicates nearly 80% of the “Plan B” proposal described in an October 2014 ARN posting.)
“Even though it’s expensive, the most efficient way is what we need to start dedicating our public right-of-ways to …” Clements insisted. It should be noted, however, that this is a bargain price for such a mobility investment, which could potentially remove as many as 2,700 motor vehicles each peak hour from major arteries in the Guadalupe-Lamar corridor.
The $465 million investment cost also appears eminently affordable, if 50% Federal Transit Administration funding is assumed. Converting CACDC’s 2016 estimate to Year of Expenditure (YOE) dollars would imply a total project investment of $514 million over four years, and a local 50% match of $257 million – a budgetary allotment for Austin commensurate with other major capital investments in recent years.
A May 16th Austin Monitor article by Caleb Pritchard focused on the UTC vote and also put the urban rail possibility in the context of greater emphasis on alternative mobility opportunities, including expanded bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Pritchard notes that a funding package that would include the 2014 Bicycle Master Plan “as well as the construction of high-priority sidewalks around schools and transit stops” was already on the table in the amount of $411 million.
Miller Nuttle, representing Bike Austin, told the Monitor reporter: “I think rail should be a critical part of solving Austin’s long-term transportation crisis. I also think biking and walking are critical, too, and that’s something we can do now given that the plans have been thoroughly publicly vetted. All they need in order to be actualized is capital funding.”
Pritchard also quoted Clements in regard to the merits of CACDC’s $465 million proposal. “Of all the things that are being considered, I think light urban rail will have the most impact on mobility…” Clements stated. “I strongly support the bike master plan and the sidewalk plan, but I think that, at best, those are going to have single-digit impacts on ride-share mode splits. And I believe light urban rail will have the biggest bang for the buck.”
On May 17th, the City’s Zoning and Platting Commission included the UTC’s resolution “calling for funding the bicycle master plan, high priority sidewalks, and corridor plans that increase opportunities for high capacity transit, including the consideration of rail” in citing their basis to approve a resolution “calling on the city council to put a transportation bond proposal on the upcoming November ballot ….” according to a report from Fox 7 TV News.
Dick Kallerman, a longtime leader of the Travis County Sierra Club’s involvement in transportation issues, interviewed by Fox 7 News, suggested that “a better outreach campaign” might help convince more of the public to “get on board” with public transportation .
“If people start thinking in turns of urban, urban living, mass transit it part of it …” said Kallerman. ” If you get in a car it’s a contradiction, if you think you are an urbanite living in a city and you get in a car, it means you really don’t know what urban living is all about.” ■
One possible design for inserting light rail line into Guadalupe St. between W. 29th-W. 38th St. Graphic: Andrew Mayer. (Click to enlarge.)
Posted in Austin light rail issues, Austin urban rail issues, Ballot measure campaign and issues, City of Austin issues, Guadalupe-Lamar corridor, Light rail transit (LRT) | Tagged austin light rail, austin urban rail, Lamar-Guadalupe, light rail transit, rail ballot measure, rail vote campaign, urban rail |
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Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
1After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 2When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem, 3he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him. 4They gathered a large group of people who blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings a of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said. 5Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the terraces b of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.
6He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: 7“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
9Later, when Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces were laying siege to Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah king of Judah and for all the people of Judah who were there:
10“This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? 11When Hezekiah says, ‘The Lord our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria,’ he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst. 12Did not Hezekiah himself remove this god’s high places and altars, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar and burn sacrifices on it’?
13“Do you not know what I and my predecessors have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand? 14Who of all the gods of these nations that my predecessors destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand? 15Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my predecessors. How much less will your god deliver you from my hand!”
16Sennacherib’s officers spoke further against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17The king also wrote letters ridiculing the Lord, the God of Israel, and saying this against him: “Just as the gods of the peoples of the other lands did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand.” 18Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and make them afraid in order to capture the city. 19They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other peoples of the world—the work of human hands.
20King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. 21And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword.
22So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them c on every side. 23Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the Lord and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah. From then on he was highly regarded by all the nations.
Hezekiah’s Pride, Success and Death
24In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.
27Hezekiah had very great wealth and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables. 28He also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, new wine and olive oil; and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks. 29He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God had given him very great riches.
30It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook. 31But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.
32The other events of Hezekiah’s reign and his acts of devotion are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33Hezekiah rested with his ancestors and was buried on the hill where the tombs of David’s descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.
a 4 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac king
b 5 Or the Millo
c 22 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate He gave them rest
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Aug 8, 2019 @ 14:12
‘Game of Thrones’ showrunners ink massive Netflix deal
“Game of Thrones” showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss have signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to write, produce and direct new series and films for the streaming giant, the company said Wednesday.
The contract sees the pair leave HBO after years on “Thrones,” which demolished audience records, scooped an unprecedented number of Emmys for a fictional show, and redefined weekly “event TV.”
“We are thrilled to welcome master storytellers David Benioff and Dan Weiss to Netflix,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, in a statement.
“They are a creative force and have delighted audiences worldwide with their epic storytelling. We can’t wait to see what their imaginations will bring to our members.”
Netflix did not comment on reports in the Hollywood press that the contract, which followed an intense bidding war between major studios, was a “nine-figure deal.”
A figure above $100 million would be in line with deals Netflix has signed with “mega-producers” such as Ryan Murphy (“Glee”) and Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy”).
In a statement of their own, Benioff and Weiss said: “We’ve had a beautiful run with HBO for more than a decade and we’re grateful to everyone there for always making us feel at home.”
“Netflix has built something astounding and unprecedented, and we’re honored they invited us to join them,” they added.
No details have been given on the series and films the pair will create.
But Benioff and Weiss said they shared a love for “the same ’80s movies” and “the same books” as several Netflix executives.
In a totally separate deal, the pair are also working on a trilogy of new “Star Wars” films for Disney’s Lucasfilm.
The payday for Benioff and Weiss comes despite a bumpy final season for “Thrones” that enraged fans around the world, and prompted a petition signed by 1.7 million people for it to be remade with “competent writers.”
The final season however bagged a record 32 Emmy nominations.
Tags: David Benioff, Emmys, Game of Thrones, Ted Sarandos
Comic-Con hits 50: from hotel basement to Hollywood hangout
From Peter Parker's run-in with a radioactive spider to Superman fleeing an exploding Krypton: comic
Quark Henares shares life lessons from Game of Thrones
For the director son of Belo Medical Group founder Vicki Belo and Atom Henares, there's
GoT finale draws staggering 19.3 million viewers
The finale of "Game of Thrones" drew a staggering 19.3 million viewers in the US
‘Now our watch is ended’: history-making ‘Game of Thrones’ wraps
After eight epic years, 47 Emmys, oodles of hanky-panky and two dead dragons, "Game of
Silver Links
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UPDATED: John Hodgman’s Not In GHOSTBUSTERS 3
The comedian offers a hypothetical GHOSTBUSTERS 3 casting scenario featuring himself… but is he just jerking us around?
By Devin Faraci Sep. 15, 2011
UPDATED! John Hodgman took to Twitter to clear shit up:
[blackbirdpie url=“https://twitter.com/#!/hodgman/status/114422057835565056”]
Below is the original article:
John Hodgman was on WFMU’s The Best Show, where he often appears, and he said this:
If you were hypothetically offered a role in Ghostbusters 3… would you take the role? Let’s say you’re [playing] sort of the dissolute son of Egon, the Harold Ramis character, and you’re kind of like John Candy in Splash, you’re kind of a mess. But it turns out you’re a natural ghost-whisperer, a natural psychic. But here’s the thing: Bill Murray’s not going to be in this movie, and probably not happy that you are. But you get to be in a major role, in a major movie and one of the greatest franchises of all time. Would you do it?
Well now. That certainly sounds like Hodgman has been offered a role in Ghostbusters 3 and is really weighing his options.
Or is that the case? There’s lots of horsing around on The Best Show, and Hodgman’s a real nerd. He knows that Ghostbusters 3 is an evergreen rumor source, and he could very simply be screwing with us. It would be funny if he were.
On the other hand the concept he describes sounds about exactly what I would expect from Ghostbusters 3…
via Slashfilm
Looks Like Sony Is Trying To Force Their SPIDER-MAN Spin-Offs Into The MCU
It’s Official: The PlayStation 5 Will Be Here Next Year
Marvel And Sony Are Fighting Over SPIDER-MAN Director Jon Watts
With MORBIUS, Sony is finally making good on their threats of a SPIDER-MAN Villains Universe. But is the MCU getting dragged into it?
Cool If True
We're only about a year away from the Next Gen.
By JM Mutore, Aug 23, 2019
The custody battle gets bigger and bigger.
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Family Business Keeping Plastic Beverage Kegs Out of UK Landfills
Deschutes-Fresh Squeezed IPA Beer Review
Beer Aliens Attend Ballast Point & Chipotle Restaurant Launch Party
Chipotle Mexican Grill continues its commitment to serving the very best tasting food and drink it can through a partnership with San Diego- based craft brewery, Ballast Point. On September 1, 2014, Chipotle will begin serving the brewery’s award-winning Sculpin IPA at nine of its San Diego restaurants, including Carmel Valley, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Flower Hill (Del Mar), 4S Ranch, La Jolla Cove, Mira Mesa, Mission Valley, and UTC.
‘‘Ballast Point is making amazing craft beers—-beers that our customers recognize and appreciate,’’ said Chris Arnold, director of communications at Chipotle. ‘‘We are always looking for like-minded partners who share our commitment to making great food and drinks in more traditional ways, with the very best ingredients, and that taste great. Ballast Point hits the mark in each of those ways, and their Sculpin IPA goes particularly well with our food.’’
One of San Diego’s premier craft breweries, Ballast Point uses yeast from San Diego-based White Labs in all of their beers, including the Sculpin IPA. With the San Diego ecosystem in mind, Ballast Point works with a local farm partner to recycle the millions of pounds of spent grains used at the brewery each year.
’’Like Chipotle, Ballast Point is committed to sourcing the very best ingredients, and working with local suppliers as often as we can,’’
said Ballast Point CEO and founder Jack White.
Chipotle’s commitment to finding the very best ingredients has led the company to serve naturally raised meats (from animals raised in more humane ways and without the use of antibiotics or added hormones), local and organically grown produce, and dairy products made with milk from pasture-raised dairy cattle. It has also prompted Chipotle to explore relationships with local and artisanal partners, including several craft breweries around the country.
ABOUT CHIPOTLE
Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls (a burrito without the tortilla) and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in a distinctive atmosphere. Through our vision of Food With Integrity, Chipotle is
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL | 1401 Wynkoop St, Ste 500, Denver, CO 80202 | 303.595.4000 | chipotle.com
seeking better food from using ingredients that are not only fresh, but that—-where possible—-are sustainably grown and Responsibly RaisedTM with respect for the animals, the land, and the farmers who produce the food. In order to achieve this vision, we focus on building a special people culture that is centered on creating teams of top performers empowered to achieve high standards. This people culture not only leads to a better dining experience for our customers, it also allows us to develop future leaders from within. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in 1993 and currently operates more than 1,650 restaurants including seven ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen restaurants, and is an investor in an entity that owns and operates one Pizzeria Locale. For more information, visit Chipotle.com.
ABOUT BALLAST POINT BREWING & SPIRITS
What started in 1996 as a small group of home brewers who simply wanted to make great beer evolved into the team of adventurers known today as Ballast Point. From bringing a hoppy twist to a porter, or adding four types of malt to its amber ale, to creating a breakthrough gold-medal winning IPA, the San Diego-based company is known for adding its own touch and asking if there’s a better way. Not satisfied with just brewing great beer, they got into the distilling business to see if they could add our own spin to another centuries-old craft. Today an internationally recognized leader in the craft brewing and spirits industry, the company makes over 50 styles of beer and bottles ten spirits. For more information, visit www.ballastpoint.com.
Be sure to follow us on Social Media as we invade more breweries and discover more awesome craft beers from all over the world! Cheers humans!
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat: beeralien
ballast pointChipotleFoodrestaurantTour
Co-Founder / Editor-in-Chief
Raymond Melendez is craft beer enthusiast and movie buff. Besides Co-Founding BeerAlien.com, Raymond is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Popular Movie Review website 'MovieFloss.com'. The love for Heavy Metal music is also in his DNA, which is why he is also the Founder of sdmetal.com - a website dedicated to metal music.
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2016 Lighting in Review
It's that time of year again, when we look back on lighting as so much more than just what we use for seeing, but as something that offers beauty and opens up avenues for new technologies to improve our lives. Let's take a look at lighting in the year 2016.
An Incandescent Bulb Comeback?
