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Marijuana may hold promise in treating veterans with PTSD
A man rolls a marijuana joint in San Francisco.Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP file
By Gabe Gutierrez and Michelle Dubert
PHOENIX — His nightmares had gotten so bad, Marine Corps veteran Roberto Pickering was drinking himself to death.
“When I got back from Iraq, I felt like an eggshell, and a basket case," he said. "And I was just doing all this self-destructive behavior that I could think of to not feel anything at all."
Pickering returned from Iraq in 2003 haunted by post-traumatic stress. He’d seen his buddies die. The transition back to civilian life wasn’t easy. At one point, he was prescribed 14 different drugs.
Then he tried pot.
“I stopped all the pills cold turkey,” he said. “And I picked up cannabis, 'cause in my opinion, it was either find relief or suicide.”
Marijuana may hold promise for veterans with PTSD
He’s one of the growing number of veterans who say medical marijuana is helping treat PTSD symptoms — and is a less addictive alternative to opioids.
Roughly 20 veterans commit suicide every day, according to a study by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Near Phoenix, Dr. Sue Sisley is now running the first FDA-approved clinical trial of its kind to see whether marijuana is effective in treating PTSD.
“I think we're desperately seeking new treatments for PTSD,” she said. "Our hypothesis is that we believe cannabis will reduce the severity of the PTSD symptoms. But we don't know that … it needs to be tested.”
The trial, funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and sponsored by California-based MAPS, an organization that promotes research into psychedelic drugs for medical benefit, is looking at the safety and efficacy of four strains of smoked marijuana to manage treatment-resistant PTSD symptoms in military veterans.
Related: Medical marijuana finds unlikely support: NFL player Derrick Morgan
Sisley has currently enrolled 23 vets in the study. She needs 76 to reach statistical significance. But recruiting has been difficult.
Cannabis’ classification as a “Schedule 1” drug means physicians at the nation's VA hospitals can’t prescribe or discuss marijuana with their patients as a possible treatment for PTSD.
Arizona alone is home to more than half a million veterans, and Sisley’s lab is less than 30 minutes from the VA in Phoenix.
Medical marijuana is now legal in 29 states plus Washington, D.C., and PTSD is a qualifying condition in 23 of those states.
But a recent report, funded by the VA, found there’s not enough hard evidence to make firm conclusions about the drug’s effectiveness.
Related: Momentum builds for pot legalization in Nevada
“What might feel good in the short term is not necessarily good in the long term,” said Kevin Sabet with Smart Approaches to Marijuana. “And rather than look at anecdote and stories, let's look at the overall picture of where this might lead in the future.”
Pickering just wants more research to be done.
"These men and women went out there [and] put their lives on the line,” he said. “And they're coming back from a war and they're fighting a new war here in America. And that war is a suicide and the opioid epidemic that we're essentially fighting within ourselves."
Gabe Gutierrez
Gabe Gutierrez is an NBC News Correspondent based in Atlanta, Georgia. He reports for all platforms of NBC News, including "TODAY," “NBC Nightly News," MSNBC and NBCNews.com.
Michelle Dubert
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Notre Dame fire: Catholics 'heartbroken' as blaze ravages iconic cathedral during Holy Week
Catholics should be commemorating Holy Week in the pews of the Notre Dame, but instead, a massive inferno is threatening to destroy the iconic church.
Notre Dame fire: Catholics 'heartbroken' as blaze ravages iconic cathedral during Holy Week Catholics should be commemorating Holy Week in the pews of the Notre Dame, but instead, a massive inferno is threatening to destroy the iconic church. Check out this story on news-leader.com: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/04/15/notre-dame-cathedral-signifies-catholic-tradition/3477727002/
Holly Meyer and Chris Woodyard, Nashville Tennessean Published 5:20 p.m. CT April 15, 2019 | Updated 1:53 a.m. CT April 16, 2019
A fire erupted at the famed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. USA TODAY
NASHVILLE — A fire ravaged the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris during the most significant week of the year in the Catholic Church.
It's Holy Week.
Catholics should be commemorating Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection in its pews at Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday services. Instead, a massive inferno is threatening to destroy the culturally and religiously significant icon for good.
The timing of the blaze immediately struck the Very Rev. John Hammond, a Nashville priest and who has celebrated Mass at the revered cathedral and played its famous pipe organ. The more than 850-year-old Gothic structure is the cathedral for the Archdiocese of Paris and a functioning church, he said.
Firefighters douse flames burning the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. (Photo: BERTRAND GUAY, AFP/Getty Images)
"This is going to be an even greater struggle for the people of Paris who would normally be flocking to the cathedral for these very special liturgies this week," Hammond said.
The cause of the fire is not immediately known, but officials say it could be linked to the $6.8 million renovation work that was in progress at Notre Dame cathedral.
As the news of the fire spread to the U.S., Notre Dame University in Indiana clarified on its official Twitter account that it was the Paris cathedral not their campus that was on fire.
But the distance did not make the blaze any less shocking to Krupali Krusche, a historical preservation expert and professor at the university. She and her fourth-year architecture students were streaming live footage of the blaze in their University of Notre Dame classroom.
"It's a major loss to humanity and to the citizens of France and to everybody else," Krusche said. "To us as conservationists, of people that work on treasuring major sites like this, this is a sad day."
Krusche, who has documented world heritage sites for moments like this, could tell from the online videos that the damage would be extensive from this fire.
'Nothing will remain': Famed Notre Dame cathedral ablaze in Paris
'Today's loss hurts so much': Tour guides heartbroken, shocked by Notre Dame fire
"Those flames that are happening at the cathedral right now, it's the level where stone starts melting," Krusche said. "A fire of this size especially during the restoration process of the cathedral is going to be starting from scratch in many, many ways."
Students from the Indiana college visit Paris every year, Krusche said. In two weeks, a group in the university's Rome program were supposed to travel to the city and study Notre Dame. Those plans will now have to be reconsidered, she said.
People connect with Notre Dame on multiple levels, Krusche said. It's religiously and architecturally significant, but it also has an impact on the beauty in the world, she said.
It resonates with anyone who wants to study Gothic architectural traditions and it also represents the highest level of cathedral design, she said.
"Religiously, as a piece of architecture that signifies Catholic tradition to its highest, it is one of the key monuments out there," Krusche said.
Anna Harrison, an associate professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles who is taking a class of about a dozen students to Paris this summer, said the cathedral has held deep meaning for Catholics over the centuries.
Her goal was to "try to understand how medieval Christians would have occupied the space, the role it played in their larger devotional life." Particularly then, when the cathedral towered over the city, "it must have stimulated a sense of awe," Harrison said.
5 things to know: 850-year-old Notre Dame survived the French Revolution. Here are 4 other things to know
Notre Dame fire: Travelers express shock, horror over Notre Dame fire, share memories of their visits
The Medieval Thought and Practice class had planned to pay particular attention not only to the architecture, but the statues and stained glass. She added that the cathedral "communicates a beautiful dimension of human beings" and that it also marks "dazzling feats of architectural engineering."
Nora Heimann, the chair of the Art Department at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., said she has led more than 20 tours to Notre Dame and Paris’ other significant churches.
"I am heartbroken at the devastation of today's fire," she said in an email. "It is hard to imagine how much history has been lost in today's conflagration."
“For me, it’s a very personal thing,” said Heimann of her visits to Notre Dame. She said she is moved by the way stones have worn from the legions of pilgrims who have called on the church over the centuries. Though it is a tourist destination, she said she has worshiped there and come to hear musical performances. “For me, I felt the history of the place.”
Hammond, who is the pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Nashville and a vicar general for the local diocese, remembers feeling the significance of Notre Dame when he celebrated Mass with a group of visiting pilgrims at the cathedral a couple years ago.
"It was an incredible experience," Hammond said. "You're surrounded by not only such a magnificent building in terms of its architecture, but just the history, the centuries and centuries of the worship of God sort of are they're in the air. They kind of seep out of the walls."
"It's a very special place. It's one of those places that you feel sort of timeless," Hammond said.
Follow Holly Meyer on Twitter @HollyAMeyer.
Donald Trump weighs in: Trump draws criticism over suggestion of fighting Notre Dame fire with 'flying water tankers'
Famed Notre Dame Cathedral on fire in Paris
Bystanders watch as flames and smoke billow from the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. ERIC FEFERBERG, AFP/Getty Images
Smoke rises in front of the altar cross at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019, after a fire engulfed the building. PHILIPPE WOJAZER, AFP/Getty Images
A view of the interior from the entrance of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019, after a fire engulfed the building. PHILIPPE WOJAZER, AFP/Getty Images
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron pay a visit to firemen fighting a fire in the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. YOAN VALAT, EPA-EFE
Firefighters douse flames billowing from the roof at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. LUDOVIC MARIN, AFP/Getty Images
Bystanders watch as flames and smoke billow from the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. BRIAN HESTER, NorthJersey.com via USA TODAY Network
French firefighters spray water to put out a fire on the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. JULIEN DE ROSA, EPA-EFE
Flames and smoke are seen in the interior of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, on April 15, 2019. Philippe Wojazer, Pool Photo
Flames burn the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. IAN LANGSDON, EPA-EFE
People kneel on the pavement as they pray outside while watching flames engulf Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. ERIC FEFERBERG, AFP/Getty Images
Flames burn the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. PHILIPPE LOPEZ, AFP/Getty Images
Fire fighters work at the burning Notre Dame cathedral, April 15, 2019. Benoit Moser, BSPP via AP
The landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral is engulfed by flames in central Paris on April 15, 2019. GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT, AFP/Getty Images
Flames and smoke billow from the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. FOUAD MAGHRANE, AFP/Getty Images
People react as they watch flames engulf the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT, AFP/Getty Images
Flames burn the roof of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. IAN LANGSDON, EPA-EFE
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. PATRICK ANIDJAR, AFP/Getty Images
Smoke ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral. FRANCOIS GUILLOT, AFP/Getty Images
Fire fighters work at the burning Notre Dame cathedral. Benoit Moser, BSPP via AP
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. LUDOVIC MARIN, AFP/Getty Images
A man watches the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burn, engulfed in flames. GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT, AFP/Getty Images
Bystanders look on as flames and smoke billow from Notre Dame Cathedral. LUDOVIC MARIN, AFP/Getty Images
Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral. FRANCOIS GUILLOT, AFP/Getty Images
Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral. FRANCOIS GUILLOT, AFP/Getty Images
Bystanders look on as flames and smoke billow from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Monday, April 15, 2019. EDOUARD MAGRINO, AFP/Getty Images
The steeple of the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral collapses as the cathedral is engulfed in flames in central Paris on April 15, 2019. GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT, AFP/Getty Images
The spire collapses while flames are burning the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. IAN LANGSDON, EPA-EFE
People watch as the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral burns. PHILIPPE LOPEZ, AFP/Getty Images
Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019. Francois Guillot / AFP / Getty Images
Flames on the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. IAN LANGSDON, EPA-EFE
Notre Dame Cathedral is burning in Paris on Monday, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. AP
Notre Dame cathedral is burning in Paris, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. Lori Hinant, AP
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/04/15/notre-dame-cathedral-signifies-catholic-tradition/3477727002/
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@12PM
Sales - Pets
Pregnancy and cats
Tuesday, April 24th 2018, 10:54 PM CDT
© iStockphoto.com / Miroslava Arnaudov
By Dr. Jessica Vogelsang
From The Daily Cat
Pregnancy is a time of joy, but for many women, a time of unprecedented worry.
Along with the admonitions about caffeine, lunch meat and wine, many pregnant women are told they should get rid of their cats because of health risks.
With a few basic safety precautions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that pregnant women do not need to give up their cats.
Most concerns about cats have to do with an organism called Toxoplasma gondii, a microscopic parasite carried by cats. If a woman is exposed to the organism for the first time during pregnancy, the organism can pass to her unborn baby and cause severe medical problems.
When a cat is first exposed to the Toxoplasma organism, it sheds the organism in its feces for approximately two weeks. Once shed in the feces, it takes one to five days before the organism develops into the infectious state. After that single period, they are no longer infectious.
Women who have been exposed to Toxoplasma before becoming pregnant are not at risk of infecting the baby. A blood test exists to determine if you have been previously exposed. In order for a woman to pass on Toxoplasma to her baby from her cat, both the cat and the woman must be exposed for the first time during the woman's pregnancy.
Common sources of infection include undercooked meat, unwashed produce and ingestion of oocytes (the infectious agent) while gardening -- usually not from the family cat.
If you are pregnant, here are some of the basic steps recommended by the CDC to minimize exposure to Toxoplasma:
- Change the cat litter daily. Better yet, have a housemate take over litter duties for the duration of the pregnancy.
- Cook meat thoroughly.
- Wash hands frequently, especially after gardening.
- Avoid feeding your pet raw meat.
Please visit here for more tips and idea about your pregnancy.
Dr. Jessica Vogelsang is a small-animal veterinarian from San Diego. When she's not at work or with her family of two and her four-legged creatures, you can find her blogging about life with pets at PawCurious.com. Dr. Vogelsang's blogs have previously appeared on The Daily Cat.
Copyright © 2013 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.
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Man strangled and cooked collie he got via Facebook before feeding it to another dog
Dominic O'Connor
Jury reach verdict in less than 300 seconds
A jury took less than five minutes to convict a County Down man of animal cruelty by killing a dog and feeding it to his own animal.
In one of the fastest verdicts in NI legal history, the Downpatrick Crown Court jury of eight men and four women deliberated for less than 300 seconds on Tuesday before returning to unanimously convict 27-year-old Dominic O’Connor of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog last December.
Formerly known as William Mocsari, O’Connor from Roden Street in Kircubbin, was remanded into custody and will be sentenced on November 21 after probation have written a report.
During the course of the two-day trial, the jury heard horrific details of how O’Connor obtained a four-year-old collie dog called Jess from Facebook, killed it and cooked it into a stew to feed to his own dog Shadow.
The jury heard that during police questioning, O’Connor described how he first tried to strangle Jess with a lead but because it had “too much give,” he used a different lead.
O’Connor who has a personality disorder, told the shocked officers: “I strangled it with the shorter lead. Then I cut it up and cooked some of it and fed it to the dog and put the rest of it on the fire.
“I cooked it and fed it to the other dog with a few onions and an Oxo cube and salt and pepper.”
The jury heard that he attempted to cut the carcass up with an axe and then a bread knife before burning it in the fire.
The ashes, O’Connor confessed, were put into a bag which, knowing police were going to search his home, he dumped into Portavogie harbour.
He conceded that ordinary people would be disgusted at his behaviour and that he recognised “part of it was wrong”.
The horrific incident came to light when he community mental health worker and then a psychiatric nurse at the Ulster Hospital.
The jury heard that when officers arrived to search his house, they found what appeared to be burnt dog hair burnt in the grate with a liquid oozing over the front of the grate.
Giving evidence to the jury, a police constable recounted: “There appeared to be fragments of bone mixed with the ash,” adding that there was also a “stringy type of meat like stewing steak” in a pot in the kitchen and a similar pot of stew placed beside a bowl of water on the floor.
Residents urged to report suspicious activity at ATMs
A friend of O’Connor also testified that she saw Jess one day but the next, she was gone and that she heard O’Connor tell his other dog Shadow: “I told you I was going to get another dog and let you taste it.”
She described how despite having committed the atrocious killing, O’Connor “was all happy and stuff...just his normal self” and he claimed he had re-homed Jess that morning.
She told prosecuting lawyer Laura Ievers, however, that she noticed the shower screen had been pulled across in his bathroom and that the house “seemed strange...there was a weird smell to it.”
She said he later confessed to her that he had strangled the dog, put it in the shower, and put it in the bin after she left.
“In a way he was joyful about it,” she said. “He was not all there. His head was somewhere else.”
Defence lawyer Chris Holmes submitted there were no forensic evidence before the jury and conceding “this is not a straight forward case,” confirmed to trial Judge Piers Grant the defence were not relying on a defence of insanity.
Following the jury’s guilty verdict that O’Connor caused unnecessary suffering, Judge Grant ordered pre-sentence reports and remanded the dog killer into custody ahead of sentencing on November 21.
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2007 A-Co
Wolfgang Bernhard Biography
Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen
Wolfgang Bernhard
Born Wolfgang Ayerle in September, 1960, in Böhen, Germany. Education: Earned master's degree in electrical engineering and economics from the Technical University, Darmstadt, Germany, 1986; Columbia University, M.B.A., 1988; earned doctorate in economics from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 1990.
Addresses: Office —Volkswagen AG, D-38436 Wolfsburg, Germany.
Management consultant with McKinsey & Company for Mercedes-Benz, 1990–92; Mercedes-Benz, project manager, 1992–94; manager for S-Class assembly after 1994, and responsible for the launch of the S-Class line, 1998; chief executive officer for Mercedes-AMG (high-performance division), 1999; named deputy member of the board of management and chief operating officer, November, 2000; full member of the board of management (now DaimlerChrysler AG), September 2002–July 2004; joined Volkswagen AG, October, 2004, and became full member of the board of management, February, 2005; head of Volkswagen brand group, May, 2005–.
Wolfgang Bernhard was tapped to lead the troubled Volkswagen automotive group in October of 2004. Both feared and admired in the auto industry, the German executive had risen to one of the top posts at DaimlerChrysler, the German-American firm created by the merger of Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler, but resigned after being bypassed to lead its Mercedes-Benz car group earlier that year. Bernhard had earned his reputation as one of a new generation of visionary automotive executives for leading Chrysler through an impressive turnaround, and auto-industry analysts deemed him the ideal candidate for doing the same with Volkswagen.
Born in 1960 as Wolfgang Ayerle, Bernhard later took his mother's maiden name. He grew up as one of nine children in Böhen, a town in the southern German state of Bavaria. He spent most of the 1980s in school, first at the Technical University of Darmstadt, where he received a master's degree in electrical engineering and economics in 1986, and then in New York City at Columbia University, which granted him a graduate business degree in 1988. Returning to Germany, he earned a doctorate in economics, with a focus on international exchange rate risks, from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt in 1990. During his early college years, he reportedly earned income as a busker, playing guitar in the streets and public-transit stations for spare change.
Bernhard spent two years with McKinsey & Company, the prestigious management consulting firm. He was assigned to Mercedes-Benz, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and then joined the car company outright in 1992 as a project manager responsible for cost-cutting in its assembly plants. Two years later, he was named manager for the new S-Class assembly plant in Sindelfingen, Germany, and then headed the product launch of the revamped S-Class series of luxury sedans, which came on the market in 1998. A rising star at the company and not yet 40 years old, he was promoted to chief executive officer for Mercedes-AMG, the company's high-performance division, in 1999. AMG makes a limited number of cars, all built by hand, either for the racing circuit or for automotive connoisseurs who can afford a top-of-the-line customized vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz merged with one of Detroit's Big Three automakers, the Chrysler Corporation, in the spring of 1998. Executives in both Stuttgart and Auburn Hills—the Detroit suburb where Chrysler's headquarters were located—trumpeted it as a merger of equals, but within a few years it became apparent that Chrysler was bleeding money, and that some major changes were in order. Bernhard was named as deputy member of the Daimler-Chrysler board of management and Chrysler's chief operating officer in November of 2000. He headed to Michigan along with another executive, Dieter Zetsche, to take over at Chrysler at a time when some feared the ailing company was on the verge of bankruptcy and that the decision-makers back in Stuttgart might choose to sell it off in parts.
The arrival of the two Germans to lead one of the Motor City's largest employers caused some ill will, but Bernhard and Zetsche's recovery plan for Chrysler worked, and within three years the company had rebounded impressively. It was a leaner automaker, with six fewer factories and 26,000 fewer jobs, but sales were up and within a few years Chrysler's financial performance had even surpassed that of Mercedes-Benz. Known as the blunt-speaking ax-man in contrast to Zetsche's more genial personality, Bernhard was particularly commended for fighting to save Chrysler's new-product design budget and staff when the company was losing millions of dollars each quarter. He was slated to take over as head of the Mercedes-Benz car group in May of 2004, but his forthright manner reportedly rankled senior executives in Stuttgart during the transition period, and just two days before his official switch, Bernhard was bypassed for the job and subsequently resigned.
Later that year, Bernhard was hired to head the Volkswagen brand group for the Volkswagen (VW) AG automotive group. This company, founded in Germany during the Nazi era, was the world's fourth-largest automaker; its divisions included Audi, Bentley, and Lamborghini, but its VW nameplate had been among the world's best-known line of cars for decades. Beloved by automotive enthusiasts and price-conscious consumers alike, its models were renowned for their reliability and superior German engineering, but the company had faltered in recent years. Costs at its German factories remained among the highest in the auto industry, which were passed along to consumers, and its reputation for quality products took a series of blows in the 1990s.
VW was losing stunning amounts of money every quarter when Bernhard took over fully in the spring of 2005. Zeroing in on the problem, he saw that VW's factories were outdated, and that its showplace assembly line in Wolfsburg, Germany—also the VW AG headquarters—was churning out its top seller, the VW Golf, far below actual plant capacity. After shepherding the company through a difficult period involving board scandals, Bernhard began to put together a blueprint to rescue the VW brand. He unveiled this in June of 2006, speaking before a crowd of Wolfsburg employees, who staff Europe's largest auto assembly plant and are the highest paid workers in their industry in the world. Using charts and diagrams, he showed that the company actually loses money on every Golf it sells. "We want to build the next Golf in Wolfsburg," Independent on Sunday journalist David Brierley quoted him as saying, "but only if the company does not pay for every car sold."
Some in the crowd booed Bernhard, knowing that part of his rescue plan for VW involved raising the work week at the Wolfsburg assembly plant from 28.8 hours per week to 35, with no corresponding increase in pay. Furthermore, German labor laws make it nearly impossible to shut down a factory permanently, but Bernhard voiced his willingness to consider the alternatives: a new Scirocco coupe planned for 2008 launch would be built in Portugal, where labor costs are lower. The company was also planning a mini-SUV called the Marrakesh which would sell at a much lower price than VW's first-ever SUV, the Touareg. "Costs are too high, and this restrains our ability to react in the marketplace," Bernhard said of VW's troubles in an interview with Karen Lowry Miller for Newsweek . "We need to … be a Volkswagen again, which means 'people's car,' for the average guy who does not have a huge amount of money."
Automotive News , May 3, 2004, p. 1.
Business Week , July 25, 2005, p. 22.
Forbes , March 5, 2001, p. 66.
Independent on Sunday (London, England), June 25, 2006, p. 6.
Motor Trend , March 2006, p. 24.
Newsweek , October 31, 2005, p. 36.
Wolfgang Bernhard Biography forum
Dierks Bentley Biography George Best Biography
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HIV Epidemic Is Mapped In Sub-Saharan Africa To Pinpoint Hot Spots : Goats and Soda Knowing where rates of prevalence are highest — and lowest — can lead to new strategies for treatment and prevention. The map focuses on sub-Saharan Africa, the epicenter of the epidemic.
Goats and Soda
STORIES OF LIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD
New HIV Map Offers Most Detailed Look Yet At The Epidemic
Tim McDonnell
The United Nations has set a goal of ending the global HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.
The tide is slowly turning in southeastern Africa — which encompasses countries like South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho and Botswana — and which remains the epicenter of the epidemic and home to more than half the 36.9 million people living with the disease. The rates of deaths and infections there are declining overall. But a July 2018 report from the United Nations' AIDS agency found a $5.4 billion shortfall in global funding needed to achieve final victory.
A first-of-its-kind new map may help increase the precision of the HIV/AIDS response as some data-savvy researchers narrow their focus on the continent's worst-affected areas — to the size of a small town.
Areas shaded in gray were excluded from the analysis.
Source: Nature
Credit: Annotations by NPR
A study published Wednesday presents what these researchers describe as the most detailed map ever produced of HIV prevalence across sub-Saharan Africa. The team behind the map is an international consortium of epidemiologists led by the University of Washington-Seattle's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Their work appears in the peer-reviewed journal Nature.
The researchers don't just go country by country. They break down the continent into a grid of thousands of 9.6-square-mile squares. The result is a view of HIV distribution that is much more fine grain than the usual national- or province-level data and that could have a huge impact on how resources are allocated to diagnose, treat and prevent new infections.
Researchers have long understood that local economic, cultural and political conditions — including rates of male circumcision, drug use and attitudes toward homosexuality and sex work, not to mention funding for prevention and treatment programs — can determine who is vulnerable to HIV infection and how people living with the disease access treatment. That leads to pockets of infection that prove stubbornly resistant to progress.
The epidemic is very unevenly spread, the study found. Of the roughly 25 million HIV-positive people in sub-Saharan Africa, a third live in very small, highly concentrated pockets: the 0.2 percent of grid squares that have more than 1,000 HIV-positive people living in them. The remaining two-thirds are spread out more broadly. In a majority of the continent, the epidemic is almost nonexistent.
"There's an increasing appreciation that this epidemic is even less homogeneous than people have imagined," says Wafaa El-Sadr, global director of the public health organization ICAP and a professor at Columbia University, who was not a contributor to the study (one of her ICAP colleagues, Jessica E. Justman, was a co-author). "This kind of data helps to prompt other research questions: Can we do different kinds of interventions in these places?"
Chido Dziva Chikwari, a Zimbabwean-based infectious disease researcher with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, says Zimbabwe's Matabeleland South province is the kind of localized HIV hot spot that can be crucial in developing new strategies for fighting the epidemic. Chikwari, who was not involved in the study, and her colleagues have been working to understand why the province, home to around 700,000 people in an area the size of West Virginia, has the country's highest rate of HIV prevalence — 22.3 percent of the population is infected, compared with the national average of 14.6 percent.
A key driver, they've found, is economic migration: The province shares a border with an area in Botswana where the rate of HIV prevalence is at least 25 percent. Zimbabweans from the province, especially men, frequently travel there for work — and often pick up new sexual partners on the way.
"It's a migrant population," she says, "and that changes the sexual networks."
In addition to creating new pathways for infection to spread, the population's mobility also makes infections harder to treat. Antiretroviral medication, the standard treatment for HIV, must be taken daily, and workers in Matabeleland South were missing doses because their frequent travel made it difficult to pick up their prescriptions. So two years ago, Zimbabwe introduced a new policy that allows members of HIV-positive peer support groups to pick up and distribute each other's medications. Chikwari believes that this simple innovation could have a big impact on access and adherence to treatment.
"We've done sweeping interventions, and they work to an extent," she says. "But we're now reaching the last mile, so we need innovative ways to target the last vulnerable populations."
To identify these holdouts, the researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation analyzed a mountain of existing HIV data from 2000 to 2017. They compiled 134 public health surveys conducted by a mix of governments, academic institutions, companies and nongovernmental organizations in 41 African countries, as well as data from nearly 2,000 prenatal care clinics across the continent that routinely test pregnant women for HIV. They paired each data point with a GPS location tag and fed it into a statistical model that produced estimates for every grid square and was able to calculate where and by how much HIV prevalence has changed over the last two decades. The study grew out of a $279 million grant to IHME from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2017 to support research on "critical data about global health trends." (The foundation is a funder of NPR and this blog.)
The study opens an entry point for further research on why prevalence is rising in some areas and decreasing in others, says lead author Laura Dwyer-Lindgren, an assistant professor of health metric sciences at IHME. But it's not just valuable for long-term programs. In the short term, it provides a snapshot of where the need for treatment and prevention resources is highest.
"The story is changing," she says. "You can see how the number of people who are in need of treatment, and where those people are concentrated, is shifting over time."
The study doesn't reveal all facets of the epidemic. Its data cover only people ages 15 to 49 and don't account for differences in prevalence within that age group or for children. And prevalence, as a metric, has limitations. It doesn't reveal much about how quickly the epidemic is or isn't spreading. A rising prevalence rate might be a good thing if it indicates that people are living longer after being infected.
But prevalence is a good indication of how many people are in need of treatment, El-Sadr says. And combined with other information on local treatment and prevention programs, demographics and the rate of new infections, prevalence can yield invaluable insights about which solutions work and which don't.
In a world with constrained public health resources, precision maps are also essential to directing spending on facilities, workers and medicine, says Matthew Kavanagh, director of the Global Health Policy & Governance Initiative at Georgetown University, who was not involved in the study. Low-concentration areas are especially expensive to confront, he says, since they still contain the majority of HIV-positive people but can't implement testing and treatment efficiently.
But identifying the small number of highest-concentration areas could help target saturation-level treatment and prevention efforts, he says. Take the goal of providing access to prophylactic treatment for every single person in the community, which has traditionally seemed cost prohibitive. Previous research has shown that because some HIV hot spots — cities, for example — tend to be the source of infections for a wider area, intensive HIV treatment in those places could ripple out to reduce transmission rates across the region.
"We still have not gotten to the point where we're really reaching everybody in those hot spots," he says. "This data paints a really useful, if complicated, picture for what we need to do to address HIV."
Tim McDonnell is a journalist covering the environment, conflict and related issues in sub-Saharan Africa. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
Correction May 15, 2019
The labels for Botswana and Zimbabwe were mistakenly transposed in a previous version of the map. Also, in an earlier version of this story, the organization ICAP was referred to by its former name, the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs.
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For Fertility Treatment, Wounded Veterans Have To Pay The Bill : Shots - Health News U.S. military health care covers the high cost of in vitro fertilization, but the Veterans Affairs health system doesn't. The discrepancy is putting vets with combat injuries in a bind.
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For Fertility Treatment, Wounded Veterans Have To Pay The Bill
For Fertility Treatment, Wounded Veterans Have To Pay The Bill 8:15
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February 17, 20163:54 PM ET
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Matt Keil participates in physical therapy during a BeFit class at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo., in 2007. Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post/Getty Images hide caption
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Matt Keil participates in physical therapy during a BeFit class at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo., in 2007.
Midway through Matt Keil's second deployment in Iraq, he came home and married his fiancee, Tracy, in 2007.
He had two weeks R&R; no time for a honeymoon.
Before he went back to war the couple had the sort of conversation unique to newlyweds in the military. "I told her if you get a phone call that I'm injured, I'm probably fine," Matt says. "But if they come to the apartment or to your work in person, then I'm dead."
Six weeks later the news came — a phone call, thankfully. Matt had been shot in the shoulder. It wasn't until Tracy got to Walter Reed Army Medical Center that she got the full story. The sniper's bullet had nicked Matt's spine.
"The doctor came in and told me he was paralyzed from the neck down, and he said it was a 'Christopher Reeve'-type injury," says Tracy.
Questions overwhelmed them about the future, including whether they'd ever be able to have children. It seemed like something they could figure out later.
"They were kinda telling us we're putting the cart before the horse," Matt recalls. "You guys got to get through a whole hell of a lot of rehab."
Time was running out, though, and the Keils didn't realize it.
To have children they'd need help: in vitro fertilization. But IVF is expensive, costing, on average, at least $12,000 per cycle of treatment, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
The Pentagon's health care system for active-duty troops covers IVF for wounded soldiers like Matt Keil. The Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans doesn't. By the time the Keils learned about the difference, it was too late.
"We were just swallowing the fact that he was never going to go back to work," Tracy says. "But finding out that IVF wouldn't be covered because we agreed to retire out so quickly, that was hard, because nobody told me that."
A law passed in 1992 made it illegal for the VA to pay for IVF, which some people oppose because embryos are often destroyed in the process.
The only option for the Keils would have been to get the procedure done immediately after Matt's injury. They had missed the window.
Matt was just starting to accept that with the limits of current science he might never walk again. But the limit on his ability to pay for IVF was put in his way by Congress.
"This is a direct result of a combat injury," says Tracy. "Don't tell me that his service wasn't good enough for us to have a chance at a family. Because we've already lost so much. I just want to have a family with the man that I love and please don't make this any worse than it already has to be."
In the decades since Congress banned IVF for the VA, the procedure has become much more common. And about 1,400 troops came back from Iraq and Afghanistan with severe injuries to their reproductive organs. Thousands more have head injuries, paralysis or other conditions that make IVF their best option.
Bills to change the law come up periodically, only to be blocked at the last minute, says Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington. "They don't come out and say that directly, but there continues to be a backroom concern about the practice of IVF," Murray says. Murray's bipartisan IVF bill nearly passed last summer.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who is staunchly against abortion rights, effectively blocked it. Tillis declined requests for comment, but said at the time that he opposed the bill because other problems at the VA need to be fixed first.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates a change in VA policy to pay for fertility treatment could cost more than $500 million over four years.
Murray says vets should get the same options as active-duty troops. "It's really ridiculous that Congress would deny a widely used medical procedure to our veterans just because of their own ... beliefs," she says.
Rep. Jeff Miller, the Republican chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said he's working toward a compromise that "meets the needs of this special group of severely injured veterans while being sensitive to concerns surrounding IVF procedures."
In the meantime, many fertility clinics across the country offer discounted rates for veterans who are paying out of their own pockets for IVF.
For the Keils, who spent the year after Matt's injury figuring out how their new life could work, offers like that came too late.
"We weren't at a good spot in our marriage at the time, and thought that if we're going to bring kids into this world they need to be brought into a healthy relationship," says Matt.
"What if we didn't even end up staying together?" Tracy adds.
They took a year to work it out, and then decided it was for sure — their marriage would survive. They also wanted a family.
"We were ready, and it didn't matter what it was going to take," Tracy says.
The VA told them what they already knew — no coverage for IVF. The decision still seemed crazy to them, considering how much medical care VA would pay for.
"I served my country. I was injured," Matt says. "All my medical supplies are paid for, but the one thing they won't facilitate [by] paying — that I lost the ability to have — was a family."
Paying for IVF on their own seemed impossible to Matt and Tracy.
The Keils play with their twins, Matthew and Faith, at their home near Parker, Colo., in 2012. Ed Andrieski/AP hide caption
Ed Andrieski/AP
The Keils play with their twins, Matthew and Faith, at their home near Parker, Colo., in 2012.
Matt's condition meant that IVF would be even more of a financial strain than usual. Among other things, Tracy was her husband's full-time caregiver, and they would need to hire help while she was getting treatments.
Their savings weren't going to cut it.
But then a veterans charity paid for the Keils' wheelchair accessible house, so they could target their money toward IVF. The local VFW held a fundraiser to help. Kids all around Denver and then Colorado set up lemonade stands and collected donations, too.
The couple's twins, Faith and Matthew, were born in November 2010. They ride on the back of their dad's motorized wheelchair. When he wants to lift them high in the air they jump on his feet and he reclines the chair until he's upside down.
This winter the kids are outside building igloos and snowmen.
Thousands of vets have injuries that make IVF their only option for having a family. Matt and Tracy Keil say they want them all to get that chance.
Correction Feb. 18, 2016
In the audio of this story, we say that military health care for active troops covers the costs of in vitro fertilization. But the costs are only covered for active-duty troops who suffer combat injuries and need IVF in order to conceive a child. We should have said, as is written in our Shots post, that "the Pentagon's health care system for active-duty troops covers IVF for wounded soldiers like Matt Keil."
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These Nightclub Entertainers Paved The Way For Asian-Americans In Showbiz : Code Switch Forbidden City was part of a Chinese-American nightclub scene that flourished in 1940s and '50s San Francisco. But between racial taunts and scandalized parents, its performers didn't have it easy.
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March 14, 20157:35 AM ET
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Later today, the Center for Asian American Media honors Arthur Dong at its annual film festival in San Francisco. It will screen a digitally remastered documentary he released in 1989 called "Forbidden City, USA." It captions a little-known chapter of entertainment history - the Chinese-American nightclub scene that once flourished in San Francisco in the 1940s and '50s. And as Heidi Chang reports, Dong has turned his research into a new book.
HEIDI CHANG, BYLINE: Arthur Dong grew up in San Francisco and used to walk by a nightclub just outside of Chinatown.
ARTHUR DONG: And I remember distinctly looking at the glass display case with all these wonderful black and white photos of Chinese people, but dressed in zoot suits and 1940s kind of gowns and tuxedos. And I had never seen Chinese dressed like that.
CHANG: Dong never forgot the club, which was called Forbidden City after the Ming Dynasty imperial palace. But when he decided to make a film about the Chinese-American nightclub scene, few people wanted to talk about it.
DONG: The whole notion of women wearing scanty clothing, showing their legs in public, was taboo for the conservative Chinese community at that time. So I think the Chinese community really wanted to forget about these clubs.
CHANG: Conservative Chinese parents did not want their children to become entertainers. Still, a new generation dared to try. One of them was Mai Tai Sing, who started out dancing as a chorus girl at the Forbidden City nightclub in the early 1940s.
MAI TAI SING: My mother didn't want me to be in it.
CHANG: Why?
SING: Because it's not a high-class job; it's low-grade - dancing, showing your legs and everything. Then it got exciting.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is San Francisco after dark.
CHANG: Sing eventually became one of the club's stars. She's now 91 and living in Hawaii.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Her name is Mai Tai Sing, and she's America's most beautiful Chinese entertainer.
CHANG: Coby Yee grew up in Columbus, Ohio. She left in the mid-'40s and landed a job at Forbidden City where she was billed as China's most daring dancing doll. Yee says when Louis Armstrong's wife saw her perform, she compared Yee to Gypsy Rose Lee.
COBY YEE: I forgot her name. I think it was Lucille Armstrong, but anyway she said, honey, you out-Gypsyed Gypsy. So I got a big kick out of that.
CHANG: Exotic dancers, comedians and acrobats - Forbidden City had it all. That was Charlie Low's goal. He opened the club in 1938.
CHARLIE LOW: Good evening, friends. I am Charlie Low, your host at Forbidden City in San Francisco- the nation's most unusual and outstanding Oriental nightclub.
CHANG: Low's club also featured a dance band and singers like Larry Ching from Hawaii, who is billed as a Chinese Frank Sinatra.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HOW HIGH THE MOON")
LARRY CHING: (Singing) Somewhere there's music, how faint the tune. Somewhere there's heaven, how high the moon.
CHANG: The club was even profiled in major media outlets, including Life magazine. But that didn't shield the performers from racial taunts from a mostly white audience, says writer and broadcaster Ben Fong-Torres.
BEN FONG-TORRES: So even though you are the stars of the show, they still feel superior to you and make remarks, racist remarks, to your face or shout it out from the audience. And I think that was pretty difficult for most of these entertainers to take. But as Larry Ching said, I had to otherwise I wouldn't be in the business.
CHANG: Nevertheless, Forbidden City attracted celebrities like Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Duke Ellington.
FONG-TORRES: This was quite a bold experiment, and it shattered conceptions that people might have had about other people of color. And it was one of the major platforms for a change of mind, a change of attitude, a change of perception on the part of those who came in.
CHANG: Audiences included servicemen, locals and busloads of tourists. Singer Jimmy Borges, who was born in Hawaii to a Portuguese, Chinese and Hawaiian family, recalls one evening.
JIMMY BORGES: And I was singing "Fever" (singing) never know how much I love you, never know how much I care. You give me fever.
And this lady, she was looking at me and there was this look in her eye of complete mystification. And she says to her husband, oh, Charlie, he sings just like a white man. And that was so funny. I started to laugh because she didn't mean it in a bad way. She meant it like she had never seen anybody like me sing a song that was made famous by a white person.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: And so, ladies and gentlemen, that concludes the first edition of our shows here at the Forbidden City. May I say to you one and all that you have been a most delightful audience, and on behalf of the cast and yours truly, I'd like very much to thank you.
CHANG: Forbidden City's founder sold the club 1962 to dancer Coby Yee and her family. Yee's 88 now and says it was good to see some of the performers who honed their skills at the club go on to careers in television and movies.
YEE: I remember Pat Morita, who I shared a dressing room with, and he later was in "Karate Kid." And there was Sammee Tong, who was in "Bachelor Father," with John Forsythe. And then there was Jack Soo, who became famous in "Barney Miller." He also did "Flower Drum Song."
CHANG: Those who performed there remain an inspiration to young Asian-Americans today, says filmmaker and writer Arthur Dong.
DONG: And I think that's a reflection of how much of a struggle it still is to try to break into mainstream media, into mainstream entertainment, to be recognized for your talent and not be hindered by the fact that you're a particular color.
BORGES: We were pioneers.
CHANG: Jimmy Borges is 79 years old, and he's still performing professionally.
BORGES: Forbidden City allowed us to be pioneers. And we opened the doors for so many young Asians who wanted to get into the world of entertainment in any way, shape or form.
CHANG: That also made them rebels, says Arthur Dong, whose new book, co-written with his sister, is called "Forbidden City, USA: Chinese American Nightclubs, 1936-1970."
DONG: They knew what they wanted. They had dreams. They had goals. And they weren't going to let larger societal bigotry get in their way. And they had fun doing it. These folks had a lot of fun struggling to achieve their dreams.
CHANG: Dong says all they wanted to do was sing and dance and nothing, not even their parents, was going to stop them. For NPR News, I'm Heidi Chang.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I'M STEPPING OUT WITH A MEMORY TONIGHT")
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #2: (Singing) I'm stepping out with a memory tonight to paint the town the way we used to do. I'll dine at the old cafe where we had so much fun...
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Juan Enriquez: What Can Happen If Humans Control The Future Of Evolution? From genetically modified animals and crops, we can already manipulate DNA. But futurist Juan Enriquez argues soon we can take full control of human evolution to create a better life for all of us.
A journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, and new ways to think and create. Based on riveting TEDTalks from the world's most remarkable minds.
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September 15, 20179:52 AM ET
GUY RAZ, HOST:
It's the TED Radio Hour from NPR. I'm Guy Raz. And on the show today, ideas about the things we do in the present that could have troubling consequences in the future. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't look forward to the future. I mean, there are reasons to be hopeful.
When you think about the future of technology, are you super excited about what it's going to be like in, you know, 10, 20, 30 years?
JUAN ENRIQUEZ: I'm wildly excited.
RAZ: This is Juan Enriquez. He's a futurist and a writer.
ENRIQUEZ: You know, there's just such a long list of stuff. We're going to generate as much data, photographs, books as has been generated in human history in the next two years. And we're just doing this on an exponential level. So our understanding of life, our ability to modify life, our ability to find life on other planets, our ability to redesign genetic code, to increase overall intelligence - there's just so many things going on. It's an extraordinary time to be alive.
RAZ: And Juan is especially excited about something that could fundamentally change life itself. It's called life code.
ENRIQUEZ: What we're doing is we're learning how life is written. So first, biology was observational. We watched what happened. And then, we realized that life was written in DNA, in four base pairs. And then we realized we could copy that DNA by cloning animals, by cloning bacteria, by cloning plants. And now we're at a stage where we can use ways of inserting or deleting or altering genes in such a way that we can edit life code. And that's going to be the biggest single driver of wealth creation, of power, of change in the world for the next foreseeable decades.
RAZ: I mean, what you're talking about and what lots of people in this field are talking about is basically taking control over our evolution.
ENRIQUEZ: I think that's exactly right. And we're at this break point where we're playing on a six-dimensional chess board because you can change the basic DNA code, you can change the way it's executed through proteins, you can change it by changing the environment. There's just a whole lot of places where we can alter how this life code is written, how this life code is edited, how this life code is executed. So you can actually alter species very quickly through selective pressures. And then we've also reached a very strange break point because for 4 billion years, what lived and died on this planet was determined by natural selection and random mutation.
And now what we've done is we've created this parallel evolutionary superhighway that operates on a completely different logic. And we call it unnatural selection. And I'll give you an example. A little Chihuahua, like the Chihuahuas you see walking down Fifth Avenue in those fancy handbags...
RAZ: Yeah.
ENRIQUEZ: ...That's created by human beings and bred basically from wolves. But if you take that little Chihuahua and you place it in the middle of the African jungle, you're going to see natural selection happen very quickly because that is an animal adapted to human apartment buildings, not to nature.
ENRIQUEZ: And the same thing happens with the cornfield, and the same thing happens with the soybean field. They're the least natural places on earth. They would not be there absent human intervention. So we're determining, to a great extent, about 50 percent of what lives and dies on Earth. And that is a true superpower. I mean, a superpower is not leaping over tall buildings in single bounds. A superpower is not being able to light something on fire if you look at it. A superpower is determining what that life form does and how that life form executes. And that's what we're learning how to do. And we have to, on the one hand, be awed by it, take responsibility for it, understand the ethical moral implications of that. But above all, we have to become literate in this because this is going to be the language that drives the world economy and the world political system.
RAZ: And right now, we're just in the beginning stages of what life code can do. Here's Juan Enriquez on the TED stage.
(SOUNDBITE OF TED TALK)
ENRIQUEZ: So this life code stuff turns out to be this incredibly powerful way of changing viruses, of changing plants, of changing animals, perhaps even of evolving ourselves. Well, some of these treatments actually end up changing your blood type. Or they'll put male cells in a female body or vice versa, which sounds absolutely horrible until you realize the reason you're doing that is you're substituting bone marrow during cancer treatments. So by taking somebody else's bone marrow, you may be changing some fundamental aspects of yourself. But you're also saving your life. And as you're thinking about this stuff, here's something that happened 20 years ago.
So this is Emma Ott. She's a recent college admittee. She's studying accounting. She played two varsity sport. She graduated as a valedictorian. And that's not particularly extraordinary, except that she's the first human being born to three parents. Why? Because she had a deadly mitochondrial disease that she might have inherited. So when you swap out a third person's DNA and you put it in there, you save the lives of people. But you are also doing germline engineering, which means her kids will be - if she has kids - will be saved and won't go through this. And her kids will be saved, and their grandchildren will be saved, and this passes on.
RAZ: OK, so the story of Emma Ott is pretty awesome and inspiring and of course, I think, everybody - almost everybody would agree that this is the right thing. We should be doing this kind of stuff. Right? And - but the problem is that it opens up a whole Pandora's box of things we can do. And then it becomes a philosophical question of where we start - where do we stop?
ENRIQUEZ: So imagine for one second that you had a time machine. And somehow, you could bring Grandpa and Grandma back, age 18, and sit them in your living room and have a birds and the bees talk with them. Grandpa, Grandma - do you know that you can now have sex and not have a baby?
RAZ: This is getting weird, by the way, just thinking about my grandparents. But keep going. Keep going.
ENRIQUEZ: So for all of human history, normally, sex equaled baby.
RAZ: Right.
ENRIQUEZ: Right?
RAZ: Yes, right.
ENRIQUEZ: And now, all of a sudden, you're telling them, no. You've separated sex from conception. And then you continue the talk and you say, and oh, by the way, because I'm doing my graduate degree, maybe what I want to do is to do this in vitro later. And then what you've done is you've separated sex from being with somebody. So all of a sudden, you don't have to physically be with somebody to conceive a child. And their eyes would get very big at that.
RAZ: Yeah, they'd freak out. They'd totally freak out.
ENRIQUEZ: And then the third thing you'd tell them is - oh, by the way - because you can freeze this and because you can freeze fertilized eggs and because you can have a surrogate mother, with today's technology, you could have an identical twin born every 50 years. And at that point, they'd wonder what you were drinking, and they'd storm off.
But see, we take that stuff for granted.
ENRIQUEZ: We think that's just kind of stuff you talk about over a latte as an option. And I think some of the things you're talking about are going to scare us to death but are going to be so normal and natural to our grandkids that they'll kind of go, Grandpa, Grandma - why didn't you have these choices? Why would you allow kids to be born and suffer and give them cancer? Why didn't you have double the lifespan like we have? And that'll just be a menu of stuff that to them will seem, you know, like, of course you can do that. And to us it would be like, you can what?
ENRIQUEZ: That makes people nervous. So 20 years ago, the various authorities said, why don't we study this for a while? And there are risks to doing stuff and there are risks to not doing stuff because there were a couple dozen people saved by this technology. And then we've been thinking about it for the next 20 years. So as we think about it, as we take the time to say, hey, maybe we should have longer studies - maybe we should do this; maybe we should do that - there are consequences to acting. And there are consequences to not acting - like curing deadly diseases, which, by the way, is completely unnatural. Right?
It is normal and natural for humans to be felled by massive epidemics of polio, of smallpox, of tuberculosis. When we put vaccines into people, we are putting unnatural things into their body because we think the benefit outweighs the risk. Because we've built unnatural plants, unnatural animals, we can feed about 7 billion people. We can do things by creating new life forms.
RAZ: Yeah, I mean - I - the problem is that it allows humans to pick and choose. So one person may say - listen, you know, I don't think that people with red hair deserve to live. And we should just eliminate red-haired humans from the planet, and I know how to do it.
I mean, I'm not saying that that will happen. But if the technology is available, there's a danger that something like that could happen.
ENRIQUEZ: Look, there is always a danger to acting. And some European countries have put what they call a precautionary principle in place. And the precautionary principle says, you can adopt and deploy any technology you want as long as you can show me it will not hurt human beings. And that makes all the sense in the world at a 30,000-foot level. But when you bring that down and you think - OK, could you actually have an electric outlet in a house? Could you have a staircase? Could you use steel? There's a risk-reward ratio to any powerful technology. And yes, there's stuff that can be scary in this stuff. There's also stuff that can cure some really nasty diseases. There's also stuff that can allow us to live much longer, much healthier lives. So you have to measure the upside and the downside and not just be scared of it and not just be complacent about it.
RAZ: Yeah, OK. Fair enough.
ENRIQUEZ: I mean, look, I'm an optimistic curmudgeon, so I despair of some of the current politics on all sides. I despair about the ability to concentrate wealth in a hundred hands, literally a hundred families. Like, I worry about some of the weapons we're creating. But overall, I think we're in a period where we can make an enormous chunk of lives in this world far, far better off.
RAZ: Juan Enriquez - he's a futurist, venture capitalist and co-author of the book "Evolving Ourselves: How Unnatural Selection And Nonrandom Mutation Are Changing Life On Earth." You can see all of his talks at ted.com.
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14-Year-Old Earns $5,000 From Selling Cupcakes, Takes Family to Disney World
By Paula Liu June 5, 2019
A picture of cupcakes with frosting on top. (Free-Photos/Pixabay)
A 14-year-old from Minnesota earned enough money by baking and selling cupcakes to take his family on vacation to Disney World, according to reports.
Isaiah Tuckett always wanted to visit Disney World, but the trip always ended up being too expensive for the family. Undeterred, Tuckett decided to take matters into his own hands and raise enough funds to take his family to the one place he wanted to go most, according to Fox 13.
“We just never really had enough saved up to make the trip,” Tuckett’s mother, Cheri Tuckett told Inside Edition. “It’s always been something that he wanted to do.”
Through the course of a year, Isaiah Tuckett baked and sold cupcakes to fund for his trip. After selling around 3,500 cupcakes, he managed to raise around $5,000 and use the money to take his entire family, including his mother, father, brother, sister, sister-in-law, nephew, and uncle, to Disney World—just in time for his 14th birthday.
Isaiah Tuckett had been helping out in the kitchen since he was 7 years old. He loved baking, according to Inside Edition, and from the age of 12, he started making cupcakes.
It began when he made cupcakes for his grandmother’s 85th birthday, and everyone really enjoyed them. From then on, he started making cupcakes on order for numerous other occasions, such as graduations, proms, weddings, birthday parties, and other events.
“After he made them for my mom’s 85th birthday, it just kind of took off from there. And he’s always wanted to go to Disney, and once the orders started coming in, we had this conversation,” Cheri Tuckett said, according to Fox 13.
“And I said, ‘you know what, if that’s something that you want to do, we would be willing to buy all the ingredients and so that everything that you earn … your profits, could be put into a savings account to earn that trip.'”
Isaiah Tuckett didn’t just make cupcakes—he made tiered cakes, pies, jam, and banana bread. He loved to invent and incorporate different aspects into his baked goods, such as candy bars. According to ABC News, his mother said he loved to experiment and try new recipes.
After a local bakery closed, more people began coming to him for baked goods, and orders have been abundant ever since.
It only took him a year to reach his goal.
“I enjoy baking,” Isaiah Tuckett said, according to Inside Edition. “I knew I was going to meet my goal, but I wasn’t thinking in one year.”
His mother praised him for his determination and expressed surprise when he managed to meet his goal so quickly.
“I was totally amazed that he did [it] in a year,” Cheri Tuckett said. “I was just proud of him that he kept the goal in the front of his mind and kept focused on that. He didn’t turn orders down.”
With the money he earned from the cupcakes, he booked the flights, hotels, as well as the Disney World experience for all of his family. When asked how he felt about accomplishing his goal, he said that he, too, was very surprised he was able to make his dream come true in a short amount of time, and that he was very proud of himself for doing so.
“He could have chosen just for us to go, but family is really important to him,” his mother said. “He fact that he was able to save up to get everyone there, it was a fun memory that none of us will ever forget. I felt blessed to be his mom.”
Now, Isaiah Tuckett has a new goal in mind—selling enough cupcakes to save up to buy himself a Ford pickup for when he turns 16 and can learn how to drive. He said that he plans to use the truck to deliver his cupcakes.
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The History of TMS
The earliest known attempts at brain stimulation using electromagnetic stimulation date back as far as 1896 by Jacques-Arsene d'Arsonval of Paris and Silvanus P. Thompson (1910) in London. It wasn’t until 1985 that there was a successful demonstration of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) by Anthony Barker and his colleagues at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, England. (1) Anthony Barker and associates essentially took a single Faraday coil (invented in1831) to the scalp above the left cerebral motor strip and saw movement in the right hand. They did this on themselves. In the included photo he’s on the right. It immediately garnered widespread excitement and interest in the international research community. This was the first time that electromagnetic stimulation of the brain showed a direct tissue response. Anthony Barker PhD was credited with the discovery of TMS.
What followed was an exponential growth in international research on brain stimulation. Today the field has it’s own scholarly journal aptly named Brain Stimulation. At the 2nd International conference on Brain Stimulation Conference in Barcelona, Spain on 3/6/17, Anthony Barker, PhD was awarded the International Brain Stimulation award. I had the privilege of meeting and talking with Dr. Barker at the conference (see included photo with award). This conference was attended by an estimated 1000 people from all over the world represented by a myriad of disciplines including but not limited to psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, biomedical engineers, neurologists, researchers and industry sponsors. Over the course of 4 days speakers from the international community presented their data and research on various brain stimulation topics ranging from basic TMS to vagus nerve stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), effects of ultrasound on brain tissue, deep TMS, invasive brain stimulation and many other topics. Some of the more interesting topics for me were the ones that dealt with the future potential uses or indications for TMS. These included obsessive compulsive disorder, treating addictions such as cocaine, opiates, nicotine and alcohol. There was also research presented that dealt with the potential benefits of TMS for chronic pain sufferers and stroke rehabilitation.
It was exciting to be at a table with researchers and practitioners from Russia and China and many other parts of the world. It was clear from this conference that the field of brain stimulation is here to stay and growing at a rapid rate.
In 1997, TMS was approved by Health Canada, then in 2002 it was approved for treatment resistant depression. In the US, TMS got FDA approval in 2008 with the Neurostar TMS device. In 2013, Brainsway was given FDA approval for it’s novel, patented H-Coil deep TMS device. Intense research ever since has cemented TMS as an effective and safe treatment for resistant major depressive disorder. Mark George, M.D. a psychiatrist at the University of South Carolina Medical school has been a pioneer in the research and application of TMS in the US. He was the co-chair for this international conference. See photo.
Today, TMS, along with other forms of brain stimulation are the focus of widespread research and use. TMS providers continue to expand. I’m told that there is a building in Tokyo, Japan that has roughly 60 TMS machines going daily on one floor of a building.
I’m excited to be a part of this expanding field of brain stimulation and it’s applications to people suffering from various brain disorders. It gives hope that there are safe, alternative treatments.
1. Barker, AT; Jalinous, R; Freeston, IL (1985). “Non-Invasive Magnetic Stimulation of Human Motor Cortex” The Lancet. 325 (8437): 1106-1107. doi: 10, 1016/S0140-6736(85)92413-4. PMID 2860322.
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Published on: April 2, 2010
Cold Case Warms Up According to New York Criminal Lawyers
One woman’s remains were found in a suitcase in a Queens park 2008 according to police sources. And, a New Jersey man has been arrested in this cold case and obviously this case is no longer considered a cold case. New York Criminal Lawyers at Steve Bilkis and Associates offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation for suspects in crimes like these.
The suspect was charged with the murderof his wife after U.S. Marshals nabbed him Wednesday outside a Realtors office in Ozone Park Queens. The victim was the mother of two young children and went missing after storming out of her Woodhaven, Queens home in June of 2007. Some kids found her body in Forest Park in March of 2008. New York Criminal Lawyers can be reached at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW. This case could prove to be particularly difficult as the suspect had been under investigation since his wife had threatened divorce him.
The firm of Stephen Bilkis & Associates and its New York Criminal Lawyers and convenient locations in the New York Area including Bushwick, NY can be very helpful to you if you find yourself involved in a criminal prosecution. Facing charges without a New York Criminal Lawyer is a losing option.
Updated: April 2, 2010 12:00 am
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Petition calls for ouster of Massachusetts judge who sentenced accused rapist David Becker to probation
By Christopher Brennan
A petition is calling for the removal of the Massachusetts judge who sentenced David Becker to probation. (WWLP)
The Massachusetts judge who sentenced a teen accused of rape to probation is facing calls for his removal.
An online petition calling for Judge Thomas Estes to be taken off the bench had gathered more than 17,000 supporters as of Thursday afternoon.
Last week Estes sentenced 18-year-old David Becker in a case that has drawn comparisons to the lenient sentence given to former Stanford student and swimmer Brock Turner after his sexual assault conviction.
"This is yet another instance of a white athlete receiving a slap on the wrist for a violent sexual crime," the Care 2 petition says of Becker, a three-sport athlete at East Longmeadow High.
Becker was originally charged with rape after he allegedly assaulted two 18-year-olds with his finger after a drunken house party earlier this year.
Estes gave him to two years probation last week after prosecutors reduced the charges to indecent assault and the student admitted the facts were sufficient for a guilty verdict.
Thomas Estes sentenced the teen last week after he and his lawyer admitted there was sufficient evidence for a conviction. (AP Photo/Josh Kuckens, Daily Hampshire Gazette/AP)
Prosecutors asked for two years jail time and sex offender status for aggravating factors including the fact the victims were unconscious and they were "extremely vulnerable," Hampden County District Attorney's Office spokesman Jim Leydon told the Daily News.
The teen will not have to register as a sex offender or have any conviction on his permanent record if he does not break the terms of the probation, which include avoiding alcohol and drugs.
Becker's case has also drawn attention beyond internet outrage, and a candidate for Hampden County sheriff says Estes's decision should be reviewed by the state's top judge.
Michael Albano, the former mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts, told The Republican that an independent review was necessary because "doing nothing is not an option" and also questioned why the rape charge was reduced.
Estes has not commented publicly on the case, but the newspaper reported that in court he said he was moved by the fact one of the victims said she did not want Becker to go to jail.
Michael Albano, a local candidate for sheriff, called for a review of the sentence. (DAVID MOLNAR/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
"While certainly not lessening it in any way, any crime, there's a spectrum. There's a spectrum for the nature of the offense, and I think given Mr. Becker's position in life, to find him guilty at this point would slam a lot of doors," he said.
"There have already been significant consequences, collateral consequences to simply being charged with the offense in the first place."
Becker's lawyer Thomas Rooke told The Republican the second victim wanted the defendant "held accountable," but also said Becker deserved to go on to have a "college experience."
"We all made mistakes when we were 17, 18, 19 years old, and we shouldn't be branded for life with a felony offense and branded a sex offender," he said after the probation sentence.
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Archives|IMPORT BAN ON APPLE IMITATIONS
https://nyti.ms/29pVVnK
IMPORT BAN ON APPLE IMITATIONS
By DAVID E. SANGER FEB. 29, 1984
View page in TimesMachine
February 29, 1984, Page 00001Buy Reprints The New York Times Archives
The United States International Trade Commission ruled unanimously yesterday that nearly two dozen manufacturers in Asia had infringed on patents and copyrights held by the Apple Computer Inc., and it banned the foreign companies from exporting the imitation Apple machines to the United States.
The commission said that within two weeks, it would issue an ''exclusionary order'' with details of the decision. Before the order takes effect, President Reagan will have 60 days to accept or alter it.
Yesterday's ruling was another major victory for Apple and other computer makers that have been fighting imitators, both foreign and domestic. In September, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that the Franklin Computer Corporation of New Jersey had violated Apple's copyrights on computer programs known as operating systems, which are etched on a computer's circuitry.
That case was the first to establish that all computer programs, or software, can be copyrighted, even if they are indistinguishable from a computer's hardware. Franklin has agreed to pay Apple $2.5 million in damages and to design its own programs for its Apple-compatible machines. In the last month, the International Business Machines Corporation has obtained consent decrees in Federal court against two manufacturers of machines compatible with the I.B.M. Personal Computer.
The commission ruling yesterday, which involved copies of the Apple IIe, means that computer makers may have a more powerful weapon against the foreign manufacturers, primarily in Taiwan and South Korea, whose relatively inexpensive machines are sold under names such as Pineapple and Orange.
''To the extent that other manufacturers have valid copyrights on their software, this means they will also be able to seek protection,'' Michael Stein, the commission's general counsel, said last night.
The commission's ruling was unusual because traditional import restrictions on products such as steel or televisions are usually based on a finding of unfair pricing. Relatively few have involved copyright issues.
''It was a extraordinarily difficult question for us,'' Mr. Stein said. ''But the Franklin case offered some guidance.''
The ruling may prove most important for the precedent it sets. The number of imitation Apples appears to be declining, primarily because Apple has been forced by competition to cut the Apple IIe price almost in half, to about $1,400. Foreign-built machines cost from $800 to $1,100.
Apple, which is based in Cupertino, Calif., has pursued foreign manufacturers overseas, as well. Last month in Taipei, Taiwan, the owners of six local companies were sentenced to eight months in prison for illegally reproducing Apple designs.
Nevertheless, Albert A. Eisenstat, Apple's vice president and general counsel, said: ''The impact of this is that we no longer have to fight imitators case by case. We can now have Customs issue a blanket order to seize the machines.''
It was unclear, however, whether yesterday's order also covered Apple imitations that do not contain the computer chip, known as a ROM, for ''read only memory.'' The chip contains the copy of Apple's program that tells the computer where to store information and how to perform other essential functions.
To evade Customs officials, machines have been imported without the offending ROM chip. The chips are inserted later.
Apple has sought to exclude the ROM-less computers as well. ''We will have to wait until the judgment is issued before we determine if that was a success,'' Mr. Eisenstat said.
The move to ban imitations was vigorously opposed by several importers.
One of the companies inserting ROM's in the United States is the Collins International Trading Corporation of Los Angeles, which sells a $1,100 computer called the Orange Plus II. It could not be determined immediately whether the Orange Plus II was affected by the order. Last night, Martin R. Gold, an attorney for Collins, said, ''I don't think any finding of violation is warranted against Collins.''
A version of this article appears in print on February 29, 1984, on Page D00001 of the National edition with the headline: IMPORT BAN ON APPLE IMITATIONS. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe
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Opinion|How to End the Great Recession
Opinion | Op-Ed Contributor
How to End the Great Recession
ROBERT B. REICH SEPT. 2, 2010
THIS promises to be the worst Labor Day in the memory of most Americans. Organized labor is down to about 7 percent of the private work force. Members of non-organized labor — most of the rest of us — are unemployed, underemployed or underwater. The Labor Department reported on Friday that just 67,000 new private-sector jobs were created in August, while at least 125,000 are needed to keep up with the growth of the potential work force.
The national economy isn’t escaping the gravitational pull of the Great Recession. None of the standard booster rockets are working: near-zero short-term interest rates from the Fed, almost record-low borrowing costs in the bond market, a giant stimulus package and tax credits for small businesses that hire the long-term unemployed have all failed to do enough.
That’s because the real problem has to do with the structure of the economy, not the business cycle. No booster rocket can work unless consumers are able, at some point, to keep the economy moving on their own. But consumers no longer have the purchasing power to buy the goods and services they produce as workers; for some time now, their means haven’t kept up with what the growing economy could and should have been able to provide them.
This crisis began decades ago when a new wave of technology — things like satellite communications, container ships, computers and eventually the Internet — made it cheaper for American employers to use low-wage labor abroad or labor-replacing software here at home than to continue paying the typical worker a middle-class wage. Even though the American economy kept growing, hourly wages flattened. The median male worker earns less today, adjusted for inflation, than he did 30 years ago.
But for years American families kept spending as if their incomes were keeping pace with overall economic growth. And their spending fueled continued growth. How did families manage this trick? First, women streamed into the paid work force. By the late 1990s, more than 60 percent of mothers with young children worked outside the home (in 1966, only 24 percent did).
Second, everyone put in more hours. What families didn’t receive in wage increases they made up for in work increases. By the mid-2000s, the typical male worker was putting in roughly 100 hours more each year than two decades before, and the typical female worker about 200 hours more.
When American families couldn’t squeeze any more income out of these two coping mechanisms, they embarked on a third: going ever deeper into debt. This seemed painless — as long as home prices were soaring. From 2002 to 2007, American households extracted $2.3 trillion from their homes.
Eventually, of course, the debt bubble burst — and with it, the last coping mechanism. Now we’re left to deal with the underlying problem that we’ve avoided for decades. Even if nearly everyone was employed, the vast middle class still wouldn’t have enough money to buy what the economy is capable of producing.
Where have all the economic gains gone? Mostly to the top. The economists Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty examined tax returns from 1913 to 2008. They discovered an interesting pattern. In the late 1970s, the richest 1 percent of American families took in about 9 percent of the nation’s total income; by 2007, the top 1 percent took in 23.5 percent of total income.
It’s no coincidence that the last time income was this concentrated was in 1928. I do not mean to suggest that such astonishing consolidations of income at the top directly cause sharp economic declines. The connection is more subtle.
Credit Alain Pilon
The rich spend a much smaller proportion of their incomes than the rest of us. So when they get a disproportionate share of total income, the economy is robbed of the demand it needs to keep growing and creating jobs.
What’s more, the rich don’t necessarily invest their earnings and savings in the American economy; they send them anywhere around the globe where they’ll summon the highest returns — sometimes that’s here, but often it’s the Cayman Islands, China or elsewhere. The rich also put their money into assets most likely to attract other big investors (commodities, stocks, dot-coms or real estate), which can become wildly inflated as a result.
Meanwhile, as the economy grows, the vast majority in the middle naturally want to live better. Their consequent spending fuels continued growth and creates enough jobs for almost everyone, at least for a time. But because this situation can’t be sustained, at some point — 1929 and 2008 offer ready examples — the bill comes due.
This time around, policymakers had knowledge their counterparts didn’t have in 1929; they knew they could avoid immediate financial calamity by flooding the economy with money. But, paradoxically, averting another Great Depression-like calamity removed political pressure for more fundamental reform. We’re left instead with a long and seemingly endless Great Jobs Recession.
THE Great Depression and its aftermath demonstrate that there is only one way back to full recovery: through more widely shared prosperity. In the 1930s, the American economy was completely restructured. New Deal measures — Social Security, a 40-hour work week with time-and-a-half overtime, unemployment insurance, the right to form unions and bargain collectively, the minimum wage — leveled the playing field.
In the decades after World War II, legislation like the G.I. Bill, a vast expansion of public higher education and civil rights and voting rights laws further reduced economic inequality. Much of this was paid for with a 70 percent to 90 percent marginal income tax on the highest incomes. And as America’s middle class shared more of the economy’s gains, it was able to buy more of the goods and services the economy could provide. The result: rapid growth and more jobs.
By contrast, little has been done since 2008 to widen the circle of prosperity. Health-care reform is an important step forward but it’s not nearly enough.
What else could be done to raise wages and thereby spur the economy? We might consider, for example, extending the earned income tax credit all the way up through the middle class, and paying for it with a tax on carbon. Or exempting the first $20,000 of income from payroll taxes and paying for it with a payroll tax on incomes over $250,000.
In the longer term, Americans must be better prepared to succeed in the global, high-tech economy. Early childhood education should be more widely available, paid for by a small 0.5 percent fee on all financial transactions. Public universities should be free; in return, graduates would then be required to pay back 10 percent of their first 10 years of full-time income.
Another step: workers who lose their jobs and have to settle for positions that pay less could qualify for “earnings insurance” that would pay half the salary difference for two years; such a program would probably prove less expensive than extended unemployment benefits.
These measures would not enlarge the budget deficit because they would be paid for. In fact, such moves would help reduce the long-term deficits by getting more Americans back to work and the economy growing again.
Policies that generate more widely shared prosperity lead to stronger and more sustainable economic growth — and that’s good for everyone. The rich are better off with a smaller percentage of a fast-growing economy than a larger share of an economy that’s barely moving. That’s the Labor Day lesson we learned decades ago; until we remember it again, we’ll be stuck in the Great Recession.
Robert B. Reich, a secretary of labor in the Clinton administration, is a professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of the forthcoming “Aftershock: The Next Economy and America’s Future.”
This piece has been updated to reflect today's news.
A version of this op-ed appears in print on September 3, 2010, on Page A21 of the New York edition with the headline: How to End the Great Recession. Today's Paper|Subscribe
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Opinion|The Case for Free-Range Parenting
Clemens Wergin
The Case for Free-Range Parenting
By Clemens Wergin
CreditCreditRebekka Dunlap
BETHESDA, Md. — ON her first morning in America, last summer, my daughter went out to explore her new neighborhood — alone, without even telling my wife or me.
Of course we were worried; we had just moved from Berlin, and she was just 8. But when she came home, we realized we had no reason to panic. Beaming with pride, she told us and her older sister how she had discovered the little park around the corner, and had made friends with a few local dog owners. She had taken possession of her new environment, and was keen to teach us things we didn’t know.
When this story comes up in conversations with American friends, we are usually met with polite disbelief. Most are horrified by the idea that their children might roam around without adult supervision. In Berlin, where we lived in the center of town, our girls would ride the Metro on their own — a no-no in Washington. Or they’d go alone to the playground, or walk a mile to a piano lesson. Here in quiet and traffic-safe suburban Washington, they don’t even find other kids on the street to play with. On Halloween, when everybody was out to trick or treat, we were surprised by how many children actually lived here whom we had never seen.
A study by the University of California, Los Angeles, has found that American kids spend 90 percent of their leisure time at home, often in front of the TV or playing video games. Even when kids are physically active, they are watched closely by adults, either in school, at home, at afternoon activities or in the car, shuttling them from place to place.
Such narrowing of the child’s world has happened across the developed world. But Germany is generally much more accepting of letting children take some risks. To this German parent, it seems that America’s middle class has taken overprotective parenting to a new level, with the government acting as a super nanny.
Just take the case of 10-year-old Rafi and 6-year-old Dvora Meitiv, siblings in Silver Spring, Md., who were picked up in December by the police because their parents had dared to allow them to walk home from the park alone. For trying to make them more independent, their parents were found guilty by the state’s Child Protective Services of “unsubstantiated child neglect.” What had been the norm a generation ago, that kids would enjoy a measure of autonomy after school, is now seen as almost a crime.
Today’s parents enjoyed a completely different American childhood. Recently, researchers at the University of Virginia conducted interviews with 100 parents. “Nearly all respondents remember childhoods of nearly unlimited freedom, when they could ride bicycles and wander through woods, streets, parks, unmonitored by their parents,” writes Jeffrey Dill, one of the researchers.
But when it comes to their own children, the same respondents were terrified by the idea of giving them only a fraction of the freedom they once enjoyed. Many cited fear of abduction, even though crime rates have declined significantly. The most recent in-depth study found that, in 1999, only 115 children nationwide were victims of a “stereotypical kidnapping” by a stranger; the overwhelming majority were abducted by a family member. That same year, 2,931 children under 15 died as passengers in car accidents. Driving children around is statistically more dangerous than letting them roam freely.
