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Walt Disney Co (DIS) Stake Lessened by Pictet & Cie Europe SA
The institutional investor held 28,275 shares of the television services company at the end of 2017Q3, valued at $2.79 million, down from 37,262 at the end of the previous reported quarter. Iron Financial Ltd Co reported 0.25% in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS). Over the last quarter, shares have performed -0.26%. Investors sentiment increased to 1.05 in 2017 Q3. [Full Article...]
Point72 Asset Management LP Acquires 28400 Shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)
Godsey & Gibb Associates sold 10,068 shares as Pepsico Inc (PEP)'s stock rose 5.12%. The institutional investor held 493,155 shares of the real estate investment trusts company at the end of 2017Q3, valued at $14.99 million, down from 861,199 at the end of the previous reported quarter. [Full Article...]
Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) Stock Rating Reaffirmed by Goldman Sachs Group
The stock increased 1.73% or $1.29 during the last trading session, reaching $76.02. While looking at the Stock's Performance, Amazon.com, Inc. now shows a Weekly Performance of -2.84%, where Monthly Performance is 7.81%, Quarterly performance is 20.24%, 6 Months performance is 37.52% and yearly performance percentage is 64.75%. [Full Article...]
Bangladesh in trouble needing 339 vs Sri Lanka, 2nd test
The first Test ended in a draw in Chittagong. Dananjaya snared eight wickets on debut, including his 3-20 in the first innings. Considering the way they folded in their first innings, even getting Sri Lanka out for cheap early in the first session does not guarantee victory for the hosts. [Full Article...]
What Are Analysts Suggestions On General Electric Company (GE)
Umb Bank N A who had been investing in Dominion Energy Inc for a number of months, seems to be bullish on the $48.78 billion market cap company. The stock decreased 4.95% or $0.25 during the last trading session, reaching $4.8. Pinebridge Invests L P accumulated 53,996 shares. Hl Limited Liability Com reported 3.23M shares. Millennium Mngmt Limited Liability Co holds 0.02% of its portfolio in DDR ... [Full Article...]
Short Interest in BP Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:BPMP) Rises By 31.2%
The stock decreased 0.36% or $0.24 during the last trading session, reaching $66.34. About 15,514 shares traded. Martin Midstream Partners L.P. (NASDAQ:MMLP) has declined 14.95% since February 8, 2017 and is downtrending. Therefore 18% are positive. Analysts await Enable Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:ENBL) to report earnings on February, 20. Mizuho reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $34.00 pr... [Full Article...]
Lululemon slumps after its CEO unexpectedly resigns for violating company's standards
Potdevin's resignation did not stem from one specific event but rather a range of instances involving multiple people, individuals familiar with the situation told Bloomberg and the Associated Press . "Protecting the organization's culture is one of the Board's most important duties". Potdevin's departure undermines that momentum and recalls the damage the brand suffered a few years ago when ... [Full Article...]
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Cyclones find happiness through giving during the holidays
YAC (Youth Active in the Community) celebrated the Holidays by giving. Co-Vice-President, Katherine S. organized and implemented the ICS Hope for the Holidays Drive. Upper, Lower, and Primary Division brought needed items for infants and toddlers requested by Infant Crisis Services. The drive, started at the LD and PD on December 1st. 4th graders took their donations personally to ICS on December 13th. Katherine arranged for the ICS Baby Mobile to pick up the PD and UD donations on December 14th. The UD collection went from December 11th-15th. Katherine personally delivered the donations brought by high school students the last day of the drive.
Happy Boys and Girls Club Video By Pearce Sapper'17
YAC Co-Vice-President, Sahanya B., organized and implemented the first YAC visit of the year at Boys and Girls Club. Juniors Peyton B. and Megan B. accompanied Sahanya in this first visit to the club on Friday, December 8, 2017. The group took 500 candy canes from Sam's to distribute at the Club for the holidays. Sahanya stated, "We went for two hours and played games and gave out candy canes!" Sahanya did not take pictures of the first visit. She is planning a second visit in January where she will take pictures.
Santa Sammy
Hannah H.'19
YAC Treasurer, Claire Richardson was the point person for the 2017 Casady Blood Drive 2017. Claire and YAC Vice President, Ellison G. and YAC member, Chris Goodall motivated peers to donate. The Casady Bood Drive provided 28 donors. Thank you Cyclones for giving the gift of life during the holidays.
Casady YAC officers, Claire R'19. and Katherine S'19., Casady STUCO President, Luke A'18., and Rainbolt Family Service-Learning Chair, Carmen Clay'74, participated in the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits Visions Recognition Event. One of the honorees was Mr. Gene Rainbolt. He received the Life Time Achievement in Philanthropy.
Thank you, Mr. Rainbolt for the resources you provide to help Cyclone make a difference in the Casady and Oklahoma City Community.
The group's attendance was made possible by the generosity of the Advancement and Development Office at Casady School. Special thanks to Mr. Steve Shelly, Director of Institutional Advancement for making the groups attendance possible and Mr. Matt Cloud, Director of Development for attending the dinner with the Casady Cyclones.
YAC Co-Presidents, Mariam S.'18, and Safra S.'18 hosted at the Casady YAC Conference Room in Harper, the Art Club's Xmas Stockings Project. YAC started cutting the 50 stockings for children at "Our Spot" Head Start program on December 5th. The President of the Art Club Art, Grace Hall, facilitated the project in collaboration with art teachers, Mrs. Seitter, and Mrs. Pardue and help from Miss Sarah Smith, Mrs. Clay Substitute. Stockings were delivered on the last day before "Our Spot" ended classes for the 2017 school year. Mrs. Pardue stated, "The delivery of the stockings went very well."
Youth & Government presented their brief and successful story of participation in the YMCA YAG at chapel on Friday, December 14,2017.
Last year, per initiative of STUCO President, Luke A., Casady Cyclones attended their first State Conference as process observers. The school year 2017-2018 is the first year, the Casady YAG was fully operational under the sponsorship of history teacher, Mrs. Lisa Bek-gram with assistance of the Service Learning Office as needed.
The Y's Youth and Government™ program is a national program that involves thousands of teens nationwide in state-organized, model-government programs. Students from every corner of the U.S. have the opportunity to immerse themselves in experiential civic engagement and practice democracy. Teens from across every state meet in their local Youth and Government clubs and at statewide events throughout the year to discuss and debate issues that affect citizens of their state through proposed legislation, participation in mock trials, or journalistic reporting. A club can be held at their local school, YMCA, church or homeschool group. Local clubs can meet monthly, weekly, or quarterly. Throughout the year, YMCA YAG provide opportunites for regional training, club officer training, and recruitment. Participating students attend a District Conference in their region to qualify for State Conference. The program culminates with teens serving as delegates at the State Conference, debating bills on the floor of the legislature, arguing cases before state courts, and creating various media publications.
Holiday Happenings around Casady Campus: From Casa...
Cyclones find happiness through giving during the ...
December 12 meeting
YAC makes a difference during the holidays: Stocki...
Infant Crisis Services, Hope for the Holidays Driv...
Art Club and YAC make stockings for "Our Spot" Hea...
Casady's Blood Drive 2017
Shoes, Socks, and St. Nicholas EveBy Professor Car...
Advent I – The Advent WreathBy Professor Carol on ...
ICS Hope for the Holidays Drive 2017 memories
December 5th meeting
YAC at work for Hope and Life during the Holidays
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LBJ Drive to close downtown for bike lane striping
If the weather permits, North LBJ Drive will be closed to traffic at 3 a.m. Sunday, April 2 between San Antonio and Hopkins Streets for bike lane pavement marking.
Amtrak studying San Antonio-Austin commuter rail service
WITH AUDIO | Amtrak says it is conducting a feasibility study for offering commuter service along there Interstate 35 between Georgetown and San Antonio, including the mid-cities of San Marcos and New Braunfels.
San Marcos Traffic: 08/14/16 to 08/20/16
Construction and other activities likely to affect traffic in San Marcos starting August 14, 2016.
Saturday, August 6th, 2016
Construction and other activities likely to affect traffic in San Marcos starting next week including tax-free weekend at the outlet malls and commencement ceremonies at Texas State University.
Construction and other activities likely to affect traffic in San Marcos starting next week
Construction to close northbound I-35 in Austin
Construction crews will close the northbound lower deck main lanes of Interstate 35 from 12th Street to Airport Boulevard, as well as one northbound lane on the Interstate 35 upper deck in Austin, from 11 p.m. Wednesday,...
TxDOT finishes new Interstate 35 ramps, overpass turnarounds in Buda, Kyle
The Texas Department of Transportation has completed an $11.6 million package of Interstate 35 construction intended to improve safety and ease congestion in Buda and Kyle.
I-35 main lanes — all of them — to close for bridge demolition in San Marcos, Kyle
Interstate 35 — all main lanes in both directions — will be closed nightly starting this weekend for demolition of the old Yarrington Road overpass in northern San Marcos and southern Kyle.
Yarrington Road bridge at Interstate 35 closed for construction Jan. 8-10
The Yarrington Road bridge at Interstate 35 will be closed from 5 p.m. today until 8 p.m. Sunday as part ongoing reconstruction of the overpass, which marks the boundary between far northern San Marcos and far southern...
City wants residents to weigh-in on two-way downtown traffic
The city of San Marcos Engineering & Capital Improvements department is seeking input from residents on downtown traffic, parking and other infrastructure.
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What is Fracking?
REGULATION AND SAFETY
Eagle Ford Excellence Awards
Bee County Judge Stephanie Moreno Named Executive Director...
Brownsville, TX Growing Global
TXOGA Hosts Focus Group in December
Photos: 2019 Eagle Ford Excellence Awards
STEER ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE SEVENTH ANNUAL EAGLE...
2019 Eagle Ford Excellence Awards Winners
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Home Blog The Sixth Annual Eagle Ford Excellence Awards Is Approaching Quickly
The Sixth Annual Eagle Ford Excellence Awards Is Approaching Quickly
written by STEER September 27, 2018
The South Texas Energy and Economic Roundtable (STEER), serving the Eagle Ford Shale region in South Texas, has opened its call for nominations for the sixth annual Eagle Ford Excellence Awards. The awards are focused on honoring members of the oil and gas community for diligent efforts to preserve the environment, ensure safety in and around the Eagle Ford Shale region and give back to the community in which they live in and serve.
Led by Interim President, Christopher Ashcraft, STEER works to ensure the development of the Eagle Ford’s energy resources is accomplished in a manner that is mutually beneficial to the industry and communities throughout South Texas. The Eagle Ford Excellence Awards recognizes companies and organizations that are acting with consideration to the values that STEER sees as essential for continued advancements that benefit the greater South Texas community.
The last few years have been filled with changes in the oil and gas industry in South Texas. The price of a barrel of oil has fluctuated significantly, new LNG plants are being built in South Texas and crude oil is now being exported from the Texas coast. We are proud to say that the oil and gas industry has weathered these changes. The industry is a constant presence in South Texas, continuing to create jobs and tax revenue for our great state while producing the world’s energy resources in a responsible manner. STEER is honored to recognize those companies, at our sixth annual awards ceremony, that are doing the right thing for the communities in which they operate.
Eagle Ford Excellence Award categories include:
Environmental Stewardship: To be considered for an award in this category, entries must demonstrate elements of innovation in reducing environmental impact through implementation of practices or use of technology benefiting the environment.
Safety Performance: To win an award in this category, applicants must have developed specific initiatives or products that have reduced the risk to workers and members of the local community. These initiatives should be evident in the company’s culture and safety record.
Community and Social Investment: To receive an award in this category, the entry must show true commitment to the community. The applicant should have provided a benefit to deserving individuals or groups, positively impacted the company or organization’s reputation in the communities in which it works, or provided a measurable and positive impact on its surrounding community.
STEER Impact Award: This category is intended for nonprofit organizations and educational facilities working with the oil and gas industry in the Eagle Ford Shale. For consideration in this category, organizations must demonstrate excellence in: education, economic development, workforce development/training, safety performance, community relations or environmental stewardship.
>>> Click Here To Nominate A Company Today! <<<
The Sixth Annual Eagle Ford Excellence Awards Is Approaching Quickly was last modified: January 3rd, 2020 by STEER
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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by: C.S. Lewis
"They open a door and enter a world.
NARNIA...the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy...the place where the adventure begins.
Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first, no one believes her when she tells of her adventures in the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund and then Peter and Susan discover the Magic and meet Aslan, the Great Lion, for themselves. In the blink of an eye, their lives are changed forever."
The entirety of this book is a magic in and of itself. However I think the dedication is one of the most endearing I have ever read:
"To Lucy Banfield
My Dear Lucy,
I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales agin. You can then take it down from the upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to ear, and too old to understand a word you say but I shall still be
your affectionate Godfather,
C.S. Lewis"
The opening scene the movie actually elaborated on, but it was for good reason. However in the movie Professor doesn't come down to greet the Pevensie's as they come to stay with him. My favorite characters so far in this series are Queen Jadis, Lucy and Mr. Tumnus. I think I fell for Mr. Tumnus in chapter two because of this:
"Meanwhile," said Mr Tumnus, "it is winter in Narnia and has been for ever so long, and we shall both catch cold if we stand here talking in the snow. Daughter of Eve from the far land of Spare Oom where eternal summer reigns around the bright city of War Drobe, how would it be if you came and had tea with me?"
I thought when I watched the movie, and even more so when I read this in the book, that just the way Mr. Tumnus talks and misinterprets the words Lucy says is just adorable and funny!
The walk with Susan, Lucy & Aslan was clearly a reflection of Jesus's final walk, when he carried the cross, crown of thorns and was in pain. Although Aslan wasn't physically bearing pain or torture, it weighed heavy on his heart. It was clear to see the significance. Then there was the part where Aslan offers himself to Jadis only to be resurrected. Among that and the broken "Stone Table" and no Aslan, it proved again to be a reflection of Jesus in the tomb, the boulder moved and yet there was no Jesus in the tomb! Reading this makes C.S. Lewis's christian symoblism made even more prevelant.
The castle scene where Mr. Tumnus was a statue was portrayed differently via the movie. Edmund & Mr. Tumnus where held prisoners, not statues, in seperate but adjoining cells in the movie. Another difference between the movie and the book was Mr. Fox. In the book he was turned to stone during a Christmas celebration; in the movie he was made into a sort of "treacherous" hero. He would help the Sons & Daughter's of Eve but then somehow cause trouble out of it all, what else is a fox for- very sneaky and untrustworthy.
A big problem for me in the book was the battle at the end with Aslan and his crew versus Queen Jadis and her crew. The book had the battle so brief and short. I think it was summed up in a whole two or three pages. The battle in the movie was much better and prolonged. I have four books left in the series to go. As each one passes I grow more and more eager to continue on with a slight sadness; knowing that once I hit book seven I will not have any more of the wonderful land of Narnia to "live in."
April Contest Info
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Learn about who we are, and our mission!
Bylaws & Minutes
Learn about our historic district and the reason for our association.
Owning Property in the District
District Inventory
We're working hard to keep our neighborhood a great place to live.
Fighting Blight
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Helpful information on historic preservation and much more.
For Property Owners
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Becoming a member is rewarding and fun. Join us today!
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Fighting blight is a vital part of our mission. Neglected properties not only detract from the appearance of our neighborhood— they invite undesirable activities, create unsafe conditions and depress property values.
Our association takes an active role in identifying blighted properties and working constructively with the owners, city officials and law enforcement to ensure improvement.
The Stratfield Historic District Association was formed to preserve the historic homes in Bridgeport’s Stratfield Historic District. Our district is the 100th historic district in Connecticut, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Our member meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 7:30pm in the Parish Hall of Calvary St. George’s Episcopal Church, 755 Clinton Avenue in Bridgeport.
Copyright 2017 Stratfield Historic District Association
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Fortune Magazine, June 25, 2001
COOL 2001: Defining Cool
by Lee Clifford
Once upon a time in Silicon Valley ... Okay, this year was no fairy tale, but there's plenty of tech to celebrate.
Here's what we learned while searching for Cool Companies this annus horribilis. No. 1: It was a very, very bad year to be a company masseur. No. 2: Retro--as in profits--is back. (It's the new black, if you will.) No. 3: Cash bars are de rigueur.
In years past we've learned slightly more cosmic things. But the startup environment these days teeters somewhere between post-apocalyptic shock and hopeful desperation, making it a particularly, well, poignant time to search for cool.
Here's a typical--and true--scenario: In early spring a chirpy young flak calls from a hot San Francisco "relationship marketing" company (don't ask), relentlessly pitching her employer. A few days later she calls back. Is she following up? Not quite. She's now pitching her husband's company--in the three-day interim she has been pink-slipped.
Press releases, too, reflect the increasing desperation of these lean times. One proudly trumpets CommerceRoute, "a box that converts any form of data to any other form of data and then does what you tell it to do." (But can it chop and dice too?)
Beneath the devastation, however, cool lives. Take Genoa, a chip company whose product was thought by some to defy laws of physics. Or Atheros, which is refining a new wireless standard that could rock the industry.
Though this is without a doubt the toughest year for techies since FORTUNE launched its list in 1993, choosing what's cool has essentially remained unchanged. Yes, we've opened the field to people, products, and trends. Yes, we took a more sober and measured approach to our list. Still, we followed the same procedure: We polled the smartest people we know and combed through hundreds of startups. And in the end, as always, choosing what's cool comes down to pornography. As in: Defining it is nearly impossible. But you know it when you see it.
Dick Strayer
Dick Strayer, a 54-year-old Ph.D. and MBA, counsels venture capitalists and their needy startups.
The Patients: Stressed-out partners from ten VC firms ranging from Kleiner Perkins to Olympic Venture Partners.
Patients' Complaints: Symptoms include everything from tyrannical leaders emulating their military fathers to friendships torn apart by error-ridden business plans.
Doctor's Evaluation: "We're working with people who a year ago thought they were on the verge of tremendous wealth," says Strayer. "Now they're taking companies apart, while they themselves are feeling troubled and broken."
Prescriptions: Hastening the exits of unfit CEOs; arranging corporate heart-to-hearts at his ranch in Davenport, Calif.; and urging lots of individual counseling sessions.
back to Strayer in the News
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Gardening Articles by Russell Fransham
Back to Garden Writing
Brazilian Floss Silk tree
This article was published in Scene Magazine May 2004
Autumn colour for our climate can be an interesting mix of traditional deciduous trees like Liquidamber and subtropical flowering trees and shrubs like Tibouchina with their sometimes startlingly bright displays in Autumn and Winter.
The Brazilian Floss Silk tree has to be one of the most startling of all. Until recently it was known as Chorisia speciosa and now its called Ceiba speciosa. And not to be confused with the common silk tree, Albizzia julibrissin, that grows everywhere in our city as a street tree. The floss silk tree's flowers are spectacular, waxy pink, five-inch blooms, massed on bare branches from February to May.
It often takes ten years before it gets up the gumption to do it at all, then it only flowers when it feels like it, which is usually after a longish dry spell. And even then it may only flower on some parts of the tree. But when it does, its always worth the wait. As if this arrangement wasn't weird enough, it also has a memorably spiky fat trunk.
The thorns completely cover the greenish bark like big rose thorns. Not nice to back into when you're mowing the lawn! But they only grow on the lower couple of metres of the tree. Above that the branches are smooth and green. On more than one occasion I have been tempted to leave especially obnoxious small boys up in the branches to make their own way home.
I promise I only thought it.
Apart from the Autumn flowering time, the floss silk tree is evergreen and very fast-growing to at least 6m and often more than 10m tall. It tends to have a clear trunk, apart from the spikes, to at least 2 metres and the branches are usually almost horizontal like its close relative, the Kapok tree which was once widely grown in the tropics for the fluffy white fibre in the seed pods, used in mattresses and pillows until synthetics replaced it.
The floss silk tree was also used as a kapok substitute in Brazil but doesn't set seed pods in NZ for some reason and its just as well, because the drifts of white floss from the bursting ripe pods, which are like half-sized footballs, would be a serious nuisance.
While they are frost-tender when young, they become tougher with age and can withstand our light Northland frosts. And for those of us who like to climb trees, the thorns can be knocked off the trunks and won't re-grow. Right now a 20 year-old floss silk tree is flowering in Tikipunga's Paramount Drive directly opposite the entrance to Countdown supermarket and another younger specimen in Fairway Drive, Kamo.
The worryingly marijuana-shaped leaves of the floss silk tree can give rise to occasional excitement and consternation. Rural friends of mine once had the drug-squad helicopter land on their lawn to catch them red-handed after their substantial floss silk tree was mis-identified from the air to the astonishment of all involved. And years ago a couple of teenage lads who wouldn't otherwise have set foot in a nursery, once bought lushly-foliaged metre high specimens to use as houseplants to impress their mates and terrorise their poor mothers. I still wonder how that went for them. And whether anyone smoked the leaves.
These interesting subtropical beauties are one of those Autumn trees that the rellies down South can't grow but in a good year here they make a spectacle to rival the liquidambers.
And I bet there'll always be someone who believes they're the biggest marijuana trees in the world.
(Copyright Russell Fransham 2004)
(Text and photography copyright Russell Fransham 2004)
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Archiv der Kategorie: Google Maps
Awesome news from the Google Geo Developers Blog. Can’t wait to see the spring, summer, autumn and winter maps that will be created. And I even know someone who always wanted Heavy Metal maps – no more need to wait for this to happen. Dive into the Google Maps API V3 and make it happen.
Dieser Beitrag wurde unter Google Maps abgelegt am 21.5.2010 von admin.
Mapping tracks with Google Maps and Google Fusion Tables
The latest post on the Google Lat Long Blog presents a neat new way to visualise big piles of data on a map. Pretty cool that they chose an example with bike trails to explain what can be done with Google Fusion Tables. The MTBGuru blog has more details along with maps and screenshots on their site. I think that we will give this a try at work and see if it may be an alternative to a more traditional clustering approach that we are using for visualising many thousand trails on a Google Map at the moment.
One problem I see with the approach of simply drawing all the tracks on a map is that there are many sections, where you will have overlapping tracks. Most of the tracks are GPS tracks that are not snapped to a network and you end up with tracks on top of tracks on top of tracks. A spaghetti trail map. If the trails were modelled as a network, then it would be cool though if you could just click on a part of the track network and have suggested tours come up that pass the section of the network you just clicked on.
Excitement and frustration of Google Maps announcements
Love My Maps? I love „your maps“ 😉 but besides the excitement of announcements, such as the one about adding editing functionality to the Google Maps API, which was made on the Official Google Maps API Blog this morning, some kind of frustration also comes along with it. Why? How many developers do you think are solving the same problems again and again? We have come to know Google as a company, which does not like to let people know too much about what’s next. Fair enough you may say – maybe you have to stick to these rules for surviving in a market, which is increasingly showing signs and giving rise to speculations about becoming disrupted or changing from a blue ocean to a red ocean or for the Google supertanker. I guess Google really has transformed into a supertanker in the last few years.
By the way, the addition of editing functionality to the Google Maps API was just one of several „new Google Maps things“ in the last week. We have now got a Google Map Flash API, new user functions and content to explore and discover the world around and far away 😉 or the new real estate options.
So why is there also frustration besides the excitement? While some people certainly like to „prototype-(p)re-invent“ wheels, others specifically DO NOT like to. Especially for smaller businesses, which use Google Maps or Google Maps Enterprise as a tool for making some kind of business idea work, it can be really frustrating to spend time and resources on developments that can literally often go in the bin a few weeks later – when the exact announcement that you were waiting for some weeks ago, is finally made.
For those, who even just intend to use Google Maps as a platform to realise their new mashup idea, planning ahead is extremely difficult. Do you want to spend a few weeks or months developing some fancy new feature, which is not available on Google Maps yet, or not exposed in the API just yet – and then find exactly that feature being added after you have engineered it yourself? If you are still working on it, you may save yourself some night shifts and this might bring at least some excitement besides the frustration that you have just wasted a lot of valuable time on inventing a wheel which is now given away to anyone for free! Or go and risk it – you may become famous in the visionary or technology enthusiasts departments and communities for a few days, and if you are quick and successful in crossing the chasm, you may become even more famous and rich – or you may end up at the bottom of the crevasse – with all the others that vanish in the awesomeness icefall.
I’ll give you an example: Google released a static maps API earlier this year. Then, a little later, Google added support for more marker options and paths on the static maps along with the message that lines can only contain 50 vertice points. Now if you need a hundred? Draw two lines? Should be an OK hack. If you need 1000 – hmm, how about building something yourself. Sophisticated server-side solution? Enough tools out there to do something like that… Or wait until Google decides that lines can be longer now? You decide! Good luck – and be sure to not be frustrated, but excited instead, if things keep changing… you know!
If you want a bit more planning, and you can afford to do without a substantial set of free geodata, then you may answer the question, „must it always be Google Maps?“ with a clear „no“! For example, follow the Open Layers Blog and you have a pretty good idea about what will be next – in fact, you can even contribute to make it happen faster!
Excitement and frustration are often very close together and timing is what may decide whether you will smile or get annoyed digesting your daily news. I’ll start my day going out for a run now – awesome nature is waiting for me!
Google Maps and the Crowdsourcing Geocoder 2.0
The Google Lat Long Blog posted some exciting news today. People can now edit locations on Google Maps and, for example, adjust the position of a marker on the map to provide more accurate positioning information. Some of the interesting questions that arise in context with this new feature concern Google’s backend geocoding database. Google need reference geo-datasets to do their geocoding. Let’s assume that almost all of the marker positions are at least slightly off – let’s assume that heaps of people will love to help out and correct these marker positions. When Google serves geocoding requests, they will use the updated information to provide more accurate results for the user. Some of the businesses that sell geocoding reference datasets charge customers by the amount of geocoding requests to the reference database. Does Google have to count when someone searches for an address that has been manually corrected? Does this need to be logged as a normal geocoding request? Will this „enhanced“ and crowdsourced geocoding reference information flow back to the original data providers? Who owns the coordinates? Besides the issue of reliability, isn’t that a great new dataset that will emerge? Or am I missing that the providers of geocoding reference databases still have street name information and the like, which kind of „belongs“ to them and is still needed for geocoding? Any chances of Google freeing themselves more and more from huge geocoding bills?
More details about the new feature can also be found in a post on the Understanding Google Maps and Yahoo Local Search Blog
Dieser Beitrag wurde unter Crowdsourcing, Geo, Geocoding, Google Maps abgelegt am 18.3.2008 von admin.
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The numbers don’t jibe EDITORIAL 03/23/2011
The numbers don’t jibe
One of the reasons survey outfits’ results are not quite taken seriously, and are many times disbelieved, is that certain claimed perceptions just don’t jibe.
Pulse Asia’s recent poll findings show that the trust and approval rating of Noynoy Aquino on a nationwide basis slid by a substantial five points, and by 12 percent in the National Capital Region (NCR). Overall, however, Noynoy still obtained a high 75 percent from 80 percent in October by way of trust ratings, while he fell from 79 percent in October to 74 percent in performance or approval rating.
The biggest Noynoy suffered was a 12 percent drop coming from the NCR, from 78 percent last October to 66 percent in March.
The Pulse Asia poll noted that public perception on six issues confronting the Aquino administration was not favorable as reflected in the latest survey. Public confidence fell on his administration’s performance on six key issues, including the equal enforcement of the law, creating more jobs and controlling the population growth, which showed huge declines from October last year..... MORE
Tarnishing the presidency FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 03/23/2011
Tarnishing the presidency
Incredible but true. We have a president who not only blatantly dips his entire hand into congressional moves, specifically the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, but even goes public by lauding the congressmen who early yesterday morning, voted resoundingly to impeach her as “our heroes of today.”
His statement was followed up his mouthpiece, Edwin Lacierda, who said: “By doing so, the House has put an end to the long era of impunity that tarnished our institutions and made a mockery of the bedrock principle of accountability enshrined in our Constitution. This is the glory of democracy: where the law applies to all, where scrutiny exempts no one, and where accountability is for our institutions to exact.”
The problem with these pharisees in Malacañang is that even as they mouth all these “noble” statements of the principle of accountability, of the glory of democracy, of the law being applied to all, of transparency, of scrutiny exempting no one, is that they exempt themselves from all these..... MORE
Tsunami disruption spreads deep into Japan focus 03/23/2011
Tsunami disruption spreads deep into Japan
MORIOKA — Ten days after Japan’s tsunami disaster, towns far from the impact zone are still experiencing shortages that have thrown the neat, ordered lives of local residents completely out of gear.
Gas station queues stretching for several kilometers, long waits at supermarkets, empty store shelves and shuttered businesses have become a part of the landscape in post-tsunami Japan.
At the foot of the Mount Iwate volcano, the people of Morioka city — almost 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of the devastated coast — are still trying to adjust to the sudden absence of many things they had simply taken for granted.
At a gas station on the outskirts of the city, motorists waited hours on end before finally reaching the gas pump, clutching a 2,000 yen ($25, 17 euros) daily rationing coupon in their hands. The coupon is barely enough to buy a third of a tank on an average-sized city car..... MORE
That Pulse Asia survey C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 03/23/2011
That Pulse Asia survey
If you believe in surveys, the latest Pulse Asia “Ulat ng Bayan” survey issued for the quarter ending March 2011 says that despite the many challenges coming his way, a solid majority of respondents continue to have trust in P-Noy (75 percent) and appreciate what he has been doing thus far (74 percent). With 1,200 adult respondents polled from Feb. 24 to March 6, the survey showed that P-Noy’s approval rating was positive across geographical areas ranging from 66 percent in Metro Manila to 83 percent in the Visayas with only a 4 to 9 percent disapproval. On the other hand, his approval rating for socio-economic classes ranged from 69 percent in Classes ABC to 80 percent in Class E while his disapproval rating was between 5 to 8 percent. Pulse Asia also noted that almost one in five respondents (18 percent) remained undecided about P-Noy’s performance with the indecision most notable in Metro Manila (26 percent) and least in the Visayas (13 percent) with Mindanao registering 15 percent. Across income classes, the level of public ambivalence about his performance ranged from 26 percent in Classes ABC to 14 percent in Class E..... MORE
US says goal is to get Kadhafi to step down focus 03/23/2011
US says goal is to get Kadhafi to step down
SANTIAGO — The United States Monday sent mixed messages about its objectives in Libya, as President Barack Obama said Moamer Kadhafi must go, but vowed US forces would stick to a narrower UN mandate.
“Our military action is in support of an international mandate from the Security Council that specifically focuses on the humanitarian threat posed by Colonel Kadhafi to his people,” Obama told a press conference in Chile.
The missile and air strikes launched at the weekend were “in support of UN Security Resolution 1973, that specifically talks about humanitarian efforts, and we are going to make sure that we stick to that mandate,” he added.
But Obama stressed it was “US policy that Kadhafi needs to go” accusing the veteran leader who has ruled the north African country for more than four decades of murdering civilians as he tries to quell an opposition uprising..... MORE
Dazed and confused HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 03/23/2011
Aldrin Cardon
And just about anything else. Except to tell the truth.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada must have known all along there ain’t anything substantial he could get from Erlinda Ligot and his brother Edgardo Yambao. And much less, or none at all, from Jacinto Ligot, the former military comptroller who probably would know than what Angelo Reyes had brought to his grave.
But while Estrada could not be forgiving, although he seemed passive at times for the duration of the Senate inquiry on the anomalous AFP transactions, his hands are shackled by a system that governs us all, including those who have done the country wrong.
Yet they could be forgetful, especially when pressed about the missing AFP millions, or the ownership of several properties a soldier’s salary could not afford.
The Ligots are not even quibbling. Less talk, less mistakes..... MORE
Contemptible SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 03/23/2011
Contemptible
Dinah S. Ventura
First it was Jose Pidal (who, in the course of investigation, was finally revealed to be then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s brother-in-law, Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, brother of then first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo).
Then it was former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, who went through the same Q&A portion for the Fertilizer Fund Scam. One after the other, they popularized the now-infamous line, “I invoke my right to privacy.”
It appears that they had the same lawyer, Antonio Zulueta, who is now counseling another controversial couple.
The “Ligots” — who, for purposes of this column, shall be comprised of retired former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot, his wife Erlinda and brother-in-law Edgardo Yambao — are also invoking their right to privacy and against self-incrimination, faced as they are now with a barrage of questions at the Senate inquiry for alleged military corruption. Listening to them can make you want to throw things..... MORE
Noy offered extra P20-M pork for yes vote—solons By Charlie V. Manalo 03/23/2011
DOUBTS RAISED OVER NUMBER OF YES VOTES ON MERCI IMPEACH
Noy offered extra P20-M pork for yes vote—solons
Personal calls from President Aquino to congressmen, allegedly offering the sweetener of an additional P20 million in congressional pork barrel in exchange for a yes vote, were all part of the presidential push to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez “resoundingly.”
These measures appeared to have done the trick, with an almost full House attendance, said to be comparable only to the congressional attendance during a President’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).
The additonal P20-million pork pledged is said to be taken from the budget savings which form part of the pork barrel funds of Aquino, congressional sources told the Tribune yesterday.
But the numbers in the plenary impeachment votes also didn’t add up, with some congressmen now questioning the accuracy of the vote count..... MORE
Senate ready for trial, debates on rules By Angie M. Rosales 03/23/2011
Senate ready for trial, debates on rules
As senators await the formal transmittal of the articles of impeachment against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, debates on the rules that will government their trial proceedings kicked off yesterday.
Its adoption is seen to take place today, before Congress goes on a Lenten break or just in time when they resume sessions on May 9, simultaneous with its convening as an impeachment trial body to take up the Gutierrez case.
Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III yesterday proposed that a “gag order” of sorts be observed by his colleagues while trial proceedings are ongoing, which means that no interview with any member of the media or entity will be granted by any of the senator-judges.
Sotto’s proposal does not spare even the members of the prosecution panel, the person impeached as well as their respective counsels and witnesses..... MORE
DFA asks Libya to allow return of 4 Kadhafi maids 03/23/2011
DFA asks Libya to allow return of 4 Kadhafi maids
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had asked Libya to let four Filipino women working as maids for a relative of leader Moamer Kadhafi to leave for home amid Western-led air strikes.
The four last week rang their relatives back home to help get the government to negotiate their release from work contracts, DFA director for migrant workers affairs Enrico Fos said.
The DFA has sought assistance from Libya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to let the four maids identified as Diana Rivera, Racquel Dadang, Mary Ann Ducus and Zenaida Labugen to be evacuated along with other Filipinos. They work for Al Sahal Shariff, who is said to be Kadhafi’s nephew.
“The relatives called the DFA to alert it of their wish to leave, but their employer told them their help was needed at this time,” Fos told a news conference..... MORE
RP named laundering center for drug money By Michaela P. del Callar 03/23/2011
RP named laundering center for drug money
The Philippines was among countries that the United States cited as the global centers for the laundering of money coming from international narcotics trafficking in a recent report.
In its 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, the US State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs placed the Philippines in the “Jurisdictions of Primary Concern,” a roll of coun-tries said to be engaged in heavy narco-money laundering activities.
“The complex nature of money laundering transactions today makes it difficult in many cases to distinguish the proceeds of narcotics trafficking from the proceeds of other serious crime,” the State Department said.
However, it noted that financial institutions engaged in transactions that involve significant amounts of proceeds from other serious crimes, like the Philippines, “are vulnerable to narcotics-related money laundering.”.... MORE
Pinay, daughter among tsunami dead 03/23/2011
Pinay, daughter among tsunami dead
A Filipina and her 12-year-old daughter were among the thousands of people who perished in the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunamis that devastated Northeastern Japan on March 11, Depart-ment of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
The Fukushima Iwaki Central Police Headquarters informed the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Morioka that the remains of Grace Agnes Oprecio-Hiruta, 45, and daughter Maria were identified by her husband, Masahiro Hiruta.
Police said the cause of their death is tsunami-related.
According to the DFA, the search and rescue team discovered the body of Mrs. Hiruta inside the vicinity of the house of a certain Mr. Suzuki on March 19 in Iwaki City, Fukushima..... MORE
Brother of Maguindanao governor implicated in prosecutor’s ambush By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/23/2011
Brother of Maguindanao governor implicated in prosecutor’s ambush
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered preliminary investigations into charges against a brother of Maguindanao Gov. Esmail “Toto” Mangudadatu who was implicated in the ambush of Maguindanao Provincial Prosecutor Akilali Balt last week.
A panel of investigating fiscals was formed by De Lima, composed of Assistant State Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano and Prosecution lawyers Gerard Gaerlan and Mark Roland Estepa to determine probable cause in the complaint filed by Balt’s daughter Aminah.
The complaint alleged that Mayor Ibrahim Mangudadatu of Buluan was behind the attack.
Balt was on his way home aboard service vehicle with his driver Dandan Balt Datu Dakula when two men riding a motorcycle appeared on their side in a red light and suddenly opened fire at them. He sustained gunshot wounds in his lower right ear, lower right neck and right forearm and was still in comatose as of yesterday afternoon..... MORE
Binay tells Makati building owners to follow strictly building code By Pat C. Santos 03/23/2011
Binay tells Makati building owners to follow strictly building code
By Pat C. Santos 03/23/2011
As part of the preparation for earthquakes and other eventualities, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. has asked building owners, particularly at the Central Business District, to follow strictly the building code and have occupants ready and familiarized themselves with all the emergency instructions in any eventuality.
This was the call made by young Binay when interviewed yesterday during the awarding of some 50 building owners in Makati who had complied with the 2011 fire safety compliance.
The mayor said they are making the necessary arrangements for preparedness and they are canceling a day to conduct earthquake drills and lectures but they were burdened by the preparation in the aftermath of the Japan experience.
But late last night Binay said they were working and making their own assessment to determine what would be the effect of an earthquake in Makati City..... MORE
DoJ summons Ligots for P428-M tax evasion By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/23/2011
DoJ summons Ligots for P428-M tax evasion
Embattled former military comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda who are facing a Senate inquiry into their alleged illegal wealth have been summoned to appear before the Department of Justice for the preliminary investigation into the P428-million tax evasion charges against them.
The Ligots were directed to appear before prosecutors on April 6 and April 13 by Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Mariano who sent separate summonses to Ligot and his wife.
The case stemmed from the tax evasion charges filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for eight counts of non-payment of tax and five counts of non-filing of income tax returns (ITRs) for taxable years 2001 to 2004. According to the BIR, Ligot failed to file his ITR in 2001 while his wife likewise ignored filing her ITRs in 2001 to 2004.
They also failed to declare their income in 2001 worth P41,854,181.57; P103,601,281.22 in 2002; P165,367,784.39 in 2003, and P184,995,700.14 in 2004..... MORE
Tarnishing the presidency FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Ol...
Tsunami disruption spreads deep into Japan focus ...
That Pulse Asia survey C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonatha...
US says goal is to get Kadhafi to step down focus ...
Dazed and confused HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 03/23/20...
Contemptible SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 03/23/2011...
Noy offered extra P20-M pork for yes vote—solons B...
Senate ready for trial, debates on rules By Angie ...
DFA asks Libya to allow return of 4 Kadhafi maids ...
RP named laundering center for drug money By Micha...
Brother of Maguindanao governor implicated in pros...
Binay tells Makati building owners to follow stric...
DoJ summons Ligots for P428-M tax evasion By Benja...
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Syndicated hypocrisy CROSSROADS Jonathan De la Cruz 06/04/2012
Syndicated hypocrisy
Syndicated hypocrisy. This is all that we can say after the President’s men hemmed and hewed and mouthed all those evasive non-sequiturs when challenged by the press to do a Corona, i.e., fully disclose their SALns for the past five years and issue an unconditional waiver on the opening of their bank accounts for proper public scrutiny.
It is regrettable if not laughable that these honorable men and ladies should be issuing out almost the same arguments to evade the issue, leading some observers to note that just as they practiced syndicated relegation of the Rule of Law in their anti-Corona campaign they have now morphed into syndicated hypocrites unworthy of public servants.
“We are not the ones on trial here,” lead House prosecutor and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. said adding that anyway his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALn) has been deposited with the House secretary general acting as custodian of all such documents for the members. When told that the secretariat needed his approval of such a disclosure he just walked away as if hearing nothing at all. Why, the guy even had the temerity to insist that he and his colleagues would not “dignify” Corona’s challenge and dismissed it as “grandstanding.” Is that not hypocrisy of the highest order? Which is precisely what his colleague, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino said after releasing his own SALn and signing an unconditional waiver on his bank records..... MORE
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SpaceX capsule splashes down off Florida after rocket failure test - Elon Musk's SpaceX simulated a successful emergency landing on Sunday in a dramatic test of a crucial abort system on an unmanned astronaut capsule, laying...
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RP can, Cambodia can’t? Written by Ninez Cacho-Olivares
RP can, Cambodia can’t?
The Cambodian ambassador to the Philippines was summoned by the Department of Foreign Affairs but he snubbed the DFA summons and sent his deputy instead, who was handed a note verbale.
The DFA wanted an explanation from the Cambodian Ambassador Hos Sereythonh on what he had written about the “inflexible and non-negotiable position” of the Philippines and Vietnam on the South China Sea row that resulted in the failure of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to issue a traditional joint communiqué at the end of its ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia two weeks ago.
The Cambodian Embassy’s second secretary Tan Chandaravuth, was handed the note verbale by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio to express the Philippine government’s displeasure over the ambassador’s comments and demanded that he explain his comments published in a local newspaper.
It appears that the Cambodian diplomat included an accusation that the Philippines and Vietnam played “dirty politics” in trying to solve a maritime row with China.
The comments were in a letter Hos sent to the editor of a newspaper last Monday.
In the letter, Hos accused the Philippines and Vietnam of working to “sabotage and hijack the joint communiqué” during the Asean meeting..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/commentary/item/2348-rp-can-cambodia-can%E2%80%99t?
Filipinos warned against Aquino government’s rush to amend 1987 Constitution
When President Aquino sought US support for joining the Trans Pacific Partnership during his US visit, the US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr. declared…“[we] have to change laws, issue executive orders and frankly, introduce amendments to the Constitution.”
By MARYA SALAMAT
MANILA – While the nation grapples with heavy rains and the widespread floods it invariably brings, after the country has been severely deforested, Filipinos are being treated to what the progressive and patriotic groups scorn as a badly choreographed prelude to chacha or charter change.
The chacha proposals on the table revolve around “only the economic provisions,” the proponents promised. They would “only” remove restrictions to the inflow of foreign investments into the country, and disengage from the political rider of term extension that led to the wholesale rejection of first charter change initiatives.
“Aquino wants to build the path of least resistance for their ‘chacha’ maneuvers by projecting itself as disinterested while building consensus among the reactionaries to swiftly carry-out ‘chacha’,” the Communist Party of the Philippines said in an emailed statement.
Indeed, for weeks until last Monday, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III reportedly played cool to charter change suggestions by both leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Mainstream media reports portrayed Aquino as someone who has to be convinced in a meeting in Malacañang last Monday with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte before he “gratified” the leaders of Congress by showing openness to charter amendments, and telling his economic managers to study the proposals for amending the economic provisions of the 1987 constitution.
Despite Aquino’s supposed coyness to chacha, the peasants who joined the Peoples’ SONA came prepared to counter Aquino’s ‘resurrected chacha’. (Photo by Marya Salamat / bulatlat.com)
But based on his economic policies, Aquino is just as interested in pushing for charter amendments as the other past presidents who had tried, but failed, because they had also pushed for term extension in the amendment proposals. In a bid to make charter change acceptable, the Aquino administration is now seen as trying to shed off the oft-rejected political rider in past initiatives.
But critics from progressive and patriotic groups are still not swayed. From their statements, they are one in pointing out that aside from the fact that the track record of both chambers of Congress and President Aquino shows that they cannot be trusted to do what they promised they would – this is the Congress that “passed obnoxious laws such as the Oil Deregulation law and the EPIRA” – the economic changes they now want to push through charter amendments are in itself “a recipe for disaster” for most Filipinos.
A choreography for further Filipino ruin
“We knew from the beginning of this drama that President Aquino will sooner or later come out as supportive of Cha-cha,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, chairman of labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). He reasoned that a president whose main program is promoting Public-Private Partnerships will surely support 100-percent foreign ownership of land and public utilities in the country..... MORE
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/08/02/filipinos-warned-against-aquino-government%E2%80%99s-rush-to-amend-1987-constitution/
Responsible parenthood Written by Archbishop Oscar V.Cruz
Responsible parenthood
Someone mentioned the phrase “responsible parenthood” with pride and gusto. He said it decidedly and clearly. He invoked it before an elite crowd — with the general public hearing it. He got a loud and long applause from his direct audience — most of whom are interested in getting not only his political but also his administration’s financial support. He thus immediately moved and inspired his comrades to meet, plan and strategize for the passage of the famous as well as infamous RH bill — depending on whether the bill is simply about lobby money, business profit, PPP enterprises or the issue is basically about ethical considerations and/or moral principles.
That is why the following sceneries immediately came to fore: On the one hand, those in favor of the bill are flexing their muscles, planning their strategies and programming their moves for its eventual approval.
On the other hand, those categorically against the bill are meeting, planning, and moving silently at first and loudly sooner or later. There are even those who expressly and clearly said that “the battle is joined” — or something along the line..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/commentary/item/2344-responsible-parenthood
Obama authorizes covert US support for Syrian rebels – reports
US President Barack Obama has signed a secret order allowing the CIA and other American agencies to support rebels seeking to overthrow the Assad regime, a US government source told Reuters.