Just a couple years after the most common incandescent household bulbs were phased out by efficiency legislation, lovers of incandescent lighting cheered the news of technology that could make these light bulbs even more efficient than LED bulbs. Researchers at MIT developed this technology to "recycle" photons with a coating on the glass envelope of the lamp.
Early tests showed results 2-3 times more efficient than standard incandescents, which is still not as efficient as LED bulbs. This would mean replacing an old 60 watt incandescent with one using just 20 to 30 watts, while an LED can do the same job at around 9 watts. But this would be good enough to allow the new bulbs to be manufactured and sold under current legislation.
Yet the potential is for them to become far more efficient than this.
Unfortunately, if they ever do produce bulbs like this, they're probably some years off and their retail costs and rated life are unknown.
Still, there is a great affection for the warm look of incandescent bulbs, and no one seems to question their impact on human health the way they do with LEDs and especially fluorescent bulbs. (Probably because they've been around for more than 100 years.) If you had a chance to use incandescent bulbs again and they were just as efficient as LEDs and cost the same ... would you go back to light bulbs that only last about 1000 hours?
It will be interesting to see whether these bulbs become available in time.
UV LEDs Purify Water Off Grid
Electric lighting has certainly transformed the world. Lights are so common today, it's hard to think of a world where nighttime was controlled only by candles. But we love that today, light isn't just for seeing; it's frequently used to promote human health.
Enter the story of a new water filtration system designed for getting clean drinking water to communities all over the planet without the need for electricity. Using solar panels to power the system and UV LEDs to purify the water, this system can be inexpensively run, creating a job for the operator and cheap water for the community.
When you understand that children and adults alike are up long before the sun in many parts of the world, searching for water; hauling it; facing dangers along the way; and often getting polluted water in the end ... this is the kind of solution that can seriously save time and lives, allowing these communities to focus more of their energy on education and other productive activities.
Photo from LEDinside.com and credited to K.M. Persson.
Green Lighting a Solution to Migraines
Migraines are no one's best friend. They can range from inconvenient lights flashing in someone's eyes or tunnel vision to devastating headaches and nausea; from occassional problems to life altering consistency.
As any migraine suffered knows, bright lights often make a migraine worse. New research on the light factor gives some hope: researchers found that a narrow band of green light can reduce migraine pain by around 20%.
The lead researcher for this study, Professor Rami Burstein, is working on lights that only emit this band of green, as well as glasses that would filter all light outside this band of green, to help those who suffer from migraines.
Brand Name A19 LEDs Dipped Below $3
A few years ago, getting an A19 LED bulb to replace common household and office light bulbs meant spending $10 to $15 per bulb. In the last couples years, generic LEDs have fallen under the $3 mark and, in some cases, under $2.
But we've written before about avoiding generic LEDs because of their potential problems when compared to trusted brands. Which is why we were excited earlier this year to announce that we had A19 LEDs from the trusted Satco brand (a US brand that's been around for decades) for under $3 (when bought in a 4-pack).
Since then, we've also broken the $5 mark with Sylvania BR30 LEDs, and continue searching for the right combinations of quality and price to give customers a good lighting experience on budget. You can see some of our best values in home and office LEDs here.
Mood Lighting for Animals
Farmers are learning more about how lighting affects the animals they raise, recognizing that animals see lights differently than we do. Specialty LED bulbs are able to adjust the lighting for different stages of the animal's life, or can mimic days and seasons. More careful use of lighting may be able to keep animals calmer and happier as they're raised while also increasing the animal's weight.
Converting Near Infrared to Visible Light
Scientists found a better way to convert near-infrared waves into visible light. While it sounds like a promising development to make incandescent bulbs brighter without more wattage, the application is really geared more toward applications with microscopes or other instances where light needs to be projected.
Near infrared passes through new material and becomes visible light. Image: Nils W. Rosemann
20,000 Watt Light Bulb Test
We enjoyed one man's adventures with a 20,000 watt incandescent light bulb, which you can watch in the video below. Seems like plenty of people are curious about how bright a bulb can get -- the video's had 3 million views and counting as of this writing. It's not only impressive (and no doubt extremely hot) indoors, but even lights things up substantially outdoors!
300th Anniversary of America's Oldest Lighthouse
September 14 marked the 300 year anniversary of America's oldest lighthouse, located in Boston on Little Brewster Island. Lighthouses are a great example of how light helps to save lives, even with their technology pre-dating electric lights.
The T12: an Electrician's Halloween Poem
This year we had some fun for Halloween, writing a parody of Edgan Allan Poe's famous macabre poem, "The Raven." Ours is called "The T12," referencing of course a T12 fluorescent lamp. The poem is chock full of lighting references while capturing some of the psychological torment of Poe's original narrator. In our case, however, the narrator isn't tormented by some lost love, but by the fact that the lights have gone out in his home. Enjoy:
Light Used to Purify Air
We already spoke about UV LEDs being used in a water purification system. This article shows a new development by Russian physicists to use light in air purification. One application, according to the article, is to develop antibacterial paints.
DarkLight Lets LiFi Work in the Dark
We've talked before about LiFi as a replacement for WiFi -- it uses light instead of radio waves to transmit data, and it's faster and more secure. Just one problem: you probably don't want to leave the lights on at all times just to transmit data.
Enter this new development called DarkLight, which is designed to let LiFi work in the dark. Effectively it would cycle lights on and off so quickly, you would never see the light. This might beg the question ... would we still subconsciously recognize it, and would it therefore still have an impact on psychology or health?
Milk Tastes Better with LEDs
Research from Virginia Tech suggests that milk kept in refrigerated displays using LEDs retains a good taste better than milk kept in displays using fluorescent lights. The article we've linked to suggests that riboflavin in milk oxidizes under fluorescent lights, not only affecting taste but also nutrition. Of course the effects will differ with the container the milk is kept in, but this research gives retailers one more reason to move from fluorescent lights to LEDs.
Niagara Falls Lighting Upgrades to LED
And finally, in December of this year, Niagara Falls finally upgraded to LED lighting, which highlights the falls more beautifully while saving a great deal of money and energy over time. Stop on by the article for some beautiful images from the newly lighted falls.
And with that, we conclude our review of lighting in 2016. Did we miss some of your favorite advances in lighting? Feel free to leave a comment, and if you liked this review, remember to share it with others!
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We change laws
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N.H.: Public hearing on new legalization bill set for January 23!
Florida: Legalization bill introduced!
S.C.: Medical cannabis a big topic as lawmakers reconvene
Kansas Legislature convenes for 2020 session this week
Adult-Use Marijuana Legalization Initiative Qualifies for the 2020 Ballot…
New Jersey Voters Will Decide on Cannabis Legalization in 2020
House Committee to Vote on Bill to End Federal Cannabis Prohibition
South Dakota Groups Submit Petitions to Qualify Marijuana Reform Ballot…
Community conversation on cannabis legalization, regulation, and taxation
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N.H.: Experts will discuss legalization efforts Wednesday evening following critical House vote
Feb 26, 2019 ACLU-NH, Gov, Gov. Chris Sununu, HB 481, Jeanne Hruska, legalization, Matt Simon, New Hampshire, NH, panel discussion, Somersworth, Tax and Regulate, Teatotaller, Tri-City Young Democrats
If you're a New Hampshire resident, please call your state representatives today and urge them to vote for HB 481!
Tomorrow evening, after the scheduled House vote on HB 481, the Tri-City Young Democrats will host an event in Somersworth to help educate people about legalization efforts. I will be there to participate in a panel discussion, which will also feature one of our key allies at the state house: Jeanne Hruska, political director for ACLU-NH.
WHAT: Panel discussion on cannabis legalization and regulation
WHERE: Teatotaller, 69 High Street, Somersworth
WHEN: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 27
WHO: Matt Simon, New England political director, Marijuana Policy Project
Jeanne Hruska, political director, ACLU-NH
The Tri-City Young Democrats
As we informed you yesterday, the big vote on New Hampshire's legalization bill, HB 481, has been scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. Gov. Chris Sununu has made it clear that he will veto the bill if it reaches his desk, but it will be possible to override his veto if at least two-thirds of the House and Senate can be convinced to support the bill.
If you haven't already spoken to your state representatives, please call them one last time today and encourage them to support HB 481, the bill to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis. (If you tried calling before and encountered difficulties, please try again — there were a few bugs, but they have now been fixed.)
Again, you can read a summary of the bill here, and talking points, poll numbers, studies, and other resources in support of HB 481 are available on this page.
After you call or email your state legislators, please share this message with your family and friends!
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Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use.
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9-judge bench Right to Privacy hearing concludes; Judgment reserved
Published on July 19, 2017 August 2, 2017 By Prachi Bhardwaj
Supreme Court: The 9-judge bench of J.S. Khehar, CJ and J. Chelameswar, S.A. Bobde, R.K. Agrawal, R.F. Nariman, A.M. Sapre, Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud, S.K. Kaul and S.A. Nazeer, JJ is hearing the issue of ‘right to privacy’ being a part of fundamental rights or not after the 5-judge bench of J.S. Khehar, CJ and J Chelameswar, SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud & S.A. Nazeer, JJ said that in the light of the rulings by the 8-judge and 6-judge benches in M.P. Sharma v. Satish Chandra and Kharak Singh v. State of U.P., holding that Right to Privacy is not a fundamental right, a larger bench needs to decide the issue. Below is the update on the hearing on as it happened basis:
Day 6, 02.08.2017
Chandrachud, J: Where should we locate Right to Privacy under Constitution? Restricting it to Article 21 will narrow it’s scope.
Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi (For Gujarat): Privacy aspects can be placed under Article 19 (1)(a) in which case it is integral to that right and if 19 (1)(a) is affected action can be maintained under that right and no new right is required.
Nariman, J: You are arguing majority of Kharak Singh, which is no longer good law. You should amend your written submissions to substitute Part III instead of just Article 21. (Rakesh Dwivedi agrees)
CJI: That will make your yesterday’s arguments frivolous.
Chandrachud, J: There should be a gradated model where the protection may be weighed up in terms of the nature of publicness of information. India is an economic powerhouse because of 1.3 Billion people and their knowledge economy. Privacy must not stifle that economy. Extent for State regulation may be broader in public places than in homes but there is no surrender of privacy.
Rakesh Dwivedi: In case of public health, health data needs to be collected documented and analysed.
Chandrachud, J: But it cannot be collected and stored right down to an individual level all the time.
Nariman, J: In the gradation system, there can be different zones of privacy with home and body occupying the zone 0. The scope for State interests may be different for different zones but does not mean there is no Fundamental Right. (Rakesh Dwivedi disagrees, says there is no Fundamental Right)
Rakesh Dwivedi:
Whether or not privacy can be asserted needs to be based on the injury that a specific information disclosure will cause. It is not enough for some one to claim their privacy is violated. They need to show the nature of injury that may ensue due to that violation.
Liberty and dignity in preamble are narrow domains. Dignity has got nothing to do with privacy but only with fraternity. Economic and social justice precedes liberty under preamble. Even poor people’s life and liberty are important.
“Substantive due process” must be overruled by the 9-judge bench or clarified as it must be kept in mind due process was considered and rejected by the framers of the Constitution.
Privacy is a fading concept. There can be no claim of privacy as to basic identity information. Even Supreme Court Rules seek a lot of personal information and identity information including Aadhaar when PILs are filed. (CJI amused, Chandrachud, J clarifies that Aadhaar is optional.)
Privacy claims are only by those who do wrong. (Chelameswar, J interrupts. Says it is not a question of right or wrong.)
We must make use of technology to the maximum.
Chandrachud, J: It may be that privacy as a practical notion is largely broken down but does not mean we destroy it as a constitutional notion. In fact it is more necessary now.
Rakesh Dwivedi: If you put fetters like limitation of purpose, etc, foreign powers like google will become more powerful that the Indian State.
Chelameswar, J: Why are you so apprehensive? Just because privacy is a right it is not as if every regulation is going to be struck down.
Nariman, J: Entrusting data to State is not always same as putting it in public domain. If currently privacy is non existent, it is no ground to say it should not exist.
Rakesh Dwivedi: The limitation principle is impossible to implement. Even when taking data foreign servers may snoop data and analyse it. (Concludes his submissions)
Gopal Sankaranarayanan (for CCS India):
Some rights are for persons and some for citizens. Indeed all rights need to be read together but there are also grounds for separation because Article 19 is for citizens only and not for all persons.
MP Sharma and Kharak Singh are correctly decided. The contention that these cases did not talk about Fundamental Rights is wrong. ADM Jabalpur needs to be overruled as that is the only judgment which restrictively interpreted Fundamental Rights.
Consequences of elevating all aspects of privacy as Fundamental Rights will be problematic.
Norms of privacy are different in different countries. For example, prenatal sex detection is permitted in the US, medical termination jurisprudence is also different.