Motor development suffers when most of a child’s leisure time is spent sitting at home instead of running outside. Emotional development suffers, too.
“We are depriving them of opportunities to learn how to take control of their own lives,” writes Peter Gray, a research professor at Boston College. He argues that this increases “the chance that they will suffer from anxiety, depression, and various other mental disorders,” which have gone up dramatically in recent decades. He sees risky, outside play of children among themselves without adult supervision as a way of learning to control strong emotions like anger and fear.
I am no psychologist like Professor Gray, but I know I won’t be around forever to protect my girls from the challenges life holds in store for them, so the earlier they develop the intellectual maturity to navigate the world, the better. And by giving kids more control over their lives, they learn to have more confidence in their own capabilities.
It is hard for parents to balance the desire to protect their children against the desire to make them more self-reliant. And every one of us has to decide for himself what level of risk he is ready to accept. But parents who prefer to keep their children always in sight and under their thumbs should consider what sort of trade-offs are involved in that choice.
At a minimum, parents who want to give their children more room to roam shouldn’t be penalized by an overprotective state. Cases like the Meitivs’ reinforce the idea that children are fragile objects to be protected at all times, and that parents who believe otherwise are irresponsible, if not criminally negligent.
Besides overriding our natural protective impulses in order to loosen the reins of our kids, my wife and I now also have to ponder the possibility of running afoul of the authorities. And we thought we had come to the land of the free.
Clemens Wergin is the Washington bureau chief for the newspaper Die Welt.
A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 29 of the New York edition with the headline: The Case for Free-Range Parenting. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
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Independent, Assisted Living and
Short-Term Stay Rental Retirement Community
To schedule a Tour - call 708-386-4040
Life at the Arms
Exceptional Dining
Senior Housing & Care
Adult Day Care Program
Monday Night Concert Series
Academy for Seniors
‘Quality of Life’ Health Seminars
Golden Age of Radio
Seniors’ Senior Prom
Summer Jazz Festival
Personal Care and Assistance
Hospice and Palliative Care
Press Room / In the News
Radio Show: Gunsmoke
Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear, an all volunteer radio reenactment group, will present “Gunsmoke” at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. Two episodes from one of the longest and most successful shows from the Golden Age of Radio, “The Mortgage” and “The Round-Up,” will be performed.
This American radio and television Western drama series took place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. It was created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston and was geared for an adult audience compared to the popular children’s shows like “The Lone Ranger” and “The Cisco Kid.”
The main character was lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, and villains were often seen getting away with their crimes. Episodes featured some of the most explicit content of their time including violent crimes, massacres, scalping and opium addicts.
Originally aired during the first season, “The Mortgage” depicts the story of a family torn apart by the greed of their landlord and the tragic and nearly impossible situation they find themselves in as a result. Their only hope is Marshal Dillon, but with the law not on their side, there is not much they can do.
A few months later “The Round-Up” aired, in which Dillon’s friend Zell Matlock offers to help with the annual round-up in Dodge, proving to be one of the rare times when Dillon loses his temper.
The somber program drew critical acclaim for its unprecedented realism, and in this way it differed from other radio westerners. Over the years, however, the program evolved into a warm and sometimes humorous celebration of human nature thanks in large part to the subtle scripts and outstanding ensemble cast.
The radio version ran from 1952 to 1961 and was the longest-running prime time drama on TV in the United States with 20 seasons from 1955 to 1975. It was also one of the few shows to make a seamless transition into television.
Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear is composed of Chicagoland actors who share a common interest – to perform old time radio programs for the community. Each actor and technician donates talent and time for free.
Group founders, Ben Dooley and Pam Turlow, husband and wife, established a connection with The Oak Park Arms in September of 2002, when Turlow’s father became a resident. They’ve been volunteering/performing at The Arms ever since.
Dooley and Turlow’s group performs only once every two months due to the considerable challenges involved in creating a show. They browse through thousands of old time radio episodes, select a favorite, listen and type out the script. Many shows are not available in print and have to be painstakingly transcribed. Then they gather sound effect, rehearse and mount the show.
Sound effects were an important part of live radio shows, and the group performs them live. They have a real door for slamming, buzzers, a sound board and shoes for footsteps, and doorbells.
The shows are very popular with residents and people from the community. Some even bring their children and grandchildren to show them what entertainment was like before television.
“Since the entire cast donates its time and energy, we can only do shows six times a year,” Dooley said, “but we strive to make sure that it’s well worth the wait.”
The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
The radio show is free and open to the public. For more information call 708-386-4040.
Serving these communities:
Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Berwyn, Elmwood Park, Chicago, Riverside, North Riverside, Cicero, Brookfield, Maywood, Melrose Park, Broadview, Lyons, Galewood and River Grove
Call today to schedule a tour 708-386-4040
©2019 Oak Park Arms | 408 S. Oak Park Ave. | Oak Park, IL 60302 | (708) 386-4040
©2019 Oak Park Arms, Inc. All rights reserved - Privacy Policy
Retirement Community Public Relations by Ginny Richardson Public Relations - Chicago area
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Man of La Mancha on Elizabeth Stewart's Art Talk radio show on KZSB AM
Scott White, Laura Dekkers, Marty Babayco and Stuart Crowner.
Nordhoff grad returned home from Broadway now stars in Man of La Mancha
Ojai captures a special place in your heart, especially if you grew up here, moved away and then wanted a better lifestyle for your children. This is what Laura Dekkers did after a career in New York and on Broadway; she returned home to raise her girls. Now she is back on the boards co-starring in “Man of La Mancha” at the Ojai Art Center Theater, beginning September 7 and running for five weekends.
“I was fortunate enough to grow up in Ojai,” says Laura. “Of course, I didn’t appreciate it as a teenager and left as soon as I turned 18. After having two of my daughters in New York City, it was clear their childhood was not going to be running in fields barefoot and climbing trees if I stayed. So, I chose to leave my career and NYC and move back home to Ojai. They are barefoot and free, and I wouldn't have it any other way.”
Laura has performed on Broadway in the Original Broadway Cast of the Tony nominated musical The Woman in White by Andrew Lloyd Webber, under the direction of Trevor Nunn. Laura worked for The Roundabout Theater in New York on the workshops of Paradise Lost with Tony Winners Susan Stroman and Hal Prince, and on Red Sox Nation under the direction of Tony Winner Diana Paulus (Finding Neverland, Pippin and Hair). Some of her favorite roles include Laurey in Oklahoma, Polly in The Boyfriend and Magnolia in Showboat for which she won an Billie Award. Laura had the honor of performing for our troops in nine different countries around the world with the Department of Defense.
What attracted her to “Man of La Mancha”?
“I have dreamed of playing Aldonza for many years,” said Laura. “Aldonza is nothing like the ingénues I spent most of my career playing. She’s strong, courageous, brutally honest, and becomes her own hero. In the end, she saves herself by choosing hope.
“The second thing was the honor to work for our Producer Joan Kemper. She is an inspiration to me personally. I want to be Joan when I grow up. What Joan has done and continues to do for the arts in our community is immeasurable, I could never say no to Joan.”
When not rehearsing or being Mom, Laura gives vocal lessons. Laura had her first taste of teaching in 2005 when she taught as a Liz Caplan associate and loved it; “helping singers find their authentic sound, and being free to sing any style they want, is thrilling and deeply rewarding.”
Scott White stars as Miguel de Cervantes and Don Quixote de La Mancha
The powerful story of Man of La Mancha, the timeless quality of man’s eternal ability to hope and dream, is told through two characters inside the same storyteller. Miguel de Cervantes, an utter failure at various careers including tax collector, sits in a Seville dungeon with his manservant, awaiting trial by the Spanish. The other prisoners set up a mock trial for this perceived enemy: if Cervantes is found guilty, he will hand over all his possessions. Cervantes agrees to do so and offers his defense in the form of a play. Producing a makeup kit, he transforms himself into an old man who calls himself Don Quixote de La Mancha.
“Playing Cervantes/Quixote is a “bucket-list” role for me,” said Scott White who portrays this character in the Ojai Art Center Theater production opening Friday, September 7 and running for 5 weekends. “They’re actually two distinct roles within the same play. Since they are 25-30 years apart in age, speech and mannerisms are quite different. This is challenging enough, but what makes it even more fun is the two share such common beliefs. Portraying their differences while also expressing those common beliefs has been a fantastic challenge.”
A 25-year resident of Ojai, White is excited to star in this gem of a musical. He first studied voice at Indiana University before later becoming an engineer and pursuing a career in lasers and high-tech marketing. He keeps his artistic passions alive through musical theater, church and other performing outlets around Ojai.
What drew White to this role?
“It’s message of hope. The world has many bad, dark, and terrible things happening, which we can either accept or try to change. Don Quixote chooses to see things differently, the positives and the potential, and above all aspires to change things to that better ideal. The story reminds us that each person has that power and can inspire others to create change as well.
“I want the audience to feel the emotion of the characters and be moved by the message of hope the story conveys. There are moments of extreme sadness and tears, likewise joy and laughter. It’s said people remember feelings more than words. If we can help the audience feel that range of emotion, there’s a great chance the message will be long-lasting— that we all can dream the impossible dream.”
Building the “La Mancha” Dream Set
Two local masters of illusion are building the prison set that will transport theatergoers to the Spanish Inquisition era of 1605 for the beloved musical “Man of La Mancha,” opening September 7 at the Ojai Art Center Theater. This will be one of the largest sets ever to grace the Art Center stage, stretching across the entire stage and proscenium.
Art director John Mirk and Production Designer Steve Mitchell have led a team of builders (five men and two women) to create a complex and eerie prison where Miguel de Cervantes creates the legendary Don Quixote. Director Marty Babayco says, “It is the ingenuity of Steve Mitchell’s set design that will allow audiences to witness Cervantes’ imaginative, resourceful storytelling of Don Quixote de la Mancha and his adventures bringing idealism to the soulless reality of life in a Spanish prison.”
“I took my inspiration from Marty’s sketch of what he wanted on the stage,” Steve Mitchell says. “My goal was to make the director happy. After he viewed the model and made a few adjustments, we began creating the many pieces. Marty told me about the back story and that during the Inquisition, so many people were jailed that they turned unused buildings into prisons. Our vision is the basement of an abandoned church that was used as a stable with blacksmith shop. This gave us the ability to have the prisoners find tools, blankets, and more.”
Set construction began in early July at Chaparral’s auditorium, filling the space with cells, stairways, gates, bars, and more. Throughout the heatwave, the team continued building while the cast rehearsed at the Matilija Auditorium. Finally this week, the set was moved to the Art Center Theater where audiences will get to see it starting September 7.
Mitchell designed the set and Mirk created the detailed plans that allowed their team to build the prison. “They work beautifully together. Their skills dovetail in a most effective way,” says Joan Kemper, Executive Producer. “These are guys with diverse backgrounds: Mirk is an architect and Mitchell an urban planner. Wait ‘til you see what magic they’ve made!”
“Man of La Mancha” stars Scott White, Laura Dekkers, and Adam Womack. This rousing musical opens September 7 for 5 weekends.
Latest dream production going along at full tilt
The musical “Man of La Mancha” is coming to the Ojai Art Center Theater (OACT) for five weekends beginning Sept. 7, bringing its timely theme and inspiration with it.
OACT artistic director Richard Camp is the man responsible for bring “The Man” to Ojai. “A year ago, I had a dream. After inspiring director Marty Babayco with that dream, I approached Scott White — who has the most mellifluous voice. Without telling him my intention,
I asked what role he has always wanted to play but hasn’t. He immediately said, ‘Don Quixote.’ After my goosebumps subsided, I shared this with Marty, who then put together a spectac- ular cast and crew. And here we are!”
Babayco said he was touched by the play’s central philosophy. “Cervantes makes it clear that dream- ing the impossible dream is the only logical choice we have, so we tilt at windmills,” Babayco explained. “The story still resonates today, con- trasting captivity versus freedom; love versus violence; and hope versus death, re- minding us to ‘Try, when our arms are too weary to reach the unreachable star.’”
Playwright Dale Wasserman was intrigued with the Quixote character but knew the 915-page book was too enormous to be made into
a play, so he made it Cervantes’ story. “I should like it noted that I am not, nor ever have been, an Hispanic scholar. I am a playwright, one of whose works, ‘Man of La Mancha,’ is enjoying performances in some 40 languages, and which seems to have gone into theatrical history as the first truly successful adaptation of the novel ‘Don Quixote.’ I consider this an unfortunate impression. ‘Man of La Mancha,’ strictly speaking, is not an adaptation of ‘Don Quixote’ at all. It is a play about Miguel de Cervantes.”
Producer Stuart Crowner said he admires Wasserman’s re-focusing of the story. “I saw the original Broadway production of ‘La Mancha’ in New York with Rich- ard Kiley and Joan Diener and it was visually and emo- tionally stunning. I can see why it won five Tonys —including Best Musical — and ran for 2,350 performances. Richard, Marty, executive producer Joan Kemper and I are pleased to bring this magnificent show to Ojai.”
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EditorialHow Many Bedrooms Does This House Have?
How Many Bedrooms Does This House Have?
Onsite system sizing standards are usually based on how many people occupy a dwelling. What do you need to know?
By Jim Anderson and David Gustafson
Onsite System Design
During workshops covering time-of-sale real estate inspections, we talk about how wastewater flows can change dramatically when a property changes ownership. One contributing factor for the change is when a residence initially rated as a two- or three-bedroom house is put on the market as a four- or five-bedroom dwelling.
There are many reasons this may happen over time. Space that was unfinished when the house was built is finished with additional rooms, some of which can be used as bedrooms. Rooms built and used for other purposes are converted into bedrooms by new homeowners. Whatever the reason, when a family moves in and all of those “new” bedrooms are used, the system is often is too small to accept higher flows associated with increased occupancy.
As an onsite system inspector, you cannot always anticipate whether this will happen or not. But if you compare the initial permit for a sewage treatment system with what is reported in the real estate offering, you get a good idea whether this is something to comment on or not. When the permit says three bedrooms and the real estate listing says five bedrooms, this should raise a red flag to you and the permitting authority that there could be problems in the future.
If you raise this issue, expect to get some immediate pushback from the real estate agent and the selling homeowner. After all, who wants to get less money from the sale by having to update the now-inadequate septic system? Knowing what constitutes a bedroom will be helpful when it’s time to have a difficult conversation about the property.
What is a bedroom?
In new construction scenarios, it is also handy to know the bedroom definition. Certainly, the regulatory person issuing the permit for a new system should be aware of the potential for more bedrooms being available. Additional bedrooms call for increased system size and perhaps additional pretreatment requirements. Another related issue that can affect system size and choice of components is when the residence is also the primary location for a business. That designation would result in other flow volume and waste-strength issues.
It seems that the question of what constitutes a bedroom would be straightforward, but there are complicating issues. First, the older the dwelling, the less likely it was built under current building codes. Over the last few decades, specific bedroom requirements have appeared for new construction. Using the new code requirements to help define the number of bedrooms means rooms currently used as bedrooms in older construction would not count as bedrooms today.
The Minnesota code, for example, defines a bedroom as “a room designed for or used for sleeping or a room or area of a dwelling that has a minimum floor area of 70 square feet with access gained from the living area or living area hallway.” It allows use of other architectural features to help determine whether the area is a bedroom or not. If it looks like a bedroom, is used as a bedroom or could logically be used as a bedroom without interference, it counts as a bedroom.
Look for clues
Extenuating circumstances, such as an adult child who has temporarily moved in during construction or an occasional guest sleeping on a sofa bed in a common living area, do not require those rooms to be designated as bedrooms.
Sources to determine whether a room is a bedroom include the real estate and sewage permit information indicated above or the number of bedrooms listed with the local assessor’s office. In new construction, if it is labeled a bedroom on the house plans, if there is a smoke or carbon monoxide detector and all rooms that are on a different level than the primary living area, offer clues to the actual number of bedrooms.
Legal egress is a feature indicating potential use of a space as a bedroom. This is especially important in areas where add-on basement living spaces are common and require at least two escape routes in case of fire. Closets in rooms indicate the primary purpose would be a bedroom; however, those rooms may also be used as a den, office or sewing room. Rooms adjacent to three-quarter bathrooms may also be considered bedrooms.
Some features that would indicate the room would not be considered a bedroom for onsite design purposes include the obvious, such as a kitchen, living room, dining room, laundry room or storage area. Rooms and areas that have low ceilings or have half walls (an exception here would be lofts, which are often used as bedrooms), rooms that lack a door, areas with no privacy, areas without access outside, rooms without light or ventilation to the outside, or areas that are passages to other rooms all would indicate general living space and not bedrooms.
Realistic system sizing
As an inspector, you cannot — nor should you be expected to — make a regulatory statement about whether a room is a bedroom and meets the code requirements. But you may note discrepancies in information where they can be problems and highlight those concerns to the client.
When designing or installing an onsite system for new construction, it is appropriate to have a discussion with the homebuilder and homeowner about increasing the system size if it is obvious more rooms could be converted for use as bedrooms in the future. Larger systems can improve longevity of service. And it is much more cost-effective to expand the size of a system now than to try and add capacity when more bedrooms are added later.
Smartphone Security: When Apps Attack
Installer Makes the Most of His Time Sidelined by Injury
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Richard Koch is a highly successful entrepreneur, whose ventures have included consulting (LEK), personal organizers (Filofax), book publishing (Capstone), hotels (Zoffany), restaurants (Belgo), and premium gin (Plymouth). He was formerly a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group and a partner of Bain & Company.
Richard is currently an investor-director of Betfair, the world's largest betting exchange, which is by far the largest European Internet business and is growing at more than 10 percent each month. He also advises private equity groups in Europe and South Africa.
He is the author of 13 books, including The 80/20 Principle, which has sold over half a million copies and has been translated into 23 languages. His latest book is The 80/20 Individual: The Nine Essentials of 80/20 Success at Work.
The 80/20 Principle
by Richard Koch
The Secret to Success by Achieving More
You’ve heard about it in other audio programs, you’ve read about it in business and personal development books, and you’ve heard countless people refer to the pesky “Pareto Principle” and how it greatly affects our lives – but do you actually know how it works? By concentrating on the few things that do matter, we can unlock the enormous potential of the central 20 percent and multiply our happiness and fulfillment. Learn More
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Nobles’ theatre offerings simultaneously challenge and nurture students as they grow into confident, creative, hardworking, team-oriented individuals—all in a collaborative environment.
Nobles theatre helps students develop skills, regardless of previous experience. Participation in this program strengthens their imagination, sense of self, creative collaboration, and ability to express emotion and thought.
The Nobles Theatre Collective (NTC) produces three shows a year in October (fall mainstage), February (the musical) and May (spring mainstage). In addition, The NTC assembles one or more Student-Directed Productions in either the fall or spring season. All productions are open to the public. If you would like to attend a show or for more information, please contact Director of Theatre Dan Halperin at dan_halperin@nobles.edu.
Performing Arts Department Chair At nobles since 1999
M.F.A. in Directing and Theatre Education, The University of Texas at Austin
Halperin previously worked at the Berkshire Theatre Festival as Director of Education. He has acted and directed at several professional theatres and colleges and works as an aspiring playwright.
781-320-7172 Dan_Halperin@nobles.edu
Todd Morton
Performing Arts Faculty At nobles since 2003
B.A. in Human Development, Lesley University
Besides teaching and directing theatre, Morton serves as Nobles’ resident lighting designer. He has worked for several regional theatres in the States, including the Berkshire Theatre Festival, the Alley Theatre and the George Street Playhouse.
781-320-7176 TMorton0f@nobles.edu
Erik Diaz
Performing Arts Technical Director, Designer, and Teacher At nobles since 2017
B.A. in Technical Theatre and Design, University of Nebraska Omaha
M.F.A. in Theatre Design, University of Connecticut
Prior to Diaz’s arrival at Nobles, he worked throughout Boston and nationally as a freelance scenic designer and production manager at a variety of theatres including the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival, SpeakEasy Stage Co., and the Sharon Playhouse. He previously served as the Head of Design for the California Lutheran University Theatre Program. Erik is a proud member of United Scenic Artists USA Local 829.
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What It's Like Being Blacklisted in Hollywood: Men vs Women
By Jodi Smith | Celebrity | November 15, 2017 |
Let’s do a little comparison, shall we? This was prompted by the continued acceptance of Mel Gibson in Hollywood. Various media outlets are praising Gibson as being “family-friendly” in his new movie Daddy’s Home 2 with Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell. He’s been in talks to direct the Suicide Squad sequel, has three movies either announced or in pre-production, and continues to be in talks for major roles in Hollywood.
Strange that it seems Hollywood is taking note of the sexual abusers in the industries, to some extent, but feels that racism and violent threats and outbursts are just fine if you allow about a decade to pass. I thought that I would illustrate the ridiculousness of this by comparing two blacklisted Hollywood stars: Mel Gibson and Sean Young.
Gibson unleashed horrible, anti-semitic, racist, and violent tirades on various people in 2006 and 2010. He was blacklisted in Hollywood and Robert Downey Jr. was one of the people to ask that Gibson be given another chance. While blacklisted, which Wikipedia states took place from 2010 until 2016, Gibson added 5 acting credits to his resume. They are all films that people know about, that had real budgets, and were advertised.
Gibson is now regularly getting work and outlets are proclaiming that Hollywood is “welcoming him back”.
Young’s crimes started when James Woods accused her of harassment due to an on-set affair ending. Young was awarded money to cover her legal costs, but the label of crazy followed her. She was cut from the film Wall Street for allegedly not getting along with star Charlie Sheen and director Oliver Stone. She lost her role as Vicki Vale in 1989’s Batman after falling from a horse and breaking her hand. She unsuccessfully attempted to win the part of Catwoman in the film’s sequel, making her own catsuit and attempting to get the attention of Tim Burton and Michael Keaton. She was let go from Dick Tracy and the reason given is that she wasn’t a maternal Tess Trueheart. Young alleges that she rebuffed star and director Warren Beatty’s advances and was then fired.
Young has been working steadily in Hollywood following her last recognizable role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective in 1994. You have probably not heard of her movies.
← Bryan Cranston Thinks Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein Deserve a Second Chance. F*ck That
The Anti-Gift Guide: Corkcicle's Cigar Glass →
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Trade Group: US Tech Industry Gained Jobs in 2008
The U.S. high-tech industry gained about 77,000 jobs in 2008, despite losses of 38,000 jobs in the fourth quarter of the year, according to a report from trade group TechAmerica.
Two segments of the high-tech industry driving the job gains in 2008 were software services, including software publishing, custom programming and computer systems design, and engineering and tech services, including computer training, testing labs and research and development, said the report, released Tuesday.
TechAmerica officials said they were generally optimistic about the U.S. tech sector, despite a continuing U.S. recession. "The tech sector ... has weathered the storm longer and stronger than most other sectors of our economy," said Phil Bond, president of TechAmerica, made up of four recently merged trade groups including AeA and the Information Technology Association of America.
TechAmerica officials, however, declined to give job forecasts for 2009, saying they haven't traditionally done so when releasing their annual Cyberstates report. The outlook for 2009 is "clouded by some uncertainty" because of the U.S. economy, but the tech sector is positioned to contribute to an economic recovery, with funds coming from an economic stimulus package passed by the U.S. Congress in mid-February and elsewhere, Bond said.
The economic stimulus package included US$19 billion for health IT and $7.2 billion for broadband deployment, plus money for deployment of a smart energy grid.
Currently, there are a lot of hiring freezes in Silicon Valley in addition to recent layoffs, noted David Thomas, executive director of TechAmerica Silicon Valley. More layoffs are likely in the near term, he said.
However, some signs point to improving conditions, with SaaS (software-as-a-service) firms doing well, Thomas added. With hardware costs minimized, SaaS seems to be a popular and conservative choice for a lot of buyers, he said.
While orders were down for the Silicon Valley tech sector in December and January, "opportunities are starting to return," Thomas said. "They're not happy yet with the level, but they are seeing signs of improvement and there's some encouragement on the horizon."
For all of 2008, software services added 86,200 jobs across the U.S., according to TechAmerica, and engineering and tech services added 26,600 jobs. Those jobs only include jobs at tech companies, not IT jobs at other companies, such as banks or hospitals.
Those gains were offset by a 23,100-job decrease in high-tech manufacturing, including computer and peripheral equipment, communications equipment, consumer electronics and semiconductors. Another high-tech sector losing jobs in 2008 was communications services, including Internet service providers, wired telecom carriers and mobile carriers, which dropped 12,700 jobs during the year.
Software services employment even increased, by 12,600 jobs or 0.7 percent, in the fourth quarter of 2008, TechAmerica said.
The report gives "another extraordinarily clear market signal to young Americans: There are good jobs ... available," Bond said. "They are not going away, and they're going to be here for the future. Young people across the country should really think about science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees."
While unemployment was up slightly in high-tech fields, it was still relatively low, the report said. Computer scientists had a 2.4 percent unemployment rate at the end of the year, and engineers had a 2.5 percent unemployment rate, the report said. The U.S. unemployment rate in February was 8.1 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Home » Rhyme Stew
Rhyme Stew
Rhyme Stew by Roald Dahl is a collection of raucous rhymes for older children featuring characters from fairy tales, fables and nursery rhymes - as you've never seen them before! From the tortoise and the hare and Hansel and Gretel to Ali Baba and Aladdin, these traditional stories will never seem the same again once you have had a taste of Roald Dahl's hilarious verse and Quentin Blake's suitably lively illustrations.
Reissued in the exciting new Roald Dahl branding, this is an inventive and irreverant collection for older children and adults alike, which bubbles over with Roald Dahl's extraordinary humour and imagination.
You can listen to all of Roald Dahl's stories on Puffin audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Steven Fry - plus there are added squelchy sound effects!
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was born in Llandaff, South Wales, and went to Repton School in England. His parents were Norwegian, so holidays were spent in Norway. As he explains in Boy, he turned down the idea of university in favour of a job that would take him to ‘a wonderful faraway place’.
In 1933 he joined the Shell Company, which sent him to Mombasa in East Africa. When World War II began in 1939 he became a fighter pilot and in 1942 was made assistant air attaché in Washington, where he started to write short stories. His first major success as a writer for children was in 1964.
Thereafter his children’s books brought him increasing popularity, and when he died children mourned the world over, particularly in Britain where he had lived for many years.
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Soprano'S Tv Star Cracks Under Pressure As Personal Injury Lawyer From New York City Tops Him During Trial
Posted on Feb 20, 2009 11:15am PST
New York Personal Injury attorney, David Perecman is regarded as one of the top personal injury lawyers in New York according to Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America. Once again, his unique tactics proved successful in the court room when his client sued Vincent Pastore for assaulting her. The trial attorney was able to show how “Big Pussy” from Televisions Soprano’s lied when testifying previously – and got him to offer incriminating information when being questioned.
According to news stories in the Daily News, the defendant claimed in the past that he never hit the plaintiff nor pulled her hair. But Perecman’s questioning revealed some staggering and case-altering information to the contrary. “In typical bodily injury lawsuits, trial lawyers put their own client on the stand first and take the easy path to proving their case.
By doing this they expose them to cross examination and the shortfalls, if any, are highlighted,” said David Perecman, New York personal injury attorney. “It’s far more difficult to take a hostile witness, your adversary, and start the trial off by cross examining them and developing a story from them at the same time. By doing it the hard way you force the defendant to testify and “lock in” to their version of what happened before anyone else testifies.”
Perecman subpoenaed the first witness, Mr. Pastore. After asking questions intended to make him look a bit foolish about crying before this all went down, Perecman got the fatal admission, just before the jury retired for the weekend, HE PULLLED HER HAIR NINE city blocks away from where she was yanked out of the car. Mr. Perecman was ready to resume examination the following week, and it wasn’t going to be pretty. Pastore agreed to a settlement, and all parties were able to move on.
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Leonardo DiCaprio Shares a Very Retro First Look at Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Movie Details
27 June 2018 by Quinn Keaney
The Premiere Date
Quentin Tarantino has never shied away from diving into some pretty gruesome stories, and he's certainly not going to start now. The director's next project, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, has been percolating for a while now, with The Hollywood Reporter revealing back in 2017 that Tarantino was in the early stages of putting together a film described as "a unique take on the Manson Family murders." At this point, details about the plot, star-studded cast, and release date have all come to light, including a first official look at Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt's characters. Take a look at everything we know about the upcoming film ahead.
Everyone Who's Joined the A-List Cast For Quentin Tarantino's Manson Murders Movie
Once Upon A Time In HollywoodMoviesLeonardo DiCaprioQuentin TarantinoBrad Pitt
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https://www.powervoter.us/francis_becker
Francis Becker
Francis Becker Jr. (Republican) was a candidate who sought election to the New York State Senate to represent District 9. Becker lost the general election on November 6, 2018, after advancing from the primary on September 13, 2018. Becker also ran in the 2018 election as a Conservative Party and Tax Revolt Party candidate.
Becker planned to run in the 2014 election for the U.S. House, representing New York's 4th District. Becker sought the Republican nomination in the primary, but did not file with the New York Board of Elections.
Becker was a 2012 Republican and Conservative Party candidate who sought election to the U.S. House representing the 4th Congressional District of New York. He lost in the general election.
Becker is a Nassau County legislator and owns a financial planning business.
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Pegida: Germany's anti-Islamic Street Movement
Fabian Virchow
Since October 2014, thousands of people have gathered weekly in Dresden to protest against immigration and Islam which are both perceived by them as deadly threats to German society. What is the background of this unique mobilisation known as PEGIDA and what are the drivers behind its growth?
Since 20 October 2014, the East-German city of Dresden, capital of the state Saxony, has hosted rallies organized by a group named PEGIDA (German: Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes, English: Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West). While PEGIDA attracted some hundred supporters to its earliest rallies, numbers quickly peaked in late January 2015 with 25,000 attending. Up until the end of 2016, at least some 2,000 followers showed up week-on-week.
With the number of refugees seeking refuge in Germany rising since 2013, the extent of anti-immigrant protest, often organised by extreme right groups such as the National Democratic Party of Germany, has increased. For example, in the Saxon town Schneeberg, mobilization brought more than 1,500 people to the streets three weeks in a row in late 2013 at the accommodation used for hosting refugees. Speakers at such rallies depicted asylum seekers as a threatening Other in xeno-racial terms by arguing that Muslims cannot adopt to ‘Western civilized standards as they are not hygienic’, and that there is a ‘jihad of births’. Following a call for action by a group named Hooligans Against Salafists, 4,500 gathered in Cologne on 26 October 2014 with a significant minority clashing heavily with the local police. While these activities remained occasional events, Dresden became the location of the most successful extra-parliamentary right-wing mobilization in post-war Germany.
Pegida’s formation and growth
In Dresden, a group of close friends, some of them soccer fans, others already known for their racist and derogatory remarks on refugees, Muslims, and people from Turkey and Kurdistan on the Internet, started weekly rallies mid-October 2014. The initiators of PEGIDA, Lutz Bachmann being primus inter pares and other founding members such as Siegfried Däbritz and Thomas Tallacker, had understood that there was potential for street protests against migration, intercultural coexistence and religious diversity. Speakers again and again invoked the destruction of Germany as a result of the refugees coming to Germany, and accused the media for false reporting on the situation. They accused the government in general, but chancellor Angela Merkel especially, of being traitors to the German people. Quite often, references to ›1989‹ were made. By referring to the mass demonstrations that contributed to the overthrow of the socialist regime in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1989, PEGIDA tries to strengthen the belief that it would once again be possible to overthrow a political regime by mass action.
Like many social movements, conflicts related to leadership, competing concepts of strategy and framing, and narcissistic behaviour started to play a role within PEGIDA effecting its unity, capacity for mobilization and outreach. The original plan of the Dresden group to directly control the many offshoot splinter groups that appeared in many German cities did not work. By the end of 2016 there have been racist and anti-Islamic rallies in hundreds of cities and smaller towns organized by groups such as Mönchengladbach – Get up, Commitment for Germany, Eichsfeld fights back, People’s Movement North Thuringia, or Together Strong Germany. While it is true that Dresden was the only place where this right-wing mobilization reached numbers above 20,000 with an astonishing regularity, the many other rallies also contributed to spreading racist and Islamophobic hate speech, and inflaming acts of aggression not only against those belonging to minority groups but also against social workers and volunteers who supported refugees.
The importance of Saxony
Scientific studies and surveys show that there is a relevant minority of the German population holding hostile attitudes against asylum seekers, homeless people, Roma, and long-term unemployed. The exceptional mobilization capability of PEGIDA Dresden is the result of the specific political culture of the city and the state of Saxony. It consists of several narratives such as the belief about a unique and phenomenal cultural heritage, the beauty of the landscape, and urban cleanliness; and other stories that emphasize a distinct Saxon identity comprising of a special self-confidence, astuteness, and avant-garde action. Finally, it is argued, a strong feeling of solidarity exists among Saxons, this togetherness was demonstrated by the floods in 2002 and 2013 both of which had caused major damage in the country. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) that has ruled the country continuously since 1990 labels itself as the Saxon Union contributing to a kind of regional nationalism and solidarity.
It is also noteworthy that the CDU in Saxony belongs to the decidedly conservative part of the party regularly speaking up for a German patriotic self-awareness. Leading representatives of the CDU in Saxony have publicly blamed the same political forces, developments and ideas as being responsible for the decline of morals in the same way that PEGIDA speakers have. Not surprisingly, then, appeasing the far-right has a long tradition in Saxony going back into the early 1990s when Kurt Biedenkopf the then-Prime Minister in Saxony claimed, in light of pogrom-like violence in the Saxon town Hoyerswerda, that the citizens of Saxony are immune to right-wing extremism. Despite ten years of parliamentary representation of the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) in the state parliament of Saxony, leading politicians from the Saxon CDU like Frank Kupfer, chairman of the Christian Democratic faction in the Saxon parliament, argued that people from outside Saxony cannot understand the situation, overestimate the problem and intend to purposely discredit the political course of the regional branch of the Christian Democrats.
Another dimension which helps explain the PEGIDA phenomena is the fact that the population in Saxony played a major role in the final phase of the GDR’s fall. Leipzig and, to a lesser extent, Dresden hosted Monday demonstrations in late 1989 bringing huge numbers to the streets and contributed to the downfall of the socialist regime. Public statements of the time, especially the ones given by then chancellor Helmut Kohl on the evening of 19 December 1989 contributed to a nationalist interpretation of events. In the 1990s and 2000s, Dresden also became the site of several heavily attended neo-Nazi rallies, where the Allied bombing of the city in mid February 1945 which killed some 24,000 people was framed as another kind of holocaust. This re-framing of the Allied bombing, which was actually created by the Nazi propaganda machine in the aftermath of the bombing, was used by the former GDR government in the Cold War.
Discourses of victimization by protest organizations exist in several variations in the city. Some lament the political and economic consequences of German reunification which caused fundamental structural and demographic changes especially in the more rural East Saxon regions. Open borders with Poland and the Czech Republic has changed the perception of crime. Rising levels of theft and burglary is attributed by many to the opening of German borders, which, some argue, allows foreign criminals to easily return after committing crimes on German territory. In both cases, the idea of ‘Germans as victims’ is given discoursive empirical evidence and fosters exclusionist interpretations.
PEGIDA’s future
In early January 2017, the Leipzig branch of PEGIDA declared that it had decided to not hold any more demonstrations. While relieving police forces was given as the reason, media comments and political observers widely agreed that the decreasing number of participants has been the real reason behind this decision. With only a few places left in which weekly rallies are organised, albeit with not more than a hundred people taking part, PEGIDA in Dresden is still the most important site of action. Yet, the weekly meetings have become a mere ritual with the same content of the speeches, the same faces and no idea of new impetus. With Lutz Bachmann meanwhile living in Tenerife only to fly in for the Monday rallies and growing criticism of the transparency of the use of donations, it might well be the case that PEGIDA Dresden will die a slow death toll in 2017.
Dr. Fabian Virchow is Professor of Social Theory and Theories of Political Action at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf where he also directs the Research Unit on Right Wing Extremism. He has published numerous books and articles on worldview, strategy and political action of the far right.
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Current: Trump-Pence Administration Tries and Fails to ...
Trump-Pence Administration Tries and Fails to Push Regressive Agenda at Commission on the Status of Women
For Immediate Release: March 26, 2019
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WASHINGTON — As the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women concluded late Friday, Planned Parenthood condemned U.S. delegates, such as Valerie Huber (HHS), Bethany Kozma (USAID), and Pam Pryor (State Dept.), who pushed forward the Trump-Pence administration's anti-reproductive health agenda. Despite the regressive positioning of the U.S. delegation and others, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) — a global, intergovernmental body dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment — has bucked the Trump-Pence administration’s backwards agenda, and instead adopted conclusions reaffirming many important commitments to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Statement from Dr. Leana Wen, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
The Trump-Pence administration is creating a ripple effect that will hurt communities worldwide. We are deeply troubled by the United States’ extreme positions, laid out to the Commission on the Status of Women. By attempting to erase sexual and reproductive health from U.N. agreements and censor reproductive rights violations in the State Department human rights report, the administration aims to dismantle access to care, censor doctors, and erase entire communities of people from global conversations. We know the administration’s efforts will have the worst impact on the people who already face barriers to care – including women and girls, people with low incomes, youth, and LGBTQ communities.
In spite of the actions of the U.S. delegates’ and other governments hostile to sexual and reproductive health and rights, countries agreed to new international standards on women’s human rights, social protection systems, access to public services, and sustainable infrastructure. The CSW built upon prior agreements on sexual and reproductive health and rights, education, and gender-based violence, and pledged to improve health care infrastructure with a specific focus on addressing maternal mortality. However, the CSW failed to protect sexual and reproductive health services for survivors of violence, which will impact survivors of sexual violence. The commission also was not able to integrate protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression into the design of social protection and public service systems. Planned Parenthood will continue to hold the U.S. government accountable for undermining progress as the organization stands with human rights defenders around the world to ensure CSW and other forums at the UN remain committed to upholding and advancing the health and rights of all.
These anti-reproductive health positions on the global stage should come as no surprise given the Trump-Pence administration’s obsession with curbing women’s health and rights. From expanding the harmful global gag rule as one of Trump’s first actions in office, to issuing a rule allowing employers to deny their employees birth control coverage, attempting to “defund” Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funds multiple times, and releasing a final gag rule that makes it illegal for health care providers in the Title X program to refer patients for an abortion — the administration has used every opportunity possible to undermine access to reproductive health care.
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.
For more than 45 years, Planned Parenthood Federation of America has supported access to sexual and reproductive health care and advocated for reproductive rights around the world through our international arm, Planned Parenthood Global. In partnership with more than 100 organizations across 12 focus countries in Africa and Latin America, we advance the health and rights of young people, women and families, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable and underserved. Last year, our partners reached over a million people with sexual and reproductive health information and services provided by our partners. Our unique sustainability model sets us apart, as we empower partners to stand on their own. We help grassroots organizations develop solid reproductive health programs, identify other sources of funding, build their communications and advocacy skills, and develop strategic plans.
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Professors van der Hoorn, Hector, and Sweetlove named as Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate Analytics
Professor Renier van der Hoorn, Professor Andy Hector, and Professor Lee Sweetlove have been named as Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate Analytics because their work has been identified as being among the most valuable and significant in the field.
Very few researchers earn this distinction – writing the greatest number of reports, officially designated by Essential Science Indicators as Highly Cited Papers. In addition, these reports rank among the top 1% most cited works for their subject field and year of publication, earning them the mark of exceptional impact.
Congratulations to Renier, Andy and Lee!
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Americans Abroad
Posted by: Marcom Web Group Date: December 1, 2008 In: Communication, Students, Study Away
By Steve Hansen
When Jennifer Henrichsen came to PLU, she had every intention of majoring in biology and psychology, and then moving on to medical school. Ambitious – and admirable – plans. But halfway into her sophomore year, she had something of an epiphany: Med school was more of her mom’s dream than her own.
Jenn Henrichsen ’07 found a passion for world politics and journalism.
So she decided to switch directions. Radical directions.
“One of PLU’s strengths is its dedication to helping students succeed in the field of global education,” said Henrichsen. “When the opportunity arose to obtain both political science and communication credit by studying and interning in Norway, I jumped at the chance.”
She was hooked. Henrichsen, who double-majored in political science and communication, traveled abroad four separate times as an undergraduate – to Germany and England, to Norway, to the Balkans, and to Switzerland.
That is where Henrichsen ’07 finds herself now, graduating in 2007 and living in Geneva, Switzerland. She’s earning a Master of Advanced Studies in International and European Security there, studying international law, terrorism and energy security, among other subjects. She also is studying press freedoms in regions of global conflict, with a focus on the increased intimidation, and sometimes assassination, of journalists. And, she’s also working as a freelance journalist at the United Nations’ European headquarters.
It is a pretty good post-graduation gig.
And here’s the best part: She’s doing it on the U.S. and Swiss government’s dime, as part of one of the world’s most prestigious global study programs – the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and named for U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright program was established in 1946 by the Congress to “enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.”
It is the largest U.S. international exchange program, and one of the most selective. It sends about 1,450 students a year to more than 155 countries, with a mandate to embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world’s inhabitants.
It should be no surprise that students like Henrichsen see the chance to continue their studies in places like Geneva as a natural progression of their studies. In fact, PLU’s
Wang Center for International Programs provided the basis for her winning Fulbright proposal when it gave her – along with her professor and mentor, Joanne Lisosky – a research grant to study human rights at the U.N. in Geneva.
That PLU is extremely successful at placing graduates in the Fulbright program should also be no surprise. In 2007, PLU was named by the Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the top four masters-level institutions in the United States, in terms of the number of students participating in the Fulbright U.S. Student Fellowship program. Since 1975, PLU has had 79 Fulbright recipients.
So, why is PLU so good at getting Fulbright scholarships?
“That PLU ranked so high testifies not only to the quality of PLU, but to the quality of a liberal arts education,” said Troy Storfjell, assistant professor of languages and literatures, and for several years, the university’s Fulbright program adviser. “The Fulbright Fellowship is an ideal match with the global focus of this university,” he added.
It is not that PLU focuses on Fulbrights. They are simply a product of PLU’s dedicated focus on global education – the honors just naturally follow.
Jenn Henrichsen’s experience seems to verify that.
As she tells the story, Henrichsen didn’t truly fall into the topic of press protection – the basis of her Fulbright proposal – until she Googled a report by the Press emblem Campaign. The group’s report documented press deaths and called for strengthened international humanitarian law provisions.
“I e-mailed one of the authors asking for the report, and found that the author was a journalist who worked at the U.N., and whose office was literally a five-minute walk from my computer desk in the library,” she recalled.
“I walked to his office, received the report, set up an interview, and before I knew it, I had my research topic for the Wang Center grant.”
The grant lead to additional trips to Geneva while at PLU, a speaking engagement at a national conference, and the Fulbright proposal. And the Fulbright proposal led to – well, who knows? That part of Henrichsen’s life hasn’t been written yet. There certainly is no shortage of opportunity ahead.
For the time being, Henrichsen will continue to immerse herself in her masters program, while continuing to work on her French and German language skills, as well. To do that in Geneva invigorates her.
“When I’m in a press conference [at the U.N.] I feel like the world is literally at my fingertips,” she said. “That kind of information is exhilarating. I find it is impossible to be apathetic when I have the awesome opportunity to be a first witness to history.”
For most PLU students, and certainly for Henrichsen, so many meaningful international experiences start in a small office at the northwest corner of campus – The
Wang Center for International Programs. Founded by alumnus Peter Wang ’60 and his wife, Grace, the two were keenly interested in finding ways to prepare students for lives of leadership and service in an interconnected world. So concerned, they funded the unique center to the tune of $4 million.
PLU has always focused on international study, but the Wang Center changed the game. It plays a large role in the fact that more than 40 percent of PLU students study abroad at some point in their career at PLU. The national average is 3 percent.
The center has been essential in creating opportunities for students like Henrichsen who have passion for understanding the world, firsthand.
“I believe it was a continuous stream of support from PLU professors and seized opportunities that enabled me to follow this path,” Henrichsen said. “A turning point for me was my first experience abroad on PLU’s J-Term. That program was the catalyst for all subsequent experiences – from Norway to the Balkans to the U.N. in Geneva.”
PLU has this effect on a lot of students.
J-Term is shorthand for January Term, PLU’s one-month term squeezed between the larger fall and spring semesters. Many PLU students consider it the perfect time to get off campus and see the world.
“I knew when I decided to attend PLU five years ago, that I would study abroad. It was one of the elements of why I chose PLU over other colleges,” she recalled.
“That said, I could never have predicted that five years from that decision, I would be working as a freelance journalist at the U.N., beginning a rigorous masters program on a Fulbright grant.”
What in the world will she do next? Good question.
One thing is clear: Henrichsen will be prepared to embrace it the moment she gets there.
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Every Tim Ferriss Podcast Episode About Drugs (Micro-dosing, Psychedelics, Ayahuasca, Ibogaine, LSD, & MDMA)
A curated episode list by
Creation Date December 18th, 2018
Updated Date Updated July 3rd, 2019
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A comprehensive list of every Tim Ferriss episode that mentions micro-dosing, psychedelics, LSD, MDMA, Ayahuasca, Psilocybin, Ibogaine, etc.
#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
1Nov 20th, 2018
Episode of
The Tim Ferriss Show
"I realized people were not having LSD experiences; they were having experiences of themselves. But they were coming from depths that psychoanalysis didn't know anything about." — Stanislav GrofStanislav Grof, M.D., (stanislavgrof.com) is a psychiatrist with more than 60 years of experience in research of "holotropic" states of consciousness, a large and important subgroup of non-ordinary states that have healing, transformative, and evolutionary potential.Previously, he was Principal Investigator in a psychedelic research program at the Psychiatric Research Institute in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Chief of Psychiatric Research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, and Scholar-in-Residence at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA.Currently, Stan is Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco, CA, and conducts professional training programs in holotropic breathwork and transpersonal psychology, and gives lectures and seminars worldwide. He is one of the founders and chief theoreticians of transpersonal psychology and the founding president of the International Transpersonal Association (ITA).His publications include more than 150 articles in professional journals and books like Psychology of the Future, The Cosmic Game, and Holotropic Breathwork, among many others.In this wide-ranging interview, we cover many topics, including:Some of his main takeaways after supervising or guiding ~4,500 LSD sessionsThe place and role of "wounded healers"Limitations and uses of traditional psychoanalysis and talk therapyHolotropic breathwork and some similarities to MDMAStories of odd synchronicities and the seemingly impossibleStan's strangest personal experiences on psychedelicsWhat Stan believes humanity most needs to overcome: division and destructionI hope you'll enjoy this in-depth conversation with Stan Grof!This episode is brought to you by Peloton, which has become a staple of my daily routine. I picked up this bike after seeing the success of my friend Kevin Rose, and I’ve been enjoying it more than I ever imagined. Peloton is an indoor cycling bike that brings live studio classes right to your home. No worrying about fitting classes into your busy schedule or making it to a studio with a crazy commute.New classes are added every day, and this includes options led by elite NYC instructors in your own living room. You can even live stream studio classes taught by the world’s best instructors, or find your favorite class on demand.Peloton is offering listeners to this show a special offer. Visit onepeloton.com and enter the code TIM at checkout to receive $100 off accessories with your Peloton bike purchase. This is a great way to get in your workouts or an incredible gift. Again, that’s onepeloton.com and enter the code TIM.This episode is also brought to you by LegalZoom. I’ve used this service for many of my businesses, as have quite a few of the icons on this podcast such as Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg of WordPress fame.LegalZoom is a reliable resource that more than a million people have already trusted for everything from setting up wills, proper trademark searches, forming LLCs, setting up non-profits, or finding simple cease-and-desist letter templates.LegalZoom is not a law firm, but it does have a network of independent attorneys available in most states who can give you advice on the best way to get started, provide contract reviews, and otherwise help you run your business with complete transparency and up-front pricing. Check out LegalZoom.com and enter promo code TIM at checkout today for special savings and see how the fine folks there can make life easier for you and your business.
Ep 66: The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide - Risks, Micro-Dosing, Ibogaine, and More
1Mar 21st, 2015
DISCLAIMER: DO NOT CONSUME ANY DRUGS WITHOUT CONSULTING A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.JAMES FADIMAN, Ph.D., did his undergraduate work at Harvard and his graduate work at Stanford, doing research with the Harvard Group, the West Coast Research Group in Menlo Park, and Ken Kesey. He is the author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide.Called “America’s wisest and most respected authority on psychedelics and their use,” Jim Fadiman has been involved with psychedelic research since the 1960s. In this episode, we discuss the immediate and long-term effects of psychedelics when used for spiritual purposes (high dose), therapeutic purposes (moderate dose), and problem-solving purposes (low dose). Fadiman outlines best practices for safe "entheogenic" voyages learned through his more than 40 years of experience--from the benefits of having a sensitive guide during a session (and how to be one) to the importance of the setting and pre-session intention. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.We also discuss new uses for LSD and other psychedelics, including extremely low doses for improved cognitive function. Cautioning that psychedelics are not for everyone, he dispels the myths and misperceptions about psychedelics, which are commonly circulated in textbooks. Fadiman explain how -- in his opinion -- psychedelics, used properly, can lead not only to healing but also to scientific breakthroughs and spiritual epiphanies.Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
1Jul 28th, 2015
Jane McGonigal (@avantgame), PhD, is a senior researcher at the Institute for the Future and the author of The New York Times bestseller Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World. Her work has been featured in The Economist, Wired, and The New York Times. She has been called one of the "top ten innovators to watch" by BusinessWeek and one of the "100 most creative people in business” by Fast Company. Her TED talks on games have been viewed more than ten million times. In this conversation, we dig into everything from recovering from head trauma to how you can use Candy Crush Saga to lose weight. Not enough? How about using Tetris to prevent PTSD, or using Call of Duty to increase empathy? Her latest book is SuperBetter, which offers a revolutionary (science-based) approach for getting stronger, happier, and more resilient. I’ve been testing it, and it works. Not only am I feeling better, but I’m having more fun. As adults, we often lose track of play. My hope is that this episode will help you to reclaim it. It’s not frivolous; it can help you get a lot more done with less stress. In this episode we discuss: Examples of real world problems that are solved with games or by gamers How Jane climbed herself out of the hole of suicidal thoughts Action steps for using gaming lessons and applying them to real life How to build a quest into your life The health effects of Candy Crush Saga On the use of psychedelics to simulate traumatic experiences And much more... Links, resources, and show notes from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. Get 50% off your order at Athletic Greens.com/Tim This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run... Enjoy!
#342: Sam Harris, Ph.D. — How to Master Your Mind
1Oct 29th, 2018
Sam Harris (@SamHarrisOrg) received a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a Ph.D in neuroscience from UCLA. Sam is the host of the Waking Up podcast, and he is the author of multiple books including The End of Faith, Letter to a Christian Nation, The Moral Landscape, Free Will, Lying, Waking Up, and Islam and the Future of Tolerance (with Maajid Nawaz).This experimental episode came about because a few months back Sam asked me to be a beta tester for his Waking Up meditation app that he was creating at the time. It was recently released, and I highly recommend it. I anticipated it would be good because Sam's work is always good, and he's one of those rare humans who seems to think and speak in finished prose, and he has a voice that can very easily lull you into a semi-psychedelic state while you are completely sober. You'll hear what I mean soon.Sam has a unique combination of experiences and areas of expertise, and his approach is that of a logical progression of layering on different types of training for learning the skill of meditation. In this episode, Sam will discuss his experiences with MDMA, his spiritual exploration, contact with so-called gurus, duality versus non-duality, and lots more. If you want to dive right into a beginner level guided meditation, skip to [52:32].Make sure to check out the bonus episode that is released at the same time as this one if you enjoy what you find here and want to jump straight to the guided meditations. The bonus episode also features additional content from Sam not found in the longer episode. Enjoy! This episode is brought to you by LegalZoom. I've used this service for many of my businesses, as have quite a few of the icons on this podcast including Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg of WordPress fame.LegalZoom is a reliable resource that more than a million people have already trusted for everything from setting up wills, proper trademark searches, forming LLCs, setting up non-profits, or finding simple cease-and-desist letter templates.LegalZoom is not a law firm, but it does have a network of independent attorneys available in most states who can give you advice on the best way to get started, provide contract reviews, and otherwise help you run your business with complete transparency and up-front pricing. Check out LegalZoom.com and enter promo code TIM at checkout today for special savings and see how the fine folks there can make life easier for you and your business.This podcast is also brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. As a listener of The Tim Ferriss Show, you will receive a one-off supply of 20 free Athletic Greens Travel Packs, valued at $99.95. To order yours, visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim.
#340: Paul Stamets — How Mushrooms Can Save You and (Perhaps) the World
Paul Stamets (@PaulStamets) is an intellectual and industry leader in the habitat, medicinal use, and production of fungi. Part of his mission is to deepen our understanding and respect for the organisms that literally exist under every footstep taken on this path of life. Paul is the author of a new study in Nature's Scientific Reports, which details how mushroom extracts—specifically extracts from woodland polypore mushrooms—can greatly reduce viruses that contribute to bee colony collapse.Paul is the author of six books, including Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World, Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms, and Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World: An Identification Guide, and he has discovered and named numerous species of psilocybin mushrooms. Paul is also the founder and owner of Fungi Perfecti, makers of the Host Defense mushroom supplement line, and it is something I've been using since Samin Nosrat recommended it in my last book, Tribe of Mentors.Paul has received numerous awards, including Invention Ambassador (2014-2015) for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the National Mycologist Award (2014) from the North American Mycological Association (NAMA), and the Gordon & Tina Wasson Award (2015) from the Mycological Society of America (MSA).The implications, applications, and medicinal uses of what we discuss in this interview are truly mind-boggling, and we get into some of my favorite subjects, including psychedelics and other aspects of bending reality. If you're interested in contributing to psychedelic science and research, you can do so at MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), or if you've got $100,000 or more to spare, visit me at tim.blog/science.I hope you enjoy this entire interview, but if you only have time to listen to one part, I recommend checking in at the [56:25] mark to hear how Paul's first experience with psilocybin mushrooms affected his lifelong stutter. Enjoy!This podcast is brought to you by Peloton, which has become a staple of my daily routine. I picked up this bike after seeing the success of my friend Kevin Rose, and I've been enjoying it more than I ever imagined. Peloton is an indoor cycling bike that brings live studio classes right to your home. No worrying about fitting classes into your busy schedule or making it to a studio with a crazy commute.New classes are added every day, and this includes options led by elite NYC instructors in your own living room. You can even live stream studio classes taught by the world's best instructors, or find your favorite class on demand.Peloton is offering listeners to this show a special offer. Visit onepeloton.com and enter the code TIM at checkout to receive $100 off accessories with your Peloton bike purchase. This is a great way to get in your workouts, or an incredible gift. Again, that's onepeloton.com and enter the code TIM.This podcast is brought to you by Audible. I have used Audible for years, and I love audiobooks. I have a few to recommend:Ready Player One by Ernest ClineThe Tao of Seneca by SenecaThe Graveyard Book by Neil GaimanAll you need to do to get your free 30-day Audible trial is visit Audible.com/Tim. Choose one of the above books, or choose any of the endless options they offer. It's that easy. Go to Audible.com/Tim or text TIM to 500500 to get started today.
#337: Hamilton Morris on Better Living Through Chemistry: Psychedelics, Smart Drugs, and More
1Sep 20th, 2018
Hamilton Morris (TW: @hamiltonmorris, IG: @hamiltonmorris) is a writer, documentarian, and scientific researcher who currently studies the chemistry and pharmacology of tryptamines at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.His writing has been featured in Harper’s Magazine, Playboy, and Vice, and he is the creator of the television series Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia, which recently completed its second season, and it is absolutely one of my favorite series of the last five years.Hamilton is exceptionally good at explaining complex subjects simply and making science sexy, as you’ll discover in this episode.Enjoy!This episode is brought to you by Inktel. Ever since I wrote The 4-Hour Workweek, I’ve been frequently asked about how I choose to delegate tasks. At the root of many of my decisions is a simple question: “How can I invest money to improve my quality of life?” Or “how can I spend moderate money to save significant time?”Inktel is one of those investments. They are a turnkey solution for all of your customer care needs. Their team answers more than 1 million customer service requests each year. They can also interact with your customers across all platforms, including email, phone, social media, text, and chat.Inktel removes the logistics and headache of customer communication, allowing you to grow your business by focusing on your strengths. And as a listener of this podcast, you can get up to $10,000 off your start-up fees and costs waived by visiting inktel.com/tim. That’s inktel.com/tim.This episode is also brought to you by Leadership: In Turbulent Times by the ever-amazing, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin — who you may have heard on this podcast recently (if not, I recommend checking out our conversation at tim.blog/doris).Leadership: In Turbulent Times is a culmination of five decades of acclaimed studies in presidential history, which offers an illuminating exploration of the early development, growth, and exercise of leadership drawing from the experiences of four presidents — Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, FDR, and LBJ. Goodwin asks and answers questions like: Are leaders born or made? Where does ambition come from? How does adversity affect the growth of leadership? Does the leader make the times, or do the times make the leader? This seminal work provides an accessible and essential roadmap for aspiring and established leaders in every field. I highly recommend Leadership: In Turbulent Times, and you can find out more about it at doriskearnsgoodwin.com.
#306: Discipline, Sex, Psychedelics, and More — The Return of Drunk Dialing
1Mar 28th, 2018
This episode is a rare exception to the rule -- unlike my usual long-form interviews, this is a drunk-dialing Q&A with you guys, which I’ve done a few times in the last few years, including for the celebration of the 100th episode of this podcast. In preparation for this episode, I solicited phone numbers from listeners who wanted to receive a call from me, and then I started drinking and dialing, answering questions and getting a little frisky along the way.In this episode, I cover topics such as:How Jocko Willink has made me more disciplinedMy thoughts on sex as a “doorway to a higher perception”My past experience with stimulants and psychedelicsHow I determine if a project is working or not. In other words, how do I decide when I should persevere or quit a project and move on?How I think about teachingAnd much, much more!Please enjoy this tequila-fueled Q&A! This episode is brought to you by Peloton, which has become a staple of my daily routine. I picked up this bike after seeing the success of my friend Kevin Rose, and I’ve been enjoying it more than I ever imagined. Peloton is an indoor cycling bike that brings live studio classes right to your home. No worrying about fitting classes into your busy schedule or making it to a studio with a crazy commute.New classes are added every day, and this includes options led by elite NYC instructors in your own living room. You can even live stream studio classes taught by the world’s best instructors, or find your favorite class on demand.Peloton is offering listeners to this show a special offer. Visit onepeloton.com and enter the code TIM at checkout to receive $100 off accessories with your Peloton bike purchase. This is a great way to get in your workouts or an incredible gift. Again, that’s onepeloton.com and enter the code TIM.This episode is also brought to you by Sotheby’s Wine, which offers a selection of the world’s best wines for every palate and occasion. Sotheby’s is a global auctioneer and retailer of fine wine with locations in New York, London, and Hong Kong.They recently created an online store where you can buy wine directly. Their retail wines range from $14 per bottle to $25,000.Sotheby’s allows you to sort by region, grape, producer -- or you can search for a particular bottle or by your budget. If you’re gifting wine, Sotheby’s suggests champagne, red Bordeaux, Burgundy, or Californian wines. Just one restriction -- at this time, Sotheby’s can only ship to New York, California, D.C., New Hampshire, and Idaho.Visit www.sothebyswine.com and use the promo code “Tim” to get 10% off your first order. Again, that’s sothebyswine.com, and use promo code “Tim” for 10% off your delicious wine.
#313: Michael Pollan — Exploring The New Science of Psychedelics
111May 6th, 2018
This might be the most important podcast episode I've put out in the last two years. Please trust me and give it a full listen. It will surprise you, perhaps shock you, and definitely make you think differently.Michael Pollan (@michaelpollan) is the author of seven previous books, including Cooked, Food Rules, In Defense of Food, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and The Botany of Desire, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. A longtime contributor to the New York Times Magazine, he also teaches writing at Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley where he is the John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Science Journalism. In 2010, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.His most recent book, How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, might be my favorite yet. This is the first podcast interview Michael has done about the book, the science and applications of psychedelics, his exploration, and his own experiences. It is a wild ride.In fact, partially due to this book, I am committing a million dollars over the next few years to support the scientific study of psychedelic compounds. This is by far the largest commitment to research and nonprofits I've ever made, and if you'd like to join me in supporting this research, please check out tim.blog/science.In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:The fundamentals of "psychedelics," what the term means, and what compounds like psilocybin, mescaline, and others have in common.New insights related to treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, alcohol/nicotine dependence, OCD, PTSD, and more.Recent scientific and clinical discussions of a "grand unified theory of mental illness."Potential applications and risks of psychedelics.Michael's own experiences — which he did not initially intend on having — and what he's learned from them.The "entropic brain," and why there might be a therapeutic sweet spot between mental order and chaos.Why researchers at Johns Hopkins, NYU, Yale, and elsewhere are dedicating resources to understanding these compounds.And much, much more...The molecules discussed in this episode — and some incredible clinical results from well-designed studies — have absolutely captured my attention over the last two years. After wading in and supporting smaller studies, I've decided to go all-in on scientists exploring this area. It seems to be an Archimedes lever for potentially solving a wide range of root-cause problems, instead of playing whack-a-mole with symptoms one by one.This episode is brought to you by Teeter. Inversion therapy, which uses gravity and your own body weight to decompress the spine or relieve pressure on the discs and surrounding nerves, seems to help with a whole slew of conditions. And just as a general maintenance program, it's one of my favorite things to do.Since 1981, more than three million people have put their trust in Teeter inversion tables for relief, and it's the only inversion table brand that's been both safety-certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and registered with the FDA as a class one medical device. For a limited time, my listeners can get the Teeter inversion table with bonus accessories and a free pair of gravity boots — a savings of over $148 — by going to Teeter.com/Tim!This podcast is also brought to you by Helix Sleep. I recently moved into a new home and needed new beds, and I purchased mattresses from Helix Sleep. It offers mattresses personalized to your preferences and sleeping style — without costing thousands of dollars. Visit Helixsleep.com/TIM and take the simple 2-3 minute sleep quiz to get started, and the team there will build a mattress you'll love. Plus you’ll get up to $125 off your mattress order.
#104: Are Psychedelic Drugs the Next Medical Breakthrough?
Martin Polanco (@Martin_Polanco7), M.D., is the founder and program director of Crossroads Treatment Center, based in Rosarito, Mexico. Crossroads specializes in helping patients conquer powerful addictions (heroin, cocaine, etc.) by using the African hallucinogen ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, also referred to as “the God molecule.” Martin's areas of expertise also include addiction medicine and therapeutic neurotechnologies. Dan Engle (@drdanengle), M.D., is a psychiatrist and neurologist, who combines functional medicine with integrative psychiatry to enhance regenerative health and peak performance. His prior and relevant experience includes traumatic brain injury (TBI) and working in the Peruvian jungle with plant medicines such as ayahuasca. In this episode, we step outside the lines of traditional medicine to discuss impulse control, introspection, and self-awareness through the use of powerful psychedelic and hallucinogenic agents like iboga, ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. We also discuss flotation tanks, which can simulate or even replicate many of the benefits that can result from the use of psychedelic and psychotropic agents. So you don't have to be willing to experiment with these medicines to receive something valuable from this episode. If you are interested in optimizing your psychological performance, emotional control and exploring alternative medicine, then this episode is for you. Enjoy! Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by TrunkClub. I hate shopping with a passion. And honestly I’m not good at it, which means I end up looking like I'm colorblind or homeless. Enter TrunkClub, which provides you with your own personal stylist and makes it easier than ever to shop for clothes that look great on your body. Just go to trunkclub.com/tim and answer a few questions, and then you'll be sent a trunk full of awesome clothes. They base this on your sizes, preferences, etc. The trunk is then delivered free of charge both ways, so you only pay for clothes that you keep. If you keep none, it costs you nothing. To get started, check it out at trunkclub.com/tim. This podcast is also brought to you by Vimeo Pro, which is the ideal video hosting platform for entrepreneurs. In fact, a bunch of my start-ups are already using Vimeo Pro. WealthFront uses it to explain how WealthFront works. TaskRabbit uses it to tell the company’s story. There are many other names who you would recognize among their customers (AirBnB, Etsy, etc.) Why do they use it? Vimeo Pro provides enterprise level video hosting for a fraction of the usual cost. Features include: Gorgeous high-quality playback with no ads Up to 20 GB of video storage every week Unlimited plays and views A fully customizable video player, which can include your company logo, custom outro, and more You get all this for just $199 per year (that’s only $17 per/mo.). There are no complicated bandwidth calculations or hidden fees. Try it risk-free for 30 days. Just go to Vimeo.com/business to check it out. If you like it, you can use the promo code “Tim” to get 25% off. This is a special discount just for you guys.
#298: Dr. Gabor Mate - New Paradigms, Ayahuasca, and Redefining Addiction
421Feb 20th, 2018
Dr. Gabor Maté (@DrGaborMate) is a physician who specializes in neurology, psychiatry, and psychology. He's well known for studying and treating addiction.Dr. Maté has written several books, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction. His work has been published internationally in 20 languages, and he's received the Hubert Evans Prize for Literary Non-Fiction; an Honorary Degree (Law) from the University of Northern British Columbia; an Outstanding Alumnus Award from Simon Fraser University; and the 2012 Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award from Mothers Against Teen Violence. He is an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Criminology, Simon Fraser University.I've wanted to invite Dr. Maté to this podcast for a while because he is not only an expert in the pathologies of addiction, but he's experimented with -- and used successfully -- tools that are perhaps outside the realm of traditional psychiatry. He is also a co-founder, along with Vicky Dulai, of Compassion for Addiction, a group that advocates for a new way to understand and treat addiction.Enjoy!This podcast is brought to you by Ascent Protein, the only US-based company that offers native proteins — both whey and micellar casein — directly to the consumer for improved muscle health and performance. Because the product is sourced from Ascent’s parent company, Leprino Foods — the largest producer of mozzarella cheese in the world — it’s entirely free of artificial ingredients and completely bypasses the bleaching process common to most other whey products on the market.If you want cleaner, more pure, less processed protein — which I certainly do — go to ascentprotein.com/tim for 20 percent off your entire order! I’m a big fan of all of their flavors — the chocolate, vanilla, and even their newest option, cappuccino. Enjoy!This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99Designs.I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The Tao of Seneca, and I’ve also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you’re happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
#302: Own the Day, Own Your Life - Aubrey Marcus
Aubrey Marcus (IG: @aubreymarcus) is the founder and CEO of Onnit, a lifestyle brand based on a holistic health philosophy he calls Total Human Optimization. Onnit is an Inc. 500 company and an industry leader with products touching millions of lives, including many top professional athletes around the world.Aubrey currently hosts The Aubrey Marcus Podcast, a motivational destination for conversations with the brightest minds in athletics, business, science, relationships and spirituality with over 10 million downloads on iTunes. Aubrey regularly provides commentary to outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, The Doctors, and The Joe Rogan Experience. He has been featured on the cover of Men's Health, and his newest (and first!) book is Own The Day, Own Your Life from HarperCollins. Enjoy!This episode is brought to you by Peloton, which has become a staple of my daily routine. I picked up this bike after seeing the success of my friend Kevin Rose, and I've been enjoying it more than I ever imagined. Peloton is an indoor cycling bike that brings live studio classes right to your home. No worrying about fitting classes into your busy schedule or making it to a studio with a crazy commute.New classes are added every day, and this includes options led by elite NYC instructors in your own living room. You can even live stream studio classes taught by the world's best instructors, or find your favorite class on demand.Peloton is offering listeners to this show a special offer. Visit onepeloton.com and enter the code TIM at checkout to receive $100 off accessories with your Peloton bike purchase. This is a great way to get in your workouts or an incredible gift. Again, that's onepeloton.com and enter the code TIM.This episode is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world's largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99Designs.I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The Tao of Seneca, and I've also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you're happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run...
#300: Jack Kornfield - Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy in the Present
1Mar 5th, 2018
Jack Kornfield (@JackKornfield) trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, shortly thereafter becoming one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974.Jack has had a profound and direct impact on my life, and I'm thrilled to finally have him on the podcast to share our history, his incredible stories, and practical tactics and techniques that you can use.Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a father, husband, and activist.Jack's books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies, including The Wise Heart, A Lamp in the Darkness, A Path with Heart, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry (one of my favorite book titles of all time), and his most recent, No Time Like the Present: Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy Right Where You Are.Enjoy!This podcast is brought to you by Four Sigmatic. While I often praise this company's lion's mane mushroom coffee for a minimal caffeine wakeup call that lasts, I asked the founders if they could help me -- someone who's struggled with insomnia for decades -- improve my sleep. Their answer: Reishi Mushroom Elixir. They made a special batch for me and my listeners that comes without sweetener; you can try it at bedtime with a little honey or nut milk, or you can just add hot water to your single-serving packet and embrace its bitterness like I do.Try it right now by going to foursigmatic.com/ferriss and using the code Ferriss to get 20 percent off this rare, limited run of Reishi Mushroom Elixir. If you are in the experimental mindset, I do not think you'll be disappointed.This podcast is also brought to you by FreshBooks. FreshBooks is the #1 cloud bookkeeping software, which is used by a ton of the start-ups I advise and many of the contractors I work with. It is the easiest way to send invoices, get paid, track your time, and track your clients.FreshBooks tells you when your clients have viewed your invoices, helps you customize your invoices, track your hours, automatically organize your receipts, have late payment reminders sent automatically and much more.Right now you can get a free month of complete and unrestricted use. You do not need a credit card for the trial. To claim your free month and see how the brand new Freshbooks can change your business, go to FreshBooks.com/Tim and enter "Tim Ferriss" in the "how did you hear about us" section.
#263: Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky — Exploring Creativity, Ignoring Critics, and Making Art
1Sep 9th, 2017
Darren Aronofsky (@DarrenAronofsky) is the founder and head of production company Protozoa Pictures. He is the acclaimed and award-winning filmmaker behind both cult classics and blockbusters, including Pi (which earned him a Best Director award at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival), Requiem For a Dream, The Wrestler (the third U.S. film in history to win the esteemed Golden Lion award), Black Swan (which won Natalie Portman the Academy Award for Best Actress and garnered four other Oscar nominations), Noah (His biblically inspired epic that opened at number at the box office and grossed more than $362,000,000 worldwide), and his latest, mother!, a psychological horror-thriller film starring Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, and Michelle Pfeiffer. In this episode, we explore a wide range of topics, including: His creative process and "nomadic writing" Work environment and highly unusual desks The "Month of Fury" How to navigate tough conversations over creativity and control Psychedelics Dealing with critics And much more... Many thanks to Peter Attia for making the introduction -- check out his three previous appearances on this show here. Please enjoy! Show notes and links for this episode can be found at tim.blog/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by WordPress, my go-to platform for 24/7-supported, zero downtime blogging, writing online, creating websites -- everything! I love it to bits, and the lead developer, Matt Mullenweg, has appeared on this podcast many times. Whether for personal use or business, you're in good company with WordPress -- used by The New Yorker, Jay Z, Beyonce, FiveThirtyEight, TechCrunch, TED, CNN, and Time, just to name a few. A source at Google told me that WordPress offers "the best out-of-the-box SEO imaginable," which is probably why it runs nearly 30% of the Internet. Go to WordPress.com/Tim to get 15% off your website today! This podcast is also brought to you by Audible. I have used Audible for years, and I love audiobooks. I have two to recommend: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Vagabonding by Rolf Potts All you need to do to get your free 30-day Audible trial is visit Audible.com/Tim. Choose one of the above books, or choose any of the endless options they offer. That could be a book, a newspaper, a magazine, or even a class. It's that easy. Go to Audible.com/Tim and get started today. Enjoy.