Obama reportedly gave the order, known as an intelligence “finding”, earlier this year. The presidential finding also provides for US collaboration with a secret command center operated by Turkey and its allies.
The full extent of the assistance the “finding” allows the CIA to give the Syrian rebels is unclear. It is also unknown precisely when Obama signed the order..... MORE
URL: http://www.rt.com/news/us-support-syrian-rebels-obama-650/
War crime? Syrian rebels execute POWs (GRAPHIC VIDEO)
A horrifying amateur video from Syria emerged online, showing an apparent mass execution of pro-government forces in Aleppo at the hands of rebels from the Free Syria Army.
The footage shows several bloodied men stripped down to their underwear being forced to kneel by a wall amidst a throng of excited, machine gun-touting men.
Once their captors open fire, the camera jerks away as the crowd momentarily disperses, seemingly unprepared for the nearly 40 seconds of uninterrupted shooting that follows.As the gunfire dies down, shouts of“Allahu Akbar!” resound as the once skittish onlookers victoriously raise their guns in the air, approaching what appears to be a pile of stripped-down corpses..... MORE
URL: http://www.rt.com/news/syria-rebel-massacre-aleppo-627/
‘Assange’s life became threatened after US docs publication’
While Julian Assange is awaiting Ecuador’s decision on his appeal for political asylum, his mother Christine has traveled to the country to discuss her son’s fate with President Rafael Correa. She spoke about the ongoing case with RT Spanish.
Julian founded Wikileaks to help people living under repressive regimes bypass government censorship, Christine said. No government or group had stopped or hindered his efforts until he began publishing leaked US documents.
“For four years, that’s what happened and his life wasn’t in any threat. But then when the documents came to the Wikileaks drop box on America, things all changed,” she told RT. “For some reason, it was alright to produce documents about other countries, but as soon as the United States was embarrassed, his life became threatened. “.... MORE
URL: http://www.rt.com/news/christine-assange-interview-julian-659/
Sending UN peacekeeping forces to Spratlys dangerous – fisherfolk group
MANILA — The Pambansang Lakas ng Mamamalakayang Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has issued a demand that the Benigno Aquino III administration stop its plans to ask the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force and help keep China in check in relation to the conflict involving territorial rights over the West Philippine Sea and the group of islands collectively known as the Spratly Islands.
Recently, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon said Malacañang should appeal to the UN for help and keep China and its naval forces from occupying the disputed islands. He said the territorial dispute between China and the Philippines can and should be settled with the help of the UN. Recent reports have it that a large fleet of Chinese fishing vessels have been spotted nearPag-asa Island. He said the request for deployment of UN peacekeeping forces could be included in the case the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) intend to file with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Itlos) for the settlement of the Philippines’ dispute with China over Panatag Shoal. All this is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
Biazon was a former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the Corazon Aquino administration and current chairman of the House Committee on national defense.
According to Wikipedia, the term “peacekeeping” is not found in the UN Charter, but the authorization is generally considered to lie in or between Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 of the same. Chapter 6 describes the Security Council’s power to investigate and mediate disputes, while Chapter 7 discusses the power to authorize economic, diplomatic, and military sanctions, as well as the use of military force, to resolve disputes. The founders of the UN envisioned that the organization would act to prevent conflicts between nations and make future wars impossible.
Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France, in a statement, called the proposal “impractical and dangerous.” He said even as his group takes a stand against China’s excursions and bullying attempts, it is against suggestions to bring in UN peacekeeping forces to the Spratlys. Instead of preventing any possibility of a conflict erupting between the Philippines and China, he said, Biazon’s proposal could serve to complicate the political-territorial dispute.
“We cannot dismiss the possibility that along with UN peacekeeping forces, there will also be troublemakers from the Pentagon and from other junior partners of the US,” France said.
Explore all diplomatic venues to settle dispute
The fisherfolk leader said suggestions such as those posed by the Muntinlupa congressman might serve to increase the tension between China and the Philippines and justify the increasingly aggressive presence of US military forces in the country. He said the country’s leaders should consider other rational and more workable solutions to address and resolve the West Philippine Sea conflict.
“They should stop fueling distrust and aggravating the situation in accordance to the game plan of US in Spratlys and in Asia and the Pacific region. By all means, the Aquino government should explore all available diplomatic venues and channels to end the long-running conflict with Beijing, instead of toeing the US’ line on the issue. It’s crucial that Malacañang asserts the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, but it should do so without obeying US impositions and Washington dictates. The Philippines cannot negotiate effectively if we are doing so not on the strength of people’s sovereignty but on the whims and caprices of the United States,” he argued.
For all of its stand against Biazon’s first proposal, Pamalakaya however gave a thumbs up to the lawmaker’s call to file a case before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Itlos) to resolve the dispute. It also echoed Biazon’s stand that Malacañang should drop plans to buy warships and aircraft and instead pursue the case before the UN body.
The Unclos is signed by 152 nations, including China and the Philippines. The former, however, refuses to recognize the latter’s sovereignty over territories in the West Philippine Sea that are within the country’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone, insisting instead that these islands are included in Chinese territory. The Beijing government does not want international arbitration to settle the dispute, but is pushing bilateral talks with the Philippines, as well as with other countries also claiming ownership over West Philippine Sea territories.
Pamalakaya also said Malacañang should explore the options provided for in the Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing of the Alliance of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)..... MORE
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/08/02/sending-un-peacekeeping-forces-to-spratlys-dangerous-%E2%80%93-fisherfolk-group/
Probe involvement of soldiers in illegal logging, DENR asked
MANILA — Are military personnel involved in large-scale, illegal logging operations in the country?
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) is convinced that this is a possibility. It advised Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje to launch investigations into the matter.
Pamalakaya national chairman Fernando Hicap said the DENR’s supposed campaign against illegal logging in the country has not been successful because the agency, for the longest time, has been turning a blind eye on the activities of the military when it comes to logging. He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should not be used in the fight against illegal logging because many elements and even ranking official AFP officials serve as protectors of logging syndicates.
Recently, Paje said the DENR would seek the military’s support in the campaign against illegal loggers. He has taken up the matter with Department of National Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin..... MORE
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/08/02/probe-involvement-of-soldiers-in-illegal-logging-denr-asked/
Comelec causes delay in GMA sabotage, claims more witnesses vs Gloria coming
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has caused the postponement of the hearing on the electoral sabotage case filed against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
This after the Comelec failed to furnish the counsel of the former President with a copy of its Motion for Reconsideration on the decision of the court to grant bail to Mrs. Arroyo three days before the scheduled hearing today at the sala of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas.
The hearing today was supposed to tackle the motion for reconsideration filed on the grant of the bail petition of the former President.
The Rules of Court require a party-movant to furnish the adverse party with copy of the motion at least three days before the scheuled hearing to give them to prepare, otherwise their motion will be considered as not filed.
Esmeralda Ladra, lead prosecutor, said they furnished lawyers Benjamin Santos and Ray Montri Santos, counsels of Mrs. Arroyo, last Thursday only via registered mail.
Santos informed the court they have not yet received the copy of the motion sent to them by mail and it was only before the start of the hearing that they were able to get a copy through service of the Comelec..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/nation/item/2361-comelec-causes-delay-in-gma-sabotage-claims-more-witnesses-vs-gloria-coming
Noy gives economic team 2 weeks to study Cha-cha
President Aquino has given the special cluster on Charter change (Cha-cha) two weeks to wrap up a process embarking on the task to identify, study, expound and make the appropriate recommendations on the clamor pushing amendments in the 1987 Constitution.
At the anniversary rites of the Bureau of Internal Revenue where the President was guest speaker, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima yesterday confirmed that the President has given them two weeks to finish the task which would help him come up with a decision either to maintain his position against constitutional amendments or otherwise.
Purisima told Palace reporters that the President appears to be interested in economic provisions in the Constitution limiting foreign ownership of businesses.
“Last night, the President told us, his economic team, to come together and study the Constitution, specifically those provisions that affect foreign investors. Just now, I already asked the World Bank and other multilateral agencies to help us compare our prevailing economic provisions to other countries,” Purisima said..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/headlines/item/2355-noy-gives-economic-team-2-weeks-to-study-cha-cha
RH passage is for country, kids’ future—Noy
Aquino flexes muscle vs CBCP, goes all out for Repro bill
With the Catholic Church leaders flexing their muscle with a show of force through a planned huge mass protest against the Reproductive Health (RH) bill renamed by the Palace as the Responsible Parenthood (RP) bill, President Aquino, speaking through his official spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, took a new approach in portraying the Church and its leaders as unpatriotic with congressmen who will pass the RH bill as true Filipino patriots who think only of the country and the Filipino’s future — his future children.
Days before the much anticipated congressional showdown determining the fate of controversial bill referred to by the President as the RP bill, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda hinted at a scenario where the Church would portray congressmen who would cast a vote in the service of the country, could face an imminent blacklisting by a Catholic Church group seen in recent weeks as threatening to dump legislators in time for the 2013 midterm election.
At a press briefing ysterday, Lacierda also urged the members of the House of Representatives to “think about the great service they will be giving the country” when they finally decide on the much-talked about bill primarily designed to promote and promulgate provisions on safe sex and population control..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/headlines/item/2356-rh-passage-is-for-country-kids%E2%80%99-future%E2%80%94noy
Pia Cayetano slams JPE, Sotto for sitting on RH bill
Written by Angie M. Rosales
One of the sponsors of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill yesterday renewed her tirades against the Senate leadership for sitting on the measure, accusing them of using their position to prevent its approval in the upper chamber.
Although Sen. Pia Cayetano did not mention any names, it was apparent that she was addressing Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III in telling them to detach themselves from their personal views and functions in the legislature in dealung with the measure.
Cayetano, one of the sponsors of RH bill in the Senate, seemed to be already frustrated with the current status of the measure in the upper chamber, having been not placed in the order of business since Congress reconvened last July 23, almost two weeks ago, despite of it being among those mentioned by President Aquino in his State of the Nation Address.
Aquino did refer to it as RH bill but mentioned “Responsibe Parenthood” bill..... MORE
URL:http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/nation/item/2359-pia-cayetano-slams-jpe-sotto-for-sitting-on-rh-bill
Filing of homicide charges vs actor Gutierrez ordered Written by Tribune Thursday, 02 August 2012 00:00
Filing of homicide charges vs actor Gutierrez ordered
Matinee idol Richard Gutierrez has lost his case before the Court of Appeals (CA) in connection with the car accident three years ago during which his personal assistant was killed.
The appellate court through Associate Justice Stephen Cruz ordered the filing of criminal information of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Gutierrez in connection with the May 22, 2009 vehicular accident in Silang, Cavite.
In its eight-page decision, the CA set aside the resolutions issued by the Department of Justice (DoJ) dismissing the charges filed against Gutierrez by Lorayne Pardo, widow of the actor’s personal assistant Norman Pardo.
Instead, the appellate court granted the petition filed by Lorayne seeking the nullification of the two resolutions issued by then justice secretaries Agnes Devanadera and Alberto Agra, respectively..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/metro-section/item/2334-filing-of-homicide-charges-vs-actor-gutierrez-ordered
Overflowed river, collapsed dikes force 1,300 families to abandon their homes
Some 1,300 families yesterday fled their homes and sought refuge at temporary shelters put up by the city governments of Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela after the main river overflowed and dikes collapsed, catching the local officials and residents by surprise.
The massive evacuation of affected families was immediately ordered, especially in Navotas and Malabon areas after the Tullahan River overflowed due to the strong rainfall early yesterday morning which was worsened by high tide that reached its peak at 2.2 meters around 9 a.m. yesterday.
Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco in a text message to Tribune said nearly 600 families were evacuated to several schools and covered courts converted into their temporary shelters after their houses were inundated by floodwaters.
He added the damaged pumping stations and collapsing dikes largely contributed to the flooding in almost half of the entire barangays in the coastal city..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/metro-section/item/2335-overflowed-river-collapsed-dikes-force-1300-families-to-abandon-their-homes
RP can, Cambodia can’t? Written by Ninez Cac...
Filipinos warned against Aquino government’s rush ...
Responsible parenthood Written by Archbishop...
Obama authorizes covert US support for Syrian rebe...
War crime? Syrian rebels execute POWs (GRAPHIC VID...
‘Assange’s life became threatened after US docs pu...
Sending UN peacekeeping forces to Spratlys dangero...
Probe involvement of soldiers in illegal logging, ...
Comelec causes delay in GMA sabotage, claims more ...
Pia Cayetano slams JPE, Sotto for sitting on RH bi...
Filing of homicide charges vs actor Gutierrez orde...
Overflowed river, collapsed dikes force 1,300 fami...
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Friday Wrap-Up
Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-up (3/23/2018)
by Darren Heitner · March 23, 2018
Sorry about my absence last week. It was my 8th annual trip to Las Vegas for March Madness, the time zone change threw me off, college basketball took my attention away and I was busy doing things like filing a couple of trademark applications for UMBC. But enough with excuses! The Miami Heat are rolling toward the playoffs (which is exciting), the Miami Dolphins seems to be losing all of their star power (which is saddening) and the Miami Marlins are about to start their first season under new ownership after hemorrhaging their roster (which is angering). But speaking of baseball, I thoroughly enjoyed taking some cuts in batting practice at Houston Astros Spring Training this week. If Tim Tebow can make a shot at it then so can I..
Thanks this week goes to allslotscasino.com.
This week on Forbes:
(1) New York Jets Sued For Severing Personal Seat License Fees;
(2) Esports Legend Ninja Confirms He Is Earning Over $500,000 Per Month;
(3) Why A New Football League Thinks It Has What It Takes To Survive
This week on Inc.:
(1) How the Miami Dolphins Became the NFL’s Leader in Digital Strategy;
(2) How MGM Resorts Was Convinced to Scrape a Luxor Nightclub for an Esports Arena;
(3) The NBA, Nike and NFL Make LinkedIn’s Top Companies List for First Time;
(4) How Peyton Manning Signing with the Broncos Led to the Creation of a Sports Ticket Startup
And as always, the weekly wrap-up:
Young will hire an agent, but the agent has not yet been named [Trae Young made the decision everyone expected].
Testing the waters [Iowa State freshman G Lindell Wigginton will reportedly test NBA waters, won’t hire agent].
Wofford’s Fletcher Magee can still return for his senior season at this point [Magee declares for NBA draft, will not hire agent].
A lot of potential for a kid who ended the season early due to injury [Bruce Brown Jr. declares for NBA draft, won’t hire agent].
This article takes the position that the one-and-done rule could be one of the root causes for the scandal [How an NBA rule change helped create a mess for college basketball].
His agent Mike McCartney unsurprisingly says it’s time for NFL players to have guaranteed contracts [Kirk Cousins’ guaranteed money might not become an NFL trend].
Sherman: “I think that a lot of times in our league there are players that have the ability to do that and have the ability to structure their own deals and really take advantage of just being in control of their own destiny” [Richard Sherman explains why he acted as his own agent].
The Kentucky Senate passed legislation that would expand the agent application process and prohibit certain communications by agents on social media [Sports Agent Legislation Heads on to the House].
Tags: Mike McCartney
Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-up (9/1/2017)
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The Square Building Trust manages an attractive variety of affordable properties throughout North Tyneside, from one bedroomed flats to three bedroom family homes. If you are interested in becoming a tenant you can apply directly to Bernicia Homes or via the Tyne and Wear Homes choice-based lettings portal. Please contact Sharon Firmin at Bernicia to find out more about current vacancies.
All Saints Court
Brighton Grove
Fern Avenue
Henderson Court
Howdon Road
Lansdowne Terrace
Percy Road
Ridley Gardens
St. Aidan's Close
Stephenson Street
Edward Graveling House
Wheldon House
All Saints Court, Verne Road, NE29 7DF
All Saints Court is a self-contained development of nine one-bedroom and one two-bedroom flats set around a landscaped courtyard garden with gated off street parking. Located off Verne Road, on the site of the former All Saints church, the project was completed in 1993.
Brighton Grove, Fern Avenue and Lansdowne Terrace West
Brighton Grove, NE29 0RQ and Fern Avenue, NE29 0RN and Lansdowne Terrace West, NE29 0RW
A direct result of the original 'shilling brick' fundraising campaigns, the first properties completed by the Trust in 1930 were the twenty-four three-bedroom semi-detached houses built off Hawkeys Lane. Of these, ten were sold under the ‘right to buy’ scheme in the early 1980s, leaving fourteen remaining in the hands of the Trust. These well proportioned family homes remain extremely popular with their tenants.
Howdon Road, NE29 6DH
The Trust’s largest scheme features eight recently modernised one-bedroom and 40 two-bedroom flats in a two storey terraced development along Howdon Road. Located near to Royal Quays retail outlets and The Parks recreation centre with excellent bus links to North Shields and beyond. Original black & white film footage exists showing these dwellings under construction and the dedication of the Howdon Road nurseries.
Henderson Court, NE29 6DH
Located between the two terraces along Howdon Road on the site of a timber frame built nursery, this attractive development of four one-bedroom bungalows and eight one-bedroom flats arranged around a central garden was completed in 1987. It was named after the Trust’s long-serving secretary, Denton Henderson and was opened by his widow Sheila, who also served on the committee for many years.
Percy Road, NE29 2AY
This large, recently refurbished end of terrace house with commanding views over Whitley Bay sea front, comprises five self-contained one-bedroom flats. It is currently managed and maintained for the Trust by Changing Lives and offers opportunities for a fresh start to predominantly ex-military personnel.
St. Aidan's Close, NE29 8NR
Developed in conjunction with Home Housing Group on a brown field site off Whitehouse Lane, Chirton and opened in 2010, the Trust owns one three-bed house for multiple occupancy and two specially adapted three-bed bungalows both with supported living packages.
Stephenson Street and Edward Graveling House
Stephenson Street, NE29 1ES and Edward Graveling House, Beacon Street, NE29 1JX
These two new-build developments, each containing eight one-bedroom flats provide safe homes for adult tenants with special support requirements and a two-bed flat for an on-site warden.
The Stephenson Street property was opened in 1999, while the almost identical Edward Graveling House was named after the Trust’s former Chairman who passed away shortly before its completion in 2002.
Wheldon House, Lovaine Terrace, NE29 0HJ
This large Georgian house set in a quiet location on Lovaine Terrace was originally converted into seven bedsits in 1961 and named after a former Trust Chairman. It was later refurbished into four more spacious self-contained one-bedroom flats.
Cloverfield, NE27 0BU
This three-bedroom house on a new estate in West Allotment was carefully adapted during construction for tenants with disabilities who require special facilities and supported living. Developed in close cooperation with Henshaws, Stonham and North Tyneside Council, The Trust and its managing agents Bernicia now work with support providers chosen by the tenants themselves to offer the maximum potential for independent living.
Ridley Gardens, NE27 0FQ
The Trust’s most recent new-build with specialist adaptions, like Cloverfield, offers its tenants care and support with the opportunity for independent living in their own purpose-built three bedroomed home.
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Other Danainae
Ithomiini
Danaini
Tellervini Fruhstorfer 1910
Tellervo Kirby 1894
Niklas Wahlberg and Andrew V. Z. Brower
Containing group: Danainae
The tribe Tellervini contains a single genus, Tellervo, with six species distributed in New Guinea, northern Australia and the Solomon Islands.
Medium-sized black butterflies with white spots. Male tellervines lack both the abdominal hairpencils of danaines and the hindwing hairpencils of ithomiines. The larvae are danaidiform, with thoracic and abdominal tubercles. Larval food plant is Parsonsia.
There is some question as to the proper family-group root for the name Tellervo - should it be "Tellerv- " or should it be "Tellervini- "? There is no indication that the name is a 5th declension noun and that its genitive case should be Tellervinis, and Fruhstorfer used the shorter version in his original employment of the family-group name Tellervinae. For this reason, we choose to not add extra syllables. Family-group names from Morpho are formed in the same way (in contrast to, e. g. Papilionidae and Hominidae).
Other Names for Tellervo Kirby 1894
Ackery PR. 1987. The danaid genus Tellervo (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) - a cladistic approach. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 89: 203-274.
Parsons M. 1998. The butterflies of Papua New Guinea: their systematics and biology. Academic Press, San Diego.
Tellervo zoilus. Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley
Tellervo zoilus
Dead Specimen
Darrell Kemp
This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
© Niklas Wahlberg
Niklas Wahlberg
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Niklas Wahlberg at and Andrew V. Z. Brower at
Page copyright © 2010 Niklas Wahlberg and
Page: Tree of Life Tellervini Fruhstorfer 1910. Tellervo Kirby 1894. Authored by Niklas Wahlberg and Andrew V. Z. Brower. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.
Content changed 09 February 2010
Wahlberg, Niklas and Andrew V. Z. Brower. 2010. Tellervini Fruhstorfer 1910. Tellervo Kirby 1894. Version 09 February 2010 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Tellervo/27572/2010.02.09 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
Tellervini Branch Page
Tellervini Images
Tellervini Movies
Tellervini People
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Learn To Love Again by Ellen Faith ~ BLOG TOUR!
I want to feel like me again.
Title - Learn To Love Again
Author - Ellen Faith
Publication Date - March 14th 2015
Format - eBook (Provided via author)
Living in a small seaside village can have its perks, but after the death of her husband, Lillie Gilbert finds the people she grew up with turning against her faster than the tide rolls out.
As she grieves for the life they planned, the life they'll never live, she leans on her best friend for support and tries to come to terms with the fact that one day, she may have to open up her heart to a new life and new love.
After losing her childhood sweetheart, can Lillie really Learn To Love Again?
Before I begin my review of Learn To Love Again by the wonderful Ellen Faith, I'd just like to say a huge thank you to Tay from Chicks That Read for getting in touch with me in regards to Ellen's blog tour, and for also providing me with a copy of the author's brand new novella. Thank you, Tay! (Just a quick note here for bloggers/authors: be sure to check out Tay's website, it-is-fabulous!)
So, Learn To Love Again is Ellen Faith's third release. I've previously read and loved The Story of Us and Home for the Holidays, both of which were bursting at the seams with the author's humour, gorgeously engaging characters and just everything else that I love about Ellen's writing. I've always found it incredibly easy to lose myself within the pages of her books, which isn't surprising really, as they're just so cosy and smoothly written. I really couldn't wait to see what Ellen had in store for me next with Learn To Love Again.
When I read the blurb of Ellen's latest novella, I noticed immediately that it sounded very different to her normal girly, chick-lit type books. It sounded much more serious in tone, incredibly emotional and very much like one of those books that should come with a tissue warning. I loved the idea of Lillie Gilbert's story being set within a seaside village, and it brought all sorts of images to mind of those tight-knit communities and how fast word gets around. The blurb had me wondering what exactly had happened to have made the people Lillie had grown up with turn against her after her husband's death, and I couldn't wait to dive in to discover more.
Once I'd began reading, it didn't take long for me to realise that I was right about the tissue warning. Gah! Ellen managed to achieve such a tenderness and heart-wrenching realness with her writing, my eyes pooled with tears on more than one occasion. I could not believe the sheer emotion that was within the words, it was so real and so raw, and moved me immeasurably. There were some seriously heartbreaking moments within Lillie's story, moments where I wanted to reach into my Kindle and squeeze her, and it saddened me that I couldn't. Ellen really went to work in this one, folks. I thought she was a fantastic writer after reading her first two novels, but after reading Learn To Love Again, I feel like I've just seen the author in a whole different light, and only now am I aware of how beautifully she can put her words together. It surprises me that Ellen was able to make the emotion within this novella feel so real without having experienced Lillie's pain and heartbreak herself. I am completely in awe of the author right now. Completely!
When the reader is first introduced to Lillie, she's already lost her husband Nick. We walk beside her, reading everything in first person narrative, and experience it all as Lillie attends his funeral and says her final goodbyes. As if the sheer brutality of losing her husband isn't enough, Lillie also has to face the cruel taunts from the people of her seaside village, where she and Nick and best-friend Sam grew up, who refuse to accept that it wasn't Lillie's fault that Nick was taken. The guilt, the pain, the pure, raw heartbreak is so incredibly evident when reading, I couldn't help but to shoulder some of the emotions that Lillie had to deal with. I felt angry on her behalf at the vile people of Barton-by-the-Sea who couldn't keep their mouths shut. I felt an overwhelming sadness whenever Lillie thought about the future the she and Nick would no longer have together, the plans that would no longer happen. It was just absolutely drenched with some of the most emotive language I've come across, and trying to imagine myself in Lillie's position only served to make me even sadder. Ellen takes the reader on a journey alongside Lillie, as she grieves for the life she'll now never see, and as, oh-so-slowly, she begins to come back to life. Best-friend Sam, who left for LA when the three of them were younger, comes back to help Lillie heal, and despite it being a difficult, length process, I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face when I began to glimpse the light at the end of the tunnel for Lillie Gilbert.
Within this book, the reader is able to watch a beautiful transition take place. From broken-hearted, lifeless, dead-to-the-world Lillie Gilbert, we see a Lillie Gilbert appear who, after a long time, finally begins to take steps towards living again. With the help of her friends and family, and Nick, Lillie begins to realise that her husband would never have wanted her to live the rest of her life as a sad, shell of a person, but rather to thrive and be happy and smile, and of course, love again. It was, readers, such a moving, delicately written story of love, loss, and love again. What made it seem even more personal was that Ellen, throughout the duration of her novella, included small snippets from the past, of Lillie and Nick's life together before he passed away, and it becomes clear that a lot went on in their relationship. Ellen deals with some pretty dark issues within this story, things that reader isn't aware of beforehand, and I felt privileged to be able to see things had already been and gone.
Learn To Love Again by Ellen Faith packed a big emotional impact for a novella. Beautifully written, in a gorgeous seaside setting, it was a message to people that life does go on, and no matter how bad things may seem, with the help of your loved ones, you can be brought back to life. It was moving on so many levels, and Lillie Gilbert goes through a hell of a lot in such a short amount of time. Now that I've finished, I can safely say that wow, from start to finish, I absolutely adored this story. Becca's Books is awarding Learn To Love Again by Ellen Faith with FOUR OF MY GORGEOUS CUPCAKES! A tender, emotional package, wrapped up in a huge hopeful bow.
You can find Ellen Faith on Twitter & Facebook
Make sure you check out & keep up with the rest of Ellen's Learn To Love Again blog tour!
I love that cover! This one sounds very emotional!
Love the sound of this, thank you x
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10:26 a.m. Sun, Jan. 19th
The Wide World of Wine
Ask Alma
Black Experience
Homer Glen
Mobile Workforce Center October schedule
10/8/2019, 10:17 p.m.
The mobile unit travels throughout Will County to help residents with resume development, cover letters and job applications. The workforce center contains 11 computer stations, internet access, and offers keyboarding lessons, as well as resume and job search assistance using online listings including jobs4people.org and Illinois workNet.
The Mobile Workforce Center will be at Fountaindale Public Library, 300 W. Briarcliff, Bolingbrook, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, except Columbus Day, Oct. 14.
It will be at University Park Village Hall, 698 Burnham Drive, in University Park, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The unit will be at the Monee Park District, 5218 W. Court St., Monee, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Plainfield Public Library, 15025 S. Illinois St., Plainfield, will host the Mobile Workforce Center from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
MWC can be found at the Wilmington Public Library District, 201 S. Kankakee St., Wilmington, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. every Thursday.
It will be at Frankfort Public Library District, 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and at Mokena Community Public Library, 11327 W. 195th St., Mokena, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Fridays.
Job seekers are encouraged to take advantage of the service, which is offered at no cost to County residents.
Since Jan. 1, job search workshops offered at the Workforce Center of Will County have been made available via broadcast on Facebook Live to the Mobile Workforce Center.
Susan Flessner, administrative manager of the Workforce Services Division, said, "We're broadcasting these workshops to the Mobile Workshop Center in order to make it easier for people in other parts of the county to have access to them."
For additional information about the Mobile Workforce Center or its workshop schedule, go to www.jobs4people.org
Mobile Workforce Center to make seven weekly stops in August
July Mobile Workforce Center schedule
Mobile Workforce Center schedule
Mobile Workforce Center March schedule
December Mobile Workshop Center schedule
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From October 1, 2017, that's "She Lost." C.I. noted:
Isaiah's latest THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "She Lost." Hillary again asks, "What happened?" Bill explains, "What happened? Yeah, she lost. She just can't get over the fact that tere will only be one President Clinton." Isaiah archives his comics at The World Today Just Nuts.
Has there ever been a bigger poor sport than Hillary Clinton?
"Good game, good game, good game . . ." That's what we had to do in little league.
Hillary's nonsense has been ongoing.
I'd like every candidate in the future to pledge to be a good sport and accept the results of an election. I remember Hillary's camp in 2016 alleging that Donald Trump would not accept the election results if he lost.
Friday, January 17, 2020. Bernie Sanders rises as Joe Biden's campaign might sink from all of Joe's lies, in Iraqis in Baghdad continue protesting today, and more.
Starting in the US where the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination continues.
Hunter Biden is only one of War Hawk Joe Biden's many problems. He's got his drug addict niece who practiced identity theft and walked away without any real punishment. Then you've got the brother of Joe who is a nightmare all on his own. Lucien Bruggeman (ABC NEWS) reports:
In 2009, the year Joe Biden took office as vice president, a local business executive met the politician’s younger brother, Frank, at a Starbucks in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and later asked him to become the president and front man for a fledgling charter school venture.
Frank Biden, a longtime real estate developer in the state, accepted the offer, and over the years, he touted his famous last name and prominent connections in Washington to help land the company a series of charter contracts from local officials in Florida to open charter schools, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars over a five-year period from the company in the process.
In media interviews at the time, Frank Biden was unabashed – calling his last name “a tremendous asset” because of the family’s record of “taking care of people who need help,” and telling people it brought him “automatic acceptance” as he sought government approvals for the for-profit Mavericks in Education.
Claims of mismanagement would ultimately bog down many of those schools, which focused on educating at-risk teens with troubled backgrounds. In at least two separate lawsuits, Mavericks schools faced allegations of inflating enrollment as part of a scheme to garner more government funding. The charters were eventually sold and the schools reorganized under new management.
Critics suggest that when Frank Biden touted his family name to promote the Mavericks’ charter schools, it was just one example of the Biden family actively benefiting from sharing a name with the vice president. Now it could pose challenges for the former VP as he seeks the Democratic Party nomination for president, even when Joe Biden has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
The presidential candidate has also faced questions about endeavors by another brother, James Biden, who is fighting a lawsuit in which he stands accused of feigning interest in investing in a medical device company as a ploy to steal the company's business model.
According to plaintiffs, James Biden said during investment negotiations that the firm’s “psychiatric care model would be used by Joe Biden as part of his campaign for President of United States.” A spokesperson for James Biden called allegations in the lawsuit “a seriously misleading version of the events,” meant to “[take] advantage of Jim Biden’s public profile as the brother of a presidential candidate,” adding that “[Frank Biden] does not, and has never, discussed his business ventures with his brother.” The lawsuit remains ongoing.
Joe and his family have huge ethical issues.
ABC NewsVerified account @ABC 3h3 hours ago
NEW: Frank Biden, Joe Biden's younger brother, touted his famous last name and prominent D.C. connections to help land a series of charter school contracts in Florida for company he represented, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars over 5-year period.
A half-wit response to that has developed -- one that argues, "Trump does it too!" or "It's not yet as bad as Trump!"
Those are the rallying cries that will get voters to turn out in November?
Those sort of responses didn't help Hillary Clinton make it into the White House. Equally true, if that's the best the Democratic Party can offer -- a candidate who's like Donald Trump or just slightly better, the party may be beyond help.
Good news for Senator Bernie Sanders comes in a new poll. CNBC notes:
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is now tied with former Vice President Joe Biden for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination among registered voters, according to a Reuters/Ipsos national poll.
The online poll shows that 20% of registered Democrats and independents said they would back Sanders over 11 other candidates to run in the general election against President Donald Trump.
War Hawk Joe has told a series of lies about himself regarding the Iraq War and often gotten away with lying. Sam Husseini (SALON) observes:
It's remarkable how little scrutiny Biden has gotten for his role in the Iraq invasion. Sanders has mostly criticized Biden's vote, but beyond that, Biden was chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has been criticized by leading analysts and weapons inspectors for the hearings he presided over that led to war.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, viewed by many as an antiwar candidate, has outright let Biden off the hook. At a debate last year, Gabbard said of Biden: "He was wrong — he said he was wrong."
Thus, Biden may be positioned to become the Democratic nominee — and face Trump in the general election — with minimal scrutiny for his major role in the worst policy decision of our lifetimes. He's also in a worse position to take on Trump's phony "America First" isolationism than Hillary Clinton was in 2016.
Joe lies over and over about his Iraq War record. But, sad for Joe, all anyone has to ever say is, "Let's go to video."
jordanVerified account @JordanUhl Jan 12
Here's Joe Biden in 2003 at Brookings admonishing the Democrats who didn't support the Iraq War like he did.
#JoeVotedForTheWar
1.29M views
David SirotaVerified account @davidsirota Jan 12
Joe Biden doesn’t get to just erase the history of the Iraq War. He doesn’t get to just pretend he had nothing to do with it. Bernie showed the toughness to oppose the Iraq War, while #JoeVotedForTheWar
politico.com/news/2020/01/1…
David Sirota Retweeted Bo Erickson CBS
THIS IS UTTERLY INSANE ON EVERY LEVEL:
Biden, 2003: "Let everyone here be absolutely clear: I supported the resolution to go to war." cnn.com/2019/09/04/pol…
Kerry, today: "The vote was not a vote specifically to got to war."
Bo Erickson CBSVerified account @BoKnowsNews
NEW: @JohnKerry punches back at @BernieSanders criticism of @JoeBiden’s Iraq War vote:
"I think Bernie regrettably is distorting Joe's record..."…
REUTERS reports:
The United States treated 11 of its troops for symptoms of concussion after an Iranian missile attack on an Iraqi base where U.S. forces were stationed, the U.S. military said on Thursday, after initially saying no service members were hurt.
Hmm. Imagine that. After the propaganda on behalf of the Iranian government issued by Medea Benjamin and others in the circle jerk, US troops were in fact injured. Our position calling out the nonsense from a tiny segment of Americans that Iran had acted so wonderfully because it had done a precise strike blah blah blah? We were right before this news item popped up.
We were right because, on the left, our argument is there are no 'smart' weapons. But some of us -- a tiny segment -- ignore basic reality to popularize the Iranian regime. They can't seem to stop doing that. Margaret Kimberley was telling the world (a) Iran didn't shoot down the plane and (b) the British ambassador to Iran was somehow inflating/creating protests in Iran. On the first, she was forced to admit she was wrong. On the second, she's just moved to a different focus to pretend like she wasn't issuing propaganda for the Iranian government.
The protests are widespread in Iran against their governments move. But that didn't fit with the propaganda that Margaret and others were peddling so they try to look the other way and just hope this will blow over.
It shouldn't.
We should grasp that when things go wrong, some people will want to know the truth and some people will want to propagandize.
I don't care for the Iranian government. That doesn't mean I advocate for war on Iran. This duality thinking does real harm to the world. We live beyond an either/or realm and we have many choices. Most of all, we can support the people of any country (even Americans in the US) without supporting their leaders.
The Margarets and the Aarons and the Medeas and the Michales and the Maxes have told us so much that, it turns out, has not happened. They're good at creating hysteria, they just don't seem very good at nailing down facts.
Or supporting the people -- as opposed to the government of Iran. They have no interest in the Iraqi people, of course. By their own actions, they've made the very clear.
ALSUMARIA TV reports that protesters are streaming into Baghdad and doing so today, for the third month in a row, despite increased efforts to prevent them from gathering.
It'll be interesting to see how much coverage the protests today get in light of last week's response.
Abdul Rahman @ Abdulrah19803h3 hours ago3 hours ago 3h3 hours ago
Reply to @ AJEnglish @ BARAKAT_Sultan
Iraqi journalist and cameraman are 'assassinated' in their car after reporting on anti-government protests in Basra
Last Friday saw the assassinations of Iraqi journalists Ahmed Abdul Samad and Safaa Ghali's for the 'crime' of reporting on the protests. The Margaret Nutso Crowd had plenty of time to propagandize for a terrorist and for a regime but no time to note the murders of these two journalists.
CFImediasVerified account @CFImedias 3h3 hours ago
CFI & international press freedom organisations call upon the prime minister of #Iraq, Mr. Adil Abdul-Mahdi, and the Council of Representatives to secure the investigation of the killings of Iraqi journalists Ahmed Abdul Samad and Safaa Ghali in Basra buff.ly/2ttV3YW
They were killed for covering the ongoing protests. Yet, in the US, some can't even be bothered with reTweeting about the protests, let alone writing anything about this brave move by the Iraqi people.
The Baghdad Post @BaghdadPostPlus 2h2 hours ago
Those who do not know the #protests or even afraid of them, they should recognize thir peacefulness under one flag, with the participation of women, and with many colors.
#BaghdadPost #IraqProtests
Ibrahim Al-Marashi (THE NEW ARAB) offers:
Since October, protesters have been expressing frustration that the country's billions of dollars in oil revenues have been squandered, instead of providing jobs and reliable basic services, such as electricity, water, adequate health care and schooling. They have focused their ire on the systemic corruption that prevents these demands from being met.
Significantly, these protests in Baghdad and across the south of Iraq saw Shia Iraqis - who have been left behind by the economic system - revolt against their own elites.
Primarily, they were calling for an end to the entire post-2003 political system, but also for and end to foreign interference; both Iranian and American. The protests were more emblematic of a new Iraqi nationalism, led by a young generation who came of age after 2003.
Nonetheless, this rallying call threatened the legitimacy of pro-Iranian elements within the PMU, such as Kataib Hezbollah. Never had Iran's influence in Iraq been so precarious since the 2003 Iraq war. Adel Abdul Mahdi, the Iraqi prime minister - who Iran supported - resigned in the face of the angry protests and the burning of Iran's consulate in Najaf.
In response, Iranian affiliated PMU factions allegedly targeted the protesters, who for the most part are their Shia co-religionists. Katiab Hezbollah not only used force against these protesters, but organised a counter-protest at the American embassy.
BTS Drops 'Black Swan' — And A Lavishly Choreographed Art Film
Socialist Worker (Britain)
Scottish climate activists protest against system rigged for oil companies
It's the worst
The nut jobs
I've really had enough
Creole Cooking in the Kitchen
What is the point of MODERN FAMILY's final season (spoilers warning)
James Comey is a friend to no one
a puppy with green fur
Hideous
Environmental Advocates Wary of New Delta Tunnel Plan
Gorilla Radio
Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Matthew J.L. Ehret, Christopher Black, Janine Bandcroft January 16th, 2020
Jody Watley Digital Update January 3 – 9.
gunsandbutter - Guns and Butter
The End Game In the Middle East
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Supreme Court DACA Decision Isn’t Just About Dreamers—It’s About Whether The White House Has To Tell The Truth
Labels: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton
The Sit Down
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14-Nov-2011 23:56 Buffett
Buffett Shifts Into Tech With IBM Purchase :: Warren Buffett said his Berkshire Hathaway has invested $10.7 billion in IBM this year, a major shift for the billionaire investor, who has famously avoided technology stocks.
Buffett also buys Intel, DirecTV :: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_mostpopular/~3/Z9v_-YFGkTc/index.htm
Berkshire: Buffett Buys Millions in Visa and CVS Stock - Barron's (blog) :: http://blogs.barrons.com/stockstowatchtoday/2011/11/14/berkshire-buffett-buys-millions-in-visa-and-cvs-stock/
Warren Buffett is still not a tech geek :: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_mostpopular/~3/FG0HlXolVtE/index.htm
CNBC Transcript: Warren Buffett on Infrastructure Investments and Bank of ... - CNBC.com :: http://www.cnbc.com/id/45290694
Investor Warren Buffett says European debt concerns, US housing weighing down ... - Washington Post :: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/investor-warren-buffett-says-european-debt-concerns-continue-to-hurt-global-economy/2011/11/14/gIQAp04RKN_story.html
14-Nov-2011 21:56 Court
Supreme Court to Rule on Health Law :: The long-awaited Supreme Court showdown over the Obama administration's health-care overhaul formally began as the justices agreed to consider a high-profile challenge to the law.
Supreme Court agrees to hear Obama healthcare law :: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/MostRead/~3/XUWaO5MEtRA/us-usa-healthcare-court-idUSTRE7AD1AK20111114
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear 'Obamacare' Case :: The Supreme Court says it will hear arguments over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, setting up an election-year showdown over the White House's main domestic policy achievement
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2099414,00.html?xid=rss-mostpopular
Supreme Court will hear health care case :: The Supreme Court says it will hear arguments over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, setting up an election-year showdown over the White House's main domestic achievement.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45287817/from/RSS/
Norway Killer in First Public Court Hearing - Wall Street Journal :: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204190504577037813540267528.html
Supreme Court Will Hear Health Care Case This Term - ABC News :: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/supreme-court-hear-health-care-case-term-14948003
Buffett Bets IBM to Avoid Tech's 'Wild Swings' - Bloomberg :: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-14/buffett-bets-ibm-to-avoid-wild-swings-that-burned-technology-investors.html
Buffett Bets IBM Avoids 'Wild Swings' That Burn Technology Firms - BusinessWeek :: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-14/buffett-bets-ibm-avoids-wild-swings-that-burn-technology-firms.html
14-Nov-2011 19:25 From
Earth From Space: Video Shows Stunning View From International Space Station - Huffington Post :: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/14/earth-from-space_n_1092400.html?ref%3Dworld
14-Nov-2011 18:56 Monti
Italy's Monti works to form new government - Economic Times :: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/italys-monti-works-to-form-new-government/articleshow/10730482.cms
Italy Passes Bond Test --- At a Cost :: Italy cleared its first hurdle since Mario Monti agreed to form a caretaker government, comfortably selling €3 billion of short-dated bonds in a sale that had been seen as a key test of demand for Italian debt.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204323904577037610528442508.html?mod=rss_most_viewed_day_europe
Italy's Monti to Form New Government :: Mario Monti got to work to form a new unity government for Italy, as the country moved swiftly to try to restore credibility.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204323904577035793185821920.html?mod=rss_most_emailed_day_europe
14-Nov-2011 18:26 Iran
Iran Working to Control Duqu Virus Attack - PC Magazine :: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2396348,00.asp
Obama: Russia, China United With US on Iran Nuclear Issue - Voice of America :: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Obama-Russia-China-United-With-US-on-Iran-Nuclear-Issue--133793593.html
Obama Defends Iran Approach :: At the completion of an Asia-Pacific economic forum in Hawaii, President Obama said he would take no options off the table in confronting Iran, and defended his record in the face of Republican attack.
Iran claims defence computer systems hit by another 'supervirus' - Telegraph.co.uk :: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/8888967/Iran-claims-defence-computer-systems-hit-by-another-supervirus.html
14-Nov-2011 17:26 Obama
Obama Fires Back at GOP Over Iran :: http://feeds.abcnews.com/click.phdo?i�104cdd903b9647e0aa856c5f683022
Obama team, GOP predict Supreme Court win on health care - USA Today :: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/11/supreme-court-may-take-obama-health-care-case-today/1
Enough is enough, Obama tells China - The Hindu :: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2627441.ece
Obama to China: Behave like a "grown up" :: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/MostRead/~3/jqG0H1J2Da4/us-apec-idUSTRE7AB12920111114
Obama to China: Behave like 'grown up' economy :: President Barack Obama called on China to stop "gaming" the international trade system, using some of his toughest language yet against America's biggest economic rival.
No aloha: Obama skips out on APEC tradition :: Chinese President Hu Jintao in pastels and plumerias? Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sporting pineapples and palm trees? It didn't happen.
14-Nov-2011 15:56 Euro
Whose Economy Has It Worst? :: With Europe, China and the U.S. in crisis, the real question is which of them will stumble first.
Munger Says Europe Leaders 'Behind the Curve' on Debt Crisis - BusinessWeek :: http://news.businessweek.com/article.asp?documentKey%3D1376-LTKYCC0D9L3801-5KL2S5BBC7FU927CQKIN7LOP92
Euro Risks Hit Banks :: Banks are releasing more information about their potential exposure to a euro-zone shock, but worries persist because of uncertainty over how well hedges such as credit-default swaps would work in a crisis.