Most of the aspects of privacy are already protected under Article 21
If privacy is Fundamental Right, it cannot be waived and it will have a lot of implications including under Contract law. May be it is possible, that derivative rights of Privacy can be waived. (Discussing the doctrine of waiver and the confusion over it under the Indian jurisprudence)
The people offended by Aadhaar are those who don’t need the services. If the State ends up balancing such interests, it will lead to majoritarian rule, which is not what the Constitution is about. UDHR has relevance for Part IV and not Part III. (Concludes his arguments)
Arghya Sengupta (For Haryana and TRAI):
Purpose limitation test cannot be incorporated into the Constitution because it’s a matter of contract.
Thee nature of the right to privacy that exists is different depending upon the zone in which the act takes place. You have no right not to be spied on in public. Court should not read in a general fundamental right to privacy in the Constitution.
In the US, neither abortion nor same sex rights are adjudicated on the ground of privacy. All decisions in the US rely on liberty rather than privacy.
Right to be let alone is part of liberty. Privacy is only a formal construct. The core idea is that of liberty. There is no right to take drugs in your own house. If privacy is a right to be left alone, then there is a correlative duty upon others to stay off. There must be a case to case development “so-called privacy interests.” Context is everything and therefore there can be no general test. No new doctrine is required because existing liberty jurisprudence is enough.
Court should not get into the horizontal data protection as it is a complex problem. (Concludes his arguments. Nariman, J congratulates Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Arghya Sengupta for their forceful submissions)
Respondents conclude their arguments. Rejoinder begins
Gopal Subramanium:
There’s no need to look at all the judgments of the US to ascertain where we stand in relation to our fundamental rights.
The words in our Constitution are not narrow. They are to be understood in their fullness.
The dissenting opinion in Kharak Singh infuses life into Article 21.
This Court in Kesavananda Bharati protected fundamental freedoms. The majority In Kesavananda Bharati referred to the atrocities of the Second World War (Talking about Nazi census).
Gopalan’s approach to fundamental rights was followed by majority in Kharak Singh and by the dissent in Kesavananda Bharati.
What happened during the Emergency was a deprivation of privacy and liberty. We have no such declaration today, yet the Government wants liberty to be suspended.
You cannot divorce liberty from dignity. Bhagwati J helped South African Constitution. Their article 14 guarantees Privacy. Their Constitutional Courts says that privacy, liberty, dignity and freedom are all intertwined.
The selfhood of the person is at the core of this case.
Nariman J: To rich and poor alike.
Gopal Subramanium: To all. When you fuse Articles 14, 19, and 21, laws must be tested on all those bases. The State is the custodian of Constitution and must protect rights. This Court must continue to affirm for Constitution. (Concludes)
Kapil Sibal:
Each of us in this courtroom have persona, unique. Each of us have moments of solitude. Private moments. Where does my right to private moment comes from? Does the State confer it? Or is it part of our persona?
What I eat, What I say to my wife etc is my privacy.
Privacy and personal liberty are different. Privacy needs to be protected because it is at the heart of diversity. Privacy is the golden thread that runs through liberty. There can be no liberty without privacy.
Chandrachud, J: Then what does privacy add to the Constitution? Is it only a subset of liberty? What difference does it make whether you call it liberty or privacy? If privacy is a subset of liberty than there is no higher rest for a restriction than is found under Article 21.
Kapil Sibal: This is important today because the State is all-pervasive. This is a different age. Law needs to catch up. You cannot say “wait for Parliament”. I doubt that Parliament will do it. (Concludes)
Shyam Divan:
Privacy must be constitutionally protected because statute law is insufficient to protect the interests at stake.
Categories of privacy overlap. Personal information, autonomy, physical space, property. And a number of overlapping interests.
There are two issues before the Court: whether privacy dwells in Part III, and the correctness of MP Sharma and Kharak Singh. Please confine yourselves to answering those questions, and not a broader debate.
In the original case which has now come to this Court, there were several challenges. The State said, all of this is under privacy. hat is why this case was referred. It’s not just about information, but about the body and about surveillance. Please keep that in mind while deciding the matter. (Concludes)
Anand Grover:
I cannot be asked to give up one right to avail of another.
Don’t just look at US law. It’s quite restrictive. Look at the ECHR, Latin American law, the Canadian charter. Canada has read in privacy into liberty and security.
Privacy applies equally to poor and rich. (Concludes)
PV Sundaresan (For Kerala): If I don’t have privacy, I don’t have privacy of thought and it is dangerous. Privacy is part of both 19 and 21. State submissions that privacy is fluid and vague and not concrete, is irrelevant as the same is the case with liberty and life. No ground to deny right. (Concludes)
Meenakshi Arora:
The right under Article 21 is not a gift of the Constitution. It always existed. Even if it it were a common law right, it became fortified in Article 21. Fundamental Rights are empty vessels that get enriched over time, like how life and liberty under Article 21 have grown. So should privacy.
The State cannot say I will give you welfare if you give me privacy. State can never force a bargain in which poor or rich or anyone is asked to waive their right of privacy in return for food or welfare.
The Court should not leave privacy at the mercy of the executive. It is not open for the Govt to say this after 70 years of independence. (Concludes)
Sajan Poovayya: State only has a semantic problem with privacy not a real problem with the right. (Concludes)
Arvind Datar:
If privacy is a subset of fundamental rights, it must be a fundamental right. All concepts under Part III are elastic and Privacy is as important as life. If privacy is not a Fundamental Right, there is no remedy if a statute takes it away and that’s dangerous.
Constitution did not recognise a separate right to privacy only because it was covered elsewhere. This Court has filled in the skeleton of rights with flesh and blood.
It is appalling that State says that there is no Fundamental Right to privacy in 2017 (Quotes Cromwell at the State: “think it possible, in the bowels of Christ, that you might be mistaken.”)
Hearing Concludes. Judgment reserved.
Senior Advocate C.A. Sundaram (For Maharashtra): Only Parliament can introduce new rights. Data can be protected under Article 300A. Privacy as an Fundamental Right has problems, for instance, it differs for public and private persons. Next question is who is a public person?And who can invade a public person’s privacy? And whether the press can do it in exercise of free speech.
CJI: The illustration is unacceptable as we are dealing with State action and rights against State
CA Sundaram: If asked to choose between subsidized food and private information coming out, people will choose the former.
Chelameswar, J: It’s a cruel choice!
CA Sundaram: China does it.
Chandrachud, J: Does this mean that all civil and political rights are subservient to some vague notion of welfare? That’s not our Constitution.
CA Sundaram: Context is everything and that may well be the choice with Aadhaar!
Chelameswar, J: Why is it not possible to not invade privacy and still implement Aadhaar or any other scheme?
CA Sundaram: It is possible but privacy cannot be a fundamental right as personal liberty in 21 only refers to physical body.
Nariman, J: Mind is not included?
CA Sundarma: No!
Nariman, J (annoyed): Your propositions are perhaps even a step than worse than majority judgment in Kharak Singh. “How can you argue such a thing today?” Can UDHR and ICCPR be read into Fundamental Rights today following protection of human rights?
CA Sundaram: No
Nariman, J (annoyed): Please look up NALSA and other judgments.
CA Sundaram: Civil liberties are not included in personal liberty because framers of the Constitution rejected that notion. This is not a case of interpreting but that of introduction of a new right and only Parliament can do that. Data protection is a more tangible issue but is traceable to Article 300A and not to fundamental rights.
Chelameswar, J: How personal private data would be merely property?
CA Sundaram: Such data is commercially valuable. Property is a wide term. State that holds personal data does hold it in fiduciary capacity. That relationship is governed by common law right and right to property and not any fundamental right. (Reads Manlone case)
Nariman, J: None of these principles are useful for our constitutional law and that we are operating at a different level.
CA Sundaram concludes his submissions.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta (For UIDAI): Privacy is subjective and vague and hence, cannot be a Fundamental Right. It is too late in the day to say privacy is not a right at all. It is of course valuable but it’s not a Fundamental Right. There are statutory protections of privacy. It has always been protected even prior to Constitution. The is no need to elevate it. Since privacy is subjective and may differ from context to context, legislature is better positioned to protect it than giving it a Constitutional protection
Bobde, J: What happens when legislation deprives or invades that right?
Tushar Mehta: It can be protected as a common-law right.
Nariman, J: What if someone challenges 8 (1)(j) of RTI Act on the ground that “unwarranted” is too vague? How do we answer the challenge if privacy is not a Fundamental Right. (Bobde, J still wants to know what happens when Legislation invades privacy)
Tushar Mehta: It can be challenged under Article 14.
Bobde, J: That means you have located privacy under Article 14 (a fundamental right!)
Tushar Mehta: It can be tested as an invasion of common law right.
Bobde, J: How that is possible when a legislation can only be challenged on the ground of Fundamental Right and not otherwise?
Nariman, J: What if there is a statute that offends dignity? It is not an independent right.
CJI: Petitioners have made a simple submission how dignity flows from Preamble. Privacy is not too dissimilar.
Tushar Mehta: Merely because privacy protection by legislation may not be adequate because legislature is capable of repealing the protection, is not a ground to elevate privacy to Fundamental Right.
Chandrachud, J: What if Aadhaar is repealed and goes to the pre 2016 position? Where does the citizen go in that case?
Tushar Mehta: Easements Act, Telegraph Act, etc all protect privacy. The hazards of treating a vague general right of privacy should be taken note of. Aadhaar protects Human Privacy. There are developed, developing and underdeveloped countries. Even in some developed countries like US , privacy is a fairly limited right. (Cites a long list of countries that do not have privacy as a Constitutional right but only statutory protection)
Nariman, J: Even Pakistan, the slamic Republic of Pakistan has a Fundamental Right to privacy!
Tushar Mehta (Jokes): An Iranian minister of sea transport was stopped by immigration by Pakistan asking how a landlocked country can have such minister to which the minister replied by saying how even Pakistan has a minister of law and justice. (Laughs)
Nariman, J: What does KSA in the list mean?
Tushar Mehta: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (Manages to amuse Nariman, J)
Tushar Mehta: Right to vote is not a fundamental right.
Chelameswar, J: It is a fundamental right and there are constitution bench judgments to say that although some subsequent judgment say otherwise.
Chandrachud, J: Assuming privacy is not Fundamental Right, how does a citizen complain against a data protection law on the ground it does not afford adequate protection?
Tushar Mehta: It cannot be challenged.
Bobde, J: What are the attributes for a right to be elevated to be a fundamental right?
Nariman, J: Fundamental rights need to be interpreted according to changing needs of the times. Constitution cannot be interpreted like a statute. Words are not important, the principles are and that task is with us, the Court, not Parliament. (Tushar Mehta agrees but continues with his submission. Reads Malone case again)
Chandrachud, J: The same case has a line that says privacy is at the heart of liberty in a modern state.
Tushar Mehta: Yes, it is valuable but it’s not a Fundamental Right.
Chandrachud, J: In America a woman was stripped on the road and frisked to search for drugs. Privacy and human dignity important to control such State action.
Tushar Mehta:
Third party cellphone data can be collected in the US for Govt purposes. US protects data privacy under the US Electronic Communications Act. Privacy can only be statutorily protected. World of total privacy does not exist.
Even if the Govt wants to conduct surveillance with the use of Aadhaar data, it is impossible to do so. The process of authentication under the Aadhaar Act is completely safe. (Hands out a list of countries that have not recognized privacy as a fundamental right. Nariman, J says he is not sure about Japan).
Data does not confine only to computer data but all kinds of data including personal data. Aadhaar asks for only limited amount of data.
There should be an overarching legislation that protects data and privacy. The Ministry of Electronics and information technology already in the process of enacting a data protection bill. Yesterday Government has constituted a committee headed by retired justice BN Srikrishna to evolve principles relating to data privacy.
Even judicially trained minds cannot define privacy definitively and vague concepts cannot be made Fundamental Rights. There are dangers in expanding the scope of Part III. Right will be misused if the boundaries are not defined. Public interest and good governance will be seriously harmed if privacy is made a fundamental right.
There are lots of Indians living below poverty line and almost entire population has Aadhaar card.
Nariman, J: Do not argue on the merits of Aadhaar.
Tushar Mehta: I am only trying to convey the damage that will be caused if privacy is made a fundamental right and Aadhaar is repealed.
Nariman, J: We haven’t said that we’ll repeal Aadhaar. We might balance it with right to privacy. (Tushar Mehta still gives two example of courts upholding the use of Aadhaar for PDS and to check bogus admissions in school.)