#237: Exploring Smart Drugs, Fasting, and Fat Loss -- Dr. Rhonda Patrick
11May 4th, 2017
Rhonda Patrick, PhD, (@foundmyfitness) is an American biochemist and scientist. She first appeared on this podcast back in episode twelve, and whether you want to extend life, inexpensively buy a stem cell "insurance policy," or guard against cancer, Rhonda has valuable insights and recommendations. In this episode, Rhonda tackles some of your most requested topics, including: Best practices for fasting (and who struggles most with time-restricted feedings) What blood tests are most important to analyze for overall health The "minimum effective dose" for the benefits of sauna Heat vs. cold exposure, and how they should be used effectively Most effective smart drugs The latest fat loss research And much, much more Rhonda is known for her studies of the mechanistic link between vitamin D and serotonin production, research that may have important implications for the understanding of autism and other disorders, and for her popular podcast, Found My Fitness. Dr. Patrick also conducts clinical trials, performed aging research at Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and did graduate research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where she focused on cancer, mitochondrial metabolism, and apoptosis. Enjoy! This podcast is sponsored by Alibaba and Gateway17. If you're an entrepreneur or business owner in the US, the stars don't always align -- but this might get close. Alibaba (if you're not familiar with it, imagine Amazon and Google having a baby in China) is hosting Gateway17, a conference designed to help US businesses tap into the five hundred million consumers of China's growing middle class. Gateway17 takes place June 20-21 in Detroit, Michigan, and it puts you in direct contact with experts who want to help you grow your business into the booming Chinese marketplace. Speakers include Alibaba founder Jack Ma (in his only speaking engagement of the year), UPS CEO David Abney, and master interviewer Charlie Rose. As a Tim Ferriss Show listener, Alibaba is offering you a ticket for $125 (they're usually $500) if you sign up at gateway17.com by May 25 and use the code Tim at checkout. This podcast is also brought to you by WordPress, my go-to platform for 24/7-supported, zero downtime blogging, writing online, creating websites, and basically everything online. I love it to bits, and the lead developer, Matt Mullenweg, has appeared on this podcast many times. Whether for personal use or business, you're in good company with WordPress being used by The New Yorker, Jay Z, FiveThirtyEight, TechCrunch, TED, CNN, and Time, just to name a few. A source at Google told me that WordPress offers "the best out-of-the-box SEO imaginable," which is probably why it runs nearly 30 percent of the Internet. Go to WordPress.com/Tim to get 15% off your website today! Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast.
#143: The World's Most Famous Performance-Enhancement Chemist
111Mar 2nd, 2016
At the behest of my astute legal counsel, here is a legal disclaimer for this episode: First, I am not recommending, endorsing, or supporting any of the substances or compounds (especially illegal) discussed or described in the interview. I am interviewing Patrick Arnold as a journalist seeking additional information regarding matters of public interest and concern. Second, I have removed some of the names of athletes who are alleged to have used performance enhancing drugs. I recognize that this seems excessive, but even if athletes have been publicly banned for drug usage, unless the ban relates to the specific substance and time period referenced in the podcast, I can be sued for defamation for repeating or publicizing these stories. With all that said, here we go... If you liked my episode with Dom D'Agostino, you might love this one. Patrick Arnold, widely considered “the father of prohormones," is an organic chemist known for introducing androstenedione (remember Mark McGwire?), 1-Androstenediol (marketed as “1-AD”), and methylhexanamine into the dietary supplement market. He also created the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone, best known as THG and "the clear." THG, along with two other anabolic steroids that Patrick manufactured (best known: norbolethone), were not banned at the time of their creation. They were hard-to-detect drugs at the heart of the BALCO professional sports doping scandal, which thrust Barry Bonds and others into the spotlight. BALCO distributed these worldwide to world-class athletes in a wide variety of sports, ranging from track and field to professional baseball and football. Recently, Patrick has been innovating in the legal world of ketone supplementation, including breakthroughs in performance and taste with products like KetoForce and KetoCaNa, which were highlighted during my podcast with Dominic D'Agostino, PhD. If you'd like to meet the (in)famous Patrick Arnold in person, you can find him at The Arnold Classic in Colombus, Ohio from March 3-6, 2016 at Booth 328. Otherwise, you can check out his current concoctions for athletes here and here. In this science-dense conversation, we cover a ton, mostly related to better performance through chemistry. We also discuss Patrick's biggest successes and mistakes, his path to science, ursolic acid and other clever creations, exogenous ketone supplementation for sports, as well as nonsense in the media about anabolics (e.g. current Delta-2 scandal). Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast.
Episode 11: Drugs and the Meaning of Life
1Jun 6th, 2014
This episode is about 20 minutes long and features Sam Harris, PhD in neuroscience and bestselling author (www.samharris.org). It's intended to give you tools for the week or weekend ahead.Please let me know what you think by pinging me on Twitter (@tferriss) using #TFS!What do you like and what don't you like? Would you like more of these or something else?Thank you,Tim
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Netflix’s Anne with an E season two confirmed
The Anne of Green Gables adaptation will be back for ten more episodes which will "chart bold new territory"
Friday, 4th August 2017 at 10:30 am
Prepare the raspberry cordial and put on your best puffed-sleeve dress: Anne with an E is coming back for a second season.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com before the Anne of Green Gables adaptation aired on Netflix, the show’s young star Amybeth McNulty said she would “adore” a chance to return as “romantical” redhead Anne Shirley-Cuthbert.
Now Netflix and Canadian broadcaster CBC have jointly announced the series renewal, with 10 new episodes set to begin shooting in the autumn. The show will return in 2018.
The first season stayed true to the spirit of LM Montgomery’s beloved novel and introduced us to Anne’s new adoptive parents Matthew (RH Thomson) and Marilla (Geraldine James). But screenwriter and producer Moira Walley-Beckett took the story in new directions, borrowing plot from much later in Anne’s life and adding new twists and turns – some of them heartbreaking (spoilers to follow).
In Montgomery’s version, Matthew discovers he has lost all the family’s money in a shipping disaster just as Anne is about to leave school, and then suffers a fatal heart attack. But Walley-Beckett brought this crisis forward to Anne’s early years with the Cuthberts and – crucially – allowed Matthew to live.
This leaves the Cuthberts open for more drama: the last time we saw Anne she was welcoming two new lodgers to the house to help pay the bills, unaware that these men were thieves with a plan.
Fans will also be wondering how Gilbert’s story will play out. It was a surprise to see Gilbert’s father die in the first season, leaving him as an orphan – and even more of a surprise that he then moved out of the village. Now Anne has made friends with Gilbert, is that an end to their rivalry? And will they have a romantic future together?
Netflix has promised that the show will “continue to chart bold new territory, adding new characters and storylines and continuing to explore themes of identity, prejudice, feminism, bullying, gender parity and empowerment.”
Also returning will be Corrine Koslo (Rachel Lynde), Dalila Bela (Diana Barry), Aymeric Jett Montaz (Jerry Baynard), and Lucas Jade Zumann (Gilbert Blythe).
Emmy Award-winning series creator Walley-Beckett has pulled together an all-female writers’ room for season two, including Jane Maggs, Shernold Edwards, Kathryn Borel, Amanda Fahey and Naledi Jackson.
“This season is brave and bold and full of wonder,” Walley-Beckett said in a statement. “It is colourful, exciting, action-packed and, of course, full of heart. I can’t wait to share all the brand new adventures!”
Who is Anne With an E star Amybeth McNulty?
Meet the cast of Anne with an E Season 2 on Netflix
All about Anne with an E
Anne With an E review: This engaging adaptation of Anne of Green Gables will have you laughing – and crying into your pillow
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Biological Diversity: The Oldest Human Heritage.
First Edition of Biological Diversity: The Oldest Human Heritage; Signed by Edward O. Wilson
Wilson, Edward O.
Albany: New York State Museum, 1999.
First edition. Octavo, original wrappers. Signed by Edward O. Wilson with a drawing of an ant. In near fine condition.
Published by The New York State Biodiversity Research Institute and The New York State Museum, this introduction to conservation biology is intended to educate young people about the importance of biodiversity today, the threats to it and what we can do about these threats. Written by Dr.Edward O. Wilson, Pelligrino University Professor And Honorary Curator in Entomology at Harvard University, This paperback booklet contains 58 pages with full glossary, bibliography, original natural history illustrations by patricia kernan, and thought provoking discussion questions. Teachers and students in high school biology classes in particular will find it a useful resource, as well as anyone interested in preserving the integrity of earth's delicate ecosystems through awareness and education.
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First Edition of The Social Conquest of the Earth; Signed by Edward O. Wilson
The Social Conquest of Earth.
New York: Liveright, 2012.
First edition of “this monumental exploration of the biological origins of the human condition” (James D. Watson). Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
"There is no better high than discovery": FIRST EDITION OF SOCIOBIOLOGY: A NEW SYNTHESIS; SIGNED BY EDWARD O. WILSON WITH A DRAWING OF AN ANT
Sociobiology: The New Synthesis.
Cambridge MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1975.
First edition of Wilson’s classic work. Oblong quarto, original cloth, illustrations by Sarah Landry. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page, who has added a drawing of an ant. Name on the front pastedown and some wear to the front free endpaper, near fine in an very good dust jacket with some closed tears.
First Edition of Edward O. Wilson's Naturalist; Inscribed by Him To Fellow Writer Robert Fay
Naturalist.
Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1994.
First edition. Octavo, original half cloth. Inscribed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page to fellow writer Robert Fay, who has drawn an image of an ant. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
FIRST EDITION OF THE ANTS; SIGNED BY EDWARD O. WILSON WITH A DRAWING OF AN ANT
Wilson, Edward O. & Bert Holldobler.
Ants.
Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press/ Harvard University Press, 1990.
First edition. Quarto, original cloth. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page, who has also drawn an ant. Small inscription on the half title page, fine in a near fine dust jacket with light shelf wear.
First Edition of A Window on Eternity: A Biologist's Walk Through Gorongosa National Park; Signed by Edward O. Wilson
A Window on Eternity: A Biologist’s Walk Through Gorongosa National Park.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 2014.
First edition of this work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning biologist. Octavo, original boards, cartographic endpapers, illustrated throughout. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page, who has drawn a picture of an ant. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Photographs by Piotr Naskrecki. Includes a DVD of the Guide by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jessica Yu.
FIRST EDITION OF SOCIOBIOLOGY: A NEW SYNTHESIS; SIGNED BY EDWARD O. WILSON WITH A DRAWING OF AN ANT
First edition of Wilson’s classic work. Oblong quarto, original cloth, illustrations by Sarah Landry. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page, who has added a drawing of an ant. From the library of MIT biomedical professor Robert Mann, with his stamp on the front free endpaper, near fine in a very good dust jacket with some light rubbing and closed tears.
First Edition of The Meaning of Human Existence; Signed By Edward O. Wilson With A Drawing Of An Ant
The Meaning of Human Existence.
New York: Liveright Publishing/ Norton, 2014.
First edition of this work in which Wilson examines what makes human beings supremely different from all other species. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page, who has also drawn a picture of an ant. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
"Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction": First Edition of On Human Nature; Signed By Edward O. Wilson With A Drawing Of An Ant
On Human Nature.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1978.
First edition of this work, which went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1979. Octavo, original brown cloth, pictorial endpapers. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page, who has drawn an ant. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a closed tear to the front panel. A very bright example.
First edition of Wilson’s classic work. Oblong quarto, original cloth, illustrations by Sarah Landry. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For John Rogers Edward O. Wilson, who has added a drawing of an ant. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing.
First Edition of The Poetic Species; Signed by Edward O. Wilson and Robert Haas
Wilson, Edward O. & Robert Haas.
The Poetic Species: A Conversation With Edward O. Wilson and Robert Haas.
New York: Bellevue Literary Press, 2014.
First edition. Small octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Signed by both Robert Haas and Edward O. Wilson (who has drawn a picture of an ant) on the half-title page.
First Edition of The Superorganism: The Beauty, Elegance, and Strangeness of Insect Societies; Signed by Edward O. Wilson
Wilson, Edward O & Bert Holldobler.
The Superorganism: The Beauty, Elegance, and Strangeness of Insect Societies.
New York: Norton & Company, 2008.
First edition. Quarto, original boards. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the half title page who has drawn a picture of an ant. Fine in a fine price-clipped dust jacket.
First Edition of Edward O. Wilson's Caste and Ecology in the Social Insects; Signed by Him
Wilson, Edward O. & George F. Oster.
Caste and Ecology in the Social Insects.
Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1979.
First edition of this important work by Wilson and Oster. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page with a drawing on an ant. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
“Like most other mammals, human beings display a behavioral scale, a spectrum of responses that appear or disappear according to particular circumstances": First Edition of On Human Nature; Signed By Edward O. Wilson With A Drawing Of An Ant
First edition of this work, which went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1979. Octavo, original brown cloth, pictorial endpapers. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page, who has drawn an ant. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket.
First Edition of The Origins of Creativity; Signed by Edward O. Wilson with a drawing of an Ant
The Origins of Creativity.
New York: Liveright Publishing Company, 2017.
First edition of this profound and lyrical book, Wilson offers a sweeping examination of the relationship between the humanities and the sciences. Octavo, original boards, illustrated. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page with a drawing of an ant. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Pete Garceau.
First Edition of The Superorganism; Signed by Both Bert Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson
The Superorganism: The Beauty, Elegance, and Strangeness of Insect Societies .
New York: W.W. Norton, 2009.
First edition. Quarto, original boards. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Signed by both authors, Edward O. Wilson and Bert Holldobler on the half title page.
First Edition of The Theory of Island Biogeography; Signed by Edward O. Wilson
Wilson, Edward O. & Robert H. Mac Arthur.
The Theory of Island Biogeography.
First edition of this landmark work. Octavo, original green cloth. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page, who has drawn a picture of an ant. Errata slip to the endpaper, near fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of wear.
"The adventure is over. Everything gets over, and nothing is ever enough. Except the part you carry with you:" Rare First Edition of From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler; Signed by E.L. Konigsburg
Konigsburg, E. L.
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
New York: Atheneum, 1967.
First edition of the author’s Newbery Award-winning novel. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by E.L. Konigsburg on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Rare in this condition and signed.
First Edition of The Portable MBA in Investment; Inscribed by Peter Bernstein
Bernstein, Peter L.
The Portable MBA In Investment.
New York: Wiley, 1995.
First edition of this “indispensable resource for anyone who is serious about investing” (Claude Erb). Octavo, original black cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the editor on the front free endpaper, “For William- For MBA and beyond. Best regards- Peter Bernstein.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
Signed by Harry Markowitz
Markowitz, Harry M.
Porfolio Selection.
Blackwell Publishing, 1991.
First edition, later printing of the re-issue of Markowitz’s ground breaking work. Octavo, original black cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Inscribed by the author.
First Edition of John Kenneth Galbraith's The New Industrial State; Signed by Him
Galbraith, John Kenneth.
The New Industrial State.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1967.
First edition of this Galbraith landmark work. Octavo, original brown cloth. Signed by John Kenneth Galbraith on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket that shows only the lightest of wear. A very sharp example of this economic highspot.
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Slowly, but not so surely - Economics weekly
/ April
Economic conditions across the globe are ‘somewhat improved’ according to the IMF, which edged up its global growth forecast for this year from 3.3% to 3.5%.
It makes a change to have some good news, but of course there are risks – unsurprisingly mainly from the Eurozone. The IMF is worried that low growth and a need to boost capital will cause banks to increase their pace of deleveraging. This would send another chill through the financial system and could jeopardise global recovery. It is a real risk but, for now, it is still just that. Maybe we should take heart that there was still appetite for new Spanish government bonds, albeit at a price. On top of this, the IMF’s success in obtaining pledges for an additional US$340bn, even without defining its purpose, might suggest that there is a slight improvement in confidence.
Monetary Policy Committee gets twitchy about sticky inflation
The minutes of the April Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting contained a few hints that the Committee is getting fed up with inflation. The rate of price growth was expected to fall quickly this year as factors like higher VAT and fuel prices in 2011 fell out of the calculation. But it’s been stickier than anticipated and this has caused a shift of sentiment on the MPC, leaving David Miles alone in voting for more monetary easing. The MPC is now waiting to see what light May’s inflation report will shed on the outlook before its next move. Right now it seems unlikely that there will be more QE in May.
UK inflation rose for the first time in six months in March
Consumer prices rose by 3.5%y/y in March. It was only 0.1 percentage points above expectations but the news was taken badly. The culprits were food, clothing and recreation and culture. The rising costs of essentials put extra pressure on household budgets. But on the positive side downward pressure from electricity, gas and other fuels and transport took some of the heat off.
Real earnings growth fell – again
UK average earnings grew just 1.1% in the three months to February, but with inflation at 3.5% real earnings fell. A 6.2%y/y fall in bonus pay dragged down the overall earnings growth number. This is now the 22nd successive month that earnings growth has failed to keep pace with the cost of living. Average earnings in wholesaling and retailing grew fastest at 3.1%, but the finance and business services sectors saw no growth at all. Regional differences also abound. Since the start of 2008 the North East and Wales saw the largest gains in money wages, while Scotland, the West Midlands, Northern Ireland and the South East lagged behind.
UK retail sales surge in March
After a couple of sluggish months, retail sales rounded off Q1 in style, growing by an impressive 1.8%m/m in value terms. Even excluding the "jerry can" effect, ex-fuel sales were up a healthy 1.5%m/m, with strong growth in clothing & footwear. All told, this means that retail sales will have made a decent contribution to GDP growth in Q1. But retail sales don't tell the whole story. Consumer spending away from the high street has been lacklustre and this will drag on consumers’ input to GDP.
UK unemployment fell unexpectedly in February
UK unemployment fell by 35,000 in the three months to February, bringing the rate down from 8.4% to 8.3%. This was the first fall since May 2011 and brought the number of people unemployed down to 2.65 million. The good news was also shared by the young. The rate of youth unemployment (excl. full time education) fell by 0.2 percentage points to 20.5%. But looking behind the data shows that all of the fall in overall unemployment was due to an increase in employment of part-time workers. The number of people settling for part-time work because they can't find full-time jobs rose to 1.4 million, its highest level since records began in 1992.
US retail sales buoyant in March
Just like their UK cousins, US retailers were also happy. The strong start to the year continued with sales growth of 0.8%m/m in March, which lifts the annual growth rate to 6.5%. It’s encouraging that this performance is consistent with an economic recovery which is steadily building momentum. But let's not get carried away. Again, like the UK, other areas of consumer spending are feeling the pinch. And it's worth bearing in mind that after a similarly buoyant start last year, sales quickly lost pace. As Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Fed, has already warned, the labour market will need to keep improving if the US economic recovery is to stay on its upward path.
Economics weekly
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NAHB: Smaller homes to remain popular even after recession's end
A new look at housing starts based on data from the Census Bureau finds that single-family homes in the U.S. continued to get smaller last year, and the downward trend is likely to last significantly beyond the end of the recession. From a peak of 2,268 square feet in 2006, the median size of new single-family homes dropped consistently through last year, when the size was down to an even 2,100, according to NAHB.
HousingZone Staff | October 20, 2010
A new look at housing starts based on data from the Census Bureau finds that single-family homes in the U.S. continued to get smaller last year, and the downward trend is likely to last significantly beyond the end of the recession.
From a peak of 2,268 square feet in 2006, the median size of new single-family homes dropped consistently through last year, when the size was down to an even 2,100, according to a special study by economists at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
In the early 1980s, when mortgage interest rates climbed to astronomical heights, home sizes experienced a similar decline, but only temporarily. Today's downsizing trend is likely to last longer, the report says.
"A new housing market is emerging, and even with the recession in the rear view mirror we expect the popularity of smaller homes to persist," said Bob Jones, chairman of NAHB and a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. "Builders are responding to a new mindset among home buyers that has been shaped not just by a weak economy, and it is transforming the product they deliver."
The current decline in home size can be attributed to factors like the desire to keep energy costs down, the amount of equity in existing homes available to be rolled over into new ones, tighter credit standards, less interest in buying a home as an investment and a growing presence of first-time buyers.
"While the Census Bureau shows characteristics for new homes that have been completed in a given year, we decided to tabulate the characteristics for the homes that were started," said Paul Emrath, the report's author and NAHB's vice president for survey and housing policy research. "This eliminates several months of lag time while the home is being constructed and can provide a more current picture of the marketplace, which has been changing rapidly."
The most glaring trend in the Census statistics is a steep decline in the number of single-family home starts, which tumbled from 1.7 million in 2005 to less than half a million in 2009. Particularly hard-hit during this period were the "spec" homes built for sale, typically in new residential subdivisions. Their market share dropped from nearly 80% to less than two-thirds.
The median sales price dropped from $256,000 for single-family homes started in 2006 to $211,000 for those started in 2009, a 17.6% decline.
The share of for-sale homes priced above $300,000 was less than 25% last year, declining from 35% in 2006 and 2007 and close to 30% in 2008. Similarly, more than 9% of the single-family home started in 2007 and 2008 were 4,000 square feet or larger, compared with only 7.3% in 2009.
Characteristics of homes started in 2009 reveal a marketplace adapting to tougher economic times with fewer luxuries but also point to a few amenities that have been on the upswing despite the general retrenchment of consumers.
Despite smaller homes with lower price tags, the average number of bedrooms and bathrooms in the houses started last year showed little change.
Looking at specific amenities, NAHB research found a steady decline in the number of homes started since 2005 with three-car garages, fireplaces, patios and decks. On the other hand, through last year porches were on the rise.
Also ascendant were heat pumps, not surprising given the recent focus on energy efficiency and efforts by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to promote them for residential use.
An examination of primary siding material found a noticeable swing away from stucco, which likely was the result of a 2005-2009 market share decline from 25% to 20% in the West, where stucco is most commonly used.
Overall, more than 35% of single-family homes started in 2009 had two-story foyers. This tends to be a luxury feature that is considerably more common in more expensive homes. Almost 60% of homes priced between $500,000 and $999,000 had two-story foyers; almost 71% of homes selling for $1 million or more had them.
To read the entire report, "Characteristics of Single-Family Homes Started in 2009," go to www.nahb.org/sfhstarts2009.
PR-Construction,PR-Design,PR-Green Design,PR-Industry Data & Research,PR-Editorial/News
Lead Gen — Home Improvement
Using Smart Campaigns
Innovative Products: Thermador Connected Kitchen Through Home Connect
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Steps in the Right Direction for Post-ESSA Assessments
Key Brief Takeaway: NEPC releases a “state of the states” brief on modest changes to student and teacher evaluation systems since the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
BOULDER, Colo. (PRWEB) June 05, 2018
Federally mandated standardized testing (i.e., in core subject areas and certain grade levels), as an element of educational accountability, began in 2002 with the No Child Left Behind Act. With that step, large-scale assessments came to serve as one of the foundations of accountability-based systems and policies not only for districts, schools and students, but for teachers as well.
Yet, as a result of identified weaknesses of such practices, especially at the student and teacher levels, Congress passed the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The new law reduced federal oversight and gave states more control over their state assessment and accountability systems.
To examine the results of this element of ESSA, the National Education Policy Center released a brief today that offers a thematic analysis of state-level assessments in ESSA plans from every state and the District of Columbia. It also includes results of a detailed survey, completed by department of education personnel from 34 states and the District of Columbia, which explores additional information pertinent to state teacher evaluation systems.
Kevin Close, Audrey Amrein-Beardsley, and Clarin Collins of Arizona State University authored the brief, titled State-Level Assessments and Teacher Evaluation Systems after the Passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act: Some Steps in the Right Direction.
Analyses of the ESSA plans and the survey responses indicate that, in general, states continue to use the same large-scale student assessments that were in place before ESSA. Further, states continue to give those test results a role in evaluating teacher effectiveness. However, greater local control has led to some signs of change, which the report’s authors describe as encouraging. These include the following:
Efforts to redefine student growth as something other than growth in just test scores;
Movement toward more varied multiple measurement tools, including student learning objectives and student surveys (although the efficacy of these instruments for accountability purposes still warrants research);
Emphasis by fewer states on value-added assessments in teacher evaluations; and
A move away from high-stakes consequences and toward formative rather than summative assessments.
Find State-Level Assessments and Teacher Evaluation Systems after the Passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act: Some Steps in the Right Direction, by Kevin Close, Audrey Amrein-Beardsley, and Clarin Collins, at:
http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/state-assessment
This policy brief was made possible in part by the support of the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice (greatlakescenter.org).
Find Documents:
Publication Announcement: http://nepc.info/node/9227
NEPC Publication: http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/state-assessment
The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: http://nepc.colorado.edu
William J. Mathis
National Education Policy Center
Audrey Amrein-Beardsley
@NEPCtweet
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Biteback
Bodley Head
Boydell
Crowood
Harper Press
Headline Review
IB Tauris
Naval IP
Overlook Duckworth
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Filtered to: bicdescription Naval forces & warfare bicdescription
Support for the Fleet
Architecture and Engineering of the Royal Navy's Bases 1700-1914
HMS Gloucester
Ken Otter
During the Battle of Crete in 1941, HMS Gloucester was attacked by dive bombers and sunk; 83 of the 810 crew were rescued by German vessels the following day. Including first-hand accounts from survivors, this book tells the ship’s story from its launch in 1937, investigating in particular the controversial circumstances of its sinking and the failure of any British ship to search for survivors.
The Last Big Gun
At War and at Sea with HMS Belfast
Brian Lavery
The Battle of the North Cape off the coast of Norway was one of the last ship-to-ship engagements fought and HMS Belfast was among the British contingent that sunk the German battleship Scharnhorst. This history of the cruiser tells its story in the context of the wider role of the Royal Navy in the Second World War as well reviewing its post-war duties before it assumed its present role as a museum ship.
Nelson's Refuge
Gibraltar in the Age of Napoleon
Jason R Musteen
Charts of War
The Maps and Charts That Have Informed and Illustrated War at Sea
Information is power, and sea charts, with their details of harbour approaches, coastal hazards, tides and currents, have often been closely guarded secrets. Handsomely illustrated with historic maps drawn from maritime archives around the world, this large-format book explains how sea charts developed in response to changing military techniques and technology. Informative captions set the charts in context, and describe their function in planning, preventing, conducting and recording war at sea, from Francis Drake to the D-Day landings.
Firing on Fortress Europe
HMS Belfast at D-Day
Nick Hewitt
The Royal Navy took the lead in the highly complex task of delivering the largest invasion force in history to the Normandy beaches, supporting the attack with thousands of vessels and building temporary harbours to keep them supplied long after the first landings. This lesser-known side of the D-Day story is told through a collection of first-hand accounts of sailors aboard HMS Belfast and illustrated with contemporary photographs, sketches and paintings.
Ending the African Slave Trade
John Broich
After the Acts of 1807 and 1833 that abolished slavery across the British Empire, the Royal Navy patrolled the African coast to enforce the law; yet there were still slave markets around the Indian Ocean in the 1860s. This book tells of four British naval officers who took direct action – against Admiralty guidelines which advised adjudication rather than violence – to free captives and disrupt the slave trade along the coasts of Africa and Arabia.
Strange Intelligence
Memoirs of Naval Secret Service
Hector C Bywater;HC Ferraby
In the years before the First World War, British journalist Hector Bywater used his role as naval correspondent for the New York Herald to bluff his way into dockyards and naval installations across Germany. He would memorize important details then report his findings back to MI6 in London. First published in 1931, these remarkable memoirs recount Bywater’s years as an active secret service agent for the British Navy.
Admiralty Despatches
The Story of the War from the Battlefront, 1939–45
GH Bennett
Following a tradition dating back to 1545, naval commanders would write an official despatch to the Admiralty to explain their actions during significant naval operations. This collection of despatches, published in association with the National Archives, covers events which impacted hugely on the Second World War, including the convoys in the Mediterranean and Russia, amphibious operations such as Dieppe, the evacuation of Crete, and the assault phase of the Normandy landings.
The Naval War in Northern Europe: September 1939–April 1940
Geirr H Haarr
From the fall of Poland in September 1939, to the invasion of Norway in April 1940, the Norwegian historian Geirr Haarr describes fierce naval struggles, including the sinking of Courageous, the German mining of the British East Coast and the Altmark incident. In this meticulously detailed study, Haarr shows that there was no ‘phoney war’ at sea in those early months of the Second World War.
The Cultural History of a Catastrophe
Willi Jasper;Trans. Stewart Spencer
The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 by a German U-boat, drowning nearly 1,200 civilian passengers, including 128 Americans, was greeted with jubilation by the German establishment and press. Although it resulted in America’s entry into the First World War, it also marked the beginning of a new kind of brutality in German warfare which, Willi Jasper argues in this erudite study, precipitated the totalitarian violence for which Germany became notorious.
Naval Battles of the First World War
Geoffrey Bennett
Brought to life here by a former Royal Navy captain, the war at sea was fought in three stages: between cruisers overseas; in home waters between rival battle fleets; and, for the first time in any war, under the sea. First published in 1968.
Rank and Rate
Royal Naval Officers' Insignia Since 1856
EC Coleman
Uniforms were first sanctioned for officers in the Royal Navy in the 18th century, with the stripes on the cuff of captains' blue coats and lace adornment for admirals being the only insignia of rank. The uniform regulations of 1856 introduced a more complex system, with differences across rank and service distinguished by buttons, badges, epaulettes, cuff stripes, swords and styles of hat. This book catalogues all these variations with comprehensive illustrations and historical photographs of naval officers in uniform.
Privateering, Piracy and British Policy in Spanish America
Matthew McCarthy
The privateers deployed by both colonists and Spain during the Spanish-American Wars of Independence, and the rise in unauthorized prize-taking amid the turbulence, posed a threat to neutral Britain’s commercial and political interests. McCarthy’s analysis of the British response to this problem makes a significant contribution to the study of privateering, the development of international law and the character of early 19th-century British imperialism.
Nelson's Right Hand Man
The Life and Times of Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Fremantle
E J Hounslow
The 42-year naval career of Sir Thomas Fremantle (1765–1819) spanned a period when British naval power was crucial; his first experience of war was the American War of Independence, and he fought alongside his friend Nelson at Bastia, Tenerife, Copenhagen and, as captain of HMS Neptune, at Trafalgar. Drawing on personal letters and diaries, this biography paints a vivid picture of one of the Georgian navy’s greatest sea captains.
Fuehrer Conferences on Naval Affairs 1939-1945
Ed. Jak Mallmann Showell
Facing defeat in 1945, Hitler ordered the destruction of official military documents. Admiral Dönitz defied the order, believing that the German navy had fought an honourable war and had nothing to hide. The result was the survival of these first-hand accounts, written without hindsight, of Hitler's meetings with his naval commanders-in-chief, Raeder and Dönitz, and other high-ranking officers. This edition contains the original Anthony Martienssen translation made for the British Admiralty and first published in 1947.
The Battle of the River Plate
The First Naval Battle of the Second World War
Gordon Landsborough
The first encounter at sea of the Second World War took place along the South American coast when three British ships inflicted enough damage on the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee to corner it in Montevideo harbour. The Captain, encouraged by British misinformation, chose to scuttle his ship rather than face destruction. This account of the famous episode was first published in 1956 and also contains the official despatch from the British commander.
The Battle of Jutland
Voices from the Past
Richard Osborne
Both Britain and Germany claimed victory in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916; the Royal Navy losing more ships and men but successfully containing the German fleet for the duration of the war. The outcome, its significance and the performance of the commanders during the battle has been debated ever since, and this book provides a picture of how events unfolded and what people thought at the time through official records and despatches, newspaper reports and detailed personal accounts.
A Brief History of Fighting Ships
David Davies
A detailed account of the ships that took part in the titanic seabattles of the Napoleonic wars between 1793 and the Battle ofTrafalgar in 1805 and its aftermath.
Maritime Power and the Struggle for Freedom
Naval Campaigns that Shaped the Modern World 1788–1851
Peter Padfield
In this follow-up to his much-acclaimed Maritime Supremacy, Padfield continues to trace the role of naval power in world history, here analysing the factors that led Britain to global dominance in the 19th century.
Celebrating a Century of Naval Flying
Philip Kaplan
Where once the battleship was the key symbol of international power, the aircraft carrier has taken its place, able to project military capability anywhere in the world. This history of naval aviation investigates its origins in early carriers and reviews developments in aircraft and vessels up to the latest ships and the use of helicopters. There are also chapters on the leading aces of naval aviation and the developing role of women in the service.
Germany's High Sea Fleet in the First World War
Admiral Reinhard Scheer
Admiral Reinhard Scheer (1863–1928) commanded the German High Seas Fleet during the First World War, and was the first frontline officer to publish his account of the naval conflict. Reprinted here with a new introduction, it provides a rare insight into the attitudes of German naval officers, and a unique first-hand account of the controversial Jutland operation of 1916, the unrestricted submarine warfare that brought the USA into the war, and the Zeppelin raids on Britain.
Langsdorff and the Battle of the River Plate
The scuttling of the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee in Montevideo harbour in 1939 was the culmination of one of the first engagements of the war and resulted in the German captain's suicide two days later. This study analyses the events from Langsdorff's point of view, considering the choices available to him, given the imperfect information he possessed, and also examines his, and the British officers', notably honourable behaviour.
Iron Dawn
The Monitor, The Merrimack, and the Sea Battle that Changed History
Richard Snow
The first clash between ironclad battleships took place off the coast of Virginia during the American Civil War in 1862. The battle provided conclusive proof of the effectiveness of the new technology and proved a major turning point in naval design. This book examines the building of the Confederacy's armoured Merrimack and the Union's race to build a competitive vessel (the Monitor, in whose development Lincoln was personally involved), and assesses the profound legacy of their engagement.
Axis Warships
Roy M Stanley
The location, strength and operational status of enemy ships was of primary concern to the belligerent nations during the Second World War, with the threat of powerful vessels such as Tirpitz significantly affecting military planning. Aerial and surface reconnaissance photographs were acquired whenever possible and this book presents a collection of such images, drawn from contemporary intelligence files, assessing the vessels of the German, Italian, French and Japanese navies. Former USAF photo interpreter Roy Stanley provides expert commentary.
Target Tirpitz
X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters
The mere presence of the German battleship Tirpitz in a Norwegian fjord was enough to haunt Allied war planners and keep a significant part of Britain's fleet tied to home waters. Consequently, repeated attempts were made throughout the Second World War to sink the ship, including mini submarine raids and many bomber attacks. Patrick Bishop's book is a tale of technology, ingenuity and daring, culminating in the final, successful assault of Autumn 1944, using Barnes Wallis's 'Tallboy' bombs.
Armed Action
My War in the Skies with 847 Naval Air Squadron
German Kriegsmarine in WWII
Chris McNab
Off-mint.
Destroyer Battles
Epics of Naval Close Combat
Robert C Stern
Robert C Stern recounts twelve significant or unusual actions in the history of destroyer warfare, from the first use of torpedo craft during the Russo-Japanese War to an attack on USS Cole in Aden, 2000.
Horatio Lord Nelson
Horatio Nelson was undoubtedly Britain's greatest naval commander. Although his complex character often made him enemies and led to mistakes in both his public and private life, he was an unrivalled seaman, an original and brave tactician and a charismatic leader. In this volume, Brian Lavery describes a legend in naval history, from his first naval posting at the age of twelve to his heroic death at Trafalgar. Published in association with the National Maritime Museum.
Hitler's Gateway to the Atlantic
German Naval Bases in France 1940–1945
Lars Hellwinkel
Access to the Atlantic was a coveted prize in the conquest of France and the Kriegsmarine quickly established naval bases at Brest, Lorient, St Nazaire, La Pallice and Bordeaux. This study examines how fortified U-boat bunkers and other facilities were constructed by the Todt Organization, assesses the level of French support in converting existing ports and describes the British campaign to thwart naval operations with aerial bombing and maritime attacks. Translated from the German by Geoffrey Brooks.
The Real Hornblower
The Life and Times of Admiral Sir James Gordon GCB
Bryan Perrett
It was while researching the Chesapeake Bay Campaign of 1814 that Bryan Perrett came across 'Captain Gordon RN' in CS Forester's Naval War of 1812 and began to see parallels between Gordon, who had commanded a diversionary force on the Potomac, and Forester's later fictional character, Horatio Hornblower. In this book, Perrett presents a full biography of Admiral Gordon and his long and extraordinarily distinguished career.
Pirate Hunter
The Life of Captain Woodes Rogers
Graham A Thomas
Having proved himself a remarkable fighting seaman during a circumnavigation of the globe attacking Spanish shipping, Woodes Rogers was appointed Governor of the Bahamas by George I and tasked with the job of ridding the colony of pirates. Drawing on his own memoir as well as other contemporary sources, including notes from the trials of notorious pirates, this book recounts Rogers's adventures, which include rescuing the marooned Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe.
Caricature and the Navy 1756–1815
James Davey;Richard Johns
From the mid 18th century to the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the Royal Navy was the nation's greatest expense and biggest employer. The ensuing public interest made household names of its commanders and established the 'Jack Tar' as an ideal of no-nonsense British pluck. This book explores the period through the lens of contemporary caricaturists such as Gillray, Rowlandson and Cruikshank; its selection of satirical and sometimes bawdy prints is drawn from the National Maritime Museum collection.
The Sword of Albion
John Sugden
Strong-minded yet vulnerable, ambitious yet insecure, Britain's greatest naval hero was a man in need of constant reassurance. Wellington thought him 'so vain and silly as to surprise and almost disgust me'. This second volume of Sugden's authoritative biography charts Nelson's life from 1797 to his death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Drawing on letters and diaries, it interweaves his victories at the Nile and Copenhagen with his stormy relations with colleagues and his scandalous private life.
Capital Ships at War 1939–1945
Despatches from the Front
Martin Mace;John Grehan
Although powerful and fast, the heavy cruisers and battleships of the German fleet, such as Graf Spee and Tirpitz, achieved comparatively little and were defeated by overwhelming numbers of smaller Royal Navy ships. Meanwhile, British battleships, notably HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Hood also succumbed to torpedoes and shelling. This volume presents despatches of the commanders of ships engaged in actions ranging from the Battle of the River Plate in 1939 to Pacific operations in 1945.
Churchill and the Admirals
Stephen Roskill
Winston Churchill served as First Lord of the Admiralty at the beginning of both world wars, and maintained a close interest in naval matters when he became Prime Minister. Written in the 1970s by a former Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence, this assessment of Churchill's management of the Navy and relationship with its senior commanders weighs the benefits of his energy and leadership against the difficulties and losses suffered, at least partly, as a result of his mistakes.
Dönitz, U-Boats, Convoys
Jak P Mallmann Showell
The Battle of the Atlantic was a game of cat and mouse between the U-boat fleet, commanded by Karl Donitz, and the Allied convoys, who were able to read German signals after the cracking of the Enigma code. This book combines the memoirs of Donitz's (Ten Years and Twenty Days), the Admiralty Monthly Anti-submarine Reports (top-secret documents issued to senior British Naval officers) and the author's commentary to give a complete account of the conflict as it unfolded.
Apprentice War Lord
Louis Mountbatten's equivocal reputation as a war leader is typified by the contrast between his heroic actions as captain of HMS Kelly, the inspiration for the film In Which We Serve, and his masterminding of the disastrous raid on Dieppe in 1942. This analysis of his life examines the experiences that formed him, from his childhood among European royalty and naval apprenticeship up to these famous wartime engagements that preceded his appointment to South East Asia Command in 1943.
US Carrier War
Kev Darling
The first aircraft used by the US Navy – Curtiss flying boats in 1917 – operated from coastal bases, but purpose-built aircraft carriers would soon become a key part of its fleet and remain so through to modern times. This history of US Navy carriers traces the design and development of the vessels and their deployment through the disaster of Pearl Harbor and engagements in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam to the Middle Eastern conflicts of recent decades.
The Fourth Force
The Untold Story of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Since 1945
Geoff Puddefoot
Tirpitz
Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives
Jon Sutherland;Diane Canwell
Wilhelm Rosenbaum was a German naval pilot, posted to the famous battleship Tirpitz between April 1942 and March 1944 to fly the ship's Arado 196 seaplane. This collection of Rosenbaum's personal photographs, with accompanying explanatory notes, charts his time on the legendary vessel as well as his training on the ships Horst Wessel and Schleswig Holstein and his time in a French POW camp towards the end of the war.
No Ordinary War
The Eventful Career of U-604
Christian Prag
The story of German U-boat U-604, using official war diaries and survivors’ testimonies to tell of her engagement in some of the fiercest convoy battles of the Atlantic war, of the throughout
Frank McClean
Godfather to British Naval Aviation
Philip Jarrett
Frank McClean's inherited wealth allowed him to indulge his passion for flying in the early years of the 20th century, and his provision of training planes and a site for a Royal Navy flying school were crucial in establishing a British military aviation capability before the First World War. This illustrated biography examines McClean's influence as well as his own pioneering exploits, which included a headline-grabbing flight up the Thames, passing under the bridges, and an expedition up the Nile.
Able Seamen
The Lower Deck of the Royal Navy 1850–1939
The change from sail to steam in the Royal Navy was underway by 1850 and in the following decades the work and life of ordinary seamen changed radically as new jobs, servicing the engines and operating the sophisticated gunnery and communications systems, replaced the traditional lot of the sailor. This well-researched history chronicles the increasing professionalization and specialization of the lower deck as the Navy rapidly evolved and introduced many of the roles and practices which are familiar today.
The Real Jim Hawkins
Ships' Boys in the Georgian Navy
Roland Pietsch
In the 18th century, poor boys in their thousands went to sea like Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, often leaving behind bleak and miserable lives to go in search of adventure. Focusing on the Royal Navy during the period of the Seven Years War, Pietsch investigates the boys' social backgrounds and recruitment, their distinctive subculture and the challenges they faced growing up amid the perils of naval battle.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary 1905–1950
The civilian-manned Royal Fleet Auxiliary (its unofficial motto: 'Ready For Anything') provides worldwide support to the Royal Navy. This history discusses its rising importance, from inception in 1905, through two world wars, to 1950. The book features many little-known military operations, plus archive photographs and personal accounts of life in the auxiliary. Tables contain data on vessels that served in the fleet, while appendices include such information as colour schemes, battle honours and a detailed chronology.
Hitler's Early Raiders
Robert McQueen
With eyewitness accounts from British and German combatants, this book describes some of the significant early skirmishes of the Second World War during the so-called 'Phoney War' (Sept 1939 - May 1940).
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'Beyond absurd': Principal says no offense intended when she wore Steve Harvey blackface
Local NAACP and state Human Relations Commission leaders express dismay that anyone would fail to recognize why this would be offensive.
'Beyond absurd': Principal says no offense intended when she wore Steve Harvey blackface Local NAACP and state Human Relations Commission leaders express dismay that anyone would fail to recognize why this would be offensive. Check out this story on publicopiniononline.com: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2019/01/30/southern-york-county-principal-lisa-boyer-apologized-blackface-steve-harvey-naacp-human-relations/2711775002/
Sam Ruland, York Daily Record Published 4:08 p.m. ET Jan. 30, 2019 | Updated 5:24 p.m. ET Jan. 30, 2019
West Manchester Township Police Chief John Snyder talks about racism in York County and how the police force is fighting it. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
The Southern York County School District provides each family with a student handbook at the beginning of the year.
Within its pages, the district outlines “basic values that are understood to be part of the cultural and historic heritage of our community. They are the code by which we live. Even in a world of change, they remain firmly in place.”
One of these beliefs is that “respect for individual diversity is an essential element of a positive learning environment.” And while the language seems fairly clear, the district’s website notes that clarifying questions should be addressed to the building principal.
At Friendship Elementary School in Glen Rock, that person would be Principal Lisa Boyer, whose photo was recently sent to the York Daily Record with her posing as television personality Steve Harvey in blackface.
More: Racism & red lining are York's original sins. Here's how we can change (column)
More: West Manchester police chief received threats after condemning racism in York County
The photo obtained by the York Daily Record was also sent to the school district soon after it was taken — in August.
Sandra Lemmon, superintendent at Southern York County, said the school district had been made aware of Twitter posts by a former food service contractor employee who said the district “swept under the rug” a “blackface” incident involving one of its building principals.
One of the tweets can be seen here:
@sam_ruland The principal at Friendship Elementary school in Glen Rock pa held a meeting in black face. This is not ok! The superintendent is a good friend of hers and did nothing about it.. Name Lisa Boyer pic.twitter.com/gUMQrM4bL7
— Danny Boyce (@TheCoachesPick) January 21, 2019
“The School District wishes to correct factual inaccuracies in those tweets, as well as to explain the prompt remedial action that was taken to address this unfortunate incident,” Lemmon said in a statement.
The district’s statement, which can be found below, provides some context for the photo:
The building principal in question held a team building exercise with her school staff at the beginning of this school year. No students were present in the school on this day since it was a staff in-service day. The principal had the staff play a game based upon the television show, “Family Feud,” and she dressed up as the show’s host, Steve Harvey. The principal wore a man’s suit, a stocking to cover her hair, a fake mustache and makeup on her face to darken her skin color. The School District’s central office administration was advised of the principal['s] appearance later that same day, and the incident was immediately investigated.
After completing the investigation, the principal was disciplined and apologized to school staff who were present for the incident. The central office administration also made clear to the principal that such conduct violated both the letter and the spirit of the School District’s nondiscrimination policies. This matter was not “swept under the rug,” it was promptly addressed – and it was made clear that this incident was inappropriate within the school setting. The School District has, and will continue to strive, to offer both its students and employees a school environment that is free from racially insensitive conduct.
More: Florida Secretary of State Mike Ertel resigns after Halloween blackface photos emerge
More: Megyn Kelly apologizes for blackface comments on 'Today,' gets ripped by Don Lemon
During a phone interview, Lemmon said the investigation involved meeting with the staff members who were present. To her knowledge, all those individuals were Caucasian.
“They shared that they were surprised,” Lemmon said, “and they shared very openly that they did not believe that her intent was to offend in any way.”
Sandra Thompson, president of the York NAACP, said if the teachers present —regardless of race — were not offended by Boyer’s actions, then the education system may need even more work than she thought.
Blackface is beyond wearing dark makeup for the sake of a costume or joke.
Its history in America dates back to the minstrel shows where in the mid to late nineteenth century white actors would paint their faces with black grease to portray plantation slaves for a laugh. It was also used in the 1915 movie "The Birth of a Nation," which celebrated the Ku Klux Klan and portrayed black men as dangerous, lazy, unintelligent and sexually aggressive.
It has been widely accepted as a racist caricature that mocks African-Americans, yet people continue to do it today.
Sandra Thompson, President of the NAACP York Chapter gives the audience a call to action during the "No Hate in Our State" Social Justice Town Hall meeting at the Crispus Attucks Community Center, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. (Photo: Cameron Clark, York Daily Record)
Since it is considered a personnel matter, Lemmon said she was unable to elaborate on what the specific disciplinary actions against Boyer were.
So what did the principal have to say?
Boyer shared a similar sentiment in an email to the York Daily Record. She did not wish to speak over the phone or respond to follow-up emails.
"I'm sorry, but I really want to put this behind me and am saddened that you don't understand this," Boyer wrote. "I have shared my comments in my email."
The email from Boyer said:
I can share with you that I held a team building exercise with the elementary school staff on an in-service day before the start of the year.
I had staff members play a game based upon the television show, "Family Feud," and I dressed up as the show's host, Steve Harvey. My intention was never to offend anyone; however, I understand now how my actions could be viewed as insensitive and inappropriate. I deeply regret my decision and have learned from it.
Even though I did not have ill intent, my poor choice was addressed by both the administrative team and school board. On top of those repercussions, I publicly apologized to staff and met with some parents as well.
Though this was poor judgement on my part, I plan to use this example to help students learn from my mistake so that we may all understand how to be sensitive to all cultures. For the past 30 years, I have devoted my life to helping and educating children to be the best people they can be through spreading kindness. I truly care about people and pray that you understand that as well. Thank you for reaching out to me. Take care.
"As an educator, Boyer's actions suggest she is not fostering an inclusive environment for young children to learn and grow comfortably and freely," said Melissa Plotkin, a spokeswoman for the York Jewish Community Center.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO.
On September 26, 2018, the Pa Human Relations Commission held a town hall meeting about racism in York. A KKK member spoke in public comments. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
'Putting on blackface is beyond absurd'
However, those "vague answers" did not suffice for Chad Dion Lassiter, executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and national expert on race relations.
What did this "handling" look like, Lassiter questioned. Who was consulted? What action was taken?
“This teacher as an educator has to know that putting on blackface is beyond absurd. It is racially insensitive." Lassiter said. "White privilege allowed the principal to not see that anything that she did was racially insensitive, and what follows is a continuation of a hollow apology.”
Chad Dion Lassiter, Pennsylvania Relations Commission Executive Director, expresses how important the conversations brought up at the town hall are to making York a more inclusive place, December 20, 2018. (Photo: Cameron Clark, York Daily Record)
Although Boyer has said her intent was not offend anyone, it leaves room for speculation, Thompson said.
“You intended to dress as Steve Harvey which is not a problem, but then you intentionally acted to dress in blackface,” Thompson said. “So if you are going to dress in blackface, what do you think that blackface means? How do you think it is regarded? You would have to say that in 2018 you had no knowledge that blackface is offensive. And if a principal and educator is to say that, we really have a problem.”
To disregard the sensitivity around blackface, Thompson said, is not acceptable behavior for anyone, let alone someone in a position of authority.
"It suggests this is just something people need to get over,” Thompson said. “Was her intent to say people have to be less sensitive to the issue?”
This serves as a potentially teachable moment for the school. Lassiter said since he has now been informed of the incident, the HRC will reach out to the district to see how they responded to the situation.
More: 2 African-American corrections officers allege racial discrimination at York County Prison
More: Once pushed away from Grandview Golf Club, these black women now help course owners in Pa.
He is determined to get the full details of the investigation and the disciplinary actions that were taken by the school district.
"It's not about seeing someone lose their job," Plotkin said, "it's about making sure that our schools are proactive — that they understand the gravity of the situation. A training session, a public forum...we need to be reassured that action was taken."
Lassiter even offered to come to the school and hold an in-service day centered around bias training and racial sensitivity.
“This incident reinforces why it is so important that we continue to educate others about discrimination,” Lassiter said. “The school should have come out with the strongest of condemnation when they were informed of this incident and anything less is unacceptable.”
Photos: State Human Relations Commission holds town hall meeting about r...
People of all races and walks of life attended the "No Hate in Our State" Social Justice Town Hall meeting at the Crispus Attucks Community Center, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Mayor Michael Helfrich greets the crowd during the "No Hate in Our State" Social Justice Town Hall meeting at the Crispus Attucks Community Center, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Tameka M. Hatcher, Educational Outreach/Police Training Program Coordinator welcomes everyone to the "No Hate in Our State" Social Justice Town Hall meeting at the Crispus Attucks Community Center, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Reverend Yvette B. Davis, Director of Outreach and Organizational Development at POWER, recalls her first few years of living in York, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission put up signs describing their goals during the "No Hate in Our State" Social Justice Town Hall meeting at the Crispus Attucks Community Center, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Dr. Larry T. Walthour II, Senior Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church of York, tells the audience first hand accounts of racism and how to move forward, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Louis Rivera of Latinos Unidos York speaks about Latino and minority struggles in York during the "No Hate in Our State" Social Justice Town Hall meeting, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Sandra Thompson, President of the NAACP York Chapter gives the audience a call to action during the "No Hate in Our State" Social Justice Town Hall meeting at the Crispus Attucks Community Center, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
A man claiming to represent the Ku Klux Klan spoke during the public comment section of the town hall. He was not received well by the crowd, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
A man claiming to represent the Ku Klux Klan presents data before being interrupted by an audience member, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Attendees pulled out their phones to record as Chad Dion Lassiter, PHRC Executive Director, calmed the crowd down after a man claiming to represent the Ku Klux Klan spoke at the "No Hate in Our State" Social Justice Town Hall meeting at the Crispus Attucks Community Center, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Chad Dion Lassiter, PHRC Executive Director, speaks to the remarks of the Ku Klux Klansman during the "No Hate in Our State" Social Justice Town Hall meeting at the Crispus Attucks Community Center, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Mabusha Cooper, President of the York County Advisory Council to PHRC, listens intently as a his fellow panelist speaks during the "No Hate in Our State" Social Justice Town Hall meeting at the Crispus Attucks Community Center, Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Chad Dion Lassiter, PHRC Executive Director, brings the evening to a close after a night full of discussion. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
Read or Share this story: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2019/01/30/southern-york-county-principal-lisa-boyer-apologized-blackface-steve-harvey-naacp-human-relations/2711775002/
Man drugged, sexually assaulted boy, 13
Man molested 6-year-old girl, police say
Local man dies after being hit by Amtrak train
Fayetteville Antique Mall robbery, coins stolen
"Pagan" bikers threaten man at Rutter's
$9,000 stolen from register at local restaurant
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Courts, Rights and Pandemics
Courts, Rights and Pandemics Menu
Dark Tourism
Competition Law in Poland
Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Global Pandemics
A Map of the Standards Applied by EU and US Courts
Welcome to the website of the THEMIS project!
THEMIS is funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme and hosted at the Health & Human Rights Unit, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast.
Dr Patrycja Dąbrowska-Kłosińska, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow, is the Principal Investigator on the project and she works under the mentorship of Professor Thérèse Murphy, Director of the Health & Human Rights Unit.
Information about THEMIS events and publications will be posted here, so stay tuned!
THEMIS asks: How do judges resolve the conflict between individual human rights and public healthmeasures in global pandemics? It is an interdisciplinary research project linking risk regulation, public health and the human rights field. It investigates and appraises decisions of EU and US courts in order to develop the first comparative map of judicial standards of review in this challenging area and more generally to better understand the role of law in the context of infectious disease outbreaks.
Background
Ebola patients in Kenema Government Hospital, Sierra Leone
Ebola, tuberculosis, HIV, SARS and Zika: fuelled by international mobility, risks of global pandemics are increasing. National and international public health actions and laws are one response to this, but they often treat health as a sharp security issue to limit the spread of diseases. In this way, risk assessment of threats often becomes politicised and individual rights are assumed to be obstacles to population health. In effect, medical knowledge is ignored, and law is used as a tool of fear instead of protection. As a result, potentially infected persons, patients and health workers become akin to terrorist suspects and their rights are/can be infringed. Possible violations concern the rights to life, personal integrity (eg, involuntary isolation), and respect for private and family life (eg disclosure of medical details), as well as specific patients’ rights (eg, forced treatment).
THEMIS reacts to these facts. Through extensive research into EU/US judicial approaches to lawful human rights limitations, scientific evidence, risk, and environmental/social factors, it will contribute to better understanding of how to prepare for, and respond to, the risks of global pandemics through the lens of a rights-based approach. To do this, it employs the pioneering ‘risk within rights’ framework (Murphy & Whitty) to avoid the standard framing, which presents risk to public health in opposition to human rights. It also utilizes a ‘Lawyers meet Doctors’ dissemination concept, facilitating inter-disciplinary and inter-sectoral impact and bridging audiences from diverse fields and sectors who usually work separately via two international workshops involving both academics and policy-experts as well as publications and presentations.
THEMIS aims to produce knowledge that will offer a vital reference for policy-making that prioritises fair pandemic preparedness to cross border health threats. In so doing it aspires to fill the scholarly and societal knowledge gap with respect to a current global challenge in line with the EU Health Strategies and the EU Third Health Programme (2014-2020).
Programme for Workshop on 18 June 2018 "Science as Risk in individual decision-making on vaccination: the right to refuse, the right to choose and the duty to protect?"
THEMIS Spring 2019 Newsletter
Introducing THEMIS research. Presentation, Law School Research Afternoon, 08.11.2018
JUNE 2019: Workshop call for papers on Rights and Vaccine Hesitancy. More details available here.
APRIL 2019: "Konkurs na Plakat - Poster Contest". More details available here.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 746014.
Themis Logo by Agnese Waligora, Teramo, Italy
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AskReddit
[Serious] What is your opinion of people who commit suicide?
This comment was posted to reddit on Mar 22, 2015 at 2:35 am and was deleted within 9 hour(s) and 32 minutes.
Having had two members of my family commit suicide (an uncle on my mom's side and an aunt on my dad's side), I have been exposed to two separate types of suicide and the impact that each had on my family. While both were painful events for my family, the emotions surrounding us after each were very different. For the sake of simplicity, we will call my uncle's death a way to end the pain he had felt throughout his entire life, whereas my aunt's death was more of a sudden reaction to events in her life. I'll go into detail for both.
We'll start with my uncle, as his death was the first chronologically. My uncle struggled his entire life with depression. I was too young to know the exact extent of his condition, but I knew that he required a lot of medicine in order to maintain any level of a normal lifestyle. While he had his medicines, things would go fairly well for him and he would lead a normal life, holding down a job and visiting family often. However, his medicine was provided by a state program of some sort (again, I was young at the time and don't know the details very well). Due to some stupid policies that were enforced, the program would stop providing his medicines after a set period of time when things appeared to be going well. I guess the best way to put it is that he "tested out" of the program thanks to his very positive reaction to the medicine. As anyone with any level of common sense could see, he would then spiral into the dark depths of depression soon after his medicine would be cut. It would become very much impossible for him to hold down a job, and he would become very reclusive towards the family. Naturally after a period of time, he would become eligible for the program again, and would be able to once again live a normal life. With a pattern of being unable to hold down jobs for extended periods of time, he would end up having to take odd jobs like being a janitor instead of in a field that fit his strengths. After years of this cycle, he decided that he could no longer handle it and decided to end his life. My family always feared this moment, but it still came as a shock to us. My grandmother took it the worst, but we all moved to the conclusion that my uncle was not suffering any longer. Personally, I respect my uncle for living so long in the vicious cycle and for making the best that he could with his life. The pain he felt when he would be at his lowest is unimaginable to me, and I respect that he had the courage to make it through so many times. I hate that my family had to experience the pain of losing him, but we all could take comfort knowing that there was only peace for him now.
Then there is my aunt. To make a very long story somewhat shorter, my aunt was in a very long (10+ years) relationship with a man. For whatever reason, they chose not to get married but it didn't really matter. When they bought their house together, they purchased it in my aunt's name, for reasons never fully explained to me. For such a long time, things appeared to be going well for them. Then my great-grandmother died. My father could not attend the funeral for work-related reasons, which made my aunt extremely angry, to a point where they virtually never talked after that (outside of visits to my grandmother's house). My aunt even began pulling away from their mother (my grandmother) because she was understanding of my dad's inability to go to the funeral. For whatever reason, my aunt believed that my grandmother was biased towards my father. Fast forward a few years, and suddenly we find out that my aunt's boyfriend (or whatever you would like to call him) is in the hospital with some heart condition. This brings the family together some, until it is revealed that he has gone into this mad state where he is blaming her for everything that is happening to him. While my aunt stood by his side during is recovery, he essentially throws her under the bus. To add a final blow, he announces he is leaving. Good riddance was our first reaction, until prodding around through my aunt's financial records. The boyfriend was earning all of the money, while my aunt had everything in her name! So when he left her, she was essentially fucked. To top it off, there were still payments being made on the house and the housing market had just collapsed. Long story short, she was forced to move in with my grandparents as a result of this. During the process of moving from her house to my grandparents' house, she also began going back to school. So as to avoid disturbing my grandparents with her studies, she would stay in her house and my grandparents would drive her to the community college (or wherever she was taking her classes). Obviously, with the house going into foreclosure, this arrangement would eventually end, but living with my grandparents would just be a temporary thing while she got back to her feet. Unfortunately, due to the living situation for my grandparents, my aunt would have to give up her pets (some cats and a dog), which upset her greatly. Ultimately, she rounded up her pets in the garage and turned the car on, dying alongside her closest friends. My grandparents found her in the morning when they went to the foreclosed house to drive her to classes. Long story short, my aunt left a note that took a couple of shots at my grandparents, described the abusive relationship that she had with her boyfriend (which had appeared normal to us), and indicated that she'd essentially left the entire family out of her will. This led to a lot of despair and questioning throughout the family. My father questioned why he had not made up with my aunt after the funeral debacle. My grandmother blamed herself for attempting to separate my aunt from her pets. My grandfather sought an understanding of how he could have made things easier for her. Ultimately, her death brought the family together again, but we all were left wishing that she would have spoken to anyone in the family about her situations. She was blind to the love that she was surrounded by and refused to give herself a chance. While I also respect her for going through such miserable times so stoically, I do find it very difficult to understand why she did not so much as speak to the family about her problems. It saddens me to think that her death could possibly have been avoided by simply expressing what she felt. We would have helped her had we known her boyfriend was so abusive, dad would have gone to the funeral had he known it would mean so much to her, my grandmother would have allowed for her pets to have joined her while she found her feet again. Rather than seeking resolutions, my aunt simply reacted to the events in her life, and that made her death hurt us, both because she was gone and because we all feel like we could have done something to stop her from ever being in her situation.
Tldr: I respect those that have gone through a lifetime of pain, but when a suicide seems like it is a reaction to a set of events that seem avoidable/recoverable from, it is a lot harder to understand.
/r/AskReddit Thread
Recently removed from /r/AskReddit
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Did Chelsea Manning just join the Rust Evangelical Strike Force? Dead Kennedys - Holiday In Cambodia Truly a masterpiece for the ages Jordan to cancel 'marry the victim' clause that exempts a rapist from punishment if he marries his victim. Schoolboy, nine, was stopped drinking his water by teachers on hottest day of the year because he .. Daily General Discussion - June 24, 2017 Monitor carefully while letting your kids watch kid videos on Youtube and Youtube Kids App. Finding Furnace/Workbench honestly a girl's self worth should not be related her ability to look feminine "Where in the Middle East can gay officers serve their country?" - Pro-Israel poster [2014] Eid Mubarak from /r/Ex Muslim (crosspost r/islam) If you ever called the cops on your neighbors, why and what happened? Isn't Iota a groundbreaking invention? TIL that beef is responsible for over 70% of all deforestation in South America, and is the #1 cause of deforestation globally. Claw game is so rigged that investigator and game operator can't force a win
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Area of Law:
Probate, Wills & Trust
Civil Litigation and Mediation
Property/Residential Conveyancing/Landlord & Tenant
Veronica Male
Veronica Male qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in 1999.
With a previous background of over 20 years in Personal Injury and Care Home Neglect and Abuse cases Veronica transferred into Private Client Law in 2017 specialising in Court of Protection work.
Veronica advises on applications for proposed Deputies, as well as appointed Deputies and Attorneys who need to apply for permission to the Court of Protection to act outside the scope of their appointment.
Veronica is an Associate Member of Solicitors for the Elderly and a member of the Chartered Legal Executives Private Client Specialist Reference Group.
Veronica is also a Dementia Champion. She was the past Chair of the Northamptonshire Dementia Action Alliance and continues to be involved in the Northamptonshire Dementia Action Forum. With a focus on the importance of local Health and Social Care services supporting the community, Veronica is part of the Northamptonshire Healthwatch Adult and Social Care Planning Group.
The areas of work Veronica specialises within private client law are;
Health and Welfare Powers of Attorney
Property and Finance Powers of Attorney
Applications to the Court of Protection for the appointment of a Deputy
Applications to the Court of Protection by Attorneys or Deputies
Removal of an Attorney
Veronica feels it is important that when a loved one is not in a position to appoint an attorney to act for them then we can provide advice on the legal process to appoint an appropriate person to act on their behalf.
Veronica believes it is important for Attorneys and Deputies to know the duties of their appointment she says “Without proper advice, your Attorney or Deputy can act outside of the scope of their authority without realising it. I take the extra time to ensure that your Attorney or Deputy fully understands the obligations and requirements of the role they have undertaken.
I can be contacted by Attorneys who are considering letting a family member stay in the Donor’s empty property without paying market rent not realising this would be seen as a gift and therefore needs permission from the Court of Protection. Attorneys also don’t realise that undertaking building work on the donor’s property must be carefully considered and may require the Court’s permission in order for the cost of the work to be paid from the donor’s funds. Without the right advice about the procedure and their duties they risk being investigated by the Office of the Public Guardian, required to pay funds back and their appointment terminated.”
If you wish to discuss a course of action you wish to take as an Attorney or Deputy or would like to appoint an Attorney to act for you or you are seeking to be appointed as a Deputy for a family member please do not hesitate to contact Veronica on 01933 273234
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Home MotoGP Riders Talk Sachsenring During MotoGP Pre-Event Press Conference
Riders Talk Sachsenring During MotoGP Pre-Event Press Conference
written by Press Release June 29, 2017
On a rainy Thursday at the Sachsenring, the pre-event Press Conference ahead of the GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland saw Championship leader Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) joined by Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) and Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) – with talk turning to the weather, the new track surface and the Championship fight as it continues to change week by week.
Andrea Dovizioso leads the MotoGP championship heading to Sachsenring.
First to talk was Championship leader ‘DesmoDovi’, who says that still sounds like a strange description: “It sounds strange to me to be the Championship leader and I’m so happy with how we’ve worked in these eight races to be first – it’s a dream and I’m really happy. We’ve worked really hard in these five years. Especially in the last few races we’ve worked in the perfect way and even in Assen no one was able to work so much for the race, and we used a different setup in the race and it worked. I could make a good laptime, which for me is almost more important than the final result. Fifth wasn’t so great but conditions were very difficult and it was easy to make a mistake. My confidence is good, my feeling with the bike is good and I feel great with the team – that plays a big part in the final result. The weather here isn’t new and we’ve had it here before but the new asphalt will make a difference. We have to try it tomorrow, and no one could test here so we don’t have feedback to know about the tyres. Anything can happen and that’s positive – it means you don’t think too much about it!”
Maverick Vinales is keeping an optimistic attitude for Sachsenring after crashing out in the last round.
The man who now sits second after a DNF at the Dutch GP is Viñales, who now has tunnel vision on taking back the top: “I’m disappointed about the crash at Assen but in another way I was lucky. I’m happy and motivated, we were strong in Assen in the dry and that’s when I can relax. If I push myself to the limit we can be on top again. We’ve made many mistakes this season but we’ve learnt and we know what to do. We’ve improved in the rain too so it’s a good chance here to work hard. Last year I was quite strong here, I’m in good physical condition and here is quite demanding. Last time out we paid a lot for a bad qualifying and here we have to pay attention to the weather, when to put on the new tires…it’s going to be a tricky weekend but we have to do our best.”
Marc Marquez has won the last seven races he’s contested at Sachsenring, from the 125 class up through MotoGP.
One man who will certainly bring his best to the Sachsenring is the winner the last seven years he’s ridden it – Marc Marquez. From the 125 World Championship to MotoGP™, the Repsol Honda man has won every year from pole. Does that play a big role in his preparation? He says it helps, but that 2017 is still unpredictable: “Sachsenring has always been a good circuit for me and for Honda. That’s important, but this year is different. There’s a new surface so we need to see how the grip is, and the tires. And the other thing here is the weather…last year was a flag-to-flag and then everything can change but arriving at a track where you’ve won in the past is good and you’re confident. Even in Assen we were able to recover some points so we’ll see what we can do here on Sunday. It’s so difficult to kind of plan the Championship – two races ago I was almost out the battle, and now I’m only some points behind. It’s really long, we need to work hard and push – I’ve made a few mistakes in the first part of the season but I’m there and I want to continue with the same mentality.”
Valentino Rossi won at Assen, can he keep it going in Germany?
It’s difficult to disagree as the races continue to deal different hands – and Valentino Rossi played the best the last time out, although the German GP promises to be different again: “First of all I’m very happy about the victory, it was after a great race and with great emotions. And it’s important for the Championship because it looks very interesting – a lot of riders and different bikes are very close. Never has the situation changed from one week to the next like it has this year. I’m there and not so far, and it will be important to be competitive here because it’s a different track compared to Assen. It looks like the forecast is quite bad but it will be important to be prepared for all conditions. Last year I wasn’t so bad in the dry or wet, but last year it was a crazy race with different conditions and flag-to-flag; we tried to stay out and it wasn’t the right strategy. So I hope for a full dry or full wet race, but we’ll try to be ready and cleverer in case of a flag-to-flag race.”
Danilo Petrucci has scored two podiums out of the past three rounds.
The possibility of a flag-to-flag seems like a threat on Sunday – and Petrucci has at least one target as his run of incredible form continues: “I didn’t expect to be so fast in the dry in Assen, but I managed the race and the light rain at the end maybe helped me a little bit. It’s a good moment for sure and the bike is going well. Here I feel positive and last year I did well in the dry, then in the wet I tried to push and crashed. The weather will be important I think, and also the new asphalt. We’ll see, but these things are the same for everyone. It’s a great emotion to be here with these riders, they’re all fighting for the title and it’s great to fight with them even if I’m quite far off in the Championship. But I’m in a good position and I have nothing to lose. But my main target is to not do what I did last year and crash.”
L – R: Jonas Folger, Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales, Andrea Dovizioso, Marc Marquez, Danilo Petrucci.
Finishing the race was the specialty of Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) after the German was the only rider to have scored points every weekend until Assen – so that’s the first target as he prepares to line up in the premier class for the first time at home. After an impressive start to the season, Folger says the goalposts have now changed as expectations have been excelled – and is happy to race on home turf: “I’m very pleased to be here, the German crowd is amazing. I was signing things earlier and it’s great to feel the support. The season so far is going well. The winter started well, we had some expectations at the beginning that we could be in the top ten but then suddenly we did better than we expected. Now we know we can get in the top six if we have a good day. We have good speed and just need to show it every weekend. It’s not always easy for me with the weather and track conditions, every track is different to ride on a MotoGP bike. I need some experience, but if we have a good day we can do a good job. I wondered if MotoGP was the right choice and in the end it was – in the winter test I was relieved, and I think we’ve done everything right.”
Text and images courtesy of MotoGP.
Riders Talk Sachsenring During MotoGP Pre-Event Press Conference was last modified: June 29th, 2017 by Press Release
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Niall Horan 'struggles to completely relax' in Ireland
Updated / Wednesday, 7 Dec 2016 08:27
Niall Horan - 'I really do wish I could spend more time at home but with Ireland as small as it is, I struggle to completely relax"
Niall Horan has admitted he struggles to relax when he’s home in Ireland but says he is still looking forward to returning to Mullingar this Christmas.
The 23-year-old One Direction singer opened up about his plans for the festive season and revealed he hopes to spend time with his nearest and dearest.
“I’m going to head home and chill out as it’s been hectic the last few months.
“Looking forward to getting home at Christmas.
“I haven’t been home since last Christmas so I miss everyone and hopefully this year I’ll get to spend some quality time with family and friends.
“I really do wish I could spend more time at home but with Ireland as small as it is, I struggle to completely relax.
“So fingers crossed because I miss that place a lot.”
In an open letter to fans on his website, Horan who is currently promoting his newly launched solo career, revealed he will be knuckling down after Christmas.
"After Christmas I’m going to fall off the face of the Earth and do one of my disappearing acts."
“I want to come up with more song ideas and get back in the writing zone," he wrote.
Horan recently said 1D is likely to come back together again in what he described as the "foreseeable future".
When asked by chat show king Graham Norton about whether the band would reform he said that the door was still open.
"For now we are doing our own thing. We can't put a date on it but it won't be in 50 years' time. It's in the foreseeable future," he adds. "We've talked about it but for now we'll just play by ear and see what happens", he said.
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6×10 Mapping Competition Series Podcast
Here is the podcast for my 6×10 Mapping Competition Series.
It features William, from Podcast 17, who did Let’s Play videos of each mod, and three mappers who entered the competitions; Justin, David and Tony.