Buffett: European concerns, US housing woes linger - Atlanta Journal Constitution :: http://www.ajc.com/business/buffett-european-concerns-us-1225436.html
Stocks, Euro Decline on Debt Concern as Italy Bond Yields Climb - San Francisco Chronicle :: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f%3D/g/a/2011/11/14/bloomberg_articlesLUNL9H1A1I4H.DTL
Europe could be in worst hour since WWII: Merkel :: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/MostRead/~3/KZIGv30GcGU/us-eurozone-idUSTRE7AC15K20111114
Eurozone crisis blamed as UK jobs market faces 'painful contraction' - The Guardian :: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/nov/14/eurozone-crisis-uk-jobs-market-contraction?newsfeed%3Dtrue
ECB Can't Fix Euro Zone's Governance Crisis :: Many believe that only a clear commitment by the ECB to act as a lender of last resort can prevent the debt crisis spiraling out of control
Greece: Can New PM Lucas Papademos Save Its Economy? :: The MIT-trained economist and former European Central Bank executive knows his euro-zone policy. But whether he can rein in Greece's fractious new coalition and soothe social unrest long enough to implement it remains to be seen
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2099266,00.html?xid=rss-mostpopular
Insight: U.S. readies defenses against Europe spillover :: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/MostRead/~3/dViJe48C308/us-financial-contagion-idUSTRE7AC15220111113
14-Nov-2011 15:26 Can
Can Penn State Keep Rebuilding when Outrage Fades?: A Fan's Outlook - Yahoo! Sports :: http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug%3Dycn-10434663
Obama: Iran Sanctions Have 'Enormous Bite' :: Defending his efforts to halt the Iranian nuclear threat, President Barack Obama said Sunday that the economic sanctions against the country have had "enormous bite."
Obama: Iran sanctions have 'enormous bite' - BusinessWeek :: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9R09OLO0.htm
Obama to China: Behave like "grown up" economy :: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/MostRead/~3/jqG0H1J2Da4/us-apec-idUSTRE7AB12920111114
Obama vows new bid to thwart Iran nuclear effort :: President Barack Obama says sanctions on Iran are having "enormous bite," but he still wants to work with Russia and China to find more ways of putting pressure on Tehran to halt its nuclear program.
Evelyn H. Lauder, Champion of Breast Cancer Research, Dies at 75 :: Mrs. Lauder's family fled the Nazis and eventually landed in New York, where she married into an illustrious family in the beauty business.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/nyregion/evelyn-h-lauder-champion-of-breast-cancer-research-dies-at-75.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Monti Set to Lead New Government as Italy Battles Contagion - BusinessWeek :: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-14/monti-set-to-lead-new-government-as-italy-battles-contagion.html
Eurozone crisis: Mario Monti takes control of Italy - live - The Guardian (blog) :: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/blog/2011/nov/14/italy-mario-monti-eurozone-crisis?newsfeed%3Dtrue
14-Nov-2011 11:56 is
Japan's Elder Porn: Booming Sex Niche for Aging Society :: While Japanese sex life sags, the porn industry is healthier than ever — even for septuagenarian stars
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1818203,00.html?xid=rss-mostpopular
FRANCE: Sarkozy calls Netanyahu a liar in private conversation with Obama :: http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20111108-sarkozy-calls-netanyahu-liar-private-conversation-obama
'Munger Road' Director Named Grand Marshall for St. Charles Christmas Parade - Patch.com :: http://stcharles-il.patch.com/articles/munger-road-director-named-grand-marshall-for-st-charles-christmas-parade
'Food of the Future' Has One Hitch :: The breadfruit is a remarkable food: The prickly football-size pod is full of nutrients and energy. It could even help alleviate world hunger, backers believe. There's just one problem: It tastes remarkably bland.
Man facing 105 years in prison for shooting at would-be thief - Atlanta Journal Constitution :: http://www.ajc.com/news/man-facing-105-years-1221252.html?cxtype%3Drss_news
The Other 1% :: When Marine Sergeant Alex Lemons returned home in July 2008 after the last of his three combat tours, it was almost as if he had landed in a foreign country.
FRANCE: Thousands of mini Eiffel towers seized as police target illegal street vendors :: http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20111110-thousands-mini-eiffel-towers-seized-police-target-illegal-street-vendors
Next Time You're in ... Melbourne :: Waddle This Way: Phillip Island puts Australia's wildlife on parade
http://www.time.com/time/travel/article/0,31542,2098485,00.html?xid=rss-mostpopular
Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin :: You've heard it for years: to lose weight, hit the gym. But while physical activity is crucial for good health, it doesn't always melt pounds — in fact, it can add them. Here's why
For European Union and the Euro, a Moment of Truth :: A growing consensus about the urgency of the euro crisis finally brought some action from Italy and Greece, but there is still much that can go wrong.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/world/europe/for-european-union-and-the-euro-a-moment-of-truth.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Are You Ready to Be a Landlord? :: Buying investment properties can be risky. Here's how to do it smartly.
Hey Europe. Breaking up is a foolish risk :: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_mostpopular/~3/Z11UnzlogpU/index.htm
How to Figure Internet Home Values :: Real-estate websites offer estimates of what almost any home is worth. But the figures can be much further off the mark than most people realize.
Big Chinese Jeweler Is Unknown in West :: The jeweler controlled by Hong Kong tycoon Cheng Yu-tung plans to test market appetite next week for an IPO that could raise up to $3.5 billion.
Israel says Iran closer to atom bomb than thought :: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/MostRead/~3/HmuNHh629mU/us-iran-nuclear-israel-idUSTRE7AC0XX20111113
A Town in New York Creates Its Own Department Store :: When the only department store in Saranac Lake, N.Y., closed down, residents did something unusual: they decided to raise capital to open their own department store.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/business/a-town-in-new-york-creates-its-own-department-store.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Franco Harris Defends Joe Paterno :: http://feeds.abcnews.com/click.phdo?i�49b6ef7a78aa488bcc3948f76f5d6b
Neo-Nazi murders, film confession shock Germany :: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/MostRead/~3/f7pRLALYzSc/us-germany-crime-neonazis-idUSTRE7AC0TQ20111113
Satisfying hunger ... three ways - Chicago Daily Herald :: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20111113/news/711139903/
Sisters of St. Francis, the Quiet Shareholder Activists :: Long before Occupy Wall Street, the Sisters of St. Francis were quietly staging an occupation of their own, and have become one of the most surprising groups of corporate activists.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/business/sisters-of-st-francis-the-quiet-shareholder-activists.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Homework and Jacuzzis as Dorms Move to McMansions in California :: The downturn in the real estate market in Merced, Calif., has presented an unusual housing opportunity for thousands of students attending the University of California.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/us/homework-and-jacuzzis-as-dorms-move-to-mcmansions-in-california.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Israel: Iran closer to atom bomb than thought :: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday the full extent of Iran's nuclear program was not reflected in a recent U.N. report, which said that Tehran appeared to have worked on designing an atomic bomb.
Berlusconi Bows Out; Austerity Lies Ahead :: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi resigned on Saturday, bringing down the curtain on one of the most brash and controversial leaderships of the western world and ushering in a season of austerity for one of Europe's biggest economies.
Sugary drinks hurt even skinny women's hearts :: Women who drink sugary beverages every day may raising their risk for heart disease, even if their habit is not packing on the pounds.
A sister's dying wish: Take my place :: Terminally ill with cancer, Jackie DeVita, a 42-year-old mother of three school-age children, made a special request of her unmarried sister.
Europe even starting to wear on market's bulls :: Wall Street is stuck in a highly volatile range as investors hoping for a rally into the end of the year are browbeaten by Europe's unfolding crisis.
Opinion: Will This Election Be the Mormon Breakthrough? :: The Salt Lake City empire of corporate greed has little of its founder's vision.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/opinion/sunday/will-this-election-be-the-mormon-breakthrough.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Opinion: The New Progressive Movement :: As before in history, the moment has arrived when people just can't take it anymore.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/opinion/sunday/the-new-progressive-movement.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Lawyer: Phone call clears Baby Lisa's parents :: A call from a cell phone reportedly stolen the night Kansas City infant Lisa Irwin vanished from her home points to the innocence of the parents in her disappearance, their lawyer said Saturday night.
Posted by Henrik Ekenberg at 11:56 AM No comments:
Obama Dismisses Criticism of Approach to Iran :: At the completion of an Asia-Pacific economic forum in Hawaii, President Obama said he would take no options off the table in confronting Iran, and defended his record in the face of Republican attack.
No aloha: Obama skips out on APEC tradition - CBS News :: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57323966/no-aloha-obama-skips-out-on-apec-tradition/
Obama fires back at Republicans on foreign policy - Reuters :: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/14/us-usa-campaign-obama-foreign-idUSTRE7AD0IN20111114
Obama: Iran Sanctions Have 'Enormous Bite' :: http://feeds.abcnews.com/click.phdo?i�da4294a68f965e7f1ef68c7414946c
Obama Dismisses Criticism of Approach to Iran - Wall Street Journal :: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204323904577037233583994606.html?mod%3Dgooglenews_wsj
No aloha: Obama skips out on APEC tradition - Seattle Post Intelligencer :: http://www.seattlepi.com/living/article/No-aloha-Obama-skips-out-on-APEC-tradition-2267393.php
Obama says world united against Iran - Herald Sun :: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/obama-says-world-united-against-iran/story-e6frf7lf-1226194783708
Obama Says 'Enough's Enough' on China Currency Valuation - BusinessWeek :: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-14/obama-says-enough-s-enough-on-china-currency-valuation.html
U.S. Plans Bomb Sales to Counter Iran :: The Obama administration has quietly drawn up plans to provide a key Persian Gulf ally with thousands of advanced "bunker-buster" bombs, part of a stepped-up U.S. effort to build a coalition to counter Iran.
Posted by Henrik Ekenberg at 9:56 AM No comments:
Italy's Monti to Form New Government :: Mario Monti got to work to form a new government of national unity for Italy, as the country moved swiftly to try to restore credibility.
Monti Asked to Lead New Italian Government to Fight Debt Crisis Contagion - Bloomberg :: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-14/monti-asked-to-lead-new-italian-government-to-fight-debt-crisis-contagion.html
New Italian leader Mario Monti vows to act quickly - San Francisco Chronicle :: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f%3D/c/a/2011/11/13/MNN61LUJR3.DTL
Monti seeks to steady Italian ship - The Press Association :: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5ik776wZ3i8gzS60WMR12aN7KjX4Q?docId%3DN0625691321235247358A
14-Nov-2011 03:26 police
Portland police dismantle 'Occupy' camps :: Police in Portland, Ore., follow Denver and Salt Lake City cops in sweeping anti-Wall Street protesters from their camps.
New York police probe fires, graffiti in Jewish area :: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/MostRead/~3/syYwmR9aGuA/us-crime-hate-newyork-idUSTRE7AB0VB20111112
Brazilian police move on Rio slum - BBC News :: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-latin-america-15710719
Portland police and protesters clash - TVNZ :: http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/portland-police-and-protesters-clash-4535654
14-Nov-2011 02:25 After
iPhone Battery Glitch Remains After iOS 5.0.1, Users Gripe - PCWorld :: http://www.pcworld.com/article/243738/iphone_battery_glitch_remains_after_ios_501_users_gripe.html
After Penn State, another college reveals abuse probe :: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/MostRead/~3/l2HHignLpY8/us-crime-citadel-abuse-idUSTRE7AB12F20111113
Report: Kris Humphries lawyers up :: After weeks of rumors claiming Kris Humphries was still hoping to make his brief marriage to Kim Kardashian work, the New Jersey Nets star has finally hired a divorce attorney, according to multiple reports.
After 34 Years, NASA's Voyagers Keep On Flying in Space :: After completing their primary missions, Voyager 1 and 2 are poised to pass from the outermost boundary of the solar system into the truly uncharted regions of interstellar space, and NASA wants them fit for duty when they do
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2099245,00.html?xid=rss-mostpopular
Israel Lobbies Discreetly for More Sanctions After UN Report on Iran - New York Times :: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/world/middleeast/israel-cautious-after-report-on-irans-nuclear-program.html
3000 Brazilian police seize Rio's biggest slum - Seattle Post Intelligencer :: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/3-000-Brazilian-police-seize-Rio-s-biggest-slum-2266659.php
Cadaver dog 'hit' at baby Lisa's home :: A police affidavit says an FBI cadaver dog indicated a reaction to the scent of dead person inside the Kansas city home where a baby girl disappeared nearly three weeks ago.
Portland police dismantle 'Occupy' camps after confrontation - msnbc.com (blog) :: http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/13/8787199-portland-police-dismantle-occupy-camps-after-confrontation
Indonesia Sex-Tape Scandal Highlights Pornography Access :: As Indonesian police scramble to figure out who disseminated graphic videos of two of the country's top celebrities, the rest of society might want to look into why there are so many porn fans in the country with the world's largest Muslim population
Monti Asked by Italy's President to Form New Government - BusinessWeek :: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-13/monti-asked-by-italy-s-president-to-form-new-government.html
Mario Monti nominated to lead Italy :: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_mostpopular/~3/omHXWyRg-CA/index.htm
Italy Front-Runner Seen as Political Outsider :: Many of the lawmakers rallying behind Mario Monti are hoping he can do what they haven't been able to: make unpopular decisions to modernize Italy's economy.
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Ultrasound 'may stop kidney injury' :: Ultrasound treatments could be used to prevent a common kidney complication than can arise after surgery, researchers suggest.
Germany to Bieber: Pay monkey costs :: German authorities have asked pop star Justin Bieber to hand over nearly $8,000 for the costs of caring for the capuchin monkey he left behind in Munich after bringing it on tour without the right paperwork.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/01/world/europe/germany-bieber-monkey/index.html?eref�ition
Inside Cairo's tent, heart of defiance :: A make shift town has become a symbol of defiance for former President Mohammed Morsy's supporters.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2013/08/01/rs-egypt-tent-city.cnn.html?eref�ition
Snowden :: National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden's application for political asylum has been approved, and he has left a Moscow airport, Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told CNN on Thursday.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/01/us/nsa-snowden/index.html?eref�ition
Is Huma Abedin blaming herself? :: Huma, please say it isn't so.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/01/living/parents-huma-abedin-blame/index.html?eref�ition
China reckons with heat :: Record-breaking temperatures have been searing large swaths of China, resulting in dozens of heat-related deaths and prompting authorities to issue a national alert.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/31/world/asia/china-heat-wave/index.html?eref�ition
20 biggest travel mistakes :: The CNN Travel staff has put in some hard miles.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/travel/20-travel-mistakes/index.html?eref�ition
Thieving bear steals dumpsters :: A bear in Colorado wants more than just the contents of the dumpster. It wants the whole dumpster.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2013/08/02/vo-co-bear-dumpster.edelweiss-restaurant.html?eref�ition
North Korea's peace message? :: North Korea says the ball is now in the U.S. court after offering to resume the search for MIA Americans.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2013/08/02/pkg-hancocks-nkorea-message-of-peace.cnn.html?eref�ition
Bank of England sold off Nazi gold :: The Bank of England knowingly helped to sell looted Nazi gold from occupied Czechoslovakia months before the outbreak of World War II, according to experts.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/business/nazi-gold-bank-of-england/index.html?eref�ition
China's web giants fight online rumors :: Six major Chinese websites have launched a joint site dedicated to eradicating online rumors, as part of Beijing's efforts to clean up false information on the country's wildly popular microblogs, state media reports.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/world/asia/china-online-rumor-crackdown/index.html?eref�ition
Is this the end for 'Il Cavaliere'? :: After 25 years and nearly 30 trials, Italy's disgraced former PM has been handed a jail sentence. Can Silvio Berlusconi bounce back again?
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/world/europe/silvio-berlusconi-sentence-analysis/index.html?eref�ition
Veteran: Time for U.S., N. Korea to talk :: An American veteran who traveled to North Korea to look for an old friend has a message for the U.S.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/world/asia/medal-of-honour-north-korea/index.html?eref�ition
7 uncharted falls found in Canada :: Explorer Adam Shoalts makes big finds on northeastern Canada's remote Again River.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/travel/again-river-waterfalls/index.html?eref�ition
Would you trust a robot surgeon? :: Every day, we happily entrust more of our lives to automated machines at home and in our cities. But you could be forgiven for blanching at the prospect of a four-armed robot bearing over you, scalpel glinting.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/tech/da-vinci-robot-surgery/index.html?eref�ition
Snowden is an 'unwanted guest' :: Daniel Treisman says Vladimir Putin likes to use anti-American rhetoric when convenient but isn't seeking a wider break with the U.S.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/opinion/treisman-snowden-putin-obama/index.html?eref�ition
New York Cosmos: Soccer stars reborn :: Once upon a time there was a galaxy of stars which burned bright in the "Big Apple", a trio of world champions who played football from another planet and sparked a U.S. love affair with the beautiful game.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/sport/football/new-york-cosmos-pele-football/index.html?eref�ition
Russia Olympics: 'gayest ever'? :: You don't have to be gay or even Russian to feel the wrath of the Russian government's homophobia. You could go to jail if you are "pro-gay," whatever that means. And that's under just one of a growing number of hate-infused bills becoming law at a time when, as it happens, Russia is preparing to host the world in the next Winter Olympics.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/opinion/ghitis-anti-gay-russia-games/index.html?eref�ition
Skating with Gandhi - and Tutu too :: Meet the South African longboard maker decorating his boards with Mandela, Gandhi and Tutu.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/world/africa/skating-with-gandhi-tutu/index.html?eref�ition
More sagas in soccer transfer frenzy :: The sun is shining, barbecues are out, beaches are packed and the commute to work is slightly less crowded than normal. It can mean only one thing: football's summer transfer window is upon us. Most managers hate it, fans are powerless to resist hourly updates on it; sports journalists worldwide are consumed by it. With a further month of fevered speculation, rumor, counter-rumor and downright subterfuge to come before it closes, CNN tries to work out what it all means.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/sport/football/football-transfer-window/index.html?eref�ition
Snowden: What's in it for Russia? :: A former British ambassador to Moscow speculates on why Putin is helping Edward Snowden.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/01/opinion/opinion-snowden-wood/index.html?eref�ition
How to fight back against the trolls :: CNN's Kristie Lu Stout hears from an expert on what to do if you become the target of online abuse.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/tech/2013/08/02/ns-how-to-deal-with-internet-trolls-bates.cnn.html?eref�ition
Ohio kidnap hell :: No one heard their screams, but the terror of Ariel Castro's victims finally came to light in court.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/01/justice/ohio-cleveland-castro-home/index.html?eref�ition
Embassy fear :: Al Qaeda is linked to a terror threat that prompts the U.S. to close embassies in key Middle East nations, including Egypt and Israel.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/01/politics/embassies-close/index.html?eref�ition
Taking on trolls :: CNN's Kristie Lu Stout hears from an expert on what to do if you become the target of online abuse.
UK smartphone users wary of 4G :: Almost two thirds of UK citizens with smartphones have no plans to upgrade to next generation mobile services, according to Ofcom
Crossing borders ::
University admissions 'out of date' :: The university entrance system should be switched so students apply after they have their A-level results, says Keele University's vice-chancellor.
Cameroon medical mercy mission :: For years, Georges Bwelle watched his father decline in hospitals that couldn't cope. But now he brings aid to others.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/01/world/africa/cnnheroes-bwelle-cameroon-doctor/index.html?eref�ition
Gay laws protest hits Russian vodka :: Bars in London are joining a global protest against new anti-gay laws on Russia. CNN's Erin McLaughlin reports.
url: http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2013/08/02/pkg-mclaughlin-russia-gay-backlash-vodka.cnn.html?eref�ition
▼ August (1460)
05-Aug-2013 23:31 10
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Montpellier after the inauguration of tram line No. 4.
System Maps & Descriptions - Index
Above: YouTubeCA video - Tramway de Montpellier - Length: 17:29 mins. Above: YouTubeCA video - Montpellier trams - Length: 8:36 mins.
I created the above map by overlaying an OpenStreetMap (OSM) map with my own data. Copyright on the OSM map is © OpenStreetMap contributors, licensed under a CC-BY-SA (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 licence).
Please note that the OSM map used as a template for this map corresponds to the situation at the time the map was downloaded and may show features that did not exist at the time the GS Tram Site is supposed to show. In particular, it may show bridges and highways that were built later.
TRAM ROUTES
Operator: Transports de l'agglomération de Montpellier (TaM)
1 Ligne bleue (Blue Line) Mosson - Euromédecine - Château d’Ô - Universités - St.-Éloi - Louis-Blanc - Gare St.-Roch - Place de l’Europe - Hôtel de Ville - Port Marianne - Odysseum
2 Ligne orange (Orange Line) Jacou - Aube Rouge - Charles de Gaulle - Corum - Gare St.-Roch - Nouveau St.-Roch - Croix d’Argent - La Condamine - St.-Jean-de-Védas
3 Ligne verte (Green Line) Juvignac - Mosson - Tonnelles - Arceaux - St.-Denis - Gare St.-Roch - Voltaire - Hôtel de Ville - Port Marianne - Boirargues - Lattes / Pérols Étang de l’Or
4 Ligne brune (Brown Line) Gare St.-Roch - Peyrou - Corum - Place de l’Europe - Gare St.-Roch [Circular route, both directions]
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SYSTEM
NETWORK LENGTH
Tramway: 60.5 km.
Urban tramway (First generation): (horse-drawn)18 July 1880 - 1883; (electric) Nov. 1897 - 31 Jan. 1949.
Urban tramway (Second generation): 30 June 2000 - today.
Tramway (first generation): ?
Tramway (second generation): 1435 mm.
Pulling, N. "Systems Factfile No.45: Montpellier, France", Tramways & Urban Transit, June 2011 (74: 882), p.223-226.
Pulling, N. "Systems Factfile No.121: Montpellier, France", Tramways & Urban Transit, Nov. 2017 (80: 959), p.424-429.
Taplin, M. "Systems Factfile No.4: Montpellier, France", Tramways & Urban Transit, Oct. 2007 (70: 838), p.387-389.
Wansbeek, C.J. "Montpellier: Another triumph for France", Tramways & Urban Transit, Sept. 2000 (63: 713), p.328-330.
Tramway de Montpellier
AMTUIR
Copyright Gabor Sandi 1998-2020
Disclaimer: Everything on this site was written and/or prepared at the author's discretion. The author has tried to be accurate where facts are presented, but this does not mean that these facts are necessarily accurate. People needing more reliable information should refer to appropriate sources presented, on the Internet or elsewhere, by authoritative professional or academic bodies.
To get in touch with the webmaster, send an e-mail to g_sandi at hotmail.com.
Flags on this site are from the FOTW Flags Of The World website.
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Tweed Magazine was a music and politics zine founded by angsty teenagers in 1997. It survived in one form or another until 2007. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Here are some of our most popular articles.
Web Tweed
Denali’s Cam Responds
Shortly after Maura’s post, Cam Di Nunzio got back to us with his own take on Denali, growing up, and the presidential election.
Tweed: Can you describe the founding of Denali? Where are you from/previous bands/age?
Cam: Well my part in the founding came along after talking to Maura one day. I had heard the songs she demoed and liked them. About a month or so later we ran into each other again. She mentioned that she, Keeley, Jonathan were playing around with the songs, but that she didn’t want to be the only guitarist. I offered to help, and that was it basically. I played in bands before this, and they were important to me, but this band is probably the most important work I’ve ever done. As for my age, I’m old enough to know better.
Tweed: What was it like growing up in your hometown? What about the experience pushed you toward music?
Cam: I grew up on a horse farm in a rural part of South-eastern Virginia. The one stoplight in town was about 4 or 5 miles away. Though it was the South, my parents were both Yankees so I think they pushed me towards more cultured things I guess. Art, music, a lot of reading. The radio stations that reached that part of the state were pretty weak, and once I finally heard bands like the Cure and the Smiths, it was like salvation. Going from Blue Oyster Cult and Don Henley to Robert Smith is kinda jarring, but it was everything I wanted.
Tweed: What are Denali’s influences? What are your favorite bands, past and present?
Cam: I think we all have our own influences as opposed to the band as a whole. Mine tend to be from my youth as opposed to bands presently, and I think I only ever want to maybe capture the mood of something I loved as a kid. I think the Cure, Brian Eno, the Stone Roses, the Cranes, Depeche Mode all made very cinematic pop-music. It was the visual qualities that I remember the most. I used to draw to the Cure for hours on end. Really cheery stuff, too.
Tweed: Does the coming national election make you nervous?
Cam: I’m nervous of spending four more years with Bush as president. Though Kerry is a very conservative Democrat, I still hope that, if elected, he would have the wherewithall and absence of pride to make more logical decisions overseas.
Tweed: What’s your take on the issue of gay marriage?
Cam: I see marriage as a civil right and therefore believe that it should be everyone’s freedom.
Tweed: How has the band’s chemistry changed with the new line up? Does it feel like you’ve lost or gained something in the transition?
Cam: As of right now, it’s just the live chemistry, and it’s great. I think if anything, it’s just different. Not better or worse... it’s a much different feel to some of the songs. If people are disappointed, then we haven’t heard from them yet, which is reassuring.
Tweed: Do you fear being marketed to the masses as a band with a sex object lead singer?
Cam: Are you asking that because Maura’s female? Aren’t most bands that get marketed to the masses banking on the sex appeal of at least one member of their band? I guess what I’m saying is that it’s just part of the process. People need something to latch on to, and before they have the patience to sit through a song, there sometimes has to be something else to grab attention. If it’s a stylin’ picture, then so be it. I don’t want the image to distract from the music, and there’s always that danger, but Iike Jonathan once said, “Rock and roll is sexy.”
Tweed: Are any of you currently involved in side projects?
Cam: I am not. I have no extra time. Luckily, Denali satisfies almost all of my creative tendencies.
Cam Di Nunzio of Denali.
Tweed Tag
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Download this article for your Apple iPod. Copy it to your iPod's "Notes" folder and enjoy on the go.
Bella Lea: beyond Denali
Denali's Maura Davis Explains
It's Tax Season with Taxpayer
Teddy Geiger: Underage Thinking
Pandora: Opening a Better Box
NASA's New Mission or Answering David Bowie Once and For All
Regina Spektor: Soviet Kitsch
Ian of Argentine
RNC Protest 500,000 Strong
Mates of State Kick it Live
Edie Sedgwick lives!
Canadian Duo, Tegan and Sara
www.tweedmag.com
© Copyright 1997–2020 Tweed Media
Tweed Magazine content report:
Everloving Records, Saturday Looks Good to Me, Polyvinyl Records, politics, music, Conor Oberst, Said Sew Recordings, Maura Davis, Regina Spektor, America, End report.
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Talk: IABA Europe 2013
This paper investigates Russian author Linor Goralik’s specific use of Twitter, a popular microblogging portal. In contrast to a fully-fledged blog, Twitter messages (tweets) are limited to 140 characters. Because of this restriction, Twitter communication is fast-paced and can be used to quickly distribute new information. Linor Goralik’s Twitter page (twitter.com/snorapp), however, is different: It is explicitly labeled as a ‘literary project’. Each tweet starts with the words ‘I see:’. Then, a small observation from daily life follows, for example: ‘I see: a scrawny old cat looking with hostility on a sinewy old pigeon’. Thus, Goralik creates the illusion that she simply uses Twitter to record memorable moments. These real life miniatures, however, share a certain poetic quality, and are, after all, literary texts, so their authenticity is questionable. Nonetheless, Goralik’s literary project can be regarded an interesting example of Life Writing – or rather Life Tweeting. Although the subject is present in each tweet by means of one word only, it covers multiple facets ranging from the lyrical subject to Linor Goralik’s author persona. Moreover, the Twitter page serves as a part of her multi-layered online projects: a web comic, several blogs, a website, etc. The author subject is spread across multiple sites, which represent different aspects of Goralik’s personality. But not only the subject is fragmentary. In her tweets, Goralik shatters Life itself to small pieces.
But RL (‘real life’) breaks into the literary cosmos. On 10 December 2011, massive anti-Putin protests take place in Moscow. Because of these developments, Goralik uses her Twitter account as a news relay. Suddenly, authenticity is crucial, and the otherwise rather undefined subject of ‘I see’ becomes political activist Linor Goralik. This constant change, shifting and deferral of both the subject and life in Goralik’s tweets challenges contemporary Life Writing theory.
Slides are available here:
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24News.ca
Donald Trump now has an obvious path to a second term
Category: World News
Published Friday, December 6, 2019
The latest economic numbers -- 266,000 jobs created in November, unemployment at a 50-year low -- make one thing very clear: U.S. President Donald Trump has a path to win a second term next year.
Latest Canada & World News
Canada News CTV News
TORONTO -- Thousands of residents in Newfoundland and Labrador are without power as they attempt to dig out from a record-breaking snowfall before another storm hits the region Sunday night. According to Newfoundland Power, over 3,000 people remained in the dark Sunday morning as temperatures dipped to -20 C with the wind chill and the threat of another 10 to 15 centimetres of snow loomed in Sunday night’s forecast. Source
WINNIPEG -- A small number of apparently passionate Manitobans have been giving Premier Brian Pallister an earful about having to change their clocks twice a year. The premier received six emails, unprompted, from members of the public between September and December last year on the subject of daylight time. Source
A California teen's message on Snapchat helped lead police to her alleged kidnappers
World News CTV News
A quick-thinking teenager's Snapchat message is what led authorities to her kidnappers, investigators say. The 14-year-old victim from Northern California was drugged and kidnapped Tuesday by three men --- one of whom sexually assaulted her at least twice. Source
ARNOLD, MO. -- A couple who had been together for nearly 65 years have died on the same day at a St. Louis-area nursing home. Jack and Harriet Morrison's beds were placed next to each other in their final hours, allowing them to hold hands, the St. Source
LONDON -- Prince Harry and his wife Meghan began a new life Sunday as -- somewhat -- ordinary people with financial worries and security concerns after being stripped of their royal titles and public funding by the Queen. Source
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC -- A fire swept through a Czech asylum for the mentally ill on Sunday, killing eight male patients, officials said. Prokop Volenik, spokesman for the regional rescue service, said the fire in the northwestern town of Vejprty broke out early Sunday before 5 a.m. Source
KYIV, UKRAINE -- The bodies of the 11 Ukrainians who died when an Iranian missile shot down a passenger plane have arrived in Ukraine for a farewell ceremony. They were among the 176 people killed in the Jan. Source
Ticket sold in Prairies wins $7-million Lotto 649 jackpot
TORONTO -- A single ticket purchased in the Prairies won Saturday night's $7-million Lotto 649 jackpot. And the draw's guaranteed $1-million prize went to a ticket holder in Quebec. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on Jan. Source
MONTREAL -- Francis Lalonde Langlois's favourite memory of his mother is when he was five years old and she blew up 2,000 balloons on New Year's Eve because she wanted her three children to remember the first moments of the new millennium. Source
TEHRAN, IRAN -- The Iranian official leading the investigation into the Ukrainian jetliner that was accidentally shot down by the Revolutionary Guard appeared to backtrack Sunday on plans to send the flight recorders abroad for analysis, a day after saying they would be sent to Kyiv. Source
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العربيــة
Posts Victims Detainees Missing
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Daily news and Reports about the Recent Updates
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Victims until today
Palestinian Refugees from Syria Denied Humanitarian Asylum in Neighboring Countries
Palestinian Refugee Dies in Syria Shootouts
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Relief Items Distributed to Displaced Palestinian Families in Turkey
Palestinians from Syria in Lebanon Launch Cry for Help
Greece Illegally Pushed Back Thousands of Migrants to Turkey
Published : 16-11-2019
Greece reportedly deported about 60,000 migrants to Turkey between 2017 and 2018, according to a report on the online news portal of weekly German magazine Spiegel, published on Wednesday evening.
According to Spiegel, Turkey is accusing Greece of not properly dealing with the asylum status of migrants. Instead, Turkish Interior Ministry files claim that Greece illegally transported 58,283 people to Turkey in the 12 month period leading up to November 1, 2018.
Greece is disputing the accusations, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsokasis saying Ankara was playing games: "Those people who have used the refugee crisis to their own ends should be more careful when dealing with Greece."
"Push back" of asylum seekers is considered illegitimate under European and international law. Governments are required to seriously assess the asylum status of new migrants rather than forcing them back to another country.
According to the Turkish documents, the largest proportion of migrants sent away from Greece were Pakistani, with large numbers from Somalia, Algeria and Bangladesh. 4,500 were from Syria.
Turkish officials said they sent most of the people back to their countries of origin except for those from war-torn Syria, who were sent back to the Turkish town where they originally registered as refugees.
Last year, AGPS released a shocking report about a group of migrants who were discovered by villagers in Turkey's northwestern Edirne province in a run-down and naked state, after they were reportedly beaten up and stripped of their clothes and belongings by Greek police.
The migrants, including Yemeni and Palestinian refugees, were found while walking in open fields by locals of Kiremitçi Salih village in Uzunköprü district on the eastern bank of the Maritsa River forming the border between Turkey and Greece.
Live snapshots showed all migrants with visible signs of battery on their backs and all over their bodies.
The incident was the latest string of events involving police violence against migrants fleeing war-torn zones. Similar incidents have also taken place on the Aegean, where coast guards have been accused of deflating migrant boats and re-routing them back to Turkish territorial waters.
Based on the accounts of the illegally deported migrants, Greek police officers are also accused of confiscating migrants' valuable possessions and torturing them, before pushing them back on the border, in violation of international law.
Short URL : http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/9356
Palestinian Refugees Take Part in Arabic Language Seminar in Syria
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All Rights Reserved © Action Group for Palestinians of Syria
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acupunctureandallergyclinic@gmail.com
HomeAboutServicesGalleryContactStore
Homeopathic & herbal solution to our patients
While the Acupuncture & Allergy Clinic specializes in acupuncture, we also envisioned it to be a center which takes Oriental Medicine one step further by incorporating electro- dermal screening and homeopathy.
Homeopathy and herbal therapies are growing rapidly as preferred modalities to bring and to keep our bodies in balance. But the art of gathering the necessary information efficiently and quickly is the key to assisting the overall goal.
I received my post-graduate degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 1999 and since then have used my understanding and background in oriental medicine a step further and modernized the way oriental medicine is understood and used.
When One goes for acupuncture treatment, the pulse is taken in order to assess organs out of balance after which needles are used, on weekly basis to relieve discomfort and illness. On the average 10 or more weekly treatments are required to bring the body into balance.
I still use the same principles of traditional oriental medicine and instead of the pulse, use a computerized system called EAV or EDS which stands for electro-dermal screening, to measure the frequency output from each organ in order to assess how each organ is functioning. Combination homeopathic and/or herbal remedies are used to bring the body into balance.
Firuzeh Mehrabani
MS., L.Ac, Dipl.Ac
(NCCAOM Board Certified)
I built on my Masters in Psychology and received my post graduate degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 1999. Since I have used my understanding and background in oriental medicine a step further and modernized the way oriental medicine is understood and used.
Years in Practice: Since 1999
School: ASAOM, Tucson Arizona, Year Graduated: 1999
Acupuncture license# AZ 0058
Certificate: NCCAOM / National Board Certification Date: 1999
Certificate: Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Dipl., Date: 1999
Degree: East Carolina Univ/ M.S. CDFR, Year graduated: 1988
Degree: Univ of Michigan/ B.A. Psychology, Year graduated: 1986
If You're receiving Electro-dermal screening
What to expect during my computerized Analysis EDS/EAV appointment?
Using a computerized system, we analyze frequencies from acupuncture meridians on the body. A flat probe is used on the fingers and toes to obtain these readings. Since the acupuncture meridians have pathways to organs alongside the nervous system, we can use this method to reach our goal.
What Will happen with the data collected?
Once all data is collected and we have identified organs not vibrating at 100%. We then trigger the innate ability to heal through selecting combination homeopathic and herbal remedies. This stimulates cellular detoxification which brings the organs to function and heal through absorption of nutrients more efficiently.
How many EDS treatments will I need ?
On average 3-5 appointments are scheduled 6 to 8 weeks apart. When the body has come in full balance, client has the option to re-check the balance of organs during change of season . It’s important to atleast re-evaluate balance during spring and fall because organs tend to do most detox during that time. Imbalance and weaknesses are best identified and cleared during those times for most individuals.
How do you trigger the Body's Natural Ability to Heal?
Healing occurs because through the use of Acupuncture, Combination Homeopathics and Herbal Remedies organs receive nutrients and oxygen through increased Qi/vital force & circulation.Helaa
When will I come come back for my follow up appointment?
On the average appointments are repeated per 6 weeks. We will repeat the computerized ananlysis and compare results from previous appointment to asses progress. New herbal tinctures and homeopathic remedies are slected to work on the next group of organs still off balance.
If You're receiving Acupuncture
Acupuncture Uses needles to accomplish the goal. There are over 360 points on the body. Learning the functions of these points along with principles traditional oriental medicine, makes up the three-year post graduate program that a Licensed Acupuncturist completes in order to practice this ancient art.
How many Acupunture treatments will I need?
Generally, acute problems require less time and frequency of treatments. For example, an acute sprain may require only one or two treatments, whereas more chronic or severe ailments may require more frequent treatments.
What should I expect to happen during
my Acupuncture appointment?
If Acupuncture is administered, it is scheduled for once a week or every other week for the duration of four sessions. Herbal tinctures might be added to support client in between appointments. More appointments are scheduled if needed and eventually spread out three to four weeks apart until discomfort and pain is reduced or eliminated.
Are there risks or side effects to acupuncture?
Rarely mild bruising may occur. Acupuncture is a very safe method to promote natural healing and improve function. Acupuncture is extremely safe when performed by a professional who has completed all licensing requirements.
How long will it take for the acupuncture treatments to work?
A positive response to acupuncture treatments is generally seen after the first to fourth treatment.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture needles are 25-50 times thinner than a hypodermic needle. There is very little sensitivity to the insertion of acupuncture needles. While some people feel nothing at all, others experience a brief moment of discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin. The needles are left in place for twenty to forty minutes.
Acupuncture & Allergy
restore health & quality of life
LIVE PAIN FREE!
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Piano prodigy
Posted on Thursday October 2nd, 2014 by Rachael Peacock
Since she started learning piano at the tender age of two, Lydie Solomon has risen to stardom in the classical music industry, giving her first performance at just 10-years-old. The award-winning French pianist will open the 2014 – 2015 Abu Dhabi Classics season with a special tribute to Chopin. We caught up with her between concerts.
You began performing at a very young age. Do you think music and the arts are important for children?
I think music and art are very important to develop children’s sense of discipline, but also their sensitivity and generosity as well as their personality. But performing at a very high level at a young age can be dangerous if the only thing children are taught is the sense of competition, which is based on comparison and ranking. Art is made of creativity and diversity.
You’ve performed in various countries during your career. Do you find inspiration in foreign culture and music?
Yes, definitely. When I toured Cuba two years ago, I was totally immersed in
Cuban music. This allowed me to discover the links between Chopin’s music and Cubanmusic, which led me to my new album De Chopin à Cuba. In Mexico, I discovered a musical expression full of exaggeration, inspired by their rich baroque style of the past.
All these encounters allow me to discover new possibilities in my piano expression. So I am very excited that Abu Dhabi Classics has offered me the opportunity to play for the first time in an Arabic country, and to give a master class to music students. I am confident that this experience will lead me to new musical and human discoveries.
What is it about classical music that inspires you?
I discovered Beethoven when I was still in my mother’s womb. It’s no wonder why at the age of two, I played ‘Ode to Joy’ by ear on a piano. Beethoven showed me the path to other classical music geniuses like Mozart, Chopin, Brahms, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov and Ravel. As a little girl, there was nothing stronger than what I felt when I listened to this music. Later on, I discovered other musical cultures like jazz and Latin and Tibetan music, and I am very eager to discover more about Arabic music. Man’s genius is borderless!
You’re also a film and TV actress. What prompted this crossover?
At the age of nine I loved making up stories and involving my friends in role plays, with a stage setting and costumes – incidentally I discovered later that Chopin used to do the same. This was an artistic expression which only belonged to me: no judgement, no ranking. When I stopped my piano career, my need for artistic expression naturally led me to acting. Acting taught me that when I am on stage for a concert I have to tell a story to the audience.
Your recital at Abu Dhabi Classics, which is dedicated to composer Chopin, will open the season. Tell us a bit about your inspiration behind the performance.
When Chopin left Poland he was looking for universal fame. He could never return to Poland and during all his life he suffered from this. Being far from his beloved native land exalted his suffering and transformed it into a universal music with strong roots. Wherever he travelled in Europe, be it in Warsaw, Stuttgart, Majorca or Nohant, his compositions reflected his ‘cultural universality’.
With my multicultural background (my father is French with Romanian roots, my mother is Korean), I always look for a change of scene when I travel. And in each country I play in a different way.
What can we expect from the performance?
I think the public in Abu Dhabi has strong expectations about the Abu Dhabi Classics season, as it will be the first one after three years! What I hope is that the audience and I can share a moment of intimacy and strong emotions. And I hope everyone will feel they are part of the story.
Lydie Solomon presents Frédéric Chopin’s Journey at 8pm on 14th October at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island. Tickets are available from AED 100 at www.ticketmaster.ae, with a limited number of student tickets at AED 30.
To stay up to date, visit: www.abudhabievents.ae
Rachael Peacock
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blogs > Election of MMDCEs: A panacea for all local governance challenges?
Election of MMDCEs: A panacea for all local governance challenges?
By E. Gyimah-Boadi, executive director of Afrobarometer.
The agenda of deepening decentralized local government has seen considerable advancement under successive administrations of the 4th Republic of Ghana. Progress has been relatively impressive in the areas of administrative and fiscal decentralization, though significant challenges remain. But far less progress has been made in the area of political decentralization.
Two proposed constitutional amendments hold the prospect of breaking this longstanding stagnation in effective political decentralization. One seeks to allow for the election of metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives (MMDCEs) by citizens (amending Article 243(1) of the 1992 Ghana Constitution). The other would introduce multi-party competition in local government elections (amending Article 55(3) of the 1992 Ghana Constitution).
Both proposed amendments seem to positively respond to long-standing advocacy by many local government experts. Most important, they are consistent with the preferences of a clear majority of Ghanaians, according to Afrobarometer’s Round 7 survey conducted in 2017. More than two-thirds (69%) of Ghanaians say MMDCEs should be elected by voters (Figure 1). This includes 55% who “agree very strongly” with this option. One-quarter (25%) support the current system of presidential appointment with local government council approval.
Figure 1: Election vs. appointment of MMDCEs | Ghana | 2017
Respondents were asked: Which of the following statements is closest to your view?
Statement 1: The metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives or MMDCEs should be elected by voters in the local authority area.
Statement 2: The metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives or MMDCEs should be appointed by the president with approval by assembly members.
Support for electing MMDCEs does not vary significantly by respondents’ political-party affiliation, age, gender, or urban vs. rural settlement location, but is higher among better-educated citizens, ranging from 59% of those without formal schooling to 73% of those with post-secondary qualifications (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Election vs. appointment of MMDCEs | by political-party affiliation, education, age, gender, and settlement location | Ghana | 2017
(% who “agree” or “agree very strongly” that MMDCEs should be elected)
However, support for elective MMDCEs or partisan local government elections is far from unanimous. In fact, there are significant constitutional and legislative hurdles to overcome to achieve passage of the amendments. Amending Article 243(1), which is a non-entrenched provision, requires the approval of a two-thirds majority of all members of Parliament. And amendment of Article 55(3), which is an entrenched provision in the Constitution, requires a national referendum in which 40% of all qualified voters do vote and not less than 75% of the votes cast go in favor of the referendum question. There is thus a need to build nonpartisan/bipartisan across-the-board support for the proposed constitutional amendments, and to educate the public on what constitute essential pillars in the construction of firm foundations for effective, accountable, and inclusive decentralized local government. It is therefore fortuitous that the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA), and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) have formed a coalition to mobilize public support for the process.
Finally, though I am philosophically and professionally supportive of the two amendments, it is necessary to throw in a note of caution and offer some friendly advice. Electing MMDCEs would not necessarily address huge technocratic gaps; woefully inadequate funding, aggravated by the low ratio of Internally Generated Fund to District Assembly Common Fund; an entrenched culture of corruption, self-dealing, and elite self-service; and political apathy in our local communities. Therefore, those leading the advocacy for passage of the constitutional amendments must also forcefully push these related consequential reforms to ensure the achievement of effective, responsive, and inclusive local governance.
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Partial Compliance with Antipsychotics Increases Mental Health Hospitalizations in Schizophrenic Patients: Analysis of a National Managed Care Database
January 2009, Vol 2, No 1 - Clinical
Chris M. Kozma, PhD
Independent Research Consultant and
Adjunct Professor, College of Pharmacy,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC.
Peter J. Weiden, MD
Objective: To investigate the relationship between partial compliance with antipsychotic medication and mental health hospitalization in managed care patients with schizophrenia.
Study Design: We performed a retrospective evaluation of 1499 outpatients with ≥1 antipsychotic claims and a diagnosis of schizophrenia in a managed care database (PHARMetrics).
Methods: Patients were followed for 12 months after their initial oral antipsychotic prescribing event. Compliance was estimated by gaps in medication therapy, medication consistency and persistence, and medication possession ratio. Categorical and logistic regression analyses modeled effects of compliance, age, and gender on hospitalization risk.
Results: The managed care cohort had an overall hospitalization risk of 5.9% during followup. Increased hospitalization risk was associated with lower partial compliance, as measured by 3 of the 4 definitions. Patients with a maximum gap of >30 days were 4.7 times more likely to be hospitalized than those with a maximum gap of 0 to 10 days (P <.001). Low medication consistency of <70% and a medication possession ratio of <70% were significantly associated with increased risk of hospitalization (P <.001). Logistic regression analyses indicated that hospitalization odds decreased 16.9% (P <.001) and 18.8% (P <.001) for every 10% increase in medication possession ratio and medication consistency, respectively.