Tushar Mehta (Still arguing on merits of Aadhaar): The Supreme Court, in PUCL case, has endorsed biometric identification. In Lokniti Foundation, the Court has recognized the use of pre paid sim cards by terrorists. What is the big deal in giving your fingerprints. It can be extracted easily in a lab by getting hold of something that I have touched. India needs more bathrooms than privacy. We cannot to rely on American judgements because their notion of privacy is different from ours. (Gives the example of Public Display of Affection)
Chandrachud, J: It means that Indians are more private and hence we need a right to privacy more than them. (Tushar Mehta concludes his submissions)
Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi (for Gujarat): Every aspect of privacy should be tested separately to decide if it can be elevated to the level of fundamental right. Right to life and liberty is enhanced when information is made public. Not every disclosure is breach of privacy.
Chandrachud, J: In the age of technology, privacy should not stifle the spread of knowledge and innovation. Privacy should be balanced against spread of knowledge and innovation.
Rakesh Dwivedi: Privacy is not a fundamental right in general but if the court thinks that certain aspects of it satisfy the reasonable expectations of society, then those aspects can be read under Article 21. But privacy as a whole cannot be made a fundamental right.
CJI: Nobody is claiming that it should be an absolute right. It will have limitations of course.
Rakesh Dwivedi (Agreeing): There are important privacy concerns and they should be recognized.
Chandrachud, J: How much autonomy does an individual has? Or only the nature of the claim has to be looked into?
Rakesh Dwivedi: Right to choice is intrinsic under Article 21. It does not need the privacy ladder to climb there. If choice precedes disclosure, there is no privacy assertion possible. Informational privacy is not part of Fundamental Right.
Chandrachud and Nariman, JJ: Can it not be said that every time I give my mobile number to Gov.t agency, is there is no reasonable expectation that it is used only for that purpose and no other purpose? My reasonable expectation would be that the data is only used for the purpose for which it was collected
Rakesh Dwivedi: The limited use doctrine will apply, but one cannot claim privacy protection. It needs to be decided on facts and circumstances of each case.
Bench rises for the day. Hearing to conclude tomorrow. Respondents will argue in the first half and Rejoinder by petitioners in the second half.
Attorney General KK Venugopal:
It is required to keep in mind cultural and environmental context to determine the nature of privacy right. There are a large number of US judgments that refused to look into European jurisprudence on privacy. India must not blindly follow foreign jurisprudence.
If there is a countervailing state interest, there can be no informational privacy. The line drawn is the relevance of information sought for the purpose of the Act challenged.
Chandrachud, J: In this day and age where more and more data is in the public domain, the importance of informational privacy protection is now paramount. There is a difference between “compelling” and “legitimate” state interest. Former is a stricter standard.
AG: Then the latter lighter standard must be applied in India.
Chelameswar, J: State will always act with legitimate interest. For example always there a legitimate interest to control crime But Article 20 gives rights to accused.
AG: None of the petitioners challenge census etc. But have challenged Aadhaar.
Chelameswar, J: Census act has confidentiality provisions. In Aadhaar, the moment you put fingerprint whole world has the data access.
Bobde, J: Aadhaar Act has such provision?
AG: Section 29 where disclosure of core biometrics is prohibited.
Chandrachud, J: Where is the protection for the mobile number? Why medical history is excluded from definition of demographic info and why they are not protected? If you have a database of billion mobile numbers and if it is all leaked, there are people getting whatsapp messages from all kinds of people. A robust mechanism is necessary even if you have a legitimate interest to create that database.
AG: That robust mechanism already exists. (Chandrachud, J not quite impressed)
Bobde, J and Nariman, J (To Tushar Mehta appearing for UIDIA) : So you have enacted this to protect privacy! Then why are you disputing the right.
Gopal Subramanium (for petitioners): All enrollment agencies and BSPs are private agencies and we have a lot to say about that before the right bench.
AG: The very fact that there is an Act passed to protect privacy means there is no Fundamental Rights. (Judges amused). There are decisions of Supreme Court that have recognized Aadhaar, for example, the Right to food case. If there is a Fundamental Right to privacy it must be held that there is no such claim involved in this case. MP Sharma and Kharak Singh are to be upheld fully.
Senior Advocate C. A. Sundaram (For Maharashtra):
Order of the reference is clear. Whether the right to privacy is Fundamental Right. Not if there are aspects of privacy that can be Fundamental Right. If privacy per se is Fundamental Right, all facets in its inclusion would be Fundamental Rights too. But privacy cannot be Fundamental Right. Doing so would be injecting a new Fundamental Right which can only be done by Constitutional amendment.
What is privacy? Is there an unambiguous definition of it to be crystallized as a right?
Bobde, J: Where is ‘life’ defined?
C. A. Sundaram: It is to breathe and have access to basic needs to exist. Antithesis of death.
Chandrachud, J: That is not the understanding that I have.
Nariman, J: It’s only animal existence. We have interpreted life to mean more than animal existence.
CJI: Dignity and liberty are also not defined.
C.A. Sundaram: We cannot elevate privacy to liberty or any other Fundamental Right.
Nariman, J: You may get Privacy by reading dignity and liberty together.
C.A. Sundaram: But that does not make Privacy a Fundamental Right per se. Dignity in the preamble is with fraternity not with liberty.
Nariman, J: So what?
C.A. Sundaram:
Law is set of rules by which society interacts. There are NDMC rules that compound walls can only be three feet. If privacy becomes Fundamental Right, all cases challenging such laws will come before the Court.
Kharak Singh correctly decided but incorrectly interpreted by petitioners. Ascertaining movements could not have been an infringement of Part 3 of the Constitution. So the ratio was not wrong.
Nariman, J: No, it is wrong insofar as it sees movement and liberty separately. There is an internal contradiction in the majority judgment in Kharak Singh because it uses privacy without saying so. It cites Wolf v Colorado which is essentially privacy.
C.A. Sundaram: That’s because it refers to one castle. It traces to property right not liberty right.
Chelameswar, Bobde, Nariman & Chandrachud, JJ: It’s not only property right. And privacy is a tangible infringement.
C.A. Sundaram: No, it is not. Is watching pornography even within my home, a fully protected right? Privacy can be a common law right but not a Fundamental Right.
Chelameswar, J (On tangibility of infringement): What is the tangible problem in midnight knocks?
Midnight knock is a physical intrusion. Privacy is an incidental impact. Which is why it is not an independent stand alone Fundamental Right.
There cannot be any right, for example, to keep my house dirty. That may be an undignified way of living. There is no privacy or choice to not educate my kids. (Chandrachud, J interrupts to tell him that it’s no one’s case that the right is absolute)
Gobind never propounded the right to privacy. It only assumed. Error in subsequent judgment. (Bobde, J is not convinced). The whole unbroken chain of jurisprudence is based on the assumption that Gobind makes. But this bench will need to decide afresh.
There is no Constitutional right to privacy even under US constitution. Even though zones of privacy may be created by specific guarantees.
Nariman, J: Our privacy may need to be more than ordered liberty and include dignity. If we recognize the Fundamental Right to privacy then these boundaries won’t apply.
C.A. Sundaram: Even if the bench were to hold the right, it will have to define it to some extent.
Chelameswar, J: Freedom of speech is open ended and why privacy cannot be like that?
C.A. Sundaram: Every Government action has an impact on privacy, therefore, a broad constitutional right to privacy must not be laid down. We moved from civil liberty to personal liberty in order to narrow the scope of liberty.
Nariman, J: But privacy can only come under personal liberty.
C.A. Sundaram: Privacy was considered and dropped by the Constitutional advisor and the assembly.
Nariman, J: This is exactly how due process was dropped. (Laughter erupts)
C.A. Sundaram: Personal liberty and privacy are different.
Chandrachud, J: The qualification of personal liberty was done because it did not want other freedoms such as Article 19 freedoms in liberty. The other apprehension was that it would be read in an economic sense rather than a political or personal sense like it was done in the US. Due process was used to establish freedom of contract to strike down new deal Laws.
Bench rises for the day. Hearing will resume on Tuesday i.e 01.08.2017.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal (For Karnataka, West Bengal, Punjab and Puducherry): Privacy is not an absolute right. Will never be. The Court will have to strike a balance. Privacy is an issue not only between State and citizen but also between non State actors inter se. It becomes an issue as soon as one buys a mobile phone. M.P. Sharma and Kharak Singh judgments have no relevance to appreciate the contours of privacy in the present era.
Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud, J: Dangers of State breaching confidentiality is one thing. But ‘equally dangerous’ is for example a taxi aggregators using data that you share against you.
J.S. Khehar, CJ: At the moment we are only focusing on whether or not there is a Constitutional right to privacy. Broad-basing it has to be done later.
J. Chelameswar, J: If there is a right of privacy, where do we locate it? If it is to be located in more than one Article, locating in Article 21 would be much less cumbersome. But if it is Article 19 etc, we will need to look at which subarticle according to the respective case applies.
Kapil Sibal: Essentially it is in Article 21. Invasion may have collateral effect on other rights.
S.K. Kaul, J: Then how do we locate the right if we cannot contemplate all the manifestations possible in 10 years time.
Kapil Sibal: That is why you should not lay down the law but just to hold the existence of the inalienable inherent right. National security, crime investigation, accessing benefits, etc can be the restrictions to such right. Data protection principles qua State includes necessity, legitimate interest, and proportionality and procedural reasonableness. Right to privacy enjoins the State to put in place a robust data protection law so that non citizen actors collecting data are also bound.
Gopal Subramanium: After 2012 Shah Committee report there has been significant evolution in the principles and I will provide a copy of privacy bill & Shah Committee report to the bench.
Attorney General KK Venugopal for UOI:
Privacy could have been conferred under Constitution but it was intentionally left out. Life and personal liberty are not absolute. Which is why we have death penalty, incarceration etc.
Privacy can be one of the species of personal liberty. This right of privacy consists of a large number of sub-species. All these sub species cannot be elevated to the level of a fundamental right. Every single claim of privacy or whatever the extent of which it is encroached upon, it will automatically be elevated to an Fundamental Right.
The World Bank has said that something like Aadhaar should be followed by all countries. So many benefits are given through Aadhaar. One cannot say that giving my biometrics is violative of my privacy because the Rights of others are also involved. Article 21 includes right to live with dignity I.e also to basic needs such as food reasonable environment, suitable accommodation etc. An Act passed with those salutary objects cannot be defeated on claims to privacy.
Chandrachud, J: Privacy is not an elitist concern and it is equally applicable to the large masses. For example if State wants forced sterilization on slum dwellers for population control among that group, perhaps only privacy claim may stand in the way. If we say privacy is not a Fundamental Right at all it would be a blanket sanction of anything the State can do.
AG KK Venugopal: Privacy is not a homogeneous right. There are a variety of sub-species and sometimes the invasion may affect that sub-specie right.
S.A. Bobde, J: What is the difference between common law right and Fundamental Rights? Common law rights are private rights and belong to an era with no constitutional limitations. We only protected some of those preexisting rights as Fundamental Rights enforceable against the State.
AG KK Venugopal: The qualitative difference is the different enforcement mechanism. Common Law right cannot be tested against Constitution.
R.F. Nariman, J: This framing of one right against the other is incorrect. If later, for instance, we see that Aadhaar for food, etc is just fair reasonable, then the law may pass muster. Why do we have to even argue against privacy as Fundamental Right?
AG KK Venugopal: World Bank has said all countries must follow Aadhaar like model. There is no difficulty in going back to 5 or 3 judges.
AG KK Venugopal: It’s preposterous to state that India will become totalitarian because of Aadhaar. Privacy claims require better priority in developed countries . Not in country like India where a vast majority of citizens don’t have access to basic needs.
CJI & Bobde, J: 9 judge bench is not going to say anything on Aadhaar.
Kaul, J: Can we shut out the door for eternity by saying that there is no Fundamental Right to privacy?
AG: No, some aspects of privacy may require an elevated protection of Fundamental Right.
Nariman, J: Petitioners have classified three species – body, dissemination of information and that of the mind. Tell us which one is Fundamental Right.
AG: Privacy is better protected by other more concrete rights. No need to recognise an independent right to privacy. Privacy is no better than a general notion of say pursuit of happiness. Even if the Bench were to decide that there may be aspects of Privacy as Fundamental Right, it should leave open the question if any privacy claim as a Fundamental Right is maintainable in a given case.
CJI: These limitations are there even for other Fundamental Rights. It does not mean they cease to be Fundamental Rightss. What is special about privacy?
AG: In a developing country there should be no Fundamental Right to privacy. There is a woman in Odisha who is ready to sell her daughter because of poverty. Privacy claim is too rich for a country like India. [Again argues on the merits of Aadhaar Case & cites World Bank!]
Nariman, J: Property ceased to be a Fundamental Right and look how it had affected the poor. Think about privacy for the poor man.
Chandrachud, J: Forced sterilisation during 1975 was the most atrocious act done. Do you want justify them all.