I explain why I choose the format, the guests discuss their thoughts on the format, we then move onto to our overall feelings about the whole series and the mods it produced.
We then take a look at each competition and discuss the entries from the guests, including our favourites.
Then we add our final thoughts and finish with a brief discussion about possible future formats.
I really enjoyed recording this and hope you enjoy listening – it’s a long one!
Listen Special Events
WizardExt
6×10 competitions were awesome. They generated really interesting and fun maps. It was nice having something to look forward to. Personally, I finally got to release something for Half-Life 2, thank you Phillip and everyone commenting on my entries.
As a format, the 6×10 competitions, had too limited amount of time. That’s my opinion. Full time job, with much overtime and then come home to work some more. Even though mapping is pure fun and most of the time relaxing, it became a stressful experience for the two competitions I entered. Zipline (VerticalVille) especially, I didn’t get much sleep those 10 days and was lucky I didn’t have too much todo’s in the weekends. I would have wanted to join all of them, but I just didn’t have time. That’s for me. Judging by the results I am blown away what people can do within those days and how some of you managed to entered most of them. Good job!
Thanks guys for podcast guys, really enjoyed listening to it.
Worth a listen, I always enjoy hearing what mappers have to say.
I didn’t play all the other Ville’s but I think this was a success (except the chase theme cus I don’t like trial and error times n) and I’m amazed by the quality and the quantity of mapping done in such short bursts. Great entries with plenty of replayability. Half way through it I was already a fan of 2 mappers, Miigga, who didn’t enter more, to my disappointment, and Justin, who I hope won’t stop here.
And as I always plea the mappers, don’t let your maps die, even though most of these can be considered finished, there’s always some that need extra work for a proper release, you know? It’s a shame to not develop your full potential.
I totally agree with this. I think if I ever release a big Source mod (which I hope to eventually) I would include all my competition entries as “Remastered Editions” where I would try to fix some of the problems that I had due to the time limits or my lack of skills.
Why wait until you release your “big” Source mod? Just polish what you have and send them to me.
Miigga1
Very cool that you made a podcast about this. It was quite interesting to listen to from the beginning to the end.
I feel an urge to respond to the things said about Baryonic Predicament. BP doesn’t have a storyline, nor does it provide any reason for the player to be there and do stuff. You said that this made it feel more like a map pack than a mod.
I guess it does feel like a map pack, but this is because I make the kind of maps that I would want to play. I am – unfortunately for you – in the (presumably) minority of players who doesn’t care at all about storylines in mods. To me, the storyline of the Half-Life series is important, but the mods are there just for more gameplay.
I hope this explains why my maps are the way they are.
Anyway, cool podcast and I hope you keep doing this sort of stuff because I like listening.
I understand and respect that you make maps that you want to play, that’s the only way to be a modder, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t have a reason, objective and logical flow.
That’s one of the things that sets mods apart from maps, that feeling of “beginning, middle and end”. I felt and still feel, you miss a section of the modding community by not creating something more structured. That’s why I hassled you so much about it.
I love your work and want to bring it to a wider audience. But too many PP readers tell me that they played a few of your maps and enjoyed them but they don’t like single maps. I elieve it’s possible to do what you love doing in your way but still possible to create something greater than its parts.
After the next series of mapping competitions I plan to have another podcast. Who knows, if you enter enough, then perhaps you could join us for it?
After the next series of mapping competitions
Quite the reveal right there 🙂
Who knows, if you enter enough, then perhaps you could join us for it?
That’s quite far into the future but why not
I’ve already said there would be more competitions. I have decided to run the 3×24 (that’s 4 weekends) Mapping Competition Series, some 48 hour challenges and maybe use the William’s/SvenCoop’s idea of community maps.
There’s plenty to come in 2013 with regarding to mapping comps.
I’m one of those players that don’t particularly play maps 😀
The exception here being the exceptional Guildhall maps and such, they’re the definition of poc, proof of concept, and it’s amazing to see so many new mechanics in such short but polished maps, it’s like a firecracker in a candy!
And I think first time I ever heard of you was in this comp, Miigga, and that’s how I decided to play the rest of your maps, it was only fair you stepped in the MODding area at some point 😛 Same goes for you, Justin haha
5th November 2012 at 12:41 am
I’m one of those players that don’t particularly play maps
Dalannar
Nice interview. I do agree that 10 days are a bit too short for a competition like the ones in the 6×10. But more importantly I think the themes could have been better. They were good themes, don’t get me wrong but mostly the reason I didn’t actually enter any of them was because I didn’t very much like the themes. That and I also have a problem where I map for about 24 hours in a very short period of time and then take between 2 weeks to 1 month to get back into the project.
I would like to list a couple of competitions I think would make a for some nice entries.
The first of which would need to be divided into seperate competitions sort of how the 6×10 worked and could be applied to the idea of the 3×27. Basicly the mapper is giving a piece of story, and it’s his or her job to recreate that story piece and give it a semi-ending. The next theme would force the mapper to pick up where he decided to end the first “chapter” and give them an ending. This would be very interesting to see, I think, expecially if the ending of the first one was miles away from the final ending.
As an example let’s say the player was tasked with hijacking a train and blowing it up. Two entries are submited, in one the player jumps onto a second moving train before the explosion, and in the other the player is blown out of the train and into a field. In the second part of the competition the player must go to some kind of headquarters and while one of the mappers starts in a moving train that might possibly be going the right direction, the other one must start in an empty field and figure out a way to get the player to where he needs to go.
Entries would be judged on how well they recreated the first part of the story and how original they finished it and for the second one, how good they manage to link it up. Obviously both competitions would need to be very diferent so as to make the entries more entertaining and give a bigger challenge for the mappers.
A second competition would be much more simpler and it would involve implementing a specific feature into the map. Maybe implementing a dragon that shoots fireballs or even having part of the layout of the map being given to the mapper. Perhaps having a story which the player has to transmite the best he can.
It’s these sort of themes I personally like, instead of having a general theme such has forestville, where it just had to be in a forest (which also had the problem that source isn’t really a good engine for making organic terrain).
I hope I don’t sound very pretentious writting these ideas because it really is up to phillip but I would love to see what other ideas people can come up with.
Your first suggestion is interesting in concept but what happens if a mapper joins in after the first competition has ended? Since most mappers in this series didn’t enter all the contests, it could be a big problem.
Maybe give a generic start for people that didn’t enter the first competition. With that happening though, I don’t think it would be very fair to award the winning to someone who didn’t enter the first part.
Another nice podcast Phillip, always great to hear other people’s opinions.
I think your 3×21 idea would be great from a mapping point of view. It would give you a little more room to breathe (so to speak) but not being too long to lose focus. For me the 6×10 competitions came a little too close together when you have other commitments and need a break from Hammer! It’s also a problem if people have their own mapping projects that they are working on.
I would say that the competitons always need a clear theme, because an “open” theme might leave people struggling to decide on what to create. It should also be a theme which isn’t technically restrictive, for example I think you did one based on Striders before and it’s very difficult to make them work in the editor. On the other hand, William’s FinaleVille idea would be awesome!
I also agree with what you were saying about every map needing a unique “selling point” or at least something memorable. It’s interesting to look back at the earlier competitions and see what I remember of the entries.
Thank you for the competition since I think everyone involved enjoyed it and I’m glad you’re considering more!
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Helpmann Award: West Australian talent scores big in nominations.
Annelies Gartner || The West Australian Wednesday, June 12, 2019 08:16AM
The magic of an opera, new WA-made works and the talents of many of our artists shine in this year’s Helpmann Award nominations.
The awards celebrate Australia’s vibrant live performance industry and WA’s thriving arts community is well represented in all categories.
Perth Festival co-commission Le Nor (The Rain) from The Last Great Hunt’s Adriane Daff, Arielle Gray, Chris Isaacs, Tim Watts, Gita Bezard and Jeffrey Fowler along with Anthony Watts, Caitri Jones, Jo Morris, Kristie Smith and Clare Testoni were dual nominees for best scenic design and best new Australian work.
The Magic Flute
Another of the Festival’s co-commissions, Speechless, was also recognised with Aaron Wyatt nominated for best music direction.
He goes head-to-head with Jordan De Souza nominated for Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute, which was also presented as part of the Festival. The opera scooped the nominations with six nods, the others are: Barrie Kosky, Suzanne Andrade and 1927 for best direction of an opera; Aleksandra Olczyk for best female performer in a supporting role in an opera; Tom Erik Lie for best male performer in a supporting role in an opera; Aaron Blake best male performer in an opera; best opera.
Geraldton raised actress Kate Mulvany is i the running for best female actor. Picture: Nic Ellis
Two-time Helpmann award winner, Geraldton-raised Kate Mulvany is in the running for best female actor in a play for her performance in Every Brilliant Thing and for best new Australian work for The Harp in the South: Part One and Part Two.
WA Ballet’s Dracula also received two nominations: best ballet; Carina Roberts best female dancer in a ballet, dance of physical theatre production.
Cassie Workman was nominated in the best comedy performer category for Giantess.
Cassie Workman’s first full-length show Giantess — which she wrote to mark her coming out as a trans woman and performed at Perth Comedy Festival — was recognised in the best comedy performer category.
WA’s Kelton Pell was nominated in the best male actor in a play category for his role in Black Swan State Theatre Company’s production of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. Perth-born and raised Pippa Grandison received a nod in the category of best female actor in a supporting role in a musical for her performance in Muriel’s Wedding the Musical.
WAAPA Alexander Lewis is nomianted for best lead in a musical.
WAAPA graduate and East Perth-raised Alexander Lewis is up for a gong in the best male actor in a musical for his role in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story.
WASO’s Asher Fisch and Stuart Skelton were both recognised for Tristan und Isolde in the best individual classical music performance category. The performance was also nominated for best symphony orchestra concert.
WA’s music- theatre super star Tim Minchin and Live Nation Australasia is nominated for the best Australian contemporary concert award for Back.
Three shows that made it west were also nominated in the best international contemporary concert: Perth Festival’s Christine and the Queens; The Killers 2018 and Celine Dion — Live 2018.
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The West Australian bucks trend with rise in cross-platform readers
Miriam Fisher || The West Australian Friday, May 10, 2019 12:12PM
While most leading Australian newspapers have suffered a decline in total cross-platform readership over the past year, The West Australian is among the rare few to have bucked the trend, according to a report released today.
Roy Morgan’s latest readership results for Australian newspapers for the 12 months to March 2019 showed strong results for WA.
The West Australian’s print and online audience combined has jumped by 2.2 per cent to 1,095,000 readers over the period.
The paper’s print audience alone grew by just under 2 per cent on last year’s figures with 681,000 readers.
The Sunday Times was one weekend paper to defy the broader industry trends, increasing its print readership by 1.8 per cent.
However, the results for The West Australian’s thewest.com.au digital audience alone showed the most growth, with numbers surging by 10.9 per cent.
Seven West Media WA Senior Editor Anthony De Ceglie said the growth in readership was the result of the team’s commitment to cross-media and modern story-telling as well as some old-fashioned hard-fought scoops.
The Roy Morgan report also indicated a general readership decline across Australia.
Results show more than 15.7 million, or 76.3 per cent, of Australians aged 14 years and over read or access newspapers in an average seven-day period on print or online platforms, indicating a fall of 2.2 per cent from a year ago.
Despite a decline in print readership year-on-year, one third of Australians still read print newspapers showing its retains relevance in an increasingly digitally-focused world.
Pilbara students learn the write stuff at camp
Students were taught how to overcome writers’ block by award-winning writer A.J. (Amanda) Betts.
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How To Build Up Your Immune System: Develop An Extroverted Personality
by James Anderson December 12, 2014
Personality traits are linked to expression of genes which control immune system activity, new research from University of Nottingham has found.
The results run counter to a common theory that tendencies toward negative emotions such as depression or anxiety can lead to poor health, the so-called Disease-prone Personality. However, researchers did observe that differences in immune cell gene expression are related to a person’s level of extraversion and conscientiousness.
In the study, highly sensitive DNA microarray technology was used to look at relationships between the five major human personality traits.
Inflammation and Personality Traits
They also examined two groups of genes active in human leukocytes (white blood cells). One group involved inflammation, and another involved antiviral responses and antibodies.
The group studied was of 121 ethnically diverse and healthy adults. There were 86 females and 35 males with an average age of 24, out of an age range of 18-59, and an average body mass index of 23.
A personality test was given that measures five major dimensions of personality:
From each participant, blood samples were collected for gene expression analysis. Typical smoking, drinking, and exercise behaviors were also recorded for control purposes.
Extraversion and Conscientiousness
“Our results indicated that ‘extraversion’ was significantly associated with an increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes and that ‘conscientiousness’ was linked to a reduced expression of pro-inflammatory genes,” said Professor Kavita Vedhara, study leader.
“In other words, individuals who we would expect to be exposed to more infections as a result of their socially orientated nature (i.e., extraverts) appear to have immune systems that we would expect can deal effectively with infection.
“While individuals who may be less exposed to infections because of their cautious/conscientious dispositions have immune systems that may respond less well. We can’t, however, say which came first. Is this our biology determining our psychology or our psychology determining our biology?”
These two obvious links were independent of the health behaviors of the participants and subsets of white blood cells which are the cells of the body’s immune system. They were also not dependent on the level of negative emotions people experienced.
Openness Genes
The study also found that expression of antiviral/antibody-related genes was not significantly associated with any personality dimension.
In the remaining three categories of personality, “openness” also trended towards a reduced expression of pro-inflammatory genes and “neuroticism” and “agreeableness” remained unassociated with gene expression.
The conclusion the researchers came to is that although the biological mechanisms of these associations need to be explored in future research, the new data may shed new light on the long-observed epidemiological associations among personality, physical health, and human longevity.
What is the Function of the Immune System
The immune system protects organisms from infection with layered defenses.
Physical barriers prevent pathogens such as bacteria and viruses from entering the organism. If a pathogen breaches these barriers, the innate immune system provides an immediate, but non-specific response. Innate immune systems are found in all plants and animals.
If pathogens successfully evade the innate response, vertebrates possess a second layer of protection, the adaptive immune system, which is activated by the innate response. Here, the immune system adapts its response during an infection to improve its recognition of the pathogen.
This improved response is then retained after the pathogen has been eliminated, in the form of an immunological memory, and allows the adaptive immune system to mount faster and stronger attacks each time this pathogen is encountered.
Personality and gene expression: Do individual differences exist in the leukocyte transcriptome?
Psychoneuroendocrinology, Volume 52, Issue null, Pages 72-82 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.10.028
Kavita Vedhara, Sana Gill, Lameese Eldesouky, Bruce K. Campbell, Jesusa M.G. Arevalo, Jeffrey Ma, Steven W. Cole
Litman GW, Cannon JP, Dishaw LJ (November 2005).
“Reconstructing immune phylogeny: new perspectives”
Nature Reviews Immunology 5 (11): 866–79
Photo credits, top to bottom: Atikh Bana, Aimanness Photography
Previous Post: Can Laughing Gas Lift Chronic Depression?
Next Post: What Happens To Your Body During A Cold?
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Roles In Society Urban Development 2-5 Japheth’s descendants had their own languages, tribes, and land. They were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Gomer was the ancestor of Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. Javan was the ancestor of Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim, who settled along the coast.
The Descendants of Ham
6-20 Ham’s descendants had their own languages, tribes, and land. They were Ethiopia, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. Cush was the ancestor of Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah was the ancestor of Sheba and Dedan. Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, a mighty warrior whose strength came from the Lord. Nimrod is the reason for the saying, “You hunt like Nimrod with the strength of the Lord!” Nimrod
first ruled in Babylon, Erech, and Accad, all of which were in Babylonia. From there Nimrod went to Assyria and built the great city of Nineveh. He also built Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, as well as Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah. Egypt was the ancestor of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim, the ancestor of the Philistines.
Canaan’s sons were Sidon and Heth. He was also the ancestor of the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.
Later the Canaanites spread from the territory of Sidon and went as far as Gaza in the direction of Gerar. They also went as far as Lasha in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. The Descendants of Shem
21-31 Shem’s descendants had their own languages, tribes, and land. He was the older brother of Japheth and the ancestor of the tribes of Eber.
Shem was the ancestor of Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. Aram was the ancestor of Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. Arpachshad was the father of Shelah and the grandfather of Eber,
whose first son was named Peleg, because it was during his time that tribes divided up the earth. Eber’s second son was Joktan. Joktan was the ancestor of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab.
Their land reached from Mesha in the direction of Sephar, the hill country in the east.
32 This completes the list of Noah’s descendants. After the flood their descendants became nations and spread all over the world.Genesis 10-2-32 Roles In Society Go see what Society have to offer Roles In Society
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'I'm brown and beautiful': How Tan France stopped worrying about representing others and started speaking for himself
'I no longer feel the need to whitewash or straight-wash myself in order to fit in. I can be the version of gay that I want to be'
Sadaf Ahsan
More from Sadaf Ahsan
Tan France's Naturally Tan, a memoir meets style bible. Charley Gallay/Getty Images
In his debut memoir/style-guide Naturally Tan, Queer Eye fashion expert Tan France laments about always being referred to in the press as “Tan France, the gay British Muslim.” He adds, “They never introduce Antoni (Porowksi) as the gay Polish Christian. Never. He’s just Antoni.”
Appearing on Queer Eye with Antoni, the food expert, Karamo Brown, the culture expert, Bobby Berk, the design expert and Jonathan Van Ness, the grooming expert, it’s France who has had the heaviest label foisted upon him, not only because he is a gay, Muslim person of colour, but because he’s the first and only one to be all of those things on television. As daunting an undertaking as that is, France has grown proud of representing multiple communities — though the pressure still lingers.
Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, and Tan on Queer Eye, Season 4. Christopher Smith/Netflix
Over the phone, his voice as bubbly as ever, he tells me, “I can only be what I am. There’s no way of representing more than myself. I want to see people who look like me, but as far as my actions go, I am very individualistic, so I try to remind myself of that. Otherwise, I think I’d drive myself insane.”
In his book, France ties style tips with benchmarks in his life, touching on everything from growing up as part of a traditional Pakistani home in South Yorkshire, England and wearing traditional shalwar kameez, to moving to America and meeting his Mormon husband who has an affinity for slippers, straddling many of the cultural lines most children of immigrants do. France says, much like on Queer Eye, “I just use fashion as a vehicle to have beautiful conversations with people that will make them reveal themselves in a way they never have before.”
He writes of being bullied for everything from what he wore to how his food smelled to the way he walked; of colourism in his own community, which led him to attempt to bleach his skin at just 10 years old; and of having dreams of being on television and working in the fashion industry, which seemed at the time to be against all odds.
“I longed for the day when I’d see a bunch of South Asian and Middle Eastern men and women on TV and in movies, but it never came,” he writes. “Where were their stories? Where were our stories? Had we been forgotten? Did no one want to hear what we had to say?”
France with husband Rob France. Courtesy of Raincoast
Even after nailing his Queer Eye audition and replacing the original’s iconic Carson Kressley, France worried that because it was so rare to see South Asian figures on screen — let alone gay ones — everything he might say or do would be seen as a referendum on the entire South Asian and LGBTQ community. “I remember thinking I had to always be polite, always be nice, always be kind,” he writes. “People of colour are frightfully aware that one person’s actions represent the actions of all of our community. A white person can shout and kick and scream, and people will say, ‘Gosh darn it, this is why we don’t like Jack,’ but they aren’t going to say, ‘This is why we don’t like white people.’ On the other hand, if I did that exact same thing, it would be, ‘This is why we don’t like brown people. Brown people are always so temperamental. They really should go back to their own country.’”
He also knew he’d receive opposition from his own community for “promoting and encouraging” his “lifestyle.” Even just being a part of a series that places a premium on self-expression was unnerving because “it’s not really the South Asian way to talk about feelings.” And then there was the LGBTQ community itself and its own brand of toxic masculinity. “Sometimes I would catch myself crossing my legs or having a limp wrist, and I would stop myself,” he writes. “But finally, I thought, ‘You are on a show. You are on a gay show. You are on the gay show. The jig is up!’ I no longer feel the need to whitewash or straight-wash myself in order to fit in. I’ve had to remind myself time and time again that I don’t have to do anything. I can be the version of gay that I want to be.”
In order to get to that place, France says he had to follow the “twice as hard for half as much” route. “For me, being in a creative career, I had to prove my worth,” he says. “I needed to make sure I was excelling at what I was doing so that I was able to say to future generations that ‘Yes, you can be creative. Yes, you can pursue creative careers. And you can still be as successful as a doctor or an engineer.’”
The Queer Eye cast at the 2018 Emmy Awards. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Inspired by childhood visits to his grandfather’s denim factory, France studied fashion in college. In 2011, he founded Kingdom & State, his own clothing line for women. It was a successful venture, though taxing. When asked if he’d ever do another line, he pulls no punches: “I proved myself in that pursuit, I don’t have to do it again. If I do end up doing it, just know that something terrible must have happened to my brain or that I’ve been held at gunpoint.”
Nevertheless, France’s latest focus returns him to the role with which he most identifies: Designer (minus the actual work of one). The new Netflix series Next in Fashion finds him co-hosting (and co-judging) with model Alexa Chung. The new venture might be a sign that France has finally grown a deeper sense of self-assuredness.
How Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski traversed big ambition and mocking derision to find success
Why I can’t watch Queer Eye without crying
“I just work really, really hard and try to remind myself everyday why I should feel confident in spite of the criticism,” he says. “It’s why I post so many photos on my Instagram (where he has nearly three-million followers) that say ‘I’m brown and beautiful.’ For a very long time, I didn’t realize the beauty of my colour. Eventually, that feeling has gone by and I couldn’t feel more proud to be a Pakistani, and to have my beautiful brown skin.”
With his new book, his work in television and his social-media presence, France has achieved something special. He’s offered a younger generation evidence that you can find success living just as you are. It’s a corny sentiment, maybe, but for a community that’s never had his kind of representation, it’s brand new.
“I’m not playing a taxi driver. I’m not playing a terrorist. I’m not playing a doctor,” he writes. “I’m just a regular Pakistani guy whose voice is heard.”
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'Þjórsá' Tag Archive
Dams, Ecology, Energy Master Plan, Greenwash, Landsvirkjun, Laws, Tourism, Þjórsá, Þjórsárver
Fit For Print – Did The New York Times Get it Wrong?
By Larissa Kyzer
Photos by Ólafur Már Sigurðsson
Tourism, it need hardly be pointed out, is big business in Iceland, an industry which in the years following the crash has ballooned, with more than double the country’s population visiting last year. But while making it into the New York Times would normally be good news for Iceland’s economy, a recent entry about Iceland’s highlands on the publication’s “52 Places to Visit in 2014” list was less than ideal from a publicity standpoint.
The paragraph-long blurb did mention the area’s unique landscape, but its key takeaway was that the “famously raw natural beauty” of the highlands—and more specifically, the Þjórsárver wetlands located in the interior—may not be enjoyable by anyone, let alone tourists, for much longer. As reads the article’s subtitle: “Natural wonders are in danger. Go see them before it’s too late.”
The suggested threat facing the integrity of Þjórsárver? Not impending volcanic eruptions or natural deterioration. Rather, the article stated that the Icelandic government recently “announced plans to revoke those protections” which had been safeguarding the wetlands, and additionally, that “a law intending to further repeal conservation efforts has been put forward.”
The “52 Places” article was widely quoted within the Icelandic media. Within days of its publication, the Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources issued a brief statement in Icelandic bearing the title “Incorrect Reporting by the New York Times.” It claimed that the New York Times article was “full of misrepresentations” and was “paradoxical and wrong.” The author of the article, contributing travel writer Danielle Pergament, was not contacted in regard to any “misrepresentations,” and neither was the New York Times—although the latter was invited to send a reporter to an open Environment and Communications Committee meeting on Þjórsárver a few days after the article’s publication.
So what exactly caused all the kerfuffle? Did The New York Times get it all wrong?
A Contentious History
Before we address the “incorrect reporting” alleged by the Ministry of the Environment, it will be useful to step back and explain a little of the context surrounding the Þjórsárver Wetlands and the battles which have been waged over this area since the 1960s.
Located in Iceland’s interior, the Þjórsárver wetlands stretch 120 square kilometres from the Hofsjökull glacier in the northern highlands to surrounding volcanic deserts and are characterized by remarkable biodiversity. A description on the World Wildlife Fund website points not only to the variance of the landscape itself—“tundra meadows intersected with numerous glacial and spring-fed streams, a large number of pools, ponds, lakes and marshes, and rare permafrost mounds”—but also to the area’s unique plant and birdlife, including one of the largest breeding colonies of Pink-footed Geese in the world.
Þjórsárver is fed by Iceland’s longest river, Þjórsá, which also sources much of the country’s electricity. Since the early 1960s, Landsvirkjun, the National Power Company of Iceland, has proposed several plans for creating a reservoir on Þjórsá that would facilitate increased energy production and enlarge energy reserves. Such reserves would not only be useful for existing industries, such as aluminium smelting, but—following the proposed creation of a submarine cable to Europe—could also be sold as part of foreign energy contracts as early as 2020.
Through the years, Landsvirkjun’s proposals have been met with frequent opposition, which in 1981 led to a nature preserve being created in the Þjórsárver wetlands. However, a provision was made within these protections, allowing Landsvirkjun to create a future reservoir, provided that the company could prove that the wetlands would not be irrevocably harmed, and that the Environment Agency of Iceland approved the reservoir plans.
By the late ‘90s, there was another flurry of activity: in 1997, the Iceland Nature Conservation Association (INCA) was founded with the “primary objective” of “establish[ing] a national park in the highlands.” Two years later, the government began work on an extensive “Master Plan for Hydro and Geothermal Energy Resources.” Divided into two phases that spanned from 1999 -2010, the Master Plan was intended to evaluate close to 60 hydro and geothermal development options, assessing them for environmental impact, employment and regional development possibilities, efficiency, and profitability.
Over the course of the Master Plan’s two phases, it was decided that the nature preserve established in the Þjórsárver Wetlands was to be expanded and designated as a “protected area.” The new boundaries were to be signed into regulation based on the Nature Conservation Act in June 2013 (the resolution was passed by parliament that year according to the Master Plan), until the Minister of the Environment, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, elected to postpone making them official in order to consider a new reservoir proposal from Landsvirkjun.
Based on this new proposal, Sigurður Ingi has drawn up new boundaries for the protected area, which would expand the original nature reservoir, but cover less area than the original boundaries created by the Environment Agency of Iceland. The new suggested boundaries do not extend as far down the Þjórsá river, and therefore would allow Landsvirkjun to build their Norðlingalda Reservoir. Conservationists who oppose this point out that the three-tiered Dynkur waterfall will be destroyed if Landsvirkjun’s reservoir plans go through.
Parsing Facts
This brings us back the alleged “misrepresentations” in the New York Times write-up. Best to go through the Ministry of the Environment’s statement and address their qualms one by one:
“The article in question is full of misrepresentations about Þjórsárver preserve and the government’s intentions regarding its protection and utilisation. For instance, it states that Þjórsárver covers 40% of Iceland, while in fact, it only covers .5% of the country today.”
The first version of the article, since corrected, read as though the Þjórsárver wetlands constituted 40% of Iceland. In reality, it is the highlands that constitute 40% of Iceland’s landmass, and Þjórsárver is only part of this area. Following a call from Árni Finnsson, the chair of INCA who was quoted in the piece, this error was corrected.
“There are no plans to lift the protections currently in place. On the contrary, the Environment and Natural Resources Minister aims to expand the protected area and if that plan goes through, it’ll be an expansion of about 1,500 square kilometers, or about 1.5 % of the total area of Iceland.”
It is true that Minister of the Environment Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson has not suggested that the current protections—namely, the preserve that was established in the ‘80s—be altered. Nevertheless, it is also misleading to suggest that he personally “aims to expand the protected area,” as the expansion plans were basically mandated by the findings of the Master Plan. Moreover, he elected not to approve the Environment Agency’s expanded boundaries, but rather to propose new boundaries which would create a smaller protected area than was intended.
So no, Sigurður Ingi is not cutting back on “current protections,” but that’s only because he refused to approve the protections that were supposed to be in place already.
“Therefore, it is clear that there will be a substantial expansion of the protected area under discussion. The New York Times asserting that protections on Þjórsárver will be lifted in order to enable hydroelectric power development is both paradoxical and wrong.”
What we’re seeing the Ministry of the Environment do here is a neat little bit of semantic parsing. The NYT article states that after spending decades protecting the wetlands, “the government announced plans to revoke protections, allowing for the construction of hydropower plants.” This is a carefully qualified statement, and might accurately refer to any of several ministerial initiatives, from Sigurður Ingi’s redrawing of the Þjórsárver protected area boundaries, to his recent proposal to repeal the law on nature conservation (60/2013). This law was approved by Alþingi and was set to go into effect on April 1, 2014. It included specific protections for natural phenomena, such as lava formations and wetlands. In November, Sigurður Ingi introduced a bill to repeal the nature conservation law, although this has yet to be voted on by parliament.
So, no, the New York Times article was not “paradoxical and wrong.” It was, unfortunately, quite correct. Read More
Bjarnarflag, Cultural, Dams, Democracy deficit, Geothermal Energy, Greenwash, Kárahnjúkar, Laws, Mývatn, Repression, Tourism, Þjórsá, Þjórsárver
Björk, Patti Smith, Lykke Li and More to Play Concert for Icelandic Conservation
Event takes place on March 18 in Reykjavik at Harpa.
Bjork will play a concert in protest at the Icelandic government’s proposed changes to conservation laws.
The Icelandic singer tops the bill at the event, which will take place on March 18 at the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik, Iceland. Artists appearing include Lykke Li, Patti Smith, Mammút (pictured below), Highlands, Of Monsters And Men, Samaris and Retro Stefson.
The concert is organised in conjunction with the Iceland Nature Conservation Association (INCA), Landvernd, the Icelandic Environment Association and director Darren Aronofsky, whose film Noah was shot on location in Iceland in 2012 and will premiere at Sambíóin Egilshöll Cinema on the same afternoon.
Collectively operating under the name Stopp!, the group aims to encourage the Icelandic authorities to protect Iceland’s natural environment and impose controls on the damming of glacial rivers and harnessing of geothermal energy, in light of new legislation, reports RUV.
This project was introduced at a press conference at Harpa on the 3rd of March 2014. Björk and Darren Aronofsky participated in the press conference.
The artists will donate their time and the net income will go to INCA and Landvernd.
The following statement lists the group’s demands:
Stop – Guard the Garden!
All over the world too much of priceless nature has been sacrificed for development, often falsely labeled as sustainable. Rain forests have been cut, waterfalls dammed, land eroded, lakes and oceans polluted, earth’s climate altered and the oceans are now rapidly getting more and more acidic.
In Iceland, the Karahnjukar Power Plant has become the symbol for the destruction which threatens human existence on this earth.
It is our duty to protect Icelandic nature and leave it to future generations, undamaged. The Icelandic highlands, Europe’s largest remaining wilderness – where nature is still largely untouched by man, is not just a refuge and treasure which we inherited and will inherit. The highlands belong to the world as a whole. Nowhere else can we find another Lake Myvatn, Thjorsarver Wetlands, Sprengisandur, Skaftafell or Lake Langisjor.
We demand that Thjorsarver Wetlands, the wilderness west of Thjorsa River and the waterfalls downstream will be protected for all future to come. We strongly protest plans by the Minister for the Environment and Resources to change the demarcation line for the extended nature reserve in the Thjorsarver Wetlands. By doing so, the minister creates a space for a new dam at the outskirts of the area. The way in which the minister interprets the law in order to justify that all nature and/or potential power plants are at stake in each and every new phase of the Master Plan for Conservation and Utilization of Nature Areas is an attack on Icelandic nature and not likely to stand in a court of law. [We have engaged a law firm and we are threatening lawsuit if the Minister goes ahead with his plan]
We now have a unique opportunity to turn the highlands into a national park by bill of law to be adopted by the parliament. Thereby the highlands as a whole will be subject to one administrative unit and clearly defined geographically. Thus all plans for power lines, road construction and/or other man made structures which will fragment valuable landscapes of the highlands will belong to history.
We strongly caution against any plans to construct a geothermal power plant at or near Lake Myvatn. The Bjarnarflag Power Plant is not worth the risk. Lake Myvatn is absolutely unique in this world. Hence, we have a great responsibility for its protection.
We demand that the nature of Reykjanes Peninsula will be protected by establishing a volcanic national park and that all power lines will be put underground.
We find it urgent that the government will secure funds for conservation by hiring land wardens and will protect valuable nature areas against the ever growing pressure of mass tourism.
In particular we protest against the attack on nature conservationists, where unprecedented (sic. S.I. editor) and brutal conduct by the police as well as charges pressed against those who want to protect the Galgahraun Lava, was cruel and unnecessary. We remind that the right of the public to protest nature damage everywhere, worldwide, is a basic premise for the success of securing future human existence on this earth.
We demand that the proposed bill of law repealing the new nature protection laws be withdrawn and that the new laws should take effect, as stipulated, on April 1.
Bjarnarflag, Corruption, Dams, Democracy deficit, Ecology, Economic Collapse, Energy Master Plan, Geothermal Energy, Greenwash, Laws, Mývatn, Repression, Tourism, Þjórsá, Þjórsárver
The Wheels of Greed Are Spinning in Iceland
Iceland once was set as an example of unspoiled nature, clean energy and extraordinary financial recovery. Unfortunately, lately the strong Atlantic winds of change start to blow in the wrong direction.
By Julia Vol
In the wake of the devastating financial crisis that brought Iceland to its knees, the people took charge, went out on the streets and demanded the right-wing government to quit what later will be named the “pots and pans revolution”. The right-wing government, led by the Independence Party, was deeply involved in corruption and notoriously known for its crony capitalistic approach in reaching for the country’s leadership, which eventually led to the economical collapse.
The new social-democratic alliance led by Johanna Sigurðardóttir came to power in May 2009, and in the aftermath of the financial collapse had a lot of mess to clean and painful decisions to make. However, under Sigurðardóttir’s leadership the economic situation stabilized and recovery came about quicker than expected. In the years to follow, Iceland was often quoted as an example for economic recovery to fellow crisis countries such as Greece and Ireland. In addition to essential financial reforms and regulations, the social-democratic government set the foundation for long-term social and environmental sustainability. Natural preservation laws and committees were put forward to minimize the exploitation of Icelandic natural resources for monetary profit, green economy plans were outlined by the Parliament, and sustainability considerations started to receive growing attention in decision-making processes.
Many Icelanders even claim that the crisis turned out to be somewhat a positive thing, breaking the “gold rush” craze grasping the nation over the years prior to the crisis, and helping people get back to basic values and out of their arrogance and greed.
Still, apparently not enough Icelanders shared this optimistic view, as in April 2013 the right-wing coalition led by the infamous Independent and Progressive Parties were voted back into the government, by a majority of 51% of the votes. Only four years after being disgracefully thrown out of Parliament, the two parties were back on the top again. With less than a year in power, things seem to take a backward turn to the worse quite quickly, especially in regards to issues of natural preservation, social justice and governance on the little island.
A More Utilitarian Use of Nature
The results of the administration switch were soon translated into action. Among the first steps of the new government was to cancel out the Ministry of Environment and merge it with the Ministry of Fishing and Agriculture. No conflict of interests there. The new minister of all the above declared upon entering the office, that his administration would be making more utilitarian usage of the Icelandic nature and refused to sign a bill initiated by the previous government to increase nature protection in Iceland. This promising start embodies the governments’ general line of argument: that whenever environmental considerations are part of the equation they will always count the least.
It’s All About Energy
The previous government had appointed a special professional committee to conduct the “Energy Framework”, a document aimed at providing guidelines on which areas of Iceland could be harnessed for power, and which shall be protected, aiming to regulate and limit the exploitation of natural resources for monetary profit. Shortly after coming to power, the new government called to cancel the Energy Framework guidelines and build a new shiny power plant in areas previously categorized as preserved. The government also dismissed over 400 letters from citizens who raised concerns over the new changes – in a manner that was widely described as arrogant and ignorant. Government officials claimed that experts’ opinions were more important than public opinion, while forgetting to mention that the two experts appointed to deal with the issues were politically appointed with no expertise in energy nor in preservation.
Over the course of the last half a year new plans have been laid out, setting the stage for more energy projects that violate the Energy Framework and the Icelandic conservation law. Experts from all fields are voicing their concerns and dissatisfaction over the very short-sighted environmental assessments made in the preparations for the new plants, warning constantly about the irreversible damage that will be done to Icelandic wilderness and disturbed ecosystems.
Worldly renowned natural areas such as the Mývatn lake, the Þórsjá river and the Icelandic highlands are put in danger of destruction, all for the cause of producing more energy for aluminum smelters. Lately, the Minister of Environment (and agriculture, and fishing), announced that he aimed to change the existing conservation law to allow further development in preserved areas around the Þórsjá river, including damming the river flow. This area (Þjórsárver, S.I. Ed.) has been protected by both the Environment Agency of Iceland and the Ramsar Convention since 1981. As expected, the Icelandic Nature Conservation Association strongly objected the plan, claiming that this will cause irreversible damage to the entire area and the surrounding waterfalls. The minister’s answer to these allegations was that it is okay to sacrifice several waterfalls for the purpose of economic profit which will come out of developing the area.
Infrastructure for Private Interests
The violation of the natural conservation law continued when last October the government presented a brand new program to construct a highway which will pass through an 8,000 year old protected lava field. This expensive plan has been approved by the government right after a long line of a very painful budget cuts in education, welfare, health, culture, research, arts and science (yet not in subsidies to heavy industry). Why such a rush to build a highway in a sparsely populated area in times of financial cuts? The answer followed soon: The family of the Minister of Finances is expected to greatly benefit from the development of this project.
Environmentalist groups appealed against the project to the supreme court, however, the government decided that waiting for the court decision would be a waste of time and gave green light to start the construction. This sparked a protest of concerned citizens, and many of them arrived to express their dissatisfaction with the construction. They were arrested for speaking their mind despite their completely peaceful protest. Among the arrested protesters were some very well-known journalists, professors and public figures, not exactly a group of hooligans. Today, some of these people are facing prosecution
for demanding the government to obey the law. This chain of events vividly demonstrates the government’s insistence on proceeding with its plans at all costs, using every possible tool to silence the opposition.
“Enjoy the Icelandic Wilderness (Before it’s Too Late)!”
The disruption and destruction of the Icelandic nature reserves is not preventing the new government from attracting as many tourists as possible, and maximizing profits from marketing Icelandic wilderness before it’s all gone. Tourism is a very fast-growing industry in post-financial crisis Iceland. The number of tourists has tripled over the past 12 years passing the threshold of 1 million tourists in 2013 (keep in mind that the entire population of Iceland is 380,000 people!). Understandably, this raises concerns over the fragile Icelandic nature, which was never exposed to so many people at once. While the previous government was putting forward regulations and preservation plans, the new government announced that 1 million is not enough and aims to bring over 3 million tourists per year within the next few years. Already today the effects of this fast growing industry are evident all around the island: Massive tourism is damaging fragile ecosystems, and Icelandic cities are turning into tourist attractions with decreased space for the local population. Needless to say that such a steep increase in tourism will put strain on the ecological system, especially since there is still no regulation or infrastructure in place to prevent the long-term effects of massive tourism. No wonder then, that even the New York Times strongly recommended its readers to go to Iceland ASAP, before it’s too late.
To Whale or Not to Whale
The paradox of destroying nature while communicating and marketing the image of Iceland as a pure and unspoiled nature destination is very present in the whaling controversy. Last summer the whaling of Fin whales was renewed, and the new administration has also revoked the decision to limit whaling grounds around the capital in favor of whale watching areas. Note that whale watching is the most profitable tourism attraction in the capital area, however, there is an increasing amount of incidents where tourists pay to witness the magic of wild animals but end up watching a very bloody hunting process.
The paradox is that the demand for whale meat worldwide decreases, and that it would be much more profitable to preserve these magnificent creatures for whale watching only. But this does not fall in line with the internal interests of the Icelandic elite, where the family owning the whaling company is well connected. The whaling ships continue their work, and the saddest part of this paradox is that due to low demand many of the endangered animals end their life as dog food in Japan or as some marketing nonsense such as “whale beer”.
The Wheels of Greed are Spinning
Iceland is an amazing country and is home to some of the most creative, innovative, talented and entrepreneurial people. It has the potential to become a role model for a sustainable community in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. For a brief moment there it looked that it might even come true. However, it seems that the strong Atlantic winds bring darker times along. Best put into words by the former Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir: “The current government’s priorities could not be more different from the ones honored by the last one. Inequality is once again rearing its ugly head, and the sharp knife of austerity has been turned towards the welfare system—all to benefit society’s wealthiest and best-off. Once more, the wheels of greed are spinning”. Read More
ALCOA, Andri Snaer Magnason, Bakki, Bjarnarflag, Century Aluminum, Dams, Democracy deficit, Economic Collapse, Energy Master Plan, Geothermal Energy, Gjástykki, H.S. Orka, Helguvík, IMF, Jökulsá á Fjöllum, Kárahnjúkar, Kerlingafjöll, Landsvirkjun, Mývatn, Red Mud, Reykjanes, Reykjavik Energy, Rio Tinto Alcan, Skjálfandafljót, Þjórsá, Þjórsárver
In the Land of the Wild Boys
First published in Grapevine. Based on a 2010 article entitled “Í landi hinna klikkuðu karlmanna.” (“In the Land of the Mad Men”). Translated in part by Haukur S. Magnússon.
After the election, we see the old parties of economic mass destruction are coming back to power. Giving enormous promises of easy money to be wrestled from evil vulture funds, debt relief and tax reduction, The Progressive Party doubled in size after a few years of hardship. There is a jolly good feeling between the two young new leaders of a brave new Iceland, and when a radio host called them up and offered to play them a request, they asked for Duran Duran’s ‘Wild Boys.’ I Googled the lyrics, not quite remembering the lines, and got a nice chill down my back:
Wild boys fallen far from glory
Reckless and so hungered
On the razors edge you trail
Because there’s murder by the roadside
In a sore afraid new world
They tried to break us,
Looks like they’ll try again
Sounds quite grim. This, coupled with the new government’s announcement that it would be effectively dismantling the Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources and that there will be no Minister for the Environment, gave me a strange flashback feeling. I decided to revisit the state of mind that we used to call normal in 2006. When the economic policy, the energy policy, the expansion of our towns, the mortgages on our homes—almost all aspects of our daily life had become totally mad. This is not my own diagnosis; if you search the homepage of the IMF for the phrase “Collective Madness,” you’ll find this:
“’Iceland, in the decade and a half leading up to the crisis, was an example of collective madness,’ said Willem Buiter, chief economist at Citigroup, a remark that elicited spontaneous applause from the more than 300 participants, many of them Icelandic policymakers, academics, and members of the public.”
In our daily lives, we usually sense what is normal and what is over the top. Sometimes the discourse will blind us; PR and propaganda can create a kind of newspeak. It can be a good exercise to try to talk about things in a foreign language, to view them in a new light. As an Icelander, you could for instance try to tell someone from another country that Iceland’s government sold one state bank and received payment in the form of a loan from another state bank—and vice versa. That the state banks were thereby handed to men that were closely connected to the then-reigning political parties. The manager of one of the parties became head of one of the banks’ board of directors, while the other party’s former Minister of Trade belonged to the group that was given the other bank. That man had access to every bit of inside information about the bank’s standing.
In the meantime, this former Minister of Trade became Central Bank Manager. He went to the US and made Alcoa an offer that the company could not refuse. He had thus set in motion the largest-scale construction project in Icelandic history, greatly increasing economic activity in Iceland—a grand boon for the bank he just finished selling to himself.
If you tell this story in a foreign language, people shake their heads. They gape in disbelief. They use words like “corruption” and “mafia.” They exclaim, full of disbelief and even disappointment, “no, not in Scandinavia!”
THE ACCEPTED INSANITY
It is insane to expand a banking system by tenfold in eight years. We know that now. It isn’t technically possible to grow all the knowledge and experience needed to build up and manage such a contraption in such a short time. Not even by shoving an entire generation through business school. It is impossible.
But the megalomania was not just confined to the banking sector. Energy production in Iceland was doubled from 2002–2007, when the huge Kárahnjúkar dam was built in the eastern part of the highlands—to serve one single Alcoa smelting plant. The energy it produces, about 650MW annually, is enough to power a city of one million people. Doubling the energy production in a developed country over a five-year period is not only unheard of, but it would also be considered ridiculous in all of our neighbouring nations. Most industrialised states increase their energy production by around 2–3% annually. Doubling it would be unthinkable. It has been proven again and again that gargantuan investments generally destroy more than they create. Read More
Century Aluminum, Energy Master Plan, Helguvík, Landsvirkjun, Þjórsá
Plans to Dam Lower Þjórsá River Put on Hold
Three planned dams in lower Þjórsá river will not be included in a parliamentary resolution for Iceland’s Energy Master Plan, according to sources from within both governing political parties. While some might see this as a reason for celebration, one should think twice before opening up the champaign bottles as these news do not imply that this highly controversial dam project has permanently been thrown off the drawing tables. The project will simply be moved from the exploitation category to the pending category and might eventually end up in the hands of the political parties most of all responsible for Iceland’s heavy-industrialization.
Since the publication of the long-awaited Energy Master Plan’s second phase in July last year, a good part of the discussion regarding the plan has been centred around the Þjórsá river, especially as the two concerned ministers — Minister of Environment Svandís Svavarsdóttir and Minister of Industry Katrín Júlíusdóttir — presented their proposition for a parliamentary resolution for the Master Plan, wherein the three Þjórsá dams were included. Following a three months long public commentary process — including 225 commentaries by individuals, organizations and companies, of which more than 70 had specifically to do with Þjórsá — the above-mentioned ministers have been working on amending their proposal in order for it to go through parliamentary discussion before the end of parliament sessions this spring.
The Energy Master Plan, which is supposed to lay the foundation for a long-term settlement upon the future exploitation and protection of Iceland natural resources, is split into three categories, of which two are quite clear, titled “exploitation” and “protection”, but the third one, titled “in waiting”, has pretty much been the bone of contention. On the one hand those in favour of extreme energy extraction believe that too many exploitable areas are being kept in waiting, while on the other hand environmentalists think that many of the areas categorized as in waiting should rather be moved straight into the protection category. Read More
Alterra Power/Magma Energy, Century Aluminum, Energy Master Plan, Geothermal Energy, H.S. Orka, Helguvík, Landsvirkjun, Saving Iceland, Sigmundur Einarsson, Þjórsá
Aluminium Smelter in Helguvík: Mere Myth of the Past?
Plans to operate a 250-360 thousand ton aluminium smelter in Helguvík, which has in fact been under construction since 2008, seem ever more likely to be nothing but an inoperable myth of the past, according to environmentalists as well as high ranking officials within the energy sector. Aluminium producer Norðurál (alias Century Aluminum, which already operates one smelter in Iceland), has not only been unable to guarantee the necessary minimum 435 MW of energy but is also stuck in an arbitration conflict with its planned energy supplier HS Orka (owned by Alterra Power, former Magma Energy), concerning energy price. Additionally, environmentalists’ warnings – that the geothermal energy planned to run the smelter can simply not be found – have gained strength and lead to the inevitable question if the damming of river Þjórsá has been planned for Helguvík.
During a recent meeting of chairmen from all the member unions of the Icelandic Confederation of Labour (ASÍ), Hörður Arnarson, the director of the national energy company, Landsvirkjun, said that due to the current situation on international markets it would be enormously difficult for Norðurál to finance the 250 billion ISK smelter project. According to Vilhjálmur Birgisson, who attended the meeting, chairman of the Labor Union of Akranes (near to Grundartangi, where Century’s currently operating smelter is located), Hörður spoke of the Helguvík project’s likelihood as very negligible. Another representative at the meeting, Kristján Gunnarsson, chairman of the Labour and Fishermen Union of Keflavík, stated that when asked about the possibility of Landsvirkjun selling energy to Norðurál, Hörður answered saying that no energy is really available for the project.
While it certainly is true that Landsvirkjun has, especially in the nearest past, had problems with financing, due to the international financial crisis as well as the Icelandic economy’s instability, the latter point – that no energy is actually available for Helguvík – is of more importance here. Environmentalists have, from the beginning of the Helguvík project, stated that the plans to harness energy for the smelter in geothermal areas on the Reykjanes peninsula, are not sufficient, for two reasons. Firstly, as the alleged size of the energy extraction is not sustainable and is more than likely to drain these unique natural areas for good. Secondly, because even if fully exploited, the geothermal areas would not produce enough energy for the smelter. Another energy source will be essential in order for the smelter to operate and even though Reykjavík Energy (OR) has promised Century some energy from a planned enlargement of their power plant in Hellisheiði, the aluminium producer still faces a serious lack of electricity for Helguvík. Read More
ALCOA, Alterra Power/Magma Energy, Century Aluminum, Ecology, Economic Collapse, Energy Master Plan, Helguvík, Hengill, Kárahnjúkar, Krafla and Þeistareykir, Krýsuvík, Landsvirkjun, Reykjavik Energy, Rio Tinto Alcan, Sigmundur Einarsson, Þjórsá, Þjórsárver
Iceland’s Energy Master Plan Allows for Three More Kárahnjúkar Dams – Þjórsárver Protected, Þjórsá and Krýsuvík Destroyed
The equivalent of three Kárahnjúkar dams will be built in Iceland in the near future if the parliament will pass a proposition for a parliamentary resolution on Iceland’s Energy Master Plan, which the Ministers of Environment and of Industry presented three weeks ago. Despite this, Iceland’s energy companies and parliament members in favour of heavy industry have already started complaining – arguing that way too big proportion of Iceland’s nature will be declared protected, will the proposition pass. Among the power plants allowed for in the proposition are three dams in lower Þjórsá, which for years have been a topic of heavy debate and in fact completely split the local community and are more than likely to become the bone of contention between the two governmental parties as the Left Greens (VG) have, along with other environmentalists, voiced their opposition to the damming of Þjórsá.
The Energy Master Plan is a framework programme, meant to result in a long term agreement upon the exploitation and protection of Iceland’s glacial rivers and geothermal areas. Its making, which since 1999 has been in the hands of special steering committiees, established by the two above-mentioned ministries, reached a critical status in July this year when its second phase was finished and presented to the ministers who in mid August presented their proposition for a parliamentary resolution. Before it will be discussed in parliament the proposition will be open to comments and criticism from the public, as well as interested parties, energy and aluminium companies on the one hand, environmentalists on the other. Read More
Ecology, Landsvirkjun, Þjórsá
Salmon Endangered By Dams In Þjórsá River
Originally published by Reykjavík Grapevine
A plan to build three dams in the river Þjórsá could wipe out salmon in the river. National power company Landsvirkjun insist they have measures on the table to keep the salmon alive. Vísir reports that an environmental assessment has already confirmed that should the three proposed dams be built, the salmon that use the river will disappear.
Plans to dam Þjórsá have not been without their controversy, as the project has been heatedly debated for years now. In fact, the notion that damming up the river would wipe out salmon from the river was known as far back as 2002. While Landsvirkjun says they would construct what effectively amounts to a sperm bank for salmon to fertilise eggs, the Ministry for the Environment has looked at the plan and concluded that nothing in the plan indicates that it would even work.
The three dams have been green-lit, though, so the options now on the table are to either find some other way to save the river’s salmon while construction goes underway, or to pull the plug on construction, either temporarily or permanently. Neither option will be inexpensive for the parties involved.
Report by Dr. Ranghildur Sigurðardóttir on the effects of a dam at Urriðafoss in Þjórsá. (in Icelandic)
Energy Master Plan, Kárahnjúkar, Landsvirkjun, Langisjór, Rio Tinto Alcan, Tungnaá, Þjórsá
Lake Langisjór Finally Declared Protected
After many years of planning to change lake Langisjór, located at the western edge of Vatnajökull, into a reservoir for energy production, Landsvirkjun’s fantasies have finally been permanently ceased. Last Friday, July 29th, Iceland’s Ministry of Environment announced the publication of a regulation to validate the enlargement of Vatnajökull national park, which includes the protection of Langisjór and partly the volcanic canyon Eldgjá and its surroundings. The regulation is the final step in an agreement, signed in February this year, between the Ministry of Environment and local authority of Skaftá district concerning the enlaregment of the national park, based on the priceless value of the area’s natural features. This manifests the full realization of one of Iceland’s environmental movement’s biggest victories.
Landsvirkjun, Iceland’s national energy company, intended to channel river Skaftá to river Tungnaá river through Langisjór, which would effectively become a reservoir. The Skaftá dam (Skaftárveita) would have added another 7 km2 to the lake-reservoir with the purpose of increasing the energy capacity of planned dams in rivers Þjórsá and Tungnaá. The three planned dams in Þjórsá have been met with fierce local and national opposition whereas the construction of Búðarháls dam in Tungná is already taking place, its energy meant for increased aluminium production in Rio Tinto’s Alcan smelter in Straumsvík. Effectively, the damming of Langisjór would lead to a sediment build-up and increased turbidity which would destroy the lake ecosystem. Read More
Century Aluminum, Democracy deficit, Ecology, Economic Collapse, Energy Master Plan, Guðmundur Páll Ólafsson, Hengill, Kerlingafjöll, Krafla and Þeistareykir, Landsvirkjun, Reykjanes, Rio Tinto Alcan, Torfajökull, Tungnaá, Þjórsá
Mixed Feelings About Iceland’s Energy Master Plan – Landsvirkjun Presents its Future Strategy
The making of Iceland’s Energy Master Plan, a framework programme concerning the exploitation and protection of the country’s natural resources, which has been in the making since 1999, has reached a critical state as a report on the process’ second phase was published in the beginning of July. The report includes a list of more than 60 areas, arranged from the perspectives of both protection and exploitation, which is supposed to lay the foundation for a final parliamentary resolution concerning the Master Plan. While those in favour of further exploitation, parallel to the continuous build-up of heavy industry, seem generally happy with the report, environmentalists are both sceptical and critical, stating that the exploitation value was always in the forefront of the process.
Like explained on the project’s official website the process was “split into two phases. The first phase, 1999–2003, evaluated and ranked 20 large-scale hydro-power options, mostly located in the highlands, and the same number of geothermal options in 8 high-temperature areas.” The second phase was supposed to “rank all the options to produce the final result,” including “an evaluation of whether some areas should be conserved completely, without any energy-harnessing activities.” Proposed power projects were said to be “evaluated and categorised on the basis of efficiency, economic profitability, and how they will benefit the economy as a whole,” while the “the impact on the environment, nature, and wildlife” was also supposed to be evaluated, “as well as the impact on the landscape, cultural heritage and ancient monuments, grazing and other traditional land use, outdoor activities fishing, and hunting.” Read More
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Mr. David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of Scientology, sparks off the New Year’s celebration at the Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles in recognition of the religion’s greatest year in history.
Electric, emphatic, effervescent, no matter how you describe it, the more than 6,000 Scientologists and guests in attendance are ready to experience a Scientology New Year’s celebration for the ages.
“Welcome to the New Year’s celebration for which you’ve always been waiting,” said Mr. David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. “Not just 365 arbitrary days, not just 12 capricious months and a turn of a calendar page, but empirical proof that as velocity approaches the speed of light, time slows down to zero. Otherwise there’s just no explanation as to how we got so much done while this planet plied its meandering course around the sun.”
With 2019 standing on the horizon, Mr. Miscavige delivers a poignant presentation of the Church’s most historic year—every highlight, every accomplishment, every triumph and all in the name of a better world.
The evening’s dynamic agenda included a tribute to everything 2018 represents by way of L. Ron Hubbard’s Technology inspiring a renaissance of human endeavor across social betterment, industry and spiritual advancement.
DELIVERING ISLAND-WIDE HAPPINESS In the Dominican Republic, a Ministry of Interior director signed up as a Way to Happiness Ambassador, delivering seminars on the program’s 21 precepts of universal morals and reaching over 100,000 officials, community leaders, teachers and students.
AN EDUCATION FAIRYTALE IN DENMARK In Copenhagen, Denmark, a prestigious group of academies for schoolchildren applied L. Ron Hubbard’s Study Technology, educating over 700,000 students and boosting test scores 200 percent above national averages.
PROMISE OF REHAB IN PUEBLA In Puebla, Mexico, a former state minister of infrastructure opened a 14-acre Narconon drug rehab center along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt known as the Sierra Norte range.
VILLA REVIVAL IN NORTHERN ITALY Nestled amidst a lush regional park near the Milano metropolis, the new Narconon Aurora opened May 2018 in a noble villa of Northern Italy.
SET TO SAVE LIVES AT NARCONON ARGO Located outside the city of Rome in picturesque rural Lazio, and just 12 minutes from the pope’s summer residence, the new Narconon Argo opened in October 2018.
BREAKING THE MOLD IN MINNESOTA A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based tile artisan used administrative tools through every phase of manufacturing one-of-a-kind mosaic art for Fortune 500 retail giants and ultimately expanded production nearly 40 times over.
SCALING NEW HEIGHTS DOWN UNDER An entrepreneur Down Under applied L. Ron Hubbard Admin Tech to expand his “difficult access” building maintenance company to top in its field by rappelling and traversing high-rise structures to restore and rehabilitate Sydney’s world-famous skyline.
AGRICULTURAL AFFLUENCE FOR RUSSIA A Russian couple and pair of agricultural entrepreneurs applied Admin Tech procedures to expand their company 300 times over and so become a top 10 enterprise for the Russian Federation.
DYNAMIC DIANETICS IN GHANA A Dianetics Group in Ghana bringing the technology of Dianetics and thus a message of hope to over 100 schools and better than 9,000 students, thereby earned the gratitude of their country’s Ministry of Education for providing “the true solution to a troubled society.”
HUMANITARIAN HEARTBEAT OF THE UKRAINE In Kiev, Ukraine, the city’s Scientology Mission reached right across the nation’s capital with moral education drives, drug education distribution campaigns and human rights rallies to impact the lives of more than 1.5 million Ukrainians, earning recognitions from police, military and even the federal government.
CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION IN KOŠICE In the heart of Slovakia’s cultural capital of Košice, the city’s Scientology Mission opens the doors to its dazzling new quarters on January 13, 2018.
NEW VISTAS ACROSS LAKE COMO By the shores of Italy’s capital of luxury and lifestyle at Lake Como, the region’s Mission of Scientology cut a ribbon on their new home on September 30, 2018.
DEDICATING A NEW DAWN IN DA’AN October 6, 2018, saw the exciting ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Scientology Mission of Da’an in the beating heart of Taiwan’s capital city of Taipei.
UNBRIDLED EXPANSION FOR ULM The Scientology Mission of Ulm, Germany, hailed their spectacular new facility on October 14, 2018.
In testament to the religion’s record-breaking year, over 200 Power Field Staff Members (FSMs) from the Americas, Europe, Africa and Australasia were recognized for having escorted at least 100 people onto and up The Bridge to Total Freedom. In fact, joining the unprecedented number of Power FSMs were two “Elite” FSMs, honored for having helped over 1,000 people onto and up the Bridge.
If all that wasn’t enough, Mr. Miscavige brought the night to a stunning close with a preview of what’s in store at the immediate outset of 2019: the monumental opening of a grand castle atop Johannesburg, South Africa, that represents a new hope for spiritual freedom in Africa.
FUTURE ADVANCED ORGANIZATION & SAINT HILL AFRICA Halfway between Pretoria and Joburg in the Gauteng Province, Castle Kyalami is surrounded by 22 acres overlooking traditional Zulu land. Altogether the facility represents an entirely new Scientology continental headquarters and a brand new hope for spiritual freedom in Africa.
“Monumental,” “spectacular” and “celebratory” were just some of the catchwords for the New Year’s celebration—and they were perfectly echoed in a closing performance bookmarking the unforgettable evening.
Scientologists greet each other with gusto after the New Year’s bash at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. One parishioner reflected: “This was the perfect wrap-up to another record-breaking year, and an inspiration for the beginning of an incredible new year!”
A YEAR FOR THE AGES
02.17CITY OF SALT LAKE WELCOMES UTAH’S FIRST IDEAL CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY In the heart of the Rockies, on iconic South Temple Street, the Church of Scientology Salt Lake City opens its doors to all.
02.18SPIRITUALITY INTERSECTS WITH HUMAN BRILLIANCE AS NEW CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OPENS IN SILICON VALLEYRenowned for the digital revolution, the world’s high-tech capital welcomes a new Church of Scientology.
03.10THOUSANDS CELEBRATE SCIENTOLOGY FOUNDER’S BIRTHDAY AND “FLIP OF THE SWITCH” FOR UNRELENTING DISSEMINATIONScientologists honor the life and legacy of their religion’s Founder, L. Ron Hubbard, at their spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. Capping the event was a game-changing unveiling of the Scientology Network for the religion’s worldwide growth.
SEE THE LAUNCH ▶
03.12CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY USHERS IN NEW RELIGIOUS BROADCAST ERA WITH TELEVISION NETWORK LAUNCHThe Scientology Network went live with the flip of a switch, making it instantly accessible to tens of millions of households across the United States and hundreds of millions more worldwide over the internet.
05.05DOWN UNDER’S “CITY OF LIGHTS” WELCOMES NEWEST CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGYGrand opening celebration honors new Church of Scientology in the world’s most remote major city.
05.12A STAR BURSTS IN “THE CITY BEAUTIFUL” AS A RIBBON FALLS ON THE NEW CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGYOrlando, the most visited city in the country, sees a dream come true when the new Church of Scientology Orlando opens her doors to all.
06.20FREEWINDS 30TH ANNIVERSARY MAIDEN VOYAGE CELEBRATION JUBILANTLY HONORS 365 DAYS OF MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTScientologists from around the globe embark on the Motor Vessel Freewinds to plan further-reaching expansion and celebrate 12 months of unbroken success.
09.09FREEDOM REIGNS AS THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY STUTTGART KICKS INTO GEARIn the home of the automobile and at Germany’s industrial heartland, a new Church of Scientology is dedicated in Stuttgart’s city center.
10.07ASTONISHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: HUMANITARIAN SUCCESS CELEBRATED FOR MAGNIFICENT IAS WEEKENDThe 34th annual celebration of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) fits a year of historic heights into three days of triumph in Southern England.
10.14MADE IN DETROIT: NEW CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY NOW STANDS AT THE CORNERSTONE OF MOTOR CITY, USAThe Midwest metropolis now proudly welcomes spiritual technology in a new Church at the downtown core.
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY CELEBRATES GREATEST YEAR IN HISTORY AND THE DAWN OF A MOST PROMISING 2019
365 days of accomplishment come full circle with a celebration honoring expansion and social advance to uplift and inspire today’s world.
For the Church of Scientology 2018 always had “extraordinary” written into it, so as more than 6,000 Scientologists gathered in the Shrine Auditorium to review, rewind and revel in the last 12 months, the mood was one of celebration and exhilaration. From a global array of new Churches to the global reach of the Scientology Network, this is the year that changed everything.
Indeed, the sweeping orbit of the religion’s history-making 2018 was captured in a series of stunning visual highlights presented by Mr. Miscavige that recounted a year of global expansion, both on the ground and over the airwaves. The multi-phase recap very much included the launch of the Church’s own television channel, the Scientology Network, in response to the overwhelming worldwide curiosity about the religion. The network has since redefined religious broadcasting, bringing viewers inside to see and experience the religion for themselves. In turn, the paradigm-shifting TV content has reached viewers across 24 time zones and racked up 24 awards for innovation, outstanding production and broadcasting excellence.
The religion’s expansion in 2018 further saw six new Churches rise in the Scientology sky, and which altogether form a ring that encircles this world:
The February 17 grand opening of a new Church in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains at Salt Lake City, Utah.
The February 18 unveiling of a new Church in Silicon Valley, California, at the nexus of the world’s internet capital and just minutes from Google, Microsoft and NASA.
The May 5 inauguration of a new Church in Perth, Australia, the world’s most remote metropolis.
The May 12 ribbon cutting of the Church of Scientology in the “Magic Kingdom” of Orlando, Florida, theme park capital of the world.
The September 9 grand opening of a new Church in the industrial engine of Germany in Stuttgart.
And the October 14 inauguration of a glorious new 55,000-square-foot Church in Downtown Detroit, Michigan—at the very birthplace of the city.
If that’s the ever-growing footprint of Scientology expansion, there’s also everything 2018 represents by way of L. Ron Hubbard’s Technology inspiring a renaissance of human endeavor across social betterment, industry and spiritual advancement:
Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE)—comprising programs aimed at reversing drug abuse, illiteracy, immorality and crime. So it was, the evening presentation pointed to tales of ABLE in action beginning in the Dominican Republic, where a Ministry of Interior director signed up as a Way to Happiness Ambassador, delivering seminars on the program’s 21 precepts of universal morals and reaching over 100,000 officials, community leaders, teachers and students. Then in Copenhagen, Denmark, a prestigious group of academies for schoolchildren applied L. Ron Hubbard’s Study Technology to boost test scores 200 percent above national averages. And in Puebla, Mexico, a former state minister of infrastructure opened a 14-acre Narconon drug rehab center along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt known as the Sierra Norte range. On the heels of that, another two Narconon facilities opened this year—one along what’s considered the global cocaine capital in Rome, Italy, and another along illicit white-heroin trade routes in the northern region of Lombardy, Italy.
World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE)—L. Ron Hubbard’s Administrative Technology (Admin Tech) for prosperity. The evening featured stories of a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based tile artisan using administrative tools through every phase of manufacturing one-of-a-kind mosaic art for Fortune 500 retail giants and ultimately expanding production nearly 40 times over. Likewise, an entrepreneur Down Under applied L. Ron Hubbard Admin Tech to expand his “difficult access” building maintenance company to top in its field by rappelling and traversing high-rise structures to restore and rehabilitate Sydney’s world-famous skyline. All of which culminated with the story of a Russian couple and pair of agricultural entrepreneurs applying Admin Tech procedures to expand their company 300 times over and so become a top 10 enterprise for the Russian Federation.
International Hubbard Ecclesiastical League of Pastors (I HELP) and Scientology Missions International (SMI)—the broad scale movement delivering the religion’s practical tools to communities across the globe. Highlights of I HELP and SMI this year include a Dianetics Group in Ghana bringing the technology of Dianetics and thus a message of hope to over 100 schools and better than 9,000 students, thereby earning the gratitude of their country’s Ministry of Education for providing “the true solution to a troubled society.” In Kiev, Ukraine, the city’s Scientology Mission reached right across the nation’s capital with moral education drives, drug-ed distribution campaigns and human rights rallies to impact the lives of more than 1.5 million Ukrainians, earning recognitions from police, military and even the federal government. The SMI success story continued on with four picturesque missions dedicated in recent months—in the heart of Slovakia’s cultural capital of Košice; by the shores of Italy’s capital of luxury and lifestyle at Lake Como; amidst Taipei’s bustling central district of Da’an; and on the banks of an historic Germany hub, the City of Ulm.
And if that wasn’t enough, the night came to a stunning close with a preview of what’s in store at the immediate outset of 2019: the monumental opening of a new Advanced Organization entrusted to deliver Scientology’s advanced spiritual levels in Africa. The Church structure, known as Castle Kyalami, stands halfway between Pretoria and Joburg atop 22 acres overlooking traditional Zulu land. Altogether the facility represents an entirely new Scientology continental headquarters and a brand new hope for spiritual freedom in Africa.
“Let’s start 2019 with this—a nationally registered castle, atop the region’s highest peak… to grace the legendary cradle of civilization on the continent of Africa,” said Mr. Miscavige. “But for the moment—and regardless of what is yet to come—let this become my final word for the last 12 months: We have indeed just concluded our greatest year in Scientology history.”
Infinite Possibility: The Freewinds 31st Maiden Voyage Anniversary Celebrates Exceptional Year of Global Advancement
Star of the Lone Star State: A New Scientology Mission Opens Her Doors to Houston
David Miscavige International Event New Year celebration
A Magical Birthday Gala Illuminates the Legacy of Founder L. Ron Hubbard
Time for Celebration: Scientology Honors Year of Record Growth and Welcomes a 2018 Full of Potential
NEW YEAR’S 2018
Bringing Peace and Building Civilization: Church of Scientology Farewells a 2016 of Boundless Growth and Achievement
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Star Wars Blu-ray announcement is…alright
May the Fourth be with you…oh, forget it. You’ve heard all the Star Wars jokes.
By Samuel Roberts 04-05-11 5,215
Hyped for a massive reveal today, on May 4th (also known as Star Wars day), Lucasfilm unveiled more details on the Blu-ray releases of the six movies coming in September. The nine-disc set will arrive on 12 September in the UK and 16 September in the US. New features include an 84-minute documentary called Star Warriors, a collection of spoofs on the films from various sources and two discs of rare archive content. More information will be revealed as it’s shared around the web. Still, I reckon that even if we don’t share it, they’ll still tell us. More details are on TheForce.net.
That’s it. They didn’t replace Darth Vader’s voice with that of Kevin Costner, or anything. Looking forward to Star Wars on Blu-ray? Sound off!
Tags: Lucasfilm, Star Wars, Star Wars Blu-ray
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"LA LA LAND"
(2016) (Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling) (PG-13)
Musical: An aspiring actress and a jazz musician fall in love while pursuing their dreams in Los Angeles.
Mia Dolan (EMMA STONE) has been in Los Angeles for a number of years, hoping to get her big break and land an acting gig, but so far the closest she's gotten to that is working as a barista in the Warner Bros. studio coffee shop. Sebastian Wilder (RYAN GOSLING) is a jazz traditionalist who wants to open his own jazz club to keep that form of music alive, but so far he must take gigs he feels are below him -- playing Christmas songs in a restaurant and being part of a retro '80s new wave cover band -- to make ends meet.
When the two meet, sparks fly, but of the wrong kind, something that carries over to their second meeting months later. But they eventually sense kindred spirits in one another and soon a romance develops between the two. That gives her confidence to start writing her own one-woman stage play, while he finally agrees to join fellow jazz magician Keith (JOHN LEGEND) and perform in his band that's trying to modernize jazz in order to bring it to a younger audience.
But as the two pursue their dreams, those quests eventually mean ever more time apart, all of which puts a strain on their relationship. From that point on, they try to figure out what to do and weigh the pros and cons of continuing on their quests, particularly as related to how that will affect them as a couple going forward.
If they're fans of old-fashioned Hollywood musicals and/or are fans of Stone or Gosling, they probably will.
For some language.
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We love being able to show you things you’ve never seen before by taking you to the underappreciated spots or trekking into the underexplored regions of Latin America, inspiring a feeling of discovery. We live for the chance to have our guests experience something only a few lucky travelers have ever experienced and we take incredible pride in our ability to craft Central and South America trips that our guests often later describe to friends and family as “a trip of a lifetime.”
If it were possible, we’d make sure every Southern Explorations trip explored the new and truly undiscovered—roaming through untouched wilderness and exploring new frontiers in the purest sense of the word. Unfortunately, we’re too late. Possibly more than 14,000 years too late.
While the understanding of the chronology of human migration is constantly evolving, evidence uncovered in recent years suggests that the first travelers to ever explore Latin America may have done so in the Late Pleistocene age in the 13th millennium BC.
For instance, evidence exists of human activity at Monte Verde in Llanquihue Province, Chile, dated to around 12,500 BC, though at the time the ice fields and subsequent large meltwater streams would have made settlement difficult. Overall, archaeological evidence suggests the region has been inhabited continuously by a variety of interchanging cultures and various waves of migration since at least 10,000 BC. Still, the details of who went where when remain murky at best.