Conclusion: Small decreases in compliance with antipsychotics are associated with increased hospitalization risk among patients with schizophrenia in a managed care population. [AHDB. 2009;2(1):31-38]
Medication noncompliance is considered to be the single most important factor leading to relapse among patients with schizophrenia.1 One meta-analysis of maintenance antipsychotic treatment found that noncompliance causes about 40% of relapses.2 The advent of newer, second-generation oral antipsychotics has had a greater impact on efficacy than on adherence. For example, patients maintained on second-generation antipsychotics are about one third less likely to relapse compared with those receiving first-generation medications,3 but the overall gains in preventing nonadherence by moving from first-generation to second-generation medications have been much more modest.4
Schizophrenia is a very debilitating and expensive disease, resulting in $62.7 billion in direct and indirect costs in 2002 in the United States, of which $32.4 billion was indirect costs, including unemployment, reduced workplace productivity, family caregiving, and suicide. Direct healthcare costs totaled $22.8 billion ($8.0 billion in long-term care, $7.0 billion in outpatient costs, $2.8 billion inpatient, and $5.0 billion in drug therapy). In 2002, direct healthcare costs in terms of per member per year equaled $79 per US resident.5
Copay and Compliance
Studies in other therapeutic areas have demonstrated that increases in prescription drug copayments decrease compliance rates. For newly initiated renin angiotensin system blockers, every $1 increase in copayments per 30-day supply resulted in a 1.9% increased gap between refills, and a 2.8% increase in the odds of being nonpersistent (discontinued treatment).6 In a study of antihypertensive therapies, patients with a $20 copay had 76% of the compliance of those with a $5 copay; and those with a $20 to $165 copay had 48% of the compliance of those with a $5 copay.7 With oral hypoglycemic therapies, patients with a $10 increase in copay had an 18.5% reduction in utilization from baseline.8 An increase in copayment from $10 to $20 for statin therapy resulted in a 6% to 10% reduction in the number of fully compliant patients.9 When copayments were doubled across all therapeutic categories in one health plan, reductions in utilization ranged from 45% for nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs to 25% for diabetes medications.10 Conversely, a decrease in copayment resulted in a 7% to 14% increase in compliance in 4 of the 5 chronic medication categories studied.11 The relationship between compliance and copayment in schizophrenia has not been reported.
Other Factors Influencing Compliance In real-world practice, medication-taking behavior is complex and influenced by factors other than copayment. In a published review of 39 studies, the patientlevel factors most often associated with nonadherence in patients with schizophrenia included poor insight into the disease, negative attitude toward the medication, previous nonadherence, substance abuse, short illness duration, poor discharge planning, and poor therapeutic alliance.12
Representation of compliance as an "all-or-none" behavior, as implied by noncompliance versus compliance, does not accurately describe patient behaviors. In fact, several studies have found that "partial compliance" (taking some, but not all, prescribed medication) more accurately describes the pattern for most patients with schizophrenia.13,14 Partial compliance can take several forms, including taking an amount consistently less than that recommended, displaying irregular ("on" and "off") dosing behavior, and having discrete gaps in antipsychotic therapy (eg, patients unwilling or unable to refill prescriptions). Therefore, a new research emphasis has been placed on assessing the pattern and extent of noncompliant behaviors, and the degree of relapse risk associated with various levels of partial compliance.15,16
Administrative pharmacy claims data have become an increasingly important tool in compliance pattern evaluations,17,18 predicated on the general principle that the upper bound of patient compliance is limited by the availability of sufficient medication. Prescription claims have been used to estimate compliance in such chronic disease states as hypertension,19 congestive heart failure,20 and glaucoma.21 In combination with medical records, pharmacy claims data can also be used to demonstrate relationships between compliance behavior and outcomes (eg, hospitalization risk and increased healthcare costs) and are useful in examining patient response to disease management programs designed to enhance compliance behavior.22
We utilized 4 measures of partial compliance: medication possession ratio (MPR), medication consistency, gaps in medication therapy, and medication persistence.13,23,24 MPR, the most frequently used assessment in compliance evaluation, is a composite measure that incorporates assessment of both "skipping" and "quitting." 13,23 Consistency and medication gaps estimate compliance with reference to "skipped" doses. Persistence identifies discontinuation (quitting) behavior or a gap at the end of the observation period. A detailed description of each measure with an example calculation is provided in Table 1.
Utilizing all these 4 definitions, a recent study by Weiden and colleagues examined the relationship between partial compliance with antipsychotic treatment (MPR <0.7) and mental health hospitalization risk among 4325 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia in a California Medicaid database.24 The investigators found that lower compliance (across all 4 definitions) was associated with increased odds of hospitalization. Another study showed a similar relationship between partial or nonadherence to antipsychotic medication and rates of psychiatric hospitalizations in a Medicaid database of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.25 Partial compliance has also been shown to be a risk factor for hospitalization in the Veterans Administration, with patients having lower compliance (MPR <0.8) almost 2.5 times more likely to be admitted than patients with higher compliance (MPR 0.8-1.1).23
Previous research has not determined if the relationship between compliance and hospitalization exists in patients with schizophrenia in a managed care plan. The purpose of our analysis was to investigate if the relationship between partial compliance and increased hospital risk exists in a national managed care population.
At the time of our data extraction, the PHARMetrics data set contained claims data from more than 57 managed care organizations and 33 million patients, representing a cross section of the United States. This mental health subset was extracted from the larger PHARMetrics managed care database encompassing data from January 1, 2000, through February 28, 2002. Internal Review Board assessment was unnecessary because all personal identifiers were removed and at no time did investigators have knowledge of patients' identities. Patients meeting all the following criteria were included:
A diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] codes of 295.XX, 296.0X, 296.1X, 296.4X, or 296.9X) at any point during the period of available data
At least 1 oral antipsychotic claim in 1999
At least 2 dispensing events for any antipsychotic medication during the specified enrollment period (January 1, 2000-December 31, 2001)
Continuous enrollment in the same plan for at least 13 months after the index date (defined as the date of the patient's first antipsychotic prescription during the enrollment period).
As in the Weiden study,24 patients were excluded if they resided in a long-term care setting, received decanoate forms of antipsychotics, had a ratio of days dispensed to days' supply of ≥10 (an indication of potential problems with the days' supply field), had any missing or zero values in the quantity dispensed or days' supply field for any prescription event, had a bipolar diagnosis (ICD-9-CM codes of 296.0, 296.1, 296.4-296.8), or were more than 18 years of age. This type of exclusion ensures that medication gaps accurately depict partial compliance in patients with schizophrenia.24
The primary dependent measure was a dichotomous variable indicating the presence of at least 1 "mental health–related" hospitalization in the postindex year. Each unique hospitalization event was identified using an algorithm supplied by PHARMetrics. ICD-9-CM codes were selected for diagnoses for which antipsychotic use might prevent hospitalization.24
Compliance results were analyzed as both categorical and continuous measures. Using chi-square analysis, compliance measures were categorized according to predefined ranges to assess the relationship between categories and risk of hospitalization. Maximum gap categories were defined as 0, 1–10, 11–30, or >30 days; medication consistency and MPR categories, ≥70% compliance as good compliance and <70% compliance as partial compliance; medication persistence categories, ≥90% compliant and <90% as partial compliance or discontinued therapy. The literature suggests that a cutoff at 70% for MPR compliance measurements is reasonable. These levels were selected to maintain consistency in reporting the findings between this managed care population and the Medicaid population.24
Continuous measures were used for the logistic regression analyses to model relationships between various compliance measures and the presence of a mental health hospitalization during the 12-month follow-up. Independent models were used to analyze maximum gap, consistency and persistence, persistence alone, and MPR. Age and gender were also included in the logistic regression models as independent factors. Interactions were retained in the model if they added significantly to the explanatory power; variables were eliminated if they were insignificant and had a negative impact on model fit.
A total of 1499 patients met study inclusion and exclusion criteria, of which 699 (46.6%) were men and 800 (53.4%) were women (Table 2). The mean patient age (years ± SD) was 45.1 ± 12.4, ranging from 18 to 95 (median 46). Some 89 patients (5.9%) had at least 1 mental health hospitalization during the 12 months after the index date. The mean number ± SD of mental health hospitalizations per patient was 0.08 ± 0.35; the maximum number of mental health hospitalizations was 4. The mean number of hospitalized days per patient was 0.68 ± 3.94 (range 0-87).
The mean number ± SD of dispensing events (prescription claims) in this population was 12.9 ± 9.3, and there was an average ± SD of 1.34 ± 0.63 different antipsychotic drug entities dispensed per patient. A total of 1399 patients had at least 3 dispensing events for a single drug, permitting assessment of medication consistency. On average, the study population seemed compliant, with mean values ± SD of 0.833 ± 0.206 for consistency, 0.926 ± 0.193 for persistence, and 0.761 ± 0.247 for MPR. The average theoretical maximum gap in therapy ± SD was 50.8 ± 72.5 days (median 19 days).
Regarding medication gap analysis, the percentage of patients with at least 1 mental health hospitalization rose with each increasing increment of maximum gap (Figure 1). A significantly higher proportion of patients with a maximum gap >30 days (10.1%) experienced a mental health hospitalization than did those with maximum medication gaps of 1 to 10 days (2.3%; P <.001 vs >30 days) and 11 to 30 days (4.6%; P = .0016 vs >30 days). Comparisons to patients with a maximum gap of 0 days are noteworthy despite the relatively small number of patients (n = 33). No patients with 0 days of maximum gap were hospitalized.
A 0- to 10-day gap category (combining the 0 and 1-10–day groups) was used as the reference group in the logistic regression since there were no hospitalizations for patients in the 0 days of maximum gap category (ie, the logistic regression will not converge). Compared with patients in the 0- to 10-day group, the odds of hospitalization were 2.099 times greater (P = .0569) and 4.659 times greater (P <.001) for the 11- to 30-day and >30-day groups, respectively (Table 3).
Maximum gap length was also evaluated as a continuous measure using logistic regression analysis. In this model, each increase of 5 days in maximum potential gap per prescription at any time during the 1-year study was associated with a 2.1% increase (P = .004) in the odds of hospitalization. In addition, a 10-year increase in age was associated with reductions in the risk of hospitalization in all maximum gap models described above (25.0%-26.7%; largest P =.018).
Partial compliance, assessed using consistency and MPR, was significantly associated with increased risk of hospitalization (Figure 2). Patients who were ≥70% compliant, as measured by the MPR, were significantly less likely to have been hospitalized than those who were <70% compliant (4% vs 10.4%; P <.001), as were those with consistency ≥70% versus <70% (4.0% vs 9.6%; P <.001). Using the more common 80% criterion for MPR and consistency, similar results were found. Patients who were ≥80% compliant, as measured by the MPR, were significantly less likely to have been hospitalized than those who were <80% compliant (3% vs 10.4%; P <.001), as were those with consistency ≥80% versus <80% (3.8% vs 8.5%; P <.001). The difference in hospitalization risk among patients who were <90% compliant by the persistence measure was not statistically significant when compared with patients who were =90% compliant (8.2% vs 5.5%; P = .1096).
Logistic regression analyses supported the categorical analysis findings. The odds of hospitalization were significantly affected by both compliance and age when using either the MPR or the consistency models. A 10% increase in compliance was associated with reductions in the odds of hospitalization of 16.9% for MPR (P <.001) and 18.8% for consistency (P <.001). A 10-year increase in age was associated with reductions in the risk of hospitalization, by 31.1% in the consistency model (P = .003), by 28.4% in the persistence model (P = .004), and by 26.1% in the MPR model (P = .012). Similar to the categorical analysis findings, medication persistence did not reach statistical significance as a predictor of hospitalization (P = .1334). Patient gender was not significant in the logistic regression models.
The results of this retrospective study of pharmacy claims data from a large, national managed care database support the relationship, among patients with schizophrenia, between partial compliance with antipsychotic medication regimens and increased risk of mental health hospitalization. The relationship was statistically significant across 3 of the 4 definitions of compliance measured: maximum gap, medication consistency, and MPR. The results from categorical and logistic regression analyses were also similar across 3 of the 4 definitions. Although there is ample literature documenting noncompliance and increased relapse risk, many previous studies had only one measure for assessing noncompliance. Few studies have analyzed the impact of a comprehensive range of compliance behaviors.
The conceptual framework and the compliance variables employed in our study are similar to those used in a recent study of patients with schizophrenia in a Medicaid population.23 The Medicaid study, based on a larger patient population (4325 vs 1499), produced results remarkably similar to those in the present study with regard to the relationship between compliance and hospitalization and the statistical significance of the findings. Both the Medicaid study and the current analysis were based on patient populations that had low discontinuation rates: 97.0% and 84.6% of the respective populations achieved persistence for >90% of the 1-year study period. Even within these relatively compliant, yet different patient populations, there was a significant and consistent relationship between multiple measures of partial compliance and increased hospitalization risk.
The maximum gap findings, which defined 4 different categories of compliance as independent variables, are particularly compelling in this regard: the odds of hospitalization rose with each increment of partial compliance. Each 5-day increase in the maximum potential gap in therapy was associated with a 2.1% increase in the odds of hospitalization (eg, from 5.9% to 6.02% for a 5-day gap, or a 50-day gap increases the patients' baseline risk level by 21%). If their baseline risk is 5.9%, the risk of hospitalization is 7.1% (5.9 X 1.21) after a maximum potential 50-day gap in therapy. The average maximum gap in this population was 50.8 days between 2 prescriptions.
This managed care study and the Weiden Medicaid study had the same directional relationship between persistence and hospitalization risk; however, the relationship was not statistically significant in the managed care population. The difference can be partially attributed to the different study population sizes. A relationship was expected because persistence is the measurement of the maximum gap that exists (if any) at the end of the study period.
The most significant difference between the 2 study populations is the overall rate of psychiatric hospitalization; 5.9% in the managed care study versus 15.1% in the Medicaid study.17 It is difficult to identify a single factor that explains the 2.5-fold difference. It is possible that Medicaid patients may represent a more severe illness spectrum than do those in the PHARMetrics database. Although hospitalization rates differed in the 2 studies, both analyses indicated a significant relationship between partial compliance and risk of mental health hospitalization. Copayments were likely to be higher in the managed care (commercial) population versus the Medicaid population, and their hospitalization rates were lower.
This study was subject to all of the limitations of a nonexperimental study. The presence of an association does not necessarily indicate causation. It is possible, and perhaps likely, that patients with poor compliance may also have other poor health habits that might be related to hospitalization; however, given the theoretical link between compliance and relapse in schizophrenia, the results are logical from a clinical standpoint. A double-blind randomized trial in which patients are randomly assigned to a noncompliant or subtherapeutic regimen with gaps in therapy is not likely to be seen as ethical, so nonexperimental designs are necessary.
Other limitations in our study that may restrict the generalizability of these findings include the retrospective nature of the analysis and the use of inclusion/exclusion criteria that resulted in a population with slightly higher levels of compliance than those in the general population (ie, patients who had <2 dispensing events/claims [ultra-low compliance, tolerability, or lack of efficacy] during the study period were excluded). Our data analysis was restricted to variables consistently represented in the PHARMetrics database and to plans that included "days' supply" and "quantity dispensed" as part of pharmacy records. These data were necessary to calculate the partial compliance measures. Patient samples are not included in the claims database.
Future research using medical records could be conducted to assess the association between compliance and more intermediate outcomes of relapse that occur before hospitalization. This would provide a more sensitive understanding of the negative patient outcomes prehospitalization and their relationship to compliance. Furthermore, a study conducted with intermediate negative outcomes from medical records could explore the potential modifiers of hospitalization risk that are not reflected in a claims database, including baseline disease severity, duration of schizophrenia, socioeconomic status, and the availability and use of nonpharmacologic (psychosocial) therapies.
Increased attention to improving compliance across the entire range of partial compliance behavior and removing barriers to compliance (by using behavioral interventions, removing or lowering economic barriers such as copayments, or using new compliance-friendly drug delivery systems) may improve outcomes and lower costs in schizophrenia treatment. Future research is needed to determine if removal of economic barriers (copayments) directly results in a reduction in relapse costs through an improvement in compliance.
The findings of this study, based on a managed care population of patients with schizophrenia, indicate that partial compliance with oral antipsychotic treatment is associated with a significantly increased risk of hospitalization. These results are consistent with a previous analysis of compliance measures in a Medicaid population of patients with schizophrenia. This present study highlights the central role of medication compliance in long-term treatment of schizophrenia.
This study was supported by Ortho-McNeil Janssen Medical Affairs.
Dr Kozman is a consultant for Ortho-McNeil Janssen. Dr Weiden receives grant support from AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, and Ortho-McNeil Janssen, and is a consultant for and on the Speaker's Bureau for AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Ortho-McNeil Janssen, Organon, Pfizer, Shire, Vanda, and Wyeth.
1. Ayuso-Gutierrez JL, del Rio Vega JM. Factors influencing relapse in the long-term course of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 1997;28:199-206.
2.Weiden PJ, Olfson M. Cost of relapse in schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull. 1995;21:419-429.
3. Csernansky JG, Mahmoud R, Brenner R; Risperidone-USA-79 Study Group. A comparison of risperidone and haloperidol for the prevention of relapse in patients with schizophrenia. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:16-22.
4. Velligan DI, Lam F, Ereshefsky L, et al. Psychopharmacology: perspectives on medication adherence and atypical antipsychotic medications. Psychiatr Serv. 2003;54:665-667.
5. Wu EQ, Birnbaum HG, Shi L, et al. The economic burden of schizophrenia in the United States in 2002. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005;66:1122-1129.
6. Zhang D, Carlson AM, Gleason PP, et al. Relationship of the magnitude of member cost-share and medication persistence with newly initiated renin angiotensin system blockers. J Manag Care Pharm. 2007;13: 664-676.
7. Taira DA, Wong KS, Frech-Tamas F, et al. Copayment level and compliance with antihypertensive medication: analysis and policy implications for managed care. Am J Manag Care. 2006;12:678-683.
8. Roblin DW, Platt R, Goodman MJ, et al. Effect of increased cost-sharing on oral hypoglycemic use in five managed care organizations: how much is too much? Med Care. 2005;43:951-959.
9. Goldman DP, Joyce GF, Karaca-Mandic P. Varying pharmacy benefits with clinical status: the case of cholesterol-lowering therapy. Am J Manag Care. 2006;12:21-28.
10. Goldman DP, Joyce GF, Escarce JJ, et al. Pharmacy benefits and the use of drugs by the chronically ill. JAMA. 2004;29:2344-2350.
11. Chernew ME, Shah MR, Wegh A, et al. Impact of decreasing copayments on medication adherence within a disease management environment. Health Aff (Millwood). 2008;27:103-112.
12. Lacro JP, Dunn LB, Dolder CR, et al. Prevalence of and risk factors for medication nonadherence in patients with schizophrenia: a comprehensive review of recent literature. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63:892-909.
13. Docherty JP, Grogg AL, Kozman C, et al. Antipsychotic maintenance in schizophrenia: partial compliance and clinical outcome. Poster presented at: the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 41st Annual Meeting; December 8-12, 2002; San Juan, Puerto Rico.
14. McCombs JS, Nichol MB, Stimmel GL, et al. Use patterns for antipsychotic medications in Medicaid patients with schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry. 1999;60(suppl 19):5-11; discussion 12-13.
15. Keith SJ, Kane JM. Partial compliance and patient consequences in schizophrenia: our patients can do better. J Clin Psychiatry. 2003;64: 1308-1315.
16. Marder SR. Overview of partial compliance. J Clin Psychiatry. 2003;64(suppl 16):3-9.
17. Steiner JF, Koepsell TD, Fihn SD, et al. A general method of compliance assessment using centralized pharmacy records: description and validation. Med Care. 1988;26:814-823.
18. Steiner JF, Prochazka AV. The assessment of refill compliance using pharmacy records: methods, validity, and applications. J Clin Epidemiol. 1997;50:105-116.
19. Maronde RF, Chan LS, Larsen FJ, et al. Underutilization of antihypertensive drugs and associated hospitalization. Med Care. 1989;27:1159-1166.
20. Monane M, Bohn RL, Gurwitz JH, et al. Noncompliance with congestive heart failure therapy in the elderly. Arch Intern Med. 1994;154:433-437.
21. Gurwitz JH, Glynn RJ, Monane M, et al. Treatment for glaucoma: adherence by the elderly. Am J Public Health. 1993;83:711-716.
22. Skaer TL, Sclar DA, Markowski DJ, et al. Effect of value-added utilities on prescription refill compliance and Medicaid health care expenditures—a study of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Pharm Ther. 1993;18:295-299.
23. Valenstein M, Copeland LA, Blow FC, et al. Pharmacy data identify poorly adherent patients with schizophrenia at increased risk for admission. Med Care. 2002;40:630-639.
24. Weiden PJ, Kozma C, Grogg A, et al. Partial compliance and risk of rehospitalization among California Medicaid patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatr Serv. 2004;55:886-891.
25. Gilmer TP, Dolder CR, Lacro JP, et al. Adherence to treatment with antipsychotic medication and health care costs among Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry. 2004;161:692-699.
Stakeholder Perspective
Encouraging Compliance Key for Positive Outcomes in Schizophrenia/Chronic Diseases
Paul Anthony Polansky, BSPharm, MBA
PATIENTS: Although schizophrenia is a particularly onerous disease, all chronic diseases have many issues that are exacerbated by noncompliance. Patients would be better able to function in society when maintained on proper medication therapy. Medication compliance is not easy for the patient with schizophrenia and often requires an involved family/community support system to remain engaged and ensure favorable outcomes. All patients need to be active participants in their therapy, understanding disease progression and the consequences of poor management. Of particular interest in this study is that Medicaid schizophrenia patients had a much greater relapse and hospitalization rate than other patients, suggesting that although out-of-pocket cost can be a determining factor of noncompliance, other issues likely have notable impact on medication compliance. Realistically, although particularly dramatic in schizophrenia, noncompliance will have negative results for all patients requiring maintenance therapies.
PHYSICIANS: Physicians must help manage patients' expectations and educate them about the importance of medication compliance. They need to direct patients to social support services and know what programs can be accessed to relieve financial burdens of medication compliance. Physicians could also have patients' refill records provided on a regular basis or during follow-up visits to confirm compliance.
PAYERS: Payers need to drive value-based care by finding opportunities to encourage compliance. This, in return, will provide benefits by decreasing the need for additional service and care driven by adverse events associated with noncompliance. Payers must look at all available tools to keep patients compliant, focusing on their physician and pharmacy providers to identify at-risk patients and provide follow-up care. Using educational programs, disease management programs, and counselors as needed to provide patients with pathways to selfadvocacy is imperative to ensure compliance.
Real-World Dose Modification Patterns of Subcutaneous Tocilizumab Among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rajeshwari Punekar, MPH, PhD, Jeannie Choi, PharmD, Susan H. Boklage, MS, MPH, Melitza Iglesias-Rodriguez, MD, Kamala Nola, PharmD, MS
December 2019 Vol 12, No 8 published on December 27, 2019 in Clinical, Original Research
Employer-Sponsored Wellness Programs for Hypertension and Dyslipidemia in a 2-Hospital Health System
Anne Misher, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDE, Jessica Brown, PharmD, Christina Maguire, PharmD, Alix P. Schnibben, PharmD, BCACP, CTTS
October 2019 Vol 12, No 6 published on October 16, 2019 in Clinical, Original Article
Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors and Joint Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Older Veterans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Pragya Rai, MS, Nilanjana Dwibedi, PhD, Mazhgan Rowneki, MPH, Drew A. Helmer, MD, MS, Usha Sambamoorthi, PhD
September 2019 Vol 12, No 5 published on September 17, 2019 in Clinical, Original Research
Charlson Comorbidity Index: ICD-9 Update and ICD-10 Translation
William P. Glasheen, PhD, Tristan Cordier, MPH, Rajiv Gumpina, MS, Gilbert S. Haugh, MS, Jared Davis, MD, MBA, Andrew Renda, MD, MPH
June/July 2019 Vol 12, No 4 published on July 18, 2019 in Clinical, Original Research
Group-Based Trajectory Models to Identify Sociodemographic and Clinical Predictors of Adherence Patterns to Statin Therapy Among Older Adults
Aisha Vadhariya, PhD Candidate, Marc L. Fleming, PhD, MPH, RPh, Michael L. Johnson, PhD, E. James Essien, MD, DrPH, Omar Serna, PharmD, BCACP, Tara Esse, PharmD, BCACP, Jeannie Choi, PharmD, Susan H. Boklage, MS, MPH, Susan M. Abughosh, PhD
Copyright © 2019 Engage Healthcare Communications, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Clacton Airshow 2008
The summer holiday season sees a number of seaside events at resorts up and down the country. The event at Clacton is held on the Thursday and Friday leading into the August Bank Holiday weekend to extent the busy peak period for the local attractions, hotels and restaurants. While much smaller than it's Southend counterpart just a few miles sround the coast, Clacton Airshow 2008 was a much more pleasant experience with bright blues skies and just the slightest shower! Paul Johnson/Flightline UK reports. All photography copyright of the Author.
The airshow at Clacton has been running for a number of years now. It's main purpose is to extent the busy bank holiday weekend for all the local leisure and tourist business, hence the displays being held on a Thursday and Friday. While nowhere near as big as the shows at Southend or Lowestoft, it does manage to pull in a number of military and civilian acts to attract the crowds. The last couple of years have seen the show badly hit by the good old British Summer, but in a year where some other major shows have suffered Clacton got away lightly. Thursday was dry which some sunny spells while Friday had a breif shower but blues skies more most of the day.
In comparison with other flying displays, Clacton is a very small affair. It doesn't want to compete directly with the other local shows and retains a far more intimate feel than some of the really big seaside show. The show may offer little that die-hard enthusiasts will see elsewhere, but for the photographer can offer a number of unique vantage points. Favourtites are the area around the Martello Tower and the Pier which offers a unique view looking down the display line or even back over towards the crowds for some of the slower and lower display items. One of the problems for the display participants at Clacton is where to base. There is the Clacton Aero Club just a matter of yards up the coast road from the display site but it's far too small to accomodate many of the aircraft taking part and doesn't offer much in the way of secure hangerage. Many of the display acts operate from Southend, but some choose other airfields in the locality or even their home base. With aircraft coming in from all points of the compass it's quite a job to organise them in all into a display so hats off to Ray Thilithorpe for producing a nice flowing airshow.
As is the case with quite a few of the seaside airshows the RAF is well represeented. Kicking things off for the light blues was the Grob Tutor T1 flown by Andy Preece. It's easy for a small quiet aircraft to be lost in the big coastal skies. However Andy's close in aerobatic routine is always good to watch. The Tucano T1 never has the problem of being too quite. Stew Campbells display shows off the virtues of the basic trainer to great effect enhanced by another great display scheme for 2008. Another aircraft sporting a snazzy display scheme for 2008 is the Hawk T1 flown by Dave Davies. With the coastal air containing plenty of moisture, the Hawk's display was highlighted well by the wingtip vortices which at times were just like display smoke.
Smoke is not a problem for the civilian acts appearing at Clacton. Team Guinot are always a crwod pleasing act at a venue like Clacton. Clacton saw displays by two different teams of pilots and wingwalkers as the team had a number of different appearances over the Bank Holiday weekend. Just as effective as the smoke from the Stearmans was the smoke from the Piper Pawnee towing Guy Westgate in Swift glider. Guy was joined by Pete Wells in the Silence Twister and Justyn Gorman in the Vans RV4 in the largest display yet mounted by the team showcasing aerobatics by modern homebuilts and purpose built gliders. The Blades also appeared on both days of the show highlight the performance of the purpose built Extra 300LP. Three Yak-50s from the Aerostars also appeared on the Friday from their base at North Weald displaying formation and solo aerobatics.
Historic aircraft made a small but valuable contribution to the flying displays. The RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight were on hand to display the RAF's second world war history with the full team of Lancaster, Spitfire II and Hurricane. US forces were a common sight in this part of the world during the latter stages of the second world war so it was good to see Peter Teichman's P-51D Mustang displaying over the essex coast. Later American air power was represented by Roy Corstin flying the Radial Revelations operated T-28 Fennec.
However, the show stars were of course the Red Arrows and the first Clacton appearance by the Eurofighter Typhoon F2 in the hands of Flt Lt Charlie Matthews. Both displays had everyone looking skywards in awe of the skillful flying both displays show.
Clacton may not have the rare aircraft or massed warbirds of other shows, but it is a very entertaining show in it's own right. It has a charm that many other seaside shows are simply unable to offer because of their large size and long may that continue.
Military Might
Swift Carnival
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Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018
Amida Buddha, Japan, Heian period, 11th-12th Century. Wood with traces of gilding, inlaid crystals, 88 x 71 x 49.5 cm (34.75 x 28 x 19.5 in.). Image courtesy Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018.
Provenance: An inscription on the interior of the figure refers to Nansho-in temple, Japan, 1729.
Nonko (Raku Dōnyū), A Raku pottery sake bottle with European figures, Japan - 17th century, Edo period. Ceramic, 17 x 20 cm (6.7 x 7.9 in.). Image courtesy Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018.
Provenance: Saiuchi Kyushiro, Japan.
Literature: Yasumasa Oka, Winds from Afar: Europe through the Eyes of Edo-period Kyoto, Kyoto, 2000, 2-17, 44.
Exhibited: Kyoto, The Museum of Kyoto, ‘Winds From Afar: Europe through the Eyes of Edo-period Kyoto’, 10 March - 9 April 2000 Tokyo, Tobacco & Salt Museum, ‘Winds From Afar: Europe through the Eyes of Edo-period Kyoto’, 22 April - 28 May 2000.
Tosa School, A Japanese six-fold screen with a map of Buzen and Bungo provinces, depicting numerous figures and ships at sea amongst golden clouds, Japan, Circa 1621-1632, Edo period. Ink, color, gold and silver on paper,177.5 x 387.5 cm (70 x 152.6 in.). Image courtesy Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018.
This panoramic, bird’s-eye view of Buzen and Bungo provinces (modern day Oita and Fukuoka prefectures) in northern Kyushu shows a map of the area, part of the Seto Inland Sea as well as various genre scenes minutely detailing local people’s life in the early 17th century.
Numerous paper labels indicate important places and landmarks such as castles, a Buddhist temple and a Shinto shrine. The iconography used here can determine the date of the screen as it would have been intended as a literal representation of the primary sites of the area, portraying buildings which were extant at the time the screen was created. The only daimyo to own the Nakatsu castle as well as the entire area depicted in this screen, including the old Kitsuke castle in Bungo province, was Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563-1646).
The amount of detail depicted in this screen gives us a valuable insight to the daily life of the local people who are meticulously represented: farmers harvesting, threshing grain and herding cattle, fishermen beside the sea, samurai, pilgrims, a man pounding mochi (rice cake), a mother comforting her infant and children playing whilst making a large snow ball etc. Various people full of character enjoying their everyday lives in the villages give life to this spectacular map landscape.
Provenance: Most likely commissioned by Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563-1646), daimyo (feudal lord) of Buzen and Bungo provinces from 1600 to 1632.
Unkoku Toeki, A two-fold screen depicting three Chinese scholars playing go in a boat in a winter landscape, Japan, 17th century, Edo period. Ink and gold leaf on paper, 173 x 192 cm (68.1 x 75.6 in.). Signed 'Sesshū Basson Hokkyō Tōeki Hitsu' (Painted by Unkoku Tōeki, rank of Hokkyō, a descendant of Sesshū). Image courtesy Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018.
Artist Unknown, A two-fold paper screen with two nightingales in flight in a mountainous river landscape, Japan, 18th century. Ink, color and gold leaf on paper, 172.5 x 187.5 cm (67.9 x 73.8 in.). Image courtesy Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018.
Hakuin Ekaku (1686 - Japan - 1768), A paper kakemono (hanging scroll) painted in ink with Daruma, Japan, 18th century, Edo period. Ink on paper, 119.5 x 58.5 cm (47 x 22 in.) (scroll). Signed 'Hakuin'. Image courtesy Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018.
Chuho, the 418th Abbot of Daitoku-ji Temple, Kyoto, A kakemono (hanging scroll) with the character "ichi" (one, "the beginning"), Japan, 18th-19th century, Edo period. Ink on paper, 160 x 134 cm (63 x 52.8 in.). Zen-Daitoku Chūhō-sō sho (Written by an old man Chūhō, formerly of Daitoku-ji Temple). Image courtesy Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018.
Ishiyama Taihaku (Yamagata, 1893 - 1961), A pair of two-fold screens with egrets perched on the branches of a willow tree, Japan, 1934. Ink, color and silver leaf on paper, 176.5 x 180 cm (69.5 x 70.9 in.) each. Signed 'Taihaku sei' (Made by Taihaku). Image courtesy Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018.
Osamu Suzuki, A ceramic sculpture mounted on a wood panel covered with black canvas, Japan, Circa 1960. Ceramic and wood on canvas, 45.5 x 60.5 cm (18 x 23.8 in.) Signed 'Su' lower right; signed 'Suzuki Osamu saku' with seal on reverse. Image courtesy Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018.
Takeo Yamaguchi (Seoul, 1902 - Tokyo, 1983), Ko (Suburbs), Japan, 1972. Oil on board, 31 x 44.5 cm (12.2 x 17.5 in.). Image courtesy Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018.
Literature: Takeo Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi Takeo Sakuhin Shu (Catalogue Raisonne of Takeo Yamaguchi), Tokyo, 1981, 370, 229.
Gregg Baker Asian Art specialises in antique Japanese screens, with the largest stock in Europe. Other works of art range from metalwork, in the form of flower vessels and sculpture, to lacquer ware, scrolls, scholar’s objects and Buddhist art, not only from Japan but also selected works from China and Korea. The gallery also offers Japanese post-war painting, calligraphy and sculpture, an important area of Japanese art that is currently being rediscovered by art lovers across the globe.
Gregg Baker holds regular exhibitions at the gallery and participates in several international art fairs which include TEFAF Maastricht, TEFAF New York Fall and Asian Art in London. In an effort to raise awareness of Japanese art, we give gallery talks to clients and to students from SOAS, the British Museum, the V&A and the Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
The gallery is instrumental in advising and building collections for clients and supplying additions to the collections of museums and institutions in Great Britain, U.S.A., Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Japan.
Gregg Baker. 142 Kensington Church Street London W8 4BN United Kingdom +44 2072213533 See map Visit website
Posté par : Alain Truong à 23:00 - Art du Japon/Japanese Art - Commentaires [0] - Permalien [#]
Tags : Amida Buddha, Chuho, Hakuin Ekaku, Ishiyama Taihaku, Nonko, Osamu Suzuki, Takeo Yamaguchi, Unkoku Toeki
EXPOSITION "TERRES DE RIZ" AU MUSÉE GUIMET...
Terres de riz au Musée Guimet. PARIS - Le MNAAG possède une riche collection photographique sur le thème du...
A COPPER-RED BOTTLE VASE, QING DYNASTY, 18TH-19TH...
Lot 723. A Copper-Red Bottle Vase, Qing Dynasty, 18th-19th Century; 23.5 cm, 9 1/4 in. Estimate 150,000 —...
Dai ichi arts, 'the grandeur of japanese ceramics: from tea ware to sculpture' at asia week new york 2015
Gregg baker asian art at tefaf maastrich 2017
Gregg baker asian art at masterpiece london 2017
Exhibition focuses on that silent yet powerful act of transmission of buddhist philosophy
Gregg baker asian art at tefaf maastricht, march 10-18, 2018
Significant collection of asian art makes its us debut at the kimbell
Painting and calligraphy by zen masters on view at the new orleans museum of art
Twenty treasures of japanese metalwork to lead asian art sales at bonhams new york
A standing figure of amida buddha, momoyama (1573-1615) or edo period (1615-1868), 17th century
Masterpieces of japanese art donated to the met, freer│sackler, and portland art museum
Commentaires sur Gregg Baker, Stand 353 at TEFAF New York Fall 2018
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Top 100 Korean Songs Of 2018: #100 – #91
IATFB 01/08/2019 Editorials, K-Entertainment, Lists Leave A Comment
The rankings for Asian Junkie‘s Top 100 Korean Songs Of 2018 starts now, so I suppose the mess can truly begin.
Sorry in advance for only doing 10 at a time, but after all the work I put in for this, I fucking deserve to milk it.
Any song released by a Korean artist in 2018 is eligible to be included on this list.
#100 – Bolbbalgan4 – “Travel”
While I haven’t been all that enamored with Bolbbalgan4 as everybody else in recent years, their simplistic style understandably has widespread appeal. With “Travel” they’ve definitely taken a step forward in my book, keeping their acoustic roots but speeding up the tempo to create an addicting dance-pop offering.
While the choral refrain can get a bit repetitive over time, the bouncy energy and timeless sound paves over any quibbles. “Travel” is just exceedingly easy to get into, and the feel-good quality it exudes from every note is the perfect recipe for any sunny summer day.
#99 – Babylon Featuring VINXEN – “One More Night”
While I’m a fan of r&b, a lot of the time I feel like many artists within the genre confuse lazy and boring for seductive and emotional. Thankfully on “One More Night” at least Babylon seemed to understand the difference, giving the song a bit of tempo with a surprisingly funky instrumental that stars a vibrating bassline.
The chorus stood out in particular with a memorable “just one more night, night with you” refrain that’s always something to look forward to. Risking blasphemy, there’s also seemingly Michael Jackson-inspired falsetto runs to close that work excellently.
“One More Night” doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, that’s definitely true. However, the level of execution is more than sufficient to craft an eminently listenable effort.
#98 – BTOB’s Ilhoon – “She’s Gone”
As somebody that was unfamiliar with BTOB‘s Ilhoon, “She’s Gone” was an unexpected gem. Ilhoon acquitted himself well here despite being tasked with both singing and rapping, not exactly taking it to the next level but never faltering either.
Regardless, it’s definitely the production of “She’s Gone” that’s the star. While the central melody never quite achieves what I desired, the instrumentation compensates for that, as it comes at the listener with this infectious bluesy rock core that has guitar riffs stealing the show. I came away from it feeling like there was another level lurking inside of “She’s Gone”, but even as is, it’s a subtly addictive track with a solid replayability factor.
#97 – ACE – “Take Me Higher”
After getting over the 180-degree change in direction for ACE‘s sound, “Take Me Higher” reveals itself as quite the addictive and jubilant track. It does rely a ton on the chorus at the center of it, as everything on the periphery is rather ho-hum. Thankfully then, the chorus is a standout, bursting with energy as the “take me higher” refrain definitely has that impact on the listener aurally.
While I can be a cynical curmudgeon, feel-good songs like this always have a place in my heart, likely because they they provide a brief escape from the constant reminder that humanity was a mistake and the extinction of our species would be a gift to the universe.
#96 – WJSN – “Save Me Save You”
Like many WJSN singles, “Save Me Save You” is less about a signature hook-y moment and more about creating a whole atmosphere for the listener to immerse themselves in. Well, it’s incredibly successful on that front, continuing their spacey synth-pop sound and crafting a mature, fantastical song.
While the melody was nice, the peak of both the chorus and the song itself left me a bit wanting. “Save Me Save You” just lacks a bit of punch somewhere that would’ve taken it over the top, but regardless, it’s just a beautiful overall experience.
#95 – Lovelyz – “Like U”
Lovelyz have especially excelled lately at selling an atmosphere through their music, and efforts such as “Like U” are evidence of that. The verses could use a bit of work, but the build of the dreamy pre-chorus is well done, and then things drop back down a bit heading into the chorus. That’s where “Like U” successfully gets into catchy hook-song territory with the “you about you” repetition embedding itself into your brain immediately.
The pacing is a preference and the one on this doesn’t quite mesh with my own, but “Like U” is still effective because it supplements the track’s general ambiance with a nice impactful moment in the chorus. Also, the replayability of the song was a pleasant surprise.
#94 – Golden Child – “Genie”
“Genie” is such an annoying song in a way, as it’s just a constant assault of happiness and bliss. It’s unapologetically peppy with a bright rhythm that never lets up and constantly pushes the song forward. The whole effort is just rock-solid from start to finish and leaves one feeling invigorated in the end.
While Golden Child didn’t end up placing any more songs in this ranking, they did have a bunch of songs (like four or five) that placed within the next 50 spots but ended up cut, so 2018 definitely represented a musical breakout year for the group. Hopefully they follow up with a successful 2019 and keep pushing in this direction instead of taking the foot off the gas pedal like one of 2017’s biggest musical breakout groups in SNUPER.
#93 – NU’EST W – “Help Me”
“Help Me” is a lot like WANNA ONE‘s “Energetic” for me in that I don’t actually fancy the song much at all. The verses aren’t all that memorable and the overall sound NU’EST W employ is the same moody one that seemingly every boy group in K-pop uses at least once a year nowadays.
But fuck there’s just that one moment that’s undeniably impactful and elevates the entire thing. It’s a rather grand chorus considering the rest of the song, exploding into the intense “oh nal wihaeseo help me” refrain that’s appropriately angsty as hell, and … I mean it kinda brings the whole thing together. Like I wouldn’t seek out “Help Me” for a listen, but if it ever were to come up, I’m definitely keeping it on because I know that refrain is coming and I wouldn’t dare miss it.
#92 – Up That Brown – “What Is It”
I wasn’t entirely sure back in early January if “What Is It” would hold up at the end of the year, as while it was definitely funky with a wonderful brass-heavy chorus, I was skeptical about how the relative simplicity of it may age.
Well when I listened to it again for this ranking, thankfully I could feel the “sexy goo groove” of Up That Brown in all its glory, as the song is still an incredibly pleasant listen and features a foot-tapping rhythm throughout that’s fortunately rather timeless.
#91 – Choi Sam – “Kkotbaem”
Kkotbaem is Korean slang that’s used derogatorily towards women, something like a succubus, and you’ve likely seen it thrown around before by netizens. Well Choi Sam using it as the title of her song isn’t even for the purpose of reclaiming it or anything like that, rather on “Kkotbaem” she kinda uses it as something of a taunt, as if to say that it’s cute that you call her names and stuff but actually how about I add a little fucking murder to the equation. So yeah, it’s awesome.
“I’ll bite you then chew your bones whole and then swallow,
I’ll spit blood on the torn flesh and the mark is gone,
Scream more, weep and wail more,
Try to escape, try more, more, a little more,
You remember my teeth but you don’t know all of them,
I open my mouth, so get a close look inside,
I suddenly close it and burst your skull,
Spread the rumors about me with your crushed face,
Say I’m a floozy bitch.”
It starts off with this vivid imagery from the jump and never lets up, and I feel like is the type of shit everybody should actually be yelling “yasss queen” or whatever the fuck to.
But other than the shocking nature of the lyrics, there’s also social commentary involved, as the choral refrain makes a point about who is responsible for her attitude.
“I’m still groveling, because you broke my legs,
Everybody’s groveling, because they broke us,
Still groveling, groveling, I’ll bite you off,
Then I’ll devour you all.”
She builds on that later on in the song.
“Yeah, they all blame me,
In that case, if everything is my fault regardless,
If even me being born and living is my fault,
The me who lives in a biased ‘equality’,
Doesn’t feel like wanting to stay here anymore,
What other things do you think I can do?
Um, how far do you think I’ll go?”
I’ve always said there’s too many girl crush concepts and not enough man killing concepts nowadays. Fucking useless kids. Seriously though, “Kkotbaem” is moody and brooding, not in a generic way but in a real way where you can feel the rage that has been built up seeping out of every bar.
Still, it’s hard to figure exactly how to rank this, and I could easily see this being way too low. Like it’s not something anybody would likely seek out for a drive to Las Vegas or some shit, and I’m not all that enamored with its musical qualities, but it’s quite remarkable in terms of the impact you feel and the impression it leaves.
Tags ACE Babylon Bolbbalgan4 BTOB Choi Sam Genie Golden Child Help Me Ilhoon Kkotbaem Like U Lovelyz NU'EST NU'EST W One More Night Save Me Save You She's Gone Take Me Higher Top 100 Korean Songs Of 2018 Travel Up That Brown VINXEN What Is It WJSN
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WMC Live #226: Polly Rodriguez, Angela Dodson. (Original Airdate 10/29/2017)
Robin on what really happens when women legislate, unmasking Trump's Generals, and one fine sheriff. Guests: Polly Rodriguez on “make love, not porn”—Women of Sex Tech; Angela Dodson on her book of ALL the suffragists—including women of color.
WMC Live #225: Judaline Cassidy, Shaughnessy Naughton. (Original Airdate 10/22/2017)
Robin on Trump vs. mourning military families, and the kilonova in the Hydra constellation. Guests: Shaughnessy Naughton on a new push to get scientists into political office; Judaline Cassidy discusses her passion for plumbing and for mentoring.
WMC Live #224: April Ryan. (Original Airdate 10/15/2017)
Robin on Trump's attacking contraception and insulting Puerto Rico, California burning, the Rohingya—and Harvey Weinstein. In-depth interview with AURN White House Correspondent April Ryan on 4 presidents—and on her own enslaved ancestors.
WMC Live #223: Maria Teresa Kumar, Ann Hornaday. (Original Airdate 10/8/2017)
Robin on Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, the fast-food industry's secret pact against women, Rosanne Cash, and female mayors. Guests: Maria Teresa Kumar on Hispanics in the crosshairs; Ann Hornaday on critics' tips for watching movies. Surrealism Corner.