AG: Allow me to argue before the smaller bench that there is no Fundamental Right claim involved in this case.
CJI: But you refused to argue this before the smaller bench on the basis of larger bench decisions. If you had said that before smaller bench we need not have come here at all.
ASG Tushar Mehta for UIDAI: Privacy is a right but not a fundamental one.
Nariman, J: We are going to consider all aspects and give a comprehensive judgment for conceptual clarity for the nation.
Bench Rises. Hearing to continue tomorrow.
Day 2, 20.07.2017:
Senior Advocate Arvind Datar: In the 3-judge bench order in K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, (2015) 8 SCC 735 that referred the Aadhaar case to a larger bench, Kaul J questioned whether there would be remedies against private persons infringing privacy? Privacy is divided into three parts. Physical privacy, information privacy, and decisional privacy. It is at the center of Part III of the Constitution.Not a penumbral right.
D.Y. Chandrachud, J (On violation of privacy by a Non-State actor) : There is an obligation on State to protect privacy if we find it also as a horizontal right. Contours of regulation of private actors conduct may not be strictly in issue in this case.
Arvind Datar: Not necessary that every horizontal right has to be regulated in a way we understand regulation.
S.K. Kaul, J: For a privacy violation, even damages will not be a proper remedy. It has to be necessarily injunctive.
Arvind Datar: Rajagopal and Mr. X v. Hospital Z cases are not purely against private actors and seeks a declaration that privacy is part of Part III. Concludes his arguments.
Senior Advocate Anand Grover:
Even with respect to 20(3) in light of Selvi , MP Sharma deserves to be overruled.
There is no English common law precedent for privacy as we conceive. Only American common law recognises it. International law only casts obligation on the States.
Please do not define privacy. You may indicate the facets of privacy like how Gobind did it.
There is no requirement to ratify UDHR. It is a declaration. ICCPR has been ratified by India and we need to understand it’s impact. Explains how international covenants can and should be read into Part 3 rights. Refers to Vishakha and cites Bachan Singh case where Article 6 of ICCPR was in issue. All conventions not recognised hitherto as a Fundamental Right have to be read into Fundamental Rights according to Vishakha.
R.F. Nariman, J (Impressed by the argument): This is important to say that even MP Sharma judgment was incorrect because of UDHR.
Chandrachud, J: Is right to identity a part of privacy? If a Government has a digitised list of convicted criminals for its algorithmic analytics predictive models etc it may not be a violation because state may have a legitimate interest. But it may be a violation if a whole segment of a population is tracked and profiled similarly.
Anand Grover: Yes, therefore, we need to answer those questions on a case to case basis.
J.S. Khehar, CJI: Unless a compulsion to disclose is about an information that is bothersome to your dignity then it will be a violation of privacy. There are three tiers, liberty, dignity and then privacy.
Anand Grover: Privacy is inseparable from liberty and dignity. Even animals have dignity under our law. But humans have privacy as part of human dignity. Privacy may be different for different times countries or cultures.
Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya:
It is like planets under Indian astrological system. It may reside in any one house in any given case. Denial of privacy may deny or chill free speech in any given case. (On where does the right to privacy reside)
India ahead of US in broadband and mobile connection count. Given the information explosion in the digital age , if not in Aadhaar, a data protection and privacy question would have risen in another case and perhaps before a 9 judge bench.
If it is not declared a Fundamental Right, the Government will deal with it very differently, irrespective of remedy, etc. The value of a right being fundamental is not only with respect to its remedy but broader. Remedy may be invoked only when pinch is felt.
Chandrachud, J: Is State collection information on suspicion of terrorism also a violation of privacy? The problem is of collection of data or its use? Where does the violation occurs?
Sajan Poovayya: Court should lay down that collection itself is problematic without a just reasonable law.
Chandrachud, J: Should we use the principle of limitation of purpose for collection and use? How Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big data has progressed so much towards data explosion .. is it qualitatively different when State collects it?
Sajan Poovayya: Even under contract, the Limitation of purpose is safeguarded. Under Constitution it’s a much broader right. Privacy not only is about secrecy but has expanded to include also information given in public domain. Citing Justice Alito passage in US V Jones, says that there is no trade-off of privacy and convenience, even when information is voluntarily furnished.
S.A. Bobde, J: What about dark web? Isn’t 80% of internet dark?
Sajan Poovayya: But State cannot be a proponent of a dark web. State must first respect privacy. State cannot use the possibility of other bad actors’ conduct to justify it’s violation of privacy. Nor it’s technical limitation to protect should have any bearing on laying down the right. State has an obligation to protect citizens digital identity as much as physical identity. No less. The declaration that privacy is a fundamental right itself is the first step towards fulfilling that obligation of oversight on executive. In UK, the data collected for their id project was destroyed by legislation. It is impossible to lay down the contours of privacy at this stage.:
Chelameswar, J: But some contours have to be identified without fixing those. There is a necessity to note the existing developments on the law and subsume those.
Sajan Poovayya: It is impossible to lay down any contours. Just a declaration as a Fundamental Right is sufficient now. Time will bring technology that will invade privacy may be unimaginable but must be declared to be protected as a right therefore without qualifications or specific tests on the restrictions. In a 1890 case, the right to be left alone was recognised in the context of business advances etc. It’s a shame that we are debating in 2017, the right which we have always had. Even a colonial era law Post office Act, 1898 prescribed a strict procedure to open letters to be read. If you had declared the right to privacy as a fundamental right 15 years ago, the State would not have done what they have done with Aadhaar i.e. collect the biometric data of the entire citizenry in an executive fiat.
Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora: Right to Privacy is already a recognised right. It’s everywhere. Even under Articles 17, 24 and 25. For example, one cannot be compelled to specify his caste.
Chandrachud, J: What about social benefits? you need to declare your caste there.
Meenakshi Arora: That is at best a limitation of purpose test. Even there the procedure needs to be tested if such information is procured non-intrusively. You may sometimes be compelled to disclose certain information but you do have a right.
Petitioners conclude their arguments. Union of India will argue on Tuesday. Bench arises.
Senior Advocate Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for the petitioners: Preamble has liberty as a fundamental value and the question of privacy does not arise without a notion of liberty. Life and Liberty are not conferred by the Constitution. They are inherent in all human beings. All articles of part III of the Constitution necessarily need privacy. Privacy is not a penumbral right. Not a concomitant right. It is the very essence of liberty. It is not only a fundamental right, but an inalienable one.
Gopal Subramaniam (On Articles 14, 19 & 21): Article 14 is important because equal protection guarantees and protects liberty. Exercise of any one of those freedoms under Article 19 is choice and therefore, involves privacy. Article 21 inherently recognises dignity. All of these rights have an element of personal choice i.e. privacy. Need to combine these 3 Articles is not only because there are overlaps but because it is much stronger. Article 25 i.e. right and freedom of conscience also requires a necessary zone of privacy. We are pitching privacy is much higher. We are not arguing some random Alexander Dumas case. But the essence of Constitution. Attorney General is relying on MP Sharma and Kharak Singh. But ratios there have been displaced by Cooper and Maneka.
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan: Privacy has no definite contours but needs to be developed case by case. It in any case includes aspects of bodily integrity, informational self determination, etc which have serious implications in this case. (CJI cautioned him not to venture into the merits of the Aadhaar case)
Shyam Divan (On MP Sharma case): Only a narrow compass on 20(3) was in issue in that case. We are not trying to narrow it down to 20(3) but as a broader right. If you don’t recognise a right of privacy,. All other rights will be denuded of their respective vigour. He then referes to a series of cases on ‘right to privacy’.
Shyam Divan (On UDHR and ICCPR declaration): Right to privacy is a global concern of the day. In a digital age, the dangers of not reading the right as a part 3 right may be aggravated.
J.S. Khehar, CJI: So we have a right to privacy under ‘international human law.’
DY Chandrachud, J: There is now a lot of jurisprudence in ECHR now to say right to data protection is wider than right to privacy. It says statutes will need to determine the content of the right. Which is why there are two separate conventions. One on human rights which covers privacy. There is a second convention on fundamental rights that includes data protection. We are in a big data age we like it or not.
Senior Advocate Arvind Datar explaines how the reference in the Kharak Singh case to privacy is stray and that the majority actually upholds privacy when striking down the regulation that provided for mid night knocks and domiciliary visits. The proposition that privacy is not guaranteed under Constitution is not the law laid down by the MP Sharma & Kharak Singh cases.
DY Chandrachud, J: Should we just hold that privacy should just be an amorphous right with no contours of the right or the limitation? If we just hold privacy is a right, Naz judgment may become problematic. Can we atleast say it includes certain ingredients without exhaustively defining? Even autonomy does not completely fall within privacy. I cannot assert a right to decide whether my children will go to school. Privacy may be a small component of liberty but it cannot only lie in Article 21 or 19.
RF Nariman, J: After submissions from Arvind Datar that depends on the other concurrent right that is infriged. In short it needs to be case by case.
Source: twitter.com/prasanna_s, twitter.com/SFLCin and twitter.com/gautambhatia88
Tagged with: 9-judge, 9-judge bench, Aadhaar, constitution, kharak singh, MP Sharma, right to privacy
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← What do you do when “4 tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 cokes” loses its allure?
Anticipation… is making me wait. →
What does Bret Bielema’s contract tell us about Butts-Mehre?
About what we’ve always known, I’m afraid.
The basics are these:
The first-year Arkansas coach will make $2.95 million annually, with on-field and academic incentives totaling up to an additional $700,000 each year. Bielema’s contract runs through Dec. 31, 2018.
According to a USA Today database updated July 1, 2013, Bielema would be the 12th-highest paid head coach in college football, according to terms of his contract, and fourth-highest paid coach in the Southeastern Conference.
Notice that “fourth-highest paid” mark? One of those other three ain’t Mark Richt.
Richt will make a guaranteed $2,811,340 a year under his new deal, which is just about what he was making previously. His deal runs through the 2016 season as previously announced.
So Arkansas’ new head coach is making more than the most senior head coach in college football’s toughest conference. And making it for a longer period.
Now, you can congratulate Greg McGarity for his shrewd fiscal management (and no doubt both he and his superiors are pleased) and you can assume that Richt is indeed content enough with his current gig to leave money on the table… but what if things change, as indeed they will some day? What if Richt entertains a serious, higher-dollar offer from another school? And for those of you who would cheer such a possibility, what makes you think that a school that pays its head coach less than Arkansas pays its man is going to be willing to step up financially and pay your dream choice the kind of bucks it will take to lure him to Athens?
Buck up. Maybe they can entice him with stories about the growth of the fabled reserve fund.
UPDATE: Marc Weiszer reminds me that I missed the last raise for Richt. His $3.2 million base is higher than Bielema’s. So at least Butts-Mehre is keeping up with Arkansas.
101 responses to “What does Bret Bielema’s contract tell us about Butts-Mehre?”
For CMR….it is not about the money. I believe he is the only Coach in College Football who does not give a hoot about the money. He has endorsements that pay a great deal yearly.
If that’s the case, they sure wasted a lot of money on lawyers drafting his last contract, which is loaded with incentives.
While I tend to agree that Richt likes Athens, and as you say, he’s knowingly leaving money on the table (be it for assistants, facilities improvements, an indoor practice facility, among other items), but it does worry me a bit. I think he and his family like Athens, and that he’s not chasing the dollars, but Texas is going to be looking for a coach this offseason. And with his age, and past success, Mark Richt has got to look very, very attractive to the Longhorns. Say they call his agent up, and say they’re willing to give him a 10 yr contract, $5m per + incentives for winning conference and national titles. If that happens, then what? Does UGA match the offer? Does Richt leave if they don’t? I’d honestly rather not find out, and my heart says he’d still turn them down even if UGA didn’t want to come close to that level of commitment. But he’d have to be one of the names Texas likes most, and with their ability and willingness to pay combined with Georgia’s lack of willingness to pay in spite of the ability, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I thought it was possible.
Honestly, I think they’d offer MR more money to stay, but I can’t see B-M paying him $5 million/year. No offense to Richt – I’m not sure they’d pay that to anybody, including Saban.
Same here Senator, and therein lies the fear. I don’t see Texas having any problem paying that kind of money to a coach. Richt is still young enough (53), that if he wanted to he could spend another decade, if not two (if he lasted as long as Bowden, he’d have over 25 years left in him) on the sidelines. I also think Texas is arrogant enough to have anyone on their list they like, be it Saban or Meyer or even some NFL head coaches, so I can’t see their administration thinking Richt would be unobtainable to them. Age, style, success, he’d have to be near the top of the Longhorn list wouldn’t he (unless he/his agent made it clear he wouldn’t consider any other jobs but the one he’s got)? And if they come in willing to use the full force of their checkbook, someone willing to nearly double your salary is very hard to turn down, even for those not motivated by money. And if B-M wouldn’t match an offer, that puts him in a very awkward and unenviable position to make a decision.