What we do know is that as giant ice sheets receded and carved out the blueprint of the Patagonian landscapes we revel in today, people soon followed in their wake. At sites like the Cueva del Milodon - most famous for the 1895 discovery of skin, bones and other parts of an ancient giant ground sloth – evidence of human activity strongly suggests people may have been in the region at least 12,000 years ago. Meanwhile, Argentina’s famous Cueva de las Manos, the cave covered in wall paintings of hundreds of hands, dates to approximately 8,000 BC.
These first people of Patagonia would have been wandering into a rather unkind environment with the glaciered Andes to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east corralling them in among massive turquoise-colored lakes, emergent forests, and a rocky surface of crags and crevices. It was in these rocky spaces that the first Patagonians took shelter and left evidence of their forays into the interior of the region.
Most human activity at the time appears to have existed along the Pacific coast where the Yaghan, Kaweshqar, and Chonos people lived. More cultures like the Tehuelches settled throughout north, south central and far south of Patagonia over time, while the Selk’nam moved into the north and the Haush into the southeast. The archipelagos in the south west became home to the Yàmana as the Kawéskar settled into the coastal area and islands in western Tierra del Fuego and the southwest mainland. The Chonos would occupy the north of Taitao Peninsula, all existing in the region into the 1500s.
So, as much as we’d like it to be the case, Southern Explorations cannot take you to truly undiscovered places or roam through genuinely uncharted wilderness in Patagonia. We’d need a time machine to take us back a few millennia to pull that off. However, what we can do is get you there in 2019-2020 and beyond. Isn’t it time you joined the 13-century-old fellowship of intrepid wanderers compelled to explore Patagonia?
Find inspiration for your Patagonia trip, and give us a call today to start planning your trip to discover Patagonia today!
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Scientists working at NIBRT. Image: NIBRT
Can I get a science job without a science degree?
by Jenny Darmody
13 Nov 20182.11k Views
Looking for a job in the science industry but missing that all-important bachelor’s in science? You might have more options than you think.
As we continue to celebrate curiosity and scientific intrigue during Science Week, we wanted to take a closer look at the career choices available to those who are interested in entering the science industry.
Of course, young college students who want to pursue a science career will more than likely already be working through their bachelor’s degree in any number of science options. Even if you choose a degree in biotechnology, a base level of scientific education will allow you to pivot into most strands.
However, what about those who have a strong passion and interest in science, but only realised that after they completed an arts degree, for example?
With so many science roles requiring a related degree as a minimum, is it possible to go after your science career dreams without that all-important degree?
Melissa Hoare is a senior bioprocessing trainer at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT). She said there are plenty of options available for those without a science degree.
“If someone would like to work in the science industry but does not have a background in science, they should consider taking an entry-level programme,” she said. “There are a wide range of Level 6 programmes available in the areas of biotechnology, biopharmaceutical science and medical device technology, all of which are designed for someone with little/no science knowledge. These courses are designed to give someone with no science background an introduction to the area.”
Unlocking the potential of biology for patients
Hoare said if someone is interested in continuing their science education beyond the introductory course at Level 6, they can move up the qualification ladder, with programmes available up to Level 9 in different science areas.
“Many of these programmes are delivered online to provide flexible learning options for people,” she said.
Another option for those without specific science experience is to get into a science company through its non-science roles. Hoare said companies employ people from a wide range of backgrounds, including finance, HR, engineering, automation and planning. This would be a good position to be in while continuing your education, and a number of companies also offer in-house training.
Springboard options
Hoare also said there is a wide range of courses available through the Springboard Plus programme, which would benefit anyone who has some experience in a science-related field – for example, a pharmaceutical technician – but without the Level 8 qualification.
Upskilling in Level 6, 7 and 8 degrees can be expensive, but there are a large number of free and heavily subsidised courses available to people looking to upskill in order to work in the science industry.
“The Springboard Plus initiative is open to people who are either employed or unemployed, and provides free places for people on a wide range of different types of courses – many of which are science-based and are designed to upskill people who want to work in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and medical device industry,” said Hoare.
“Many courses are also designed to provide flexible learning platforms for people and are delivered online, so learners can take the programme at their own pace.”
Aside from upskilling through education and getting the required qualifications, what skills do budding scientists need to focus on? “People looking to work in the science industry should have the ability to work both independently and as part of team; people should be flexible and adaptable, and have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment,” said Hoare. “People should also have good communication skills.”
In-Depth: Science Week
Related: life sciences, NIBRT, scientists, Pharma, science, skills
Jenny was the Careers Editor at Siliconrepublic.com up to June 2019. When she’s not writing about the science and tech industry, she’s writing short stories and attempting novels. She continuously buys more books than she can read in a lifetime and pretty stationery is her kryptonite. She also believes seagulls to be the root of all evil and her baking is the stuff of legends.
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Neil Gaiman , Terry Pratchett
Martin Jarvis
Fantasy, Comedy
12 hours, 30 minutes
Rent ItFrom $19.98/month
The Bancroft Strategy
by Robert Ludlum
The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History
by John M. Barry
Winner of the Audiophile Magazine Earphones Award.
The classic collaboration from the internationally bestselling authors Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, soon to be an original series starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant.
'Good Omens . . . is something like what would have happened if Thomas Pynchon, Tom Robbins and Don DeLillo had collaborated. Lots of literary inventiveness in the plotting and chunks of very good writing and characterization. It’s a wow. It would make one hell of a movie. Or a heavenly one. Take your pick.'—Washington Post
According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.
So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.
And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .
Selected Reviews
by nab6215
Read All 11
Written by nab6215 from Altoona, PA on July 13th, 2019
I was so glued to the story that I could not stop listening to it until the end. The end was so Neil Gaiman weird that I don\'t know what to say. I loved everything except for the end. I feel like something was missing. I bet the TV show will clear things up. It did with American Gods. I understood the book much better after watching the show.
Written by Anonymous on June 10th, 2019
Another amazing story by Gaiman. The narrator brings life to the characters.
Written by Anonymous on June 6th, 2019
a great story...engulfing and enticing
Written by Robin H. on April 12th, 2019
Great book and the gentleman who read it did a great job with the voices. Really enjoyed this audiobook.
Written by John D. on April 10th, 2019
Talk about random and can’t make up its mind on telling a coherent tale. Story is all over the place, and constantly inserts inane and completely uninteresting side notes and frequently devolves into what they think are funny sudo facts thrown in, but are in fact, a complete waste of time, totally unfunny, and have nothing to add to the story. Good authors, big miss.
Written by Becca E on April 2nd, 2018
Beautiful! This book walks a very careful line between sassy and sweet.
Written by Hillary N on January 7th, 2018
I have tried to listen to Terry pratchett before and didn't enjoy it very much, I did understand more of what was happen in this book ,but still think this style of book is not for me.
Written by Charles C on August 27th, 2017
Enjoyable story. The person reading was fantastic. The characters really came to life.
Written by Bonnie Church on January 7th, 2016
Wonderful book! I would highly recommend this book!
Written by Holly on June 2nd, 2014
I love Neil Gaiman and although he is known to be an established children's author, I would always read his stories prior to letting a young reader venture in. This book is no exception. It is a bit difficult to follow in places and it is always a shame when Gaiman does not read his own work as he is exceptional at conveying he characters personalities, it was still well read and entertaining.
Neil Gaiman grew up in England and, although Jewish, attended Church of England schools, including Ardingly College, a boarding school in West Sussex (South of England). During the early 1980s he worked as a journalist and book reviewer. His first book was a biography of the band Duran Duran. He moved from England to his wife's hometown in the American midwest several years ago. He and his family now live in a renovated Victorian farmhouse where (he says) his hobbies are writing things down, hiding, and talking about himself in the third person. More about him and his books below.
A professional writer for more than twenty years, Neil Gaiman has been one of the top writers in modern comics, and is now a bestselling novelist. His work has appeared in translation in more than nineteen countries, and nearly all of his novels, graphic and otherwise, have been optioned for films. He is listed in the Dictionary of Literary Biography as one of the top ten living post-modern writers.
Gaiman was the creator/writer of the monthly cult DC Comics series, "Sandman," which won him nine Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, including the award for best writer four times, and three Harvey Awards. "Sandman #19" took the 1991 World Fantasy Award for best short story, making it the first comic ever to be awarded a literary award.
His six-part fantastical TV series for the BBC, "Neverwhere," was broadcast in 1996. His novel, also called "Neverwhere," and set in the same strange underground world as the television series, was released in 1997; it appeared on a number of bestseller lists, including those of the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Locus.
Stardust, an illustrated prose novel in four parts, began to appear from DC Comics in 1997. In 1999 Avon released the all-prose unillustrated version, which appeared on a number of bestseller lists, was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the best books of the year, and was awarded the prestigious Mythopoeic Award as best novel for adults.
American Gods, a novel for adults, was published in 2001 and appeared on many best-of- the-year lists, was a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback, and won the Hugo, Nebula, SFX, Bram Stoker, and Locus Awards.
Coraline (2002), his first novel for children, was a New York Times and international bestseller, was nominated for the Prix Tam Tam, and won the Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award, the BSFA Award, the HUgo, the Nebula and the Bram Stoker Award.
2003 saw the publication of bestseller The Wolves in the Walls, a children's picture book, illustrated by Gaiman's longtime collaborator Dave McKean, which the New York Times named as one of the best illustrated books of the year; and the first Sandman graphic novel in seven years, Endless Nights, the first graphic novel to make the New York Times bestseller list.
In 2004, Gaiman published the a new graphic novel for Marvel called 1602, which was the best-selling comic of 2004, and 2005 saw the Sundance Film Festival premiere of "MirrorMask," a Jim Henson Company Production written by Gaiman and directed by McKean. A lavishly designed book containing the complete script, black and white storyboards, and full-color art from the film will be published by William Morrow in early 2005; a picture book for younger readers, also written by Gaiman and illustrated with art from the movie, will be published by HarperCollins Children's Books at a later date.
In Fall 2005, Anansi Boys, the follow-up to American Gods, was published.
Sir Terry Pratchett, the author of more than three dozen novels, is one of the world's best-selling and best-loved novelists writing in the English language. He wrote his first published story when he was 13 and his first novel, THE CARPET PEOPLE, when he was 17. His books have sold more than 85 million copies worldwide. In addition to his phenomenal--and phenomenally popular--Discworld series for adults, Terry is the multi-award-winning author several children's books. These include the books of the BROMELIAD TRILOGY (HarperCollins, 2003), as well as THE WEE FREE MEN (HarperCollins, 2003), A HAT FULL OF SKY (HarperCollins, 2004), WINTERSMITH (HarperCollins, 2006), I SHALL WEAR MIDNIGHT (HarperCollins, 2010), NATION (HarperCollins,2008)--a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner, and LA Times Book Prize for YA Literature winner--and DODGER (HarperCollins, 2012), for which he won his second Michael L. Printz Honor. He was awarded Britain's highest honor for a children's novel, the Carnegie Medal, for THE AMAZING MAURICE AND HIS EDUCATED RODENTS (HarperCollins, 2001). The recipient of several honorary doctorates, Sir Terry was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008 for his services to literature. And in 2011, he received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lasting Contributions to Young Adult Literature from the American Library Association. He passed away in 2015 from Alzheimer's Disease. Find out more about Terry at terrypratchettbooks.com and the Facebook page https//www.facebook.com/pratchett (610K fans).
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Home › Dr. Sarit Patel is Named President of Hartford County Medical Association Board of Directors
Dr. Sarit Patel is Named President of Hartford County Medical Association Board of Directors
Starling Physicians is proud to share that the Hartford County Medical Association (HCMA) recently announced Sarit M. Patel, MD as President of their Board of Directors. For the past 11 years, Dr. Patel has been providing high quality medical care to those in the local community as an Oculoplastic Surgeon at Starling Physicians Eye Center (Formerly Grove Hill Medical Center) in New Britain and Springfield, where he also serves as the Chairman of their Board of Directors.
“The Hartford County Medical Association is such a critical resource to doctors in the area that helps us provide the highest quality of care to our patients,” said Sarit M. Patel, MD. “I am honored to serve on their Board of Directors and look forward to contributing my expertise to the positive impact HCMA has already had on the medical profession.”
Dr. Patel is a board certified physician in Connecticut and Massachusetts, as well as a published author of several respected pieces of research related to field of Ophthalmology. Over the years Dr. Patel has served as professor and guest lecturer at universities throughout the country. He is also a National Merit Scholarship recipient and was awarded the Marvin Quickert Thesis Award in 2005.
The Hartford County Medical Association is a professional association representing physicians from every medical specialty and practice setting as well as medical students, interns and residents. For more than 215 years, HCMA has been at the forefront of current medicine, ensuring that its members are represented in the areas of public policy, government relations and community relations. Through its advocacy efforts in both Hartford County and with the statewide Connecticut State Medical Society, physician leaders and staff strive toward a common goal–that doctors might spend more time treating patients and less time worrying about the challenges of managing a practice.
Dr. Patel was awarded a combined BA-MD degree from Lehigh University and the Medical College of Pennsylvania where he graduated summa cum laude. He then went on to complete an internship in General Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, a residency in Ophthalmology at NYU Medical Center, two separate fellowship programs at the University of Wisconsin and West Virginia University, and most recently received a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
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Camera choreography
NO PHOTO ATTACHED-Caption 1- Dance photographs by Florida School of the Arts students will be on view during "Camera Choreography" daily through April 9 in the St. Johns County Administration Rotunda Gallery, 500 San Sebastian View, from Lewis Speedway.
" amera Choreography," the newest exhibition in the St. Johns County Administration Rotunda Gallery was created by Florida School of the Arts (FloArts) students from the Dance and the Visual Arts Departments during a three-week residency with Master Photographer Jack Mitchell.
An opening reception for the artwork will be held from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Jan. 19 in the gallery, 500 San Sebastian View, just south of the County's Lewis Speedway complex, from U.S. 1 North, St. Augustine.
In honor of the exhibit, an original dance by students from The Dance Company, under the direction of Sara Bailey, will be performed at 8:45 a.m., prior to the County Commissioners meeting.
An internationally known photographer of dance, Mitchell worked with FloArts students in posing and composition, lighting and photographic techniques using a full format camera. Mitchell's residency produced an extraordinary body of work that presents dancers and theater majors as they were posed and photographed for eventual use in their portfolios.
Mitchell, a New Smyrna Beach native, began working in New York as a photographer in 1956. He was the photographer for American Ballet Theater for 10 years, taking all the photographs for their souvenir program books from 1960 to 1970.
David Ouellette, former Fine Arts Professor and Gallery Director at the Florida School of the Arts and now teacher at St. Johns River Community College-St. Augustine campus, is the guest curator and organizer of this exhibit for the St. Johns Cultural Council.
"Camera Choreography" will be on display through April 9.
During the past year, The St. Johns Cultural Council (SJCC) has partnered with the SJC Board of Commissioners to present "Art in Public Spaces" in the Administration Building. The building is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
For more information, go to www.stjohnsculture.com.
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https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/music/article/Seattle-s-Maktub-is-movin-on-up-1119452.php
Seattle's Maktub is movin' on up
Gene Johnson, The Associated Press
Published 10:00 pm PDT, Wednesday, July 16, 2003
A little after 1 p.m. on a Tuesday, a cab pulls up at the home of Daniel Spils, keyboardist for Seattle "heavy soul" band Maktub.
Out steps lead singer Reggie Watts, bearing his impressive Afro, a box of Kellogg's and a carton of soy milk.
"Hey man," he says to Spils. "Can I borrow a bowl?"
It might be the first time in the history of Seattle music that the phrase has referred to a cereal bowl, rather than a marijuana pipe.
Spils directs Watts to the kitchen, and you get the notion that such stereotype-defying scenes might be characteristic of a band whose very existence seems random: soul rockers from this mostly white land of no-foam lattes and post-grunge indie punk?
Random or not, Maktub -- pronounced "MOCK-toob," an Arabic expression of affirmation that loosely translates as "it is written" -- has gained a lot of momentum in the past year. Behind the smooth power of Watts' voice, the quintet has launched its first national tour, beat out Pearl Jam in a weekly newspaper's vote for Seattle's best band, and acquired the same booking agency used by Dave Matthews, who now lives in Seattle.
Meanwhile, Maktub has defined a new sound for the city, which hasn't seen a band break through to a mainstream national audience since the days of Kurt Cobain and flannel shirts. It blends soul with hard rock, rhythm and blues, dance-pop and acid jazz.
"Maktub is doing very well, especially for an indie band," says their manager, Dave Meinert of Seattle-based Fuzed Music. "They're fairly unique. At the core, they're a soul band, but they're still from Seattle and have those rock influences. They're also a racially integrated band, which is unusual here."
Along the way, Watts has drawn persistent and justified comparisons to some fantastic singers: soul legend Al Green and former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, to name the two cited most often.
"It's flattering," says Watts, 31, whose solo album came out this week. "I mean, it's not a lie, or something I would say no to. They're definitely influences."
Watts, bassist Kevin Goldman and drummer Davis Martin formed Maktub in 1996. The band was a product of the improvisational rhythm and blues, acid jazz and rap scenes that helped fill the void left by grunge rock in the mid-'90s. Maktub relied heavily on the Internet to distribute its music.
Initially, the band was the antithesis of grunge; it didn't even have a guitarist. That changed after the release of the debut CD "Subtle Ways" in 1999. Maktub took an 18-month break, then re-formed with Spils and a guitarist, Thaddeus Turner, who has played with Brad, the side band of Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard. Turner helped Maktub explore a harder sound.
Last year Maktub released its second CD, "Khronos," which helped it win a spot on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" and sign with New York label Velour Records, which re-released the CD in April. The album has sold close to 20,000 copies, Meinert said, and for weeks it was the best-selling disc at independent record stores in the Northwest.
Still, the band faces challenges. In addition to trying to make enough money to cover living expenses, Maktub has struggled some in getting radio play, at least partly due to a radio station climate that tends to discriminate against artists who can't be pinned into a music category.
"You used to be able to drive across the country and each town would be playing different music, based on their culture or what they like," Goldman says. "Now, that's destroyed. Everywhere you go you're getting the same meal."
But the first song on "Khronos," "You Can't Hide," has started getting play on radio stations around the country that use a "non-commercial adult alternative" format. And the band's first East Coast swing earlier this year, while touring with the Soulive, provided some exposure and confidence.
"You go to places like New York and play a sold-out show at the Tribeca Rock Club, and it gives you this whole new sense that the band has a pretty global appeal that before you didn't know how to gauge," Spils says.
Sound checks during the tour provided a chance for the band to do a lot of writing: Maktub has dozens of unrecorded songs and plans to get back into the studio when it's finished touring for the year.
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Episode 78: Donald Trump, Wisdom and Walls
And he might say he was joking or he’s changed his mind about any of these things, and private individuals are allowed to change their minds - we all do it. But when he’s sworn in as president on January 20th, 2017 - on that day, his opinions are going to matter.
— John Oliver of Last Week Tonight
I hate how he exploits people’s fears instead of appealing to their aspirations, their better angels. I hate how he gives people license to say hateful things. I understand why Trump’s backers are angry, and I don’t subscribe to the theory that most of them are bigots. But they are condoning bigotry.
— Ron Fournier, The Atlantic
In less than a year, Donald Trump has made a profound impact in the political, media and social spheres of the United States. Some are enthralled by his relentless fervor, confidence and promises to "Make America Great Again". Others, understandably are disgusted by the Islamophobia, racism, sexism and derogatory remarks he has made towards journalists, political rivals and everyone in between. Beyond the public reaction, it is important for each of us to consider not only our responses to the current Republican front-runner but our own values, concerns and perceptions. Is hatred an appropriate response to a man who has shown the terrifying influence of hatred? Do our discussions on social media promote recognition of his name? Undoubtedly, we must confront the political juggernaut he has become and the deep-seated problems he has revealed. Will we do so civilly or will Donald Trump's legacy be the spark of a greater conflagration?
CNN, "Why I'm voting for Trump"
Breitbart, "A Conservative Case for Donald Trump"
The Atlantic, "My Love-Hate Relationship with Donald Trump"
The Guardian, "Don't let Trump fool you: rightwing populism is the new normal"
The Atlantic, "Why Do People Support Donald Trump?"
Tags Donald Trump, Hatred, Listening, Empathy, Globe, Future, Islamophobia, Racism, Media, America
Episode 67: "Robots Have Emotions Too"
In our research, we showed how a simple, small robot could pressure people to continue a highly tedious task—even after the people expressed repeated desire to quit—simply with verbal prodding.
— Dr. James E. Young, "How to Manage Robots and People Working Together"
Research has shown people feel less comfortable around robots who break social norms, such as by having shifty eyes or mismatched facial expressions. A robot’s personality, voice pitch or even the use of whispering can affect feelings of trust and comfort.
This week we analyze and respond to an article written by Dr. James E. Young. He and fellow researchers conducted studies to determine the current sentiments human beings have towards robots. Their research indicates that people have an inherent impulse to personalize robots and imbue them with intentions, emotions, social abilities and attachments. He theorizes that in future, steps should be taken to facilitate productive, prosperous working relationships between people and robots in a variety of settings, including combat and other dangerous environments. We use this article as an entry point to discussions about humanity as it relates to robotics and how robots may substantially affect our lives in the future.
The Wall Street Journal, "How to Manage Robots and People Working Together"
In Cultural Response, Technology, Economics Tags Robots, Computers, Human Tendencies, Emotional Attachment, Empathy, Human Connection, Workplace, Scientific Research, Scientific Study
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Hillsborough and why that Times blunder matters
The Sun had no hope of getting it right. The Times got it spectacularly wrong. And then got it wrong again. And again.
There is now nothing anyone at London Bridge can do to heal the rift with Liverpool opened by that infamous Sun front page four days after the Hillsborough disaster 27 years ago.
With one bad decision, The Times has handcuffed itself to its pariah stablemate in a cell of opprobrium policed by the indignant righteous.
Rita Ora, a man shovelling snow, posh handbags, a couple of free theme park tickets, psychosomatic ailments: none of these was dispensable when it came to deciding where to put the Hillsborough inquest verdict.
What was the Sun to do? Give over the whole front page to the unlawful killing finding? If it had run a banner heading saying "We were wrong", it would have been thrown back in its face. If it had run a "Justice at last" head, it would have been accused of hypocrisy. If it had put any other element on the front alongside Hillsborough, it would have been accused of underplaying the story, of showing disrespect. So, knowing it was on a hiding to nothing, it took what it presumably saw as the least worst option and left it off altogether.
Which might have been a strategy of sorts had it a fantastic scoop to offer instead. A confected splash about the "scandal" of team Cameron's tactics to keep their "EU plot" secret (excuse me, it's not a plot, it's government policy) doesn't cut it.
And Rita Ora? My guess from research for a forthcoming magazine article is that there are algorithms showing that Ms Ora's appearance on the front sells papers. But this wasn't the day to keep plugging this "did she-didn't she" nonsense about JayZ.
Bad decisions. To have any credibility as the country's best-selling paper, it should have gone all out on the inquest, apologised again for its past, then put on a tin helmet and waited for the flak.
It was The Times, though, that really came a cropper.
How could my old paper make such a monumental error?
First, let's try to understand what happened at The Times last night.
John Witherow is, by all accounts, a forceful editor who is not to be gainsaid. He was in the office yesterday, but left before the first edition went offstone to attend an awards function with Michael Heseltine and Peter Stothard's farewell on the 17th floor of the Baby Shard.
Also in the office yesterday was one newlywed media magnate.
That single fact and the absence of Hillsborough from either of his daily newspaper front pages would be more than enough for the anti-Rupert brigade. Let's all attack evil Murdoch and his lackey editors. For even if he didn't tell Witherow and Sun editor Tony Gallagher to bury the story, they might have been trying to please him. I can imagine him saying "**** 'em" as he riffled through the page proofs - but banishing the story from the Times front page? Unlikely.
One version of events is that Hillsborough was slated for a front-page slot throughout the day, but was inexplicably dropped by the executives left in charge when Witherow left.
That's a little hard to credit for such a micro-managing editor. As one observer said: "John looks at the front in the middle of the Atlantic. He'd certainly monitor it from the 17th floor."
Another account says that one of those executives and the newsdesk argued consistently and in vain for the story, but that Witherow had ruled that he didn't want it on the front because it was "old news". Old news because it had been around since 11am or old news because the police cover-up had been rumbled years before?
Whichever it was, Witherow - who hasn't responded to my inquiries on the matter - apparently gave the impression of truly believing that it was not worth the front.
That was an extraordinary misjudgment for so experienced an editor and a most unfortunate call to get wrong. But every one of the dozen or so people who have contacted SubScribe about what happened last night was convinced that this was cock-up, not conspiracy (maybe the alternative was too awful to contemplate).
As one said: "Everyone was outraged. Witherow was the only one thinking along those lines. It seems that there are too many sycophants at the top level around him."
Another said: "This is the inevitable outcome when an editor is too aggressive, too much of a bully. They can't be told anything and the backbench is too cowed to stand up to them."
A third respected Times writer rued the omission, but was of the opinion that broadsheet fronts didn't matter as much as tabloids and that "hopefully it will blow over". He pointed to "good coverage inside".
Hmm. The first mention of Hillsborough comes on page 12, behind mushroom scrumping in Epping Forest, a photograph of the actress Elizabeth Olsen and a new treetop walkway at Westonbirt.
That might supports the theory that a proper page one story was intended or further demonstrate Witherow's cavalier attitude to the subject. He dislikes football and reporter David Brown is said to have had a fight to be allowed to go to Warrington to cover the end of the inquest in person.
If you want to see good coverage, read David Conn in the Guardian.
So what made the paper change up? The Twitter storm that greeted publication of the first edition or protests from within?
Henry Winter and Matt Dickinson are reported to have complained and Liverpool football correspondent Tony Barrett's "unbelievable" tweet is there for all to see. But a senior executive told me that the Guardian report of a sports desk mutiny was inaccurate and I believe him - not least because of his reluctance to say anything else.
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarretTimes) April 26, 2016
To everyone who's been let down I'm so sorry.
Experience tells me that editors, having made a decision, are more likely to heed outsiders than staffers playing the same record, so I'm backing Twitter over Winter. But thank goodness for whatever it was that prompted the rethink.
This morning there were huddles in corners and distraught executives, but Witherow was reported to have told everyone to forget about it. Jessica Carsen, who looks after The Times's PR insisted that matters couldn't be left to fester. A statement was tweeted saying that a mistake had been made and been fixed.
That went down well.
"Fixed". What a choice of word!
A misspelt name can be fixed. An error of judgment can't. You can review what you've done and change your approach, but something that is fixed is put right. Who's to say that the change was adequate?
And then, rather than retreat quietly, The Times's social media team couldn't resist tweeting links to the good elements of the paper's Hillsborough coverage: the interactive biographies of the victims, Henry Winter's excellent essay. Was this part of the PR strategy? If so, it was flawed.
Carsen, who operates from the group managing editors' office under the title Director of Editorial Communications, tells SubScribe that this was the first time in her seven years with the company that such a statement had been issued and that the feedback, including from the staff, was that it was good that they had owned the mistake publicly.
Twitter didn't seem convinced and promptly emptied another hailstorm onto The Times, with the inevitable demands for contrition and apology.
Everyone must say sorry publicly for every lapse, real or perceived, these days. It's nonsense, but you can't blame the Twitterati for chirruping along with that chorus, given the strident demands from various newspapers - though not generally The Times - for apologies from all and sundry.
Apologies are not required to clear the air, to allow all parties to shake hands and move on. They are required for humiliation; the offender must be seen to grovel.
The Sun, it may be remembered, grovelled in September 2012 - a quarter of a century late - when it was shown conclusively that it had swallowed a pack of lies from the police about the victims of the disaster. It ran a front-page heading saying "we are profoundly sorry for false reports" and inside it described its "The truth" front page as the blackest day in the paper's history.
It reproduced the offending front page and wrote:
It is to the eternal discredit of The Sun that we reported this misinformation [from the police] which tarnished the reputation of the Liverpool fans including the 96 victims.
Today we unreservedly apologise to the Hillsborough victims, their families, Liverpool supporters, the city of Liverpool and all our readers for this misjudgment.
The role of a newspaper is to uncover unjustice. To forensically examine the claims made by those who are in positions of power. In the aftermath of the Hillsborough tragedy we failed.
And by failing in our duty we heaped more misery on the families of those who lost their lives and the people of Liverpool. Nothing can excuse The Sun's page one presentation under the headline The Truth.
It was inaccurate, grossly insensitive and offensive. This version of events was NOT the truth...
A newspaper that prides itself on serving ordinary working people betrayed their trust 23 years ago.
The people of Liverpool may never forgive us for the injustice we did them.
All we can do is offer them an unreserved and heartfelt apology that is profound, sincere and unambiguous.
Much good did it do the paper or its staff, who were barred from yesterday's press conferences and subjected to further barrages of online abuse in retribution for the sins of others - sins committed when today's bunch were in nappies or at school. The reappearance of Kelvin McKenzie, the man who presided over that 1989 calumny, as a columnist has not helped any hopes of rehabilitation.
It is this background that makes the error of judgment at The Times the more serious.
Of all the things to get wrong.
Whether it was the editor himself or one of his two unfortunate lieutenants who blundered, an apology is in order. Not to the baying masses on social media (I confess that I both tweeted and posted on Facebook my horror at that first edition front), but to the staff.
To Tony Barrett, whose already difficult job covering Liverpool FC for the paper has been rendered almost impossible. Indeed, I believe he may have resigned.
To Andrew Norfolk, whose magnificent work exposing the failings of that same South Yorkshire police force not three decades but three years ago brought justice for the abused girls of Rotherham. (Talking of Norfolk, why wasn't he all over this story - or big gun Sean O'Neill or crime editor Fiona Hamilton?)
To all the reporters and subs and photographers who have been robbed of the pride they will have felt at seeing their paper improve and increase circulation while other titles lost their way.
How could such an apology be conveyed? In an email? In conference? At a meeting of all staff? Then what would happen? Someone would leak it to Private Eye - or the likes of me - and instead of being taken at face value, it would be ridiculed as The Sun's effort was four years ago.
We live in unhappy, churlish times. This was a bad mistake and there is no acceptable way to atone.
When I posted the first edition front page on Facebook, a friend asked "Does it matter? All papers have their own little oddities. The Telegraph and its advertisers, the Sun and Liverpool, the Mail and its hatred for anything that moves and breathes that isn't Paul Dacre..all of them and the BBC, most of them and the EU..."
Well, first of all it matters because Hillsborough matters.
Yesterday's events may, to some, appear to have added little to what we learnt from the independent panel whose report four years ago led to the Sun's belated mea culpa and the front pages above.
We knew then that police who are paid to protect us had killed some of us and then repaired to a drinking club to recover from the stress of the afternoon. There they cooked up lying smears of drunkenness and hooliganism to cover up their wrongdoing. As they were doing so, families of the victims were made to queue into the small hours outside a gymnasium for their turn to look at their loved ones in body bags. Not only that, senior officers went on to hoodwink politicians and journalists who were supposed to hold them to account. The details of this behaviour from members of the force that gave us the battle of Orgreave can't be repeated often enough.
But it didn't end there. Throughout this inquest, some persisted with their lies and deceit, putting the families through further anguish. Officers whose purpose in life is to uphold the law stood in a courtroom and lied on oath. But the jury saw through their lies and delivered verdicts that said: "You killed those people. Unlawfully."
It was a momentous judgment and vindication of the families' perseverance and common cause.
Second, it matters because that front page diminishes a great newspaper. It reinforces the impression that ordinary people in the North West don't matter to arrogant privileged media types in London, that the Establishment can still get away with anything.
It will be seen as further evidence that our Press is out of touch; that it has disintegrated to such an extent that it prefers to feed readers propaganda than to inform them.
Newspapers have always had their own agendas, but never before have editors been so blatant in shoving their opinions down people's throats - and in distorting or concealing inconvenient facts- as they do now.
Great journalism is still being done, but it's hidden on the foreign, oped and sports pages while the screaming fronts focus on Angelina Jolie and immigrants, turning off potential customers in their millions.
I don't want to see that happening to my industry and I especially don't want to see it happening at The Times. I don't believe it is happening there - or at least to anywhere near the same extent as elsewhere - but front pages like this morning's first edition tarnish its reputation.
It is a failing of people who have long since left the engine room to talk about how things were "in my day", but I can say with confidence that in previous eras, under the likes of Charlie Wilson, Peter Stothard, John Bryant and Ben Preston, a piece of writing with as much class and style as that produced by Henry Winter last night would not have been buried on page 66. They might have made it the splash. There would certainly, at the very least, have been a big display quote from the front to direct readers to his work.
As a final example of why it all matters, I offer that here now:
The police froze, inhibiting the rescue operation. It was the Liverpool fans who were the heroes, leaning over from the tier above, pulling people to safety. It was Liverpool fans who were on the pitch, trying to resuscitate their friends. It was Liverpool fans who grabbed advertising hoardings to use as stretchers as the ambulance service reaction was insufficient. Yet it was the Liverpool fans whose reputation was besmirched by the police and The Sun, who wickedly alleged that supporters had misbehaved.
This strikes a particular chord with me because the Hillsborough image that I find most chilling does not involve penned fans begging for help or scrambling to safety, victims being given first aid or the anguished faces of relatives. It is of the string of police officers along the centre line, immobile in the face of carnage, still viewing the fans as hooligans, watching and doing nothing as people were dying before their very eyes.
It all matters.
Labels: hillsborough, the Sun, The Times
Fat Runner 28 April 2016 at 12:09
Thanks for posting this. I was so appalled at the copy of the Times which landed on my doorstep that I have cancelled my subscription and replaced it with the Guardian, a move I never imagined I would ever make. I agree with so much that is written here but I would go further. The public now has the press and the government it deserves. From idle chat in bars to debate in parliament, it has become normal to be cruel, to lie, to repeat unsubstantiated tittle tattle and to indulge in lazy thinking and judgemental chitter chatter. Couple these with an inanity second to none in the promotion of celebrity culture by our journalists and politicians, and their worship of wealth, self promotion, material possessions and fame, and we end up here, a place where no apology is good enough, no government minister is to be trusted, all MPs are useless, don't believe anything you read or see in the media because everything is a conspiracy and they all lie anyway, and now the mob mentality rules. It is a place of despair, and its invidious influence has filtered down through media channels to every area of our society - schools, business, industry, shops, pubs, even our own homes through the relentless stream of garbage peddled as "entertainment". The spineless rants of columnists are repeated as truth, the strutting pouting nonsense of the famous on their golden pedestals is seen to be the most desirable way to behave. There is no shame in the promotion of the handbag costing thousands of pounds, and only envy of the millions made by anyone clever enough to find a way into sad people's wallets by preying on their insecurities and neediness. We are a society of victims who only want a diet of bloated distortion disguised as truth. We have become people who don't comprehend the notions of restraint, or modesty or, heaven forfend, service to others. Not only has any idea of a god gone out of the window, so have all the principles of a god-fearing life. The baby has been well and truly hurled out with the bath water.
Martyn Cornell 1 May 2016 at 11:58
Magnificent, Liz. Do find the time and the energy to continue commentating, your insight and analysis is greatly needed.
Gary W. Deason 5 November 2016 at 12:00
It is simply outrageous that the most influential newspaper in Britain have not written about the anniversary of the tragedy. Even I, an amateur have decided to write my essay online about it, Thank you so much for that post!
Deborah Raap 16 November 2017 at 15:11
So agree with the author of the article! As edubirdie points out, it is shockingly horrifying that such a precedent is not highlighted in the press rightfully. Such a disappointment.
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Nick Wright
Comment and Analysis @nicholaspwright
How can Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham cope with Premier League title race pressure?
Liverpool level with City on points with a game in hand, Spurs five back
Will Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, Pep Guardiola's Man City or Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham come out on top?
As the Premier League title race heats up, we speak to former winners and a sports psychologist about the pressure of the run-in...
Manchester City and Liverpool are neck and neck at the top of the Premier League table with Tottenham not far behind, and the pressure will only increase as the season nears its finale.
Pep Guardiola's City are aiming to become the first side to retain the Premier League crown since Manchester United in 2009, but Liverpool are eyeing a piece of history themselves as they chase their first title win in almost three decades.
With Spurs on their coattails, it could come down to which side is able to hold their nerve. But how do you handle the pressure of a Premier League title race? And what can this year's contenders learn from the past? We gather the views of people who have been in the heat of title battles and a psychology expert to find out...
Shut out the noise
For Liverpool in particular, one of the biggest challenges will be coping with the constant scrutiny that comes with attempting to end a long wait for the title. Manchester United experienced the same thing before their 1992/93 success under Sir Alex Ferguson - the club's first in 26 years.
"The thing that may be a problem for them, I experienced it, is that they haven't won the league for 28 years," said Ryan Giggs, a regular starter that season, in a recent interview. "That pressure, when it comes to the run-in, when everyone's talking about it. You have to have luck, you have to have things that go for you and you just have to keep your concentration.
"Keep remembering what got you there, what got you challenging for the Premier League, and the big players need to turn up. There's a long way to go and the closer it gets to the end the further away it is, strangely."
Giggs' former United team-mate Gary Neville remembers the pressure being all-encompassing in those early years.
"What will happen in Merseyside, as it did in Manchester all those years ago, is you will be walking down the street and people will be saying 'I think we can do it, go on let's do it this year'," he said on the Gary Neville podcast last weekend.
"You can be walking down the street, having a break and relaxing, and then all of a sudden your mind gets thrown back to the title and you can't get away from it. It just hits you every minute of every day.
Liverpool have to be prepared every time they drop a point that it will be suggested they are feeling the pressure.
"I remember those first years going for titles and the weight of expectation and thinking 'we have to try to get over the line'. You carry it with you every minute of every day. It becomes psychological and you get tension with it and get a bit more closed and safer with your passing and don't play with the same freedom."
That pressure is ramped up even further in the age of social media, which is why so many Premier League clubs and players now turn to sports psychologists for help. According to Bradley Busch, a sports psychologist for Inner Drive, the key to maintaining high performance in such challenging circumstances is to find ways to maintain focus and shut out the distractions.
"A sport psychologist can help the team focus during a title race by focusing on what matters," he tells Sky Sports. "One of the things that the brain craves is a sense of control and certainty. However, as the pressure magnifies with each game, the temptation to focus on a bad performance rises.
"By focusing on aspects such as their preparation and how well they execute their game plan, players will increase their feelings of certainty and control over the situation. This leads to better confidence, more emotional control and higher performances on the pitch."
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Achieving greater certainty and control is a different challenge for every player, according to Busch. "There is no one size fits all when it comes to sports psychology," he says. "For some players it is about preparing in great detail and thinking deeply about the upcoming match, whereas for others it may mean switching off from football so that they don't think about it 24-7.
"Essentially, it comes down to know what state allows you to perform best, using proven techniques to get there and being able to manage and spot potential distractors."
Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs enjoyed numerous Premier League triumphs with Manchester United
Kick the complacency
For any title-chasing side, particularly one which is accustomed to winning trophies, complacency can be another major pitfall. Manchester City showed it in their recent defeat by Newcastle at St James' Park and it was always something Ferguson warned against at Manchester United.
"I was angry with City in the first half of that game [against Newcastle] because I felt they switched off and they got bored," said Neville on Sky Sports recently. "Sir Alex used to accuse us of it: 'You're driving me crazy, you're bored in games'.
"When you have won titles and you are going for another, there comes a point where you're playing against Crystal Palace at home and you just turn and think, 'We're better than them'. Then you get a little shock and a little slap around the face."
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According to Neville, it was an issue which most commonly surfaced midway through the season rather than during the run-in itself. "Sir Alex used to say, 'I can't wait for March, April and May when the heat is turned up and the pressure is on because I know you'll deliver.' You're on your mettle then. The focus is there. But in mid-January you're bored."
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Even for that United side, though, the focus was always prone to waver later in the season and Ferguson knew it. In April 2012, after a 2-0 win over QPR which sent them eight points clear at the top with six games to play, he said he was disappointed by their performance after their opponents went down to 10 men. "We were too casual after that," he said.
It turned out Ferguson was right to be concerned. United's complacency resurfaced a few days later when they were beaten 1-0 by Wigan, and it ended up costing them the title, with Manchester City famously clinching the crown in dramatic circumstances on the final day of the season.
Will Manchester City defend their Premier League title
Team spirit and experience
It is during the crunch moments that title-winning sides tend to rely on their experienced players to pull them through.
"Winning the title is obviously about performance, but the mental side is huge," said Neville. "Our first title at Manchester United I never looked forward to it, I struggled with it, and so did other young players. We were dragged over the line by Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane, those characters who had the experience to understand what it was about."
You've got to forget about all the noise from the media and the fans, putting pressure on and saying if you lose a game the title race is over.
"This is when the experienced players and the manager are really important," added Giggs. "Because you've got to forget about all the noise from the media and the fans, putting pressure on and saying if you lose a game the title race is over."
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It is only natural, of course, that more experienced players will have developed stronger mentalities than their young team-mates, but it is also something that separates the very best players.
"At the very top, every athlete is talented. Every athlete is physically fit," says Busch. "What separates the best form the rest often comes down to mindset and mentality. In my experience, those at the very top level embrace these type of situations and view pressure as a privilege. Seeing pressurised moments as a better stage to showcase their talents really helps with this."
Jurgen Klopp has turned his attentions to Liverpool's Super Sunday clash with Manchester United following his side's goalless draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League
Manchester City have an advantage in terms of experience, of course, having won the title race last season, but they are not alone in boasting a strong team spirit. Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino are yet to win silverware at Liverpool and Tottenham, but they have succeeded in fostering close bonds among their players. Those bonds can be invaluable in a title race.
"Team spirit is one of those things that everyone knows is really important but is notoriously difficult to measure," says Busch. "It can't be manufactured or replicated. It is an essential intangible.
"Being able to call on a team-mate to pick you up after a setback is an important aspect of team-sport to tap into. Likewise, looking across the changing room and knowing that everyone you see is going to go out and give their all can be really motivating."
Team spirit is one of those things that everyone knows is really important but is notoriously difficult to measure. It can't be manufactured or replicated. It is an essential intangible.
Sports psychologist Bradley Busch
Other ways to win
Experience is not always decisive in a Premier League title race, of course. If Liverpool or Tottenham need inspiration this season, they only need to look back to Leicester's extraordinary success in 2015/16. The only Premier League winners' medals in that squad belonged to Robert Huth - a fringe player during Jose Mourinho's first spell at Chelsea.
Leicester's success was an anomaly in many respects, but that doesn't mean there aren't lessons to be learned from it. The Foxes had limited title-winning experience, but what they did have was a winning formula - and a manager who struck the right balance both on and off the pitch.
When you are doing something special, you have to encourage balance.
"When you are doing something special, you have to encourage balance," Claudio Ranieri told Sky Sports recently. "All the managers must be balanced with their team, and with their results. Of course if you have a team who wins, why change? But if you are losing you must do something to help your team."
Stats: How the title contenders compare
Ranieri rarely altered his starting line-up that season, but crucially, he kept his squad players motivated enough to step in and do a job when required. Leonardo Ulloa, for example, scored vital goals against Norwich and West Ham in the second half of the season. Even Nathan Dyer and Andy King made valuable contributions.
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Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says his side are in the title race
Another area in which Ranieri excelled was in keeping the pressure off his players. This is a difficult skill for a manager. Ferguson used to talk about press conferences being won and lost, and it is fair to say Ranieri mastered them during Leicester's surge to the finish line, his light-hearted demeanour rubbing off on the players as they played with freedom right up until the end.
Klopp has insisted Liverpool have already proved they can handle the pressure, while Guardiola recently insisted pressure "does not exist" after City's 6-0 thrashing of Chelsea. But the true tests are still to come. We will find out what they are really made of in the weeks and months ahead.
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Understanding Screenwriting #10: Synecdoche, New York, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, & More
Tom Stempel
Coming Up In This Column: Synecdoche, New York; Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist; The Rape of Europa; Elizabeth:The Golden Age; Till the End of Time; 30 Rock; ER; Desperate Housewives; Mad Men, but first…
Fan Mail: Maura had the same problem with the character of Sidney in Rachel Getting Married that I did. Here are some of the reasons why. After I wrote the item on the film, I came across an interview with the director Jonathan Demme in which he talked about how the actors were allowed to improvise. Generally one should discount by 10% any claim by directors or actors that they improvised, and also realize that usually the worst scenes in a movie are those that actors are improvising in. Demme mentioned that he originally wanted Paul Thomas Anderson to play Sidney, but Anderson was busy directing There Will Be Blood. The character and his family were not originally written as black and while it might be considered a very liberal thing not to mention it at all in the film, it is also not particularly realistic and, as in this case, robs the characters of texture and depth.
Theoldboy took me to task for not mentioning Dennis Hopper’s long monologue at the opening of the Crash pilot. As I said in my first column, I am going wide, not deep, so there will be aspects of the scripts that will be left out. But I figure part of what I am doing here is trying to get you thinking about the writing of films and televisions shows, which I obviously did in theoldboy’s case. Yeah for me.
Synecdoche, New York(2008. Written by Charlie Kaufman. 124 minutes): You would think that since 8 ½ is one of my two all-time favorite movies and that since I like (but not love as much as some other people do) Charlie Kaufman’s screenplays, I would love or at least like Synecdoche, New York. You would be wrong.
The film’s story is simple. Yes it really is. Small-time stage director Caden Cotard’s wife leaves him and with the help of a McArthur “genius” grant he tries to stage a representation of his life. 8 ½ is even simpler: Guido Anselmi is trying to get over a creative block and direct a movie. Whereas 8 ½ is fast, funny, and light on its feet, Synecdoche, New York is none of those things. Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli, and Brunello Rondi have created a wonderful gallery of characters for their story. Kaufman has not. Caden mopes around before his wife leaves, and he mopes around after she leaves, and Kaufman has not given Philip Seymour Hoffman any other notes to play. Caden’s wife Adele is also a one-note character, and Catherine Keener cannot do anything more with her than whine. Kaufman has given Samantha Morton maybe two notes to play as Hazel, which makes her stand out a bit from the others. It just gets to be a pain hanging out with these characters. Think of the lively characters in previous Kaufman films and you will see what I mean about this group.
The storytelling is very lethargic. It takes almost half an hour before Adele leaves, and almost as long again for Caden to come up with his idea for a show. Then the mechanics of putting on Caden’s “show” bog down the film even further. Yes, this is supposed to be slightly surreal (and it is not surreal enough), but the “genius” grants do not carry enough money to mount the kind of production Caden is doing. Not only does Synecdoche, New York suffer in comparison to 8 ½, but also in comparison with Bob Fosse and Robert Alan Aurthur’s 8 ½ ripoff, All That Jazz, where we get a lot of details, artistic, personal, and financial, about putting on a show. What both the earlier films do and what Synecdoche, New York fails to do is to give you a sense of the joys as well as the agonies of creation. If creative work was as dreary as Kaufman makes it out to be, nobody would be doing it.
It probably would not make a lot of difference if the film had a different director, but Kaufman certainly does not help his own script. He makes the basic rookie mistake most people do when they direct their first feature: he lets the actors talk too slowly. It may look realistic on the set, but it seems slow on film. It also kills the comic rhythm, as in the scene with the doctor who keeps saying “No.” I think if the playing were goosed up a little bit, it might be funny. Kaufman the director does not have as much of an interesting visual style as the directors who have shot his previous scripts, which drags down the film even more. The script is not good enough for the repetitive two-shots and close-ups Kaufman uses. Sometimes writers should not be allowed to direct. Hopefully, since Kaufman is a smart as well as talented fellow, he will do better in the future both as writer and director. I, for one, hope so.
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist(2008. Screenplay by Lorene Scafaria, based on the novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. 91 minutes): In my last column (US#9), I wrote about how we decide to go to see a particular film. That is an issue with this film as well.
My wife and I saw the trailer for this and thought it looked cute. We are great fans of Michael Cera, who plays Nick, from Arrested Development and Juno. On the other hand, it was hardly aimed at our demographic, and how much contemporary music could we listen to without going deaf? The reviews were reasonably good, but still. Then one review caught my eye, since it mentioned something none of the trailers, ads, or other reviews had bothered to mention. While Nick is straight, the two other members of his band are gay. And apparently no big deal was made of it in the film. So how does the film handle that? Very well, thank you, mainly by not making a big deal out of it. It is just a given that everybody in the film accepts, and it appears the audiences are accepting it as well.
There is more to the film than that. It is only 90 minutes long and does not overstay its welcome. But beyond the question of length, it is a beautifully proportioned movie. Scafaria has balanced the characters so that this is not just Nick’s story, but also Norah’s story. Both are given full development as characters, within the limitations of the romantic dramedy structure. The supporting characters are nicely drawn, both gay and straight. No scene runs longer than it needs to, and Scafaria balances the Nick and Norah dialogue scenes with virtually silent scenes of Norah’s drunk friend Caroline staggering around New York.
The script is also good at giving the actors scenes to play. It would have been easy, and lazy, just to set up Nick as another of Michael Cera’s baffled adolescents. In films like Juno and Superbad he is the straight man to the other wacky characters. Here Scafaria has given him more to do, and Cera responds with his best and most varied performance. He is still using his deadpan look, but using it as effectively as Buster Keaton used his. And it turns out Cera has a killer smile when he needs it; not a Julia-Roberts-twenty-million-dollars-a-picture dazzler, but one that is right for the character. Scafaria’s Caroline is a wonderful opportunity for the fearless Ari Gaynor, especially in her toilet scene, which I will not spoil for you. And Scafaria realizes that Nick’s yellow Yugo is a major character in the film, so it gets its own star entrance scene.
Scafaria also balances the script with details that we only learn slowly over the course of the film. Norah, unlike Nick and his Yugo, is introduced slowly. When Norah brushes past a doorman at a club, I assumed it was just efficiency on the part of the filmmakers. But when she keeps doing it, we suspect there may be more to it. Look at how long into the picture it takes before we find out about her background. Scafaria also can be delightfully misleading. Late in the picture, a recording system is left on and we assume it means somebody will hear what is being recorded. Guess again. The bit’s payoff is funny and charming, as well as something that I am sure helped the film keep a PG-13 rating.
And kudos also to the sound mixers: the music was not too loud.
The Rape of Europa(2006. Written by Richard Berge and Bonnie Cohen and Nichole Newnham, based on the book The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe’s Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War by Lynn H. Nicholas. 117 minutes): This documentary played brief theatrical runs earlier this year and is now out on DVD. It is also scheduled to be shown on PBS in November, so you have no excuse for missing it.
As the subtitle of Nicholas’s book pretty much tells you, this is about the efforts of the Allies to protect the art treasures of Europe during the Second World War. From a writing point it is particularly interesting because of its main line of development. In order to break through the German lines at Cassino in Italy in early 1944, the Allies bombed the monastery on Monte Cassino. There was an outcry over this, and the Allies became determined to do what they could to protect the treasures of Europe. Several months later, for example, the bombing of the German rail lines in Florence became a precision bombing raid that destroyed the rail lines without hurting anything else. As the film progresses, the steps by the Allies to protect what they can get more and more complex. And the issue becomes even more difficult as they discover how much art the Nazis have looted and hidden. Some documentaries just dribble off after they have made their main points. This is a film that gets more interesting and compelling the longer it goes on. It is one of the few films, either fiction or documentary, that I wanted to be longer. What happened then? What did we do next? I suppose they had to stop somewhere, but as the film makes clear, the story is still going on.
Elizabeth: The Golden Age(2007. Written by William Nicholson and Michael Hirst. 114 minutes): This is another one I missed in theatres and picked up on HBO.
Officially this is the sequel to the good 1998 film Elizabeth, but it is more an unofficial remake of the 1955 costumer The Virgin Queen. In that potboiler, the Queen is enchanted by Sir Walter Raleigh, who falls in love with one of her ladies-in-waiting. Much yelling ensues, since Elizabeth is played by Bette Davis.
I get the feeling that Elizabeth: The Golden Age may have started out as something different. The 1998 Elizabeth was about her coming to power, and the current film focuses to a large degree on her dealing with the threat of Mary of Scotland and the Spanish Armada. The most interesting plot elements involve her and her Chief of Homeland Security, Sir Francis Walsingham, trying to outwit Mary and her Spanish supporters. The potentially best scene in the script, which is unfortunately rushed over, is Walsingham realizing he has played right into the hands of the Spanish. Which means the Big Finish of the film is the Brits beating the Spanish Armada.
So what does all that have to do with Sir Walter Raleigh and his girlfriend? Not a damned thing. But the film spends more time than it should on the love “triangle,” which means that when we get down to dealing with Armada, the film implies that Raleigh was deeply involved in the battle. Sir Francis Drake, the real genius behind the battle, is reduced to not a lot more than a walk-on. I suppose people with no knowledge of the actual events won’t care, but for some of us…
It’s just like the old days in Hollywood. Darryl F. Zanuck was producing the 1935 biopic Cardinal Richelieu. Screenwriter Nunnally Johnson had Zanuck hire Cameron Rogers as an historical advisor. When Rogers objected to something as historically wrong, Zanuck thought for a minute and said, “Aw, the hell with you. Nine out of ten people are going to think he’s Rasputin anyway.”
Till the End of Time(1946. Screenplay by Allen Rivkin, based on the novel They Dream of Home by Niven Busch. 105 minutes): And this rarity was one I picked up on Turner Classic Movies.
This 1946 movie is about three GIs returning home after the end of the war, and one of them is dealing with artificial limbs he acquired after being wounded in combat. No, it is not The Best Years of Our Lives, which came out a few months later and won critical praise and a pile of Academy Awards.
Till the End of Time is the working class version of Lives, a little grittier and less sentimental. Cliff Harper ends up with a job in a factory, and William Tabeshaw loses the money he was saving to buy a ranch to some gamblers. The big finish is not a wedding as in Lives, but a brawl in a bar that would have felt right at home in a B western. Rivkin’s script has some nice characterization and some lovely moments, such as Cliff’s homecoming. He had hoped to surprise his parents, but they are out when he arrives. So he simply walks around the house, looking at everything he obviously remembers from growing up there. That’s a lovely idea for a scene, but it does not work here. Edward Dmytryk was not the director William Wyler was, but then who was? Dmytryk’s problem is that Cliff, the lead in the film, is played by Guy Madison, at the beginning of his career. He had been spotted by David O. Selznick and put into a small part in Since You Went Away. He was a great looking guy and effective in that part, but he has neither the emotional or vocal expressiveness to carry a lead in his second film. He is rather blank-faced and we don’t really get what he is feeling about the house. Look at Jane Darwell as Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath sorting through her family heirlooms to see what this scene should have been.
Madison later improved a bit and went on to star in westerns on television and in the movies, where his limited acting talent was obscured by horses, guns, cowboys, and Indians. Here he has scenes with Dorothy McGuire and Robert Mitchum, both early in their careers, and they blow him off the screen. Bill Williams, who also later went on to star in westerns, plays the vet with the artificial legs and he brings a real edginess to the part. Even more that Oscar-winner Harold Russell, a real wounded vet, did to his similar role in Lives.
Till the End of Time was produced by Dore Schary, who mentions it only in passing in his memoir. Schary was a nice guy. Samuel Goldwyn produced Lives. Sometimes you need a real son of a bitch as producer to protect the script.
30 Rock(2008. Episode “Do-over” written by Tina Fey. 30 minutes): A Sweeps episode. And also the season opener.
I am writing this on the morning of November 4th, but by the time you read this, you will probably know if Tina Fey is going to have to continue her brilliant Sarah Palin impression for another four years or not. As much as I love the impression—I think Fey does Palin better than Palin does—on the basis of this season opening episode of 30 Rock, I really want her back doing serious work on 30 Rock.
One brief digression on Fey as Palin before I get into the episode. Did anyone else find the opening sketch of the November 1st Saturday Night Live as extraordinary as I did? Here was John McCain making fun of himself and his campaign, which he was good at, having had a lot of practice with Leno and Letterman. But here also was Fey’s devastating parody of his running mate, which, along with Palin’s own ineptitude, has done a lot to hurt McCain’s campaign. Had McCain given up on the campaign by then, or did he really think he was going to pull it out, which may happen? Or was he so irritated at being saddled by the conservatives with a running mate who was losing him votes that he was perfectly willing to be a part of satirizing her “going rogue”? Can you imagine any other presidential candidate in your lifetime going on television to satirize his own running mate three days before the election? Well, as everybody said, this was an historic election.
Ah yes, 30 Rock. You remember how they used to say that Seinfeld was a show “about nothing”? It was not. Each episode was incredibly densely packed. Watch an episode and then try to explain the plot of it to somebody. It ain’t easy. 30 Rock has finally hit that peak with this episode. It brings back Jack from his job in Washington and gets him his old job back. In other words, another of those “We have to clean up last season’s cliffhanger and get things back to normal” plotlines. Here it goes by so quickly you don’t have time to think about it. The main plot of the episode is Liz dealing with Bev, a woman from an adoption agency. Liz wants to adopt, which will be a running storyline throughout the season. Bev inspects Liz’s work environment and gets knocked out by nunchucks. Where did they come from? That’s a whole other plotline. Bev loses her memory and Liz gets a do-over at the office. The gags here come from what we know by the beginning of the third season about these characters. So does the do-over work? Not a chance.
The show is touting its upcoming guest stars, but they could tout the writing.
ER (2008. Episode “Haunted” written by Karen Maser. 60 minutes): A Sweeps episode.
Time to bring back another character and get rid of him. In this case it is Dr. Ray Barnett, a doctor who had an affair with Neela that did not end well, to put it politely. He walked out into the street and lost his legs in an accident. He now shows up, having been off for a year doing rehabilitation medicine in Baton Rouge, mostly dealing with veterans. (Make up your own connection to Till the End of Time). What we get are some nice scenes with Ray and Neela, although Maser is going more for the soap opera elements than she really needs to. At least Ray and Neela part as friends. He does not get blown up or have a helicopter dropped on him. We have a lot of people to say goodbye to and a little restraint is appreciated.
Desperate Housewives (2008. Episode “There’s Always a Woman” written by John Paul Bullock. 60 minutes): A Sweeps episode.
Desperate Housewives is finally getting back into the groove in this episode. Mrs. McCluskey decides to hide out with her sister, Roberta, giving them a great scene in the hospital where Mrs. McCluskey makes the proposition. Roberta is even more of a loose cannon than Mrs. McCluskey is, which promises to be fun, especially since Roberta is played by Lily Tomlin, who has great chemistry with Kathryn Joosten.
Susan and Jackson make an attempt to start from scratch in a lovely little scene in which they talk on cellphones with him outside her window.
Carlos inadvertently gives one of the women at the club an orgasm while he massages her. She asks him to accompany her on a trip to Europe, apparently not aware he knows what he has done. Gabby objects until the woman, Mrs. Hildebrand, suggests taking Gabby along too, since they will be looking at fashion shows. It sounds relatively innocent, until a look on Mrs. Hildebrand’s face suggests otherwise. She is played, after all, by Frances Conroy, Ruth Fisher from Six Feet Under, and you do not bring in somebody that high powered just to waste them in a nice little old lady part.
And best of all is Lynette’s assumption that Tom is having an affair with Anne Schilling, a real estate woman who is also the mother of one of her kid’s classmates. We think he is too, or else that Dave is setting him up. What we and Tom discover that Lynette does not is that it is their son Porter having the affair. MILF, indeed. And is Lynette eventually going to find out? Probably. But will she feel guilty because Porter is the one she was flirting with on-line in a previous episode…
So, nice scenes and great setups for future episodes. Can’t beat that.
Mad Men(2008. Episode “Meditations on an Emergency” written by Matthew Weiner & Kater Gordon. 50 minutes): This was the season finale, and I wish I’d liked it more.
It is October 1962 and we get the Cuban Missile Crisis, complete with one of Kennedy’s television speeches. Everyone is worried about the possibility of nuclear war, and the episode captures the feeling of fear of the time. I was on the East Coast then, and it seemed like old times. But putting that against the possible sale and/or disintegration of SC seemed rather obvious, especially in the scenes with the “guys” in the office trying to find out what was going on. The “guys” did not seem as well-defined as they usually are.
Don finally returned to SC, but he and everybody there seemed remarkably casual about his absence. And he did not seem in any particular hurry to catch up on his work. And he seemed, at least a first, to have almost no response to the news of the sale. One would have expected, given the level of writing and acting on this show, that we would see something that would tell us that he was at least thinking about it.
Betty learns that she is pregnant, and deliberating disobeying the doctor’s orders, goes horseback riding. We know why she is doing it: she doesn’t want the baby. A little, but not enough, is made of her considering an abortion. Keep in mind that abortion was illegal then, Roe v. Wade eleven years in the future. More could have been done with this.
Peggy finally tells Pete that she had his baby. He is of course shocked. It is a good scene, but not a great one. Matthew Weiner, in an interview in the Los Angeles Times the morning the episode ran, said of the scene and Elizabeth Moss’s performance, “We’ve given her the best scene of her career.” It was not. It never gets under the surface of the scene the way the best of the Mad Men scenes do.
When Weiner and the writers are on the money, they make it look easy. It’s not, especially on a show like this that depends on nuance and detail. As an example of how difficult it is, look at the Mad Men parody on Saturday Night Live the night before the episode ran. Even though they had Jon Hamm, John Slattery, and Elizabeth Moss, the parody still did not work. To do Mad Men or even a parody of it right, the writers have to bring their best game.
Well, there is always next season.
I did not find out, by the way, until well after I had written this, that Andrew Johnston, who did the wonderfully detailed episode recaps of Mad Men for The House Next Door, had died. Unlike many of the people who commented on Matt Zoller Seitz’s season wrap, I did not know Johnston, but I followed his pieces on this show religiously. Like one of those commenting, I found myself asking why there suddenly were not any pieces from him. Now I know. But in keeping with Matt’s suggestion that we should talk about the show rather than Andrew, let me point out that it is one of the few shows on television that can stand up to the kind of extraordinary intellectual analysis that Andrew gave it. Yes, you can talk about the mythology of Lost and Heroes, but Mad Men demands the kind of thinking about that Andrew gave it. He and his insights will be missed.
Tom Stempel is the author of several books on film. His most recent is Understanding Screenwriting: Learning From Good, Not-Quite-So Good, and Bad Screenplays.
[email protected]: Season 2, Episode 6 (24), “Waiting for Jürgen”
Review: Pray the Devil Back to Hell
2015 Emmy Winner Predictions
Mad Men Recap: Season 7, Episode 14, “Person to Person”
Mad Men Recap: Season 7, Episode 13, “The Milk and Honey Route”
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Kevin Feige on When We Will Finally See a Gay Character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Posted on Monday, June 29th, 2015 by Peter Sciretta
We saw a landmark ruling last week as the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. This was on my mind as I sat down with Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige over the weekend. I put the question out there: when will we finally see a LGBT character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Get his answer, after the jump.
When Will There Be a Gay Marvel Cinematic Universe Character?
Here is what Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige told me when I asked him “When will we finally see a LGBT character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?”
“The answer is, there is no reason why that can’t happen any time soon. You know, we pull the characters from the comics, for the most part, and they’ve been forging new ground for decades in the comics. They’ve been very progressive in the comics. And even more recently in a very important and progressive way. And we keep track of all of those things and are inspired by all of those things, so I’d love it to find an organic, meaningful and natural way for that to happen at some point in the not so distant future.”
So it sounds like the Marvel brain trust will be working to make this happen sooner than later. Disney has always been a very progressive company, so I don’t doubt it will happen. And Feige is right, the comic books have been very progressive for years. The Marvel Wikia lists 129 homosexual characters who have appeared in the Marvel comic books. And yes, while this is a very small number compared to the 7,000 characters in the company’s comic book history, they have been trying.
Recently Marvel revealed Iceman/Bobby Drake to be gay in a storyline in All New X-Men #40, which is nothing new for the series. Alpha Flight‘s Northstar came out in 1992, and in 2012 they had a mainstream newsworthy cover featuring Northstar’s wedding (see header image).
On the television side, fans were disappointed that Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD featured the character Victoria Hand but refused to acknowledge the character’s sexuality from the comic books. It certainly sounds like the theatrical team at Marvel Studios is more proactive and is hoping soon to bring a more diverse set of characters to the big screen.
‘The Eternals’ Casting Rumors Addressed by Millie Bobby Brown, Kumail Nanjiani, and Kevin Feige
Kevin Feige Compares ‘Black Widow’ Movie to ‘Better Call Saul’
Kevin Feige Wants Keanu Reeves in the MCU, Says Venom/Spider-Man Crossover Movie is “Likely”
The Real Mandarin Will Show Up At Some Point in the MCU, Kevin Feige Confirms
/Featured Stories Sidebar, Action/Adventure, Comic Book/Superhero, Gay, Marvel Studios, Kevin-Feige
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1 In 20 US Kids May Have Fetal Alcohol Disorders
7 February 2018, 6:35 am EST By Allan Adamson Tech Times
More children in the United States live with brain damage from prenatal drinking than earlier thought, findings of a new study have revealed.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, or FASD, are a group of conditions marked by abnormal facial features, abnormal growth, behavioral problems and intellectual disabilities. They are the effect of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
"Alcohol in the mother's blood passes to the baby through the umbilical cord. When a woman drinks alcohol, so does her baby," the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
"To prevent FASDs, a woman should not drink alcohol while she is pregnant, or when she might get pregnant."
Experts previously estimated that only 1 percent of children in the United States are affected by FASD, but findings of the new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Tuesday, Feb. 6, suggest that up to one in 20 children could be affected.
Christina Chambers, from the University of California San Diego, and colleagues evaluated 6,600 first-grade students at four sites in the Southeast, Midwest, Pacific Southwest, and Rocky Mountain. The children underwent detailed evaluations and their mothers were interviewed about their lifestyle during pregnancy, which include smoking, drug use, drinking habits, and prenatal care.
By conservative estimates, Chambers and colleagues found that FASD affected between 1 percent to 5 percent of the children. A less conservative estimate brings the range from about 3 percent to 10 percent of the children.
"The conservative estimates assume that every child who didn't participate in the study didn't have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder," Chambers explained. "The flip side of the coin says that instead of the denominator being all eligible children, it is only those children for whom we had sufficient information to classify them -- a much smaller number."
Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy
Prenatal drinking is one of the most common causes of intellectual disability. It remains unclear though just how little a pregnant woman could drink without causing harm to her unborn child.
Many health organization and agencies advice against drinking alcohol during pregnancy, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC, but about half of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned.
Women in the early stages of their pregnancies may still be drinking when they are not aware they are pregnant. Chambers earlier advised women to observe precautions so they would not inadvertently harm their unborn child.
"Women of childbearing age who drink alcohol should consider their pattern of drinking. For example, avoid binge drinking and avoid pregnancy as long as they are drinking. If pregnancy is planned, then alcohol can be discontinued," Chambers said.
alcohol, Babies, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Pregnancy
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Mixing Energy Drink And Alcohol Poses Serious Risks
Alcohol And Cancer: Even Moderate Drinking Can Increase Your Risk
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Hoarding as a Mental Health Issue Having launched the first service program in the Greater Spokane area for individuals self-identifying with hoarding behaviors, provides a better understanding of this mental health disorder. Ceci Garrett is the founder and Executive Director of Lightening the Load, a ministry that works to connect those in the Spokane area with…
Jonathan Wisor, PH.D.
2015 Event, Design, TEDxSpokane Speakers, Uncategorized, 24 Nov, 2015
A researcher at the world’s leading sleep institute unlocks the secrets to a better night’s sleep, which he says we all need more of to perform better at work and in life. Dr. Wisor is an Associate Professor of Medical Sciences at the WSU Spokane Health Sciences Campus. He runs the Wisor Lab to identify…
2015 Event, Entertainment, TEDxSpokane Speakers, 24 Nov, 2015
Myth Busting Wine. Sarah invites wine enthusiasts and novices alike to shed the pretense as she busts myths about how to learn about wine and to enjoy it for its own sake. Sarah is a well-traveled wine lover who grew up on a cherry and apple farm in SE Washington State. Her agricultural roots help…
2015 Event, Entertainment, TEDxSpokane Speakers, Uncategorized, 24 Nov, 2015
Food As Ministry. Bob takes a pastoral approach to cooking and food and reflects on what it means to be a chef and Food Network star in a time when people want to make meaning of sharing a meal together Award-winning Chef, Robert Lombardi is a member of the American Culinary Federation and holds various…
Receiving Life in Ancestral Blueprints. Lisa shares how her work as a psychotherapist with individuals, couples, and families inspires her perspective on U.S. history, belonging, ancestors, race, and love. Lisa is the Founding Director of the Center for Ancestral Blueprints where she developed programs such as the Family Matters Immersion Series, An Embodied Conversation with…
2015 Event, Design, TEDxSpokane Speakers, 24 Nov, 2015
Words, Not Ideas: How to Write a Book. A professional writer who also coaches other writers, helps us find ways to dust off our manuscript and finish that masterpiece that’s been calling our name from under those piles of aspirations. Mattie John Bamman is a writer and editor focused on food, travel, and poetry. Wine,…
Active as a classically trained cellist as well as a rock vocalist and drummer, Tim Gales blends the styles and sensibilities of the rock and classical worlds in his compositions. Having studied cello under Dr. John Marshall, he has performed with the EWU Symphony Orchestra and with EWU chamber ensembles, as well as staging recitals…
Personal Leadership. Transformational life experiences are opportunities to refine a personal leadership philosophy. Matt will share his harrowing near-death experience that launched his inner journey that has shaped his approach to life, love and teaching. Dr. Matthew Chase is a professor of Recreation and Tourism Management at Eastern Washington University. He also serves as Co-chair…
Aesthetic Populism. Digital artist and cultural promoter strives to create art and curate window diplays for the masses and encourages you to seek out beauty around you. Alan Chatham uses art and technology to improve public spaces in creative ways. Formerly a researcher studying how people play in urban spaces and how they interact with…
Inventor and Founder of iCpooch. A great idea helped Brooke launch her entrepreneurial career and landed her on Shark Tank. Her passion for solving problems and business keeps her inventing new solutions for pooches and people alike. Brooke is a 15-year-old entrepreneur from Spokane, Washington. Her career was launched at Startup Weekend Spokane in the Fall…
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Amazon.com looks to fill 7,000 jobs in 13 states
Jul 30, 2013 at 5:00 AM Jul 30, 2013 at 9:03 AM
NEW YORK � Amazon.com Inc. says it is adding 7,000 jobs in 13 states, beefing up staff at the warehouses where it fills orders, and in its customer service division.
The company says it will add 5,000 full-time jobs at its U.S. distribution centers, which currently employ about 20,000 workers who pack and ship customer orders.
The world's largest online retailer has been spending heavily on order fulfillment, a strategy meant to help the business grow, but one that has also weighed on profit margins. The company said last week that it lost money in the second quarter, even as revenue increased.
Distribution center jobs are available in Phoenix; Middletown, Del.; Patterson, San Bernardino and Tracy, Calif.; Indianapolis and Jeffersonville, Ind.; Hebron, Ky.; Breinigsville, Pa.; Charleston and Spartanburg, S.C.; Chattanooga and Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Coppell, Haslet and San Antonio, Texas, and Chester, Va.
President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit the Chattanooga facility Tuesday, according to the White House.
The company is also adding 2,000 jobs in customer service, including full time, part time and seasonal. Jobs are available in Winchester, Ky.; Grand Forks, N.D.; Kennewick, Wash. and Huntington, W.Va. Work from home positions are available in Oregon, Washington and Arizona.
More information is at www.workatamazonfulfillment.com and www.amazon.com/csjobs.
© Copyright 2006-2019 GateHouse Media, LLC. All rights reserved • GateHouse Most Recent
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QuickTime < 7.7.2 Multiple Vulnerabilities (Windows)
High Nessus Plugin ID 59113
The remote Windows host contains an application that may be affected by multiple vulnerabilities.