WMC Live #222: Ani DiFranco, Part 2. (Original Airdate 10/1/2017)
Robin on Saudi women driving (!), campus sexual-assault setback, Obamacare resurrected, and the NFL gladiators vs. Trump. Guest: Ani DiFranco—Part 2 of an exclusive in-depth conversation. Plus, Surrealism Corner and A Word from My Lower Self.
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The APPG on ME: Tuesday 14 January - All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ME Meeting.
Please invite your MP to the meeting.
Following the well-attended Westminster Hall and House of Commons debates that were secured by Carol Monaghan MP in the last session of parliament, and the interest this has created in the various problems faced by people with ME, Carol Monaghan has decided that the time is right to re-establish the APPG on M.E. Dr Charles Shepherd, Hon. Medical Adviser, ME Association, met Carol Monaghan following the election and it was decided to hold an inaugural APPG meeting as soon as possible. This will be on Tuesday 14th January.
Contact information for all Worcestershire MPs is on our website. Your MP will be able to obtain times, venue, etc from Carol Monaghan MP. If they are unable to attend, they can still register their interest by emailing Carol Monaghan’s office.
2019 Parliamentary briefing paper on key issues facing people with ME
Blog post: Commons M.E. Debate, 24 January. Transcripts, YouTube and Reports.
The ME Association and Action for ME give further details on their websites, including template email examples for your use.
Join Us - at our Afternoon Café Meetings and Lunches.
We meet socially in many locations throughout the county.
All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us at whichever suits you. Join us for a bite to eat, or just a cuppa and chat.
Our 2019 Handout gives all dates and venues for this year .
Worcs ME Social Group Handout 2019
The current ME Association (MEA) Monthly Survey asks - “To what extent has loneliness and social isolation become a consequence of having ME?” Scroll down on the MEA home page to take part.
The ME Association and Action for ME discuss loneliness during Loneliness Awareness Week.
Loneliness, ME and the benefit of local support groups by Bill Clayton | 21 June 2019.
How can I get connected this Loneliness Awareness Week? June 20, 2019.
The NHS give Loneliness and Isolation advice, both locally and nationally.
Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.
NHS England.
Commons M.E. Debate, 24 January. Transcripts, YouTube and Reports.
You can read the Appropriate ME Treatment Debate transcription in Hansard, watch the full debate on YouTube, and see reports information below.
The #MEAction Network detailed report -
‘Historic Parliamentary Debate Shaped by People with ME’ highlighted that Stephen Pound MP made an especially rousing contribution to the proceedings, declaring that:
“This House recognises the reality of your condition. This House will not sit idly by while you suffer. This House will not ignore you. This House will devote its intelligence and its resources to research, ultimately to resolve and to cure, this terrible condition (…). ME sufferers the world over must know that this House and this nation is finally speaking for you.”
The #MEAction Network told us “Over 40 MPs from across the political divide sat in the House of Commons to debate a motion on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), with 27 making impassioned contributions on behalf of their constituents.” and gave us links to all MPs who spoke.
The ME Association’s (MEA) press release highlighted - ‘Parliamentary Debate: Kids being taken into care by medics who refuse to believe ME is real’.
The MEA press release states - ‘MP Carol Monaghan, who brought today’s motion, led calls for more funding for research and better medical training to help support patients.’ MP Carol Monaghan said - “Leading up to this debate, I have been asked repeatedly what I hope to achieve. Ultimately what I want, and what the ME community wants, is better treatment and care for those with ME.”
The MEA report includes ‘Comment on the Debate’ by Dr Charles Shepherd, Hon. Medical Adviser, M.E. Association; plus a list of MPs who were present. Also it draws attention to child protection proceedings, suspension of controversial therapies, improving medical education, and research funding.
Action for ME (AfME) pointed out that they will be working with Forward ME to share the results of its survey for NICE on CBT and GET with MPs, once the report has been published.
Please share your experiences. See our blog earlier this month - NICE CBT and GET Patient Survey - Please complete by 31 January.
ME Research UK (MERUK) gave a summary and commentary on ‘Commons Debate 24 January 2019’. The MERUK report explained that “regrettably, pressure of time meant that MPs were asked to limit their speeches progressively from 4 to 3 and then to 2 minutes apiece and so much useful comment was probably left unsaid and the opportunity to make specific points lost. Nevertheless, 27 backbench MPs had the opportunity to contribute to this important debate.”
Prior to the debate, MERUK gave a ‘Background to House of Commons Debate’ article, explaining the research situation.
M.E. Parliamentary Debate - House of Commons -24 January 2019
M.E. Parliamentary Debate, in the House of Commons, Thursday, 24 January, 2.00pm. (Motion quoted further below.)
All Worcestershire MPs are encouraged to attend this important debate secured by Carol Monaghan MP. Write to your MP.
Robin Walker, MP for Worcester, said “I believe that research into this area is vital”, in a letter following the M.E. debate held in June 2018.
Letter from Robin Walker MP 2018.07.18
On 24 January, biomedical research will be amongst a number of major issues and concerns raised.
These are referred to in the motion:
“That this House calls on the Government to provide increased funding for biomedical research into the diagnosis and treatment of M.E., supports the suspension of Graded Exercise Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as means of treatment, supports updated training of GPs and medical professionals to ensure they are equipped with clear guidance on diagnosis of M.E. and appropriate management advice to reflect international consensus on best practice, and is concerned about the current trends of subjecting M.E. families to unjustified child protection procedures.”
These issues and concerns are described in more detail in the briefing document that has been prepared and supported by national charities, who are members of the Forward ME group of charities.
The ME Association, and Action for ME give full information on this week’s debate.
The June 2018 debate is available to watch on Youtube, and you can read the full Hansard transcript.
NICE ME/CFS Guideline in Development. Petition and recent news.
Please sign and forward petition: “Stop harming ME/CFS patients - take CBT/GET out of NICE guidelines NOW”.
Expected Publication date by NICE: 14 October 2020.
NICE has promised to review its current guidelines on ME/CFS, which is not scheduled to be completed until October 2020. Meanwhile it has left the current guidelines in place, despite the recommendations for treatments that are known to be harmful.
ME/CFS NICE Guideline updates from ME Association (MEA), Action for ME (AfME), Forward ME, and ME Research UK (MERUK).
MEA: NICE ME/CFS Guideline Review: Publication of revised Scope, comments, and committee appointments | 16 October 2018.
AfME: NICE publishes final scope for M.E./CFS guideline.
October 16, 2018. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published its final scope for its updated guideline on M.E./CFS, along with consultation comments and committee appointments.
MEA: Forward ME – Stakeholder deliberations over NICE Scope for ME/CFS | 22 October 2018.
AfME: NICE guideline scope and committee: update & comment.
MERUK: NICE ME/CFS Guideline Committee - ME Research UK’s Comment.
Posted on 29 Oct 2018.
ME Research UK joined other charities and those affected by ME/CFS in welcoming the long-awaited review of the NICE Guideline on ME/CFS. Given the concerns expressed by many about the scope and content of the current Guideline, this review is vitally important and ME Research UK, as a stakeholder, has submitted its views to NICE during its consultation period.
We agree that it is important to listen and understand the views of a range of experts in order to ensure that the revised Guideline provides clarity for everyone who is affected by it - patients and clinicians - but the Guideline must be based on the best available research and the replacement Guideline written with objectivity.
ME Research UK wishes to express its disappointment with the current appointment of a comparatively small number of members of the ME/CFS Guideline Committee who have expertise on the biomedical basis of ME/CFS when compared to those whose background appears to favour the bio psychosocial model. Given the increasing evidence of a biomedical origin of the illness and the current uncertainty, for example, of the soundness of the PACE trial, this is to be regretted.
We look forward to following the progress of the committee with interest and we hope that the views of those with biomedical expertise are heard and that the revised Guidelines will improve the situation for the many, many thousands of people affected by this illness.
ME Association Statement re: NICE ME/CFS Guideline Review and Committee Appointments | 09 November 2018.
by Dr Charles Shepherd, Hon. Medical Adviser, ME Association.
The ME Association has always been very clear on the position we take on the current (2007) NICE clinical guideline.
We believe that many of the key recommendations are unfit for purpose - especially those regarding the use of CBT and GET for everyone with mild or moderate ME/CFS.
We have played a key role in persuading NICE that a new guideline is required. The new guideline must recognise that ME/CFS is a serious multisystem disease and not a psychological illness.
5th Annual CFS/ME Research Collaborative (CMRC) Conference, 19 and 20 September 2018.
Reports available to download, and presentations to watch on YouTube:
The ME Association (MEA) 24 page Summary Report available to download, and the MEA article describing the 2 day research conference.
Action for ME (AfME) article - with presentations to watch on AfME YouTube channel.
Statement from the members of the CureME Team who presented at the UK CFS/ME Research Collaborative Conference in Bristol.
The aim of the CFS/ME Research Collaborative (CMRC) is to promote the discovery of the biological mechanisms that underpin CFS/ME, which will drive the development of targeted treatments. The MEA and AfME give background on the CFS/ME Research Collaborative.
Recent research announcements:
AfME’s latest research article.
MEA’s November Summary of ME/CFS Published Research.
Includes the 84 page ME Association Index of Published ME/CFS Research, available to download.
Completed research studies and reviews funded by ME Research UK, [reviews available from 2000 to 2018].
Severe M.E. Day - 8 August
Severe M.E. was featured on BBC Radio 5 live - in the Afternoon Edition programme.
You can listen to the ME/CFS feature at - www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bd75rp - it begins at 2hrs 8mins into the broadcast. It followed the 3pm news and continued until about 3.35pm.
Dr Charles Shepherd, the ME Association Hon. Medical Adviser, was interviewed by presenter Nihal Arthanayake, along with a former university student suffering from severe M.E. The feature also included pre-recorded interviews from Gary Burgess and Merryn Crofts' sister Amy Williams, and feedback from listeners about their experiences.
Around one in four people with M.E. are severely affected by the condition. They are house or bed bound, unable to properly care for themselves or even wash properly, with some even reliant on tube feeding. Many people with M.E are light and sound sensitive, with people with Severe M.E. often forced to live their lives in darkened rooms.
Severe M.E. articles from Action for ME and the ME Association
Action for M.E. highlight their awareness-raising film, My life is over: the pain of severe M.E., explaining what it's like to live with severe M.E. Plus, Emily Collingridge’s book Severe M.E./CFS: a guide to living offers guidance on every aspect of living with severe M.E.
M.E. Association’ press release concentrates on two teenagers hit by devastating severe M.E. who reveal the brutal reality of life with the disease.
The MEA detailed article gives links to
Daily Mail 'Teenager is left battling chronic fatigue after a parasite burrowed into her EYE: 19-year-old claims the bug was in tap water which ended up on her contact lens and could now kill her'
Daily Mirror 'Girl’s life ‘ripped to pieces’ after parasite found in tap water burrows into eye where it is now sleeping'
M.E.: Treatment and Research - MPs’ 3 hour debate, 21 June
Full debate - available to watch on Youtube, and read the full Hansard transcript.
Also, the complete Ministerial response from a ME Association article - the Parliamentary debate on M.E. treatment and research.
Since the debate - Reports from the ME Association (MEA) and Action for ME (AfME):
ME Association: MPs demand more biomedical research for cruel ‘death sentence’ disease | 22 June 2018
MPs demanded more funding for research into a cruel “death sentence” disease affecting 250,000 people in the UK - and the immediate end to NHS-recommended treatments that are making patients worse.
Action for ME: Parliamentary debate on M.E. - our summary June 21, 2018
“At the moment M.E. receives practically no funding in terms of biomedical research…the treatments that are currently available are often more damaging to the person than no treatments at all.”
International M.E. Awareness Day - Saturday 12 May
Please take part in the ME Association website survey now. The MEA are focusing on work and education issues. Explanations are in the “Countdown to ME Awareness Week article”.
ME Association: The countdown to ME Awareness Week begins today and we’re focusing on issues relating to work and to education | 12 April 2018
Action for M.E. is supporting the Millions Missing campaign at an event in Geneva - You can get involved from home.
May 12th has been designated as International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND) since 1992. The CIND illnesses include Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
A brief history of International May 12th Awareness Day.
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Lisbon Electricity Museum
17h30: Startups Investment Roadshow
18h30: Welcome to the APBA SPRING INVESTMENT DINNER AWARDS by João Trigo da Roza (APBA President of the Board)
18h45: ESIL: Overview on the European Angel Investing best Practices in Portugal by Lurdes Gramaxo (APBA Board Member)
18h55: Panel: New area in early stage investments- intersections
Keynote Speaker: Gonçalo de Vasconcelos – Co-founder and CEO at SyndicateRoom
CEO and co-founder of multi-award- winning online investment platform SyndicateRoom and was considered one of the Top 10 most influential people in tech in the UK at the Tyto Tech 500 Power List as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in fintech in Europe.
Hugo Augusto – Managing Director of Techstars Lisbon
Currently, Managing Director of Techstars Lisbon in partnership with Semapa Next. Previously, was an entrepreneur and co-founder/CEO of a high-growth technology company that received $3 million in seed funding before being acquired by a Silicon Valley based company funded by Mark Cuban and the Chan Zuckerberg Education initiative.
Daniel Nascimento, EDP Inovação
Since 2017 he is an investment Director at EDP Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of EDP Group. Previously worked as Manager of Haitong Bank and Banif Investment Bank M&A divisions, having begun his professional career at McKinsey.
Stephan Morais, founder and Managing General Partner of Indico Capital Partners
Stephan Morais is the founder and Managing General Partner of Indico Capital Partners, a leading venture capital firm based Portugal. Stephan was formerly an Executive Board Member at Caixa Capital, the Private Equity and Venture Capital fund management company of Caixa Geral de Depósitos.
Moderator: Francisco Ferreira Pinto, Busy Angels
Executive Director of Busy Angels, a Venture Capital Firm based in Portugal with more than 25 different companies in the portfolio. Busy Angels invests in Iberia related startups in the seed stages mainly in Digital/IT & Sustainability.
Board Member of APBA – the Portuguese Business Angels Association.
Previously 5+ year experience in Business Consultancy at Deloitte, both in Portugal and Angola.
19h30: APBA Awards Ceremony
High Impact Startup Award, by Frederico Serras Gago (IFD)
Co-investments of the year with 200M Fund and FIS”, by Marco Fernandes (PME Investimentos)
Personality of the Year Award, by Jaime Esteves (PWC)
19h45: Closing with João Correia Neves – Secretary of State of Economy – Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and of Economy (to confirm)
20h00: Cocktail party with finger food & networking
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157 – Yan Buhui
If it was in normal times, Liu Zongyuan would definitely not abandon the resources and materials of these two huge eagle battleships. Even if he needed to drag it, he would them back metre by metre to Youyan Pass. Besides, on the two demon battleships, there were so many corpses of experts of the demon race. They would definitely contain some secrets of the demon race. If they carefully searched through the ships, they would absolutely profit greatly.
But right now, they needed to flee for their lives.
Furthermore, on the formation airship, there were tens of snow white maps that recorded down the arrangements of their military bases and terrain of the Explosive Snow glacier as well as the Snow Ground demon court.
On the significance of strategy, the importance of these scrolls were much more important than the two eagle battleships.
After returning to the formation airship, Liu Zongyuan ordered for the ship to speed on utterly, not delaying in the slightest.
The airship broke through the cloud layers, leaving a trail through the skies, travelling like a ray of light.
The two huge eagle battleships that were like two spirits, very quickly disappeared behind them.
“Below is the den of the [Snow Dragon] that we have passed previously.” Liu Zongyuan pointed below. He could not help but be somewhat emotional: “This time, we have really escaped from death. Who would have thought that we would be discovered by a flock of boar bats. I guess, that boar bat battalion, should have been coincidently passing by that area and discovered the traces of us by accident. They only decided at that moment to ambush us. This was our misfortune…..”
Ye qingyu smiled, not saying anything.
He surveyed below him.
Above the ice plains, everything was peaceful.
It seemed that the snow dragon had already hidden deep beneath the icy grounds, in some sort of half hibernation state. They did not see the strange scene of the [Snow dragon turning over] again.
“But is is not right to say our luck was bad. It is as if something is protecting us from the background. The demon race on those two huge eagle battleships died in such a strange and peculiar way. Otherwise, we could not escape so successfully…..” Liu spoke more than he normally did. Even though he was well experienced, and was a famous warrior that had undergone a hundred battles, his emotional fluctuation was still very large after escaping from disaster.
Ye Qingyu was about to say something, but suddenly frowned.
He looked at the icy plains under them. There was a strange shaped icy peaked that looked slightly familiar. Thinking about it carefully, his heart could not help but be confused.
Did they not just pass this icy peak?
Why would this icy peak suddenly appear beneath them again?
Ye Qingyu’s memory was exceptional, with the ability to not forget things he had seen. He could confirm, that about ten breaths previously, the airship had passed by this icy peak before. According to the current speed of the formation airship, the distance they had passed since then was more than ten miles. It was absolutely impossible for them to return…..
In an instant, cold sweat seeped out from Ye Qingyu’s back.
He glanced at the excited Liu Zongyuan, and without any expression, continued to observe and take note.
Another ten breaths of time.
Ye Qingyu’s expression became extremely troubled.
Right now, he was a hundred percent sure, that an inexplicable matter, was occurring on the formation airship.
Because that strange shaped icy peak, had already appeared for the third time below the formation airship.
In other words, the formation airship’s speed seemed to be extremely rapid, but in reality, there was no difference from walking in a fixed position. They were not able to fly out from the fifty mile radius around the strange shaped icy peak. Right now, they seemed to be inexplicably travelling in circles.
Ye Qingyu did not dare tarry, giving the results of his observation and informing Liu Zongyuan.
“What? This….how is this possible?” Liu Zongyuan was extremely shaken. He could hardly believe this.
At this time, a voice came from behind them—-
“Patrolling envoy Ye is not wrong. We are just running in circles at a fixed position. Officer Liu, tell the formation airship to stop, and not to waste the energy of the Origin crystal.” It was the voice of the [Painting saint] Mister Liu.
Mister Liu had already appeared behind the two at some unknown time.
Ye Qingyu rushed to ask: “Could it be that Mister has discovered something?”
Mister Liu’s lean face had a trace of a bitter smile: “Only by listening to the words of Patrolling officer Ye did I realised this fact. We have already mistakenly entered into a seal formation, if we are not able to break it, we will forever be trapped here, with no method to get free. No matter how fast we fly, we will just be travelling around in circles……although the formation airship is fast, but the laws of space at this area has already gotten disordered. We have no way to leave from here purely by relying on speed.”
Ye Qingyu and Liu Zongyuan looked at each other, their hearts extremely shaken.
How was this possible?
Just when had this occurred?
Just what kind of sealed formation was it, that they had not noticed anything and entered into it?
“Then what should we do now?” Liu Zongyuan asked with a frown.。
He had already began to calm down gradually.
“I also don’t know……Let’s first observe, perhaps there is still a chance……” Miste Liu had bitter smile on his face, shaking his head, about to say something.
But at that time, he suddenly saw something inexplicable and incredible. He stood fiercely dumbfounded where he was, as if his entire person had fossilised. Only a while later did he react, then he was as if he saw a ghost, his gaze emitting a disbelieving light. Lifting his hand to point far away, his body began shivering violently. Saying nonsensical words: “You……Him…..This is…..It’s him, so it was him…….”
Ye Qingyu followed along Mister Liu’s gaze with confusion. He could not help but be dumbfounded.
He could see in the air a hundred metres away, without knowing exactly when, a figure had appeared.
It seemed to be a human, around eighteen to nineteen or years of age. He should be a male, very young, a lean figure, but his face was incomparably handsome. His skin was like jade, with a strange radiance and his face was so pretty that it did not seem real. He was wearing a long white robe, and there was a shocking wound at his waist. He was nearly cut in half at the waist. On the wound, there was an amber like coloured liquid wriggling, as if it was helping him recover his life force.……
This person had his eyes tightly closed, his long eyelashes fluttering in the wind
He was laying on a white cloud, his chest slowly rising and falling. His expression was calm and gentle, as if he was sweetly asleep.
But without knowing why, the moment he saw that person, Ye Qingyu suddenly had a feeling that waas like the fear and trepidation one felt before disaster.
The white clouds floated.
The young man silently lay on the white cloud.
His countenance was so peaceful, it as if he was a scholarly noble young master sleeping on a jade bed.
In the silence, there was strangeness contained within.
As if time had stopped at this moment.
After a long time.
Mister Liu finally let out a long breath, as if he had just woken from a terrifying nightmare.
“So it was him, it really is him…..” Mister Liu bitterly smiled, shaking his head: “Such is fate, such is luck.”
A sense of dread and misfortune could not be helped but be born in Ye Qingyu’s heart as he heard this. Ever since meeting Mister Liu, Ye Qingyu’s impression of him was that he was a person that would never be shocked by anything, an extremely stable person. Before, even when they met with the Boar bats, the black crows and the huge eagle battleship, this [Painting saint] had always maintained a hard to describe calm expression. But at this moment, the person that was sleeping on the cloud, just what was his background, that it made Mister Liu lose his composure like so.
“Mister knows that person?” Ye Qingyu could not help but ask.
Liu Zongyuan also had a face filled with questions, looking towards Mister Liu.
Mister Liu let out another long sigh, nodding his head. He had an agonising expression. “I know.”
“Who is he?” Ye Qingyu asked again.“
Mister Liu was silent for several breaths of time. At last, he seemed to have made his determination, his mouth lightly spitting out two words——
“Yan Buhui*！”
Yan Buhui?
He had never heard of this name before.
Ye Qingyu was blank, saying: “It’s the name of a person? What’s his background?”
Before Mister Liu could reply, Liu Zongyuan’s expression greatly changed after hearing these words beside him. This person did not lack for bravery – even when he faced death directly, how would not even feel the slightest trace of fear. But his body began shivering uncontrollably at this instant. There was a shocked expression contained within his eyes…..
Ye Qingyu was greatly curious.
“Officer Liu also knows that person?”
But Liu Zongyuan still had not calmed down from the demons of his dreams.
It was as if he had not heard Ye Qingyu’s words. His gaze was still fixed on that young man lying on the white clouds.
Mister Liu breathed deeply in. “Yan Buhui, is that person.”
“That person? Which?” Ye Qingyu was yet to realise.
But as these words were spoken, a flash of insight suddenly flitted through his mind. He suddenly understood the meaning behind these words. He could not help but ask: “Yan Buhui, is that person? It’s the greatest traitor in the history of the human race that Mister Liu spoke of, that the person who betrayed the empire and his race, the once peerless genius of Youyan Pass?”
“It is him.” Liu Zongyuan had finally recovered from his stupor.
He spent a great deal of effort to calm himself down. Then he said : “The name of Yan Buhui, is really the nightmare of countless people of Youyan Pass. After so many years has passed, there is still no one who is willing to mention such a name, whether they are a soldier or an officer. That name is like a night mare to us. When that matter happened in the past, I was only a little soldier. I have never seen him before, but I have heard his name far too many times. Who would have thought……that today I would truly encounter him.”
Ye Qingyu’s heart was massively shaken.
He was finally greatly disturbed.
Subconsciously, he could not help but look again at the young man laying there.
Could it really be that young person?
The person seemed to be kind and handsome, like a rich young master, seeming to be somewhat thin and weak. He was pretty like a girl. Was he really the greatest traitor in the history of Snow country? A person that had once killed countless soldiers of the Empire? A person that had nailed countless soldiers of Youyan Pass on the pillar of humiliation?
Ye Qingyu had previously imagined what he looked like.
But he absolutely had not imagined, that he would have such a face.
Just what kind of heart was hidden beneath that peaceful and young face?
Long and painstaking effort had been taken to plan this operation by the [Youyan army]. It was all for this person. Did Mister Liu not say that the front lines were about to succeed. Why was it that he appeared in such a place?
Seeing the frightening and disturbing wound at Yan Buhui’s waist, Ye Qingyu vaguely realised something.
It seemed like the [Gale operation ] of the front lines had not succeeded. They had injured Yan Buhui, but they were not able to kill this traitor.
Wind blew again.
The atmosphere was strange and tense.
Yan Buhui silently lay on the cloud. If not for the movement of the wound of his waist, if not for the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, it seemed like he was really dead.
Arrows and cannon, aimed at him.
But Liu Zongyuan did not have the courage to order them to attack.
Mister Liu remained silent for a long time. Finally, he took a step forward, opening his mouth. “Buhui, long time no see.”
His tone, was as if reuniting with an old friend and reminiscing about old times.
“Mister Liu, it;’s been a long time since we last met.” The young man on the white clouds had his eyes tightly closed. His tone was gentle, without the slightest killing intent whatsoever. He had not yet opened his eyes, but evidently he had discovered the existence of everyone, and recognised Mister Liu.
*His name can be translated literally to mean, never returning to Youyan Pass.
Jack Nathaniel Mikhail
Dawww…
Poor guy who nearly became the MC. Now he is relegated to being a stepping stone only…
♥♦♥♦♥♦♥♦♥♦♥♦♥
♥♦♥♦♥♦☺♦♥♦♥♦♥
Really he goes outside once and now hes possible going to be captured
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Altogether In Ministry
History of AIM
LCA Synod 2013
Time to Soar 2012
Courageous Voices, 2002
The process of writing helps us to clarify our thoughts and develop our theology. It is therefore not surprising that the LCA, which is recognised ecumenically for its theological strengths, has a strong heritage of writing. Following is a selection of papers in favour of the ordination of women as well as men from over the years. Please go to the LCA's Ordination We're Listening website for a comprehensive collection of papers discussing the cases for and against.
theological papers
The Distinction between Law and Gospel is a hermeneutical touchstone
The Final Report of the LCA Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations on the Ordination of Women, 2000
The Ordination of Women in the LCA, LTJ, 1998
Do the Confessions Prohibit the Ordination of Women? 1994
Paul, the Mission to Jews, and Women in the Churches, 1998
The Ordination of women in the LCA? A positive answer, 1998
Women in the Bible - Download
The Development of Doctrine and the Ordination of Women, 1998
The Leadership Role of Women in the Early Eastern Church, 1998
Authority and Leadership in the Early Western Church
Historical Document: Some thoughts on the Ordination of Women and the Lutheran Confessions, 2009
Ordination of women in the Lutheran church worldwide, 2013
Pastoral Insights
Why Fear Does Not Belong in this dialogue 2015
Senior Lutheran Pastors Affirm the Ordination of Women
A woman who made a difference
Presentations from the Time to Soar conference, 2012
Ordination we're listening resources, prepared by the LCA, 2014-15. See the bottom of that site's home page to download the Dialogue Booklet
Women in Ministry...The untold story, 2000
Church Fathers, Women and Ordination, 1996
Women called to Ministry, a Study Guide from the United Methodist Church, 2007
Contact Altogether in Ministry
Copyright © Altogether in Ministry
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RFP & Bid Opportunities
AMIHA serves twelve Indian Reservations in San Diego, Riverside and Santa Barbara Counties. We have additional information regarding the Reservations served by AMIHA along with links to the Tribe’s websites on the Reservations page.
view our reservations
The All Mission Indian Housing Authority is committed to the use of domestically produced items used in its procurement and contracting operations. Bidders and Offerers are encouraged to make the maximum feasible efforts to use products "Made in America", when possible, in preparing their responses to AMIHA solicitation requests.
see our RFPs and bid opportunities
Contact one of our friendly staff members and we will be happy to assist you with your needs.
AMIHA currently serves as the Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE) fourteen (14) Southern California Indian Tribes. Our consortium includes Agua Caliente, Cabazon, Cahuilla, Jamul, La Jolla, Morongo, Pauma, Pechanga, Santa Rosa, Santa Ynez, Soboba, Torres-Martinez, Twenty-Nine Palms, and Viejas. AMIHA provides differing types of services to these tribes based on their housing needs and direction from tribal leaderships. AMIHA was founded in1970 with the purpose of providing affordable, low income housing to the Tribal Members. AMIHA serves 14 reservations in 3 counties. With over 48 years of experience working with multiple Indian Tribes and construction and rehabilitation of low-income housing, AMIHA is one of only three Indian Housing Authorities in the State of California that represents multiple Tribes. To date, AMIHA has built more than 1,000 housing units in San Diego, Riverside, and Santa Barbara counties.
AMIHA’s core mission continues to be the development and management of low income housing programs for eligible program participants. Since 2008, AMIHA has built 88 units and will construct 14 in the upcoming 2017 construction season. Additionally, AMIHA has administered contracts that involved the comprehensive rehabilitation of over 100 existing units during the same timeframe. AMIHA currently has approximately 144 units in management.
AMIHA continues to administer the old Mutual Help program for approximately 68 participants and deed over 6 to 7 units per year and administers the home owner insurance and claims processes for our participants. AMIHA also continues to manage the AMERIND home owner’s insurance program for Mutual Help and NAHASDA homeowners.
“To provide safe, affordable, and decent housing for Indian people residing on the reservations that incorporates traditional concepts and values. To seek out and effectively administer innovative programs to maintain the existing housing stock and to create new housing opportunities for the residents we serve.”
The All Mission Indian Housing Authority is committed to the use of domestically produced items used in its procurement and contracting operations. Bidders and Offerers are encouraged to make the maximum feasible efforts to use products “Made in America”, when possible, in preparing their responses to AMIHA solicitation requests.
Message from the Executive Director, Dave Shaffer
I am pleased to announce that the two IHBG Competitive Grants applications that we submitted in August, 2019 were successful. On December 11th, AMIHA received an email from the Phoenix HUD office congratulating AMIHA on the awards.
One of the new housing grants is a multi-tribe grant for $5,000,000 that will produce 18 new homes (6 in La Jolla, 4 in Viejas, 3 in Pauma, 3 in Santa Rosa and 2 in Soboba). We plan to start construction on these units in late Spring/summer 2020.
The second grant was for $3,700,000 and will provide 12 new homes on the Torres-Martinez Reservation. We appreciated the opportunity to work with the TM staff on this application and we look forward to partnering with them throughout the project.
These two new grants, coupled with our recently awarded 5 FY 2018 ICDBG grants (13 homes) will provide the funding for the construction of 41 new homes during the next 18-24 months on 7 Reservations.
AMIHA is also in the process of preparing applications for the next round of ICDBG funding. Those applications will be submitted no later than February 3, 2020. We will be applying for 4 to 5 grants to fund an additional 15 homes.
AMIHA closes out 2019 with our most successful grant writing successes on our 50 year history. We look forward to providing new housing to 43 Native American families in the next 18 to 24 months.
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«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 287 of 287 Newer› Newest»
It's also unclear whether or not it causes brain damage - see the person who was left thinking it was Christmas in the middle of summer. That sounds like more than a bit of confusion to me. (I really wish I could take a look at that scene and a few others, since - ha - people seem to have somewhat differen tmemories of them, but I don't own any of the books and none of the right ones are currently at my library branch.)
The thinking-it-was-Christmas scene actually came later, after the Death Eaters had abused Mr. Roberts and his family, and Ministry wizards had then removed their memories of the experience:
Mr. Weasley woke them after only a few hours sleep. He used magic to pack up the tents, and they left the campsite as quickly as possible, passing Mr. Roberts at the door of his cottage. Mr. Roberts had a strange, dazed look about him, and he waved them off with a vague “Merry Christmas.”
“He’ll be all right,” said Mr. Weasley quietly as they marched off onto the moor. “Sometimes, when a person’s memory’s modified, it makes him a bit disorientated for a while… and that was a big thing they had to make him forget.”
I'm still waiting for a citation for the Rowling-said-a-muggle-with-a-gun-could-beat-a-wizard thing; personally, I'm skeptical about it. (Perhaps because last winter I spent some time tracking down the origin of a likely-spurious Tolkien quote. No, he did not say "we were all Orcs in the Great War"; at least, there seems no evidence of any kind that he did!)
I'm still waiting for a citation for the Rowling-said-a-muggle-with-a-gun-could-beat-a-wizard thing; personally, I'm skeptical about it.
I haven't seen a direct source; I did see someone claim that it was in a video interview and therefore hard to track down by websearch. Dunno. It's certainly repeated by the fandom often enough, but... HP fandom... nah.
first thing I do want to say is how sorry I am for the abuse you've had to endure.
That's nice, but it really has nothing to do with the situation and I hope you don't dwell on it. I just used that as an example because I didn't want to say something along the lines of, "This is like with racism where..." when I have no experience personal experience with that.
I have a lot of privilege, like Harry less the fame I suppose, and there are plenty of arenas that I've never entered so I couldn't be the less privileged party so there are only so many places where I can speak to being the unprivileged party from experience.
That was the only such place that came to mind where the power and privilege dynamic was similar to the wizard-Muggle one. So, like I said, don't dwell on it.
Wendolin the Weird
And here I thought the jerk was male. I suppose that shows consistency though, the named example of a burned witch would of course be female. Though credit does go toward acknowledging that both genders were targets.
I could extrapolate in a different direction and close the logic gap by suggesting that Wendolin made a habit of identifying people who had been targeted as (not real) witches, transfigured herself to resemble them, took their place and sent them on the run with a bag of gold, thus saving 47 lives and treating herself to flame-tickling to boot.
Except that contradicts the verb and the stated motivation.
but the conspiracy-to-provoke-witch-hunters hypothesis is not canonical.
You know I that I said there was no such conspiracy because you quoted the part where I said it. I really wish you'd drop the strawman already.
If you want to argue against what I said, address what I said. Here's a good argument: I said that the text said there were multiple witches and wizards allowing themselves to be caught, the text only says there was one. It simply affirms that others were caught and enjoyed it, not that they allowed it. Therefore what I said was wrong, and you don't need a strawman to get there.
TW: Torture
Off-topic, but that "pretend to shriek in pain" thing is starting to irritate me in the repetition because it doesn't make any goddamn sense. You would have to research witch-hunts with VERY little vigor to miss that the prosecuting/persecuting parties almost *never* went straight from "grab the suspect" to "pile them onto a pyre and walk away while it's still burning and assume everything went to plan as though this were a James Bond movie".
That little world-building detail erases centuries of pre-execution torture and post-death body dismemberment in order to make a "tee-hee funny!" joke that doesn't even make sense! I just... argh! And this isn't even getting into the part where they usually wouldn't kill you until *after* you'd implicated someone else -- that's usually how they kept getting an endless supply of victims until the hunt petered out from various factors.
(Mind you, I take witch-hunt history *very* seriously, so again, YMMV.)
Ana: Now I'd love to see a discussion on Men In Black, which carries a lot of the same issues with memory altering.
I don't have much in the way of recurring dreams, but ever since I first saw Men in Black I've had nightmares of being chased by people with neuralysers who think I Know Too Much. (Which I guess I do, if I know they have neuralysers.) I get the feeling this is not the reaction one is expected to have from watching Men in Black.
(I have a toy neuralyser I got in the Burger King equivalent of a Happy Meal ages ago. I was kind of weirded out that they thought it was an appropriate thing to make a Happy Meal toy out of. I most certainly did not want to play with it.)
People who stand there and say 'The ethics of memory alteration are bad' and others who say the opposite probably have different mental models, in their head, of a _completely imaginary_ thing
Does that mean we can't discuss the ethics of anything fictional? About half the discussions on this blog revolve around the ethics of imaginary things. Or do you mean we should simply explain our mental models better so that those of us with different models could better understand where the other is coming from?
It's not about how disruptive they are (except for the question of brain damage) it's that you are changing a person's mind without their permission. I really don't see any version of that that comes out on the ethical side. Except possibly in the "well, this sucks, but the alternative is worse" sense.
I have two responses to this and the memory research bit. One is that actually, the biggest objection is that the existence of memory charms allows wizards to do whatever the hell they want to non-magical humans without recourse because they can make their victims forget it even happened. I don't think we need to have a real life memory charm to say that that is bad. The other is that while our recall of our memories may be akin to making up a story, that doesn't mean that our experiences don't matter. If you remove the memory of an experience with a memory charm does it remove the effect the experience had or not? (The only real life comparison I can think of there might be to ask the question does Alzheimers change a person. But that seems kind of flipant about a real, horrible disease.)
Back to the first: if, instead of using memory charms, the culture of our heroes involved taking over a campground at gun point and forcing the owners to let them use it for something would paying them afterwards make it okay? I say no. Others might say yes.
And I'm out of break again...
I can agree that using magic to cause someone to forget things so you can keep up your masquerade is selfish. But is it wrong to use magic to help someone forget a traumatic event that you did not cause? Would it be wrong if they agreed that they wanted to forget it? Not letting them chose denys them agency, but I don't know if I'd mind having an event of senseless torture wiped from my mind. It's not an experience I want to shape my future.
TW: Graphic Description of Date Rape
I don't know if I'd mind having an event of senseless torture wiped from my mind.
For myself, I would mind muchly.
When I was a teenager, my boyfriend held me down and raped me. (That was traumatic, and it definitely shaped who I am today, but that's not the point of this comment.) After I broke up with him -- some months later -- an ex-girlfriend of one of his friends confided in me that my boyfriend had also raped me *prior* to that incident: we'd been on a roadtrip to a museum I wanted to see, and after I'd passed out from exhaustion after a long day, he raped me in my sleep. (I honestly don't know if drugs were involved; she either didn't know or didn't say.)
This was third-hand knowledge -- he'd told his friend, and his friend had told her, and she told me. But... as soon as she said it, I felt very strongly that it was true. I remembered strange dreams that night of something heavy on me, and of... well. That's about as much as I want to talk about it. Anyway, I'd brushed it all off as weird dreams after a long day, but when she told me it all came flooding back.
In some ways, I'm more bothered by the rape-I-don't-remember than by the one I do. Now, one could argue that's just because the "memory charm" in this case wasn't fool-proof; maybe a magic charm would have magically taken care of all shreds of the incident as though it never happened. Because magic. But I feel a strong, visceral revulsion at the idea of knowing even LESS about the rape-I-don't-remember, because it's the Not Remembering that makes it extra traumatic for me.
My experiences, of course, are not a gauge for everyone on earth. But I think there is definitely more here than just removal of agency. The idea of having certain tortures removed from my memory is a VERY strong Do Not Want. *shiver*
I... a happy meal toy neuralyser? I...
*brain melty*
I really feel like it's a slur, not a neutral term, so I'm switching to this.
The term literally means 'a buffoon or fool, an inconsequential person', so... yeah. A fictional slur, but still a slur. And it's all they use
That little world-building detail erases centuries of pre-execution torture and post-death body dismemberment in order to make a "tee-hee funny!" joke that doesn't even make sense!
I figured it was probably in-universe propaganda to disguise any hint of vulnerability, and even if the flame-freezing charm *did* exist at the time, a *lot* of witches and wizards died of torture/beheading/drawing and quartering/the myriad ways people made damn sure the suspected witch was dead. (Because, after all, they were convinced that if you didn't do it enough, they might come back to life...)
But... but... that would make the person who "let" hirself get caught 47 times recklessly careless to the point of suicidal, no?
The other thing is, it feels like such a missed opportunity. The witch-hunts could be used as an example of why the Masquerade is so important: "NMHs (Non-Magical Humans) *kill* our kind whenever they encounter us!" If Harry Potter is set in modern day times, witch-craft has only been legal in Britain for, what, 50 years? A blip in history, not nearly enough to undo centuries of persecution.
That up there could have given a very good reason for the Masquerade AND would have given NMHs power and agency in the story. Which is PRECISELY the problem we're having in Twilight: there's no *reason* for the Masquerade because NMHs pose zero threat and have no power and no agency.
WHY DO I SEE TWILIGHT EVERYWHERE?
Ana: Which is PRECISELY the problem we're having in Twilight: there's no *reason* for the Masquerade because NMHs pose zero threat and have no power and no agency.
It appears, looking back, that this comparison* is how we got onto the topic of Harry Potter in the first place. So it makes sense.
*Click the "in reply to depizan".
If the mind-wiping was with consent, I wouldn't have a problem with it. In that circumstance. But there's no indication of it and mind magic was already being used on the non-magical humans so that the campground could be used in the first place.
Honestly, I find using a non-magical human ticket taker to be horrifically irresponsible in the first place. No one knew about Voldie, but they did know (or should've known) that magical KKK members would be there. I'm wildly uncomfortable with making the obvious real world analogies, but I have trouble imagining a modern book in which the protagonist's side forced people of color to work a gathering they knew the KKK would attend. (And, regardless of the fact that the campground people were being paid, if you demagic the scenario, you're kind of left forcing them through threat if some nature. If you have to magic people, you didn't get their permission.)
Quickly passing through to say that this is one of the places where I agree with you. I never could figure out why the largest magical gathering in the whole wizarding world needed to take place in a non-magical campground. They couldn't find a nice deserted moor somewhere? Especially if they're serious about the secrecy?
I presume it was, plot-wise, so that there'd be a reason for non-magical people to be around to be horrifically abused by terrorists, so that we'd know how nasty the terrorists are. But that's not enough to make it convincing.
I still say, though, that just because the magical people are the protagonist's "side," that doesn't make them the always-good side. They're not the good people, they're the people, with mixed motives and mixed results and all-too-human thoughtlessness.
...oops, being called away... just passing through...
They're not the good people, they're the people, with mixed motives and mixed results and all-too-human thoughtlessness.
But there is a question of presentation and narrative choice.
Some bad things the good people do are clearly meant to be seen as wrong. For example, Ron and Hermoine are both wrong in their approach to House Elves (Ron is the person who has internalized the justification, Hermoine is the person who wants to help them without actually seeing them) which is as nothing compared to Sirius'* treatment of one specific House Elf. These people are all on the good side, they all numbered amoung the heroes of the books, but they're all wrong, and shown as wrong.
The mistreatment of Muggles doesn't get the same attention unless it's, you know, by the bad guys. It's not unrealistic that they act that way, it's highly realistic in fact, but that it's never called out when the text doesn't mind calling out prejudice against other groups, provided said group is magical, is problematic.
There's also the narrative choice to not have any sympathetic Muggles except as sacrificial victims. It didn't have to be that way. There could have been onscreen Muggles who were neither buffoons nor monsters, who served a role other than being cut down by evil. Perhaps one of them could have suffered the ill effects of the good side and that in itself without any moralizing, would have called out that maybe the treatment of Muggles by the good side also wasn't acceptable.
There's the narrative choice to feature characters who will stand up for members of other species, bit not a single Muggle-born who will stand up to the good side for the people still in their culture of origin.
In real life real people do comment on the lesser prejudice in addition to the greater. Rowling didn't include that when it comes to anti-Muggle actions even though the lesser in this case included actions that were pretty big.
* I want to make a joke about Sirius Black being related to Jacob Black, but it's not coming. Any suggestions?
Casus Belli said...
Thank you depizan. I'm glad someone brought this up. My issue with DavidCheatham's argument is one of agency. It's not that it is unethical to wipe one's memories (although I'll probably argue that to the bitter end), but that it's done without the victim's consent. Is that really hard to understand?
And in this specific situation, you add the problematic issue that depizan raised: not only are you doing something to someone without their approvals, but you can then make them not remember said thing. This is awful, and it has nothing to do with the intrinsic value of memories to the individual's existence.
Sorry, that irked me so much I had to delurk to say this. Going back to hiding now.
Huh! So it was. We've come full circle. :D
It's not about how disruptive they are (except for the question of brain damage) it's that you are changing a person's mind without their permission.
'Changing a mind' is rather begging the question. Most memory spells seem to, basically, involve rewinding memories backwards a very small amount, resulting in someone being basically the same people they were five minutes ago.
I kind of feel like you're missing the point about agency in the rush to quibble over whether the mind is changed. If you re-write Depizan's statement as:
It's not about how disruptive they are (except for the question of brain damage) it's that you are PRACTICING MAGIC ON A SPECIFIC PERSON without their permission.
...we come back to the same point. Memory charms are, iiuc, practiced ON people. It's not a world-wide, universal, time machine thing that affects everyone.
I always thought trying to set a 'behind the Masquerade' world in one that is _exactly_ like the real world is a mistake, and it would be a much better idea for writers to aim for '99% like the real world'.
Because in Harry Potter's world, the Masquerade seems be very leaky, and one of the differences would probably be how society views things like witchcraft. It's hard to see how we could ever get to the point of thinking it's not real. Half of society should think it's a trick (and view it with suspicion), and the other half should think it's real (and view it with even more suspicion).
This wouldn't be a society that repealed laws against witchcraft because of, basically, disbelief. Belief in people with supernatural powers should be right up there with religious belief. (And have much the same variation WRT to how cultures think about them.)
It's worth pointing out that Masquerades -- both in Harry Potter and Twilight -- almost always end up in Protagonist Centered Morality. I.e., if the Masquerade is broken in the course of the narrative, it's not "well, the Protagonists suck for breaking it for everyone; it was nice while it lasted". Instead, the nameless person who witnessed the Protagonists breaking the Masquerade will be memory charmed or turned or eaten or any number of things. Frequently this will not be presented as a terrible thing because the IMPORTANT THING is that the Masquerade is preserved in service to the protagonists.
And you think there's some sort of obvious reason that spells 'on' people are unethical?
You are analogizing 'putting magic on someone' to something like 'touching a person', probably with various levels of magic corresponding to various levels of touch. This seems like such an obvious analogy you don't notice you're doing it.