It’s not just the checkbook Sanchez. Texas is one of those programs that backs its football program 100%. Georgia doesn’t. Bama is the only program really like that in the SEC, IMHO (some might say USCe under SOS). Being given the keys to a program with no internally-created limitations–that’s attractive to someone like CMR.
So, is there anything at all a fanbase can do in a situation like this? Can some big boasters point to the revenue we take in then the (relative) lack of spending compared to Alabama and say “we need to be doing this” and get results?
Or is this like being a fan of a pro team with a stingy owner?
Alums can lobby to get a football friendly Prez, and maybe we have now. Too soon to tell. But this “some things are more important than winning” is in our DNA it seems. Just read this blog–you’ll see it here all the time. But when the team doesn’t win–look out!
CMR is not in the UT profile. Perceived to be too similar to Mack. Think Bill Cowher type personality. They want someone to shake things up around here. They need it. (Remember, Boom had the job but couldn’t wait once “Mama” called him home.)
Which as you know is standard when you are recruiting a great Coach. Now go have a drink.
The money in the SEC for football will dictate UGA spends more when Richt retires. It will have to.
Because the market will demand it. Richt isn’t demanding it now, so why move the number up? When GM goes coach-hunting he’ll have to open it up.
They’ve never done that before. What makes this time around any different?
I tend to agree with Castleberry. Bobo will be McGarity’s ace in the hole if he doesn’t like what the market demands.
Because times change. The last time UGA went coach hunting was 2000, no? They know what everyone else makes, and more importantly, so do the fans. Perhaps I’m being naive to how cheap McGarity is, but I expect the next coach to make at least what Richt makes, and if he’s a proven head coach, more.
It’s not McGarity per se. It’s the culture at B-M. And McGarity is not exactly what I’d call a change agent.
If Bobo is the new hire, I guarantee you he makes less than Richt. And McGarity will know that before he goes shopping.
allthegoodnameswereused
I’ll never understand the statement people make something that includes statements like “‘with all the resources UGA has” blah, blah. We are a middle of the pack team as far as expenditures. Heck Arkansas BEFORE this new hire was spending more money on Football than us. We’ll spend a little more if we go with someone other than Bobo sure but we will still be middle of the pack, I don’t see that changing.
Georgia is middle of the pack in expenditures because they want to be, not because they have to be. If we quit focus on being a highly profitable non-profit entity for some reason, that means we spend some of these revenues we’re sitting on. Those are the resources Georgia has. To compare with Arkansas, Georgia has a significantly better instate recruiting to pull from. Which means better talent, and you also have to spend less to get that talent since they aren’t traveling as far to get to you and you don’t travel as far to get to them. Our facilities are good, not great as extravagance like Oregon and Tennessee’s stuff keep getting built, but we’re not far behind them in facilities, and as said, if we’re willing to spend more of the revenues coming in, we can build our own palace like those guys have. Fan support is strong, facilities strong, recruiting base as good as it gets, and we’ve got plenty of money to improve anywhere we want to improve. Expenditures schmenditures, Georgia is by no means middle of the pack in terms of resources.
Which makes some of the lack of spending all the more maddening. It’s not like the AA has stockholders waiting on dividend checks.
That said, I think it might be a mistake to assume because they’re generally cheap, they’d be cheap to the point of really hurting the program. McGarrity paid Grantham Kirby Smart money (and a multi-year deal). The problem, and it may not be a big one, is I don’t seem them as willing to hire top notch “extra” staff like Kevin Steele at Bama, or break records on an assistant like UT with Kiffin in ’09, or Chad Morris’s deal at Auburn with a Lake.
“Georgia is middle of the pack in expenditures because they want to be, not because they have to be” Well, that’s kind of my point, If we don’t spend it we don’t have it. Take Arkansas again, They take in less but spend more. Heck even if we just spent the same percentage we would be ahead of the game. The commitment isn’t there. That’s my point. What gives you any reason to believe that your second sentence would ever come true? I’m not talking about wishful thinking I mean hard evidence, it’s to the contrary. Before I go any further let me say I think UGA is a great ‘destination’ program with great resources including recruiting, the fan base you mention, etc. I highly disagree that’s it’s as good as a lot of folks seem to think it is as far as resources and in state talent is a resource . You’re looking at recruiting thru your red and black glasses. When I grew up in NW GA some 30 years ago most folks were UGA fans but even then you had a ton of BAMA, UT, AUBURN fans, etc. A lot of players loved UGA but would love to play for a living legend in the Bear. Kind of sounds like today with Saban. Twenty – twenty five years ago Georgia was a top 5 state for producing college players even then. Now it’s more like 4th I believe but with the population explosion you have a ton of people here now who didn’t grow up singing Glory Glory to old Georgia and worse they brought their allegiances to whatever team with them. Again I think GA has a great situation with it’s in state recruiting base and it IS an advantage. I just don’t think it’s quite the advantage some seem to believe it is.
He doesn’t care about the money, but I’ll bet he doesn’t want to be treated like a chump either. And he is.
I do not think he feels that way. He is an admired and righteous MAN.
Not sure what the hell this means, but I agree with the first part. Richt isn’t tied to his salary like some coaches. That won’t be the case after he retires, though. The next coach will need at least $3 as that’s what the market will demand.
“Not sure what the hell this means”
Neither does Jen who is glad all over that her husband, Brunt, was not hired by Georgia but if he were (such as if and when Mark stops being righteous about taking lowball pay) she would only have to change a gang sign, not a wardrobe
Beautiful day for college football! WPS Razorbacks! 3-0! Love my Game Day outfit from @shopsavoirfaire 😉 http://t.co/7JEcFw5JDQ—
Jen Bielema (@jenbielema) September 14, 2013
Not gonna lie. I’m a fan. Props to Bert.
“UPDATE: Marc Weiszer reminds me that I missed the last raise for Richt. His $3.2 million base is higher than Bielema’s.”
Jen tells husband to stop playing Marco Polo and ask for pay raise 😦
LOL. Thread over. You win.
Wow. I’d expect an outfit like that on a 25 year old recent grad, not the head coach’s wife.
You and Tim Fletcher
“1. Tim Fletcher@FletcherShow14 Sep
@jenbielema @shopsavoirfaire no distractions please. Tough schedule awaits your hubby. Start wearing sweats around the house
2. Jen Bielema@jenbielema14 Sep
@FletcherShow I do every day”
Only problem: It’s a smokin’ hot skin-tight sweat ensemble outfit
She might not be that much older than 25…
She’s ancient, “the 43-year-old is married to one hot 27 year old! Let’s meet Jen Hielsberg or Mrs. Bielema”
http://fabwags.com/jen-hielsberg-bielema-arkansas-coach-bret-bielemas-hot-wife/.
She’s only with him for his rock hard abs and oozing sex appeal
And he’s only with her because…
She’s exceptionally good at “Throwing’ the A” around?
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/09/sec-coachs-wife-invents-team-gang-sign/
I’m thinking Greg has Coach Bobo in his back pocket if Richt splits. Anyone thinking we’ll snag their dream candidate from another school is delusional.
Whenever Richt moves on, Georgia will have the pick of the litter of assistant coaches and will have most head coaches getting their agents on the phone. Saban and Meyer won’t, but soooo many coaches will.
Glen Mason ring a bell? I don’t see a track record for coach hiring at Georgia that would give me your confidence.
You can thank Richt for what will happen when the job opens up. He’s changed the game for Georgia. The state putting out some of the best talent in the country is also a big plus.
“It’s a great job, Mr. Coaching Candidate. In fact, it’s so great that you should be willing to take a few less bucks to coach here than at most other places.”
The job just sells itself. 😉
I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing. The scenario in the post was Richt leaving because another school backed up the truck to get him. That means we’re not willing to match an offer to keep one of the top coaches in the country. If that happened why would we pay to pay enough to steal away a TOP coach from somewhere else? We’d be talking about an unproven assistant.
Yep, it’s a different program than the Glen Mason era. Maybe coach feels like he is being treated fairly and doesn’t have the desire or ego to demand that he be in the top 3 in compensation in the SEC. Once you reach a certain threshold, most of the compensation decisions are made because of ego. WTF did Bob Nardelli need a $65MM severance package from the Home Depot for? For one reason only, he’s an egotistical prick. My guess is that CMR is not the guy that’s going to march into McGarity’s office and demand to be the 2nd or 3rd highest paid coach in the SEC come heck or high water.
I’ve been a fan long enough to remember several head-coaching hires, but I don’t recall B-M ever seriously considering an accomplished, major-college head coach for the opening.
Have they ever hired a coach with big-time success?
Not for football, but they have in other sports, like Ron Polk and Jim Harrick, who’d both had long and highly successful careers at other major conference programs.
Second place I have seen this Bobo is HC in waiting crap! Lalalalalalala….fingers in the ears….lalalalalalalala…..I can’t hear you.
You can’t handle the truth! 😉
Bobo would be like Kramer for unlimited coffee “I’ll take it!!…”
I have a feeling CMR will finish his current contract and retire to spend more time on missions/family.
I agree with this, actually. I think he retires in 4-5 years.
“Richt is still young enough (53), [good enough, smart enough and doggone it, people like him] that if he wanted to he could spend another decade, if not two (if he lasted as long as Bowden, he’d have over 25 years left in him) on the sidelines.” (h/t Mr. Sanchez, some window up above)
I have a feeling CMR will out-Bowden Bowden and it will all happen at Georgia which if Mr. Sanchez is right would put CMR somewhere in the neighborhood of Year 1 of the Eighth Five-Year Plan when he hangs it up. That has all the potential of being a bummer for Bobo who would then be almost as old as Norm Chow is now
If CMR wanted more money he would have it.
Bielema’s contract tells us Arkansas is more desperate than we are.
Plenty of time to count the beans when the season is over. GATA!
Mark Richt was born in Omaha.
He also spent a long time in Boca, and played at Miami. How much did that help when Miami was looking? Nebraska ain’t a concern, even if it’s a great program at a rougher than desired time right now. Texas definitely should be though with all they have financially, in recruiting base, facilities, etc.
That, and you people talking about Bobo as Head Coach are giving me nightmares. He’s grown on me a bit as an OC, but there’s just so, so much about the idea of him as HC in Athens that I really, really don’t want that to ever happen.
He’s grown on me a bit as an OC,
Seeing as he was the best OC in the country last year, I should hope so.
Great stats =/= “best OC in the country. He had a good year, after some suspect ones. And that was with good luck at OL, and once a decade talents at skill positions.
If Richt has an exceptional year this year, ie winning an SEC championship, he will get a raise. If he doesn’t, he probably won’t.
I’d be surprised if he left UGA for another job not just because I don’t think it’s in his nature but also because I don’t think he’s that hot a commodity, at least not at the handful of school that could afford to make a game changing salary offer. Who exactly do we fear is going to ride in and offer him 4M a year right now? It’s not impossible, but as I said, I’d be surprised.
How many coaches are out there to whom you’d approve of UGA paying $4 million/year?
may I suggest starting with these 5: the vest, kiffin, charlie weiss, lou holtz, ron zook.
Nicely played, sir.
You forgot George O’Leary. His resume is impressive.
Not a lot. I was responding to your point that Richt might get stolen away from UGA. I just don’t see it. What school would pay him 4M right now? There are only 4 schools in the country currently paying their coach 4M a year: Bama, OU, Texas and Ohio State. Is Texas going to make a run at Mark Richt? I suppose it’s possible, but I’d be surprised.
Say you’re Texas, with the belief that you can get any, and I mean any, coach in the country. Who do you have higher on your list? Saban, maybe Meyer, and then who? Omitting NFL names like Shanahan or Belichek or Gruden or Tomlin, etc, who else would have a better resume for Texas to lust after than Richt?
If I’m Texas I want the guy who is going to have the best resume over the next 10 years, not the last 10. That’s pretty much why they’re getting rid of Mack. Phil Fulmer has a hell of a resume and it’s not doing him any good. I think they’ll go hard after a coach like David Shaw, or maybe even Kevin Sumlin.
Plenty of jobs comparable to Texas have opened up over the last few years, and Richt has never been a hot name for any of them. It seems like this burgeoning meme of “Texas wants Richt” is based on the similarities between Richt and Brown, but I’m not so sure that’s really in Richt’s favor in the eyes of Texas fans.
Put it this way, if the dominoes fell in such a way that Richt did leave for some job, and Mack Brown was available, would you want him at UGA?
Sumlin.
I don’t think he’d take it (if he can have a successful year post-JFF he’s gone to the NFL), but the Aggies heads would assplode if he took an interview.