The version of QuickTime installed on the remote Windows host is older than 7.7.2 and may be affected by the following vulnerabilities :
- An uninitialized memory access issue exists in the handling of MP4 encoded files. (CVE-2011-3458)
- An off-by-one buffer overflow exists in the handling of rdrf atoms in QuickTime movie files. (CVE-2011-3459)
- A stack-based buffer overflow exists in the QuickTime plugin's handling of PNG files. (CVE-2011-3460)
- A stack-based buffer overflow exists in QuickTime's handling of file paths. (CVE-2012-0265)
- A buffer overflow exists in the handling of audio sample tables. (CVE-2012-0658)
- An integer overflow exists in the handling of MPEG files. (CVE-2012-0659)
- An integer underflow exists in QuickTime's handling of audio streams in MPEG files. (CVE-2012-0660)
- A use-after-free issue exists in the handling of JPEG2000 encoded movie files. (CVE-2012-0661)
- Multiple stack overflows exist in QuickTime's handling of TeXML files. (CVE-2012-0663)
- A heap overflow exists in QuickTime's handling of text tracks. (CVE-2012-0664)
- A heap overflow exists in the handling of H.264 encoded movie files. (CVE-2012-0665)
- A stack-based buffer overflow exists in the QuickTime plugin's handling of QTMovie objects. (CVE-2012-0666)
- A signedness issue exists in the handling of QTVR movie files. (CVE-2012-0667)
- A buffer overflow exists in QuickTime's handling of Sorenson encoded movie files. (CVE-2012-0669)
- An integer overflow exists in QuickTime's handling of sean atoms. (CVE-2012-0670)
- A memory corruption issue exists in the handling of .pict files. (CVE-2012-0671)
Upgrade to QuickTime 7.7.2 or later.
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-12-075/
http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-12-103/
https://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/523524/30/0/threaded
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202472
https://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2012/May/msg00005.html
File Name: quicktime_772.nasl
Temporal Vector: CVSS2#E:H/RL:OF/RC:C
CPE: cpe:/a:apple:quicktime
Required KB Items: SMB/QuickTime/Version
Exploitable With
Core Impact
Metasploit (Apple QuickTime TeXML Style Element Stack Buffer Overflow)
CVE: CVE-2011-3458, CVE-2011-3459, CVE-2011-3460, CVE-2012-0265, CVE-2012-0658, CVE-2012-0659, CVE-2012-0660, CVE-2012-0661, CVE-2012-0663, CVE-2012-0664, CVE-2012-0665, CVE-2012-0666, CVE-2012-0667, CVE-2012-0668, CVE-2012-0669, CVE-2012-0670, CVE-2012-0671
BID: 53465, 53467, 53469, 53571, 53574, 53576, 53577, 53578, 53579, 53580, 53582, 53583, 53584
EDB-ID: 19433
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I was choked up when Andy Murray announced retirement, says Bob Bryan
In a press conference at the Australian Open, Bob Bryan recalled how it felt like for him to learn about Andy Murray's possible retirement from professional tennis. Bryan, who underwent a hip surgery like Murray last year, said: "I was choked up when he announced his retirement.
I stayed up till 3 in the morning watching all the tributes on social media. It really hit a nerve with me. I mean, he's a special guy. No one has a heart like him. I think you guys saw the response he got from everyone. Then the match out there, how he just left it all out there.
I mean, it's a little bit hard to watch because we hate to see athletes in pain. But he just fights through it like crazy. It's unbelievable." Bryan also spoke about how he could help Murray in giving him advice and suggestions: "I just represent an option for him.
That guy does everything you can possibly do as far as training and rehab. He's talked to a million specialists. But I'm really the only guy to be playing on tour with a metal hip. So he's been watching me like a hawk, asking me how I'm feeling after matches, after practices, where I'm at.
He's just trying to gauge how long it would take him, if this procedure is an option. Yeah, I'm just trying to be supportive. I never once told him this is the way to go because I do see that singles is a different monster.
Those guys are really sliding around, killing themselves for four hours. Who knows if this joint would hold up." ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal: Worse players than David Ferrer won a Grand Slam title
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You are here: Home / Archives for Condolence on loss of father
Condolence on loss of father
State Funerall for former President Le Duc Anh
March 5, 2019 chinhphu Leave a Comment
11: 08 a.m: The memorial service concluded and his coffin was taken to the hearse. Le Duc Anh's funeral procession makes its way through Ba Dinh Square to the Noi Bai International Airport. His body will be taken to Ho Chi Minh City. The funeral ceremony will be held at 17:00 the same day at the Ho Chi Minh City Cemetery. Le Duc Anh's funeral procession General Le Duc Anh, who served as President of Viet Nam from September 1992 to December 1997, passed away on April 22 at the age of 99. The funeral procession goes by Ba Dinh Square in Ha Noi **************************************** ****************** 10: 45 a.m: Memorial service begins Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said more than 1,000 delegations came to pay respects to later President Le Duc Anh in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and hometown Thua Thien-Hue this morning. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc reads the funeral oration Prime … [Read more...] about State Funerall for former President Le Duc Anh
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Thousands bid final farewell to former PM Phan Van Khai
March 21, 2018 dtinews Leave a Comment
Many people have lined up along the street for the burial service of former prime minister Phan Van Khai on March 22. The tribute-paying and memorial ceremonies for the former PM who passed away on March 17, were held on March 20-21. About 108,000 people, including 231 international delegations, came to pay tribute at the International Convention Centre in Hanoi and Thong Nhat Conference Hall in Ho Chi Minh City. At 6.15 am on March 22, hundreds of people already gathered in front of the Reunification Palace. Secretary-General Nguyen Phu Trong delivered a funeral oration at 7.30 am about the former PM's life and achievements as an outstanding leader of Vietnam. He also offered condolences to Khai's family. "Farewell. The Vietnamese people and government will unify to follow the path chosen by President Ho Chi Minh, for a democratic, strong, fair and civilised country," Trong said. "You will continue to live in the memory of Vietnamese people." Phan Minh Hoan, Phan Van Khai's son, … [Read more...] about Thousands bid final farewell to former PM Phan Van Khai
News, Vietnam First Final Farewell Tour, final farewell poem, toyota phan van tri, Phan Van Hon, bid farewell message, bid farewell speech, bid farewell email, bid farewell quotes, bid farewell to colleague, bidding farewell quotes, incredible adventures of van helsing final cut, bidding farewell to a colleague, a thousand farewells by nahlah ayed, bidding farewell speech
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Simmonds on form again at Tokyo World Cup
09 November 2013 / 13:41
In-form British swimmer Lizzie Simmonds extended her recent medal run with two silvers on the opening day of the Tokyo leg of the short course World Cup.
After claiming two silvers and a bronze at the previous leg in Singapore three days ago, the 22-year-old was again on form in the 50m and 200m backstrokes.
She finished just 0.01 seconds behind Brazil’s Etiene Medeiros in the shorter distance, touching in 26.62 seconds to lower her English 50m record.
While in the 200m, Simmonds, who finished fourth in the same distance at the London 2012 Olympics last year, clocked 2:02.34 minutes behind Daryna Zevina of Ukraine.
Elsewhere on day one, Olympic silver medallist Michael Jamieson continued his record of medalling in all seven of this year’s World Cup legs with a bronze in the men’s 200m breaststroke.
The 25-year-old touched in 2:04.32 behind Daniel Gyurta and Yasuhiro Koseki while Sophie Allen clocked the second fastest time of her career to take bronze in the 200m medley.
Her time of 2:06.39 earned her a medal for the fifth consecutive leg of this year’s World Cup series, while teammate Siobhan-Marie O’Connor finished seventh in the same race.
Allen also claimed fourth in the 100m breaststroke, the same result managed by Fran Halsall in the 50m freestyle, while James Guy finished fifth in the 400m freestyle.
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keyboard_backspaceBACK TO NEWS
INTERVIEW: Amanda Bridgeman On Inspiration, Getting Noticed & More
Written by Chris Daniel - October 24, 2018 Daniel Cribb
With esteemed novelist Amanda Bridgeman set to join a star-studded guest list at Supanova next month, we caught up with her to talk about her influences and most importantly, her passion.
“It’s hard work, there is a lot of discipline,” Bridgeman says in response to her writing. “I’m a workaholic, but it’s finally starting to pay off.”
Australia is known for having a very concentrated entertainment industry, sometimes making it difficult for creative minds to express themselves without restriction. Though daunting, the fight is strong, thus the extensive novella series Bridgeman has introduced her audience to.
The Aurora series is as complex as it is engaging, a rare insight into the complications encountered in space. Defined by Bridgeman, “[Aurora] is a series that starts out as a self-contained story of a young sharpshooter that joins a space station crew who are sent on a mission to investigate a loss of communications.”
“With each book, the crew must navigate through certain challenges, but there is an overarching story that develops with a major revelation in book four, which blows it from a small story into an epic adventure.”
It was never intended to go the direction it inevitably did, as Aurora remains as an unfinished screenplay. “I actually sat down to write the screenplay, but then I realised how long it had been since university so I was a bit rusty,” Bridgeman laughs.
“I hadn’t figured out enough of the storyline, so I began writing it as a novel and by that point, the series had started.”
With Aurora: Aurizun (the seventh book in the series) soon to be released, it is obvious strong science fiction roots have grounded themselves in Bridgeman’s life far before her work as a novelist.
“I grew up with three older brothers, so I was exposed to action films growing up, and I would gravitate towards those more than I would a rom-com,” she tells.
“I first started writing novels when I was a teenager, but when I was writing them I was basically writing them as movies in my head.”
A lot of authors can agree that the mind can piece together a story cinematically, helping to drive the narrative before pen meets paper. “Films have always been a massive inspiration for me, because in my mind a novel is a film, but one that you perhaps not direct yourself, but have the ability to dress the sets, choose the actors who play the characters, you have full control,” she says.
“Story inspiration can come from anywhere, be it a newspaper story you have read, a new piece of tech that is coming out, a conversation that you have had. Inspiration can come from anywhere, but there are still strong filmic elements embedded.”
On her blog, Bridgeman invites numerous authors to talk about their craft and how they manage to get into that headspace.
“Most of them I had met at different conventions, others I have either recently read their work or haven’t had a chance to yet but definitely took an interest. It’s a bit of a mixture really,” she says.
These interviews allow the authors to connect on a common ground, sharing not only their struggles in the industry but their successes.
“There is a phenomenal amount of self-published work out there, so it’s a very competitive market to get your book noticed,” she tells.
“I do find most writers tend to help each other out and are genuinely interested in other people’s work. We all have a common understanding of how hard it is, and to get the reviews and try to get eyes on the book.”
Her own struggles undoubtedly made her stronger, publishing the Aurora series alongside The Time of the Stripes and The Subjugate. Though that’s not to say there were some rough stages, helping to formulate her unique writing style.
“There is a lot of focus on literary over genre, in terms of trying to get into newspapers of commercial outlets, they are just not that interested in genre unless you are like Stephen King or someone of that nature,” she says.
“It’s hard to get support for local artists; sometimes it feels like you have to go overseas to make it big. Australia is a much smaller market so there are fewer opportunities for exposure in some regards.”
Attending Supanova Adelaide and Brisbane next month, Bridgeman will be appearing alongside a few other familiar faces from the literary realm. Retaining a strong opinion of pop culture from her personal perspective, Bridgeman describes it to be a fundamental part of life.
“Without pop culture and fandoms, I don’t think any artist or writer would actually exist,” she suggests. “We create what we create but it’s nothing if you don’t have an audience. It’s the audience that makes us who we are.
“Some writers are just happy to do it for themselves and don’t care if no one reads it, but for me, it’s the people who read and enjoy the books, that’s why I write. We are nothing without the fandom.”
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https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Asian-heritage-more-popular-with-kids-today-3282354.php
Asian heritage more popular with kids today
Jeff Yang
My generation bristled at any implication of foreignness. We were Asian American, accent on the second word, and we wanted to create a hard distinction between our native culture and that of our overseas ancestors.
We took defiant pride in our ability to speak fluently without a trace of ethnic taint. And we were so deeply wounded by the thoughtless schoolyard chants of childhood that any media image that isn't dominant and heroic and handsome still feels to us like a punch in the gut, a reminder of finger-slanted eyes and bucked-out teeth.
This current generation, on the other hand, has flipped the polarity of our identity. They're Asian American - American being a given, an understanding, while Asianness is their source of distinction and, more often than not, pride.
To a generation growing up on "Ni Hao Kai-Lan" and "Jackie Chan Adventures" and "American Dragon: Jake Long," Chinese is cool. Just like Naruto and Nintendo have made Japanese cool. And K-pop and Korean dramas, bhangra and Bollywood have extended this sense of cool to Korea and India, too.
This generation sees its connection with Asia as an opportunity, not a handicap. They're planning summers, semesters abroad, even career paths that bring them across the Pacific. And they're choosing to learn Chinese and Korean and Japanese and Hindi, not because of parental harassment but because the only way to experience the stuff they're interested in firsthand is to own the language.
For them, Asian isn't just normal - it's aspirational.
Look forward, not back.
The disconnect between then and now isn't limited just to the differences between what this rising generation thinks and feels about itself; it's also expressed in the very channels we're using to communicate.
My generation of Asian Americans is obsessed with talking about our representation in television, cinema, pop music and print media. To this generation of 18-year-olds, however, television is fast becoming nothing more than a visual soundtrack - something to have on in the background while they're playing "World of Warcraft" and IMing with 12 friends at once. Movies and music are something you download (for free). And by the way ... what's a "magazine?"
I'm not saying it's not important to be represented in the bastions of traditional media. But the hearts and eyeballs of the under-18 set belong to other media - ones that give them modes of expression and interaction that many of their channel-surfing and bathroom-reading forebears have adopted only slowly, awkwardly and secondhand. If at all.
And although Asian Americans as a community are among the most sophisticated users of digital communications on the planet - 90 percent are online, and index higher on blogging, file sharing and social networking than any other ethnic group - it's surprising how few of our community's institutions have embraced social networks and user generated content, the preferred tools of the rising generation.
Meaning of being Asian
A surprising exception has been the venerable Asia Society, which until recently, has been most identified with antiquities and the business and political establishments. Currently, in celebration of APA Heritage Month, they've launched a new project: taking a camcorder to dozens of prominent Asian American leaders, celebrities and personalities, and asking them a single, basic question: "What does being Asian mean to you?" and then posting the results to YouTube, inviting viewers to contribute their own videos and comments.
According to Deanna Lee, the Asia Society's vice president of communications and the project's coordinator, "There are 100 million videos being watched on YouTube, and 65,000 new clips are being uploaded each day, so getting attention to this thing has taken a lot of effort."
But while Asia Society should be given credit for trying, "effort" is part of the problem. Social media should spread virally and grow organically. If it takes too much work, it's not being done right.
It's interesting to note that among the "official" responses, viewers of the Asia Society project have also been adding existing YouTube videos to the conversation, a sampling of oddball Asian American rants, musical satires and quirky, low-budget sketch comedy that already sits on the site. And while the instinctive reaction might be to see these cross-posts as spam - "You're not answering the question!" - the reality is that these clips reveal a lot more about what young people think it "means to be Asian" than the formal replies, in part because, larded with dorky, self-mocking humor and naive resourcefulness, they feel sincere and authentic, not polished and produced.
And that shows the way to the future. If we want to engage the next generation in a real discussion of Asian American identity, culture and community, it's time to stop focusing so heavily on the usual suspects: celebrities, politicians and last-generation pundits like me. People know what we're going to say, and they've probably already heard us saying it.
But take a look at the top five most-subscribed YouTube video channels of all time. You'll see that three of them are run by Asian Americans under age 21. Christine "HappySlip" Gambito has more than 156,000 followers, and has had her videos seen over 5.4 million times. Kevin "KevJumba" Wu has more than 187,000 subscribers, and counts more than 5.9 million viewers. And the slapstick goofs of Hilo, Hawaii's 17-year-old Ryan "nigahiga" Higa's slapstick goofs have drawn more than 285,000 committed watchers, who've viewed his channel more than 6 million times. That's hundreds of thousands of people already engaged in an ongoing discussion about perceptions and expectations, stereotypes and social situations, immigrant culture and popular culture.
Why not ask them what it "means to be Asian"?
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Autistic boys exposed to higher levels of hormones in womb, study finds
Study of amniotic fluid shows boys with autism had raised levels of testosterone, cortisol and other hormones in the womb
Ian Sample, science correspondent
@iansample
Tue 3 Jun 2014 03.59 EDT First published on Tue 3 Jun 2014 03.59 EDT
Results may help scientists unravel some of the underlying causes of autism. Photograph: Alamy
Research on children in Denmark has found that boys with autism were more likely to have been exposed to higher levels of hormones in their mother's wombs than those who developed normally.
Boys diagnosed with autism and related disorders had, on average, raised levels of testosterone, cortisol and other hormones in the womb, according to analyses of amniotic fluid that was stored after their mothers had medical tests during pregnancy.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence that the biological foundations of autism are laid down well before birth and involve factors that go beyond the child's genetic make-up.
The results may help scientists to unravel some of the underlying causes of autism and explain why boys are four to five times more likely to be diagnosed with the condition, which affects around one percent of the population.
Amniotic fluid surrounds babies in the womb and contains hormones and other substances that they have passed through their urine. The liquid is collected for testing when some women have an amniocentesis around four months into their pregnancy.
Scientists in Cambridge and Copenhagen drew on Danish medical records and biobank material to find amniotic fluid samples from 128 boys who were later diagnosed with autism. Compared to a control group, the boys with autism and related conditions had higher levels of four "sex steroid" hormones that form a biological production line in the body that starts with progesterone and ends with testosterone.
"In the womb, boys produce about twice as much testosterone as girls, but compared with typical boys, the autism group has even higher levels. It's a significant difference and may have a large effect on brain development," said Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University.
Because boys are naturally exposed to more testosterone in the womb, even a small rise in the hormone might put them in the risk range for autism. Levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, were also higher in the autism group. "From this study we can't say this is causal, but it is telling us that part of the biology of autism begins prenatally," Baron-Cohen added.
Previous work in animals has shown that testosterone plays a major role in shaping the male brain in the womb. The latest study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, will now be followed up, to answer whether high levels of hormones lead to more autism in girls, and why levels might rise in the womb in the first place.
The work does not aim to produce a prenatal test for autism, Asperger's syndrome, or milder, related conditions. In the study, some boys exposed to high levels of testosterone in the womb developed perfectly normally, while others exposed to low levels were diagnosed with autism. The results cannot indicate whether an individual will go on to develop autism or not.
Even if a test could predict autism, it would raise serious ethical issues. "A prenatal test that is used to make a decision to terminate a pregnancy could effectively be a form of eugenics. A prenatal test that is used for early detection, with a view to starting intervention in early postnatal life may be less ethically contentious, and would need to be evaluated for its benefits. But we are a long way from that at present," said Baron-Cohen.
He went on to warn that the study does not justify the use of drugs that block sex hormones as a treatment for autism. Drugs that do this have already been offered, inappropriately, to people with autism, but they could have damaging side effects and may do nothing to alter the brain once it has been shaped in the womb.
Richard Sharpe at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at Edinburgh University described the work as "pioneering".
"We now know that subtle variations in foetal development are an important determinant of later disease, which may be lifelong. Researching this in humans is incredibly difficult because of the obvious limitations in accessing what is happening in the foetus inside the womb," he said.
British feet getting longer and wider, say experts
Average British foot has increased by two shoe sizes over past 40 years, says College of Podiatry
Apple unveils move towards health and home in new iPhone software
Software will gather and store health-related data and offer integrated control for 'smart home' devices like lighting
NHS will cease to exist without reforms to secure funding, warns Frank Field
Ex-Labour minister says plan to raise 1p in national insurance should incorporate changes to tax system to make it fairer
Female genital mutilation poster campaign targets mothers and carers
Campaign launched in England and Wales calls on people with suspicions that a girl is at risk of FGM to call NSPCC helpline
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G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle - all the news & quotes
CITY ISLAND A FESTIVAL FIRST FOR RACE SPONSOR MULRYAN AND TRAINER MARTIN BRASSIL
8/1 chance City Island delivered an unforgettable Festival first for Ballymore's founder and chief executive Sean Mulryan and also for trainer Martin Brassil, who plotted a course for the six-year-old which kept him out of the top grade until the day that mattered most.
Mulryan, whose wife Bernadine is the registered owner and described winning as "absolutely brilliant", was thrilled and said: "It's a dream come true. It's my first winner in Cheltenham at The Festival, and to win our own race is very special. This is a magic place, and to win any race here is fantastic. We are very happy."
He added: "Martin is fantastic. He aimed the horse at this race all the season and gave him an easy campaign, so he was very fresh."
Brassil, who won the Randox Health Grand National with Numbersixvalverde in 2006 and trained dual Grade One winner Nickname, but victory here gave him huge satisfaction.
He said: "It's been a long time coming, but you need good horses. I wanted to bring the horse here unbeaten and then I thought we might have a chance of doing something good.
"He's a precocious sort of horse compared to some of those big, strong chasing types, and he'd pleased us every time.
"He was improving as he came along, but whether he was good enough to have his first Graded race in this place we didn't know. It's great to have a Festival winner on the CV. It's wonderful."
He added: "It was a very good performance. I was hoping that he might do something like that, but you never know because a lot of dreams are shattered here and luckily ours weren't.
"I liked him from the first time we did a swinging canter with him. He was weak enough and we gave him time. He had his first run at the Punchestown festival, when he was second in a bumper, and won a couple of weeks later.
"Sean likes to go to meetings like Galway and Listowel, so we put him by for Galway, when he won his maiden hurdle, but subsequently lost it. He went to Leopardstown at Christmas for a stiffer test and I ran him back over two miles just to sharpen the pencil for here and he won again.
"Then he won a novice at Naas, which left him spot on for here - we were hoping that it did anyway. The only anxious moment was running down to the second last, when he got a little bit tight, but he got himself out of it and he battled it out well from the last.
"This is the Olympics of National hunt racing and it's all championship stuff."
WALSH IS A CITY-SLICKER
Mark Walsh rode his second Grade One winner at the 2019 Festival™ when partnering City Island to victory in the G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.
The victory complemented Walsh's win on Espoir D'Allen in yesterday's G1 Unibet Champion Hurdle, as he and City Island (8/1) pulled away to win by two lengths from Champ (9/2) with Bright Forecast (25/1) a further two and a quarter lengths adrift in third.
Walsh said of the Martin Brassil-trained winner: "They went a good gallop and I was happy with my position the whole way. I got into a nice little position coming down to the third-last hurdle, and while it became a little bit rough at that point I got a nice run through to the second-last and he went on up the hill."
Reflecting on that incident after the third-last, when six horses were more or less level for the lead, Walsh said: "Bryan [Cooper, on Sam's Profile] was half a length up on me and wanted a bit more room and for a moment I was the meat in a sandwich. It didn't cost me as I still won the race, and it's just race-riding.
"We had gone a good gallop and it was his first Grade One race. I didn't want to put him in the race too early, so took my time early in mid-division. Once I got into the clear he proved very game and put his head down and galloped to the line.
"I don't think he's quick enough for a Champion Hurdle, but he will definitely stay three miles and I can see him being a possible Stayers' Hurdle type. He's a chaser for the future.
"Things are going well and hopefully I can bag a few more winners before the week's out."
1.30pm Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) £125,000
1 City Island (Bernardine Mulryan) Martin Brassil IRE 6-11-07 Mark Walsh 8/1
2 Champ (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 7-11-07 Barry Geraghty 9/2
3 Bright Forecast (The Aldaniti Partnership) Ben Pauling 5-11-07 Nico de Boinville 25/1
3/1 fav Battleoverdoyen (PU)
16 ran
Distances: 2, 2¼
Time: 5m 6.03s
Tote Win: £9.00 Places: £2.90, £2.10, £7.40 Exacta: £54.20
Martin Brassil - 1st winner at The Festival
Mark Walsh - 3rd winner at The Festival
CHAMP IS BEATEN
Nicky Henderson looked deflated after the well-fancied Champ, who appeared to be cruising coming round the final bend into the finishing straight, took second place in the G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. The J P McManus-owned seven-year-old, who is named after the former multiple champion jockey Sir A P McCoy, finished two lengths behind the Martin Brassil-trained 8/1 winner, City Island, at 9/2.
"He's run a good race and travelled very well," said Henderson. "He did nothing wrong. He was a bit keen at times but jumped well. He could go again; that was only his third run of the year."
Ben Pauling, hoarse from celebrating his victory with Le Breuil in yesterday's National Hunt Chase, was delighted with Bright Forecast's third place at 25/1. He finished two and a quarter lengths behind Champ under Nico de Boinville.
Pauling said: "He looked a bit outpaced early doors. They've gone a right gallop and he's stayed every yard of the [two-mile, five-furlong] trip. It was a super ride from Nico. The horse was absolutely flying at the death and he's going to be a very exciting one for the future.
"He's just a shell of a horse at the moment. This is only his fourth start under Rules; it's not bad really."
De Boinville added: "He's run a great race. He made up plenty of ground in the closing stages.
"We were hoping he could finish in the places, so to achieve that is brilliant."
GOING AFTER THE FIRST
Mark Walsh, partner of the 8/1, two-length winner City Island, said: "Dead and tacky going."
Barry Geraghty, jockey of second-placed 9/2 chance Champ, said: "Dead."
Nico De Boinville, partner of the third Bright Forecast (25/1), said: "Dead and tacky."
Richard Johnson, on board fourth home Brewin'upastorm, said: "Soft and tacky."
Sean Bowen, on Ask Dillon, said: "It is soft and tacky."
Jack Kennedy, rider of Battleoverdoyen, said: "Dead and tacky."
Paul Townend, rider of Castlebawn West, said: "Dead."
David Mullins, on board Dunvegan, said: "Soft."
Davy Russell, rider of Galvin, said: "We would call it tacky."
Paddy Brennan, partner of Jarveys Plate, said: "Soft and holding."
Rachael Blackmore, on board Notebook, said: "Tacky."
Bryan Cooper, partner of Sams Profile, said: "Dead."
Noel Fehily, jockey of Seddon, said: "Dead and tacky."
Sean Flanagan, rider of Valdieu, said: "Dead."
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You are here: Home / Newsletter / Before Soul Teachers takes a summer break…
July 1, 2018 by Steven L. Denlinger Leave a Comment
Before Soul Teachers takes a summer break…
I’M ABOUT TO leave for vacation.
I’m working in my office — here in the Pacific Northwest — while in the bedroom next door my wife lies sleeping. Out in the living room lie boxes, duffle bags, and coolers. We’re about to go on a one-month camping trip to Northern California, working our way through the National Parks, exploring out-of-the-way spots, even wine-tasting.
Yesterday was our six-year, wedding anniversary.
Beginning today, I’m taking a break from social media. For the next month, I’ll be staying away from Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I’ll rarely read the news. Instead, my wife and I have a library of books, carefully curated — memoirs we’ve wanted to read, novels, books on professional and personal growth, even stuff that just counts as entertainment. As my mentor, Walt Walker, once put it, “Into every life some trash must fall.”
But the point is, I’ll be reading. The goal is to reflect on the past year, enrich my thinking, and dream out the year to come.
Season 1 of Soul Teachers has come to an end. I’m proud of the work my team has accomplished:
We’ve left HuffPost and launched our own website at www.thesoulteachers.com;
We’ve created an LLC, evolved our Mission Statement, developed an operating structure, and built protocols and policies that will allow our company to grow;
We’ve published solid content, including 26 blogs; and
Through our Soul Teachers website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, we’ve established a readership that is wonderful and supportive.
Most important, the team has developed trust and a sense of family. That’s important for any organization.
I love working with this group.
First, Soul Teachers is going dark for the next month.
I’ll be spending July camping with my wife at several National Parks in California. I’ll be reading and resting, preparing for the next season.
Meanwhile, the Soul Teachers tech team is learning the ropes of launching our podcast, which will launch about a year from the date we founded Soul Teachers and began the blog. We’re also preparing to do a reboot of Soul Teachers in September. To assist us in this, we’ve hired a wonderful design/consulting team out of Cleveland who will be working with us to promote and shape Soul Teachers. They’re coming on as partners: they love our mission and our content.
Come September, we’ll also be launching a Soul Teachers workshop. This comes out of the requests we’ve had from occasional readers who have a story to tell. Using the curriculum developed for the Truth through Memoir class I currently teach on the high school level, we’ll be developing an evening class for writers who wish to learn the basics of writing memoir. We’ll also be creating a short seminar to offer at writing conferences, and offering a course online, which writers can take if they wish to publish for Soul Teachers.
In addition to our blog and podcast, we’re developing a TED talk, “The Hardest Lesson.” And finally, we’re looking forward to publishing my memoir How To Tie A Tie. This process is in the hands of my rock star agent, Chip MacGregor, who has been guiding us in developing our publishing platform.
If you’re a person who loves the kind of stories we love telling, consider giving our Facebook page a “like” and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
I’D LIKE TO take a moment to thank my amazing team here at Soul Teachers.
Eric Bishop is our Senior Researcher, and he’s been a tremendous support to me over the past year. Mary Jo Fohner has worked as my Copy Editor: I finally gave her a title after she consistently pointed out all the spelling and punctuation errors in my early blogs.
Kara Donovan is my Senior Editor. She joined me during the last few years of writing my memoir, helping me shape the book’s theme and pushing me forward. It’s no accident she’s won the number of awards she’s gained in the field of journalism.
Andy Callahan joined me last October after I launched the blog, and he’s a co-founder of Soul Teachers. He came on as our Chief Financial Officer, but he has also taken responsibility for handling tech. With the assistance of Thane Gill, Andy will be recording and mixing the sound and music for the podcast.
Finally, there’s Ami Wagner, known to her high school Latin students as “Dubbs” (don’t ask). Ami began working with me in 1994 when we met during a disastrous theatre production (no, don’t ask about that either). We became friends, and in 1997, she began working with me in the theatre. She works as our Story Editor for the blog and is the Chief Operating Officer of the company.
RECENTLY, A FELLOW writer asked me how I’m able to post a blog each week. It’s been brutal at times — since each blog is a long-form narrative. To explain, I told him about my amazing team. There’s no way I could do this by myself: brainstorming each week’s Soul Teacher, sketching out the bones of the story, laying down the first draft, revising and polishing it, and then publishing it on time.
Did I mention I also have a teaching career? I love what I do as a high school teacher, and it enriches my life. But to do that, plus publish weekly, takes a lot of support … from everyone in my life.
This blog is only the point of the spear. So if you’ve enjoyed these weekly columns, the credit goes to my editorial team who patiently read and reread each piece, giving honest (and sometimes difficult) feedback that allows me to meet our publication standards. Editors Kara, Ami, and Mary Jo have gone above and beyond, and I am incredibly grateful.
Most important, of course, is my wife, the author Laura Navarre. She’s my alpha reader, and no blog is ever done before I read it aloud to her, listening to her response. Her support and insight are critical.
Once again, thanks for keeping up with Soul Teachers. Enjoy your summer.
Steven L. Denlinger
CEO, Author, Co-Founder of Soul Teachers
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Margaret Atwood mentors British novelist Naomi Alderman
By Martin KnelmanSpecial to the Star
Sat., May 19, 2012timer5 min. read
Sipping coffee in the private room of a Bloor St. cafe, rising British novelist Naomi Alderman deftly explains the mystery-shrouded process by which she came to be paired with Margaret Atwood in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.
“Last fall, I received a phone call from someone I trusted, whose identity must remain secret, asking if I would be interested in some kind of literary mentor scheme,” Alderman recalls.
Alderman had already won the Orange Award for New Writers and been named young writer of the year by the London Sunday Times following the publication of her first novel, Disobedience, which is set in the cloistered world of London’s Orthodox Jewish community.
She was one of 15 promising writers shortlisted as a possible Rolex protégé and invited to apply for the honour.
At the time Rolex, the Geneva-based maker of high-end watches, had not yet announced that Atwood had agreed to be one of six mentors in the latest round of the innovative multidisciplinary arts program.
“Do you think the mentor is someone I would enjoy working with?” Alderman asked the secret operative.
Oh yes, definitely, was the answer.
So Alderman decided to go through the demanding process of completing an application, which included making a video.
After several months, the list was whittled down to four finalists before Atwood picked the winner. And this week, Alderman flew to Toronto to confer with her mentor and Rolex officials, and reveal her identity through an exclusive interview with the Star.
Sitting next to Alderman, Atwood confides that when she was first approached by Rolex, she said, “No, I don’t think so.”
But then she experienced the process by which Rolex talks prospective mentors into saying yes.
“They are very good at being persuasive,” she explains. “They start laying out their wares, they tell you all about the Rolex arts profiles and what they do for protégés. Then they make you an offer you can’t refuse, because you would feel guilty if you did.”
Part of the wooing process for Atwood was attending a gala Rolex dinner at Lincoln Center, featuring a semi-theatrical show with videos. Participants in the previous mentorship program talk about their experiences, some of them weeping with joy.
At 37, she describes herself as Jewish but no longer Orthodox.
Alderman’s father, a weekly columnist for the Jewish Chronicle, is a respected historian and her mother an artist. Her younger brother is a musician.
After graduating from Oxford, Alderman landed a marketing job with Freshfields, a big international law firm, and in 2000 was transferred to its Manhattan branch.
On Sept. 11, 2001, she was sitting in her midtown office talking on the phone to her mother when she noticed from her window that something disastrous was going on at the World Trade Center.
In the days that followed, she found herself wondering if there were people sitting in their offices at the twin towers that fateful morning, thinking as she was, “I don’t really like this job, but I’ll do it for a couple of years before I get around to writing my novel.”
That’s what motivated her to move back to England, get her master’s degree in creative writing at the University of East Anglia and get on with writing fiction.
“I arrived back feeling battered by the world of capitalism,” she recalls. But before long, she had published a novel, won a couple of prizes and acquired a literary agent.
Somewhat to her surprise, she became involved in the world of online games. For two years, she was the lead writer for an game called Perplex City. Then she created something called Zombies, Run!, meant to be played via an iPhone while you are jogging.
A major change in Alderman’s life came when she decided she would no longer adhere to the rules of Orthodox Jewish observance.
The change was “wonderfully liberating,” she says. On Friday nights and Saturdays, she no longer feels obliged to abstain from using electronic devices or riding into town.
When taking a plane, she no longer says a prayer asking God to keep the plane airborne. Now, to reach her destination unharmed, she feels free to rely on human engineering skills rather than God’s will.
Rolex flew Alderman and three other candidates to Toronto in February to meet Atwood so she could choose a protégé.
“I talked to all four of them and asked about their program,” Atwood says. “It took me two weeks to decide. After interviewing them, I went back and read their stuff again.”
In the end, it came down to a couple of basic questions. Which one of the four would be most likely to gain something from Atwood, given the kind of work they do? Who of the four is at the right career point to have a useful exchange with Atwood?
How will it work? On some occasions, Alderman will come to Toronto to talk to Atwood and discuss whatever problems she might be having with her next book. Next fall, Atwood will spend some time in London.
“If Naomi didn’t have a new project with an end in view, well then there wouldn’t be anything to do except have tea,” says Atwood. “But quite frankly, one reason I chose Naomi is I can tell that working with her is going to be a lot of fun.”
Launched in 2002, the Arts Initiative was developed because Rolex wanted to extend its arts philanthropy. The worldwide program runs biennially. Every second year, a panel of distinguished advisers chooses mentors in six fields: dance, film, literature, music, theatre and visual arts. Once protégés have been selected, mentors and protégés work together over a year.
Each protégé is given a grant of $25,000 to cover expenses, with a further $25,000 available after the year is over. Each mentor is given an honorarium of $50,000.
One point that is not announced: traditionally at the end of their year together, both mentor and protégé are given Rolex watches.
During the first decade of the Rolex program, 29 pairs of celebrated and emerging artists from 20 countries have been selected.
Among those on the list of past mentors are directors Martin Scorsese and Stephen Frears, author Toni Morrison, violinist Pinchas Zukerman, conductor Colin Davis, opera singer Jessye Norman, theatre director Peter Sellars, playwright Robert Wilson, theatre director Julie Taymor and visual artist David Hockney.
The complete list of this year’s six protégés will be announced on the Rolex website next week.
mknelman@thestar.ca
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Researchers shed light on the ocean’s mysterious Twilight Zone where miniature monsters mingle with lantern fish
By JoAnna KleinThe New York Times
Thu., Jan. 24, 2019timer4 min. read
Between the ocean’s bright blue surface and its blackest depths — 200 metres to 1,000 metres below — is a mysterious, dark span of water. Welcome to the twilight zone.
Recent evidence suggests there are more animals here by weight than in all of the world’s fisheries combined. But who lives here, and in what quantities?
Since August, a group of scientists has been using new technology to better understand the twilight zone’s strange inhabitants. They hope their findings will lead to a more sustainable approach before the fishing industry tries to harvest some of its abundant life as fisheries closer to the surface are diminished.
“The time is right to get this knowledge before it’s too late,” said Heidi Sosik, a biologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who is leading the Ocean Twilight Zone project. “This twilight zone region of the ocean is really, very barely explored, but the more we learn, the more interesting and more important it seems to be in playing a role in the whole ecosystem.”
Here are highlights of their first cruise:
Tracking with sound
Each animal in the ocean has its own auditory signature that ships usually detect by sending out sound waves that bounce or scatter off their bodies. It’s how whale-watching cruises often find humpbacks for guests to view.
But the acoustic fingerprints of twilight zone animals are still mysterious because shipboard sonar don’t have the bandwidth to distinguish the many organisms living far below the surface in what’s called the deep scattering layer. It’s an area so dense with life that people once thought it was the sea floor.
Around 250 different species of myctophids, or lantern fish, make up much of this dense layer. Though abundant enough to trick sonar, individually they are no bigger than an index finger.
During a 10-day expedition in the Atlantic, the team towed an instrument called Deep-See from the Henry B. Bigelow, a ship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Inside that deep layer, it detected a range of frequencies that the scientists hope to match with pictures and DNA to create an auditory dictionary of twilight zone inhabitants.
Tiny bodies, small appetites
The common bristlemouth is the most abundant vertebrate on the planet.
“Some of them look like crazy monsters,” Sosik said.
But, she pointed out, “most of the animals that live in the twilight zone are really small.”
This size adaptation is vital where food is scarce, because small things don’t need as much of it.
Though small, they’re fierce
One fang-toothed monster, the Sloane’s viperfish (Chauliodus sloani), could fit inside your hand.
“This guy would be considered one of the big, bad predators down there,” said Paul Caiger, a biologist at Woods Hole and the cruise photographer.
It has one of the biggest teeth-to-body-size ratios in the animal kingdom. Its teeth are too large for its mouth to accommodate, so it closes them like a cage, imprisoning its prey before it eats.
“These fish might not see prey for a few days, and when they see something, they don’t want to lose it,” he said.
Making light in the depths
The belly of a hatchetfish contains light organs or photophores. Many animals down in the twilight zone make their own light through a chemical reaction inside photophores of various shapes, sizes and arrangements.
By turning on these lights and regulating their intensity, hatchetfish blend in with light flowing down from the surface, becoming invisible to predators looking up for silhouettes from below.
This hiding technique, called counterillumination, is the most common use of bioluminescence in the twilight zone.
Animals like the hatchetfish also use their bodies as mirrors to hide, or even make themselves transparent.
Bumping in the dark
For sensing a dimly lit environment, animals like the lantern fish may turn their eyes into giant lenses for low light.
Or like the common fangtooth, they opt for other senses. “It relies on kind of just bumping into things in the middle of the night,” Caiger said.
The ridge along its body has pressure sensors that can detect objects, current or animals moving in the water a few body lengths away. A mucus coating enhances the fish’s ability to detect chemicals around it.
The journey of a living wave
When the navy started using active acoustics to monitor the sea in the 1930s, it noticed lots of sound bouncing off a layer they thought was the bottom. But its depth changed from night to day.
This “false bottom” turns out to be a mass of animals that journey hundreds to thousands of feet from the depths to the surface nightly in a living wave that wraps around the planet.
During the day, surface dwellers like sharks, tunas and swordfish dive down to the depths to eat, evidence shows.
“The layers are not distinct,” Sosik said. “The organisms that live in one layer are influenced by the organisms that live in another.”
Scientists working to untangle this multi-layered food chain think it may play a major role in regulating climate by keeping carbon in the ocean. And that’s part of why it’s so important to study these watery depths that we ordinarily cannot see.
“If you imagined erasing the life in the twilight zone, it wouldn’t affect just that layer,” Sosik said. “It would affect the ocean and the whole planet.”
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Harris promises more help for gamblers
Aaron Rogan, Catherine Sanz
September 6 2018, 12:01am, The Times
Concerns have been raised over the growing number of gamblers who bet onlineTIM GOODE/PA
Gambling addiction needs to be taken more seriously by the health service, Simon Harris has said.
The health minister was speaking after a study found that problem gamblers were being failed by the HSE because it did not offer enough treatment through its addiction services.
Research by a leading psychiatrist into the services offered within the Irish mental health system found that only one body offered adequate care for gambling addicts.
Mr Harris said yesterday that he was “really worried about the whole issue of gambling”. He said that while progress had been made in relation to addictions such as to tobacco and alcohol, a focus was needed on gambling. “I don’t believe as a country we have made nearly enough progress in relation to…
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Goalkeeper Mark Halstead has committed his future to Morecambe
Goalkeeper Mark Halstead has given Morecambe a boost by signing a new two-year contract.
The news comes a week after veteran shotstopper Barry Roche also agreed a new deal to remain at the Globe Arena.
The 28-year-old former Blackpool and Shrewsbury Town keeper was brought in last summer as competition for Roche following the departure of Dan Nizic
He made three appearances in the early stages of last season, but Roche’s thigh injury sustained in the draw at Newport County AFC meant Halstead was handed a regular run of games in goal.
He played the next 26 games, producing man-of-the-match appearances in Morecambe’s wins against Yeovil Town and Port Vale.
He was dropped to the bench after the 4-0 loss at Swindon Town in March with the fit-again Roche figuring in the next five games.
However, with safety secured, Halstead was restored to the starting XI for the final two games of the season; victory at Cambridge United and a draw with Newport at the Globe Arena.
He said: “I enjoyed last year and when the manager offered me a new deal it was an easy decision for me.
“It was great to get the players’ player of the year award last year. That was a real highlight and fantastic to be recognised by the rest of the lads and I still think there is more to come from me.
“I can’t wait now to get back now and get the pre season underway.’’
Boss Jim Bentley added: “Mark came to us late in pre season from Southport and fitted in with the squad straight away.
“He was understudy to Barry early on and he worked very hard for when his chance came along and when it did he excelled and proved what a good keeper he is. He had some outstanding games, Port Vale away springs to mind.
“It speaks volumes when Barry returned to fitness, that Mark kept his place for a lot of the time.
Morecambe FC’s open day for would-be sponsors
Liverpool and Manchester United are among Morecambe’s possible EFL Trophy opponents
“There is nothing between them now and what is good is that Barry and Mark are close friends, respect each other and push each other every day in training, that’s what we want throughout the squad in every position.
“As a manager, it’s great to have two number ones in your squad that you trust and like as players and people.
“Everyone will have their own opinion on who they’d like to see play but I’m looking forward to seeing how they both do in pre season during both training and games.
“It will be a nice headache for me to have.”
Morecambe FC
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How Dame Darcey demonstrates the value of honorary fellowships in the creative industries
August 25, 2018 by Wonderful News
Article by Karen Thurlow, Arts University Bournemouth (AUB)
At this time of year, as students graduate and famous faces are made honorary fellows, questions are raised about the value of these fellowships. Are they token PR stunts or genuinely beneficial to students?
Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) recently awarded honorary fellowships to former Royal Ballet principal dancer Dame Darcey Bussell DBE, alongside Hot Fuzz director and screenwriter Edgar Wright, designer of Britain’s road signage system Margaret Calvert and Hollywood costume designer Jenny Beavan.
For us, these fellowships are about bringing the highest quality creative talent into the AUB family and helping our students to learn and feel inspired by those who have come before them. So, how can Darcey Bussell use her new position to foster the next generation of performers?
Genuine connection
Honorary fellowships are successful if there is a meaningful link and both parties are committed to building a strong, long-term relationship. Dame Darcey is a great example of this. She is not only a world-class dancer but is also passionate about sharing her creative wisdom and meeting with dance students. She has already been active in student events at AUB, sharing her expertise.
A couple of years ago, Dame Darcey visited the AUB campus and met with Graphic Design, Animation and Dance students to discuss her new aerobic dance workout DDMIX. Darcey briefed students on DDMIX and asked them to design a variety of expressions of the brand that remain true its core values of fitness and diversity. She explained that the relationship with AUB students is genuine and symbiotic:
“As a new business, we’re building a relationship with the University, using young talent and the students’ knowledge and expertise. Hopefully we can create something fun with them. This has been like a bit of a breakthrough for us, like a breath of fresh air.”
Building resilience to survive the creative industries
At Arts University Bournemouth we focus on making our dancers dance artists of the future, where students can turn their passion into a creative career. The dance course is based around transitioning students from studying the subject to actually performing, choreographing, stage managing, teaching, and producing dance in the creative industries.
Hearing from those who have been through it and have triumphed plays a vital part in nurturing the sort of endurance and resilience that is necessary for students. Similarly, gleaning wisdom first-hand can be the advice that inspires students never to give up. Dame Darcey gets this and has shared her reflections on her career with students:
“Work especially hard when you are young, there’s no better time. There are no short cuts. Say yes whenever possible and collaborate as often as you can.”
Dame Darcey also shared with our students the importance of being able to understand their weaknesses, to make mistakes and to learn from them. For students on the cusp of embarking on a professional career, hearing that it’s OK to not know everything, from someone who has been at the top of her game is invaluable.
Championing creative communities
Another key aspect of honorary fellowships is how they can shine light on a particular subject. Dame Darcey is famous for her role as Principal dancer at the Royal Ballet for almost 20 years and now as judge on Strictly Come Dancing. She is able to champion the creative industries in ways that many cannot. By becoming an honorary fellow she can use her position as a “national treasure” to draw attention to emerging students and creative communities.
Each of the honorary fellows we announced this year spoke to students at our graduation events and embraced the relationship between creative education institutions and the professional sphere. For example, Dame Darcey has spoken about the modern and cutting-edge nature of AUB that enables graduates to successfully feed directly into the creative industries. She has also said that “complex societies increasingly rely on the creative individual in whatever field, so an institution like AUB is playing a very important role in fostering creativity in our next generation”
When choosing honorary fellows, this ambassadorial role is crucial. At AUB, we choose honorary fellows not only for their expertise in their individual fields, but for their passion for the arts and drive to inspire the future leaders of Britain’s world-renowned creativity.
There is something particularly moving about graduates who are taking their first steps into the creative industries, rubbing shoulders with some of the greatest stars and this is what honorary fellowships are all about. When they are chosen well, honorary fellows can inspire, guide and captivate the next generation of artists and be genuine role models, sharing practical and creative knowledge.
Tags: Arts University Bournemouth, Creative industries, Dame Darcey Bussell
Wonderful News
Dame Darcey Bussell, DBE sets the stage for new global headquarters for Royal Academy of Dance
Dame Darcey Bussell awarded honorary fellowship by Arts University Bournemouth
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UCL Life Learning - short courses and CPD
Search A-Z of UCL short courses
UCL staff area
UCL Life Learning
Defence and Security Systems
35 hours + plus independent study for assessment (if applicable)
Next start date: 01 June 2020
Cost: £1,641
Booking will open soon for:
This five-day short course provides you with a broad overview and high-level understanding of the implementation of systems engineering principles and practices in the defence and security environment.
It examines:
the ever-changing threats to security
the process for defining the capability required to counter the threat
the wide range of systems required to deliver the required effect.
You'll also hear from external speakers who are defence experts in their field from industry and defence institutions, including the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
The course is run by staff from the UCL Centre for Systems Engineering (UCLse) within UCL's Department of Space and Climate Physics (Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL).
The course starts with a study of the global threats to national and international security, and an overview of UK government policy towards defence.
Having understood the need for defence, you'll move on to looking at:
how to define the capability required from defence systems
how to make a wide variety of complex defence systems work together in order to provide an overall defence capability
the need to plan for long system lifecycles.
You'll then get an overview of the air, land and sea defence systems that are required to provide the defence capability, and the role of space systems in defence.
The threats from non-conventional attack will be covered by examining security systems and an approach to design against attack.
The course concludes with a case study which brings together the key messages.
You'll be provided with a hard copy of the taught material.
Teaching, structure and assessment
The course will run over five days (Monday to Friday).
It's delivered as a combination of lectures, group exercises, group discussions and case studies.
This course is an optional module within UCLse's Master's degree programmes. You can take this course as either:
a standalone short course
a 'taster module' that allows you to earn UCL credits towards a Master's degree
To earn UCL credits you'll need to complete an assessment. For more details on this option, please contact the course administrator.
This short course will help you to:
understand the global defence issues which relate to the development of defence systems
gain an appreciation of government policy on the defence industry and its impact on system development
describe the complexity and challenges of developing defence systems to meet global defence requirements
apply systems engineering principles to the development of defence systems
understand the range of land, sea and air defence systems and the role of space in defence
describe the impact of terrorism and the development of associated security systems
Cost and concessions
The fees are:
£1,641 - UK/EU
£3,140 - overseas
Some discounts may be available. Contact the course administrator at uclse.courses@ucl.ac.uk for more information.
Course team
Professor Doug Cowper
Doug is a UCL Visiting Professor in Systems Engineering and has over 20 years of industrial experience working on various aspects of systems in the defence, aerospace and rail sectors. He's a proven track record of delivering systems engineering, technical management and governance and technology decision making with a diverse range of organisations. He's also led a number of working groups developing the definition and teaching of systems engineering core competencies in the UK. Doug is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the IET. He's Co-chair of the joint APM and INCOSE UK Systems Thinking SIG, an INCOSE Certification Application Reviewer (CAR) and Member of the INCOSE Certification Advisory Group (CAG).
Ian Raper
Ian is a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Technology Management Group at UCL. He's Programme Director for the MSc in Systems Engineering Management. He has 22 years of industrial experience working on all aspects of the systems design lifecycle from user requirements through to integration, acceptance and deployment. Part of Ian's career was in the defence sector, within Vickers Shipbuilding and BAE SYSTEMS. Following this, he worked in the space sector covering mission and system level activities at EADS Astrium. Ian is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the International Council on Systems Engineering. He has an MSc in Systems Engineering from UCL and a PGCert in Teaching and Learning in Higher and Professional Education.
Dr Hervé Borrion
Hervé is an Associate Professor in UCL's Department of Security and Crime Science. He's been helping bring together a community of academics in the engineering and social sciences around various security projects. His research interest lies in the application of systems modelling techniques to security, and the enhancement of security risk assessment for counter-terrorism and organised crime. He was the founding director of the MSc in Countering Terrorism and Organised Crime and the MRes Security Science, and is now the Deputy Director of SECReT. He's a visiting scholar at the Centre for Public Safety Research in Tsinghua University (Beijing).
Course information last modified: 09 Jul 2019, 13:25
Timing and access
UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT
Meghan Flight
uclse.courses@ucl.ac.uk
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Space Systems (Systems Engineering)
This five-day course gives you a broad understanding of the space sector by exploring its importance and investigating the development of complex systems within it.
Radar Systems (Electronic Engineering)
Four-day course aimed at graduate-level engineers with electronic engineering or physics backgrounds. Emphasises physical principles, modern radar systems and signal processing techniques (civilian and defence applications).
Cyber Threats and Solutions: Managing Cyber Risk for Senior Executives
A one-day course on cyber threats and cyber security risk management. For C-suite executives and other senior professionals responsible for managing cyber risk in their organisations.
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By: Robert M. Gordon |
Politics and Congressional Activity
Congress returned to Washington after a 2-week recess to face a busy agenda including post-Mueller report investigations and continuing hearings on a number of oversight issues. They also must deal with budget and spending issues with a difference of opinion in the House and Senate over how to proceed this year. The Democratic-controlled House Budget Committee opted to forego drafting a budget resolution and instead chose to advance legislation that would lift the statutory caps on defense and nondefense discretionary spending for the next two years. The caps are enforced by the Office of Management and Budget through a mechanism known as the “sequester” which prevents spending in excess of the statutory caps. The Republican-controlled Senate Budget Committee had already approved a proposed FY 2020 budget resolution with broad tax and spending goals for the next five years.
A planned vote in the House on the budget resolution was cancelled due to disagreement within the Democratic party about the bill, including from progressives who wanted additional domestic spending and moderates, who were reluctant to support the changes necessary to satisfy progressives, citing concerns about the impact on the deficit. Negotiations have now shifted to House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) with a goal of reaching agreement in time to prevent the need to pass a continuing resolution prior to the state of the fiscal year on October 1st.
Ways & Means Committee: The Treasury Department has not met the request from Ways & Means Committee Chair Neal (D-MA) for 6 years of tax returns for President Trump, pursuant to Code section 6103(f), which states that the Treasury Secretary “shall” provide tax return information of any individual at their request. Although Treasury Secretary Mnuchin has not yet refused to produce the returns, it is expected that this issue will be resolved by the courts.
Senate Finance Committee: Ranking Democrat Wyden (D-OR) has announced that he intends to introduce a proposal in the form of a white paper that would establish an annual mark-to-market approach for taxing certain capital assets with the intent of providing an idea for possible change should the Democrats retake the Senate and he becomes Chair again. This new idea is reportedly broader than his 2016 legislation which would have applied to derivative contracts not entered into to hedge business risks. Reports are that the new proposal would require some capital assets to be marked-to-market annually with any resulting gain taxed at ordinary rates, rather than the preferred rate which caps at 23.8 percent under current law for capital assets with long-term holding periods.
Joint Tax Committee: The Joint Committee on Taxation issued a pamphlet on changes to income recognition that resulted from the TCJA, titled “Overview of Modifications to Income Recognition under Section 451 by Public Law 115-97.” The TCJA added two new provisions to Code Section 451 and the report explains the process for realizing and recognizing income, with examples illustrating the deferral of advance payments and the modification of the “all events test” for severable and non-severable services.
IRS Reform Legislation: The House approved the Taxpayer First Act with a bipartisan voice vote on April 9th, while SFC Chair Grassley and ranking Democrat Wyden have co-introduced identical legislation but have not yet scheduled action in the Committee. The bills include provisions that would update IRS technology, address cybersecurity, and make various improvements to customer service and tax administration. This legislation has a good chance of final passage in Congress, but there are disagreements about a handful of provisions including the Free File program and limits on private debt collection.
Infrastructure Legislation: Democratic Congressional leadership met with President Trump to discuss infrastructure legislation, which enjoys bipartisan support, but may still have a challenging path to approval before the 2020 elections. Issues include the revenue offsets that would be needed to fund the legislation, including the approval of a proposed increased gas tax and cutbacks to the benefits included in the Tax Cuts & Job Act, and whether Democrats would agree to give the President a major achievement on this issue prior to the 2020 elections.
FASB—Tax Information in Financial Statements: The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has revised its proposals for companies to be more transparent in financial statements about their domestic and foreign income tax liabilities in order to protect the interests of investors and analysts. FASB reissued its draft proposals requiring businesses to release more details about their tax liabilities following changes to the tax law included in the TCJA. The first draft of proposals was released in 2016 and put on hold in anticipation of tax reform. The amendments require a summary of domestic and foreign income or losses from continuing operations before income tax is taken into account, as well as federal, state and foreign income tax expenses or benefits. Public companies would also be required to disclose the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits and the line items on which they are presented in their financial position statements with a clarification that the disclosure of income taxes paid is required for interim periods. The new proposals did reject a recommendation that companies provide foreign income tax information on a country-by-country level finding the requirement would be very costly for businesses as it would require them to rework their existing processes and systems.
Treasury and the IRS
Treasury and the IRS have released a significant amount of guidance on the TCJA to date. Treasury has until June 22, 2018, which is 18 months after the TCJA was enacted to issue final rules that can operate retroactively back to the enactment date. On several key regulatory projects, Treasury has issued proposed rules and received public comments, but it has not yet released final rules.
TCJA Guidance
Code section 163(j)/Limitation on Deduction of Business Interest: The TCJA significantly expanded the scope of Code section 163(j) by extending its application to individuals and partnerships and applying the limitation to interest paid to both related and unrelated parties. The new rule generally limits a taxpayer’s business interest expense deduction to the sum of: (1) its business interest income; (2) 30 percent of its adjusted taxable income (ATI), which shall not be less than zero; and (3) floor plan financing interest. For taxable years beginning before January 2, 2022, ATI is taxable income computed without regard to interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Any business interest expense disallowed may be carried forward indefinitely. The limitation generally does not apply to small businesses (other than tax shelters), regulated public utilities, and electing farming or real property trades or businesses. The Joint Committee on Taxation issued a report covering several aspects of the changes including its application to pass through entities, including partnerships and small businesses.
The IRS issued proposed regulations in November 2018, and recently held a public hearing to receive comments and recommendations. Witness suggestions included: (1) the real property trade or business (RPTB) anti-abuse rule should be dropped given the separate, general anti-abuse rule; (2) the definition of interest is too broad and should be restricted to what is generally treated as interest elsewhere in the tax code: (3) certain clarifications related to the floor plan financing exception are needed: and (4) the use of asset basis to determine the extent to which a trade or business is an excepted trade or business for purposes of Code section 163(j) is a reasonable method.
The proposed regulations extend the Code section 163(j) limitation to controlled foreign corporations (CFCs), which is applied on a separate entity basis allowing the CFC with business interest expense to determine the deduction limitation for purposes of computing subpart F income (Code section 952), Global Intangible Low-taxed Income (GILTI)-tested income (Code section 951A(c)(2)(A)), and income effectively connected with a US trade or business (Code section 882). The rules, however, do provide an irrevocable election to allow a member of a “CFC group” to apply Code Section 163(j) on a group basis (called the Alternative Method), thereby allowing a US shareholder to add income inclusions from CFCs to its ATI under certain circumstances. It appears that the Alternative Method is intended to be beneficial, and it can be used for the 2018 tax year, but it is a complex provision and once chosen is irrevocable so taxpayers should consider both current and future financing issues.
Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (FDII): The IRS issued proposed regulations under Code section 250 on the deduction for foreign-derived intangible income (FDII), which is income earned in the US through the sale of products or services to foreigners for use abroad, available to US corporations, who should now include in their planning a comparison of the tax cost of an offshore production base. A Treasury official said at a recent public conference that the final regulations will add additional options to the documentation rules for claiming the 37.5% deduction with more detail, based in part on taxpayer comments, which will be accepted until May 6th. He stated that the rules are intended to be easy to administer and taxpayer-friendly, but still carry out the intent of the law that the foreign nature of the sale be verified through the language requiring a taxpayer have no knowledge or “reason to know” that a product sold abroad might eventually end up in the US. Treasury feels that this is a pro-taxpayer presumption and is a straightforward concept but has agreed that more guidance may be needed on this point.
Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT): The Joint Tax Committee issued a report that provides an overview of the BEAT, which includes an explanation of the application of the BEAT and several examples for calculating the tax. The BEAT applies to corporations that have average annual gross receipts of at least $500 million for the last three tax years and whose base erosion percentage is 3% or higher.
Opportunity Zones: The IRS issued additional regulations under Code section 1400Z-2 to implement the Opportunity Zone provisions of the TCJA with a public hearing scheduled for July 9th. The new guidance is intended to provide answers to many questions investors have had about the program which expires at the end of 2019. Key issues have included which businesses operating in an opportunity zone could qualify under the program and the treatment of proceeds from opportunity investments that are sold.
SALT guidance: The IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2019-11, providing guidance for taxpayers affected by the reduced deduction for state and local taxes (SALT). It addresses this question: If a taxpayer received a tax benefit from deducting state and local taxes under Code section 164 in a prior taxable year, and the taxpayer recovers all or a portion of those taxes in the current taxable year, what portion of the recovery must the taxpayer include in gross income? The guidance discusses four examples with concluding advice on how to report. During testimony on Capitol Hill, IRS Commissioner Rettig stated that final regulations on the SALT deduction cap would be released in the next couple of months. Ways & Means Committee Chair Neal has stated that his Committee will form a working group designed to investigate the impact of the cap and possible amendments to it.
Other Issues and Guidance
Advance Pricing Agreements: The IRS issued its annual report on advance pricing agreements (APAs). The report notes that APA applications doubled in 2018 with a total of 203, and 40% of the APAs executed were new. At the end of 2018, over half of the pending bilateral APA requests involved either Japan or India, and more than half of the APAs executed involved transactions between non-US parents and US subsidiaries. The primary transfer pricing method (TPM) used for both the sale of tangible property and the use of intangible property was the comparable profits method/transactional net margin method (CPM/TNMM). The median time required to complete an APA increased to 40.2 months (from 33.8 months in 2017), which was mainly due to the completion of longstanding APAs and challenges coordinating negotiating schedules with treaty partners.
IRS Priority Guidance Plans: The IRS issued a second quarter update to their 2018-2019 Priority Guidance Plan, which was issued in November of 2018 covering the plan year from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. The update states that the IRS has completed 44 of the 239 projects, added 38 additional projects, and comments that the partial government shutdown affected the release of some guidance. The IRS also issued Notice 2019-30, which invites comment on the 2019-2020 Priority Guidance Plan which will be released soon covering the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The deadline for comments is June 7, 2019, and the Notice summarizes several factors used when decisions are made about the inclusion of projects.
Transfer Pricing Litigation: IRS Commissioner Rettig recently spoke at a Washington tax conference, where he said that despite the fact that the IRS has seen a number of defeats in court on transfer pricing issues including in cases involving Amazon, Veritas Software, and Medtronic, the IRS will continue to litigate the issue as part of their enforcement plan. The IRS is also increasing its hiring in the criminal investigation unit demonstrating an emphasis on enforcement and deterrence.
EIN Application Requirements: The IRS announced changes in the process for applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) so that only individuals with a Tax Identification Number (TIN) may request an EIN as the “responsible party.” Generally, the responsible party is the person who ultimately owns or controls the entity or who exercises ultimate effective control over the entity. This change will enhance security and transparency by prohibiting entities from using their EINs to get additional EINs. There is, however, no change for tax professionals who may act as third-party designees for entities and complete the paper or online applications on behalf of clients. The changes are effective May 13, 2019.
Continuity of Interest Rules: The IRS announced that it is withdrawing regulations proposed in late 2011 on determining if certain transactions satisfy the continuity of interest (COI) requirement under §1.368-1(e), which is applicable to certain corporate reorganizations under Code section 368. Treasury and the IRS have concluded that current law provides sufficient guidance to taxpayers with respect to the COI requirement with the additional information provided in Revenue Procedure 2018-12.
Brexit: Brexit chaos has continued in the UK as the Government struggles to find a plan that can be approved by Parliament and agreed to by the EU. The EU has now agreed to delay the date for Britain’s departure until as late as October 31st, while including an option to leave earlier if the UK government can secure parliamentary approval for a departure plan. Without this agreement, the UK would have “crashed” out of the EU on April 12th without a regulatory relationship or transition period. The lengthy 6-month delay is intended to give the UK government time to build consensus around an exit plan without requiring repeated requests for extensions of the departure date.
Conditions are required including that the UK will participate in the May 23rd elections for the European Parliament and will not use its veto on budget and project planning votes. In the interim, the UK remains a member state with full rights and obligations under EU law. EU leaders will meet in June to review the UK’s progress. PM May has said that her goal is to get a Brexit deal earlier — in fact, by May 22nd so as to avoid having to field candidates for the May elections. Although the EU has suggested Britain may have to resort to new elections or a second referendum, the Government continues to support a plan under which there would be a specific transition period with regulatory status quo while a trade relationship is worked out. Absent the latter, an extension of Britain’s membership in the EU customs union would occur, a sticking point for many Brexit hardliners. The delay continues the uncertainty for the business community as there is no clear signal as to what type of agreement will be able to gain consensus support.
Digital Services Taxes: The OECD is working toward a consensus plan to taxing digital commerce as part of the BEPS initiative, but the debate has now broadened to a general discussion of global tax rules including addressing which countries are allowed to tax certain profits of multinationals and ensuring that multinationals pay their fair share of taxes. A Consultation Document was the subject of debate at a meeting on March 13-14th in Paris. A detailed program of work will be presented to the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in June with a goal of a consensus-based long-term solution in 2020. The final plan will have to be agreed to by the 129-member Inclusive Framework on BEPS.
The Netherlands has now joined France and Germany in support of a global minimum tax proposal, similar to the new US Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income Tax (GILTI), which would address the fairness issue. Having the Netherlands as an ally is an interesting development considering that the country has historically been a business-friendly jurisdiction. The Netherlands did, however, introduce a minimum withholding tax on interest and royalties in 2018, which will take effect in 2021 — and they were identified in a March 26th EU report as one of seven countries that facilitates aggressive tax planning.
The EU’s Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, has stated her support for EU countries who are moving ahead with national digital tax proposals, including France, noting that although a global solution is preferable, the national activity will deliver necessary pressure for action at the EU and global level. Multinationals who are affected had been hoping to pursue state aid cases with respect to the national digital taxes.
US Activity: Bipartisan leadership of the two tax-writing committees issued a statement on April 10th criticizing unilateral digital service taxes. “The tax challenges that have arisen due to digitalization of the economy affect businesses headquartered all over the world, and solutions to these challenges are best negotiated multilaterally. We are supportive of the United States participating in the ongoing OECD negotiations on these solutions. We call on other countries to focus on and engage productively in the OECD dialogue in order to reach measured and comprehensive solutions and abandon unilateral measures.” In an acknowledgement of unilateral action, including the France proposal, the statement said that “even on an interim basis, unilateral actions, such as digital services taxes proposed by some countries, can adversely affect US businesses and have negative economic and diplomatic effects.” Finally, the statement says that they look forward to engaging with the Treasury Department and evaluating the outcome of the OECD’s work and its impact on US taxpayers and the US Treasury.
United Nations Tax Committee: The UN released draft updates to the United Nations Practical Manual on Transfer Pricing for Developing Countries and other papers in advance of the Eighteenth Session of the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters to be held on April 23-26th. This follows the UN’s earlier release of documents proposing updates to the UN Model Double Taxation Convention between Developed and Developing Countries. The transfer pricing paper includes a new draft chapter on financial transactions for the UN transfer pricing manual covering base erosion, guarantees, cash pooling, captive insurance, the application of the most appropriate transfer pricing method, and the issue of the arm’s length nature of a loan. The transfer pricing work will be included in the 2021 update of the UN transfer pricing manual. The meeting will also cover updates to handbooks on extractive industries and tax treaty negotiation as well as the issue of the taxation of the digitalized economy.
UK CFC Law/State Aid: The European Commission announced on April 2nd the results of a state aid investigation that was launched on October 26, 2017, into the group financing exemption in the UK’s controlled foreign company (CFC) rules. UK CFC rules set forth two tests to determine how much of the financing profits from loans granted by an offshore subsidiary are to be reallocated to the UK parent company and taxed in the UK. Between 2013 and 2018, the UK introduced a group financing exemption for certain financing income (interest payments received from loans) of multinational groups active in the UK. Thus, a multinational active in the UK could provide financing to a foreign group company through an offshore subsidiary paying little or no tax on the profits from the transactions. The EC found that the exemption can unduly exempt certain multinational groups from the UK rules therefore creating an unjustified preferential tax treatment that is illegal because it grants state aid, and the UK must now recover the illegal state aid from the multinational companies that benefitted from it. Despite the fact that the UK may soon exit the EU under a Brexit plan, they continue to be subject to EU competition law, including EU state aid rules, until no longer a Member State. A spokesman for HM Treasury responded by saying they will carefully consider the EC decision. Since the group financing exemption expired at the end of 2018, there are no longer ongoing state aid concerns with it. Another provision of the UK group financing exemption wasn’t considered to be problematic, i.e., applying the exemption to loans financed with funds or assets sourced from UK capital contributions, where no UK activities were involved in generating the finance profits.
EU/Tax Avoidance and Evasion Report: The EU Parliament adopted on March 26th by a vote of 505 to 63 (with 87 abstentions) a controversial report on tax avoidance and evasion. The report includes some controversial positions including the naming of seven member states for their role in facilitating aggressive tax planning and the recommendation of countermeasures against the US if it fails to offer Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) reciprocity. The report was prepared over the last year by a special committee of the Parliament with their recommendations ranging from overhauling the system to deal with financial crimes, tax evasion, and tax avoidance through improved cooperation to setting up new bodies at the EU and global level. The report stresses the need for urgent tax reform and states that there is a lack of political will in Member States to tackle these issues, noting specifically the opposition of Denmark, Finland, Ireland, and Sweden to digital services taxes. Seven Member States, including the Netherlands and Ireland, are criticized for facilitating aggressive tax planning.
The Tax-Writing Committees: Tax Extenders & Retirement Legislation
Extenders: Chair Neal had planned to include the issue of the extenders in the April 2nd markup, but Committee Democrats were unable to reach a consensus on whether to reinstate all of the expired provisions and whether the cost of the extensions would have to be offset. Senate Finance Committee bipartisan leadership has introduced a bill that would renew all the expired tax benefits through 2019 retroactive to the beginning of 2018, but since tax bills must originate in the House, they are waiting for a vehicle to come from the House with a tax title to which they could add their legislation. Senate Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY) made recent statements that suggested that concessions might be needed from Republicans not only with respect to agreement on technical corrections to the TCJA, but also to agreement on certain extenders. It is unlikely that an extenders package would move forward in Congress until this fall when a number of issues are typically considered prior to adjournment for the year.
Retirement Legislation: Congress has started a bipartisan, serious effort to pass retirement legislation that would make a number of taxpayer-friendly changes for small businesses and individual taxpayers. The Ways & Means Committee approved the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which would make more than two dozen policy and administrative rule changes to various retirement plan options. The revenue costs to the bill would be offset by changes within the framework of the legislation that raise revenue so that overall the bill would result in a small revenue gain. House leadership has suggested a Floor vote might occur prior to the Memorial Day recess.
In the Senate, SFC Chair Grassley and ranking Democrat Wyden reintroduced an updated version of the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA), which includes many of the same provisions as the SECURE Act. A Committee markup has not yet been scheduled. In 2016, a similar RESA bill was approved by the SFC, but was never brought to the Senate Floor for action, and Congress failed to achieve consensus on this issue at the end of 2018. With both tax-writing Committees giving priority to retirement legislation this year, it appears likely that Congressional approval could be achieved.
Accounting Methods
Corporate Tax Compliance
Entity Rationalization
Global Tax Network
Multi State Income and Franchise
Partnership Compliance
Partnership Consulting
Partnerships/S-Corporations
Tax Department Optimization
Tax Monitoring and Maintenance
Tax Planning for the Fund
Tax Provision Automation
Transaction Planning
Uncertain Tax Positions
Robert Gordon, Esq. Managing Director
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Whole LOTA Love
B-Corp
Mary Beth Motisi: A Franchise Rockstar!
Deanne Brown Mar 13, 2019
Mary Beth Motisi has always been a Rockstar! From the day she took on more responsibilities than most 14 year old’s helping to take care of her dad after a massive stroke, to moving out on her own upon High School graduation, rising up the corporate ladder at McDonalds, becoming a student and then owner at Online Trading Academy, and being the recipient of the Franchise Rockstar Award by Franchise Business Review less than two years after Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston, Mary Beth is one of a kind: resilient, inspiring and highly successful.