Here's a fun actual discussion I've actually had online, about a decade ago: Is it more, or less, ethical, to cast a spell on someone else so that they see you slightly different, vs. casting a spell on yourself so that same person sees you slightly different? (If it matters, I mean something like 'hiding a pimple' level of 'looking different'. Usually called a 'glamour'.)
Is there any difference in those besides the designation (in the fictional system of magic) we're using of who the spell is 'cast on'?
And let's add a third spell : Is it more, or less, ethical to cast it on yourself so _everyone_ see you different?
Have you reached the conclusion that the third spell, a spell that change _more_ people's perceptions is more ethical than the first spell, a spell that only changes one person's, because of the imaginary designation of who is it 'cast on'? Do you think this is a correct conclusion?
I'll be back later, have to run for a bit.
And you think there's some sort of obvious reason that spells 'on' people without their consent are unethical?
(I added the bit you forgot in bold.) I do.
What with my being a practicing Wiccan and that being one of the first things they teach you in Wicca 101.
But even if you're not a Wiccan, I do feel that it should be fairly self-evident that doing something to someone without their consent is generally considered to be unethical, barring life-saving measures and even then, etc. etc.
David, one last thing: if you keep up this tone about me not even noticing what I am and am not doing, you ARE going to get on my tits real fucking fast. I haven't had a meltdown at anyone yet since my surgery and the 8 billion narcotics boiling through my veins right now and I'm proud of that fact, but I have a limit. I'm an adult and you can disagree with me politely without telling me that you have more insight into what I'm doing than I do. (If I've misunderstood your statement, apologies, but I don't see how to take that any other way at the moment.)
Because here's a fun actual fact that you actually don't seem to know: there are people on this board who believe in magic outside the Harry Potter fandom and we've put a bit more thought into the ethics of magic than you seem to assume we have. If you'd like to have a discussion on the Ethics of Magic -- and I think that could be interesting -- the best place to start is not with the assumption that (1) you've put more thought into this than me because you Had A Discussion Once and (2) I haven't put any thought into this whatsoever as evidenced by the fact that I may not hold the same conclusions as you on this subject. Those are not good starting points.
You're assuming you can read the minds of others based on nothing more than text they've read on the internet. This seems like such an obvious power you don't even notice you're doing it.
To elaborate for the general discussion, I have at least two books devoted wholly to the subject of the Ethics of Magic (including the thought-provoking "An Ye Harm None" by Rabinovitch) that I can see on my bookshelf from here. Considering that everything is stacked willy-nilly from our move a few months ago, I'm confident I could find more if I started digging. And that's just books *solely* dedicated to the topic of the Ethics of Magic. My other 30+ Wiccan books all at least touch on the ethics of casting spells on others. Almost all of them have very strong reasons for why casting magic on someone without their consent is a major nuh-uh.
So as I say, there's an interesting conversation to be had in all this -- one I frankly wish Rowling had been more willing to explore, but whatever, not my story to write, her place to decide these things, apparently some people felt the books were preachy enough already, it's not like the Wiccan world gets any nods to having thought about this stuff prior to HARRY POTTER or CHARMED or whatever, no I'm not bitter that's just how things go, etc. etc. -- but please don't make the mistake of assuming that everyone is totally new to the idea of Ethical Magic and having never thought about it prior to this thread.
Maartje said...
I can't remember, but is it canon that memory charms only remove recent memories? I thought they could also remove older memories, in which case you don't go back to how you were 5 minutes ago, but you change into something you never were. My history has shaped my choices; if you cut out part of that history, a lot of choices suddenly make no sense, and I'd have to make up a whole new set of reasons and justifications to get back to a coherent self-image. And who knows who I'd end up being after that?
jill heather said...
As I am right now watching Buffy season 6, this discussion is fascinatingly relevant. But I am not sure how many Buffy fans there are here, and I don't want to spoil people.
Lockhart became famous by meeting people who had done impressive things with their lives, learning their stories, erasing their memories of doing those things, and then taking credit by writing books about it.
He was thoroughly incompetent in all forms of magic save one, that being memory charms. He used the power of memory charms to steal peoples lives without them knowing what had been done to them.
That said, see the note above about me having less than perfect memories of the book in question.
Is it more, or less, ethical, to cast a spell on someone else so that they see you slightly different, vs. casting a spell on yourself so that same person sees you slightly different? (If it matters, I mean something like 'hiding a pimple' level of 'looking different'. Usually called a 'glamour'.
Huh, in everything I've ever incountered (fictional or otherwise), glamours were a bit more powerful than "damn, I need to hide that awful zit in the middle of my forehead."
At the "hide a zit" level, a spell cast on oneself (presumably with one's permission) seems no different from wearing makeup. And, to me, would be ethical. (I can think of no ethical objection to people wearing makeup.) If you cast a spell on someone else without their permission to not see the zit, that would be unethical because you are acting on someone else without their permission. If you cast a spell on someone else with their permission , then it would be ethical because you're acting on someone with their permission.
Now, if we head into glamours as usually depected, then I would say it's unethical whether your casting it on yourself or other people because you're aiming to influence them in ways beyond hiding a zit. (That is, we start heading off towards things like con artistry, impersonation, and altering people's feelings against their will.) It is still more unethical to cast a spell on another person without their permission for the same reason it's unethical to do things in general to people without their permission. Sure, there are exceptions. Everything has exceptions. But outside of those objections (which people may or may not all agree on) most people default to "it is not ethical to act on other people without their permission." Magic doesn't change this.
Well, I personally am not analogizing 'putting magic on someone' to 'touching a person' but to an invasive procedure. Is it assault? Absolutely!
** TW: Surgery/medical procedures
In fact, as far as I'm concerned, a memory-affecting charm is no different than a lobotomy or electroconvulsive therapy. If it's done without the person's concern, it is unethical.
**End TW
Not only do you need consent, but also informed consent, i.e., the person must know what the expected consequences are (to the best of our knowledge), what the benefits and the drawbacks are. It is, for all intent and purposes, akin to a medical procedure!
That being said, even if it was only equivalent to 'touching', this may come as a surprise to you, but yes, you do need the consent of a person to touch zir (I'm not used to gender-neutral pronouns, so apologies if this is not correct). Now, usually, this falls under the category of implicit consent, but it isn't systematically covered by that caveat. If someone has hyperalgesia (skin hypersensitivity), touching zir could elicit tremendous amounts of pain. So it is not alway the benign act we make it to be. We should have agency on our body, our whole body, every part of it. That agency implies consent for *anything* that might affect it.
@jill heather
Spoilers for Buffy season 4: (Do we really have to spoiler mark things a decade old?)
Ha. My example about 'spells on other people' vs 'spells on yourself' is actually from a discussion of the Buffy episode 'Family', from season 4. Or maybe season 5, I forget.
Tara (a good-guy witch on Buffy, for people who don't know the show) thinks she's part demon, and this part is going to shortly be visible. So she casts a spell to hide this part of her.
The way I described it there, most people would not have a problem with the ethics of it. Tara wasn't evil. Demons are not evil per se on Buffy, and part demons even less. If someone has demon horns or whatever, yes, it seems fine to use magic to hide it. It is no more unethical than a black woman in the 1950s who passes as white to avoid discrimination. Hiding it from her vampire-fighting friends (Who would eventually stumble over it, considering their life), perhaps not the best choice, but whatever.
The problem is Tara cast this spell not on herself, but on _her friends_. This does not make much sense, unless Tara intended to never interact with other people. So this decision was like that probably for plot purposes, as the spell immediately went wrong and rendered all demons invisible to her friends.
I don't think we're supposed to assume it was a 'risky' spell, just that the 'Make the demon part of me invisible' misfired as she has no demon part (She was lied to about being part demon), so the spell decided to make all demons invisible. But, ignoring the misfire, I can't quite see the difference between a spell on _her_ that causes people to see her differently than she is, and a spell on _others_ that cause people to see her differently than she is. I didn't see it then, and I don't see it now.
Other people...disagreed. So I wondered what people here would think. (And a lot of people originally focused on 'it was dangerous and almost killed them!', so I left that part out. In the Buffyverse, random things being dangerous and almost killing everyone means it's Tuesday.)
Is 'changing' someone really the issue here?
Changing someone is an issue here. The largest issue is doing something to someone without their permission and (once we add in memory muckage) without even their knowledge. This is not ethical. At least not by my ethical standards. The fact that we're also quite possibly discussing changing a person just adds another issue to the pile of issues.
I agree that it would be lovely if the books had given us enough information to discus how things work in Harry Potter's world without having to speculate, but, sadly, they didn't.
Or, to put it another way: Would memory charms help with PTSD, by completely removing the experiences of events, or just make things worse by not allowing access to them anymore?
Good question. If the latter, you've just painted the wizards as even worse than they were already looking.
(Answer: It was an writing excuse to show how wizards in general interact with Muggles, including terrorism.)
And yet, I don't think that Rowling would agree that her series should borrow AvP's tagline.
Memory charms _in general_ can remove older memories. Marrietta Edgecombe has her memories of all the DA meetings throughout the year erased by Kingsley, using an unspecified memory alteration charm we don't know the name of. (Which was rather unethical, and in fact entirely pointless.)
I was talking more about a specific charm, Obliviate, and the use of it on Muggles. Which is generally just used to 'rewind' things back before whatever Masquarade breach just occurred. Almost exactly like the Neuralizors in Men in Black, which someone else mentioned, except that would be like an Obliviate then a Confund.
Whether or not you can use Obliviate in some other way is unknown.
It is not self-evident that doing 'things' 'to' people without their consent is unethical, because 'things' also includes things like 'brightening them by turning on a light' and 'talking to them'. The only things I know that you shouldn't to do people without their consent is almost entirely physical interactions. You have also put 'magic spells with a person as a target' under things requiring consent. This is not self-evident.
I have problems with your examples. In one, you seem to be mixing things done to an area with things done to a specific individual, and in the second, you ignore that society kind of has assumed consent written in (and this can be revoked, after which, yes talking to them is unethical - also possibly illegal, if restraining orders are involved). There's also the fact that you assume that magic is not a physical interaction. I'm not sure how the types of spells discussed can not be physical in some way. Perhaps you can explain how you see them as non-physical.
Indeed, there's an entire religion that seems to have no problem with doing magic 'on' people without their consent. They do this because they they assume that magic is less about altering a physical thing than it is about pleading with God to change what will happen. (I'm speaking of Christians, although they often bristle at 'prayer' being called magic.)
Not everyone would agree that it's okay for Christians to do that. Some would say it's unethical. Likewise, it's clearly considered perfectly ethical for people in the Potterverse to alter non-magical humans' memories. That doesn't mean that any particular reader will agree.
Actually, I take that back. I'm not sure the Potterverse is aware of ethics.
I'm not sure how the types of spells discussed can not be physical in some way. Perhaps you can explain how you see them as non-physical.
(Now I want Chris' comments about Bella's psychic shield and how it blocks everything because the line between "physical interaction" and "mental interaction" isn't as clear as we'd sometimes like to believe.)
TW: torture, murder
Spoilers for Deathly Hallows:
because what I remember of the scene in which Harry uses Crucio on the Death Eater teacher at Hogwarts is that a) the spell of mind breaking agony isn't actually depicted as causing agony (no description of the guy flopping about on the floor screaming or whatever)
Basically, Harry managed to hurl him across the room, and that's it. I think it's rather akin to the moral difference between hitting someone with a tazer, and standing there repeatedly tazing them while they're down screaming. (And in this case it's a very illegal tazer designed for torture.)
I vaguely recall Voldie Crucioing Harry's "corpse" and it not actually causing him pain for reasons unknown
It's complicated. Harry was still under the 'Lily sacrificial protection' that kept Voldemort specifically from hurting him. Not to be confused with the 'blood family protection' that was based on that, but broke already, or confused with the 'can't touch him' part of that Lily sacrificial protection that kept Voldemort from touching him, which Voldemort got passed by being made of Harry's blood, or confused with the 'Harry sacrificial protection' of everyone at Hogwarts that Harry just earned...so, yeah, it's nearly impossible to explain all the random magic stuff going on at that time. It's also possible it had something to do with Voldemort using Harry's wand. (Which screwed up another Unforgivable later against Harry.)
But, ignoring the misfire, I can't quite see the difference between a spell on _her_ that causes people to see her differently than she is, and a spell on _others_ that cause people to see her differently than she is.
If you do something to yourself, you a) have your permission to act upon yourself and b) suffer any side effects of said something. If you do something another person without their knowledge, you a) do not have their permission to act on them and b) they will suffer any side effects of said something.
You really seem to be coming from a very different place regarding permission/consent than either Ana or I come from.
(The odd thing is, from what you described, they could just as easily have written her logically applying the spell to herself and having it still misfire on account of her having no demon in her. Though that would rather nullify my explanation. *thinks* No, it just changes the analogous situation to a chemistry accident or the like. Messing around with chemicals based on incorrect knowledge endangers people because the chemical reaction causes a gas cloud... )
I think it's the problem with our "No Means No" culture where consent is assumed until explicitly revoked. Once you start thinking in terms of 'Yes Means Yes" and the idea that consent is assumed *absent* until explicitly given, then the whole thing is upside-down from how many of us were raised.
I haven't seen Buffy, but I doubt it's a much better source of Magical Ethics than CHARMED was. I won't read the season spoilers (mostly because I don't have time), but one school of thought is that a "Spell To Make Me Adhere To X Beauty Standards" is the magical equivalent of expensive makeup, body augmentation, corsetry and push-up bras, and the like. "Spell To Make Others Think I Adhere To X Beauty Standards" is something else entirely as it involves mucking with peoples' vision and perception. That would be the magical equivalent of any number of triggery things.
Incidentally, this is why the Ethics of Magic are not best received from Rowling, Whedon, or Gigax. They are looking to entertain, not to explore consent issues inherent in changing memory or perception magically.
"because what I remember of the scene in which Harry uses Crucio on the Death Eater teacher at Hogwarts is that a) the spell of mind breaking agony isn't actually depicted as causing agony (no description of the guy flopping about on the floor screaming or whatever)"
Oh, wow, Wizards really are Sith. *boggles* (Though Star Wars never fails to portray Force Lightning as painful.)
That still has the problem of leaving out the excruciating agony part. I never had the impression that that was from repeated use of the curse, but from use of the curse at all. Reducing it to, in this one case, hurling someone across the room is still defanging it, unless said person is described as or indicated to be in pain. Either the narrative doesn't care about DET's (Death Eater teacher) pain, or we're not shown it because it would make what Harry did seem horrible. Both seem problematic to me with regards to torture and the ethics thereof.
I'd also say that tazing someone when you have a non-painful option is still morally problematic, and very morally problematic when you add in the "very illegal tazer designed for torture" part. (Though repeatedly tazing someone is still far worse.)
Then there's Harry's statement about really having to mean it. If a hero uses Crucio/Force Lightning/really illegal tazers designed for torture/anything along those lines and then makes a statement that essentially says that he wanted to inflict horrible pain on his enemy and you don't ever deal with that or have any other hero go "WTF!?" in response to it, it looks as if the narrative is saying it is okay for people to do this. Or at least that it is not not okay.
I'm not comfortable with narratives not saying that things I consider really bad are okay or not not okay. This makes me have objections to the narrative.
Though I'd love it if more fiction cared about consent issues and other ethical issues.
But then we wouldn't have a need for fan fic!!
(I kid.)
. The only things I know that you shouldn't to do people without their consent is almost entirely physical interactions.
Define physical interaction if I check your medical records without your consent (which is illegal as well as immoral) is that a physical interaction because I hit some keys on a keyboard to make it happen?
If I use a hypothetical magical memory charm to stop certain things from passing into long term memory (to prevent you from remembering what is currently happening after it stops) or to stop certain things from passing out of long term memory (to stop you from remembering things already committed to memory) is that physical because it alters the way that neurons will physically interact in your brain?
If I out you as gay without your consent by calmly describing supporting evidence to anyone who will listen, is that a physical interaction because a conversation is a physical action (my vocalizations physically move the air, the motion of the air physically moves parts of the listener's ear, and so on)?
What interactions would you describe as non-physical interactions?
This is true, but it all comes back to the protagonist and company not seeming to notice the flaws. And my uncertainty as to whether the narrative does. (And the fact that my sympathies eventually ended up somewhere the narrative never intended - with the non-magical humans, not the wizards.) There's also the matter of how bad the flaws are.
Aaand the fact that the books kinda set things up as good vs. evil. I'm a little more accepting of grayness when the set up is gray vs. black or grey vs. gray to begin with...sort of. I have similar problems at times with the way SW:TOR depicts the Republic. I'm certain the game designers intended gray vs. gray morality, but the game intro cinematics seem very Republic sympathetic, and there are parts of the game's stories that make the Republic seem like the better side, but other parts of the stories make them look every bit as bad as the Sith Empire. And I can't tell whether this is intentional or whether it's bad writing. I realize that that probably shouldn't matter to me as much as it does, but it matters a hell of a lot to me.
I think that comes from No cookies for human decency, but it was spread accross multiple posts and went in two directions.
On the one side the power blocks nothing because everything is physical. If it has physical effects in the real world, even if those effects are someone screaming at illusions their brain has been tricked into seeing, then it's a physical power. If the brain were not physically altered the screaming would not have been triggered.
It's all particles and waves, no purely mental stuff to deal with.
On the other hand we have some gradations. Consider someone planning to throw a van at Bella using telekinesis. Clearly a mental attack. They're using their mind, not their body, to move the van so the attack is mental. Bella's mental shield can protect her from a van to the head.
But what if, instead of telekinesis, superstrength were used to throw the van at her head? Well that require many mental processes, the idea must be come up with, the physical motions of picking up and throwing the van must be preceded by mental commands for the limbs to do so. Aiming is likewise a mental process.
Clearly picking up and throwing a van at Bella is a mental attack, and her shield can protect against that.
Throwing a punch relies on mental processes, so looked at that way Bella could stop you from doing so.
And all of this assumes that reality is physical. Some believe it is composed of thought. At that point Bella is unstoppable.
Two page thread.
But memory is fallible. If Steve Morrison drops by again with the proper passage, that would be good.
OK, here is the passage; obviously, TW for torture.
Harry pulled the Cloak off himself, raised his wand, and said, “You shouldn’t have done that.”
As Amycus spun around, Harry shouted, “Crucio!”
The Death Eater was lifted off his feet. He writhed through the air like a drowning man, thrashing and howling in pain, and then, with a crunch and a shattering of glass, he smashed into the front of a bookcase and crumpled, insensible, to the floor.
“I see what Bellatrix meant,” said Harry, the blood thundering through his brain, “you need to really mean it.”
I have problems with your examples. In one, you seem to be mixing things done to an area with things done to a specific individual
Counterexample: 'Glissendo' in Harry Potter makes an area of the floor as slippery as wet glass, and everyone in that area falls down.
The issue here is harm requires consent, not mystical targeting.
There's also the fact that you assume that magic is not a physical interaction. I'm not sure how the types of spells discussed can not be physical in some way. Perhaps you can explain how you see them as non-physical.
I _don't_ see them that way. Potterverse spells generally have physical results on a person. There are a few that don't, like memory alterations, that I would suggest people do not reflexively leap to an analogy of 'assault' or 'brain surgery' or 'drugs'.
But most of the hexes and whatnot clearly are assault, and hence would need consent.
I was trying to say that just because 'a spell is done to a person' or 'a spell is cast on a person' does not mean that a person has to give consent, because what that means can vary from fiction to fiction. The question of consent is based on the result of the spell, not how explaining it is phrased in English.
For example, in the Dresden Files, a locator spell are cast 'on' a person...in a way that doesn't involve them at all, or change anything about them, as far as I can tell. (It doesn't even have to require an item of theirs, as long as you can come up with a vivid enough mental image, which good wizards can.)
I'm not sure the Potterverse is aware of ethics.
I cut it some slack, considering part of it is due to the war, and part of it is due to avoiding some hypothetical war with Muggles if the Masquerade is broken. (Yes, that does not make much sense, but it's a premise of the setting.)
Although there's _still_ a lot of problems left over.
Oh good, he was described as being in pain. (There is still something off about the way it's written. The phrasing seems rather...distancing. This might be why you're supposed to use short sentences for action sequences.)
Harry is still fucking creepy here, though. And I'd still like the narrative to go somewhere with the fact that our heroes are slipping badly out of hero status. The fact that they get away with Unforgivables in wartime is believable, but you'd expect at least a few people to see that as a bad thing. (And they might, off page.)
I've clearly remembered things as worse than they were (in some ways), but the over-all slide of the heroes into serious gray territory is definitely there. As is the fact that the narrative treats it with odd neutrality. I don't expect perfect heroes, but there's a limit to how dark they can go before I'm pulling off the hero tag and wondering why the author hasn't as well.
But then, I am a person who prefers fiction that is better than life - escapist and aspirational fiction, I guess one could call it. Which, in retrospect, Harry Potter never was. (The first perhaps, early on.) I think I was distracted by the shiny and read a series I should have known I'd never agree with.
Posting from phone, so this will be a short one: You don't think that a spell which locates a person should (ethically) be cast only with consent or in emergencies? You and I have different privacy standards, it would seem.
I've vaguely disturbed by the framing that Depizan and my comments about consent boil down to "mystical targeting". Everything we've said about consent applies equally whether the spell is Single Target or Area Of Effect - at no point has either of us said that AoE spells should be held to different standards than single target. Either case, if the spell is done without the consent of those it affects, it's unethical in our opinion. (Depizan, correct me if I'm misrepresenting your views.)
I'm beginning to wonder if everyone is using the same concept of "consent" in this conversation. I'm having a Pudding Moment here.
Okay, let's see if I can fix the confusion I have caused. I said The only things I know that you shouldn't to do people without their consent is almost entirely physical interactions.
There are plenty of things people should not do that are not physical interactions. Plenty of completely unethical things. It is just that I was not considering them as things done _to_ people.
That confusion is entirely my fault. (Also I swapped two words.)
To help people understand, as a general rule of thumbs, I would say that things I am unaware of at the time they happen are usually not done 'to me'. Things going on over there, between two other people, are not happening 'to me'. But considering that was the point of dispute in the first place, I really should have explained that clearer.
And to repeat: Just because things are not happening to me doesn't make them nice and/or ethical!
So for your examples:
Checking someone medical records is one of those non-physical things that I would assert consent issues with. (I did say _almost_ everything was physical.) I have autonomy over my body, and that includes records of it. I gave certain people consent to those records, and you have tricked one of them. While this tricking did not directly involve me, it seems like it falls under the fringes of something violating my consent.
Outing me as gay, OTOH, no. Gossip is not a consent issue. That is not something done to me, at least not in my book. Things can be unethical and scummy without being a violation of consent. (And this is one of the cases where someone is going to disagree, on the grounds that people should have some sort of control over their reputation. That is a reasonable idea, but it's not one I hold.)
Blocking someone's memory, yes, that is a consent issue.
And the example you didn't bring up: Causing me to fear for my physical safety would be one, even without actual physical interaction. Including things that would cause me to fear if I knew about, even if I don't.
If I may be permitted to speculate, it seems like for me the problem would be less Harry Going Bad and more the cheery ending epilogue where that stuff gets shoved under the carpet.
If Harry had been shown conflicted or damaged by his complex past and ambiguous actions would that have made it easier to swallow?
HUNGER GAMES SPOILERS
I know that the Hunger Games epilogue made perfect sense to me because it wasn't happy-happy-joy-joy. Gale, one of the protagonists who did morally questionable things, loses his friendships and family connections as a result and runs off to find some kind of rebirth in a new town with new relationships. It feels bittersweet and real.
Katniss, too, deals with her own demons and it takes TIME and lots of effort. It's not all swept away in a saccharine view of "and Snow was gone and life was lovely again and we need never speak of my failings again".
To me, that kind of epilogue tells me that an author GETS IT. YMMV?
I don't understand these sentences at all. Harm requires consent? Don't you mean lack of consent? Are you saying that all harm is based in whether or not people consent? Perhaps we need to back up a few steps and share our respective definitions of harm and what goes under that umbrella.
Harm: causing mental, physical, or emotional damage/pain to another.
Doing things to people without their consent falls under the umbrella of harm because it causes at least emotional damage/pain to another.
Whacking people with sticks falls under the umbrella of harm because it causes physical damage/pain to another. (Whether it's wrong or not depends on whether you had their consent. If you didn't, I suppose it's doubly harm.)
Glissendo causes harm by making people fall down which causes at least physical damage/pain to them. What it does is harmful. It isn't analogous to turning on a light (which could by harmful but isn't by definition harmful.)
"There's also the fact that you assume that magic is not a physical interaction. I'm not sure how the types of spells discussed can not be physical in some way. Perhaps you can explain how you see them as non-physical."
What? Let me rephrase because there seems to be some type of misunderstanding going on. I'm not sure how memory alteration spells can not be physical in some way. Perhaps you can explain how you see them as non-physical. What do you believe is happening? How do you believe memories are stored that there is no physical effect?
For example, in the Dresden Files, a locator spell are cast 'on' a person...in a way that doesn't involve them at all, or change anything about them, as far as I can tell.
Depending on what a locator spell does, this is indeed harm by lack of consent. If a locator spell is the equivalent of looking someone's address up in a public database, then it's fine. If a locator spell tells you where a person is right now then it is not ethical if you don't have their permission. There's a reason why cell phone companies only tell law enforcement where people (well, their phones) are. We've decided that law enforcement needs to be able to do that unethical thing to prevent greater harm. This is the same.
"I'm not sure the Potterverse is aware of ethics."
I cut it some slack, considering part of it is due to the war, and part of it is due to avoiding some hypothetical war with Muggles if the Masquerade is broken.
I was actually being literal. I really don't remember ethics being discussed in the story, even in passing. There is not, so far as I remember, an Ethics of Magic class at Hogwarts. The only time it might come up is with regard to house elf slavery, but I honestly can't remember if it does or if everything's phrased in terms of "right" and "wrong", which is ethics, sort of, but not in a very complicated sense.
Yes. Lots.
I feel like I should have some exclamation points and possibly twenty foot tall type there. While I'd have some issues with the story anyway (because I like escapist, aspirational - or do I mean inspirational? but then you'd probably think I meant Christian fiction - fiction), I wouldn't have the problem of "does the author realize what they wrote?"
This. Double.
The only consolation is that the epilogue is years later. Perhaps everyone was an emotional wreck for 5 years. Perhaps Hermione and Ron still _are_, and just putting on a show for the kids, but...crap, you still haven't finished the books, have you? Let's just say, there are things they specifically did that could keep both of them awake at night. Along with what Harry does.
Fanfic deals with all this. (And 'Dumbledore's Army and the Year of Darkness' takes this idea and applies it to half of Harry's class at Hogwarts, times ten what the Trio went through.)
Perhaps there were trials, and all this came out, and our heroes were revealed to have feet of clay. No one seems to be asking for Harry's autograph, after all, or pointing at him, or treating him as the messiah. There's also fanfic about this, but not as much.
Er...
Outing me as gay, OTOH, no. Gossip is not a consent issue.
Causing me to fear for my physical safety would be one, even without actual physical interaction.
These two things do not necessarily go together. That is to say that there are places where outing someone as gay would cause that someone to fear for their physical safety and be justified in that fear.
Even right where I sit (in the US), I'm quite sure there are situations where a person being outed as gay would have negative effects on their life. Their life probably wouldn't be in danger, but their job could be or their chances of promotions or any number of other things. You may dismiss it as gossip, but it's not exactly harmless.
Either case, if the spell is done without the consent of those it affects, it's unethical in our opinion. (Depizan, correct me if I'm misrepresenting your views.)
Not really. With a directly physically harmful spell, I would place the fact that it's a directly physically harmful spell higher on the "why this is wrong" scale than the lack of consent, but the lack of consent is still a reason why it's wrong.
Right, double harm in the case of genuinely harmful spells.
But the idea being that "non harmful" spells are still subject to consent issues even if they are Area of Effect and not single target.
Yep. We are in agreement.
I'm saying that the issue is the result. The spell is just as ethical, or unethical, if it required casting the spell on the person while in sight, or was cast 'on' a picture of that person or if was a magical artifact that just knew all that without any 'spell' at all. The process is irrelevant, the end result is the ethical question. (Barring the process itself requiring some sort of ethical violation.)
Either case, if the spell is done without the consent of those it affects, it's unethical in our opinion.
Yes. The consent of those it affects. (Results) Not the consent of those it is 'cast on'. (Which is a bit of world-building color in fiction, and completely irrelevant to the ethics of the spell.)
I find myself pointing to my 'Does it matter who a glamour is cast on, if the effect (making the caster look slightly better) is the same?' question again.
See, people _say_ that the result are what matters, and I'm tempted to just think 'Okay, everyone sees what I mean' and just drop the thing right there.
But various people (I don't think you specifically have weighed in) seem to think that somehow having a spell 'on' someone is a 'result' and hence unacceptable without consent, and that there is some meaningful difference between who a spell is 'on', even when it affects exactly the same people in exactly the same way.
And now I'm wondering why I care about this distinction. I suspect that everyone has a cause, and mine has always been dissecting fiction, especially speculative fiction, so I hate sloppiness in discussing it. People show up to spec fic discussions with ideas about how imaginary things 'really' work (No matter what the text says, or what other people think), and then attempt to arguing things off that. It's fine to argue which model is correct, it's fine to argue ethics within the specifics of a model, but arguing ethics with people with _different_ models is exactly how stuff starts blowing up.
So this time, seeing a pothole ahead with mental magic, I tried to ward that off, asking people not to assume their mental model of all this is the same as other people's...and I've failed horribly at this by causing people to think my plea about not assuming everyone is arguing from the same _imaginary_ place is me making a statement about Harry Potter, or real life magic, or that I don't understand what consent is, which I don't even recall how we ended up talking about.
Frankly, at this point we're basically just discussing discussing it, and I'm not even sure of what the point is. I'm going to bed.
Hmm. I was figuring you'd have gone along the lines of 'altering someone's brain requires physical interaction, so the shield clearly works by blocking that interaction, which means it can block *other* physical forces...'
What do you believe is happening? How do you believe memories are stored that there is no physical effect?
If you do believe Obliviate works purely by screwing with the target's soul, or whatnot... and this makes it better to you?
(Alternatively, it could be a kind of geas that simply prevents the memory from being accessed...)
One works by altering appearance through holograms, transformation, or whatnot. The other works by altering the subject's perception. Slight difference. Even if the spell is theoretically 'cast on' the person to be prettified, but works by making everyone in the vicinity *believe* them to be prettified, then it is unethical. It's a question of the harm that is done, and altering someone's perceptions is harm, even if not severe harm. If I decided I wanted to wear a tie-die shirt, that'd be okay. If I went around forcing everyone who saw me to wear kailedescope glasses, that would not be okay.
People show up to spec fic discussions with ideas about how imaginary things 'really' work (No matter what the text says, or what other people think), and then attempt to arguing things off that.
See also: Star Trek re: Transporter Paradox, after it being explicitly stated it doesn't work that way.
I didn't think there were such things as 'memory charms in general' - the Memory Charm is another name for Obliviate, just like the Summoning Charm is another word for Accio. So it IS known that you can do other things with Obliviate, just as Chris pointed out.
Whether you choose to use Obliviate to rewind the last few minutes or to remove a formative experience from someone's memory is up to the user, then, which makes it potentially VERY dangerous. Besides, Obliviators go around removing memories of (e.g.) dragon sightings, even if the non-magical humans in question saw the dragon around lunchtime and the Obliviators only get to them at night, so even if they just press 'rewind' they'd remove an entire afternoon. Now I don't mind dangerous spells existing (just like I don't mind cars existing or guns) as long as their usage is tightly regulated.
But the use of memory charms ISN'T, or so it seems. And I do think that's a scary idea.
Which, in the case of memory charms, is the same person: the Cast On and Affected are one and the same. So I don't know why you are parsing this distinction because it is meaningless to the subject that we started on. Indeed, I believe the distinction to be meaningless in general because I can't think of a spell that is Cast On person X without Affecting person X. Even the locator spell we have shown to contain an Effect which can be unethical in Depizan's and my way of thinking.
The concept of glamour as you keep bringing up does not fit because you're conflating two completely different effects -- the ethical "magic makeup" effect and the unethical "adore me!!" effect. Those are two different spells that can only be conflated by the English words "they both make people think the caster is prettier". Words are not being clear in this case.
The difference between those spells that that the effect is either "I look about the same as if I were wearing expensive under-garments" (ethical) or "Everyone perceives me as hotter than the sun because I'm messing with their perceptions" (unethical). The effect is not the same in each case. In the former case strangers simply aren't affected other than seeing the Magical Push-UP Bra (which is no different than seeing a Regular Push-Up Bra. They see the effect of breasts being pushed up because they ARE being pushed up, not because the spell messes with their eyes or perceptions. If it did, that would be unethical.). If Joe, Jimmy, and Bobby aren't into big breasts, they won't find Ellen any more charming than they did before. In the latter case, there's a completely different effect: Joe, Jimmy, and Bobby are forced into seeing Ellen as pretty, no matter what their personal standards of beauty are.
Tl;Dr: you are arguing against a position that isn't appearing in this thread as far as I can see. When I said that Casting On person X without their consent was wrong, I was presuming SOME kind of Effect on the Cast On since I cannot imagine a spell that uses Person X as a non-consensual focus WITHOUT an Effect on Person X. The example of glamor as something that "affects" multiple non-targets is kind of a red herring because IF is does alter memory and perceptions, then it is still unethical without consent. And if it doesn't -- as in the example of Magical Zit Removal -- then the "effect" of people seeing you as prettier is really not achieved by direct "effect" on them but rather a side-effect of their presumed social values of beauty (which are not universally held; some people may find the zit more endearing).
or that I don't understand what consent is, which I don't even recall how we ended up talking about.
Because that is the entire crux of our initial "is this ethical" assessment. Step on Johnny's foot: Did you have his consent? Not ethical. Take Jimmy car: Did you have his consent? Not ethical. Cast a spell on Jason: Did you have his consent? Not ethical.
Anything else -- the type of effect, whether it's physical or more like winding back time, how many other people were affected, whether actual harm has been committed -- is a secondary test. Whether consent was obtained from the person being Acted Upon is the first and foremost question.
QFT. This.
Slightly sideways, but that makes me wonder. In Doctor Who, a common device was a 'perception filter.' I am pretty sure that it worked by making people ignore something or someone. Another device was psychic paper. It worked by showing whatever it was the person wanted or expected to see. Very useful in a pinch for the Doctor, but were they ethical to be used? After all, they did mess with a person's perception. The main difference was that there were no technically harmful or persistent effects. Yet, they did mess with how a person viewed the universe. Where would these particular issues fall on this axis?
One of the"fun" things about ethics -- and this ties into our conversations about Cultural Appropriation and Clothing and Hair Styles -- is that ultimately you are always going to be doing SOME harm simply by existing and acting, no matter how much you try otherwise. (This is even mentioned in the Rabinovich book I mentioned up-thread; particularly notable because the Wiccan Rede -- "an ye harm none" -- is technically impossible.)
The goal, I think, in ethics is to minimize harm as much as possible. That's why I can say it's "unethical" to talk to someone who doesn't want to be talked to, but we minimize that by asking for feedback: "may I speak with you?" That's why I also say that the answer to Cultural Appropriation* isn't* for us to all shave our heads and go nude lest we accidentally appropriate some piece of clothing or hair style and harm someone.
Once one accepts that they are going to cause harm merely by existing, it becomes a matter of minimizing it. If a fictional "perception filter" saves people from greater harms, or if it has so little effect on them (including side-effects) as simply Not Being There At All, it may still be unethical, but possibly the lesser of many other evils.
I think this also ties into the Burden Of Effort that we talked about up-thread. Even if Ron memory-charming the driving instructor has zero side-effects, I would still consider it highly unethical because there's no reason why he can't just retake the test. He's valuing his time over another person's consent, and that's hugely problematic.
With the case, on the other hand, of a Somebody Else's Problem Field, usually it's impossible or highly difficult to take the Needs To Be Hidden thing away and remove it entirely (as opposed to using the perception filter), so the overriding of consent is done in response to larger barriers and needs than just "I don't want to waste another afternoon on this driving test."
My two cents. Ethics is not something many people agree on. :)
I took psychic paper to be the high tech (or magi-tech) version of Rockford's printing press. Useful, but no, not really ethical. Actually, it's worse than the printing press because while Rockford is lying about who he is and what he's doing, he could still get it wrong. Psychic paper is guaranteed to work, which is more problematic.
How problematic depends on exactly how it works, though.
I'm also put in mind of something my mom told me about. When she was young, she worked at the naval yards in Bremerton. To get on base, you had to have ID. However, a lot of soldiers got away with quickly flashing cigarette packs at the guards. The shiny plastic looked just right enought that the guards perceived ID, especially from a soldier in uniform.
If psychic paper were like that - it didn't really have anything on it but a vague pattern that people were likely to play mental fill-in-the-blank with beneficially, it would be more ethical than if it actually reads people's minds and changes accordingly. To me, anyway.
I don't do this often, but"
And the example you didn't bring up: Causing me to fear for my physical safety [...] Including things that would cause me to fear if I knew about, even if I don't.
You lie.
-Tirgger warning for homophobia
I did bring that example up. You quoted and responded to it. I brought up the example of outing someone as gay, something that can make you lose your job (and with it healthcare if you're US based). Something that can make you lose your home, and the safety that comes with it. Something that can make you lose friends and family and the safety that comes from the support network that they comprise. Something that can get you beaten. Something that can get you raped. Something that can get you killed.
You said that providing that information which could place one in real physical danger, which is to say providing the person cause to fear for their physical safety, is not a consent issue.
This is strange, to me, because doing the exact same thing is morally acceptable when you have the affected person's permission to tell people that said person is gay first. So it seems, to me, to be a thing where consent absolutely determines how the action should be judged.
What Kingsley did is called a 'memory modification' by Dumbledore, not 'a Memory Charm', which is indeed another way to say 'Obliviate'.
We know there is a way to alter memories, not just remove them (See: whatever Hermione did to her parents, whatever Slughorn did to himself, whatever Voldemort did to that House Elf...) Saying this way is using Obliviate is assuming things not in evidence. We don't ever see Obliviate or a 'Memory Charm' doing this.
It really barely appears they have a government at all. The only spell we actually see, besides the Unforgivables, that people 'aren't allowed' to cast is, of all things, a Portkey!
The concept of glamour as you keep bringing up does not fit because you're conflating two completely different effects
I tried to make this clear by repeated talking about 'makeup'. I'm not referring to something that reads the viewer's mind and makes the person look 'pretty'. I am referring to something that makes a consistent change in appearance. Like makeup. Or, because I've outed that this original discussion came from BtVS, something like hiding tiny horns or blue skin for half-demons.
I don't quite understand that rest of what you're saying. The entire premise of a spell that makes people see things in a way that is untrue _is_ altering their perceptions. Regardless of whether or not it is cast on the thing that being presented untruly, or the person. (If the magic actually altered the original thing, that's something completely different.) So I don't really understand what you mean by drawing a distinction on 'altering their perceptions', but it's possible now _I'm_ missing a distinction.
I guess it is possible to argue that _all_ illusion spells are violations of consent...but that would put things like 'hiding your valuables using magic' into 'violation of consent of the people who now cannot see them', which does not seem reasonable to me, but perhaps you disagree?
Indeed, I believe the distinction to be meaningless in general because I can't think of a spell that is Cast On person X without Affecting person X. Even the locator spell we have shown to contain an Effect which can be unethical in Depizan's and my way of thinking.
And let us imagine a world where, instead of a spell, we have a magical device that simply will report the location of anyone, at any time, without doing any sort of magic on them. (See 'Person of Interest', which tripped over that ethical issue without having any magic at all.)
How the magic works, including who it is 'cast on', is world-building words. The end result is what matters.
I don't quite understand that rest of what you're saying. The entire premise of a spell that makes people see things in a way that is untrue _is_ altering their perceptions. [...] (If the magic actually altered the original thing, that's something completely different.)
YES! YES! We have communication. There are two types of Beauty Spells:
1. Change Caster into New Form: example, the zit on the nose is gone, just as surely as though they'd applied zit removal cream, but faster and without the smelly pharmaceutical smell.
2. Make Others See Caster As New Form: example, hide the zit on the nose, by altering the perception of the people who gaze at the caster.
We, or at least *I*, am saying that #1 is ethical and #2 is not. And that trying to lump all Beauty Spells into #2 is really frustratingly ignorant of magical mechanics.*
(* If I sound frustrated, it's because I've already stated all this multiple times and I really, genuinely, truly feel like you're not listening. I've said that Magical Push-Up Bra and Magical Zit Removal can take the same form as Non-Magical push-up bras and zit removal, and I don't understand why you keep insisting that the only possible Beauty Spells are ones that alter the PERCEPTION OF THE ENTIRE WORLD instead of the Caster's boobs or nose. Ethics aside, which spell seems easier to you?? This is really really basic Wiccan 101. Or world-building 101 for that matter.)
And let us imagine a world where, instead of a spell, we have a magical device that simply will report the location of anyone, at any time, without doing any sort of magic on them.
ARGH. And now we're back to the not listening. I don't know how to put this any simpler.
A. Doing X to someone without their consent is Unethical.
B. Casting magic ON someone qualifies as "doing X" as in Point A.
C. Casting magic that AFFECTS someone ALSO qualifies as "doing X" as in Point A.
D. Determining the location of someone ALSO qualifies as "doing X" as in Point A.
E. Doing X to some without their consent is Unethical regardless of the manner in which you Do X. Magic, physical, mundane, whatever: if you're Doing X to someone and you don't have their consent, you're behaving unethically.
Reading '[A person] causing me to fear for my physical safety' to mean '[A person] doing things that might cause other people to threaten me, causing me to fear for my physical safety' is somewhat dubious.
If you're going to read 'causing' that way, you can get anywhere: The lack of streetlights may also cause me to fear for my physical safety while walking down a street, ergo, the city planner who decided not to install them violated my consent. And would I be fearing for my physical safety at all if I hadn't been born?
If you believe that stating factual information about someone is a violation of their consent, you are forced into one of two conclusions:
Either the law should prohibit people stating factual information about people, or the law should allow others to violate people's consent.
I, OTOH, think people threatening others violates their consent. (And thus is illegal.) And something like stalking or breaking into their house and leaving without a trace, which would cause people to be afraid if they knew about it, violations their consent. (And that is also illegal...mostly. There are a few places the law probably should be extended, because I'm heard too many 'The police can't anything' stories.)
And, incidentally, you'll notice that I do consider medical records under consent issues, and the law even agrees with me there that repeating that information should be illegal without consent. But that's where the law, and violations of consent, end.
I sympathize with gay people who are involuntarily outed. I've known openly gay people, gay people who were closeted outside my theatre group, and people I'm fairly sure were closeted gay but not out to me. People who go around outing other people would be in my 'Do not be friends with' category.
But trying to make everything about 'consent'...I don't understand that. Consent is needed for stuff that interferes with bodily autonomy. (And being threatened does interfere with that.) But it's not 'I don't like the guy over there saying things about me that I don't want him to say.'.
Alright. Stop. End of thread.
You are conflating the dangers of being outed -- which Chris described in perfect clarity -- with something else that is not like being outed at all. There are people on this board who live in daily fear of being outed and who could be detained, locked up, or killed in their country if they were outed, and you are dismissing all that with your debate-team conflationary tactics.
This thread is now closed, or will be once my power comes back on at the house. I don't have the spoons to clean up all the straight male privilege that is being spewed all over the thread.
David, this is a warning. Your ignorance about the importance of consent in feminism is not my job to correct. Go read up on consent theory and educate yourself because if you continue to ask the same feminism 101 questions over and over like you are here, I will give you a spoon because you're taking all of mine.
This thread is now closed.
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Day 304?
Did John Kerry ever sign from sf-180?
The reason I ask is because this is still at the bottom of this site.
304 days ago, John Kerry promised, on national TV, to sign form SF-180 and release his military records. He has yet to do so.
Hey, in 56 days is my one year blog anniversary.
Posted by Tyler at 11/30/2005 06:27:00 PM No comments:
Bloggers Dropping Like Flies.
What is happening out there in blogger land?
Just What is Happening?
Update: Risawn is back up and The Duck is actually here.
Wizard of Winter.
With to much time on his hands.
Any of the Top Seven.
You scored as Moya (from Farscape). You are surrounded by muppets. But that is okay because they are your friends and have shown many times that they can be trusted. Now if only you could stop being bothered about wormholes.
Coming on December 1, 2005:
Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? The Sequel
Moya (from Farscape)
Serenity (from Firefly)
SG-1 (from Stargate)
Galactica (from Battlestar: Galactica)
Enterprise D (from Star Trek)
Nebuchadnezzar (from The Matrix)
Millennium Falcon (from Star Wars)
Bebop (from Cowboy Bebop)
Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? (pics)
created with QuizFarm.com
I'm a Large mammal.
Has anyone noticed their TTLB ranking? (Other than Uber.) Apparently that whole system craped itself yesterday. I have been everything from a one celled organism to a reptile and now a bird.
I know it is free, but WTF? It is not that I am paranoid about such trivial things.
Just because I can prove my last ranking does not make me obsessive compulsive.
(I will not ask. I know it does not.)
Okay I just saw this.
Remember that animated video a few days back.
There looks to be a movie in the works, although it is not CG.