Senator, I think you are way way off base here. I don’t think what Arkansas pays Bielma is of any significant relevance to UGA, McGarity, Richt, nor most UGA fans/observers. There are a few ways to think about Richt’s compensation. You have clearly chosen to discuss it on a relative basis. Given the transparency into college football coaching contracts, we know what the market pays for a head coach. Similarly, baseball players when they reach free agency know what other players at their position and value make. As a rule of thumb, each win over a replacement player or WAR as it is abbreviated is worth about $6M in the free agent market. Hold that thought for a moment as I love to the next way to think about his compensation.
Another way to think about his compensation is what incentives does it create for him? All things being equal, getting paid $3.2M is a lot of money for no promise of results, with a long term contract with a huge buyout, without even a HINT of a non-compete clause in the contract. Not many industries operate that way. Were I an AD, I would have a HUGELY incentive laden contract for both the head coach and entire coaching staff. While many of the revenues that support the AD are a recurring and growing, I have to believe there is a difference between them when you win the SEC and MNC and you don’t. Donations flow, licensing revenue increase, and other ancillary revenue streams become more valuable. Let the coaching staff share in that success.
We know pretty clearly what Richt’s WAR is. He is in fact on a percentage basis by far the winningest coach in the history of our program, and he is arguably doing it in the most difficult era in the conference. Dooley had engineered a permanent SEC schedule that included vandy, ole miss, and kentucky, and somehow missed bama, lsu and UT annually. now he also played SC and clemson, which were quasi SEC games. that said, i tend to think Richt is coaching in a more difficult era and doing a better job at it. that said, vince dooley was probably not a replacement level I.e., average) coach…donnan was. so I think one can make the case for some type of compensation based upon the 2-3 wins richt has averaged above Donnan (or base it on percentage to account for more games – one of which is the SEC title that Donnan never came with sniffing distance of).
But here is the thing, there are two ways to get WAR, you can pay for it (which is a loser’s game) or you can grow it. As an aside, between Uggla, BJ, and Justin upton, the Braves are paying $45M for essentially a sum total of 3 WAR from all three players. On the other hand, Simmons is worth 6 WAR and he is making nothing. Just because the market pays $6M/WAR does not mean you have to pay that. Similarly, the college coaching market is skewed. Purdue is paying Darrell Hazell $2.5M per year off his kent state success. think about that. let it sink in. If there was ever a case to NEVER pay up for a coach, that was it. the point being there are a LOT of guys who are smart and capable who come without a huge price tag. Chip kelly was coaching in NH before he became Oregon’s OC. Gary Patterson was Francione’s DC before he was elevated at TCU. heck, think about what texas is paying stacy searels and what we are paying his replacement will friend.
great organizations don’t base their compensation off the market. they pay someone what they think they are worth.
Were I an AD, I would have a HUGELY incentive laden contract for both the head coach and entire coaching staff.
That’s great. Just realize that you wouldn’t get a front line coach with an offer like that, because there are plenty of schools that would undercut you by offering higher base salaries.
there are plenty of coaches at different tiers of football that would kill for a UGA job. Perhaps you have heard of an industry called the hedge fund industry. Participants regularly work for modest base salaries to share in the investment profits they generate. While there is a heard mentality to asset allocators chasing performance and buying name brand funds, the most astute one are looking to capture alpha by allocating to managers before their management fees afford a private jet lifestyle. The same principle applies here. Hire guys who you think are exceptionally talented would kill for the opportunity to be a part of the UGA football program. there are countless number of stories like this in coaching as well. go read David Halberstam’s book on Belichick to see what he was willing to do to have a crack at being an NFL coach.
the thought that the only way to get a front line coach is to pay up for him is laughable.
Can you give me any recent examples of A-list coaches who took jobs at major college programs for less pay?
who is an “a list” coach? ultimately, unless you are hiring a proven winner in the heart of his prime, there are no A list coaches. Jimmy Johnson was not an A list coach when Miami hired him from Oklahoma State. Jimmy Johnson was A list when Dallas hired him. Not so much the second time around with the Dolphins. Saban was not an A list coach when LSU hired him the first time. spurrier was not an a list hire. There are very very few instances of A list coaches being “available”.
lets look at the last 20 years in college football. Saban is the only coach who was an A list hire at the time of his hire.
1993 bowden
1994 osborne
1996 spurrier
1997 carr/osborne
1998 fulmer
2000 stoopes
2001 coker (but lets credit butch davis)
2002 tressel
2003 saban/carroll
2004 carroll
2006 meyer
2009 saban
2010 chizik
so what about the other “high profile” proven guys?
Who else? Rich Rod at Michigan. How did that work out for them? How many times did someone pay up for Rick Neuhesial? How did Gary Barnett work out for Colorado?
Urban Meyer was a high profile hire and perhaps UF had to “pay up” to outbid Notre Dame at the time, but recall what he said made the difference in his decision. He solicited Herbstreit’s advice, who told him the UF and ND jobs were not close to equal and that he should take the UF job. Again, who is going to stay at Utah when UF comes with an offer.
Oh by the way, you think Bob Bolsby had to offer Jim Harbaugh a lot of money to the tiny catholic powerhouse University of San Diego (not San Diego State mind you!) to come to stanford. Obviously for every Harbaugh, there are 10 instances of Derek Dooley (maybe more).
Its not about the MONEY. It is NEVER ABOUT the money. It’s always about good process. the sports world is littered with sob stories of teams built on free agents to buy titles. it rarely works. the exact same principle applies here.
As an aside, between Uggla, BJ, and Justin upton, the Braves are paying $45M for essentially a sum total of 3 WAR from all three players. On the other hand, Simmons is worth 6 WAR and he is making nothing.
This analogy is worthless. Simmons is making nothing because he’s not eligible for free agency.
Senator, are you that small minded that you don’t get the distinction between growing talent and outbidding others for “proven” talent in hopes that it continues to produce.
As an AD, you can pay up for someone else’s head coach OR you can “grow your own” by hiring an assistant coach from the existing staff or another program. In all but a limited number of cases, will you have to “pay up” for the person.
I don’t know about small-mindedness, but I don’t think a program as established as Georgia’s is should be looking at hiring another school’s assistant coach. The kind of talent McGarity will be evaluating will either be established and expensive or more of a gamble and less pricey. I suspect Bobo’s gonna look mighty attractive when the day is done.
thats the thing…virtually every coach is a gamble. Its just that history proves that some are expensive gambles and others are not. Again, its about capturing a guy during the ascendant portion of his career. In some senses, I actually think we are doing that with Richt 2.0. Long term, UGA football may be better off for the mistakes that Richt made leading the program from 2006-2010. Certainly, one could argue the price was expensive in terms of disappointing on field results, but if we have successfully changed the culture of the program, that will serve us well to compete for national titles for years to come. 2012 and 2013 are NOT the only windows for this program.
That of course hinges on Bobo still being an assistant here when that time comes…
If we finish the season averaging over 500 ypg, some good offers might come his way.
God forbid anyone hire a HS coach as an assistant. Gee they may end up as an OC or even a HC one day. And some idiot will pay them large amounts of money. Wasted.
i think it says more about arkansas than it does uga.
they really do see themselves as one of the top 4 teams in the sec.
the rest of the world sees something different, but bielema is happy to take their money for the next few years until they figure it out.
uga paying mark richt on a scale that falls just after saban, les miles and spurrier makes sense to me.
that $400,000 raise is also the right call but it should be happening every year, not once in 5 years.
You plant a seed and yet you can’t even get a link….Will this Dawgbone black balling ever end? Eh Tu Senator?
http://www.sportsandgrits.com/2013/09/mark-richt-is-texas-top-target-to.html
Texas is coming and they are bringing JR Ewing Cadillacs full of money with them. I can’t wait to see the Richt-O-Philes faces when the beloved takes the money and runs.
As for all the other points….forces outside of your own control can sometimes dictate how your business model proceeds in the market place. We will have to pay more and that is just the way it is. Richt has the contract he has because he has earned it…just like it is.
Who would I want to see us pay $4 mill plus a year? Again with the no link love for you.
http://www.sportsandgrits.com/2013/09/mark-richt-will-replace-mack-brown-at.html
CC, my man, I wasn’t blackballing you. I read your posts and thought you were gracious at the end to Richt. But I think you’re going to be sadly, sadly disappointed if he leaves by whom B-M gets to replace him. That’s why I didn’t link your stuff.
BTW, I like Strong as much as you do, but there’s no way his academic/behavioral standards fly at UGA. He won’t be coming.
The most honorable, just, and upright Senator,
I appreciate your anti-blackballing position. A couple of years ago I came up with a descriptive term for the nervous nellies who fear a coaching search. Allow me to make a few points…if I may:
1. This ain’t 2001 anymore. There is Head Coach Inflation at play. The pay scale has changed and I am sure that G Mac knows the Dawgs will have to belly up to keep up.
2. A promotion of Mike Bobo to HC would cause Syrian level riots in the streets from Savannah to Augusta and on up to North Georgie.
3. A guy like Hudspeth, or Taggert from small schools or a coordinator like Chad Morris will be impossible to pawn off on the fan base. The Richt-O-Philes will be in full on Jihad over Texas taking Richt and they will demand an eye for an eye and a HC for a HC.
4. A certain douchebag University President who cared more about some non-sense called “a-ca-dem-ics” than the real reason colleges exist, Football, is gone now. Let me remind you that there was a meeting after the Boise St. and Sakerlina back to back losses in which the direction of the program was questioned by certain top brass.
However, not to discredit your point all together…..even I, The Overlord of all that which is evil in Dawgnation, the HNIC (head nay sayer in charge), the coldest of Cold Blooded Sausage Makers….have a small hint of fear….in the back of my mind…..dwelling within the deepest darkest recess of what used to be my soul….a fear know as– UGA HC Kirby Smart!
Smart doesn’t make sense to me for two reasons: one, he’s burned bridges at B-M with his now you see me/now you don’t act on the DC job offer, and, two, if you’re gonna hire Smart, isn’t it just easier (and cheaper) to hire Bobo?
I don’t think a Bobo hire is going to offend nearly as many people as you think/hope, either.
Hmmmmm….then it would appear that my evil work here is far from done…..and we are far from ascending to elite status as a program. You know sometimes I blame myself….it’s true. I sit looking around at the cave walls of Hell and say…”Am I just not evil enough? Is that why the Disney Dawgs never seem to truly lose ground?” Of course then I remember that I hate self loathing and I start concentrating of hating things again…..then I feel better.
It is because you are not evil enough. Receive Love – Give Love. Say it with me now.
Rugbydawg 79
I hope we have CMR for a long time-we are Lucky to have him
in my Opinion CMB will be a great HC-It is this Dogs wish that when the time comes we hire Bobo—silky smooth transition
the last offensive coordinator we hired has worked out pretty well….
“Eh Tu”?
Hello. “Et tu”. I’d forgive it as sarcasm? or a keyboard error but T is left handed and H is right handed.
“Id est quod id est”
Texas will not hire a Mack clone. They will get a Stoops/Sooner slayer. It is ALL they care about. 60 – 13 burns deeply.
63 – 21 and 55 – 17 for those who like to be precise about such things.
Mark Richt ain’t leaving Georgia. Large family support system surrounds him here. If you can’t wrap that up… you just can’t. That 40 grand an acre dirt in Oconee County may get ya 8000 now. Doesn’t matter what everyone else bid it up to. The ESPN money largesse will dry up the same way but UGa will not suffer like uT will. Hell uT is on life support now. Neither will Apple in spite of Samsung. LSU is up next. Linebacker play will be key. But, as usual, it’s been a fun read. Go Dawgs!
McGarity has programmed you well. He would be proud of your use of his “we can’t end up like Tennessee!” theme.
PROGRAMED WELL. What does that mean? Cannot be programed …does not compute….will rogers will rogers …danger…danger.
I don’t see Texas going after Richt. I see only one coach that excites their boosters and fans enough to kick their donations up past aTm’s and that is Nick Saban. 5mil will be where negotiations start for Saban.
Bama is paying him $5.5 million right now. So if Texas offers him $5 million the answer is no. FYI Bama will never be outbid for Saban,
Saban plus J R=match made in heaven, or where CC calls home.
Richt is a lifer. He’ll be on the UGA sidelines until at least 2025 and likely longer than that.
Georgia is a top 5 job and while we are lucky to have Richt, it goes both ways.
You are correct Hobnail…Did you talk to CMR this morning too?
americusdawg
It’s getting late in the evening so I figured that I’d pose a possible scenario that is likely to occur at or by the end of this season … What happens if/when both the Texas & USC top jobs open up at approximately the same time frame? Two current/former (take your pick) top programs with wads of cash to throw at their new saviors? If so, I expect the domino effect will be quite interesting.