The Franchise Business Review analyzes their research from over 27,000 franchisee surveys, across more than 300 leading franchise brands, to identify the best of the best in franchising today.
“There are some many fantastic success stories out there; it was painful to narrow our list down to just 50 Rockstar Franchisees,” said Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review. “There were hundreds of deserving business owners. In the end, we picked 50 that really stood out. Franchisees that not only excel in their businesses but provide strong leadership within their franchise organizations and their local communities.”
Houston is one of these Franchises.
“I am just shocked and thrilled. Oh, my gosh. I didn't expect that,” says Mary Beth in response to the award. But Mary Beth didn’t expect much of what has happened in her life, yet she comes out a Rockstar every time.
“I wanted to go to college and be a doctor like my brother, but it just wasn't in the cards for me.”
After her dad’s stroke, her mom didn’t have the physical strength to help her father, who was not only completely paralyzed on one side but lost his speech entirely. When her parents sold their house for a single-story condominium where they didn’t have to worry about lawn care, and all that comes with taking care of a home, Mary Beth moved out. She knew she was going to have to take care of herself.
“There was no room for me,” says Mary Beth. “So, I got a job, and me and my Irish Setter moved into an apartment, just the two of us.”
At the age of 20, Mary Beth got a job at McDonalds as a Manager Trainee. Over the next 23 years, she worked her way up in the different mid management operations positions.
“I worked really, really, really hard,” says Mary Beth. “Looking back now, it was the most valuable education I could have ever received. College could have not compared to the work experiences, and the specialized education McDonald’s provided.”
In 2000, Mary Beth got involved in the stock market. She didn’t have any official training and took a big loss. Realizing she had some lessons to learn about trading, she and her brother found Online Trading Academy. After much success as a student of OTA, the VP of Business Development, Ralph Loberger called her. He wanted to talk about an opportunity halfway across the country.
“We met for lunch, and the next thing I knew, I was moving to Texas from Wisconsin as the new owner of the Houston Franchise,” says Mary Beth.
Becoming a Franchisee for Online Trading Academy was not a difficult decision for Mary Beth. She had learned over the years that you can't sit there and ponder on things forever, “because if you ponder on things, you don't get anything done,” says Mary Beth. “That's how a lot of people miss opportunities,” she adds.
Plus, she had fallen in love with Online Trading Academy as a student. In fact, her experience as a student, and graduate was invaluable. It gave her the vision of how she wanted her franchise to operate.
Someone once asked Mary Beth, “What makes you successful?” Her reply:
You need five things—good common sense, a strong work ethic, good people skills, high standards, and a good coach. You have to dig deep, learn and master the skills you need and have love and passion for what you do.”
You can see each and one of these attributes in not only everything Mary Beth does but in who she is. “My campus is a direct reflection of myself,” Mary Beth explains. “I love who we are, what we do, and how we do it.”
It is not surprising that Mary Beth has won Franchise Rockstar when you see what she has accomplished not only in her life but at the OTA Houston Center.
Chief Operating Officer, Gene Longobardi says, “Mary Beth embodies our brand, our culture, and our passionate purpose of democratizing financial freedom. We are dedicated to making the financial markets more inclusive by helping people learn how to trade and invest with more confidence, lower risk and better results. Mary Beth herself symbolizes success, from a loss-making novice, to a successful student, to a franchise owner now helping thousands of other people explore the same path. We love having her as part of our family.”
“Our number one focus is for our Students’ Success,” says Mary Beth. “I have been a Franchisee for 9 years now. Every year I am amazed with the innovation put forth by this organization to build on our Students’ Success and Network development. I am proud of our brand. I am proud of our culture. I am proud of the community and fellowship we have among our staff, students and network. I not only received the opportunity to build an amazing business, I also gained a loving family.”
Follow the link below to read more about Mary Beth on the Franchise Business Review website:
https://franchisebusinessreview.com/post/mary-beth-online-trading-academy/
Chicago Franchise Owner Loves Empowering Students! ( 2m 44s)
Rajesh Vora on Helping People Achieve their WHY through the Financial Markets ( 2m 5s)
The Financial Education You Never Learned in School. ( )
Sacramento Owner, Grant Grable on Experience, Education, & Community at OTA! ( 2m 10s)
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Easter 2 Sunday C - Divine Mercy
2nd Easter C from Jaimelito Gealan
Gospel reading: John 20:19-31
Michel de Verteuil
Today’s gospel reading, like all of St John’s gospel, is an interweaving of several themes. It is not possible to follow up all the themes together; we must focus on one at a time, going deeply into it and allowing it to reveal some deep truth about Jesus, about ourselves and about life.
Here I invite you to focus on the apostle Thomas; this is in accord with the Catholic Church’s liturgical tradition for the Second Sunday of Easter. Therefore, although the reading includes two of Jesus’ resurrection appearances – both of them deeply moving – we stay with the second, the dialogue between Jesus and Thomas, and let the earlier appearance provide the context. We are free to identify either with Thomas or with Jesus, but not with both at the same time. We need to be clear on how we understand Thomas. The popular interpretation puts him in a bad light, as “doubting Thomas”. This however is not the movement of the text, which culminates in Thomas’ admirable act of faith, the most explicit in the New Testament – “My Lord and my God!”.
We are more in accord with the spirit of the text, therefore, when we look at Thomas as a model of faith. He was right to insist that before he could believe in Jesus’ resurrection he must see the holes the nails made in his hands, put his finger into the holes and his hand into the great wound made by the centurion’s lance.
Thomas teaches us the important lesson that we must not separate the resurrection from the cross, since we are called to be followers of Jesus. He also teaches us the truth of the Church and of our individual spiritual growth. We cannot live the life of grace, the “risen life”, authentically unless we bear in our bodies the wounds of the cross. This means being conscious that we develop the capacity to love and to be loved only by dying to ourselves. Our wounds are also a constant reminder of our frailty, and that it is God’s grace that raises us up to new life.
St Paul’s epistles show that the first Christians needed the corrective of Thomas’ faith. They tended to relate with the risen Jesus without reference to his crucifixion. They forgot that they were called to be “followers of Jesus crucified”, choosing to die with him so that they could rise with him (see especially 1 Corinthians 1).
We Christians fall into the same error today when our lives and our teachings proclaim an abstract “disembodied” Jesus, dispenser of graces and teacher of morality – we forget the historical person who was put to death for proclaiming the kingdom of God.
Thomas professes the true faith of the Church. We too must insist that the Jesus we follow is the true Jesus, the one whose risen body bears the wounds of Calvary.
Jesus is the model leader and spiritual guide. He is pleased to give Thomas the assurance he is looking for, and then challenges him to look forward to the day when he will believe without seeing – always in the Jesus who passes through death to resurrection.
The blessedness of believing without seeing came from the experience of the early Church. Jesus is not moralizing, but inviting Thomas – and us – to celebrate great people of faith, in our local communities and world-wide, who take up their cross with confidence in the resurrection.
As always in our meditation we must not limit ourselves to personal relationships. We celebrate the resurrection faith lived by communities, nations and cultures.
“You who remain ever faithful even when we are unfaithful, forgive our sins and grant that we may bear true witness to you before all men and women.” Pope John Paul II, Service of Forgiveness, March 2000
Lord, we thank you for the moments of grace of this Lenten season,
when – as individuals and as a Church community –
we walked in the footsteps of Jesus by passing from death to new life.
We thank you in particular for the great day when our Church publicly asked forgiveness from other religions and cultures.
We thank you for Pope John Paul who, like Jesus with St Thomas,
invited us to see the holes that the nails of arrogance and self-righteousness
had made in the body of Christ, and to put our fingers into the holes,
to put our hands into the huge wound which the lust for power has made in his side,
so that we could recognise how, just as you raised Jesus from the dead,
you do not allow his Body, the Church, to remain in the tomb,
but always raise her up to new life.
Lord, we thank you for the times when reconciliation emerged triumphantly
from the tomb of conflict:
– the spirit of dialogue between our Church and Jews, Muslims, Hindus,
and African traditional religions;
– the European Union created by former enemies;
– the Good Friday agreement in Northern Ireland;
– the peace process in the Middle East.
Lord, we thank you for the experience of the military in Iraq.
We pray that they will to hear your voice calling on them all
to remember those who have been hurt,
who still have holes that the nails made in their hands
and can put their finger into the holes they made,
and unless they can put their hands into their side, they will refuse to believe.
Do not let us forget the terrible legacy of hatred and resentment
which had to be overcome;
invite us to put our fingers into the holes made by nails,
our hands into the great wounds made by lances,
so that we can recognise with awe and wonder
the spark of your divine life that is within us all.
Remind us too of those who worked for peace during the long years of conflict
when it seemed that they were working in vain.
How blessed were they who did not see
and yet continued to believe in your power to bring new life into the world.
“Whoever sees anything of God, sees nothing of God .” … Meister Eckhart
Lord, lead us to the blessedness of not seeing and believing.
“Go for broke, always try to do too much, dispense with safety nets, aim for the stars.” …Salman Rushdie
Lord, we thank you for friends, leaders and spiritual guides
who challenge us as Jesus challenged Thomas.
When we commit ourselves to a cause because we have tested its reality, they invite us to experience the blessedness of believing without seeing.
“Beware of the seduction of leaving the poor to think about them.” …Jean Vanier
Lord, forgive us that we want to help those in need without sharing their pain,
we look for their resurrection but do not want to see their wounds:
– young people have been deeply hurt and we serve them with pious exhortations;
– we become impatient with those who continue to mourn the death of a spouse or a child;
– we think we can restore a broken relationship by merely saying we are sorry;
– we propose reconciliation between warring factions without acknowledging past wrongs;
– we pray for peace in the world and do not agonize over its terrible injustices.
We thank you for people like Thomas who will not let us get away with easy solutions;
they insist that we must see the holes that nails have made in the hands of victims,
put our fingers into the holes and our hands into wounds that lances have made in their sides,
and only then believe that they have within them the capacity to rise to new life.
“We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs.” …Step 5 in the 12 Step Method of Alcoholics Anonymous
Lord, when we are converted from an addiction to alcohol, drugs, power or sex,
we are so anxious to make a new start
that we try to forget the hurt which was at the root of our problem
– the loneliness of our childhood
– the sense of racial inferiority
– our disability
– the fear of failure.
We thank you for sending us friends who insist
that we must face the reality of the past.
We pray that like Jesus welcoming Thomas,
we will invite them to put their fingers into the holes the nails have made
and their hands into our sides, so that they can walk with us in our new life.
Thomas O’Loughlin,
In today’s gospel, St John tells us to about an appearance of the risen Christ to the disciples gathered together on a Sunday exactly a week after Easter. John sets the appearance of Jesus on a Sunday because he knows that that is the day when Christians gather for the Eucharist – a practice that marks us out to this day. So like those disciples we have gathered here for the Eucharist and Christ is now among us. We do not see him here today as on that first Sunday after Easter, but we recall the words Christ spoke on that occasion: ‘Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
1. Belief in the risen Christ is about sacramental living: ‘happy are they who have not seen and yet believe: It is about dying and rising with Christ and becoming part of him, the church (CoI2:12) – the mystery of baptism; it is about gathering for his meal that transforms us from being individuals into being ‘one body for we all share in the one loaf’ (1 Cor 10:17) – the mystery of the Eucharist. Baptism is the sacrament of entering, defining the bounds of the body; the Eucharist is the sacrament of sustaining, keeping the body in communion with Christ and between its parts. Both these aspects of the Paschal Mystery keep recurring in the liturgy; both sacraments are inextricably linked with one another, and have been since the earliest days.
2. However, while we may preach these links as abstract items of doctrine, in the minds of most people in the gathering today the two mysteries are as chalk and cheese. A ‘christening’ is something that belongs to infants and lots of people have the children christened because that’s what you do – in all likelihood everyone in the congregation has been to one such ceremony. And, while it ‘makes you a Christian’ or ‘a Catholic/ this is recalled primarily as a social bonding. The Mass, by contrast, is something you go to each week ‘if you are religious/ and it is about praying, getting communion (optional), and about ‘getting thoughts of the week’. The ministry of preaching has to try to permeate these perceptions and reveal the deeper dimensions of religious practice, and so highlight the core content of Christian faith. Actions tend to break through the crusts of tacitly held perceptions with a far greater effect than formal verbal teaching or preaching (recalling that part of the perception of preaching for many is that it is irrelevant or ‘goes over their heads’).
3. This could be done by having an infant baptism on this day the people who are practising and away from the parish on Easter Night may now be back and so can have their baptism today – at the Eucharist. Or, at the very least, by using today (as on Easter Sunday) the Renewal of Baptismal Promises (Miss at pp. 220-221) instead of a declaratory confession of faith. This activity, the baptism or the renewal of promises, brings the mysteries together visibly – and not just on that most special night (the Easter Vigil) but at a regular Sunday gathering.
4. Then taking the cue from the gospel, that the Sunday gathering around the Lord’s Table for the Lord’s Supper has been a fundamental activity of Christians from the start (long before we had any of the writings now called the New Testament), then make the gathering a real, physical gathering around the table, with a real fraction, and communion under both species from one cup.
5. The fact that the assembly have to engage in the ritual in these unusual ways, not just listening to a homily, may help them engage with the mysteries they are celebrating.
3. Sean Goan
Gospel: John 19-31
In this very packed gospel many different facets of the Easter mystery are presented. Firstly, we note that Jesus appears to the community gathered on a Sunday, they rejoice at his presence and experience through him the gift of the Holy Spirit and are given a mission, sent just as Jesus himself was. That is as good a summary of what Sunday Eucharist is all about as you will ever find. Joy in the presence of the risen Lord who gives us his peace so that we can continue his task of revealing God to the world. Thankfully Thomas is missing, because his refusal to believe means that the following Sunday we need to gather again, and once again as a community of faith encounter Christ among us. Now, by a wonderful irony it is Thomas who leads us in our appropriate response as we acknowledge Jesus as Our Lord and Our God.
Our readings for today, while they differ greatly in style, both reflect the extent to which the early church understood itself as totally dependent on the presence of the risen Christ within it. The first believers in Jerusalem were Jewish yet they stood out among their own people because of the witness that they offered. They impressed people with their care for one another and their prayerfulness. So too among the churches of the book of Revelation the faithful stood out from their contemporaries because, even when faced with persecution, their lives were characterised by hope and love. These are the fruits of Easter and remind us that we must celebrate as a community, and not only as individual the abiding presence of Jesus as our Lord and God.
Early Christian Jews
4. Donal Neary S.J.
Only faith
Jesus spoke in short sentences and summed up a lot of life in a few words. His final beatitude is in the gospel today – Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. You can unpack that little phrase and in it you realise that faith is about things that cannot be proved, that it is not easy and that it brings a blessedness to life. It also includes ourselves – the ones of this year who still believe.
Something is only by faith when everything else fades off. Our loved ones die and only faith assures us that they are alive with God. Only faith assures us that Jesus is present in the mystery of the bread and wine at our Mass. Only faith assures us that he is with us when two or three gather and only faith assures us that what we do for others we do for him. Faith assures us of some of the best things of life; finally that we come from God and go to God.
Thomas found difficulty with all this. Jesus dealt gently with him, pointing out the wounds of his body and inviting him to touch them. But Thomas never needed to touch the holes in Jesus’ hands and feet. He was told that an even better happiness was to believe without touch or sight. He found faith now in the risen Lord, and the faith itself was Jesus7 final gift to Thomas.
We need to take time and let faith grow within us. This can be in prayer, in faith-conversation and in allowing ourselves sit quietly and be in the presence of God. In the busy world, this may be difficult, but no day is diminished by time spent in silence and in quiet, knowing we are richly blessed when we grow our faith in God.
The Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter (for all three years of the Lectionary cycle) is Act 2 of John’s Easter drama.
Scene 1 takes place on Easter night. The terrified disciples are huddled together, realizing that they are marked men because of their association with the criminal Jesus. The Risen Jesus appears in their midst with his greeting of “peace.” John clearly has the Genesis story in mind when the evangelist describes Jesus as “breathing” the Holy Spirit on his disciples: Just as God created man and woman by breathing life into them (Genesis 2: 7), the Risen Christ re-creates humankind by breathing the new life of the Holy Spirit upon the eleven.
In scene 2, the disciples excitedly tell the just-returned Thomas of what they had seen. Thomas responds to the news with understandable skepticism. Thomas had expected the cross (see John 11: 16 and 14: 5) -- and no more.
The climactic third scene takes place one week later, with Jesus’ second appearance to the assembled community -- this time with Thomas present. He invites Thomas to examine his wounds and to “believe.” Christ’s blessing in response to Thomas’ profession of faith exalts the faith of every Christian of every age who “believes without seeing”; all Christians who embrace the Spirit of the Risen One possess a faith that is in no way different less than that of the first disciples. The power of the Resurrection transcends time and place.
We trace our roots as parish and faith communities to Easter night when Jesus “breathed” his spirit of peace and reconciliation upon his frightened disciples, transforming them into the new Church.
The peace of the Risen Christ is more than just the absence of conflict, more than just the quiet, unchallenged acceptance of another’s heartless behavior or selfish expectations. Christ’s peace is the hard work of loving when it is most difficult to love, of putting aside one’s own disappointments and doubts for the sake of the common good, of forgiving when we are too angry or disappointed, of reaching out even when we are sure we will be rebuffed or rejected.
Jesus’ entrusting to the disciples the work of forgiveness is what it means to be the church: to accept one another, to affirm one another, to support one another as God has done for us in the Risen Christ. What brought the apostles and first Christians together as a community -- unity of heart, missionary witness, prayer, reconciliation and healing -- no less powerfully binds us to one another as the Church of today.
All of us, at one time or another, experience the doubt and skepticism of Thomas: Thomas neither doubts nor rejects: he recognizes that each one of us possesses, within ourselves, the grace to seek God and discover for ourselves the truth about what God is doing in our lives. True faith is not passive acquiescence to a set of dogmas; faith is to be actively engaged in seeking God’s presence in every facet of our life, to be open in mind and heart to identify signs of resurrection and re-creation in our midst.
We all have scars from our own Good Fridays that remain long after our own experiences of resurrection. Our “nail marks” remind us that all pain and grief, all ridicule and suffering are transformed into healing and peace in the love of God we experience from others and that we extend them.
Faith of which I’m certain . . .
Two times two is four; two times three is six; two times four is eight . . — of that, I am positive.
When I put gasoline in my gas tank, my car will run — that I know.
When I strike a certain combination of keys on the piano, I create music — I’ve learned how to do that.
In such knowledge and experience there is certainty.
Real certainty does not require hope. I don’t need to “hope” two and two equals four. But I do need to hope that my belief —well-founded, to be sure — that my spouse loves me is grounded in reality and is not an illusion. Some might argue that my spouse’s love for me is something I want to believe in, to console myself in this lonely life. I might not be able to conclusively disprove this — but I believe I have quite solid grounds to believe in the reality of my spouse’s love for me, a love that transcends feelings, feelings which may vary from day to day.
Many nonbelievers equate faith with certainty, or with a desire for explanations: how the world came to be, why the good suffer, what we are here for. And some who consider themselves “believers” make superstitious use of religion — but few serious believers think of faith that way.
For men and women of “faith,” real faith is a perception, a way of looking at life, a form of gratitude — and very far from anything like explanation or certainty. Faith is the hope that God’s love is different, that whatever our limited love may be, God’s love is perfect, complete, unconditional. God’s love shows itself in the covenant with Israel, in the Incarnation, in Jesus’ teaching and death for us, in the hope of resurrection, in what we are asked to become.
Our relationship with all of this has to do with hope, not certainty; our faith is an ability to see and hear and behold our life and our world that enables us, in the midst of doubts and uncertainty, to trust.
[From “Reasons for Our Hope” by John Garvey, Commonweal, August 15, 2008.]
In today’s Gospel, Thomas is looking for certainty, but Jesus offers him something else: a reason to hope, a base line for belief, a prism for looking at the world with gratitude for what has been and what will be. The Risen One is the manifestation of such promise and hope: that we are loved, that our lives matter, that we are becoming the people God made us to be. Oh, there are our “Thomas” moments of doubt when we are not sure where or how to proceed, when we question our own motives and the motives of others, when all seems lost and pointless. But the gift of faith is the ability to hope that we can transform and remake, re-create and re-focus, our lives in the love of God and in the life of the Risen Christ. May this Easter, especially in these difficult times, illuminate our spirits with the light of such hope.
From Fr. Jude Botelho:
Everything that happens evokes a response. What is your personal response to the Resurrection? A man fell in a ditch. Realist: That's a ditch. Optimist: Things will get better. Pessimist: Things will get worse. Newspaper reporter: I will pay you for an exclusive story about life in the ditch. City: Did you get a permit for your ditch life? Mathematician: I will calculate the length and depth and width of the ditch. Income tax agent: Have you paid your taxes for the ditch? A Man: "Give me your hand!" and his name is Jesus of Divine Mercy.
Have a faith-filled Divine Mercy Sunday!
First Reading [Acts 5:12-16]
Many signs and wonders were done among the people
at the hands of the apostles.
They were all together in Solomon’s portico.
None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them.
Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord,
great numbers of men and women, were added to them.
Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets
and laid them on cots and mats
so that when Peter came by,
at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.
A large number of people from the towns
in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered,
bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits,
and they were all cured.
Responsorial Psalm[Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24]
R. (1) Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
R. Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
Let those who fear the LORD say,
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
Second Reading[Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19]
I, John, your brother, who share with you
the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus,
found myself on the island called Patmos
because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus.
I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day
and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said,
“Write on a scroll what you see.”
Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me,
and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands
and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,
wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.
When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead.
He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid.
I am the first and the last, the one who lives.
Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.
I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.
Write down, therefore, what you have seen,
and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.”
Gospel[Jn 20:19-31]
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the salient features of the early Christian community. The Acts tell us that, soon after the resurrection more and more believers were added to the Lord. It should be noted that the text says 'these were added to their number', which suggests that it was not the apostles, but God who added to their number. It was God's work and not men's efforts that caused the multitude to join their ranks. Many signs and marvels were worked at the hands of the apostles not by their own power but by the Risen Lord who was alive in their midst. Jesus is always alive in His Church and it is He who grants the increase and He who is the heart of the living Church. It is said an empty tomb proves Christianity, an empty Church is denied it.
Harmony in Community
It is interesting to note how the town of Harmony, U.S.A. came by its name: the citizens called a meeting to decide on a name. Although many names were suggested, no agreement could be reached and the discussion became heated and noisy. Disgusted by the way things were going, one man jumped up and shouted, "Gentlemen, please! Let us have harmony." To his amazement, everyone liked the word and shouted back, "Yes, Let's have Harmony!"
J Maurus in 'A Source-book of Inspiration'
The episode of Thomas missing the first apparition of the risen Lord is exclusive to the gospel of John. Every one tends to focus on Thomas, the doubter, but the fact is that almost everyone had doubts about the risen Lord and was as doubting as Thomas! They could not believe that he was alive, so Jesus had to be patient with them and give them signs in his many apparitions to them. In this episode Jesus comes to the frightened disciples and shows his pierced hands and feet and offers them his peace. The apostles are filled with joy but still have their doubts and fears, so he reassures them, "Peace be with you!" After giving them his Spirit of peace, the risen Lord sends them out on a mission to go and share his peace and forgiveness with others. We are all called to be his witnesses and channels of peace and forgiveness. If we cannot forgive we cannot receive his peace. Thomas, we are told, was not present when the Lord appeared to the disciples and when told of the Lord's appearance he voices his doubts strongly. "Unless I see the holes that the nails have made and put my hand into his side I refuse to believe!" We may judge Thomas harshly for his doubts but often we do the same and put terms and conditions for our belief. The risen Lord was patient and took Thomas at his word and appeared to him and asked him to see and feel for himself. “Doubt no longer but believe." God treats us likewise. He comes down to our level and acts on our terms. But the challenge is to believe without proof, for that, after all, is the basis of faith. God gives us no proofs but plenty of signs of his presence and love. Can we like Thomas cry out: "My Lord and my God!"
An invasion of privacy
Every Sunday morning, the people of a church in the Pacific Northwest say, "Peace be with you." They begin the worship service with a hymn of praise. The people confess their sins together, and then they are invited to pass the peace. It has become an exuberant moment in an otherwise sober occasion. Friends leave their pews to embrace one another. Newcomers are warmly welcomed with a kind word or a hug. Nobody thought much about the weekly ritual until the pastor received a letter from a man who had recently joined the congregation. The new member was a promising young lawyer. He drafted a brief but pointed letter. "I am writing to complain about the congregational ritual known as 'passing the peace,'" he wrote. "I am prepared to take legal action to cause this practice to cease." When the pastor phoned and asked why the man was so disturbed, the lawyer said, "The passing of the peace is an invasion of my privacy." Perhaps that story could only happen in the 1990s. These are strange times. To that end, I think the pastor's response to the lawyer was right on target. He said, "Like it or not, when you joined the church you gave up some of your privacy, for we believe in a risen Lord who will never leave us alone." Then he added, "You never know when Jesus Christ will intrude on us with a word of peace."
William Carter in 'Water won't quench the fire'
"It's time to get up!"
Winston Churchill had planned his funeral, which took place in Saint Paul's Cathedral. He included many of the great hymns of the church, and used the eloquent Anglican liturgy. At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of Saint Paul's, intoned, after the benediction, the sound of Taps, the universal signal that says the day is over. But then came the most dramatic turn: As Churchill instructed, as soon as Taps was finished, another bugler, placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of Reveille - It's time to get up. It's time to get up. It's time to get up in the morning. That was Churchill's testimony that at the end of history, the last note will not be Taps, it will be Reveille. The worst things are never the last things.
John Claypool in 'Leadership'
I have no hands but yours…
There was a poor peasant family that had worked for several years scrimping and saving to buy a piece of land of its own. Finally the day came and they took possession of it. The mother and half dozen children gathered in the two room shack that would serve as their home, while the father walked the length and breadth of their land. He paced it out marking the four corners as boundaries, praying in joy and thanksgiving as he walked. As he rounded the last corner and laid a stone in place he noticed something sticking out from under a bush. He bent and scratched the earth, digging with his hands and soon unearthed the corpus from a crucifix. It has obviously been in the ground for some time. Its hands and arms were gone and its feet and legs missing. It was mangled, scratched, cracked and the paint nearly gone. He picked it up and carried it back in his arms to the house and laid it on the table. The family stood around it looking at it in an awkward silence. The father explained that he had found it on their land. It was the first thing he dug out of their ground. What should they do with it? Should they take it to the Church and give it to the padre? Should they burn it? Should they bury it again? They all stood and looked at it. Finally the youngest spoke: "Father I have an idea, why don't we hang it in the kitchen and put a sign underneath it? The father asked: "What would you put on the sign?" There was a long silence and the corpus was hung with care on the white washed wall of the kitchen and a small piece of paper was tacked underneath by the little child. It read: "Jesus has no hands and feet. Will you lend him yours?"
Megan McKenna in 'Lent -The Sunday Readings'
We doubt in order to be certain
One Saturday night, around 10.00pm, the pastor of Almighty God Parish Church was trying to call his friend, but his friend did not answer the phone. He thought it odd that his friend would not answer while he was sure he was at home. He tried to call again after a few minutes and his friend answered right away. He asked why he had not answered before, and the latter said that the phone hadn't rung. They brushed it off anyway and continued with their chat. The following Monday the pastor received a call. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he had called him on Saturday night. The pastor could not figure out what the guy was talking about. Then the guy said, "It rang and rang, but I didn't answer." Then the pastor remembered and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he had intended to call his friend. The man said, "That's ok. Let me tell you my story. You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, "God if you are there, and you don't want me to do this, give me a sign now." At that point my phone started to ring. I looked up the caller ID, and it said, 'Almighty God'. I was afraid to answer."
John Pichappilly in 'The Table of the Word'
Doubt no longer but believe!
In 1879, Leo Tolstoy, famous Russian novelist, was 51 years of age. He had every reason to be satisfied with life and be proud of his personal achievements. After all, he was author of two classic novels -War and Peace and Anna Karenina. So outstanding were these novels that even if Tolstoy had written nothing more, he would still be remembered and hailed as one of the greatest novelists the world had ever known. However, Leo Tolstoy admits he was always haunted by the nagging question: "Is there any meaning in life that will not be destroyed by death?" Earlier, Tolstoy had abandoned his Christian faith disillusioned by the hypocrisy of some who did not practice what they preached. His search drove him to such desperation that he even contemplated suicide. But at this crucial juncture he realized that the truths of Christianity were the most sensible and he was once again drawn to them, as to a magnet. "I thought that there was no sure truth in life. But then I found a sure source of light. I found it in the Gospel, and was dazzled by its splendour. In the teachings of Jesus, I found the purest and most complete doctrine of life."
Valladares J. in 'Your Words, O Lord, Are Spirit, and They Are Life'
Cosmic Union and Christic Communion
In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi narrates how, as a student in South Africa, he read the Bible and was fascinated by the person of Christ. He believed that Christianity was the best antidote for the caste system in India, and even considered converting to Christianity. However, on one of visits to a church he was shown the door and told he could only attend Mass in a church reserved for blacks. He left, never to return. Even though Christianity preaches love and equality, we have built churches dividing whites and blacks in South Africa and so called ‘high’ and ‘low castes’ in India. But, is there any ‘model church’ we can emulate in designing Christian communities for our times? The first line of the first reading tells us: “The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for one’s own use anything that one had, as everything they owned was held in common.” We are called to be witnesses to communion.
Francis Gonsalves in ‘Sunday Seeds for Daily Deeds’
The post-resurrection appearance of Jesus Christ starts with the fact that the disciples are huddled behind closed doors fearful of what might happen to them, now that their master has gone. The have closed the doors and yet Jesus comes through the barrier they have created and stands in their midst. “Peace be to you!" Is his first greeting. No matter what we have done, He comes to bring us peace. He comes to fill us with his Spirit, the Spirit of new hope, the Spirit of joy. The second focus of the Gospel is on Thomas, one of the twelve, who was not present when the Lord appeared to the rest and who begins to question and doubt the Risen Lord's presence. He goes further than that, he demands proof. Many of us could easily identify with Thomas the doubter. We miss out on the gifts that the Lord freely gives. Our faith is shaken and we demand proofs. The Lord giving in to the demands of doubting Thomas comes to him on his terms. “Here I am Thomas! Put your finger into the holes the nails have made. Put your hand into the wound in my side! Doubt no longer but believe." Thomas's response is an act of faith: “My Lord and my God!" Jesus' response to Thomas is one that is relevant to all of us who have doubts from time to time. “Thomas, you believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe!" There will be times in our lives, when we will demand proof from God, when we will ask for signs from Him, when we want to feel his presence when we feel forsaken. It is at these times that we are called to believe though we don't see, though we don't feel His loving presence. “Doubt No longer but believe!"
Doubting Thomasses
The doubting Thomas saga is often glibly used to dismiss even the most reasonable reservations about a project. Of course, it is frequently invoked by people who have long forgotten its gospel origin. Thomas is in the not uncommon situation of being remembered for his limitations rather than for his finer qualities. He was the courageous one who suggested that all the disciples should go and die with the Lord in Jerusalem when danger threatened the Master. He was honest and open in saying that he did not understand a word when Jesus was talking about being the way to the Father. But it is for his unwillingness to believe in the resurrection of Jesus that he has gone down in history. Yet, his hesitancy was understandable. The others believed because they had been in the presence of the risen Lord. Without this personal experience they would not have been convinced. Despite his doubting, once he dramatically accepted the fact that Jesus was risen, Thomas committed his whole life to believing in the Lord and to sharing this treasure with the world. Our times need many Thomases!
Tom Clancy in ‘Living the Word’
Nurture new life
In 1910 a young explorer was travelling in the French Alps when he came upon a wasteland, a barren stretch of land desolate and abandoned. He had travelled about five miles into this God-forsaken territory when in the distance he saw what looked like the stump of a tree. On approaching, he discovered the stooped figure of a little old man with a sack of acorns on his back and an iron staff in his hand. With the staff he made a hole in the ground, dropped in an acorn and filled the hole. He was planting oak trees. He told the explorer that he had planted 100,000 in the past three years. “If I get one in ten, I’ll be happy,” he said, adding that his wife and only son had died and that as long as the Lord spared him he would carry on planting trees to bring back life to a land that was dying. Fifty years later the explorer returned to a sight wondrous to behold. The acorns of 1910 had become an oak forest, eleven kilometres long by three kilometres wide. There were beech trees along the slopes as far as the eyes could see. Birds were singing in the trees, wildlife frolicked in the shade and streams flowed with water in groves that has been bone dry. At the entrance to the forest was a linden tree, the symbol of re-birth. And as he gazed in wonder he thought of the old unlettered peasant who had worked alone in utter solitude to turn a desert into the land of Canaan and had completed a task worthy of God. We may not be able to change the world but we can do something about the little patch where we live. The sack of acorns and the iron staff are in our hands.
James Feeban in ‘Story Power’
Happy are those who have not seen, yet believe.
“I remember one occasion when I led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. One of the young men in the group was quite mentally limited, although his grasp of God, of Jesus, and the events of the gospel was uncanny. We arrived at the tomb of the basilica, and we joined the long line, waiting our turn to enter. One lady came out of the tomb, and was obviously deeply touched by the experience of her visit to such a sacred spot. She sat down outside the entrance, took out a tissue, and began wiping her tears. My friend, who was back in the line, spotted what was happening, and responded instantly. He ran straight up to her, put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Don’t be crying, It’s Ok. He’s alive; don’t you know that?” The whole thing was so spontaneous and genuine that the woman stood up, and gave him a warm hug. The simple fact was that he could not understand how anybody could be crying at this tomb, of all the tombs in the world. -Jesus thanked the father for giving a message that was so simple and straightforward that the intellectual and the worldly-wise would fail to grasp it, and yet it could be fully accepted by someone with the mind of a child. Happy are they who have not seen yet believe…”
Jack McArdle in ‘And that’s the Gospel Truth!’
Showing them his wounds
His Holiness Pope John Pail II passed away on 2nd April 2005. He shepherded the Catholic Church for nearly twenty-seven years. He cheated death many times. At the beginning of his pontificate, an attempt of assassination was made on him (1981). He had colon cancer in 1992; he suffered shoulder and hip injuries in 1992 and 1993; he had his appendix removed in 1996, and in 2001 it was confirmed that he suffered from Parkinson’s disease. Towards the end of his life, he was visibly in pain, but he united it with the sufferings of Christ, and bore with it with extraordinary serenity. One day, while he was giving a press conference, one reporter asked him, “Holy Father, kindly excuse me for being bold. You are aged, your hands are shaking due to Parkinson’s disease, your voice is feeble and inaudible, and you find it difficult to walk. You are suffering a lot and you are incapacitated in your work. Why don’t you resign and take rest, and make way for the others to take over? The Holy Father said, “If Jesus had come down from the cross, I, too, would have resigned. Since, He remained on the cross and suffered, I too, am holding on to my responsibility, and am suffering.” The suffering, which the Pope was undergoing, was because he loved Christ and the people whom Christ had entrusted to him. The Holy Father’s sufferings were the tokens of his love.
John Rose in ‘John’s Sunday Homilies’
Resurrection and economics….
The Christian faith has profound economic implications. Any preaching of the Good News that shuns this reality denies the Gospel and Jesus’ teaching. In Acts we see that one of the strong witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection is the way his disciples order their economic lives. Resurrection and economics have spiritual connections to how the Church lives out its mission and are key to the Church’s involvement in peace and justice ministry. Acts 4 is about resurrection power in our living and our economics. Resurrection in Acts is not so much a doctrine to be believed as a power to be experienced. Trying to prove the historicity of the resurrection may distract us from discovering this power in our lives as we engage the powers of domination today. The early Church community lived out this resurrection power in the way they arranged their lives, their relationships to one another, and their economics. The Church today needs to experience this kind of resurrection power if we are going to be an effective presence in a world torn apart by violence, poverty, greed, and fear. One of the first important signs of resurrection power in the early Church was the strong sense of community.
Larry Hollar in ‘Hunger for the Word’
From Fr.. Tony Kadavil:
1) "Well, then, I will have mercy."
Emperor Napoleon was moved by a mother's plea for pardon for her soldier son. However, the emperor said that since it was the man’s second major offense, justice demanded death. "I do not ask for justice," implored the mother, "I plead for mercy." "But," said the emperor, "he does not deserve mercy." "Sir," cried the mother, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." The compassion and clarity of the mother's logic prompted Napoleon to respond, "Well, then, I will have mercy." The Second Sunday of the Easter season invites us to reflect on God’s infinite love and mercy for His people, as detailed in the Bible and as lived and taught by Jesus, and to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
2) St. Faustina and the Image of the Divine Mercy:
St. Faustina of Poland is the well known apostle of Divine Mercy. On the 30th of April, 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter, at 10:00 a.m., His Holiness Pope John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist in Saint Peter’s Square and proceeded to the canonization of Blessed Sister FAUSTINA. The new Saint invites us by the witness of her life to keep our faith and hope fixed on God, the Father, rich in mercy, who saved us by the precious blood of His Son. During her short life, the Lord Jesus assigned St. Faustina three basic tasks: 1. to pray for souls, entrusting them to God's incomprehensible Mercy; 2. to tell the world about God's Generous Mercy; 3. to start a new movement in the Church focusing on God's Mercy. At the canonization of Sr. Faustina, Pope John Paul II said: “The cross, even after the Resurrection of the Son of God, speaks and never ceases to speak of God the Father, who is absolutely faithful to His eternal love for man....
Believing in this love means believing in mercy." “The Lord of Divine Mercy” a drawing of Jesus based on the vision given to St. Faustina, shows Jesus raising his right hand in a gesture of blessing, with his left hand on his chest from which gush forth two rays, one red and one white. The picture contains the message "Jesus, I trust in You!" (Jezu ufam Tobie). The rays streaming out have symbolic meaning: red for the blood of Jesus, which is the life of souls and white for the water which justifies souls. The whole image is symbolic of the mercy, forgiveness and love of God.
3) Mayor’s mercy:
One night in 1935, Fiorello H. La Guardia, mayor of New York, showed up at a night court in the poorest ward of the city. He dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench. One case involved an elderly woman who was caught stealing bread to feed her grandchildren. La Guardia said, "I've got to punish you. Ten dollars or ten days in jail."
As he spoke, he threw $10 into his hat. He then fined everyone in the courtroom 50 cents for living in a city "where an old woman had to steal bread so that her grandchildren should not starve." The hat was passed around, and the woman left the courtroom with her fine paid and an additional $47.50.
4) Traffic cop’s mercy:
A priest was forced, by a traffic police, to pull over for speeding. As the cop was about to write the ticket, the priest said to him, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." The cop handed the priest the ticket, and said, "Go, and sin no more."
5) Photographer’s mercy:
The story is told of a politician who, after receiving the proofs of a picture, was very angry with the photographer. He stormed back to the man's studio and screamed at him: "This picture does not do me justice!" The photographer replied, "Sir, with a face like yours, what you need is mercy, not justice!"
6) Divine Mercy in action:
A TIME magazine issue in 1984 presented a startling cover. It pictured a prison cell where two men sat on metal folding chairs. The young man wore a black turtleneck sweater, blue jeans and white running shoes. The older man was dressed in a white robe and had a white skullcap on his head. They sat facing one another, up-close and personal. They spoke quietly so as to keep others from hearing the conversation. The young man was Mehmet Ali Agca, the pope’s would-be assassin (he shot and wounded the Pope on May 13, 1981); the other man was Pope John Paul II, the intended victim. The Pope held the hand that had held the gun whose bullet tore into the Pope’s body. This was a living icon of mercy. John Paul’s forgiveness was deeply Christian. His deed with Ali Agca spoke a thousand words. He embraced his enemy and pardoned him. At the end of their 20-minute meeting, Ali Agca raised the Pope’s hand to his forehead as a sign of respect. John Paul shook Ali Agca’s hand tenderly. When the Pope left the cell he said, “What we talked about must remain a secret between us. I spoke to him as a brother whom I have pardoned and who has my complete trust.” This is an example of God’s Divine Mercy, the same Divine Mercy whose message St. Faustina witnessed.
More From Fr Tony Kadavil's Collection:
1. Mercy during tragedy: The news is filled with illustrations of mercy—or the need for mercy—in our world. One of the most moving stories came to us on October 6, 2006, when an armed man entered an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. He chased out the little boys and lined up the 10 little girls in front of the blackboard. He shot all of them and then killed himself. Five of the girls died. After the medics and police left, the families of the fallen came and carried their slain children home. They removed their bloody clothes and washed the bodies. They sat for a time and mourned their beloved children. After a while they walked to the home of the man who killed their children. They told his widow they forgave her husband for what he had done, and they consoled her for the loss of her spouse. They buried their anger before they buried their children. Amish Christians teach us that forgiveness is central. They believe in a real sense that God’s forgiveness of themselves depends on their extending forgiveness to other people. That’s what the mercy of God is all about. That mercy is why we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. (Rev. Alfred McBride, O.Praem: Catholic Update – March 2008).
2: Divine Mercy in action: The TIME Magazine January 9, 1984 cover showed a prison cell where two men sat on metal folding chairs. The young man wore a blue turtleneck sweater, blue jeans and white running shoes. The older man was dressed in a white robe and had a white skullcap on his head. They sat facing one another, up-close and personal. They spoke quietly so as to keep others from hearing the conversation. The young man was Mehmet Ali Agca, the pope’s would-be assassin (he shot and wounded the Pope on May 13, 1981); the other man was Pope St. John Paul II, the intended victim. The Pope held the hand that had held the gun whose bullet had torn into the Pope’s body. This was a living icon of mercy. John Paul’s forgiveness was deeply Christian. His deed with Ali Agca spoke a thousand words. He embraced his enemy and pardoned him. At the end of their 20-minute meeting, Ali Agca raised the Pope’s hand to his forehead as a sign of respect. John Paul shook Ali Agca’s hand tenderly. When the Pope left the cell he said, “What we talked about must remain a secret between us. I spoke to him as a brother whom I have pardoned and who has my complete trust.” This is an example of God’s Divine Mercy, the same Divine Mercy Jesus spelled out to us through St. Faustina. (http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0308.asp)
3: St. Faustina and the Image of the Divine Mercy: St. Faustina of Poland is the well-known apostle of Divine Mercy. At 10:00 AM, April 30, 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter, His Holiness Pope St. John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist in Saint Peter’s Square and canonized Blessed Sister Faustina. That day was Divine Mercy Sunday, the Feast requested by Jesus in His communications with St. Faustina. [John Paul himself would be canonized on this same Feast Day, April 27 in 2014, by Pope Francis.] Saint Faustina invites us by the witness of her life to keep our Faith and Hope fixed on God the Father, rich in mercy, who saved us by the precious Blood of His Son. During her short life, the Lord Jesus assigned to St. Faustina three basic tasks: 1. to pray for souls, entrusting them to God’s incomprehensible Mercy; 2. to tell the world about God’s generous Mercy; 3. to start a new movement in the Church focusing on God’s Mercy. At the canonization of St. Faustina, Pope St. John Paul II said: “The cross, even after the Resurrection of the Son of God, speaks, and never ceases to speak, of God the Father, who is absolutely faithful to His eternal love for man. … Believing in this love means believing in mercy.” “The Lord of Divine Mercy,” a drawing of Jesus based on the vision given to St. Faustina, shows Jesus raising his right hand in a gesture of blessing, with His left hand on his heart from which gush forth two rays, one red and one white. The picture contains the message, “Jesus, I trust in You!” (Jezu ufam Tobie). The rays streaming out have symbolic meaning: red for the Blood of Jesus, which is the life of souls and white for the Baptismal water which justifies souls. The whole image is symbolic of the mercy, forgiveness and love of God.
4) Traffic cop’s mercy: A priest was forced by a police officer to pull over for speeding. As the officer was about to write the ticket, the priest said to him, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” The police officer handed the priest the ticket, and said, “Go, and sin no more.”
5) Photographer’s mercy: The story is told of a politician who, after receiving the proofs of a picture, was very angry with the photographer. He stormed back to the man’s studio and screamed at him: “This picture does not do me justice!” The photographer replied, “Sir, with a face like yours, what you need is mercy, not justice!”
21 Additional anecdotes:
1: “Law vs Mercy” In Reader’s Digest, Jim Williams of Montana, writes: “I was driving too fast late one night when I saw the flashing lights of a police car in my rearview mirror. As I pulled over and rolled down my window of my station wagon, I tried to dream up an excuse for my haste. But when the patrolman reached the car, he said nothing. Instead, he merely shined his flashlight in my face, then on my seven-month-old in his car seat, then on our three other children, who were asleep, and lastly on the two dogs in the very back of the car. Returning the beam of light to my face, he then uttered the only words of the encounter. “’Son,’ he said, ‘you can’t afford a ticket. Slow down.’” And with that, he returned to his car and drove away.” Sometimes mercy triumphs over law. So it is for sinners who call out to Jesus.” (Sent by Fr. pgolden@richmondcathedral.org on March 1, 2013).
2) Baseball player experiences Divine Mercy: During Babe Ruth’s baseball career, he drifted away from his Faith. One night he was very ill in a New York hospital, and a friend suggested he makes his peace with God. As a result, Babe Ruth asked to see a priest. After celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation, Babe Ruth wrote:
“As I lay in bed that evening, I thought to myself – what a comfortable feeling to be free from fear and worries. I could simply turn them over to God.” Wow! What an expression of Trust in God’s Love and Mercy.
3) “Everybody is somebody” because of Divine Mercy: On 11th April 2009, the woman ruling the British Empire wasn’t Queen Elizabeth. It was a 47-year-old unemployed spinster named Susan Boyle. A lot of you probably know her story. Susan grew up in a small town in Scotland, a devout Catholic, the youngest of nine children. She had learning difficulties when she was a child, and the other children often made fun of her. She lived at home all her life, never married — “never been kissed,” as she puts it – and she spent her time caring for her mother and father and attending Mass every day. She also liked to sing in her church choir. As she grew up, and grew older, she put up with taunts from local school children, who made fun of her eccentric ways and her frizzy hair and frumpy clothes. But Susan’s mother knew that her daughter had something special to give. Susan had a powerful singing voice, and her mother always encouraged her to do something with it. After her mother died, Susan grieved for almost two years, before finally summoning the courage to do what her mother had always wanted her to do. Susan won a slot on a British TV talent show. Last Saturday night, the night before Easter, millions of Britons watched as she shuffled awkwardly onto the stage — this middle-aged out-of-work woman with uncombed hair and an unglamorous face. The audience laughed and some rolled their eyes.
But then she opened her mouth to sing. “I Dreamed A Dream,” she sang. Watch her performance: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnn6mShs1P8). And she did it in a voice that was powerful, and clear, and even thrilling. After the first few bars, the audience was on its feet, cheering. It was, literally, the performance of a lifetime. Susan Boyle became an overnight sensation. In just one week, the video of her appearance has been viewed nearly 20 million times around the world on YouTube. She’s appeared on talk shows, been interviewed by papers and magazines. Oprah has invited her on to be a guest. “I did this,“ Susan told a reporter, “for my late mother. I wanted to show her I could do something with my life.” I thought of Susan Boyle on Wednesday, when Archbishop Timothy Dolan climbed the pulpit at St. Patrick’s at his installation Mass and declared in his first homily: “Everybody is somebody.” Susan Boyle certainly proved that. No matter what others may think, the beautiful truth is that everyone carries the spark of the Divine. Every life has meaning and dignity. Everybody is somebody.
4) Divine mercy experience of Rev. Fr. James Alberione. The founder of the religious congregation to which I belong is Rev. Fr. James Alberione. A holy man with a prophetic vision, he harnessed the pastoral potentiality of the modern means of communication at the service of evangelization. The Holy Father, Pope St. John Paul II will beatify him today – April 27, 2003 – in Rome. Fr. Alberione founded five religious congregations, four aggregated Institutes, and the Association of Pauline Cooperators, all of which comprise the “Pauline Family”. In 1923, he was struck down with a serious illness that led him into a kind of crisis about the future of the religious family launched just a few years earlier. He needed some kind of assurance in the midst of uncertainties. He looked for confirmation in the most difficult moment of his life. The Divine Master kindheartedly obliged by appearing to him in a dream, assuring him of His Divine assistance and presence. Here is Fr. Alberione’s personal account of that awesome experience. In a particularly difficult moment, reexamining all his ways of doing things to see if there might perhaps be impediments to the action of grace on his part, it seems that the Divine Master may have wanted to reassure the Institute that had only gotten underway a few years before. In a subsequent dream, he had what seemed to him to be a reply. Jesus, the Master, in fact, said to him: “Fear not. I am with you. From here I will enlighten. Have a contrite heart.” The “from here” came forth from the tabernacle; and with power, such as to make one understand that from Him, the Master, must one receive all enlightenment. He spoke of this with his spiritual director, noting in what light the figure of the Master had been enveloped. His reply to me was: “Be at peace; dream or otherwise, what was said is holy; make it a practical program of life and of light for yourself and for all members.” From that point on he became more and more oriented to and received all from the tabernacle. (Cf. Abundantes Divitiae, n. 151-155). Indeed, the experience of Blessed James Alberione, a “true missionary of the Church” and a modern apostle for our times, is similar to that of the apostle Thomas, who experienced the compassion of the saving and merciful Lord as predilection.
5) Iranian mother saves son’s killer from hanging, with a slap of mercy and forgiveness: Tehran: An Iranian mother spared the life of her son’s convicted murderer with an emotional slap in the face as he awaited execution with the noose around his neck, a newspaper reported on Thursday. The dramatic climax followed a rare public campaign to save the life of Balal, who at 19 killed another young man, Abdollah Hosseinzadeh, in a street fight with a knife in 2007. Shargh newspaper said police officers led Balal to a public execution site in the northern city of Nowshahr as a large crowd gathered on Tuesday morning. Samereh Alinejad, mother of the victim, who had lost another son in a motorbike accident four years ago, asked the onlookers whether they knew “how difficult it is to live in an empty house”. Advertisement
Balal, black-hooded and standing on a chair before a makeshift gallows, had the noose around his neck when Ms Alinejad approached. She slapped him in the face and removed the rope from his neck, assisted by her husband, Abdolghani Hosseinzadeh, a former professional footballer. “I am a believer. I had a dream in which my son told me that he was at peace and in a good place … After that, all my relatives, even my mother, put pressure on me to pardon the killer,” Ms Alinejad told Shargh. “The murderer was crying, asking for forgiveness. I slapped him in the face. That slap helped to calm me down. Now that I’ve forgiven him, I feel relieved.” Balal said the “slap was the space between revenge and forgiveness”. “I’ve asked my friends not to carry knives … I wish someone had slapped me in the face when I wanted to carry one,” he said. A high-profile campaign was launched by public figures – including popular football commentator and TV show host Adel Ferdosipour and former international footballer Ali Daei – appealing for the victim’s family to forgive the killer. See the video commentary below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=cwh17osBCNI
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/iranian-mother-saves-sons-killer-from-hanging-with-a-slap-20140418-zqw3f.html#ixzz300Il5O32
6) “Well, then, I will have mercy.” The Emperor Napoleon was moved by a mother’s plea for pardon for her soldier son. However, the Emperor said that since it was the man’s second major offense, justice demanded death. “I do not ask for justice,” implored the mother, “I plead for mercy.” “But,” said the Emperor, “he does not deserve mercy.” “Sir,” cried the mother, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.” The compassion and clarity of the mother’s logic prompted Napoleon to respond, “Well, then, I will have mercy.” The Second Sunday of the Easter season invites us to reflect on God’s infinite love and mercy for His people, as detailed in the Bible and as lived and taught by Jesus, and to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
7) Divine Mercy and Zacharias Moussaoui. Zacharias Moussaoui was sentenced for a role in the devastating 9/11 tragedy. The Frederick News Post (Apr 14: Good Friday) reported it with the headline: “Suspect wishes pain for victims.” Wow. “‘So you would be happy to see 9/11 again,’ the prosecutor asked. Moussaoui said: ‘Every day until we get you.’ He told jurors that he has ‘no regret, no remorse,’ and was disgusted by the heart-rending testimony of victims and relatives and only wished they have suffered more.” Have you read any more tragic thoughts and wishes? When this Chaplain describes the words and actions as objectively “evil,” he means that, objectively, wanting to murder people, and to plague them with more harm and rub it into their lives is an evil thing. Subjectively, perhaps Zacharias Moussaoui is mentally deranged and not totally culpable for his words and actions. We don’t and can’t know this as a literal matter of fact. The question was raised by both defense and prosecution in his sentencing. Point: Mercy is just for such people – the free offer of God, to even the harshest of offenders, like Zacharias Moussaoui, of forgiveness and reconciliation if he chooses to accept it. We need to pray for Moussaoui that he may ask for and receive God’s pardon and love. This man and his sentiments are just one more reason why Jesus came to Earth-to save souls, even the most overtly plagued ones. (Fr. John J. Lombardi) http://www.emmitsburg.net/grotto/father_jack/2006/mercy_sunday.htm
8) Mayor’s mercy: One night in 1935, Fiorello H. La Guardia, Mayor of New York City, showed up at Night Court in the poorest ward of the city. He dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench. One case involved an elderly woman who was caught stealing bread to feed her grandchildren. La Guardia said, “I’ve got to punish you. Ten dollars or ten days in jail.” As he spoke, he threw $10 into his hat. He then fined everyone in the courtroom 50 cents for living in a city “where an old woman had to steal bread so that her grandchildren should not starve.” The hat was passed around, and the woman left the courtroom with her fine paid and an additional $47.50.
9) Mary Duray, Connecticut: Mary and her husband suffered the tragic loss of their son, and it was her understanding of Divine Mercy that helped her and her family forgive those that took his life during a robbery. Mary tells us how her attendance at a Mother of Mercy Messengers (MOMM) Divine Mercy Program helped her overcome great obstacles and allowed her to forgive and even to pray for them. Knowing that as long as there is life, there is hope, the family did not seek the death penalty for his murderers. How differently does the person filled with God’s mercy see and react to the world. (http://mercyimages.com/video_MaryDuray.php )
10) “What I don’t know is where I am going.” The story is told about Albert Einstein, the brilliant physicist of Princeton University in the early 20th century. Einstein was traveling from Princeton on a train, and when the conductor came down the aisle to punch the passengers’ tickets, Einstein couldn’t find his. He looked in his vest pocket, he looked in his pants pocket, he looked in his briefcase, but there was no ticket. The conductor was gracious; “Not to worry, Dr. Einstein, I know who you are, we all know who you are, and I’m sure you bought a ticket.” As the conductor moved down the aisle, he looked back and noticed Einstein on his hands and knees, searching under the seat for his ticket. The conductor returned to Einstein; “Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry. I know who you are. You don’t need a ticket, I’m sure you bought one.” Einstein arose and said, “Young man, I too know who I am; what I don’t know is where I am going.” And that is the Good News of Easter; that we know where we are going. We have been told by the Savior that his life and death has promised us life eternal. (Steven Molin, Elated….Deflated. Quoted by Fr. Kyala)
11) Ask for Mercy: In order to receive mercy we must ask for it and be ready to accept it. If we do not accept it sincerely we will not change our attitude towards our past life. We read in history that in 1829 George Wilson was condemned to death for robbing the mail and killing the policeman who was on the way to arrest him. President Andrew Jackson granted him a pardon but George Wilson refused to accept it. The judge said ‘Pardon is a pardon only when one accepts it. George must die’. Mercy is mercy when we accept it. We read in the life of Voltaire that he wanted to live six weeks to repent for his sins. The doctor told him he would not live six days. He died unrepentant. Having mercy at his door he refused to accept it. (Elias Dias in Divine Stories for Families; quoted by Fr. Botelho).
12) “The miracle over Hudson River:” A banker on a business trip in New York City, Fred Berretta had just checked into his hotel room. He had about 20 minutes downtime before he had to meet his colleagues. For some reason he decided to clean out his briefcase, something he hadn’t done in a long time. As he emptied it out, he came across a booklet he had stuffed into a pocket years ago on praying the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy. He recalls having prayed it a few times years ago. Only two weeks prior, Fred had made a New Year’s resolution to try to get into better spiritual shape. Here in this hotel room was an opportunity to fulfill it. So he followed along in the booklet and prayed the chaplet, a prayer our Lord gave to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, during a series of revelations that has sparked the modern Divine Mercy movement. He would be among the 155 people to board a jet airliner at LaGuardia Airport bound for Charlotte, N.C., his hometown. Ninety seconds after takeoff, the jet would apparently hit a flock of geese, the engines would explode, and the plane would lose power at 3,200 feet. The aircraft would be out of reach from any airfield. It would lose thrust and altitude. Everything would become eerily quiet. Fred would cinch his seatbelt. His left hand would clutch the armrest, his heart would race, his face would be flushed. “Prepare for impact,” the pilot would say over the PA system. As the ground surged into view, Fred would look at his watch. It would be 3:30, the Hour of Great Mercy! “I prayed with every fiber of emotion and sincerity I could muster, ‘God, please be merciful to us,'” Fred would recall two weeks later. You’ve probably heard about the crash landing of Flight 1549 in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009. No one was seriously injured. Then, there were the news images of a US Airways Airbus floating gently down the frigid Hudson, like some sort of breaching, people-friendly, aquatic creature. The passengers stood on its wings, calmly awaiting rescue.
13) Seven Secrets of the Eucharist: We might never have learned Fred Berretta’s story if it weren’t for Vinny Flynn. Following the crash, Fred felt compelled to send an email of thanks to Vinny, the former executive editor at the Marian Helpers Center, in Stockbridge, Mass.
Fred had never heard of Vinny until about two hours before he boarded Flight 1549. Following morning meetings on Jan. 15, Fred had found himself in the unusual position of having some free time on a business trip. It was noon. He had stepped inside Manhattan’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He had stayed for the 12 p.m. Mass. Afterwards, he had gone into St. Patrick’s gift shop. A book had caught his eye — Vinny’s Seven Secrets of the Eucharist (Mercy Song, Ignatius Press, 2006) — which, with citations from St. Faustina’s Diary, gives a greater understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist. Fred also purchased a St. Michael’s scapular. In an interview with thedivinemercy.org this week, Fred explained what happened next: “I got into a cab and went to the airport [LaGuardia],” he said. “My flight was delayed about 15 minutes, so I sat there and started reading Vinny’s book. I was really taken by it. I boarded the plane and continued to read. Just as we were rolling out for takeoff, I put the book away and closed my eyes and began to reflect on what I had been reading. “Some of us looked at each other,” he said. “There was nothing to be said. I knew that the only thing I could do was pray.” Which is exactly what Fred did when he suddenly realized it was the Hour of Great Mercy and he would probably be dead in a matter of seconds. He trusted, truly, for the first time. All these fragments of thought seemed to piece themselves into place. The plane was going down, yet everything was making sense. He admits he was in shock. But he also felt at peace, a deep peace. God had allowed him to find the Divine Mercy booklet in his briefcase. God had steered him to Vinny’s book. God did all this, he thought, to prepare him for death. He hunched over in his seat to brace for impact. He prayed for God’s mercy. Then he prayed two Hail Marys and one Our Father. He made it halfway though a prayer to St. Michael, the archangel, when the plane hit the water, came to a stop, and bobbed up and down like a toy in a kiddy pool. (http://thedivinemercy.org/news/story.php?NID=3493).
14) “Sir, that is what I am afraid of.” There is a story about a soldier brought before General Robert E. Lee. Accused of misconduct, the soldier was trembling. The general said to him, “Do not be afraid, son. Here you will receive justice.” The soldier looked at the general and said, “Sir that is what I am afraid of.” Like that soldier, Peter would have reason to tremble. Peter had boasted about his bravery, how he would always stand by Jesus. Yet when Jesus needed him most, he nodded off. Perhaps one could forgive him for falling asleep, but later – when he was wide-awake – he denied Jesus. “I do not know the man.” Some rock! In strict justice, Peter should have been punished – at the very least, removed as head of the Church. In Christ’s passion, however, a deeper justice is at work. That is what we will discover this Divine Mercy Sunday. God’s justice has a name – it is called the Divine Mercy. Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, the Triduum we have just experienced, are the three great days of grace – of Divine Mercy. Now we need to live out the mercies we have received by passing them on to everyone else.
15) Macbeth never had peace in his life: One of the famous tragedies of William Shakespeare is Macbeth. When Macbeth was returning after a victory, he was met by three witches. The first witch greeted him, “Thane of Glamis”. The second witch greeted him “Thane of Cawdor”, and the third witch greeted him, “King hereafter”. As they disappeared messengers reached with the good news that he was appointed as the Thane of Glamis and Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth went home and shared this strange experience with his wife. She enkindled his hopes, and persuaded him to murder Duncan, the king, who came to his house as his guest. As Macbeth thrust the dagger into the heart of Duncan he heard a voice, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep…” (II, 2:35-36). Thereafter Macbeth never had peace in his life. His life became miserable. In his frantic attempt to get peace he committed murder again and again. When Macbeth sinned against the king he lost his peace. Jesus was aware that sins destroy the peace of man. So when he wished them “peace” he also granted them the power to destroy sin. To destroy a powerful enemy we need a powerful weapon. Jesus put this weapon in the hands of the Church when communicating to his Apostles the power to forgive sins through the sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus said to the apostles: “Those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven. Those whose sins you retain, they are retained.” (Fr. Bobby Jose).
16) Uplifting One Another: Have you ever watched geese fly in V-formation? While a thing of beauty to watch, the formation is essential to the geese for survival. If you listen, you can hear the beat of their wings whistling through the air in unison. And that is the secret of their strength: the lead goose cuts a swath through the air resistance, which creates a helping uplift for the birds behind it. In turn their flapping makes it easier for the birds behind them, and so on. Each bird takes its turn at being leader. The tired ones fan out to the edges of the V for a breather, and the rested ones surge towards the point of the V to drive the flock onward. If a goose becomes too exhausted or ill and has to drop out of the flock, it is never abandoned. A stronger member of the flock will follow the failing, weak one to its resting place and wait till the bird is well enough to fly again. Together, cooperating as a flock, geese can fly at 71% longer range, with up to 60% less work. (YouTube: “What geese can teach us about teamwork”; quoted by Fr. Botelho).
17) Cure for Sorrow: There is an old Chinese tale about a woman whose only son died. In her grief, she went to the holy man and said, “What prayers, what magical incantations do you have to bring my son back to life?” Instead of sending her away or reasoning with her, he said to her, “Fetch me a mustard seed from a home that has never known sorrow. We will use it to drive the sorrow out of your life.” The woman went off at once in search of that magical mustard seed. She came first to a splendid mansion, knocked at the door, and said, “I am looking for a home that has never known sorrow. Is this such a place? It is very important to me.” They told her, “You’ve certainly come to the wrong place,” and began to describe all the tragic things that recently had befallen them. The woman said to herself, “Who is better able to help these poor, unfortunate people than I, who have had misfortune of my own?” She stayed to comfort them, then went on in search of a home that had never known sorrow. But wherever she turned, in hovels and in other places, she found one tale after another of sadness and misfortune. She became so involved in ministering to other people’s grief that ultimately she forgot about her quest for the magical mustard seed, never realizing that it had, in fact, driven the sorrow out of her life. (Brian Cavanaugh, The Sower’s Seeds; quoted by Fr. Botelho).
18) Hope for the Flowers: A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then, it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could. So the man decided to help, he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly! So God, in His mercy, challenges us giving obstacles in life. (Anonymous; quoted by Fr. Botelho).
19) “Don’t be crying! It’s OK! He is alive!” I remember one occasion when I led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. One of the young men in the group was quite mentally limited, although his grasp of God, of Jesus, and the events of the Gospel was uncanny. We arrived at the tomb of the basilica, and we joined the long line, waiting our turn to enter. One lady came out of the tomb, and was obviously deeply touched by the experience of her visit to such a sacred spot. She sat down outside the entrance, took out a tissue, and began wiping her tears. My friend, who was back in the line, spotted what was happening, and responded instantly. He ran straight up to her, put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Don’t be crying, it’s OK. He’s alive; don’t you know that?” The whole thing was so spontaneous and genuine that the woman stood up, and gave him a warm hug. The simple fact was that he could not understand how anybody could be crying at this tomb, of all the tombs in the world. — Jesus thanked the Father for giving a message that was so simple and straightforward that the intellectual and the worldly-wise would fail to grasp it, and yet it could be fully accepted by someone with the mind of a child. Happy are they who have not seen yet believe. (Jack McArdle in And that’s the Gospel Truth; quoted by Fr. Botelho).
20) President’s mercy: Years after the death of President Calvin Coolidge, this story came to light. In the early days of his presidency, Coolidge awoke one morning in his hotel room to find a cat burglar going through his pockets. Coolidge spoke up, asking the burglar not to take his watch chain because it contained an engraved charm he wanted to keep. Coolidge then engaged the thief in quiet conversation and discovered he was a college student who had no money to pay his hotel bill or buy a ticket back to campus. Coolidge counted $32 out of his wallet — which he had also persuaded the dazed young man to give back! — declared it to be a loan, and advised the young man to leave the way he had come so as to avoid the Secret Service! (Yes, the loan was paid back.) [Today in the Word (October 8, 1992); quoted by Fr. Kayala.]
21) The story of Oshea Israel and Mary Johnson: One of the stories of the “Forgiveness Project” that caught my attention was the story of Oshea Israel and Mary Johnson. Oshea had shot and killed Mary’s son – a boy Oshea didn’t even know. There was no way Oshea could pay Mary back for what he had taken from her. And Mary owed him nothing. It’s not an easy story. As Mary said, “I hated everyone for a while.” But over time Mary came to forgive Oshea. She visited him in prison. She helped him when he was released. In the process they both changed. Mary gave Oshea the one gift he needed to begin his healing: total forgiveness. Mercy doesn’t undercut justice but surprises it! It is the linchpin that supports forgiveness and compassion. Mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instills in us the courage to look to the future with hope. We might think of mercy as the grace for conversion. (Stories Seldom Heard; quoted by Sr. Patricia).
From Sermons.com
If I were to mention the names of certain disciples to you and ask you to write down the first word that comes into your mind, it is unlikely you would come up with the same words. If I were to mention the name of Judas many of you would write down the word "betray" but not all of you. If I were to mention Simon Peter, some of you would write down the word "faith," but not all of you. If I were to mention the names of James and John, some of you would write down the phrase "Sons of Thunder," but not all of you. But when I mention the word Thomas, there is little question about the word most everyone would write down. It would be the word doubt. Indeed, so closely have we associated Thomas with this word, that we have coined a phrase to describe him: "Doubting Thomas."
You may be interested to know that in the first three gospels we are told absolutely nothing at all about Thomas. It is in John's Gospel that he emerges as a distinct personality, but even then there are only 155 words about him. There is not a lot about this disciple in the Bible but there is more than one description.
When Jesus turned his face toward Jerusalem the disciples thought that it would be certain death for all of them. Surprisingly, it was Thomas who said: Then let us go so that we may die with him. It was a courageous statement, yet we don't remember him for that. We also fail to point out that in this story of Thomas' doubt we have the one place in the all the Gospels where the Divinity of Christ is bluntly and unequivocally stated. It is interesting, is it not, that the story that gives Thomas his infamous nickname, is the same story that has Thomas making an earth shattering confession of faith? Look at his confession, "My Lord, and my God." Not teacher. Not Lord. Not Messiah. But God! It is the only place where Jesus is called God without qualification of any kind. It is uttered with conviction as if Thomas was simply recognizing a fact, just as 2 + 2 = 4, and the sun is in the sky. You are my Lord and my God! These are certainly not the words of a doubter.
Unfortunately history has remembered him for this scene where the resurrected Christ made an appearance to the disciples in a home in Jerusalem...
One of the fastest growing, most profitable investment ventures in today's economy is . . . . anything having anything to do with security. You couldn't have lost money in the last twenty years if you invested in storage or security: national security, personal security, home security, financial security, Internet security. The dangers of this world seem to be breathing hotter and closer down our necks. Any offering that promises to cool that threat down is welcomed with open arms and wallets.
We gladly invest in "LifeLock" and "Life Alert" and "Alert Life"- hoping to safeguard both our fiscal and physical lives. Instead of scripted shows by the Blue Angels at air-shows, we are sending long-range spontaneous shows of strength in the form of stealth bombers over South Korean airspace, which offends North Korea. We have "apps" on our smartphones that enable us to watch our front doors at home and our backdoors at work, to turn on our lights and turn off our heat, to be on-guard and on-point, even when we are off-site. We are desperately trying to contain the chaos of the cosmos.
In John's gospel, Jesus' first appearance to his disciples is when he comes to them behind closed, locked doors. Despite the vision of the empty tomb, despite the version of the resurrected Jesus Mary Magdalene had reported to them, the disciples were still shuttered and shuddering - clamped down and closed off from a threatening world. Then Jesus blasts through their ADT security system, blows out their "LifeLock," and suddenly stands in their midst...
We Know Where We Are Going
The story is told about Albert Einstein, the brilliant physicist of Princeton University in the early 20th century. Einstein was traveling from Princeton on a train, and when the conductor came down the aisle to punch the passengers' tickets, Einstein couldn't find his. He looked in his vest pocket, he looked in his pants pocket, he looked in his briefcase, but there was no ticket. The conductor was gracious; "Not to worry, Dr. Einstein, I know who you are, we all know who you are, and I'm sure you bought a ticket."
As the conductor moved down the aisle, he looked back and noticed Einstein on his hands and knees, searching under the seat for his ticket. The conductor returned to Einstein; "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry. I know who you are. You don't need a ticket, I'm sure you bought one." Einstein arose and said "Young man, I too know who I am; what I don't know is where I am going."
And that is the good news of Easter; that we know where we are going. We have been told by the Savior that his life and death has promised us life eternal. And Low Sundays don't change that promise. And unemployment doesn't change that promise. Neither does divorce, or bankruptcy, or cancer, or depression, or felony, or failure. Through elation and deflation and every emotion in between, this truth remains; we know whose we are and we know where we are going, because the Son of God has promised. And this, my friends, is faith.
Steven Molin, Elated....Deflated
A New Shalom
When Jesus appeared to the disciples, his greeting was, "Peace be unto you." The Hebrew word shalom, for "peace," is a most comprehensive word, covering the full realm of relationships in daily life and expressing an ideal state of life. The word suggests the fullness of well-being and harmony untouched by ill fortune. The word as a blessing is a prayer for the best that God can give to enable a person to complete one's life with happiness and a natural death. If the concept of shalom became all too casual and light-hearted with no more significance than a passing greeting, Jesus came to give it new meaning. At Bethlehem God announced that peace would come through the gift of God's unique Son. The mission and ministry of our Lord made it quite clear that Jesus had come to introduce the rule of God and to order peace for the world.
Harry N. Huxhold, Which Way To Jesus?, CSS Publishing
The Greatest Scar Story
I can think of no better modern-day illustration of the sacrifice Jesus made for us than a recent scar story I heard from a tennis friend of mine. As we were waiting for another match to finish, she was relating how badly her knees hurt. This friend is the most fit 30-something-year-old I know. Yet she sat beside me with a brace on each knee. I pointed to the open hole of her knee brace and asked if her scar was from knee surgery. She told me, "No, it's from my son, and I actually have an identical scar on my other knee."
You see, several years ago she scooped up her toddler son from the swimming pool and began to walk towards a lounge chair. As she stepped onto the tiled patio, her foot slipped on the wet slick surface. She was also seven months pregnant, and it was one of those moments where you feel like you're moving in slow motion but there's nothing you can do to stop the fall. Within a split second, she knew her momentum was toppling her forward, and she could either face-plant and land on top of both her son and her unborn child, or she could fall on her knees.