Posted by Tyler at 11/27/2005 01:44:00 AM No comments:
Have I?
Have I ever mentioned that I don't like Dell?
Well, I don't.
Don't buy 'em.
That's my $0.02
Dell proprietary (non-standard) ATX design
And Remember...
Best Blog Post of the Year.
UPDATE: Results are in.
The Politburo Diktat has a contest for the Best Blog Post of the Year.
Here are the contenders (In No Order)
The O'Reilly Factor interview with Yoda
Little Green Football's animated .gif of CBS Documents
The Decadent West: DW Vs. Five Year Olds.
Ace of Spades: WhoreBlogging.
Nation of Riflemen: The Pussification of the Western Male
The Smallest Minority: Those Without Swords can Still Die Upon Them.
The LlamaButchers: Tales of the LlamaButchers
Bill Whittle: Silent America Series
Alphecca: Interview With John Kerry
GOP and the City: Plame it on the Rain
SobekPundit: Things Mormons Want to Do...
Letter to the Idiot.
Mr. Shackleford's (The Jawa Report) letter to Markos.
Dear Markos,
You and the Left are sounding more and more like al Jazeera every day. You're blind hatred of the Bush Administration is endangering the lives of U.S. soldiers and embolding our enemies to kill them.
I know you 'love' America, but your 'love' of America is like that of an abusive husband who 'loves' his wife. You 'love' America so much that you will not let any opportunity pass to belittle and abuse her. You 'love' America only when America acts in exactly the way in which you believe it should act. When America gets out of line, you pull no punches.
It's good stuff. Rusty really rips Kos a new one and then does it again.
READ!
As of 2200 hrs only one place has the 360 in stock.
for a little over twice retail.
They are going for a grand on E-bay.
All this for $150 worth of computer components.
Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.
And I hope this is a joke.
UPDATE: Tom's Hardware reports the 360 actually costs $550.
Holy S***!
I can't believe this bulls**t. The most amazing pile of steaming horse crap EVER!
I can't describe it. (Well, any better than saying s**t over and over.)
Massive download 90mb.
I am absolutely amazed how stupid people can be AND if America is THAT bad why don't they F***ing leave.
Damn I am slightly enraged.
Aircraft Flight Pattern Artwork. (WAY COOL)
Why Rivrdog is cool.
Cool gun for the Holidays. The Mossberg 702. NOR says Wally World has them for under $100.
Dilbert Blog (Like the Wil Weaton blog just not THAT stupid.)
Wally World's sub $400 laptop
Should you buy a cheap laptop?
Texas sues Sony BMG for spyware violations.
Ensure a Job for life
Dell grows a brain
Be careful about that new Pentium 4 purchase
Parents blame death on World of Warcraft Game.
The list of CD's with sony's Infection.
The Seven Deadly Sins of Blogging
Wizard.
I can only guess how long it took to do this. (5mb download)
This is insanely creative and extremely well done.
National Ammo Day.
Iraq Gun Pr0n: Which Guns Suck, Which Guns Rock
Pushing the Odds
Both good reads.
UPDATE: Two more articles that are good. (I don't want to start a new post.)
Five Questions that non-muslins Would Like Answered.
Goonies 20 Years Later.
That Bad Huh?
LIBERTARIANS support maximum liberty in both personal andeconomic matters. They advocate a much smaller government; one that is limited to protecting individuals from coercion and violence. Libertarians tend to embrace individual responsibility, oppose government bureaucracy and taxes, promote private charity, tolerate diverse lifestyles, support the free market, and defend civil liberties
Take Test Here.
Carnival Of Cordite
Carnival #39
More of that "Stuff"
I keep running across this and feel the need to share.
NSFW! Poor Animal.
LOL! OMG!? WTF?
Pee and Poo.
I must admit, i'm a little freaked out.
and confused.
Just what is Pee & Poo?
UPDATE: Straight out of a toilet and into your bed .
That's their first line. I did not make that up.
Posted by Tyler at 11/17/2005 01:32:00 AM 1 comment:
Career is most important in your life.
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BWHAHA!!!
The First Annual MySpace Stupid Haircut Awards!
BWHAHAHA!!
I love the Internet.
Hey Wyatt! Do you help people like this?
Insane.
Oh yeah, google has a video option now.
(They have pre-play but it sucks. Hit pause and just let 'em load.)
CowboyBlob has something great.
I don't know what I was looking for when I found this.
Residents protest presence of gun dealer in Leimert Park.
The gun dealership, owned by Bartochba Botach, was discovered Friday by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, and a group of Crenshaw area residents, who, responding to rumors, went to the unmarked storefront at 3423 W. 43rd Place and demanded entry.
Discovered? You mean it didn't exist before he found it?
“He said he is an international arms dealer with a government contract and that everything he does at his Crenshaw store is legal,” Moore said. “He told us he has a right to be in there, but we didn’t.
If you read the article it doesn't explain that comment at all. I guess if it is his businesses he has the right to refuse any costumer.
“He said, yeah, he sells guns and ammunition in bulk, but only to law enforcement and the military,” Moore added. “He said he is an Israeli and that he operates the gun business with his family. I asked him why he had to sell them in our community. I was angry, so I told him to go sell them in his own community.”
Oh. Military and Law Enforcement only, but that's where I get... never mind. Okay, the article doesn't explain that comment either.
Botach Tactical is a gun supply store that has allegedly been operated by Botach for 12 years. Parks said Botach has had other businesses in the community for at least 20 years.
Yet another comment that makes NO since. And what the hell is with the allegedly? Yes or No?
The councilman said Botach has a current valid state license to sell arms and is contracted by the Los Angeles Police Commission to buy and sell guns, ammunition and arms-related materials in bulk through the Internet to police agencies around the country.
I think I get it now. The reason gang members kill each other in the gang land capital of the world is because that there is a gun store that sells to the police only? Or maybe it's that guns cause crime. Yeah, that's it. Guns cause crime.
“We have contacted the LAPD gun detail to run a trace on guns involved in crimes to see if any of those guns can be traced back to Botach,” Parks said. “Officers from gun control reported that they are very familiar with the location and its operation and they have not received any complaints from residents or business owners surrounding it.
WTF? To see if police weapons are involved in crimes? Someone please explain that to me.
“I understand the community’s concern due to the type of business Mr. Botach is operating, given current crime and murder rates in the surrounding area,” Parks added. “While Mr. Botach’s license does allow him to sell items commercially, as does any license to sell arms, his business is primarily Internet-based and supplies and materials are sold only to police departments and other government-related agencies.”
Man, so far I am going paragraph by paragraph. I need to skip a few. Again, guns cause crime. Duh.
CONTRADICTION 101
We see this.
...familiar with the location and its operation and they have not received any complaints from residents or business owners surrounding it.
And three paragraphs down we see.
“We are currently looking into all the current complaints...
HAHA! You suckers were caught.
An official of the national Brady Campaign to Prevent Violence expressed concern about the apparent legal stash of guns in a high-crime area. “I am not familiar with the particulars in the situation in South Los Angeles, but any stockpile of weaponry can be breached by forces intend on illegal useages,” said Eric Howard, associate director of communication for the Brady Campaign.
I thought The Brady Bunch prevented Gun violence. When did they change their name?
And remember kids guns kill people. People don't kill people.
“The lobby got Congress to reject President Bush’s request for budget funds to track illegal weapons last fall. The gun industry knowingly markets its weapons to criminals and knowingly funnels weapons into the illegal market.”
Holy Crap! What a hatchet job. Knowingly?
Americans Started the French Riots.
Yeah, I didn't know that either, until CNN told me.
A few days ago I was reading Vilmar's blog and saw this.
And today Michelle Malkin has the story. Super Fun Power Hour says it best. "Seems like the political correctness has reached a peak of retardation."
Anyway.... What I am getting at here is that the Communist News Network SUCKS.
LIN: Hard to say because it's been 11 days since two African- American teenagers were killed, electrocuted during a police chase, which prompted all of this.
(Transcript)
French police killed Americans!!! (If I am reading that right.)
Morons.
Did You Forget?
I feel the need to remind everyone.
That there are sill only 14 members on my frappr map.
This is what their sticker looks like.
This is mine.
I know hope more than 14 people read this blog.
UPDATE: I am using their button again.
Carnival Of Cordite.
Veterans Day Edition.
What Are They Looking For?
All I want to know is just what in the hell is this person looking for.
darth vader toilet video
DRINKER'S POOPIE: The kind of poopie you have the morning after a long night of drinking. It's most noticeable trait is the skid marks on the bottom of the toilet.
cross threaded spark plugs
Freaknomics pool gun
control/userimage.html
ammo caliber vs pit bull
gun refresher course
1969 camaro warranty card
car $1.2 million
Bugatti 1.2 million dollar car
internet explorer lockup al.com
ARES-16SPW
sport car 1.2 million dollars
I promise to post something of mild relevance sometime today.
Break a Man's Heart. (2)
I found pics of the other totaled Enzos.
This is #3 I think. YUM TOASTY!
This one is labled #4 so there actually may be 5 totaled Enzos. (although It doesn't look it.)
Break a Man's Heart.
I don't know if I can beat the kids playing baseball with a hand grenade, but I will try.
The Ferrari Enzo. Not the most beautiful exotic car ever produced, but will send the car crazes into a frenzy at the sight of one. The Lamborghini murcielago is the tamest of the breed. Yet still has a high drool factor.
Now I have somewhat confirmed this first story and the second is... well, evident.
I am sure some of you have seen the Enzo picture. The Lambo was new to me. :(
It turns out some TEENAGERS got ahold of daddies keys. Not teen boys mind you but girls.
YES, they were street racing each other.
The Lamborghini was driven by minor Courtney Shannon, daughter of Danny Shannon the owner of a large exotic cars dealership.
The Ferarri Enzo, the world's rarest car, was driven by Rebecca West who's father is a prominent attorney.
They were the drivers. Their brothers were in the cars also.
Of the five all stable and one critical. Too bad though.
The Lamborghini is was valued at $280,000, and the Ferarri is was valued at more than $2,000,000.
Story TWO.
The Enzo above was the third one totaled out of a 400 total units.
Get ready for number four.
They say he was traveling at 250 KPH ('bout 155mph).
I don't think he hit anything. There just isn't enough parts on the ground for two cars.
SOMETHING ELSE!
Koenigsegg CCR $350,000
Zonda C12s $350,000
Lambo $300,000
Zonda C12 $280,000
F50 $1,000,000 +
F40 $500,000
Plus what is on the front of the trailer that I can't see.
What Finds Me?!
dumbo stuff for sale
botach
the veyron car 0 to 60 in 3 seconds 0-60
.45 caliber handguns
(IMAGE SEARCH) 20 of these a day.
funny tyler
Burt Gummer
PWN4GE
darla jaye sucks
darth vader on the toilet video (Just what in the hell is that person or persons looking for?)
UN-U.N.
H/T A Bama Blog.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly urged the United States on Tuesday to end its 44-year-old trade embargo against Cuba, a call U.S. Ambassador John Bolton dismissed as ''a complete exercise in irrelevancy.''
It was the 14th straight year that the 191-member world body approved a resolution calling for the U.S. economic and commercial embargo against Cuba to be repealed ''as soon as possible.''
The United States, Israel, Palau and the Marshall Islands voted against the resolution, while Micronesia abstained. Four countries did not indicate any position at all -- El Salvador, Iraq, Morocco and Nicaragua.
WHY DO WE DEAL WITH THE U.N.? U.S. OUT OF THE U.N. Or better yet U.N. OUT OF THE U.S.
Although I like Lee's explanation.
Democrats Win Gov. Races in N.J., Va.
Democrats swept both governors' races Tuesday, with Sen. Jon Corzine easily winning New Jersey and Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine taking Virginia despite a last-minute campaign push for his opponent from President Bush.
Kaine had 995,290 votes, or 51.5 percent, to Kilgore's 894,609 votes, or 46.3 percent, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
In New Jersey, Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine trounced Doug Forrester, with 1,071,905 votes, or 53.5 percent, to 865,485 votes, or 43.2 percent, for the Republican, with 91 percent of precincts reporting.
"There's no way to spin this than anything other than a major defeat for Republicans and for President Bush," said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.
Okay, I'm mildly confused. Both New Jersey and Virginia has Democrats as govenors prior to this election.
Maybe I'm an idiot? Maybe I'm reading to much into this? But, how is not losing anything a "big" loss?
That's Sad.
Overdose Kills Drug-Sniffing Dog
FRAPPR!
Eww.
Found THIS at Sir Duck.
Please make sure you are not eating, drinking, under 21, have a weak stomach, or are in any way squeamish.
Want to Guess What I Got in the Mail?
Rosenrot. Oh Yeah!
You scored as Batman, the Dark Knight. As the Dark Knight of Gotham, Batman is a vigilante who deals out his own brand of justice to the criminals and corrupt of the city. He follows his own code and is often misunderstood. He has few friends or allies, but finds comfort in his cause.
Neo, the "One"
Batman, the Dark Knight
James Bond, Agent 007
Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0
Scientist says device disproves quantum theory
First off, I am no quantum theorist and I have no background in the topic.
Now I just feel dumb.
It seems too good to be true: a new source of near-limitless power that costs virtually nothing, uses tiny amounts of water as its fuel and produces next to no waste.
If it is to good to be true…
Randell Mills, a Harvard University medic who also studied electrical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, claims to have built a prototype power source that generates up to 1,000 times more heat than conventional fuel. Independent scientists claim to have verified the experiments
Wow. But…
The problem is that according to the rules of quantum mechanics, the physics that governs the behavior of atoms, the idea is theoretically impossible
Mills: “My experiment! It stopped working!”
Naudts: “I think I know what the problem is.”
Mills: “What?”
Naudts: “It VIOLATES THE LAWS THAT GOVERN THE UNIVERSE!”
Mills: “Oh, is that a problem?”
Naudts: “Dude.”
Physicists are quite conservative. It's not easy to convince them to change a theory that is accepted for 50 to 60 years. I don't think [Mills's] theory should be supported," said Jan Naudts, a theoretical physicist at the University of Antwerp.
It sounds as if Mr. Naudts is too big for his britches. He knows more than everyone else. I don’t think we have licked Quantum physics and there is probably a good chance we are wrong entirely.
This is scientific heresy. According to quantum mechanics, electrons can only exist in an atom in strictly defined orbits, and the shortest distance allowed between the proton and electron in hydrogen is fixed. The two particles are simply not allowed to get any closer.
“Burn him at the stake!”
According to Dr Mills, there can be only one explanation: quantum mechanics must be wrong. "We've done a lot of testing. We've got 50 independent validation reports, we've got 65 peer-reviewed journal articles," he said. "We ran into this theoretical resistance and there are some vested interests here. People are very strong and fervent protectors of this [quantum] theory that they use."
Man, please be right. I want CHEAP POWER!
Dr Mills's idea goes against almost a century of thinking. When scientists developed the theory of quantum mechanics they described a world where measuring the exact position or energy of a particle was impossible and where the laws of classical physics had no effect. The theory has been hailed as one of the 20th century's greatest achievements.
And those scientists were going against how many years? Well, who knows how long? Really long.
"If it's wrong, it will be proven wrong," said Kert Davies, research director of Greenpeace USA. "But if it's right, it is so important that all else falls away. It has the potential to solve our dependence on oil. Our stance is of cautious optimism."
Well, that settles it. It is a fraud. Why else would they consult GREENPEACE?!
CARNIVAL TIME
Pay attention to Rivrdog.
You scored as Special Ops. Special ops. Your sneaky, tactful, and a loner. You prefer to do your jobs alone, working where you don't come into contact with people. But everyonce in a while you hit it big and are noticed and given fame. Your given the more sensitive problems. You get things done, and do what has to be done.
"VULCAN NECK PINCH!!!"
"owww.......(slump)"
Support Gunner
Combat Infantry
Which soldier type are you?
Bird Flu.
I HAVE HAD IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can no longer stand the crap (pun soon to be intended) that the MSM is spewing about the Bird Flu. I cannot find a number on how many people have died from the bird flu. Well, the closest I got was Thailand reported 13 deaths.
Hell, lightning averages 93 deaths per year in the States and that isn’t a concern.
I mean, can the stuff even be transmitted form human to human yet? But I did find number on how many have died from diarrhea.
Diarrhea death statistics for various regions worldwide:
About 707,000 deaths from diarrheal diseases in Africa 2002
About 57,000 deaths from diarrheal diseases in The Americas 2002
About 604,000 deaths from diarrheal diseases in South East Asia 2002
About 16,000 deaths from diarrheal diseases in Europe 2002
About 259,000 deaths from diarrheal diseases in Eastern Mediterranean 2002
About 154,000 deaths from diarrheal diseases in Western Pacific 2002
Or 1,797,000 people died from diarrhea in 2002, yet no one is saying anything about how dangerous that epidemic is.
Most warning us of the “pending” epidemic can only tell us how many will die.
Sir Liam Donaldson told the BBC that 50,000 would die.
David Nabarro hinted at 150,000,000.
But even the U.N thought that was a little excessive.
Frappr.
Does everyone see the black and gray g-visit icon on the side bar? Well, click it and add your self to the list.
UPDATE: It has been an hour. What is happening? Come on people.
Update: Just click here.
Update: Turns out they make a button. I don't like the button, but I will use it for a while.
Pick One.
Alito on Abortion.
In 3 of 4 cases, Supreme Court nominee Alito voted on the side of abortion rights.
Sooooooooo.
-• A 1991 challenge to a Pennsylvania law requiring married women to notify their husbands before seeking an abortion. The court struck down the restriction. Alito dissented.
- A 1995 challenge to a Pennsylvania law that required women seeking to use Medicaid funds to abort a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest to report the incident to law enforcement officials and identify the offender. Alito provided the decisive vote striking down the abortion restriction.
- A 1997 challenge to a New Jersey law that prevents parents from suing for damages on behalf of the wrongful death of a fetus. Alito ruled that the Constitution does not afford protection to the unborn.
- A 2000 challenge to New Jersey's ban on so-called partial-birth abortions. Alito struck down the law based on a recent Supreme Court decision.
Analysts are divided over the meaning of Alito's votes and his various writings while on the bench.
Does anyone else think this guy should have been nominated for Chief Justice?
NEW FLASH
Greenpeace to pay fine for damaging reef
MANILA (Reuters) - Greenpeace said Tuesday it will pay nearly $7,000 in damages after the environmental group's flagship, the Rainbow Warrior II, hit a coral reef at a world heritage site in the southern Philippines.
V.W.R.C.
The entire list can be seen here.
Thanks again SondraK.
You scored as Batman, the Dark Knight. As the Dar...
You scored as Special Ops. Special ops. Your snea...
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Ahmed al-Haznawi Timeline: Official
Fall of 1999: Early contact
Saudi authorities interviewed the relatives of [the "muscle" hijackers] and have briefed us on what they found. The muscle hijackers came from a variety of educational and societal backgrounds. All were between 20 and 28 years old; most were unemployed with no more than a high school education and were unmarried. Four of them—Ahmed al Ghamdi, Saeed al Ghamdi, Hamza al Ghamdi, and Ahmad al Haznawi—came from a cluster of three towns in the al Bahah region, an isolated and underdeveloped area of Saudi Arabia, and shared the same tribal affiliation. None had a university degree.Their travel patterns and information from family members suggest that the four may have been in contact with each other as early as the fall of 1999.
Page 231, Chapter 7, 9/11 Commission Report
12th November 2000: Visa application
al-Haznawi makes a non-immigrant application for a US visa using Saudi passport #B991866. This shows him as being born in Saudi Arabia on the date "1st December 1400 (sic)". (Source)
Ahmad al Haznawi, a 20-year-old Saudi national, applied for and received a two-year B-1/B-2 (tourist/business) visa in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. There is evidence that Haznawi may have presented a passport with fraudulent travel stamps associated with al Qaeda. Haznawi listed his occupation as “student” but left blank the line on which he was asked to supply the street address of his present school. He stated that he would provide financial support for his visit. He was not interviewed.
9/11 Terrorist Travel Monograph
7th May 2001: Flying to the UAE
Ahmed al-Haznawi traveled from Karachi to Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Gulf Air Flight 733. (Source)
29th May 2001: Wail al-Shehri
Wail al-Shehri left UAE. (Source)
1st June 2001: Flying to Dubai
Ahmed al-Haznawi and Wail al-Shehri traveled from Bahrain to Dubai, UAE. (Source)
5th June 2001: Driving permit
Wail al-Shehri obtained an International Driving Permit in Sharjah, UAE. (Source)
6th June 2001: Travelers cheques
Ahmed al-Haznawi purchased $3,000 of American Express traveler's cheques in Dubai, UAE. (Source)
Wail al-Shehri purchased $14,000 of American Express traveler's cheques in Sharjah, UAE. (Source)
8th June 2001: Arriving in Miami
Ahmed al-Haznawi and Wail al-Shehri flew from Dubai to Miami, through London, on Emirates Airlines Flight 7 and Virgin Atlantic Airlines Flight 5. The tickets for this travel were purchased on June 6, 2001, from the DNATA travel agency in Sharjah, UAE. In booking these flights, al-Haznawi and al-Shehri listed 971-50-769-6327 as a contact telephone number. (Source)
Ahmad al Haznawi and Wail al Shehri arrived together at Miami from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Both Saudis were admitted as tourists for six months by the same primary inspector.
17th June - 31st August 2001: 4641 Bougainvilla Drive
Ahmed al-Haznawi and Ziad Jarrah rented apartment 2 at 4641 Bougainvilla Drive, Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida, telephone 954-771-0620. (Source)
10th July 2001: Driver's Licence
Haznawi obtained a Florida driver’s license with a learner’s permit. Jarrah acquired a duplicate Florida driver’s license. Saeed al Ghamdi and Banihammad got Florida state identification cards. Mihdhar, Nawaf al Hazmi, and Omari acquired USA identification cards.
12th July 2001: Opening a bank account
al-Haznawi's name appears on documents associated with SunTrust Bank checking account #0686001066808. (Source) He opened the account with a deposit of $500. (Source)
24th July 2001: Duplicate driver's licence
The 9/11 Commission report doesn't seem to mention this, but a newspaper article says that al-Haznawi obtained a duplicate driving licence on this day.
16th August 2001: Shopping
al-Haznawi's credit card was used at Middle East International (STB), Lauderhill, FL, for $13.74. (Source)
29th August 2001: Buying a ticket for Flight 175
al-Haznawi's SunTrust account received a $600 cash deposit. (Source)
Between 21:54 and 22:09 al-Haznawi's travelocity.com account booked a $1,722 ticket at Kinko's for United Airlines Flight 93, with VISA 4011806070846927. (Source)
31st August 2001: Mona Loa apartments
al-Haznawi's account saw a $200 cash withdrawal from an ATM in Lauderdale by the Sea, FL. (Source)
Ziad Jarrah and al-Haznawi moved into the Mona Loa apartments, Lauderdale by the Sea, FL, through 7th September 2001. They paid cash and did not complete a contract. (Source)
5th September 2001: Buying tickets to Newark
al-Haznawi's account saw $260 in ATM withdrawals in Lauderdale by the Sea, FL. (Source)
al-Haznawi and Ziad Jarrah paid cash at the Freestyle Cruise and Travel Agency for 2 one-way tickets on Spirit flt 1500 from Ft. Lauderdale to Newark on 7th September 2001. (Source)
6th September 2001: ATM cash withdrawal
7th September 2001: Flying to Newark
al-Haznawi was issued a duplicate Florida Drivers Licence in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. (Source)
al-Haznawi flew from Ft. Lauderdale to Newark on Continental Flight 1700. (Is this an error? Or did he really not take the flight he booked the previous day?) (Source) Hijacker True Name Usage says yes, it was Continental. (Source) Ziad Jarrah accompanied him. (Source)
9th September 2001: The team assemble
Ziad Jarrah, Ahmed al-Nami, Ahmed al-Haznawi and Saeed al-Ghamdi checked into the Days Inn, Newark, and stayed in rooms 725 and 727 until the morning on September 11. (Source)
10th September 2001: ATM cash withdrawal
al-Haznawi's account saw a $400 ATM cash withdrawal. (Source)
11th September 2001: Boarding Flight 93
At 7:24 al-Haznawi checked in for UAL Flight 93 at Newark Intl. Airport. He boarded the flight at 7:39, it left the gate at 8:01, and departed at 8:42. (Source)
Between 7:03 and 7:39, Saeed al Ghamdi, Ahmed al Nami,Ahmad al Haznawi, and Ziad Jarrah checked in at the United Airlines ticket counter for Flight 93, going to Los Angeles. Two checked bags; two did not. Haznawi was selected by CAPPS. His checked bag was screened for explosives and then loaded on the plane... The four men boarded the plane between 7:39 and 7:48. All four had seats in the first-class cabin; their plane had no business-class section. Jarrah was in seat 1B, closest to the cockpit; Nami was in 3C, Ghamdi in 3D, and Haznawi in 6B...
Page 4, Chapter 1
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Innocence Project sues museum for access…
Innocence Project sues museum for access to archives on ‘tragically flawed’ bite-mark evidence
February 21, 2019, 1:35 pm CST
The Innocence Project has sued the federal government’s National Museum of Health and Medicine for denying it access to archival information on the history of bite-mark analysis.
The Feb. 20 suit, filed in federal court in New York City, says access to information on the “tragically flawed forensic science” could help exonerate the wrongfully convicted. A press release on the lawsuit is here, and coverage by the New York Law Journal is here.
The material is in the archives of the American Board of Forensic Odontology, an organization that certifies dentists as forensic bite-mark experts. The organization has provided testimony and evidence leading to the conviction of defendants “in a plethora of criminal cases,” the suit says.
At least 30 known wrongful convictions and indictments stem from bite-mark evidence, the Innocence Project says.
A recent study “showed that forensic odontologists could not even reliably determine which injuries were bite marks, let alone match a mark to a unique individual’s teeth,” the suit says. “Untold numbers of people have been falsely convicted as a result of this faulty science.”
The museum is part of the U.S. Department of Defense. The suit claims that the museum violated the Innocence Project’s First Amendment rights by denying the information because of the group’s viewpoint and by retaliating because of its critical stance.
“The museum evidently sided with the ABFO—which has been hostile to the work of the Innocence Project and other critics—to prevent the Innocence Project from conducting research that could have produced unwelcome results and which could have further embarrassed the ABFO and its members,” the suit says.
The suit also alleges a violation of the Freedom of Information Act. The Innocence Project says it used FOIA to request the archival information and to seek correspondence between the museum and the odontology group. But the Innocence Project has received no meaningful response, the suit says.
Another cause of action alleges that the museum’s decision was arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.
ABA Journal: “Out of the blue”
ABA Journal: “Bite-mark evidence loses teeth”
ABAJournal.com: “Bite-mark expert’s flip-flop is cited in death-row inmate’s new appeal”
ABAJournal.com: “Judges frees man imprisoned for 28 years; discredited bite-mark evidence is cited”
ABAJournal.com: “Top state court vacates murder conviction, based on now-discredited bite-mark evidence and new law”
ABAJournal.com: “Bite-mark evidence should be allowed in murder case, says state judge”
ABAJournal.com: “Validity of forensic analysis routinely used in criminal trials is called into question”
Modern Law Library: “Dark tale of ‘The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist’ brings false convictions to light (podcast)”
Clio and the cloud, 10 years later
Lawyer told prosecutor she ‘doesn’t know how to act like a young lady,’ ethics complaint says
States | First Amendment | Constitutional Law | Criminal Justice | Trials & Litigation | Evidence | New York | Criminal Procedure
Harvey Weinstein's lawyer thinks the #MeToo movement can be dangerous
State supreme court affirms 12-year sentence for inmate’s cellphone possession
Afternoon Briefs: Pelosi prepares impeachment articles for Senate; lawyer faces charges over deceased father's pension
Lawyer indicted after he's accused of trying to strangle magistrate girlfriend
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This Website is still under construction.
StoriesYannick Steinmann2016-01-22T18:52:38+00:00
CEO/MD
Digital/IT
Eric Bonnem
CEO/MD, Consulting, Entrepreneur, Investor, Luxury, Lyon, Paris
Yannick Steinmann2017-03-04T17:54:32+00:00
Founder & CEO, Secret Planet
Eric has always been an adventurer: During his career he changed from consulting to engineering to luxury industry and today he's building a unique travel company.
Mireille Garolla
CEO/MD, Controlling, Director, Entrepreneur, Finance, HR, Investor, Paris
MD, Group '3C
Mireille started in finance, then held positions in operations and general management. In 2010, she used her experience to take over her own company and just published a book this year.
Sergio Llorens Rubio
CEO/MD, Digital/IT, Entrepreneur, Investor, Madrid
CEO, Gigigo Group
With a law and business degree in his pocket, Sergio started his career in consulting. In 2005, he realized his dream and founded his own company Gigigo that he still runs today.
Hakan Kodal
CEO/MD, Finance, Investor, Istanbul
Chairman, KREA
After graduating, he worked in consultancies and investment firms. In 2006, he founded his own real estate investment firm in Istanbul.
Benjamin Morel
CEO/MD, Entertainment, London
Managing Director & Senior Vice President, NBA
After graduating from university, he took a job at the National Basketball Association NBA. He's been with the company for 17 years and today runs its EMEA region business.
Laurent Burdin
Berlin, CEO/MD, Entrepreneur, Hamburg, Marketing
Ex-MD, Springer & Jacoby
After graduating, he pursued a career in advertising and successfully managed several agencies. He eventually made the shift to web and now mobile and founded his own company.
CEO/MD, Food/Health, Marketing, Paris, Retail
Hannah Heggenberger2016-02-11T13:23:22+00:00
Global CEO, Yoplait & Häagen Dazs
After graduating, he has pursued a career in marketing. He worked for Michelin, Procter & Gamble, Danone and General Mills all around the world. Today he is the global CEO of Yoplait and Häagen Dazs.
Andreas Cser
Director, Finance, Investor, London
Investor, Advisor, Start-up Executive
After failing with his own start-up, he worked in M&A in London. Today he's a director at Fraser Finance and a start-up investor and advisor.
Sylvie Freund-Pickavance
Director, London, Luxury, Retail
Director, Value Retail
After graduating, she has pursued a career in the luxury industry. Today, she works for Value Retail, the leading operator of luxury shopping outlets.
Simon Péneau
Digital/IT, HR, Paris
Campus Manager, Ubisoft
After graduating, he worked for several companies in the US, Africa and France. Today he is campus manger at the international headquarter of Ubisoft in Paris.
Associate Berlin CEO/MD CFO City Consulting Controlling COO Digital/IT Director Entertainment Entrepreneur Finance Food/Health Hamburg HR Industry Investor Istanbul London Luxury Lyon Madrid Marketing Media Munich Paris Partner Position Retail Stay tuned
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Ayrshire Scotland Business News
Ayrshire Scotland Business News is provided by the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, an association of some of the top companies in Ayrshire. We publicise our members, and celebrate and report the wealth and rich diversity of entrepreneurial and business excellence that abounds here in Ayrshire, south-west Scotland. For further information e-mail Murdoch@eliteayrshire.com
The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle
New Year’s Honour for Southcraig Head Teacher
South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie today (Tuesday) sent her congratulations to Lorraine Stobie, Head Teacher of Southcraig Campus in Ayr, who receives an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List 2014 for services to children with special educational needs.
[Pictured: Lorraine Stobie (right) interviewed by Jackie Bird as she is recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Education Awards last year.]
This is the latest major honour for Lorraine, who has been a teacher for 36 years and last year received Lifetime Achievement Awards at both the Pearson Teaching Awards and the Scottish Education Awards.
Lorraine is considered an exceptional head teacher and an inspirational leader in her field, and is renowned as an expert in the education of children and young people with profound learning difficulties and complex physical conditions. She has helped transform attitudes and approaches to the way such children and young people are treated, rejecting previously held views that they could not be educated. Lorraine treats each child as a unique individual; she knows them and their families intimately and is their champion.
Provost Helen Moonie said: “This is very well-deserved recognition for Lorraine, and is testament to her passion and commitment to fighting for positive outcomes for those with additional support needs. She has helped support and change lives for many young people and their families and that is a legacy that will live on for many years. We are delighted Lorraine’s efforts have been recognised at this level and send her our most sincere congratulations.”
South Ayrshire Council is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.
Posted by Ayrshire Scotland Business News at 7:58 pm No comments:
First Minister’s New Year message
2014 will see the ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ for Scotland to shape its own future
The First Minister has used his New Year message to urge the people of Scotland to wake up on the morning of 19 September 2014 “filled with hope and expectation” after voting for independence in the referendum.
[CLICK ON IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW VIDEO.]
Mr Salmond said 2014 would be a “truly amazing year” during which the eyes of the world would be on Scotland, with the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and the historic independence vote all to be held within the next 12 months.
During the message - filmed at the National Library of Scotland - the First Minister said the forthcoming year offered a chance for Scotland’s modern achievements to be showcased to the world as well as an “opportunity of a lifetime” for the people to build a “just and prosperous nation” using the country’s natural resources and talented workforce.
The full text of the First Minister’s New Year message is as follows:
“Happy Hogmanay from the National Library of Scotland.
“I’m at an exhibition called 'The A to Z of Scotland'. It highlights the contribution our country has made to the world – from Dolly the sheep to the Dandy; penicillin to Harry Potter; television to tarmac roads.
“That contribution continues to this day. Just a few weeks ago, Professor Peter Higgs of Edinburgh University received the Nobel Prize for Physics for predicting the Higgs Boson, that’s the particle that binds this universe together. We have just announced funding to help establish a new Higgs Centre and to promote postgraduate opportunities – we’re using Professor Higgs’s legacy of achievement, to inspire and support the next generation of great scientists in Scotland.
“Scotland already has extraordinary strengths in fields such as life sciences, medicine, informatics and energy technology.
“Next year, we have the ideal opportunity to showcase those modern achievements, together with our history, culture and landscape.
“2014 will be a truly amazing year – one where the eyes of the world will be on Scotland.
“We are welcoming the world with our year of Homecoming - with more than 400 events taking place the length and breadth of the country.
"We stage the Commonwealth Games – the largest sporting and cultural celebration ever held in Scotland. Golf’s Ryder Cup will be enjoyed by a quarter of a million spectators at Gleneagles; but also by television viewers in more than 180 countries around the planet.
“And, of course on 18 September, we will decide whether to become an independent country. That’s the opportunity of a lifetime.
“It’s a precious thing; to be able to debate and decide our own future through a civic and democratic process. Let’s ensure that the debate over the next nine months is a constructive one – where we respect each other’s views, regardless of how passionately we hold our own.
“Let’s also ensure that we take this chance to think about the sort of country we want Scotland to become.
“Let’s not wake up on the morning of 19 September next year and think to ourselves what might have been. Let’s wake up on that morning filled with hope and expectation – ready to build a just and prosperous nation.
“Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world - but we need to ensure that prosperity is shared more fairly. We have oil and gas resources for many decades to come – but we have to harness the green energy wealth which will last forever.
“The greatest asset of Scotland is the people of Scotland, so let’s transform childcare in this country - unleashing the full potential of all of our working age population, and helping us become the best place anywhere in the world to raise a family.
“The Scottish Government has already put forward our proposals on these issues and many others in “Scotland’s Future”. It’s a positive vision which will be read, considered and discussed many, many times over the next nine months.
“But ultimately, at the heart of that vision there’s one fundamental point, one overwhelming argument: that the best people to take decisions about Scotland’s future must be the people who live and work in Scotland.
“Scotland has already shaped much of the modern world. Let’s make sure that 2014 the year when we take responsibility for shaping our own future.
“One of the exhibits here is one of the first ever published versions of “Auld Lang Syne”, a volume of songs that once belonged to Keir Hardie, yet another example of Scotland’s contributions to the world - the song which encapsulates the spirit of the New Year like no other.
“So, wherever you are – in Scotland or overseas; with family and friends, or at work – I hope you’ll tak a cup o’ kindness this new year. And I’d like to wish each and every one of you all the best for a happy and prosperous 2014.”
Scotland ready to welcome the world
Tourism industry to benefit from bumper year of activity
Scotland’s tourism industry is set to benefit from a multi-million boost during 2014 as the country takes to the global stage, playing host to the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup, MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) and Scotland’s second year of Homecoming.
The Commonwealth Games will be the biggest sporting and cultural event Scotland has ever hosted and, with over 90 per cent of available public tickets already sold, the early demand has not only exceeded all expectations, it has surpassed all previous Commonwealth Games. The legacy of the Games is already being felt with around 30,000 jobs supported as a result of Glasgow 2014 procurement.
Around 75 per cent of contracts for the Games have gone to Scottish firms, generating around £250 million for the economy. This is in addition to £1 billion worth of transport infrastructure which is helping to open up Glasgow and West Central Scotland to further economic opportunities.
The Ryder Cup is due to attract more than 250,000 spectators over the course of the week, with Homecoming 2014 expected to bring in around 70,000 visitors and at least £44m in additional economic benefit to Scotland. The MTV EMA will also showcase Glasgow and Scotland to nearly 700 million households through MTV’s global network of channels.
Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh (pictured above), Stirling, Stonehaven, Biggar and Inverness will kick off the Year of Homecoming, with other key events throughout the year including the John Muir Festival that will involve countless communities in a celebration of this great Scot’s life and legacy; the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn in June and the Highland Homecoming, celebrating contemporary Highland culture, including the Inverness Highland Meeting, Masters World Championships and culminating with Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail - The Royal National Mòd.
Tourism Minister, Fergus Ewing said: “During 2014 we will see two of the world’s biggest showcase sporting events and one of the world’s biggest showcase music events coming to Scotland as well as our second Year of Homecoming.
“The momentous year in Scottish history will not only position us on the international stage as a dynamic and creative country, it will also significantly boost our already buoyant tourism sector.
“Every tourism event attracts a potential new business or leisure guest – and provides more jobs and investment. We are already seeing the benefit of this through the 30,000 jobs supported as a result of the Commonwealth Games.
“The legacy of the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup, MTV EMA and Homecoming 2014 will also be felt for years to come through the boost the events will give to the Scottish economy, through the local jobs created and through the improved infrastructure created.
“Our vision is for a world class tourism experience. This is why the Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2014 has named Scotland as the third best country to visit in 2014 citing Scotland’s jam-packed schedule of world-class events as reasons to visit in the coming year.
“CNN also included Edinburgh in its list of ‘Ten Best Cities for a Winter Vacation’, an accolade which recognises that Edinburgh has a great deal to offer visitors all year round – from its stunning vistas to its diverse range of historic and interesting attractions.
“2014 is a chance of a lifetime for everyone – from taxi drivers and shop assistants to hoteliers and restaurateurs – to play their part in extending the warmest welcome to guests from near and far.
“We will continue to work with VisitScotland and our enterprise agencies to build on this growth throughout 2014 and beyond.”
James takes the helm at Ayr Renaissance
An Ayrshire man who was instrumental in the campaign to save Dumfries House has been appointed Chair of Ayr Renaissance – the regeneration company established by South Ayrshire Council to deliver regeneration activity within Ayr town centre.
James Knox (pictured above), who has served on the Ayr Renaissance board since 2009, takes up the position – which had been filled on a temporary basis over the last ten months by fellow Ayr Renaissance board member Evelyn McCann – with immediate effect.
James was born and brought up in Ayrshire – where his family have been rooted for many generations – and has known Ayr all his life. He has a degree in art history from Cambridge University and a Master of Business Administration from the international business school, INSEAD. His career has been spent as a publisher, writer and arts consultant and he is currently managing director of The Art Newspaper, the bible of the international art world. Although his job takes him all over the world, James continues to live at his family home near Coylton.
In 2007, he launched the campaign in Scotland to save Dumfries House, arguing from the start that saving Dumfries House would act as the key to the regeneration of Cumnock and Auchinleck. Overcoming enormous obstacles – and with the backing of the Prince of Wales – the campaigners raised £45 million in three months and the house and estate were saved for the nation. James remains a trustee of the house and estate, which has become a model for cultural regeneration in action. He is also a trustee of the National Trust for Scotland and of the Boswell Trust, a charity set up by him and his wife to assist in the regeneration of Auchinleck through the restoration of biographer, James Boswell’s mausoleum in Auchinleck churchyard, and the staging of the annual Boswell Book Festival at Auchinleck House, which has attracted star authors and actors.
James’s business career has been spent turning round independent publishing companies with troubled financial histories, most notably the Spectator magazine (the oldest publication in Britain). This has required a hard- headed business sense as well as the ability to generate ideas and think creatively. As an art consultant, he has worked for the Royal Collection, and commissioned a sculpture park for the Boots company round their factories in Nottingham, which was the largest private millennium commission in Britain.
James has written a number of books, including the biography of the great architectural campaigner and travel writer, Robert Byron, and most recently The Scottish Country House (published in the UK and US) which features Dumfries House.
Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council and a member of the Ayr Renaissance board, said: “I’m delighted James has been appointed as the second Chair of Ayr Renaissance and look forward to working with him in his new role. James has a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience, which I have no doubt we can all benefit from, and make full use of, to achieve what we want for Ayr town centre.
“It’s a really exciting time for the town with lots of positive and productive partnership working developing between Renaissance, the Council, town centre retailers and the local community and James’s drive, passion and ambition will take all of that to the next level.
“On behalf of the board and the Council, my thanks to Evelyn for steering things along over the last few months, and our congratulations to James on becoming Chair. I look forward to working with James, Evelyn, the rest of the board, local elected members and the people and businesses of this great town to help ensure we do what we can to help it achieve its full potential.”
Following the confirmation of his appointment, James Knox said: “I have known and loved Ayr all my life. It is one of the most handsome towns in the south west of Scotland, and yet, in recent years it has suffered a sad decline, like many town centres across Britain.
“Ayr has so much going for it – a fascinating history peopled with the likes of Wallace, Bruce and Burns, a tempting collection of specialist shops and cosy cafés, a wonderful sea front with breathtaking views, and so much more.
“In leading Ayr Renaissance, I want us to think creatively and learn from the successes of other towns with similar problems. Above all, we must come up with answers inspired by Ayr itself and find a way to tap into the energy and ideas of the towns people themselves, who are truly passionate about the future of Ayr.
“I do not underestimate the challenge, and do not want to raise false hopes, but Ayr needs to reclaim its role as the jewel in the crown of the old county of Ayrshire – rising again as a vibrant town brimming with activities and businesses that are the pride and joy of its inhabitants. That’s the lasting transformation I want Ayr Renaissance to work towards and that’s what I want to help us achieve.”
Labels: Ayr Renaissance, Bill McIntosh, Dumfries House, James Knox, South Ayrshire Council
Oil exploration off south-west Scotland could go ahead post-independence
A Minister has confirmed that after an independence vote the Scottish Government would consider applications for exploratory oil and gas drilling rights off the south-west coast of Scotland.
As Scottish Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing (pictured above) was replying to a letter written by Elite Ayrshire Business Circle executive chairman Norman Geddes to First Minister Alex Salmond (pictured below).
Norman Geddes is managing partner at Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors, based in Ayr, as well as executive chairman of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.
In his letter to Alex Salmond, Mr Geddes (pictured above) referred to recent newspaper revelations about how, back in the 1980s, the UK Ministry of Defence blocked oil companies from making further exploration off the coast of south-west Scotland after initial tests had indicated the likely presence in the area of recoverable reserves of oil and gas.
The reason given at the time was the proximity of the Trident base at Faslane, and that further drilling activities might interfere with nuclear submarine exercises.
These facts have come to light as a result of Freedom of Information requests by Chic Brodie MSP, and have been reported by Andrew Picken in three separate articles in the “Sunday Post” newspaper.
In his letter to Norman Geddes, Fergus Ewing wrote: “With independence, Scotland will obtain full control of offshore licensing and leases, which will create new opportunities to deliver community benefits from offshore development while giving due regard to the diverse marine environment. If there are exploration opportunities off Scotland’s shores then it is clear that these should be fully considered and encouraged where appropriate to do so.
“All proposals for exploration will be considered on their individual merits, and I would reiterate that there will be no “no-go” areas for exploration in Scottish waters.”
Norman Geddes commented: “I would like to congratulate Chic Brodie (pictured above) for his tireless work to bring this matter into the public domain, and Andrew Picken for his almost single-handed reporting of our efforts in the “Sunday Post”.
“If oil and gas are discovered off our coastline in recoverable quantities, it would transform the economy of Ayrshire and South-West Scotland, and also provide a significant boost to the prosperity of Scotland as a whole.”
PR-Inside
Labels: Andrew Picken, Chic Brodie, Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, Fergus Ewing, First Minister Alex Salmond, Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors, Norman Geddes, Sunday Post
Christmas Message 2013 from South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie
[Pictured: Provost Helen Moonie with her official 2013 Christmas card and the painting “Two Children in the Snow” that inspired it (see note at end of message for details.]
It seems hardly any time at all since we all enjoyed the wonderful warm summer in South Ayrshire.
Now, as the year end approaches and we get ready to celebrate the festive season, I hope we can keep the summer warmth alive by taking a moment to keep an eye out for someone else this winter.
For some, Christmas can be a lonely, sad or difficult time and a cheery word or a knock at the door to see how someone is doing can make a world of difference.
I’m constantly amazed by the many people I meet who are true ‘unsung heroes’ – whether caring for a sick spouse or relative, making outstanding contributions to their community or facing adversity, but remaining determined to succeed.