Jake (@jakebjohnson)
USC will take Kliff Kingsbury. He has the “look” they are searching for.
f i were CMR i would leave and let Charlie Strong come in.
Tyler Dawgden
1) Too many Dawg fans have misplaced faith that those in charge on campus rank success in athletics as solely a function of wins.
2)Too many Dawg fans have an over inflated sense of who would come to Georgia for a number less than all but about 5 programs.
3) Jimmy Sexton will reset what that number is come December 2013 or so.
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← No hard feelings
“Mike Slive worked very hard to get the Outback to take LSU.” →
“I believe in these guys.”
With Ramik Wilson’s announcement that he won’t skip his senior year for the NFL draft, there’s one thing you can say about next year’s Georgia team – inexperience won’t be an excuse.
… And Wilson’s big talk is supported by the 2014 schedule, which is very manageable, and this fact: Georgia is due to return 17 of the 22 players who will start in next week’s bowl game, including quarterback Hutson Mason, whose long apprenticeship to Aaron Murray ended two games early. Throw in place-kicker Marshall Morgan, a first-team All-SEC pick, and the punting combination of Collin Barber and Adam Erickson, and that number grows to 19 starters.
That number doesn’t include Malcolm Mitchell, perhaps the team’s best receiver, who tore his ACL on the second series of the season. It also doesn’t include receiver Justin Scott-Wesley or tailback Keith Marshall, key contributors who tore their ACLs in the fifth game of the season. Those three are expected to be healthy for next season, with Mitchell a particularly huge lift.
That’s almost a mirror image of how 2013 looked before the season started. Next year, the defense loses only one starter, Garrison Smith. Meanwhile on offense, Aaron Murray is gone and the offensive line has to replace three starters. And Seth’s right about the schedule. September starts out tough, with two straight top 25 opponents, but from there, LSU gets swapped for Arkansas and Auburn comes to Athens.
The good thing about that is that the coaching staff, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, won’t be consumed with personnel decisions all the way until the season opener, which should give them the opportunity to focus on other things, such as making sure special teams aren’t such a sore spot. Mark Richt wanted continuity going into 2014. Let’s see what he can do with it.
Oh, and staying healthy would be nice.
51 responses to ““I believe in these guys.””
Injuries and suspensions are the only reason I could see us not having an easy ten wins next year.
Sad to say, we can’t take either for granted.
Optimistic take: Grantham’s strength had always been pass defense, and with the improved run defense in 2013 and experience in the secondary in 2014, we should expect a steep return of a stout defense next year. On offense, mason should slide in pretty seamlessly and Gurley makes Bobo look like a genius. Morgan learns to boot the ball out of the back of the end zone and keeps kicking well. Uga loses one game (auburn) and makes the playoff.
Pessimistic view – grantham proves again that he is a sub par coordinator. Injuries and suspensions continue in the secondary which struggles again, and the loss of Smith as anchor of the defensive line sees us regress on run defense. Mason is Joe Cox v2, and shows the first half of the Tech game wasn’t an aberration but instead a glimpse into mason’s poor ability to adjust to big game situations and a pass rush. The offensive line without an anchor like Tunsil quickly turns Gurley from a Heisman candidate into Jasper Sanks. Special Teams stay par for the course (well, double bogeys in our case) and we drop 7 games with losses to Tennessee, tech, auburn, sc, Clemson, mizz and Florida.
I suspect the truth is somewhere in between.
Super optimistic view: Georgia beats Auburn between the hedges, wins 12 games and heads into the playoff ranked #1.
After beating bama or LSU in the SECCG.
dudetheplayer
Gurley could have me blocking for him at LT and he wouldn’t turn in to Jasper Sanks. Dude is on a completely different level.
Why do people think we are going to lose to Auburn next year. We shouldn’t have lost to them this year. This stupid wave of incredible luck that they’ve been riding is not going to last much longer.
They torched us for most of the game. But regardless, that was year one of a new coach and new system. Gus is a really good coach who played with a limited playbook this year and is playing for a natty. It’s hard to get there every year but I don’t see anything on out two trajectories that suggests we will have the better team next year. Id love to be wrong.
“They torched us for most of the game.”
Right, except for the part where they needed a miracle 4th down conversion with a little over 30 seconds left to actually win the game.
Football games are four quarters.
And the part where everyone has a year of film on the Gus-Bone, not to mention that they still have a QB that can’t throw. Remember how well the first year of the Nerdbone went?
They needed a miracle to win because their D sucks. Even without the miracle TD they still put up 37 on us.
Oh, and people already had three years of tape on Gus Malzahn’s offense against SEC competition. I’m not sure why so many people think one more year is going to be that much better.
And their defense will continue to suck year after year as long as Gus is head coach.
Lol. That’s wishful thinking. What is it about Ellis Johnson’s track record that supports this? Is it the old “they run the spread offense” line of thought? I seem to remember a Florida team under Urban Meyer who ran a spread offense and still had a dominate defense.
If they get a Clowney, they’ll have a scary D, otherwise it’s “possibly very good” at best (and I’d say his one year as a head coach took a ton of shine of Ellis’s rep. Taking a team that won 12 to losing 12 doesn’t scream “great coaching.”)
toyfamilytree
Our defense will still get torched 5 or 6 times like every season with Grantham. Did you see Notre Dame hired Brian VanGorder as DC? We screwed up not bringing him back.
Jay Reminschneider
I wonder if Auburn thinks the same thing. VanG had his glory at UGA and has yet to replicate it again with the exception of one good year with the Falcons.
BVG was the beneficiary of the ridiculous amount of talent that Jim Donnan recruited. BVG and Willie Two Thumbs play the same exact defense. BVG got the hell out of dodge when the talent level started to dip. At Auburn and with the Falcons he had very little talent to work with and his teams were absolutely shredded by a decent offense.
He was with us for four seasons and we still had decent defenses for a couple of years after he left, so I’m not sure the “he inherited a lot of talent” argument holds a lot of water. He clearly recruited and developed plenty of talent too.
If you are going to argue that BVG benefitted from a stockpile of talent, you have to apply the same argument to Richt. And to take it further, Richt has not won an SECCG without BVG or JD’s players.
I’m not sure how many of Donnan’s players were still around when UGA won the SECCG in ’05. Does anybody out there in blogland know? And didn’t BVG leave after the 2004 season?
Here’s the basic part of the ’05 roster. For all intents and purposes, those were Richt’s players.
And, yes, Martinez was the DC in 2005.
It appears that there were only 4 players who were redshirt seniors on that team and only 2 played any significant minutes: David Greene and Tony Milton. Plus with BVG gone and CWM taking over the above statement that “Richt has not won an SECCG without BVG or JD’s players” is completely factually inaccurate. Skeptic? What say you now that this falsehood has been exposed?
He wasn’t at Auburn long enough to do anything, and that Auburn team had lost all discipline long before he got there. Its funny how BVG get defamed over one season, yet many of you continue to defend that same sorry sack of manure that is our present DC.
He still sucked with the Falcons….
Wrong. the Falcons were in the low to mid teens in every defensive category when he was DC. And he achieved that while Dimitroff was using all his draft picks on offense.As soon as BVG left, the falcons went to near dead last in every category.
Tell it like it is, bro. BVG is a damn good DC.
It doesn’t matter how many players are coming back next year, UGA will never win a MNC with CMR!
Exactly JRW7
Yeh. Let’s see what Richt can do with it.
greygatch (@greygatch)
Mason has already replaced Murray. Most of the offense linemen filling in already have substantial PT.
Mason’s started one game and struggled for a good part of it. Let’s not start pushing him for the Heisman just yet.
As far as the o-line goes, whoever starts at left tackle is going to be new at the position and that’s a little scary.
The whole OL is scary outside of David Andrews.
I think Kublanow will be okay succeeding Lee.
The pass defenses Mason faced in Kentucky and GT were in the bottom half of the country too. I hope he does well but let’s not count our chickens before they hatch.
Has Herrera given any indication of his plans?
He certainly looks like an NFL LB already. Hope he stays too.
He’s staying. He was one of the first to say so.
Get on board the Monorail now Realists! There might not be room later. -DD
Still not buying the Auburn hype. There is no way to keep this from sounding like sour grapes so if you want to believe it is, I don’t care. Auburn being in the NC is far more a product of an unbelieveably insane amount of good luck than it is Malzahn’s coaching. AS has been stated here, they beat us do to a fluke play on fourth down that was essentially a desperation last gasp play that doesn’t work 99 times out fo 100. Sorry, that aint Malzahn’s smarts that did that. Funny to me that one of you try and strengthen the argument in favor of the barn by pointing out that they had a sucky D. Because despite the fact that we were sporting a defense that is statistically worse than anything Willie Martinez trotted out on the field, they still needed a last minute desperation luck play to beat us. I for one think our defense will be better next year and i know that Auburn will not be living the charmed life of Les Miles that they are living this year. Im not saying it is impossible for them to beat us next year. What I’m saying is, a lot of my fellow dawgs are looking at Auburn in an overemotional fashion brought on by the pain of that loss. The reason it hurts so bad is because they should not have beaten us. All the talk about what a great coach Malzahn is seems grossly premature to me. The fact that they have him on their sideline does not make me chalk up another loss for us next year. He is a good offensive mind but he has benefitted from a once in a generation player in Newton who fell in his lap and an incredible amount of luck this year. Saban making two uncharacteristically bad tactical decisions against Auburn have nothing to do with Malzahn’s coaching. Without even one of those mistakes we are not having this conversation. I see nothing that keeps me from thinking that a win over them next year is not only possible but probable. Take the emotion out of it. They had a horse shoe up their collective rear this year. That kind of thing doesn’t carry over into a new season.
UGA is 6-2 against Auburn over the last 8 seasons. Also, UGA has blown out the Aubies several times over that span whereas when Auburn wins they tend to barely squeak out a victory. Malzahn was the OC in several of those losses.
I thought Malzahn was OC for the Cam Newton win, then he left to be HC elsewhere, and came back this year to beat us again.
If I am not mistaken, Malzahn is 2-0 against UGA as coach at Auburn.
No? Maybe I am forgetting a year in there somewhere?
So Malzahn is 2-1 vs Georgia, rather than 2-0?
This statement is still incorrect, no?
“Malzahn was the OC in several of those losses.”
And do you guys hear yourselves saying we should have kept VanGorder? Exactly what that he’s done since he left Athens supports this?
And the 2 DCs we’ve had since are better? BVG was voted #1 assistant in cfb and was runner-up another year while at UGA. So who are you saying is better than BVG that would actually take our DC job?
That wasn’t exactly recent history though. Hell, Joe Kines led Bama to the best D in the SEC in 2005, let’s get him out of retirement! He was better than even BvG’s best years!
Happens every time someone mentions “DC” or porn. I am convinced there are a couple on here who are his offspring or wife. The love they show this guy is “unnatural”, particularly based on his actions. When does a 7 year nosedive overcome being a decent DC with excellent talent. I swear I think it is just because he yelled and screamed some on the sidelines……sort of like BoomMF, who is also out of goodwill. It is like you must fit the Hollyweird stereotype of what a football coach must look, and act, like. Come on guys, look at the whole picture of this guy, not your narrow memories. The guy left us in the lurch during recruiting acting like an ass and then proceeded to face plant at every stop he has made since then. Frankly, I don’t even remind fans that he was ever in Athens so taking him back would be like a nightmare to me.
Um, I’ve never said such a thing.
Thanks for that but you didnt answer the question, you just asked two of your own. So again, what is it that he’s done since he left Athens that makes you think he’s a good choice. Rather than get emotional, why not take a look at the facts. I’ll let you do it for yourself as I’ve already checked out the details. But spoiler alert, at no poin in his career since he left Athens did he come even remotely close to matching those results. So…it makes sense that the odds of him doing it again aren’t very good. If you just like VanGorder because you have fond memories of his stint in Athens that’s understandable. But that dooesn’t make him a good choice as DC just because we had good defenses under him nearly ten years ago. Martinez was awful. No argument from me there. To me, the first year under GRantham is a wash. It was year one in a new, much more complex system, and they had been getting some really bad coaching for five years prior to that. The 2011 D was stout. 2012 was strong against the pass but not against the run . This year we were fielding a defense of freshmen and first time starters. Anyone with even a little objectivity knew it was gonna be rough. The run defense improved over the season but the pass defense did not. We shall see next season. If there is not marked improvement then changes will be made in one form or another. But VanGorder? Come on man. He’s been bad everywhere he’s been since leaving and not having Pollak, Odell, Thomas Davis, Kedric Golston etc etc.
That said, His mustache has gotten more powerful.
Matt b.
How bout we talk about how in a year where we have 19 of 22 starters returning, can we buck the trend of not living up to expectations for once…
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