Of course, as any loving parent would do, she chose to fall on her knees directly onto the unforgiving concrete. Her knees immediately burst open and blood went everywhere. She ended up needing stitches, which resulted in scars, but her son and unborn child were both unscathed. It is hard for me to tell this story without tearing up, because to me, it serves as a miniscule example of the immense sacrifice and love of Jesus Christ for us. You see, we are the beloved children of God for whom Jesus took the fall. Christ suffered on the cross and endured unimaginable pain for us. His is the greatest scar story ever told.
Christi O. Brown, Scars of Hope
Peace Be With You...It Already Is!
Theologian Karl Barth once remarked that to say the old line from the creed, "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church" does not mean that we believe in the church. It means rather to believe that God is present and at work in the church, that "in this assembly, the work of the Holy Spirit takes place. ... We do not believe in the Church: but we do believe that in this congregation the work of the Holy Spirit becomes an event."
Barth's words rang true for me some years ago, when I was invited by a church in a nearby town to be the worship leader at a special evening communion service. The church staff had planned this service to be educational as well as worshipful. The idea was that, first, the congregation would gather in the sanctuary and I would give a brief talk about the meanings of the Lord's Supper. Then, we would go into the fellowship hall and be seated around tables for the service itself.
At each table there would be the flour and other ingredients to form the dough for the communion loaves. The plan called for each table to prepare a loaf and, while the loaves baked in the ovens of the church kitchen, the people at each table were to engage in various exercises designed to get them talking about their experiences in the faith.
It was a good idea, but like many well-planned events, things looked better on the drawing board than they turned out in reality. There were problems. Children at many tables began to play in the baking ingredients, and white clouds of flour floated around the room coating everybody and everything. There were delays in the kitchen, and the communion bread baked with agonizing slowness. Some of the tables ran out of things to say; children grew weary and fussy; the room was filled with commotion and restlessness. The planners had dreamed of an event of excitement, innovation, peak learning, and moving worship. What happened was noise, exhaustion, and people making the best of a difficult situation. In other words, despite the rosy plans, it was the real church worshipping down there in the church basement.
Finally, the service ended, and, with no little relief, I was able to pronounce the benediction. "The peace of Christ be with you all," I said, and just as I did, a child's voice from somewhere in the room called out strong and true, "It already is."
Just that -- "It already is" -- but with those words the service was transformed into an event of joy and holy mystery. That small voice captured what the Gospel of John is trying to say. In the midst of a church that can claim nothing for itself, a church of noise, confusion, weariness, and even fear, the risen Christ comes to give peace. The peace of Christ be with you? Because the risen Christ comes to inhabit our empty places, then, as the child said, "It already is," and the church with nothing becomes the church with everything.
Thomas G. Long, Whispering The Lyrics, CSS Publishing
We Want Proof
There is a reason why many Christians around the world have latched so quickly and tenaciously onto the discovery of what may be the ossuary or burial box for James, the brother of Jesus. There's a reason why every time archaeologists discover some inscription referring to King David, Pontius Pilate, or some other biblical figure that this news immediately makes a splash in the pages of Christianity Today. Here, we are told, is further "proof" that the stuff in the Bible really did happen! There's a reason why there is now a huge enterprise that is literally scouring the universe for evidence that the formation of the cosmos required the hand of a Creator God. It's not just that we want to meet evolutionary and atheist scientists on their own turf--most folks also quietly hanker for something tangible that can bolster the confidence they have in their faith.
Over and again we find ourselves wanting more.
Jesus himself knows that faith is both a blessing and a miracle. That's why he says in verse 29 that while it was one thing for Thomas to believe with Jesus standing right in front of him, it would one day be quite another thing to believe without such undeniable physical proof standing in the same room.
Scott Hoezee, "Wanting More"
Honey...It's Me
Perhaps you've heard the story of the Yugoslavian judge who was electrocuted when he reached up to turn on the light while standing in the bathtub. No, I'm not cruel or weird, let me tell you the rest of the story. This guy's poor wife found his body sprawled on the bathroom floor. He was pronounced dead and was placed in a preparation room under a crypt in the town cemetery for twenty-four hours before burial.
Well, and this is the part I love, in the middle of the night, the judge came to. The judge looked around at his surroundings and suddenly realized where he was. He got pretty excited and rushed over to alert the guard. But instead of being any help, the guard was terrified and promptly ran off.
Fortunately, though, the guard returned with a friend, and they released the newly-revived judge. The judge's first thought was to phone his wife and reassure her that he really wasn't dead. Unfortunately, he got no farther than, "Honey... it's me," when his wife screamed and fainted.
So, he decided that the best course of action was to enlist some friends. He went to the houses of several friends; but because they all had heard the news from his distraught wife, they all doubted that he was really alive. They were all convinced he was a ghost.
Finally, in a last desperate effort, he contacted a friend in another city who hadn't heard about his death. And that person was able to convince his family and friends that the judge really was alive.
That story almost sounds like one of the Gospel writers could have written it, doesn't it? It sure sounds like the passage from John this morning.
Traditional Story. We have not been able to verify the veracity of this story.
Watch and You'll See
This story is about three accountants who doubted their three engineer friends. They were traveling by train to a conference. The accountants bought three tickets, but the engineers only bought one. "How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" an accountant asked.
"Watch and you'll see," said an engineer.
They all boarded the train. The accountants took their seats, but the three engineers crammed into a restroom and closed the door behind them. The train departed the station and soon the conductor came through the car asking for tickets. He knocked on the restroom door and said, "Ticket, please." The door opened a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor took it and moved on.
The accountants agree that this is a rather clever idea so after the conference, they decide to duplicate the engineers' feat. They buy only one ticket, but are astonished when the engineers buy no ticket at all! "How are you going to travel without a ticket?" the accountants ask. Watch and you'll see, reply the engineers.
When they boarded the train, the accountants crammed into a restroom with their ticket while the three engineers did the same in a nearby restroom. After the train departed the station, one of the engineers left the restroom and walked over to the restroom where the accountants were hiding. He knocked on the door and said, "Ticket, please."
God's Back
It was Saturday, the day before Easter, and Joanne Hinch of Woodland Hills, California was sitting at the kitchen table coloring eggs with her three-year-old son Dan and her two-year-old daughter Debbie. She told her kids about the meaning of Easter and taught them the traditional Easter morning greeting and response, "He is risen...He is risen indeed!" The children planned to surprise their Dad, a Presbyterian minister, with that greeting as soon as he awoke the next morning. Easter arrived, little Danheard his father stirring about in his bedroom, so the boy got up quickly, dashed down the hall and shouted the good news: "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, God's back!"
David E. Leininger, "Laugh, Thomas, Laugh!"
Ants in The Pants of Faith
Whether your faith is that there is a God or that there is not a God, if you don't have any doubts you are either kidding yourself or asleep. Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving.
Frederick Buechner
End In Certainties
If a man will begin in certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.
Francis Bacon, Advancement of Learning (1605)1.v.8. (London: Oxford University Press, 1951), 41.
Just Because We Can't See It
A junior high school teacher was telling her class about evolution and how the way everything in the world was formed proved that God doesn't exist. She said, "Look out the window. You can't see God, can you?" The kids shook their heads. "Look around you in this room. You can't see God, can you?" The kids shook their heads. "Then our logical conclusion is that God doesn't exist, does He?" she asked at last, certain that she had won her audience over.
But one girl from the back of the classroom said, "Miss Smith, just because we can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist...
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It’s Not That Revolution May Be Coming, But That It Has to Come
And the People have to cause it.
Here’s how we can make it happen.
At the time it happened, Admiral Yamamoto’s brilliant sneak attack on Pearl Harbor was hailed as a masterstroke of military planning and execution. But within hours of the attack, after being informed that his aircraft had not destroyed America’s entire Pacific fleet, Yamamoto lamented that all the Japanese had done was awaken a sleeping giant.
The war was lost almost before it was begun. And that sleeping giant consumed Japan.
So save your lamentations, for like Pearl Harbor, SCOTUS has awakened a slow-to-anger sleeping giant. and set it in a direction that cannot be reversed. All we have to do is what nature has ordained free people to do.
Our roadmap was even drawn for us. In 1776.
Compare the circumstances.
The Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) is composed of 1453 words. Almost everyone knows by heart some portion of the first two paragraphs, such as “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights”…”pursuit of life, liberty and happiness”. But those 350 or so words were only Jefferson’s statement of man’s natural right to be free. In the context of the Declaration, they were his “why we’re here” statement.
Annually, on the 4th, it’s with those words Americans usually puff their chests, and take a sentimental pause, just before flipping the burgers and popping another icy cold Coors. Very few Americans have actually read the rest of the Declaration of Independence, which Jefferson began with “Let facts be submitted to a candid world….”.
Then, for almost 1100 more words, he and other contributors made a long list of “abuses and usurpations” heaped upon the American people by the King. True, not as long as we could compile against Obama today, but SCOTUS has sped the process of turning them from a grievance into an indictment. You see, on July 4, 1776, those were no longer complaints. Those weren’t talking points for a new round of negotiations (in which John Kerry would no doubt represent the King.) Those were a full-throated indictment against the King, a bill of particulars of all the things he had foisted upon good British citizens for many years.
And more than a declaration of independence, those words were a declaration of war, to be settled by force of arms. SCOTUS has set the American people on the same course.
(Of course, I suppose we could surrender.)
So, consider the enormity what those 56 men did, in pledging “their lives, fortunes and sacred honor” and the silent witnesses across the colonies whose promise of support encouraged them to make that momentous leap. If you will take the time to read those other 1100 words you will notice more similarities than you should be comfortable with, and still do nothing. We are at about the same place, vis a vis our rulers today as the colonists were vis a vis their King in 1776.
Conditions Precedent
There were conditions precedent to that Declaration of Independence which are also occurring in America today. Primary among them was that they had the complicity and full approval by the people. This element is largely ignored by historians, but the Continental Congress would never have declared a war without knowing in advance it had the support of the people, and knowing they would help in a variety of ways as the war progressed. Non-combatants all, they would serve as spies, messengers, providers of safe-houses, some stealth operations, but most of all, a daily, relentless and irritating reminder to the British occupiers just how unwelcome they were, even during the most ordinary exchange of pleasantries on a public street (proving confrontation does not have to be violent to be effective.)
Hold that thought, for this is the same job that is before us today; to plow the row, and make such a noise that our unnamed leaders, wherever situated, will know we will be behind them once they decide to plant their own swords in the ground. To instill fear, guilt and shame into the hearts of the agents of the modern Crown is our mission going forward, beginning last week, 26 June, 20015.
Understand the Continental Congress on July 3, 1776 were all outlaws. They were not an official congress with any authority. The colonial legislatures and King-appointed governors were still the law in all the colonies. They lived dual lives, so had to be careful what they said, and in front of whom they said it, for they were speaking treason, not independence in the eyes of colonial officialdom
Still, those 56 men represented the vast majority of ordinary citizens in America; farmers, tradesmen and shop clerks, as proved when over half of Boston showed up to spur on the Sons of Liberty as they tossed all that tea overboard in December 1773. Everyone was in on it.
Like today, colonial legislatures were divided between 1) the ordinary citizenry (the heavy majority) and 2) the Tories, the Tories themselves divided between a) hard-core loyalists to the King (unrepentant Obama and Big Government loyalists) and b) soft Tories, who sided with Tea Party colonists on many issues about taxes and rights, but just couldn’t bring themselves to break faith with friends and social status and risk that sweet life they enjoyed in the higher echelons of respectable society. You know the type, and when the crossroad rose to meet them that glorious day, most choose status over principle. Wars of liberation are always about class, status and circles of friends, so don’t be surprised, when things turn ugly, the number of fair-weather conservatives who choose their friends. Jefferson was considered a traitor to his class simply because he came down on the side of ordinary farmers, but he never looked back..
And had Karl Rove been polling in those days, he would have been polling almost exclusively among Toriesd and Tory-Lites, probably representing no more than 30% of colonial society, mostly from the government sector, universities presidents and their staffs, but also holding 70% of the political power. The lace cuff set. (Google “Famous American Tories”, the highest of American society then, and you won’t recognize a name. All of them faded into obscurity simply because they chose poorly, a choice based entirely on class.) It’s no different today, and explains why revolutions are often inevitable.
Lesson: the People were in on the Revolution from the beginning.
That is now our job today, to convey to our unnamed outlaw leaders that we have their back. Trust me, there are many who are conspiring now, at the federal and state level. We don’t know, or shouldn’t know, who these outlaws are by name. Those will be revealed in due course. Some will be in government, others in the private sector. I hope a few are military who can still lead and command something larger than a presentation pointer. By the time the Continental Congress signed the Declaration, Washington had signaled that he was as ready as he ever would, even though he had only a handful of militias to command. He faced five long years of miraculous escapes (called “victories” in our history books), buying time so that he could train a real army, then wait for God to teach the French Navy, if for only a day, how to win a naval engagement, and force Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown. (In all their history France only won one, so tell me God didn’t have a dog in that fight.)
Our battles in the coming revolution won’t be nearly so grand, or (thankfully) as deadly, but they will be just as romantic, and will be remembered and retold in the hundreds of cities and towns in which they occurred. Like the civil rights movement, folk history will outweigh both national media and historical chroniclers in telling this story.
We aren’t quite there yet, but the demonstrated mood of the people was always the key element of moving a cause from talk to action, and thanks to 1) SCOTUS’ Obamacare decision, which will likely implode on its own in 2016 once all the delayed pain kicks in, impacting millions more Americans than it does today, and 2) its gay-marriage decision is driven to predictable pathological excess by people who just can’t help it, by their sheer vanity and hubris (this is how Satan always blows it…never knowing when to leave well-enough alone), driving churches, but more importantly, their parishioners, into the streets, refusing to abide by its ruling or the administrative punishments many states and communities will try to impose. An awful lot of Crown Agents are going to find bottles of Scope in their mailboxes, or wake one day to find their rose bushes dead or mangled.
It will become a war which, if we fight it, we can’t lose. Our cue cards are being drawn up now, by Obama, the LGBT, even Mitch McConnell and Boehner. All our outlaw leaders are waiting for is our signal.
Turning Over Tables in the Temple
There is a Part II to this analysis, which details what you can do in your home town to aggravate the Agents of the Crown, employing both public protests and what I call a “dark alley” strategy for dealing with individual miscreant Crown Agents. (I have some history in “dark alley” tactics. Just visit “Have Rolled Up Newspaper, Will Travel” for more information.) I’d like to update these into a manual of operations, as the circumstances have changed since 2009.
Treat the government agents as occupiers, and act accordingly. Publicly push the envelope, privately sneak down dark alleys. Certain rules of conduct and survival apply. But just burn it into your brain that you are the front lines, you are where the revolution is taking place, not exotic places like Washington DC.
For years I have been prodding people to turn away from DC politics altogether, because, simply put, you will find no rescue there. Whatever policy agreements you may have with a few congressmen aside, the Republican Congress have become full agents of the Crown. Surely you know this after the events of June. Just as it was in 1776, the People will never be represented in the halls of central government until the majority of them have been shown the door and new leadership installed. When it’s over about half that town will have no jobs…or we will have failed.
Once Washington understands we are no longer interested in reforming them, and only want them out (and possibly in jail, or maybe just two mules, a plow and 10 acres in South Dakota in lieu of their attractive retirement package), you will find most of them will try to negotiate the best surrender terms they can get. Thieves are rarely good fighters and rarely loyal to their partners-in-crime in a pinch.
We do not want to destroy government, only those institutions inside it who have made a bed in the People’s House and rthe the People’s chambers, and turned them into brothels.
But this time, we have to finish it. No half measures. The Left has proved they can endure another Reagan…if they must. But since Wilson, it has generally been one step forward and three steps back for the Constitution, so the pendulum theory Limbaugh likes to espouse really isn’t correct. Reagan represented two steps forward, and had the Left on the ropes, but he could never find the wherewithal to go after the bureaucracy, which is the key to the Left’s power. RR later regretted it, but I regretted it at the time, as those were my bureaucracy-busting days in industry. Government’s main cancer was untouched, as was the unholy relationship between the Congress and the bureaucracy. So, when Reagan stepped down, his victories were short-lived, and as predicted, it was three steps back by 1992. By 1996 Bill Clinton had laid claim to almost all his economic achievements.
Our mission is simple: Blight their path, wherever situated and let our leaders begin the re-constitution of America process all over again.
To do this we have to become the compleat refusenik. Invoke the “right of individual nullification” based on the illegitimacy of this King and his Agents.. Your states (some of them) may invoke nullification as well, making your jobs much easier, but it will be you who will spur their confidence.
But we need to avoid violence, yet not be afraid to break the law (e.g., killing rose bushes), especially considering that there will be serious violence in coming months, so we cannot allow anyone to take our names in vain. Avoid being associated with this sort of behavior. Pick your public targets carefully and only sneak down dark alleys with a bottle of Scope or a can of rose bush poison, never a weapon. Those are for home protection only.
What has changed since June 26 is that you are no longer just a single solitary pissed-off citizen with a few email friends to commiserate with. Your days of being the aggrieved and victimized citizen are over. You will be part of a movement which will fight a thousand fights, and light a thousand fires, none of which will ever be recorded except by The Weekly Thunderstorm in your town.. But all of you together will bring to its knees the most arrogant group of public thieves, liars and mountebanks in human history. And you will save a nation and an ideal of freedom for other generations to guide themselves by. So on the annual feast of July 4th, you will rightfully share a toast with you comrades, and recite a few of Jefferson’s words, then throw back a cold Coors,…
….which is how the whole 4th of July thing began in the first place; a couple million citizens congratulating themselves on the nation they’d formed…all by themselves.
This isn’t a done deal, we could still lose. But by the numbers, we should win going away.
But I like our chances.
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VASSAR BUSHMILLS
Contact: vbushmills@yahoo.com
Publications: Famous Common People I Have Known and Other Essays
Donald Trump, the Common Man and the American Theology of Liberty
(Both books in Kindle format only, Publishers and agents welcome, as both need to revised)
Support: Yes, I’ve never been paid a nickel to write.
Donations can be made to vbushmills@thesandsinstitute.org via Paypal
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Citizen With Bark On
American Revolution, Dark Alley, Obama, Thomas Jefferson, Vassar Bushmills
War-Gaming Part V, How Citizens Can Fight Back When the Left Goes Rogue | Unified Patriots
[…] June, 2015, after SCOTUS’ decision legalizing same sex-marriage, I wrote here “It’s Not that Revolution May be Coming, but That it Has to Come.” (You may want to read it for historical […]
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West and Central African journalists meet to establish CENOZO
The promotion of investigative journalism in the Sahel region and neighbouring countries supports the implementation of Article 13 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), ratified by most States in the region, whereby each State Party shall take the appropriate measures to protect "the freedom to seek, receive, publish and disseminate information concerning corruption".
On 8-9 July 2015, UNODC, in partnership with the Norbert Zongo National Press Centre, brought together eighteen journalists from West and Central Africa to formally establish the Norbert Zongo Cell for Investigative Journalism in West Africa (CENOZO).
CENOZO, which will be headquartered at the Norbert Zongo National Press Centre, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, will aim to actively promote investigative journalism in West Africa on topics such as corruption, organized crime, bad governance, and violations of human rights. Particular emphasis will be put on the support, training and mentoring of West African journalists, who will for example have access to legal assistance and grants supporting their investigations.
Journalists and UNODC experts at the CENOZO inauguration
The collaborative event, which took place in Ouagadougou, successfully adopted the statutes, the roadmap and elected the Board of Directors for the new association. Furthermore, this meeting was a follow-up on the four day training on investigative journalism that UNODC organised in Saly, Senegal in November 2014. That training, which gathered sixty journalists from fourteen different countries in West and Central Africa, Latin America and Europe, adopted the "Saly Declaration" which recommended, among other, the creation of a "cell for investigative journalism to promote the continuous strengthening of capacities of journalists in the region to undertake investigative journalism".
Supporting the establishment of CENOZO is part of a series of anti-corruption activities undertaken by UNODC in the Sahel region. This event was made possible thanks to the contribution of Denmark.
Norbert Zongo National Press Center (French)
United Nations Convention Against Corruption
Saly Declaration
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Disney removes Bill Cosby statue from park
A statue of Bill Cosby has been removed from Disney's Hollywood Studio theme park, according to park officials, the AP reported.
Disney removes Bill Cosby statue from park A statue of Bill Cosby has been removed from Disney's Hollywood Studio theme park, according to park officials, the AP reported. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/1IJ25bk
Mary Bowerman, USA TODAY Network Published 8:54 a.m. ET July 8, 2015 | Updated 11:50 a.m. ET July 8, 2015
Bill Cosby speaks to students at Selma High School in Selma, Ala., on May 15, 2015.(Photo: Albert Cesare, AP)
A statue of Bill Cosby is being removed from Disney's Hollywood Studio theme park, according to park officials, the AP reported.
The decision to remove the statue comes in the wake of newly released court documents detailing that Cosby, 77, admitted in a 2005 court deposition that he obtained Quaaludes with the intent of administering them to women he wanted to have sex with.
The bronze bust of Cosby is displayed in Disney's Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza at the park outside of Orlando, Fla. Disney refused to offer comment on the matter to USA TODAY Network, beyond confirming that the statue had been removed.
Seven months ago, an online petition called for the removal of the statue from the Disney park. To date, the petition has a little under 300 signatures.
Jill Scott no longer supports Bill Cosby, 'completely disgusted'
Park officials planned on removing the statue on Tuesday night after the park closed, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Cosby has not commented on the documents and has adamantly denied sexual assault allegations.
Photos: Closer look at Bill Cosby
Gallery: A look at Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby is taken away in handcuffs after he was sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison for felony sexual assault on Sept. 25, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Pool Photo by Mark Makela
Bill Cosby arrives for his sentencing hearing at the Montgomery County Courthouse, Sept. 25, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Matt Slocum, AP
Bill Cosby walks out after his guilty verdict was announced at the Montgomery County Courthouse April 26, 2018 in Norristown, Pa. Cosby was found guilty on all accounts after a former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. MARK MAKELA/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
Bill Cosby arrives for the start of jury deliberations in the retrial of his sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. April 25, 2018. DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial, Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. MATT SLOCUM/AP
Bill Cosby arrives with his wife, Camille, for his sexual assault trial, April 24, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. MATT SLOCUM/AP
Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial, April 20, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. MATT SLOCUB/AP
Bill Cosby arrives for the 10th day of his retrial for his sexual assault retrial, April 20, 2018. DOMINICK REUTER, AFP/Getty Images
Comedian Bill Cosby watches as a protester is tackled by sheriff's officers as Cosby arrives for the first day his second sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. April 9, 2018. DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
A protester is detained as Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse April 9, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. COREY PERRINE, AP
A protester is detained after Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse April 9, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. COREY PERRINE/AP
Sonia Ossorio, center, president of the National Organization for Women of New York, leads a group in protest, after Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse, April 9, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. COREY PERRINE/AP
Legal documents are wheeled into the Montgomery County Courthouse pre-dawn before the first day of the Bill Cosby sexual assault retrial April 9, 2018 in Norristown, Pa. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. MARK MAKELA/GETTY IMAGES
Kathleen Bliss, center, lawyer for actor and comedian Bill Cosby, not shown, arrives for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 4, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Pool photo by Corey Perrine
Bill Cosby, center, walks back to courtroom C with spokesperson Andrew Wyatt, left, from a break during his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 4, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Pool photo by Corey Perrine
Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill walks to courtroom C before Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 4, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Pool photo by Corey Perrine
Bill Cosby walks back to courtroom C after a break in his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 4, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Pool photo by Corey Perrine
Tom Mesereau, center, lawyer for actor and comedian Bill Cosby, not shown, speaks to other legal defense members as they walk back to courtroom C after a break in the Cosby sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 4, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Pool photo by Corey Perrine
Bill Cosby, center left, is escorted during a break in his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 4, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Pool photo by Corey Perrine
Media ready for Bill Cosby, not shown, before arriving for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 2, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Corey Perrine, AP
Protestors with Black Women's Blueprint demonstrate outside the Montgomery County Courthouse during jury selection in the Bill Cosby sexual assault retrial April 2, 2018 in Norristown, Pa. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. Mark Makela, Getty Images
Protestors with Black Women's Blueprint create a mosaic while demonstrating outside the Montgomery County Courthouse during jury selection in the Bill Cosby sexual assault retrial April 2, 2018 in Norristown, Pa. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. Mark Makela, Getty Images
Bill Cosby, center, arrives for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 2, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Corey Perrine, AP
Actor/ stand-up comedian Bill Cosby arrives to the first day of Jury Selection for his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 2, 2018 in Norristown, Pa. Gilbert Carrasquillo, WireImage
Lawyer for actor and comedian Bill Cosby, Tom Mesereau, arrives for jury selection for Cosby's sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on April 2, 2018. Pool Photo Brendan McDermid
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, right, arrives for jury selection in the sexual assault retrial for actor and comedian Bill Cosby, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. on April 2, 2018. Pool Photo by Brendan McDermid
Prosecution documents in the case against actor and comedian Bill Cosby are wheeled into the courtroom for a pretrial hearing for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. on March 30, 2018. Cosby's lawyers and prosecutors will argue over the number of his accusers allowed to testify at his sexual assault retrial. Dominick Reuter, AFP/Getty Images
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby boards the elevator after a pretrial hearing for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. on March 30, 2018. Dominick Reuter, AFP/Getty Images
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby returns to the courtroom for a pretrial hearing in his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. on March 30, 2018. Dominick Reuter, AFP/Getty Images
Bill Cosby departs after a pretrial hearing in his sexual assault case on March 30, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. Matt Slocum, AP
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby, 2nd from left, walks past journalists filing stories during a recess in the pretrial hearing for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., March 29, 2018. Cosby's lawyers and prosecutors will argue over the number of his accusers allowed to testify at his sexual assault retrial. Dominick Reuter, AFP/Getty Images
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby, left, leaves the courtroom with his local attorney Lane Vines during a recess of a pretrial hearing for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on March 29, 2018. Dominick Reuter, AFP/Getty Images
Bill Cosby arrives for a pretrial hearing in his sexual assault case on March 29, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. Matt Slocum, AP
Bill Cosby departs the Montgomery County Courthouse on March 6, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Cosby's lawyers and prosecutors will argued over the number of his accusers allowed to testify at his sexual assault retrial. Don Emmert, AFP/Getty Images
Bill Cosby leaves the Montgomery County Courthouse on June 17, 2017 in Norristown, Pa., after a mistrial was declared in his sexual assault case, 11 days after the trial began and following 52 hours of deliberations. Kevin Hagen/Getty Images
Bill Cosby gestures as he departs the Montgomery County Courthouse after the mistrial in his sexual assault trial, June 17, 2017, in Norristown, Pa. Matt Slocum, AP
Bill Cosby after a mistrial in his sexual assault case, with his lawyers Brian McMonagle and Angela Agrusa, and his publicist Andrew Wyatt, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. Matt Rourke, AP
District Attorney Kevin Steele talks the media about the mistrial in Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial, vowing to retry the case, in Norristown, Pa., June 17, 2017. Matt Rourke, AP
Accuser Andrea Constant leaves the courtroom after the mistrial in the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial on June 17, 2017 in Norristown, Pa. She later asked for privacy. Pool, Getty Images
Dolores Troiani, civil lawyer for Andrea Constand, at the Montgomery County Courthouse after Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial ended in mistrial. Saturday, June 17, 2017, in Norristown, Pa., Troiani handled Constand's 2005 civil suit which helped bring about the criminal case a decade later. Matt Slocum, AP
Other Bill Cosby accusers were in the courtroom when the mistrial was declared, including (l-r) Victoria Valentino, Lili Bernard and Jewel Allison. Pool, Getty Images
Bill Cosby gives a thumbs-up as he arrives for a third day of jury deliberations at his sexual assault trial in Norristown, Pa. on June 14, 2017. Matt Slocum, AP
Bill Cosby's spokesman Andrew Wyatt, left, talks to the media outside the courthouse while jury deliberations continued inside on June 13, 2017. Patrick Semansky, AP
Bill Cosby on Day 5 of his sexual assault trial, when prosecutors rested their case, on June 9, 2017 in Norristown, Pa. Matt Rourke, AP
Bill Cosby gives a thumbs-up to supporters as he gets in his car outside the courthouse on Day 5 of his sexual assault trial, after the prosecution rested its case, on June 9, 2017 in Norristown, Pa. The defense will present its case starting June 12. Matt Rourke, AP
Bill Cosby arrived for the first day of his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on June 5, 2017. Take a look at some of the other key players at the trial. Matt Rourke, AP
Camille Cosby accompanied her husband to court on June 12, 2017 in in Norristown, Pa. Matt Rourke, AP
In addition to his lawyers, bodyguards and assistants, Cosby arrived for the first day of his trial accompanied by Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played his daughter Rudy Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show' and has defended him for two years. Matt Slocum, AP
On Day 3 of the trial, former co-star Sheila Frazier and Frazier's husband John Atchison, Cosby's hairstylist, accompanied Cosby to the courthouse on June 7, 2017. Matt Rourke, AP
On Day 4 of the trial, Bill Cosby was accompanied by comedians Joe Torry, left, and Lewis Dix, center left, on June 8, 2017. Matt Rourke, AP
The Cosby defense team, Brian McMonagle and Angela Agrusa, on Day 1 of the Cosby sexual assault trial, arriving at the courthouse in Norristown, Pa., June 5, 2017. TRACIE VAN AUKEN, EPA
Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Kristen Feden, on the prosecution team, arrives at the courthouse on Day 2 of the Cosby trial, on June 6, 2017. Pool, Getty Images
District Attorney Kevin Steele, prosecutor in the Bill Cosby sexual assault case, on Day 3 of the trial in Norristown, Pa., June 7, 2017. Mark Makela, Getty Images
Attorney Gloria Allred represents dozens of Cosby accusers, including a witness who testified at the trial that he drugged and assaulted her in 1996. Allred has been at the trial every day since Day 1, on June 5, 2017. Mark Makela
Some of the documents in the Cosby case are wheeled into the courtroom on Day 3 of the trial, June 7, 2017. Mark Makela, Pool Photo-USA TODAY NETWORK
Journalists at work during a break in the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial on Day 5, June 9, 2017, in Norristown, Pa. LUCAS JACKSON, AFP/Getty Images
Bill Cosby's spokesperson Andrew Wyatt speaks to media during Cosby's sexual assault trial June 9, 2017, in Norristown, Pa. Matt Rourke, AP
Some Cosby accusers are attending the trial even though they are not involved in the proceeding, including Therese Serignese, a nurse from Florida who has accused Cosby of drugging and raping her in a Las Vegas hotel in about 1975. She is now suing him in civil court. LUCAS JACKSON, AFP/Getty Images
Linda Kirkpatrick, who accused Cosby of assaulting her in a Las Vegas hotel in the early 1980s, attended his sexual assault trial in Norristown, Pa., on June 12, 2017. TRACIE VAN AUKEN, EPA
Two other Bill Cosby accusers also are attending his trial: Lili Bernard, (L), who says Cosby drugged and raped her in a Las Vegas hotel in about 1975, and Victoria Valentino, who says Cosby drugged and raped her in 1970, outside the courtroom on Day 4 of the trial, June 8, 2017. EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ, AFP/Getty Images
Cosby gripped the arm of an assistant as he walked into the courthouse on June 5, 2017. DOMINICK REUTER, AFP/Getty Images
Locked out of the courthouse, media cameras gathered outside to capture Bill Cosby arriving for the first day of his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., June 5, 2017. Matt Rourke, AP
Jury selection in Bill Cosby's sexual-assault trial began May 22, 2017 in Pittsburgh. Cosby arrived at the Allegheny County Courthouse clutching the arm of an assistant. Pool, Getty Images
The Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh where jury selection began in the Bill Cosby sex-assault trial. Lawyers will spend the week picking a dozen jurors and six alternates who will be taken to suburban Philadelphia and sequestered for the duration of the trial starting June 5. DON EMMERT, AFP/Getty Images
Brian McMonagle, Bill Cosby's defense attorney, arrives at the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh, on May 22, 2017. DON EMMERT, AFP/Getty Images
The man prosecuting Bill Cosby, District Attorney Kevin Steele of Montgomery County, arrives at the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh for jury selection on May 22, 2017. DON EMMERT, AFP/Getty Images
Bill Cosby arrives for a pretrial hearing in his sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., April 3, 2017. Matt Rourke, AP
Bill Cosby has spent the last 15 months arriving for and leaving pretrial hearings for his pending sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on April 3, 2017. CLEM MURRAY, AFP/Getty Images
Bill Cosby arrives with his legal team and bodyguards for a pretrial hearing in his sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., April 3, 2017. Matt Rourke, AP
Bill Cosby arrived at courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on Nov. 1, 2016 for more hearings on sex-assault charges against him. KENA BETANCUR, AFP/Getty Images
Surrounded by lawyers and bodyguards and security, Cosby needed assistance walking and carried a cane. Mel Evans, AP
Bill Cosby arrives at courthouse in Norristown, Pa., for a hearing in his sexual assault case on Nov. 1, 2016. Mel Evans, AP
Bill Cosby's lawyers, Angela Agrusa and Brian McMonagle, arrive at the courthouse for hearing on the sexual assault charges against Cosby, on Nov. 1, 2016. KENA BETANCUR, AFP/Getty Images
Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred, arriving for a Bill Cosby pre-trial hearing in Norristown, Pa., represents dozens of women who have accused Cosby of sexual assault, including some of 13 accusers who may get to testify to his alleged "prior bad acts" at his forthcoming trial on criminal charges. KENA BETANCUR, AFP/Getty Images
Bill Cosby arrives for another pretrial hearing in his sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., Sept. 6, 2016. Matt Rourke, AP
Bill Cosby seemed to be in a good mood, laughing as he arrived at the Montgomery County Courthouse for another hearing on the aggravated indecent assault charges against him, on Sept. 6, 2016. Dominick Reuter, AFP/Getty Images
Bill Cosby needed a cane and assistance inside the Montgomery County Courthouse as he arrived for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 6, 2016. MICHAEL BRYANT, AFP/Getty Images
Bill Cosby is smiling as he arrives for the latest hearing in his criminal sex-assault case, at the courthouse in Norristown, Pa., Thursday, July 7, 2016. Matt Rourke, AP
Bill Cosby gestured as he arrived outside the courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on July 7, surrounded by scores of reporters and media cameras. Matt Rourke, AP
Accompanied by lawyers and bodyguards, Bill Cosby arrives for the latest pretrial hearing in his criminal sex-assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., July 7, 2016. Cosby is appealing a decision to send the case to trial before his lawyers can question the accuser under oath. Matt Rourke, AP
Bill Cosby waves as he arrives at the Montgomery County Courthouse for his first preliminary hearing on aggravated indecent sexual assault charges, May 24, 2016, in Norristown, Pa. Matt Slocum, AP
Cosby is accused of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee now living in Canada. Constand, here in December 2015, did not testify in person at the preliminary hearing for Cosby on May 24. Marta Iwanek, AP
Brian McMonagle, a Philadelphia lawyer who represented Cosby at his preliminary hearing on May 24, 2016. DOMINICK REUTER / POOL, EPA
Lawyers for Bill Cosby, including Monique Pressley, arrive at the Montgomery County Courthouse for a preliminary hearing in Norristown, Pa. TRACIE VAN AUKEN, EPA
Bill Cosby looked less frail when he arrived for his preliminary hearing in Norristown, Pa., than he did for an earlier hearing in February. TRACIE VAN AUKEN, EPA
Bill Cosby grasped the arm of a bodyguard when he arrived for his preliminary hearing at Montgomery County Courthouse on May 24, 2016 in Norristown, Pa. Gilbert Carrasquillo, WireImage
Bill Cosby enters the Montgomery County (Pa.) Courthouse on Feb. 3 for a hearing on charges stemming from an alleged sexual assault in 2004 in suburban Philadelphia. Tracie Van Auken, EPA
Starting in the fall of 2014, comedian Bill Cosby, 78, has been accused by about 60 women of drugging and sexuallyassaultingthem in episodesdating as far back as the 1960s. On Dec. 30, 2015, he was officially charged in Norristown, Pa., for an alleged assault in 2004. KENA BETANCUR, AFP/Getty Images
Cosby arrived for the second day of the hearing, which began on Feb. 2, flocked by aides. KENA BETANCUR, AFP/Getty Images
Here Cosby arrives to the Montgomery County courthouse on Feb. 2 for the first day of the hearing. Kena Betancur,AFP/Getty Images
Cosby's legal team hopes to convince the judge to dismiss the charge against him. Kena Betancur, AFP/Getty Images
Cosby arrives on Dec. 30, 2015, to the Court House in Elkins Park, Pa. to face charges of aggravated indecent assault. Cosby was arraigned over an incident that took place in 2004 -- the first criminal charge filed against the actor after dozens of women claimed abuse. Kena Betancur, AFP/Getty Images
Bill Cosby walks past the press upon arrival for his arraignment, Wednesday, in Elkins Park, Pa. Cosby was charged Wednesday with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home 12 years ago. Matt Rourke, AP
Bill Cosby leaves the Court House in Elkins Park, Pa. after a 10 minute arraignment on charges of aggravated indecent assault. Cosby pleaded not guilty,posted $1 million bail, and turned over his passport as a condition for being released on bail. Kena Betancur, AFP/Getty Images
This booking photograph of Bill Cosby released by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, who was arrested and charged Wednesday. Montgomery County Office of the District Attorney via AP
On Dec. 30, 2015, he was officially charged in Norristown, Pa., for an alleged assault in 2004. AP
Dec. 30, 2015, marks the first time charges have been officially brought against the beleaguered comedian. Mark Lennihan, AP
"The evidence is strong and sufficient enough to proceed with the charges," Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said at a news conference. The decision by his boss, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, reverses a decision by her predecessor who had ruled that there was not enough evidence to warrant an arrest. AP
Cosby made his acting debut in 1965 as Alexander Scott in adventure-espionage series 'I-Spy.' The show marked the first time a black performer starred in a regular, prime-time U.S. drama. AP
Cosby created 'Little Bill,' which premiered in 1999 on Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon
Cosby showed how innocent children are with 'Kids Say the Darndest Things,' which first aired in 1998. Monty Brinton, CBS
Bill Cosby stands with his wife Camille and former South African president Nelson Mandela in 1997. Mandela died in 2013. Sasa Kralj, AP
Oprah Winfrey with Cosby on her show. The comedian wears a "Hello, Friend" shirt. That's the name of the foundation established after Cosby's son, Ennis, was killed in 1997. George Burns, AP
Ennis Cosby was shot in 1997. Bill Cosby sits with his son at a Knicks game in 1994. Andrea Mohin, AP
Bill Cosby holds up a portrait of Ennis before the taping of an episode of 'Cosby' after his son's murder in 1997. Alan Singer, AP
Well into his 70s, Cosby has continued doing comedy. He performs at SXSW in March 2014. Jonathan Leibson, Getty Images
In September 2014, at age 77, Cosby performs at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Cosby speaks during a Veterans Day celebration in November 2014 at the All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors in Philadelphia. Matt Rourke, AP
USA TODAY photographed the entertainer in Los Angeles in 1998. Amy Etra
Follow @MaryBowerman on Twitter.
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Eating breakfast? Skipping a morning meal has higher risk of heart-related death, study says
A new study found that people who skipped breakfast had an 87% higher risk of cardiovascular-related death compared to those who ate it every day.
Eating breakfast? Skipping a morning meal has higher risk of heart-related death, study says A new study found that people who skipped breakfast had an 87% higher risk of cardiovascular-related death compared to those who ate it every day. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2019/04/23/skipping-breakfast-tied-higher-risk-heart-disease-death-study/3547295002/
Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY Published 6:26 a.m. ET April 23, 2019 | Updated 7:31 a.m. ET April 23, 2019
If you run out of the house without breakfast and then eat dinner right before bed, be careful! It could impact your health after a heart attack. Buzz60
It might be time to add a morning meal back into your daily routine.
A new study found that people who skipped breakfast every day had an 87% higher risk of cardiovascular-related death compared to those who ate a morning meal every day.
The research, published this month in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American College of Cardiology, pulled data on 6,550 U.S. adults age 40 to 75 gathered between 1988 and 1994 that asked how often they ate breakfast.
Just over 5% of people said they never consumed breakfast, almost 11% said they rarely consumed breakfast, a quarter consumed breakfast some days and 59% said they consumed breakfast every day.
Are eggs still healthy? Eggs linked to higher risk of heart disease and early death, study says
The team then looked at follow up data through 2011 to determine the adults' health and found 2,318 deaths occurred, including 619 heart disease-linked deaths.
Researcher controlled for a variety of factors including age, sex, race, socioeconomic status, dietary and lifestyle factors. However, the study could only show an association between not eating breakfast and heart disease, not a causal link.
"Breakfast is traditionally believed as the most or at least one of the most important meals of the day, but there are not much data available to say 'yes' or 'no' to this belief. Our paper is among the ones that provide evidence to support long-term benefits," one of the study's authors Dr. Wei Bao told CNN.
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Among some of the health effects of skipping breakfast: elevated blood pressure and changes in appetite causing people to overeat when they don't feel full later in the day, Bao said in a statement. Missing breakfast was associated with higher levels of cholesterol, too, he said.
Pizza for breakfast? Nutritionist says these options are more well-balanced than cereal
Not eating breakfast was also a marker of other habits tied to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, like being overweight, a heavy drinker, a former smoker and physically inactive, among others. The study authors tried to control the data for these factors.
"Skipping breakfast was associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease," the team wrote. "Our study supports the benefits of eating breakfast in promoting cardiovascular health."
Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller
The day in pictures
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the South and North Korea on June 30, 2019 in Panmunjom, South Korea. Handout, Dong-A Ilbo via Getty Images
President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Observation Post Ouellette at Camp Bonifas in Panmunjom, South Korea. Dong-A Ilbo via Getty Images
U.S. troops respond as President Donald Trump arrives at Osan Air Base in South Korea. Susan Walsh, AP
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II talks with Reverend Neil Gardner as she attends the Sunday Church service at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. Jane Barlow, AFP/Getty Images
Activists lie on Sixth Avenue during the Queer Liberation March in New York City. The march marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan on June 28, 1969, widely considered a watershed moment in the modern gay-rights movement. The Queer Liberation March, organized by the Reclaim Pride Coalition, began as a protest of the much larger NYC Pride March, which some have accused of being too corporate-sponsored and too strict on participation requirements. Kena Betancur, Getty Images
An elderly Nepalese man falls in the mud in a paddy field while playing with another during Asar Pandra, or paddy plantation day in Dhading district, Nepal. Nepalese Hindus consider Asar Pandra an auspicious day for planting paddy. Niranjan Shrestha, AP
Soldiers of National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) march in a parade during the celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of Eastern Shan State Special Region 4, at border city Mong La, Eastern Shan State, Myanmar. Shan State Special region 4 (also called Mong La autonomous region) celebrates its 30th anniversary celebrations in Mong La, one of the major cities in Golden Triangle Region which was built from a small village to become Myanmar's capital of gambling. Lynn Bo Bo, EPA-EFE
Revellers watch an act perform on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near the village of Pilton in Somerset, England. Oli Scarff, AFP/Getty Images
Competitors take part in a competition of outlandish flying machines during the Red Bull Flight Day in Lyon, France. Jean-Philippe Ksiazek, AFP/Getty Images
Soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) demonstrate their skills during an open day at Stonecutter Island naval base, in Hong Kong to mark the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China. Kin Cheung, AP
Pro-China's supporters shout at pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, right, at the Legislative Council Complex in Hong Kong. Pro-China's supporters rallied in support of the police at Tamar Park. Kin Cheung, AP
Sudanese protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against the ruling military council, in Khartoum, Sudan. Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Sudan's capital and elsewhere in the country calling for civilian rule nearly three months after the army forced out long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir. Hussein Malla, AP
Government supporters participate in a rally to demonstrate citizen support for the government of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Brazilian Minister of Justice Sergio Moro at the Orla de Copacabana, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. T Antonio Lacerda, EPA-EFE
Elements of the National Guard salute during the ceremony of deployment of the new Mexican security force National Guard at Campo Marte in Mexico City, Mexico. The new force will be comprised of federal and military police as well as members of the Mexican Army. Manuel Velasquez, Getty Images
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2014 USA TODAY Sports College Football Preview
College football is in a period of unprecedented change, on the field and away from it.
2014 USA TODAY Sports College Football Preview College football is in a period of unprecedented change, on the field and away from it. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/1p6smY6
USA TODAY Sports Published 4:54 p.m. ET Aug. 24, 2014 | Updated 11:53 a.m. ET Aug. 26, 2014
The Ed O'Bannon verdict and NCAA Division I reform are changing college athletics. At the same time, college football coaches are embracing the idea of two-way players, looking to new statistics and technology to train their staffs and players, adjusting to an entirely new championship system with the College Football Playoff and accepting the fact that fans have as much influence on their game as they do.
In college football, we're talking about a revolution.
TWO-WAY PLAYERS
TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYTICS
NATIONAL OUTLOOK
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1989 'Gave Us The Best Europe' Says Historian Garton Ash
It was the year the Berlin Wall fell, the death knell to decades of communist rule in Eastern and Central Europe.
And according to Timothy Garton Ash, 1989 was the 'best year in European history.'
In a wide-ranging interview with RFE/RL's Belarusian Service, the British historian concedes the economic liberalism that accompanied the collapse of the Soviet-led totalitarian system ushered in economic inequality. And Ash says that is partly to blame for today's wave of right-wing populism.
Overall, however, Garton Ash is a 'long-term optimist,' believing, among other things, that Russia will eventually find its rightful place in Europe and the world.
Back in 1989, the events that swept across Europe were a 'peaceful revolution' that consigned a 'nuclear-armed, post-totalitarian empire' to history's scrapheap, explains Garton Ash.
'A Europe with Poland free, most countries in Europe are now liberal democracies, most countries in Europe are members of the same political, security, and economic communities. For individuals that means that you can go from one end of the EU to the other without let or hindrance, settle down, work, live, love from one end of Europe to the other. That's an amazing achievement.'
'Liberal Overreach'
There was a downside, too, the effects of which are still being felt today, says Garton Ash.
'The particular form of financial globalization of economic liberalism adopted -- probably necessary to reform the economies -- produced great inequality, and there's been a reaction against that. There was a certain hubris, liberal overreach from the West, both from the EU and the U.S., which has led us into some problems,' Garton Ash begins.
But overall, the good outweighed the bad, according to Garton Ash.
'1989 was the best year in European history so far. A peaceful revolution which ended a nuclear-armed, post-totalitarian empire, and gave us the best Europe we've ever had.'
Among the worrying trends on today's geopolitical landscape, however, are a 'revanchist' Russia, and 'Leninist' China, according to Garton Ash.
'We have a revanchist Russia as we've seen in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Clearly a response to the collapse of the Russian empire. And we have a China, which is still Leninist, but very rich and very powerful, and which is increasingly dictating the agenda of world politics.'
Moreover, although some countries in Eastern Europe -- Garton Ash singles out Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus -- are still struggling and stumbling along the path to democracy, he's hopeful in the long-term.
'Not the whole of Europe is whole and free. I see very positive changes in Ukraine. And actually, very significant progress in Moldova, and indeed some change in Belarus. And I think there is a lot that can still be done in the current geopolitical context,' Garton Ash explains.
'Ghosts Of The Past'
For countries transitioning from communism to democracy, Garton Ash says, the toughest challenge they faced was confronting their dark past.
'It is important to keep former communists and people who were in the apparatus of repression out of various senior positions, that's important. But the most important thing is to have a public reckoning with the difficult past as one had in South Africa with the Truth Commission. So that it's acknowledged the wrongs that have been done, the injustices of repression. We know the facts. Those facts are publicly acknowledged. And that enables us to draw a clear line between the past and the future, because otherwise a new democracy is constantly haunted by the ghosts of the past,' Garton Ash explains.
Russia's current 'revanchist' bent, Garton Ash says, is directly linked to the collapse of the Soviet empire. While a long-term optimist on Russia, Garton Ash suggests that Russia under President Vladimir Putin presents challenges to European leaders.
'I'm a long-term optimist about Russia. I believe Russia is a great country which has a certain place in the future of Europe. The problem is in the shorter term, so that we have to find a mix of short-term firmness -- because some of the things Putin's Russia has done simply cannot be accepted by the international community -- but make it absolutely clear that strategically, in the long term, we do believe that Russia is a great country which has an important place in Europe and indeed in the world,' offers Garton Ash.
Russia along with Turkey, and even Hungary, are part of a more authoritarian 'strong populist, nationalist trend,' spreading across Europe. But other nationalist leaders like those in France, Holland, and England have 'their own roots' from the specific conditions on the ground in those countries, argues Garton Ash.
'If you look at Marine Le Pen, or if you look at Nigel Farage in Britain, or if you look at Geert Wilders or the Alternative for Deutschland, these have their own roots in the experiences and histories of these Western countries.'
While it struggled to cope with the transition to democracy, Eastern Europe looked to the West for advice and help. Now, Garton Ash says, Eastern Europe can provide lessons on how to deal with what Garton Ash says is creeping authoritarianism in the West.
'We may get some useful lessons about how to resist authoritarianism by looking at the experience of others in Eastern Europe. But that doesn't mean it's the same phenomenon with the same causes.'
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Netanyahu renames Golan heights after Trump
Tel Aviv [Israel], June 17 (ANI): Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday officially renamed a settlement in Golan height after United States President Donald Trump.
"A great day on the Golan. PM Netanyahu and I had the honour to dedicate 'Trump Heights' -- first time Israel has dedicated a village in honour of a sitting president since Harry Truman (1949). Happy Birthday Mr President!!," tweeted, US Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman.
Notably, the community is now just an isolated outpost of 10 resident.In April, Netanyahu had said he would name a new community in the Golan Heights after the US President to thank him for recognising Israel's sovereignty over the area, which Israel captured from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967 and annexed in 1981.
The United States became the first country to recognise the Golan Heights as part of Israel on March 25.
Netanyahu told the gathered dignitaries that "it is a milestone in the history of Golan.""President Trump is a very great friend of the country, a friend who did things for the country there were not done in the past and should have been done in the name of justice and truth."The US President himself responded to the move on Twitter Sunday afternoon, thanking Netanyahu for the "great honour.""Thank you PM @Netanyahu and the State of Israel for this great honour," he tweeted.
(ANI)
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Auxiliary Information
Harley P Chase BIO
Harley P. Chase Post 1265
The Harley P. Chase Post No.1265
Veterans of Foreign Wars, was formally instituted on November 16, 1924 at the Central Theater in Pawcatuck, Connecticut. Shelby C. Nicholas was installed as the Post Commander. The ceremonies were preceded by a parade from the Vets Hall to the Theater.The Corps of Color Guards from Waterbury, Connecticut marched with them. There were 86 charter members in the ranks on that day.
The Post purchased the Wayland Stillman Wagon Repair Shop on Coggswell Street in 1944, and moved in during the fall of 1946. A ceremony was held at the Post on April 3, 1965, where the mortgage for that building was burned.
The Post dedicated the VFW Memorial Park located at West Broad Street on Veterans Day, November 11, 1967.
In July of 1973 the Post moved to its current location at 160 South Broad St, Pawcatuck. A hall addition was quickly added to support large functions such as
wedding receptions and parties.
The Post has grown over the years from the original 86 members to a high of 616 in 1994. We presently have over 350 members; over 50% are Life Members. The
Ladies Auxiliary was formed in 1926 and has over 100 members. The Post also formed the Cootie Pup Tent, NO. 17 on July 7, 1951. However it was deactivated
in 1995 due to the lack of new Members. At the time of deactivation there were only 7 Members.
In the past 25 years this Post has had the honor of having 6 All-State Commanders:
Claude Patterson
Edward Gavitt
Roger Nadeau
Kenneth Watrous
Robert Gavitt
Harold Tourtellotte
Comrade Barbara Gavitt, now deceased, was the first woman veteran in the state of Connecticut to join the VFW in 1978. Five years later, in 1983, she became the Connecticut's first female VFW Post Commander. Her husband, Comrade Edward Gavitt has been a continuous member of this post for 61 years. During that period, he served 5 terms as Post Commander.
On Memorial Day, 1979, the Cootie Pup Tent, 17, dedicated the Flag Pole in front of our Post in memory of departed comrade Fred Barry.
In May, 1999, Post 1265 dedicated the VFW Memorial Cannon to our departed comrade James Gavitt.
The Post continues to be active in community affairs, supporting the local Little League baseball team and working with the Boy Scouts.
Board of Officers
7 PM Geer Hall
Fish Fry: June 14,2019 . 3-7 pm
Want To Become A VFW Member
Just return it to the post
Please call us at: +1 860 599 2404 or fill out our contact form.
Karaoke--------
© VFWpost 1265
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Samsung’s next smartwatch has an eSIM, should mean a bigger battery
Joe Svetlik, February 18, 2016 5:09 pm GMT
Most smartwatches suffer from pretty poor battery life. But Samsung’s next device could last longer than others, thanks to one neat trick.
The 3G-connected Gear S2 Classic – which Samsung has announced will go on sale in the UK in March – will feature an eSIM. As a result, it won’t require a physical SIM card, but instead will use an electronic one. Why? you might ask. Because it saves space internally, space that Samsung may choose to use to put in a bigger battery.
We know – a nano-SIM isn’t exactly the bulkiest piece of technology we’ve ever seen. But when you’re dealing with a slim smartwatch, every millimetre counts.
A more sizeable battery isn’t the only benefit. It should also make it much easier to change between mobile networks – you won’t have to enter a PAC code, or order a replacement SIM.
The GSMA has just set a new eSIM specification for smartwatches, fitness trackers and tablets. The Gear S2 Classic isn’t the first device to offer this technology – certain iPads provide the same using Apple’s own tech. However, Samsung’s offering is the first consumer wearable to meet the new standard.
The standard for eSIMs in smartphones will be announced in June.
The new spec is backed by some of the world’s largest tech companies, including LG, Microsoft, Huawei and, of course, Samsung. Networks such as Vodafone, AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and EE also support it.
Related: Samsung Gear S2 review
The GSMA is hailing this as the dawn of a new age in tech, one that gives consumers more control over their devices.
The Gear S2 Classic was unveiled back in September, but it wasn’t available in the UK at that time. Next month represents our first opportunity to purchase the device on these shores.
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Pelphrey announces addition of Bell as assistant coach
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech men's basketball head coach John Pelphrey announced another addition to his staff with the hiring of Andre Bell as an assistant coach.
Bell comes to Tech after spending five of the past seven years as an assistant and associate head coach at Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Mo.
"I'm thankful, first of all, for having good friends in this business," Bell said, "because it was through communication with them that I found out about this opportunity. When I heard about Coach Pelphrey, it was one of those deals where when you get a chance to work for a really good guy, a really good person – we all know his pedigree and what he has done basketball wise – it gave me a chance to move from one really good coach to another great coach. It was a best of both worlds scenario. When you get into this business, you want to make sure you work with good people. Basketball is always the connection, but working with good people is always part of my plan and it was a no-brainer for me to want to be in this position. I'm very blessed to be here."
A native of Chicago, Bell had two stints coaching with Pat Smith at Moberly CC, including the most recent run from 2016-19 as his associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. In that span, the Greyhounds captured three straight MCCAC titles and Region 16 Conference championships. Bell helped lead Moberly to a 28-7 mark this past season, including a Region 16 Tournament crown, a District 4 championship and an appearance in the NJCAA Sweet 16.
The Greyhounds finished the 2017-18 campaign ranked No. 11 nationally by the NJCAA with a 26-5 overall record.
"We are so excited to add Andre Bell to our coaching staff," Pelphrey expressed. "He is a phenomenal young coach who has tremendous experience of over 10 years. He played and coached with Pat Smith, who is a coaching legend and known for teaching and developing players toughness, the game of basketball and doing things the right way. Having played and coached for him has really helped shape and mold him into a young and experienced coach. Adding him to our staff will not only provide experience, but someone who is a relentless relationship builder through the recruiting process and player development and someone to mentor our young guys about leadership and life."
Prior to his return to Moberly, Bell spent two seasons in his hometown of Chicago as the assistant varsity boys basketball coach at St. Rita High School. During that time, the Mustangs won a Catholic League Conference title and an IHSA Regional championship with a 26-4 record in 2014-15.
"When I first came to Cookeville to visit the University and meet everyone, the energy I got came from the people," Bell said of what excited him the most of the opportunity. "That's what made me really interested in the position, just thinking about what I can do from any energy level and what I can put into this place from the standpoint of the community, the environment, the people, the coaching staff, the players. I want to be a part of something great and I think Coach Pel is on to something very special here."
In his first stint at Moberly, from 2012-14, Bell served as an assistant coach with Smith, helping guide the Mustangs to a pair of runner-up finishes in the Region 16 Conference.
A disciple of Smith's, Bell also was a member of his staff at Trinity Valley Community College from 2008-12. In that time, the Cardinals posted a 91-37 mark, ranking ninth nationally by the NJCAA in the 2010-11 campaign after capturing a conference title.
Bell played for Coach Smith at Bemidji State University, lettering three seasons from 2005-08. Bell graduated from Bemidji with a bachelor's degree in sports management in 2008. He has two sons, Andre Jr. and Keandre.
"It's a process and will take some time, but in due time, this place can be special," Bell said. "I think we have the right leader for it and we're all on board to try and help him make a culture, make our guys believe in what we consider the mindset. That matters and you want to make sure you lay that foundation because this place can be special as proven with the history before."
Sat, 03/02 | Men's Basketball at Eastern Illinois W, 63-57 (Final) RC | BX
Thu, 02/28 | Men's Basketball at SIUE L, 76-68 (Final) RC | BX
Sat, 02/23 | Men's Basketball vs. Morehead State L, 66-63 (Final) RC | BX
Thu, 02/21 | Men's Basketball vs. Eastern Kentucky L, 67-66 (Final) RC | BX
Sat, 02/16 | Men's Basketball vs. Belmont L, 93-65 (Final) RC | BX
Thu, 02/14 | Men's Basketball vs. Jacksonville State L, 67-57 (Final) RC | BX
Sat, 02/09 | Men's Basketball at UT Martin L, 77-58 (Final) RC | BX
Thu, 02/07 | Men's Basketball at Southeast Missouri L, 71-66 (Final - OT) RC | BX
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Russian Security Council secretary defends Iran to Bolton, Netanyahu
By Jay Jackson, US News
JERUSALEM, Israel - Russia has taken issue with U.S. claims that the drone last week shot down by Iranian forces was in international airspace at the time Iran intervened.
Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev told a press conference in Jerusalem that Moscow has information that the U.S. Navy drone, worth $110 million, was flying in Iranian airspace when it was brought down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The remarks were made in the presence of U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
Patrushev arrived in Israel on Monday to take part in a trilateral meeting with Bolton, who arrived on Saturday, and his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben-Shabbat together with Netanyahu. The summit took place on Tuesday.
Patrushev went on to say the evidence provided by the United States, alleging Tehran was behind the attack on the two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, were unprofessional and of poor quality.
"We need to conduct a due investigation, to understand what really happened, instead of simply appointing the culprit," Patrushev told the press briefing.
After the IRGC on Thursday announced that it had shot down an "intruding American spy drone", RQ-4 Global Hawk, Washington called the move an "unprovoked attack," claiming that the drone was in international waters.
The U.S. distributed an image of the drone's flight path. Tehran on the other hand released a video showing the drone had entered Iranian airspace.
Both countries claimed the location of the drone at the time the unmanned aircraft was shot down.
Iran has also released footage of what it says is the wreckage of the plane, further evidencing, it says, that it was brought down in Iranian waters.
The other question Iran has posed is, what was the U.S. military aircraft doing flying in or near Iranian airspace?
Patrushev also questioned the 'evidence' the U.S,. has provided over the oil tanker attacks which have taken place in the Gulf of Oman.
(Pictured from left Meir Ben-Shabbat, John Bolton, Benjamin Netanyahu and Nikolai Patrushev).
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The Secret Source of Putin’s Evil
Peter Savodnik
Media Smackdown
The “Trump vs. Media” Cage Match Has Only Begun
T.A. Frank
Can the Democrats Start from Scratch?
“We Should Not Take the Bait”: AOC and the Squad Denounce Trump's “Hateful Rhetoric” as a “Distraction”
Alison Durkee
Barack Obama Belongs to the Ages
Even in the era of Trump, the 44th president will leave office seemingly confident that the country that elected him against historical odds can’t really go wrong—at least for long.
By Scott Olson/Getty Images.
For anyone who remembers the bipartisan sense of national uplift that attended Barack Obama’s inauguration eight years ago, it’s easy enough to list the ways in which his presidency has been a disappointment: Political divisions seemingly deeper than ever. Racial tensions more exacerbated than eased. Prisoners still held at Guantanamo Bay. A national-security state grown ever more secretive.
So it’s well to remember his achievements, too: An administration free of a single major scandal. An economy recovered from the worst crisis since the Great Depression (albeit one with stubbornly low growth and incomes). Health insurance for millions more Americans (despite real problems with rising premiums and access to care). Major strides to combat climate change (though some measures will not bear fruit for years).
Almost all these agenda items will be at risk in Donald Trump’s presidency, along with the balance of the Supreme Court, relations with N.A.T.O., and who-knows-what else. So it’s worth asking, even prematurely, what Obama’s lasting legacy is likely to be. Will his presidency have been transformative, as he hoped it would be when he ran in 2008?
In at least one profound way, Trump’s election amounts to a repudiation of Obama and a vindication of the truism, often cited by the president’s longtime strategist, David Axelrod, that in open-seat elections Americans tend to pick presidents as unlike the ones who preceded them as possible. Hence the choice of the cool, cerebral Obama after eight years of George W. Bush’s shoot-from-the-hip style. By that measure, Trump—hot-headed, bombastic, impulsive, crude—is Obama’s polar opposite. Indeed, it’s a nice question to what degree Obama’s very resolute civility, his almost Vulcan presence—not to mention his status as the nation’s first black president—fueled Trump’s rise (and not just because Obama taunted The Donald so brutally, and effectively, at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2011).
Obama failed spectacularly in his pledge to end the partisan divide and dysfunction in Washington—a failure, it must be acknowledged, that congressional Republicans worked overtime to guarantee from his first day in office. But he also failed, as he has implicitly conceded, to persuade millions of disaffected ordinary Americans that he had their backs, and felt their pain, much less had any idea how to salve it. Fairly or not, his health care plan came to be seen as punishing the working class in order to serve the poor.
Obama could speak of America’s racial realities with soaring clarity and unifying dignity, as he did in his eulogy for victims of the Charleston church massacre. But whether criticizing the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police for acting “stupidly” by arresting professor Henry Louis Gates at his own front door, or acknowledging that if he’d had a son, he’d look like the Florida shooting victim Trayvon Martin, Obama alienated some white Americans by seeming to take sides, even if he was just expressing the painful truth as he knew it.
Taken together, Obama’s misfires—whether on policy or politics—can fairly be said to have provided fertile soil in which first the Tea Party, and then the Trump movement, grew. One suspects that a Bill Clinton, at the peak of his powers, might have found a way to deflect the forces of Trumpism to his own advantage, as he did with Newt Gingrich’s Republican revolution two decades ago. Then again, maybe not.
But the truth is that Obama is leaving office with job approval ratings about as high as any he’s had for most of his term, and if those ratings hover only in the mid-to-upper 50s, that’s no mean feat in a country that, by every available index, remains as narrowly divided as in any era since the run-up to the Civil War. Hatred of the president is visceral in many quarters, but hope still abides. No small number of voters who picked Trump in November voted twice for Obama himself. In our hyper-partisan politics, 50 may well be the new 70.
Hillary Clinton struggled in vain all year to articulate a single big organizing idea. Her failure makes Obama’s willingness to swing for the fences on an issue like health care (against the advice of some of his own top aides) appear all the bolder. Of political necessity, he rammed the Affordable Care Act through Congress on the narrowest of partisan majorities (and one can debate the wisdom of that course). At a minimum, it meant that the law never had the kind of broad, bipartisan backing that has accompanied most major changes in the social contract, from Social Security to civil rights, and it cost Obama control of the House of Representatives. Congress has not been able to revisit the measure to rectify its inevitable flaws (even quite technical ones), because Republicans would seize on any such opening to try to kill it. And, until now, the public focus has been on Obamacare’s shortcomings and high costs, not on its benefits.
But the knots into which Trump and congressional Republicans are already tying themselves as they strive to “repeal and replace” the law serve as proof that its most popular provisions are here to stay. Fifty years from now, when some form of Obamacare’s ban on denial of coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, or lifetime limits on care, remain firmly entrenched in law, the perspective will be clearer. Few now under age 60 may have any emotional feeling about Lyndon Johnson’s Vietnam war, but the legacy of the civil-rights bills he worked so hard to pass is evident in Obama’s presidency itself. As Obama told cheering supporters in his farewell speech last week, democracy has always been hard. “For every two steps forward,” he acknowledged, “it often feels we take one step back.”
Indeed, some of those steps forward can be hard to see—scores of regulations, presidential directives, protections for national monuments and so on—and they will be just as hard for any but the most skilled inside operators to systematically roll back. Trump has so far evinced no appetite for managerial detail, and it is far from clear that he’ll have anyone around him with the brutal knowledge of the federal bureaucracy possessed by, let’s say, a Dick Cheney
It is not too much to say that Obama did for decency in the presidency what only the best of his predecessors have ever done: He and his wife and daughters set an example for good behavior that even many of his political adversaries were forced to concede. He is leaving office seemingly confident that the country that elected him against the historical odds can’t really go wrong, for long.
Together with Andrew Jackson and Franklin Roosevelt, Obama is one of just three Democratic presidents to win a majority of the popular vote at least twice. That he was not able to translate his personal success into comparable institutional victories for his party in Congress and the statehouses, where Democrats suffered net losses in his tenure, is a cross to be borne. It is also a burden that could dampen his legacy long after Trump has served one or even two terms, simply because Republican-dominated state legislatures have drawn district lines so lopsidedly in their favor.
Starting on Friday, Obama belongs to the ages, as was famously said of his fellow Illinoisan Abraham Lincoln. But unlike Lincoln, who was cut down at age 56, Obama is very much alive at 55, with actuarial odds of having one of the longest presidential retirements ever (even, one assumes, with some points off for his years as a smoker). He has let it be known that a principal political aim of his post-presidency will be reforming the shameful system of incumbent protection that has made the nation’s congressional districts into ever redder and bluer slices of easily defensible turf, instead of competitive battlegrounds. That’s a big job, worthy of a big man, a man who, after all, rocketed to prominence with a speech in which he dismissed the very notion of a red America and a blue America, and insisted, “There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America.”
If that promise seems a little less plausible—maybe even a good deal less—than it did when he took the oath of office eight years ago, that’s a short term setback he seems willing to risk. From the moment he first set out on his improbable odyssey, Barack Obama has always played the long game.
The Young Obama
Two-year-old Barack Obama
Two-year-old Barack Hussein Obama, in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1963. His mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was the white daughter of a Kansas furniture and insurance salesman who moved his family to Hawaii on the eve of statehood. There, she met and married Barack Hussein Obama Sr., a former Kenyan goatherd and the first African student to enroll at the University of Hawaii. From Polaris.
Can Elizabeth Warren Win Back Trump Country?
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Husband Survives, Wife Killed After Ballantyne Home Explodes
Morgan Fogarty,
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It is hard to imagine how anyone lived through such a catastrophic blast in Ballantyne. But somehow, Dr. Jebran Karam did, and even managed to call 911 so rescuers could find him, trapped underneath massive piles of rubble in what used to be a back stairwell in their home.
Wednesday night, he was in the hospital recovering. We do not know the extent of his injuries. We do know he is a cardiologist who works at a hospital in Beckley, West Virginia. That hospital, Raleigh General, sent WCCB a statement saying, “We were deeply saddened to hear about this incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Karam family during this difficult time. Dr. Jebran Karam is a tremendous cardiologist, physician and advocate for his patients. We wish him a full and fast recovery.”
Audrey Kirk lives in West Virginia and tells us of Dr. Karam, “He’s a wonderful, caring cardiologist and saved my husband though 2 heart attacks. His bedside manner was amazing. He loved his family and his patients. My heart breaks for him and his family. We are praying for them all. He always went above and beyond to care for his patients.”
His wife, Rania, did not survive the blast. Investigators say her body was found about 50-60 feet away from his, the distance of several rooms. The woman who sold the house to the Karams in 2015, and kept in touch with them, tells WCCB that Rania made annual, generous donations to The Pink Bow Campaign every year, which raises money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She also says Rania was devoted to her kids, and “an incredibly proud mother.”
Funeral information for Rania Karam has not been determined or released. If there is a public service, we will let you know.
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A Few Definitions: Gender and Sexual identity
Photo Credit: jwyg
Biological Sex: Your biological sex is the way your body was made. Most people's bodies are male or female.
Male: Most mammals, including humans, are genetically determined by their chromosomes - males have an XY sex chromosome
Female: Females have an XX sex chromosome
Intersex: It is also possible to be XXY or have other chromosome arrangements. These qualities are reported to be as common as red headedness (about 2% of the population)
Gender: Gender is how society and the cultures in which we live deals with the differences between males and females. Gender is what we as a community think of as being a man or woman. Often times, our thoughts on gender rely upon what we think of or are taught as masculine (or manly) and feminine (or lady-like) behaviors.
Gender Identity: Your gender identity is who you feel you are on the inside (man, woman, both, neither, flexible). Your gender expression has to do with how you show your identity to the rest of the world (how you walk, talk, sit, or dress; whether you're more masculine, feminine, some of both, etc.)
Transgender: Some people call themselves transgender (or "trans," "tranny') because they feel they were born biologically one sex, but emotionally and spiritually feel like they are of another gender. Transgenderism can refer to how people choose to dress and appear. It can also include taking hormones or having surgery to change one's sex organs and appearance to match they gender that they feel.
Sexual Orientation: Your sexual orientation has to do with whom you mostly find sexually, emotionally, and romantically attractive (guys, girls or both)
Straight - Heterosexual: People who are attracted to people of another gender &ndsash; a man who loves a woman or a woman who loves a man
Gay - Homosexual: A "gay" man is someone who is physically attracted to other males
Lesbian: A "lesbian" is a woman who is physically attracted to other females
Bisexual: People are "bisexual" or "bi" if they are physically attracted to both men and women
Questioning: Some people experiment with people of both sexes at different times in their lives, but by having a sexual experience with a person of the same (or opposite) gender does not mean that you are gay (or straight).
GLBTQ: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning
Two-spirit: Many Native Americans, both past and present, identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual, transvestites, transsexuals, or transgender. Traditionally, many tribes had multiple gender systems (recognizing more than two genders), and it was understood that there were people who occupied a social and spiritual position somewhere in-between men and women. Many other cultures around the world also had or have multiple gender societies. Native American cultures shared this outlook on humanity that acknowledged the value and contributions of all people in a community. "Two Spirit" is a contemporary term used to refer to these people in some tribes. This term implies that someone has both male and female aspects within them, not that they are physically both male and female (e.g., intersex). Many tribes have words in their languages for these people.
Tommy Chesboro
Hannabah Blue
Tony Aaron Fuller
Sexual Identity and Orientation
Your sexual orientation is a reflection of your sexual and emotio..
Two Spirit Project (Garni)
Garni (Blackfoot Nation) talks about coming out as a lesbian ..
Native VOICES episode 2
Winter is here and so is snagging season. Use condom se..
Dear Auntie, How do I start a gay straight alliance (GSA) at my school?
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