Their great spirit, resolve, courage and determination is an inspiration which underpins my Christmas message for this year.
So, rather than just waiting for Christmas to come around, I hope we can find a renewed sense of purpose in the year ahead, to commit ourselves to do more for others every day, rather than just once a year.
With this in mind, I was delighted to lead a review earlier this year on how we support local deserving causes. It was an opportunity to find better ways of listening to, and helping others who are themselves committed to helping others.
The result is that South Ayrshire Council now supports eight charities: Ayr Housing Aid, Chernobyl Children’s Link, Gardening Leave, the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, Riverside Care & Share Project, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (Girvan and Troon), Seascape and South Ayrshire Women’s Aid.
Their work is as far reaching as it is essential – and our support is a direct reflection on how important their public spiritedness is in making a difference for people from all walks of life.
2013 was also a year of bittersweet memories for me.
It was with sadness that we said goodbye to the service personnel at RAF Prestwick – and it delighted me to see so many people lining up to pay their own respects to the unit as they enjoyed their final parade in town.
More recently, we welcomed The Royal Regiment of Scotland, home from their tour of Afghanistan and it was with a sense of pride we granted them the honorary freedom of South Ayrshire.
I was also privileged throughout the year to share in many celebrations, receptions and community events – as well as attending the inauguration of the National Mining Memorial Centre, which has personal resonance for me.
Looking ahead to 2014, we have the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow firmly on the horizon.
This will bring world nations to Scotland, showcasing their talents, putting themselves and their citizens on the map through teams and individuals who have worked together to be at the pinnacle of their chosen game. It’s a superb model of camaraderie and citizenship in action.
When the Queen’s Baton Relay arrives here on 20 June 2014, we have the opportunity to be at the top of our own game, by giving the baton a warm South Ayrshire welcome and cheering on those local people nominated as batonbearers, carrying the Queen’s message through the heart of our communities.
South Ayrshire is a great place to live, work and play – characterised by the great people who reside here. That’s our ‘common wealth’ and we can build on it in 2014, by making it a year in which we come together, working harder than ever, to put this corner of Scotland on the map as a community where all are equal, valued and welcome.
Have a very merry Christmas and a bright and inspirational New Year.
[NOTE: The picture “Two Children in the Snow” which inspired Provost Helen Moonie's official Christmas card 2013 was painted by French artist Pauline Elise Léonide Bourges (1838-1910) and was bequeathed to the former burgh of Girvan by Richard Edmiston. The oil painting is now part of South Ayrshire Council’s art collection and will be on display at Rozelle during the winter.
The Council’s complete collection of oil and acrylic paintings is available to view at: www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings and more information on all South Ayrshire museums and galleries can be found at: www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/galleries]
Labels: Christmas message, Provost Helen Moonie, South Ayrshire Council
Festive cheers for shop window display winners!
Provost Helen Moonie has presented prizes to four town centre retailers marking the annual Ayr Town Centre Shop Window Display Awards, supported and judged by the Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council, Ayr Guildry, Ayr Rotary Club and the Ayr and Prestwick Lions Club.
This year the competition had a slightly different format, with three local shops receiving highly commended awards and one overall winner.
[Pictured receiving a Highly Commended award from Provost Helen Moonie were Lorraine Innes and Anne McClymont. Also pictured are Councillor Alan Dorans, Norman McLean and Olena Stewart from Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council, Michael Hitchon MBE, Dean of Ayr Guildry, Kevin Bell, President of Ayr Rotary Club and Robin White, President of Ayr and Prestwick Lions Club.]
Pillar Box on Newmarket Street won the first Highly Commended trophy for a Christmas scene featuring a life-sized white reindeer. Pictured above receiving the award from Provost Moonie, on behalf of owner Rosemary Dorans, Lorraine Innes and Anne McClymont said: "We're delighted to have had the display recognised, and the glass trophy is already in pride of place next to our reindeer.
Also Highly Commended was a festive display in an empty shop window – put together by staff at the Reiker and Rogerson's shoe shops, on behalf of the Newmarket Street Traders Association.
[Pictured above: Provost Helen Moonie presents a Highly Commended award to Jen Todd (Reiker) and Sarah Ghee (Rogersons). Also pictured are Councillor Alan Dorans, Norman McLean and Olena Stewart from Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council, Michael Hitchon MBE, Dean of Ayr Guildry, Kevin Bell, President of Ayr Rotary Club and Robin White, President of Ayr and Prestwick Lions Club and Malcolm Wilson of Ayr and Prestwick Lions Club.]
Pictured above, Jen Todd of Reiker and Sarah Ghee of Rogersons (on behalf of Jane Gordon) received the award from Provost Moonie who said: "None of us likes to see an empty shop, but Jen and Jane made a special effort to make sure the window display was cheery and festive, cleverly turning a potential eye-sore into something eye catching.
[Pictured above: Linda Watt and Kathleen Wilson of Jools, receive a Highly Commended award from Provost Helen Moonie. Also pictured are Councillor Alan Dorans, Norman McLean and Olena Stewart from Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council, Michael Hitchon MBE, Dean of Ayr Guildry, Kevin Bell, President of Ayr Rotary Club and Robin White, President of Ayr and Prestwick Lions Club.]
Just opposite this, Jools on Newmarket Street in Ayr won the third Highly Commended award and, pictured above presenting the trophy to Linda Watt on behalf of owner Linda Mitchell. Provost Moonie said: "Christmas is a special time of year and shopping is so much more festive and fun if local shops and retailers have an eye-catching display on show. The window at Jools looks superb!"
This year's winner of the Ayr Town Centre Shop Window Display Awards was Rotherwoods at Beresford Terrace, who completed two windows – one white festive living room and the other a light-hearted, fun scene featuring elves and Santa Claus, fast asleep in his comfy chair!
Provost Moonie said: "Rotherwoods are fully deserving of their win – the windows are fantastic and so much fun. They have been a real talking point in town and Santa's chair looks wonderfully comfortable. I hope he wakes up from his snooze in time to deliver the presents!"
[Pictured above: Winner of the Ayr Town Centre Shop Window Display competition was Rotherwoods, with Claire Bell, director, Karen Mitchell and Jocelyn Wilson receiving the trophy from Provost Moonie. Also pictured are Councillor Alan Dorans, Norman McLean and Olena Stewart from Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council, Michael Hitchon MBE, Dean of Ayr Guildry, Kevin Bell, President of Ayr Rotary Club and Robin White, President of Ayr and Prestwick Lions Club and Malcolm Wilson of Ayr and Prestwick Lions Club.]
Pictured above collecting the winning award from Provost Moonie were Alasdair and Claire Bell, directors, Karen Mitchell and Jocelyn Wilson. Claire said: "This is thrilling! We really wanted to do something special this year and worked hard to create the display, which was done to help raise some money for Clic Sargent.
"It's heartwarming when young children come into the shop with some pennies for the collection box and really does capture the festive spirit that giving is better than getting."
This year's judging panel consisted of Kevin Bell (Ayr Rotary Club), Robin White (Ayr and Prestwick Lions Club), Michael Hitchon MBE (Dean of Ayr Guildry), Olena Stewart, Norman McLean of the Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council and they were joined by local councillor Allan Dorans.
Chair of the panel, Norman McLean added: "Ayr shops and retailers are the lifeblood of the town centre and it's especially pleasing when they take the time and effort to make their window displays look so festive.
"Not only does it give our town centre a bit of magical sparkle, it lifts the mood, is a bit of festive fun and captures shoppers' imaginations.
"On behalf of the judges, may I extend our sincere thanks and best wishes to all those who made that effort and wish our retailers, shoppers and visitors to the town a very Happy Christmas."
South Ayrshire Council website
Labels: Ayr Town Centre, Provost Helen Moonie, South Ayrshire Council
Festive message from Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council
The festive season for me is a time for reflection, considering progress over the year and looking at how we can do even better. This year, we’ve achieved so much.
In September, we launched our AMBITION enterprise and employment programme to support businesses, jobs, social enterprises and our local economy in a lasting way, changing lives and helping secure a great future for South Ayrshire.
More recently, the Scottish Government acquired Prestwick Airport, securing jobs and keeping the gateway to Ayrshire and Scotland well and truly open. I appreciate the hard work by our employees in the lead-up to this milestone, and we’ll continue to be involved as things move forward.
We’ve been making good progress on a number of fronts in 2013 - regenerating Ayr’s Lochside with a £9 million project; completing the Sailwest Project in Girvan; commissioning a new golf clubhouse at Belleisle; opening our Customer Service Centre in Ayr; completing the modernisation of Forehill and Braehead primaries; starting work on a new Kirkmichael Primary; consulting on a new Ayr Academy; planning major changes to Marr College; and our school pupils achieving outstanding exam results once again.
We also hit two big milestones – the planning process for our new leisure facility in Girvan is now underway, working to make our vision a reality. Along with East Ayrshire Council, we established the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, which will be responsible for our roads service from April. This means a financial saving year-on-year while maintaining service levels and sharing best practice – a truly innovative approach for local government.
The way all organisations will deliver services is changing. We’ve played our part this year to shape older people’s services of the future, working with a range of organisations to deliver more support to older people where they need it − in their homes, helping them to remain independent longer.
With the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next year, interest in sport has never been higher and we’ve been promoting and supporting inclusive sports activities for all. We hope the Games will leave a lasting legacy with more people participating in, and supporting sports at all levels, leading to better physical and mental health.
Our commitment to arts and culture within our schools and communities has stayed strong and we’ve been working closely with South Ayrshire Arts Partnership to ensure we deliver a vibrant arts and culture programme for residents and visitors alike.
Welfare reform has been a big news story this year and it’s a major challenge for Councils. We’re doing all we can to provide co-ordinated and comprehensive support where it’s needed most, and we’ll continue this in 2014.
I’ve spent time recently visiting businesses across South Ayrshire and am encouraged at the success stories and upbeat attitudes despite the difficult economic climate. Breathing new life into our towns is important and we’re making significant headway with the appointment of new town centre officers and a huge amount of positive partnership working.
A priority at the moment is our budget – we estimate we will need to save £22 million over the next three years, while maintaining the services our communities need. This is no mean feat, but our record of sound financial management stands us in good stead as we move forward.
However, for now, let’s concentrate on the festive season − a time for celebration, spending time with family, friends and neighbours. Although for many, it’s business as usual. So, please spare a thought for everyone who will be working to deliver vital services while most of us are taking time off and relaxing.
Please also remember the vulnerable, frail or elderly in our communities who may need a bit more support at this time of year. Think about how you can help and make a real difference to them.
Most of all, have a peaceful Christmas and a healthy and contented New Year.
Bill McIntosh
Leader of South Ayrshire Council
Labels: Bill McIntosh, Christmas message, South Ayrshire Council
Scottish independence can meet economic challenges
Scotland’s economy will benefit from independence over the uncertainty that would face the country within the UK, Finance Secretary John Swinney said today.
Speaking at the first annual Policy Scotland lecture at Glasgow University Mr Swinney (pictured above) said that Scotland’s economic performance has improved significantly since 1999, with Scotland reaching similar levels of productivity and earnings to the rest of the UK. He added that independence provides the opportunity to go further by creating more jobs.
Mr Swinney said that where Scotland’s Future addresses the challenges facing the Scottish Economy – the unequal and imbalanced structure of the UK is holding Scotland back.
The Finance Secretary said: “In Scotland’s Future people now have a vision of how independence will work and of what independence can offer.
“Scotland’s Future identifies the challenges Scotland face if our economy is to compete with the most dynamic economies in the world and if we are to increase levels of equality and participation at home.
“But where Scotland’s Future shows how the tools of independence can be used to meet those challenges, those opposed to independence have yet to say how remaining in a state as economically imbalanced as the UK can benefit Scotland.”
In his speech Mr Swinney highlighted the success already delivered with devolution and the benefits independence can bring: “With the limited powers of devolution, we have already seen an improved performance across a range of key economic indicators, both in absolute terms and relative to the rest of the UK.
“Since 1999 productivity has increased to match UK levels, full-time weekly pay has increased from 5 per cent below UK levels to within 2 per cent and Scotland’s employment rate has moved from a position of 2.4 percentage points below the UK to 1.0 percentage point higher in 2013.
“There is therefore good evidence that taking decisions in Scotland works.
“Through the transfer of additional powers, future Scottish governments could create a genuinely appropriate set of complementary policies - whether in relation to taxation, innovation, labour market regulation or industrial policy.
“We can create prosperity through a genuine social partnership between business, the public sector, trade unions, the third sector and universities, and distribute that wealth more fairly and more equally than it is at present.
“A country of Scotland’s size is well placed to build consensus in the key strategic areas and deliver policy which best meets the needs of the Scottish economy and Scottish business.”
Expectations for house price growth continue to rise in Scotland
Expectations for future house price growth in Scotland continued to rise during November as the amount of homes coming onto the country’s market, once again, fell well short of rapidly rising buyer demand, according to the November 2013 survey released by RICS Scotland (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).
52 percent more chartered surveyors across Scotland predict prices to continue their upward trend rather than fall back over the coming three months. This is the highest reading since July 2007 and demonstrates the impact that the recovery in demand, together with limited supply, is having on the housing market.
Meanwhile, last month saw prices remain steady, with a net balance of 42 percent more respondents reporting price growth in Scotland. Significantly, each region of the United Kingdom saw prices rise for the second successive month. While there are still some areas of the UK that are struggling, it appears that, on the whole, the UK markets are now responding to the incentives provided by governments and better economic news.
Sarah Speirs, Director RICS Scotland, commented: “It’s no secret that the housing market is on the way up and prices are rising in many parts of Scotland. We are still very concerned about the lack of both new and existing homes coming on to the market. This issue is one of many which the Scottish Housing Commission, launched by RICS Scotland earlier this year, will seek to address and we will publish our report findings in early 2014.”
Looking ahead, with the economic recovery gaining traction across Scotland, predictions for the rate of increase in future transaction levels hit a record level. A net balance of 78 percent of surveyors expect sales levels to increase as we head into the New Year, assisted, in part, by the Scottish Government’s Help to Buy.
Rory Ballantyne MRICS, Ballantynes Edinburgh, commented: “The recent Help to Buy announcements have continued to boost buyer confidence in the Scottish housing market, with sales volumes up significantly across both our established homes and new build developments.”
Chef Mafiz Ali to host Christmas Carols by Candlelight at Ayr Spice Minishant Restaurant
This coming Tuesday 10 December top chef Mafiz Ali will be hosting an evening of Christmas Carols by Candlelight at Ayr Spice Minishant Restaurant.
This event consists of a programme of carols followed by a buffet meal featuring both traditional Scottish and Indian / Bangladeshi cuisine.
Girvan Primary School Choir conducted by Wendy-Ann Wilson will perform two groups of carols and there will be five traditional community carols for all to sing as well.
The Choir will be accompanied by retired international concert pianist Jack McChesney.
All profits will go to West Sound Radio’s Cash for Kids Appeal.
Cash for Kids responds to the needs of children in our communities so they can live life to the full and realise their individual potential.
Based across 21 areas in the UK, at the heart of your favourite radio stations, we support children aged 0-18 who are disabled, disadvantaged or suffering from abuse or neglect.
www.cashforkids.uk.com
Tickets £13.95 each.
Booking essential for this event. Telephone Jack McChesney on 01292 281061 or mobile 07926 939566 or e-mail piano.vienna@btinternet.com
Ayr Spice Minishant Restaurant
Ayr Spice Indian Cuisine can be found in the fine old red sandstone Memorial church at the entrance to the picturesque village of Minishant, 5 miles south of Ayr on the A77. The church was erected by the thread magnate Sir Peter Coats of nearby Auchendrane, in loving memory of his wife Glorianna, who died in 1877.
Indian food can be simple or elaborate, humble or opulent, within a culinary tradition that is centuries old. The unique gift of Indian cuisine is its inspired use of exotic spices and the finest fresh ingredients. Proprietor Mafiz Ali and his team at Ayr Spice are determined to bring you the best of that tradition, and look forward to welcoming you.
Mafiz Ali
Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
KA19 8EX
Web: http://www.ayrspice.info
Ayr Spice Minishant Restaurant is a member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.
Labels: Ayr, Ayr Spice Restaurant, Ayrshire, Christmas Carols, curry, Indian Restaurant, Mafiz Ali, Minishant, Scotland
Leading Ayrshire solicitor backs campaign to increase public awareness about Power of Attorney
Leading Ayrshire solicitor Norman Geddes (pictured below), managing partner at Frazer Coogans Solicitors, is lending his support to a campaign urging the public to discuss the future with relatives who might be at risk of losing the capacity to make decisions about their care and welfare.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council want to persuade families to “start the conversation” with relatives about putting a Power of Attorney in place. A Power of Attorney is a signed and witnessed legal document which allows a relative or trusted friend to step in if the person executing it is taken ill and becomes unable to make the necessary decisions for him or herself.
It is understood that the lack of a Power of Attorney in place is responsible for delaying the discharge of many patients from hospital.
The lack of a Power of Attorney in place can also lead to financial difficulties for a person who becomes incapacitated and unable to operate their bank account. This is especially true for people who run their own business.
The awareness campaign includes three TV advertisements which started screening last Sunday featuring the actor Johnnie Beattie and his daughter Maureen, and broadcasting brothers Sanjeev and Hardeep Kohli.
A Power of Attorney is an authority given by an individual to another person or persons to deal with certain aspects of their affairs. The Power of Attorney can relate to financial and property matters, or personal welfare, or a combination of both.
Norman Geddes commented: “The vast majority of us realise the necessity of making financial provision for possible adverse future circumstances, most notably perhaps insuring the life of a family’s chief breadwinner.
“But other adverse circumstances which might occur in the future also include a person becoming physically or mentally incapable of making proper decisions about their financial affairs or how they can best be looked after.
“The best way to prepare for this possibility is to execute a Power of Attorney in favour of a trusted relative or friend.
“The process is straightforward and relatively inexpensive, but requires the advice and guidance of a qualified solicitor.
“The result is increased peace of mind about the future, and I am pleased to back this public awareness campaign by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council.”
For further information go to the Public Guardian (Scotland) website: CLICK HERE
Frazer Coogans Solicitors
Dalblair House
46 Dalblair Road
KA7 1UQ
Contact: Austin Thomson
E-mail: Austin.thomson@frazercoogans.co.uk
Web: www.frazercoogans.co.uk
Frazer Coogans Solicitors is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.
Labels: Austin Thomson, Frazer Coogans Solicitors, Norman Geddes, power of attorney
CKD Galbraith offer Ayrshire country house with stables and grazing land
Leading independent Scottish property consultancy CKD Galbraith are offering for sale The Spott, Stewarton, Ayrshire, a lovely country house with generously proportioned accommodation, landscaped gardens, stabling and grazing land of approximately 10 acres.
The Spott is a superb extended farmhouse, available at Offers Over £550,000. Situated off a quiet country road yet close to the ever popular town of Stewarton The Spott commands fine views over its own landscaped gardens and the surrounding countryside.
The property has been thoroughly renovated and offers very flexible accommodation with an attached 3 bedroom cottage completed in 2000, which complements the accommodation of the main farmhouse. The Spott is well equipped offering a traditional farmhouse kitchen with gas range and a cosy sitting room with log burning stove. A split level lounge offers more formal accommodation and has an open fire and panoramic views. In addition there is a dining room, utility/pantry and a bedroom on the ground floor. Three further bedrooms and a shower room complete the accommodation on the first floor.
The Spott overlooks well tended gardens which have been carefully planted with a variety of trees and shrubs and a sheltered patio is a wonderful seating area to enjoy the views. A summer house and hot tub are located adjacent to the house. In addition The Spott offers excellent equestrian facilities which are practically designed with a separate entrance and a small turnout paddock. There are 5 stables in total, a hay store, shed and the thoughtful addition of a conservatory which adjoins the stables and provides a lovely relaxation area or a little warmth on a Winter’s day.
Grazing land of approximately 10 acres extends to the Cuts Burn on the northern boundary and is well fenced. The nearby Lainshaw Estate and Woodlands offer a network of quiet hacking routes.
The Spott offers all the benefits of rural living yet is within easy reach of Glasgow city centre and Glasgow International Airport.
About CKD Galbraith
CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy employing 250 staff in offices in Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso, Peebles, Alyth and Aberdeen.
The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the residential, commercial, rural and renewable energy sectors throughout Scotland. CKD Galbraith also enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.
7 Killoch Place
Ayr KA7 2EA
Ayrshire, Scotland
Contact: R A Cherry BSc MRICS
E-mail: bob.cherry@ckdgalbraith.co.uk
Web: http://www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk/
CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.
Labels: Ayrshire, Bob Cherry, CKD Galbraith, country house, for sale, Scotland
Finance Secretary warns Chancellor against further cuts
The UK Government must take action to support a sustained economic recovery through additional capital investment, improved access to finance and no additional cuts to spending, Finance Secretary John Swinney has stated in a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne.
Mr Swinney (pictured above) has written to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Statement on December 5. The letter highlights the Scottish Government’s rejection of Westminster’s approach to the economy and public finances and sets out a number of priorities that the Scottish Government believe should be addressed in the Autumn Statement.
The letter also warns the Chancellor that in-year budget cuts – as the UK Government has imposed in previous years – are not acceptable and that the Scottish budget agreed by Parliament should be respected.
Earlier this week the Scottish Government launched Scotland’s Future – Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, showing that with the full set of economic levers at its disposal Scotland would be able to build greater long-term economic security, growth and job opportunities.
Mr Swinney said: “The current Westminster system is fundamentally flawed and has created one of the largest gaps between rich and poor in the developed world.
“While we are now seeing promising signs of economic growth, the fact that Westminster is now forecast to borrow over £240 billion more between 2011-12 and 2015-16 than it initially planned in June 2010, underlines the failure of the UK Government’s approach to the economy.
“The Scottish Government is doing all it can, within its limited powers, to support Scottish finances. The latest Scottish GDP figures show the economy is growing 1.8 per cent, which is faster than the UK, while our employment, unemployment and inactivity rates are the strongest of the four nations of the UK.
“However, successive UK budgets and Autumn Statements have undermined the Scottish Government’s ability to support economic revival, particularly through the significant cuts the Chancellor has made to capital investment over the spending review period and, in some cases, the in-year reductions he has made to the Scottish Government’s published spending plans.
“The UK Government retains the right to take money out of our budget mid-year and has done so in the past. It is not only deeply damaging to our plans for investment and to our public services such cuts completely fail to respect devolution and I have urged the Chancellor to assure me that there will be no such cuts in the future.
“There remains a need for additional direct capital investment to support recovery, and it is vital to ensure small businesses have access to finance. There is also a need for serious investment in energy infrastructure over the coming years to help deliver renewable generation across Scotland and the UK. We believe beyond doubt that the current Electric Market Reform proposals risk failing Scotland and the UK in a number of vital areas, and present a huge risk to UK security of supply as well as to investor confidence and our low carbon ambitions.
“As Scotland’s Future shows, an independent Scotland could build a more sustainable economy by delivering an effective industrial strategy, boosting productivity and exports and increasing innovation and participation in the workforce.
“However, until Scotland decides on its future, it is essential that the Chancellor and the UK Government adopts a new approach to ensure that we see a sustained economic recovery, and that the benefits of this are widely shared.
The Finance Secretary has called on the Chancellor to:
• Provide assurance that there will be no more in-year cuts to the Scottish Budget. The March 2013 UK Budget applied reductions to the Scottish Government’s published spending plans for 2013-14 and 2014-15.
• Provide additional capital investment to support sustainable and broad-based economic recovery and make the country as a whole more internationally competitive.
• Invest in energy infrastructure to help deliver renewable generation across Scotland and the UK, arguing that the UK Government’s current proposals are putting the creation of a strong, domestic renewables sector and supply chain at risk, and could undermine Scotland’s security of supply.
• Make access to finance easier for SMEs across Scotland. In particular it is important that UK wide schemes – such as the Enterprise Finance Guarantee and Funding for Lending Scheme are readily accessible to Scottish businesses.
• Reconsider the UK Government’s decision not to pass on the full external convergence uplift to the Common Agricultural Policy budget to Scotland’s agricultural sector, despite the fact that this allocation is a result of Scotland having one of the lowest per hectare payment rates in the EU.
• Make sure the negative impacts of welfare reform are not exacerbated by further announcements made in the Autumn Statement. The Scottish Government has consistently highlighted its view that many of the changes being introduced as a result of the UK Government’s programme of welfare reform are set to impact on some of the most vulnerable in society, and will have a wide range of implications for the organisations helping those affected.
Labels: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Finance Secretary, George Osborne, John Swinney, Scottish Government
Ayr Racecourse announces William Hill and QTS sponsorship extensions
By: Iain Ferguson
Ayr Racecourse has received a double boost on the sponsorship front.
Firstly it was announced William Hill have extended their sponsorship of the Ayr Gold Cup Festival by three years until September 2016 and then the QTS Group agreed to support sponsor Ladies Night at the track on 9 August next year in addition to sponsoring the Scottish Champion Hurdle in April.
[Jockey Oisin Murphy celebrates his triumph on his mount Highland Colon at the 2013 William Hill Gold Cup at Ayr Racecourse.]
William Hill have sponsored the festival since 2009 and during that time the fixture has grown in stature and this year the third and final day featuring the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup was for the first time Channel 4’s showcase meeting on the day.
The bookmaking giant initially signed a three year deal with Ayr Racecourse in 2009 and renewed that in 2011 with a two year deal that ended in September this year. This latest extension was welcomed by both parties.
The contract covers full naming rights of the Festival and sponsorships of the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup – Europe’s most valuable sprint handicap, the Silver and Bronze Cups, plus the Doonside Cup, Ayrshire Handicap and Kilkerran Cup.
Jennie Prest, Sponsorship & PR Manager for William Hill said: “We are delighted to be renewing our sponsorship of the Gold Cup Festival once again, and to be continuing our now long standing relationship with the team at Ayr Racecourse.
“Year-on-year the meeting is popular with both the punters, who love the challenge of the Bronze, Silver and Gold Cups and the racegoers, who are always treated to a superb Scottish welcome. We look forward to working alongside the course to ensure the meeting continues to be a success each year.”
Ayr Racecourse Chairman Alan Macdonald (pictured above) welcomed the extension and said: “William Hill and the Ayr Gold Cup Festival has proved to be a good fit and is now firmly established as one of the best working sponsorship partnerships in horse racing.
“By signing this three year extension both parties can look forward to continuing to work together to maintain and increase the profile of this marvellous three days of racing which is without doubt one of the highlights of the flat season in the UK.”
QTS first took naming rights to the glamorous Ladies Night at Ayr last year and prior to that sponsored a race on the card.
Based in Drumclog, Lanarkshire QTS was founded in 1992 originally as a tree surgeon business and now provides an extensive range of engineering infrastructure and training services to major organisations across the rail, utilities, construction and public sectors.
The group is also one of the UK’s largest providers of rail operations, working very closely with Network Rail and other major suppliers. With various engineering and infrastructure contracts, as well as providing market leading training courses, the company is a one stop shop for most business needs.
Alan McLeish (pictured above), MD of QTS Group commented: “We are really excited by the prospects of working with Ayr Racecourse for the upcoming year. The QTS Champion Hurdle was a great success this year and we are looking forward to repeating in 2014.
“When we signed up to sponsor Ladies Night this year we knew straightaway that this was a great social event and I’m proud to say that we will support the racecourse next year as we continue to sponsor Scotland’s premier ladies night.”
Alan Macdonald added: “I am naturally delighted that QTS are sponsoring both Ladies Night and the Scottish Champion Hurdle again next year. It further underlines the partnership we have built up.
“It is important we have high quality sponsors to help us provide the best racing and days out possible for our racegoers. Having a major company like QTS as sponsor is a huge boost.”
For further information please contact Iain Ferguson on 01292 294972 or 07795 565691.
Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.
Labels: Alan Macdonald, Alan McLeish, Ayr Gold Cup Festival, Ayr Racecourse, QTS Group, Scottish Champion Hurdle, Western House Hotel, William Hill
CKD Galbraith offer luxurious family country home in South Ayrshire
Leading independent Scottish property consultancy CKD Galbraith is offering for sale Burton Cottage, an outstanding conversion of two traditional country cottages to form a wonderful family home with an excellent level of specification.
Burton Cottage is a truly wonderful conversion of two traditional stone cottages by Dawn Developments, available at offers over £495,000. Situated within a secluded, sheltered plot on the edge of the Carrick Hills, Burton Cottage enjoys fine country views yet is within walking distance of the amenities of Doonfoot and Ayr Shore.
The property extends to approximately 213 square meters and offers generously proportioned accommodation on one level. Glazed oak doors open to a spacious reception hall with bright aspects towards the patio at the rear and stream beyond.
The lounge is an equally bright room with double aspect windows.
The dining kitchen is the hub of the house and is fully fitted with a range of bespoke handmade units by Alno incorporating an induction hob, central island and granite worktops. Kardean flooring runs through the kitchen to the sun room which is a wonderfully relaxing area. Bi-folding doors form a bay window around the sun room opening to the landscaped gardens and ideal for summer entertaining.
Five bedrooms and a family bathroom complete the accommodation – two bedrooms have en suite shower rooms and all sanitary ware is Porcelanosa.
Burton Cottage occupies a sheltered plot of approximately one acre entered via electric gates which opens to a gravel sweep at the front of the house and lit by low level lighting. The gardens are fully landscaped and planted with a variety of shrubs and bushes. A large decked patio is enclosed and overlooks a small stream at the rear and in addition there is an integrated double garage with electric doors.
Burton Cottage is a luxurious country home formed from traditional cottages and enjoys all the benefits of rural living within easy reach of local amenities.
www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk
First Minister Alex Salmond launches blueprint for independent Scotland
First Minister Alex Salmond today launched the “most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published” - Scotland’s Future – Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.
The guide, which runs to 670 pages and 170,000 words, outlines the shape of the thriving Scotland that will emerge in the event of a vote for independence in next year’s referendum. It also offers a transformational vision of work and social policy, with a revolution in childcare at its heart.
The guide sets out the case for independence and outlines the journey, following a yes vote on 18 September next year, that Scotland will make to independence day on 24 March 2016.
The guide is structured in five parts:
• An overview of the case for independence, including why Scotland needs independence and what a newly independent Scotland will look like.
• A description of the strengths of Scotland’s national finances, a projection of Scotland’s opening financial position at the point of independence and the current Scottish Government’s priorities for the first term of a Scottish Parliament if elected in the May 2016 elections.
• A detailed analysis of the changes needed across Scotland, the opportunities that independence provides for any future Scottish government to make those changes, and the particular priorities for action identified by this government.
• The timescale and process for Scotland to become an independent country following a yes vote; the transition that will take place and the negotiations and agreements that will be required. It also sets out the opportunities for a modern democracy with a written constitution and describes how equality and human rights will be protected and promoted.
• The answers to 650 detailed questions about the opportunities and practicalities of independence.
The guide, published today, includes details of the savings that can be made with independence, including half a billion pounds on defence spending and savings from no longer contributing to the funding of the Westminster Parliament.
It also outlines the Scottish Government’s policies on issues such as currency, international representation - including independent and equal membership of the European Union - citizenship, defence and security, the harnessing of Scotland’s natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations and the fiscal levers necessary to grow the Scottish economy.
The guide also details a range of polices that would be introduced if the current Scottish Government is elected to be the government of an independent Scotland, including:
• A transformation in childcare, helping more women into work and providing up to 35,000 jobs.
• A safe, triple-locked pension that meets Scotland’s needs and puts more money in the pockets of our pensioners.
• A guaranteed minimum wage that rises alongside the cost of living to make sure the lowest paid get a fair wage for a fair days work.
• Basic rate tax allowances and tax credits that will also rise at least in line with inflation.
• A change to the way ‘green levies’ are paid for - saving families around £70 a year on their energy bills.
• A fairer welfare system, including a halt to the rollout of Universal Credit and the abolition of the ‘Bedroom Tax’.
• A productivity and competitive boost to secure the position of Scottish business.
The First Minister said: “This is the most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published, not just for Scotland but for any prospective independent nation.
“But more than that, it is a mission statement and a prospectus for the kind of country we should be and which this Government believes we can be.
“Our vision is of an independent Scotland regaining its place as an equal member of the family of nations – however, we do not seek independence as an end in itself, but rather as a means to changing Scotland for the better.
"We know we have the people, the skills and resources to make Scotland a more successful country. What we need now are the economic tools and powers to build a more competitive, dynamic economy and create more jobs.
“This guide contains policies which offer nothing less than a revolution in employment and social policy for Scotland, with a transformational change in childcare at the heart of those plans. Our proposals will make it far easier for parents to balance work and family life and will allow many more people, especially women, to move into the workforce, fostering economic growth and helping to boost revenues - which will in itself help pay for the policy.
“With these policies, we can begin the job of undoing the damage caused by the vast social disparities which have seen the UK become one of the most unequal societies in the developed world.
“And we believe it is only with the powers of Independence - by completing the powers of our national Parliament - that we will gain the tools we need to create a more prosperous and fairer society.”
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “We want as many people as possible across Scotland to read the guide and make up their own minds about Scotland’s future.
“This is an incredibly thorough and detailed guide, which includes 650 questions about an independent Scotland – and delivers on the answers.
“When it comes to social equality, health, quality of life and economic performance, Scotland has too often lagged behind the performance of our near neighbours across Northern Europe – many of them countries of similar size to Scotland.
“We know that Scotland has huge natural resources and enormous talent among our communities and our workforce – but only independence will give us the ability to make the most of our potential. This is an unprecedented chance to transform our country for the better. Our employment and social policy proposals contained in this guide, including the revolution in childcare, show what is possible.
“It illustrates how the powers of independence can be used to benefit individuals, families, communities and the nation as a whole - and it has economic growth, jobs and fairness at its heart.
“This is the only detailed plan for Scotland’s future, and today’s publication marks a decisive shift in the debate on what that future should be.”
Labels: Alex Salmond, debate, Deputy First Minister, First Minister, independent Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, referendum, Scottish independence
Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors
Contact: Norman Geddes, Senior Partner
E-mail: norman.geddes@frazercoogans.co.uk
Murdoch MacDonald
Follow @murdochmcdonald
Fleur East to play DJ set at Ladies Day at Ayr Racecourse
By Iain Ferguson X Factor and I’m A Celebrity star Fleur East is coming to Ayr Racecourse’s William Hill Ladies Day on Friday 20 Septem...
Derek Richardson joins MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers THE Directors of MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers are delighted to announce tha...
Construction of new £70 million Ayr Campus boosting local economy THE construction of University of the West of Scotland’s new £70 milli...
Scottish exports increase by 6.2%
Scottish Development International welcomes findings from the latest Export Scotland Statistics which reveal that Scotland’s international ...
T2 brings Silicon Valley software to Scotland AN Ayrshire-based IT firm has formed a strategic relationship with a Silicon Valley software d...
South Ayrshire Provost marks retirement of David Kiltie
South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie hosted a special celebration in Maybole to mark the occasion of David Kiltie retiring from the Communit...
Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire sets agenda for year ahead SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE AYRSHIRE will deliver economic development projects total...
Ghana flag flies high in Ayr AYR resident Dr Charles Amarety Aryiku, (58) has been commissioned as Scotland’s first Honorary Consul-Gener...
CKD Galbraith offer charming beautifully appointed traditional cottage in Ayrshire conservation village
Leading independent Scottish property consultants CKD Galbraith are offering for sale Cobble Cottage, a delightful extended terraced cottag...
CKD Galbraith offer fine extended Ayrshire farmhouse, energy efficient, with panoramic views
Leading independent Scottish property consultants CKD Galbraith are offering for sale Lissens Moss, a charming extended farmhouse with land...
Rooted in Ayrshire, rooting for Ayrshire, Ayrshire Scotland Business News is Ayrshire business's shop window to the world.
Ayrshire Scotland Business News - it's where Ayrshire business news breaks first!
E-mail: FamePublicity@aol.com
To advertise on this site,
Ayrshire Business Directory
ACCIDENT & INJURY CLAIMS
Accident & Injury Claims Centre
Ayr KA7 1UQ
E-mail: advice@accidentclaims.com
Web: http://www.accidentclaims.com/
ARPL Architects Ltd
Architects and Quantity Surveyors
11 Wellington Square
Ayr KA7 1EN
Contact: Patrick Lorimer
E-mail: enquiries@arpl.co.uk
Web: http://www.arpl.co.uk/
Financial Solutions Centre
43 Alloway Street
Ayr KA7 1SP
Contact: Willie Mackie, Managing Partner
E-mail: william.mackie@eu.nabgroup.com
Web: http://www.cbonline.co.uk/
Westgale Ltd
63 Midton Road
AYR, Ayrshire
Scotland KA7 2TN
E-mail: info@westgale.co.uk
Web: http://www.westgale.co.uk/
Sinclair Scott
3 Wellington Square
Contact: Andrew Sinclair
E-mail: ca@sinclairscott.com
Web: http://www.sinclairscott.com/
Paligap
Apex House
1 Carrick Road
Ayr KA7 2RA
Contact: Stephen Cosh, Managing Director
E-mail: stephen@paligap.com
Web: http://www.paligap.com/
DIGITAL CCTV SYSTEMS
Visimetrics (UK) Ltd
Skye House
Skye Road
Prestwick KA9 2TA
Contact: Barry Rooney
E-mail: rooney@visimetrics.com
Web: http://www.visimetrics.com/
Donald Ross Estate Agents
11 Beresford Terrace
Ayr KA7 2ER
Contact: Steven Miller, Managing Director
E-mail: steven@donaldross.co.uk
Web: http://www.donaldross.co.uk/
Christie Financial Planning Limited
82 West Nile Street
G1 2QH
Contact: Paul Christie
E-mail: paul@christiefp.com
Web: http://www.christiefp.com/
Western House Hotel
6 Craigie Road
Ayr KA8 0HA
Web: http://www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk/hotel.html
HOTEL & GOLF RESORT
Maidens Road
KA26 9LT
Contact: Tracey Smith
E-mail: Tracey.Smith@LuxuryCollection.com
Web: http://www.turnberryresort.co.uk/
MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers
38 Miller Road
Ayr KA7 2AY
Contact: David MacKay, Director
E-mail: d.mackay@mackaycorporate-brokers.com
Web: http://www.mackaycorporate-brokers.com/
Easton Kitchens & Bathrooms
Easton House
Dundonald KA2 9HF
Contact: Steven Easton
E-mail: steven@easton-uk.com
South Ayrshire Council
Enterprise & Property Services
Burns House
Burns Statue Square
AYR KA7 1UT
Contact: Enterprise Manager
E-mail: Lesley.Cannon@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
Website: http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/
Kestrel Press (Irvine) Ltd
25 Whittle Place
South Newmoor Industrial Estate
Irvine KA11 4HR
Contact: Graeme Ferguson
E-mail: gferguson@kestrelpress.com
Web: http://www.kestrelpress.com/
Easton Property
Contact: Ken Easton
E-mail: ken@easton-uk.com
Fame Publicity Services
Contact: Murdoch MacDonald
E-mail: murdoch@famepublicity.co.uk
Website: http://www.famepublicity.co.uk/
Ayr Racecourse
2-6 Whitletts Road
Scotland KA8 0JE
E-mail: info@ayr-racecourse.co.uk
Web: http://www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk/
West Sound Radio
54a Holmston Road
Ayr KA7 3BE
Contact: Brenda Ritchie, Station Manager
E-mail: Brenda.Ritchie@westsound.co.uk
Web: http://www.westsound.co.uk/
http://www.westfm.co.uk/
Fouters Restaurant
2A Academy Street
Ayr KA7 1HS
E-mail: chef@fouters.co.uk
Web: http://www.fouters.co.uk/
Web: http://www.frazercoogans.co.uk/
JB Management (Scotland) Ltd
KA7 1EN
Contact: Kellie Zdanaowicz
E-mail: info@jb-management.com
Web: www.jb-management.com
The Editor of Ayrshire Scotland Business News is Murdoch MacDonald, a graduate of Magdalene College, Cambridge University, where his journalistic contemporaries included John Simpson, now World Affairs Editor with the BBC, and Alan Rusbridger, Editor of the Guardian.
Murdoch MacDonald has been in the public relations industry and a freelance journalist and broadcaster for more than 35 years.
He has handled the PR accounts of many top Scottish companies, including Royal Bank of Scotland, Standard Life, John Menzies, Kwik-Fit and Barratt Homes.
He has hosted his own family finance programmes - "£s, Pence and Sense" on Radio Forth and "Moneywise" on Scottish Television.
He now runs Ayrshire’s top PR consultancy Fame Publicity Services.
Wherever you are in the world, no other public relations consultancy, PR firm or publicity company can offer you a better or more cost-effective worldwide news distribution service, combined with search engine optimisation techniques that will drive customers and qualified sales leads to your company's website.
Murdoch MacDonald is also managing director of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, an association of some of the top companies in Ayrshire.
E-mail: Murdoch@eliteayrshire.com
Murdoch and his wife Lilian (pictured above) have written a book called "Phoenix in a Bottle", describing how they overcame alcoholism and are now, contrary to conventional wisdom, able to drink alcohol responsibly again. "Phoenix in a Bottle" is published by Melrose Books price £16.99 and is now available worldwide.
Reviewing the book, eminent American addiction expert Dr Stanton Peele PhD commented:
“Phoenix in a Bottle is a modern version of The Days of Wine and Roses, and tells the true story of how two people who entered a period of desperate drinking stayed with one another in a close loving relationship, and emerged from their alcoholism able to drink responsibly again.
“Both a wonderful love story and a challenge to conventional wisdom about how people can recover from drinking problems, Phoenix in a Bottle gives people hope, and helps them to confront their own demons - alcohol or otherwise.”
And now "Phoenix in a Bottle" has been selected as a set text by a top American university.
“Phoenix in a Bottle” by Lilian and Murdoch MacDonald will now be required reading for all doctoral students in a psychology programme at Alliant International University in San Diego, California.
Alliant International University, headquartered in San Diego and San Francisco, California, was formed in 2001 by the merger of the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) and the United States International University. Alliant has 6 campuses throughout California and also runs programmes in Mexico City, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant is one of the premier psychology schools in the US, and it counts roughly half the licensed clinical psychologists in California as its alumni.
Dr. Gary W. Lawson is Professor of Psychology at CSPP. He says: “I adopted Phoenix in a Bottle because the dilemma this couple struggled with and the questions they ask themselves are like so many others I have encountered in 35 years of clinical experience treating addictions.
“However, nowhere in addiction literature have I seen these issues examined and explained as well as Lilian and Murdoch do in Phoenix in a Bottle.
“I also recommend Phoenix in a Bottle to many of my patients as well.”
You can buy "Phoenix in a Bottle" by Lilian and Murdoch MacDonald online now direct from Amazon UK (click on book cover image below).
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> Power of limited company to alter its share capital --****As Per section 61 for Power of limited company to alter its share capital**** (1) A limited company having a share capital may, if so authorised by its articles,alter its memorandum in its general meeting to— (a) increase its authorised share capital by such amount as it thinks expedient; (b) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of a larger amount than its existing shares: Provided that no consolidation and division which results in changes in the voting percentage of shareholders shall take effect unless it is approved by the Tribunal on an application made in the prescribed manner; (c) convert all or any of its fully paid-up shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into fully paid-up shares of any denomination; (d) sub-divide its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; (e) cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution in that behalf, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled. (2) The cancellation of shares under sub-section (1) shall not be deemed to be areduction of share capital
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****As Per section 61 for Power of limited company to alter its share capital**** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (1) A limited company having a share capital may, if so authorised by its articles,alter its memorandum in its general meeting to— (a) increase its authorised share capital by such amount as it thinks expedient; (b) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of a larger amount than its existing shares: Provided that no consolidation and division which results in changes in the voting percentage of shareholders shall take effect unless it is approved by the Tribunal on an application made in the prescribed manner; (c) convert all or any of its fully paid-up shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into fully paid-up shares of any denomination; (d) sub-divide its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; (e) cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution in that behalf, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled. (2) The cancellation of shares under sub-section (1) shall not be deemed to be areduction of share capital.
How to alter the Articles of Association of Company?
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WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR INCORPORATION OF PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY HAVING SHARE CAPITAL ??
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Discuss the borrowing power of a company?
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Whether a private Company having paid-up share capital of rupees 45 lakhs and turnover of Rs. 20 crores as ......
memorandum of association private limited company
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BARS & MIXTAPES
Home » HIP HOP » Jizzel Tha Gee – Booty Walk
Jizzel Tha Gee – Booty Walk
In HIP HOP, Promo, SINGLES, Uncategorized
Jizzel Tha Gee paints pictures with words
on second album ‘Jam City 2’
OAKLAND, CA – Jizzel Tha Gee is about to become a household name thanks to some cutting-edge music off his second album “Jam City 2.” Coming out of Oakland, California, this hot young artist is making a name for himself with his unique rhymes and his one-of-a-kind style. Known for his storytelling and upbeat jams that get people bouncing, his wordplay is the kind of elevated artistry that paints pictures in the mind of his listeners. This is showcased perfectly on his 12-track album “Jam City 2” which he describes as a “big party and a celebration of music from where I come from.”
“My writing and my style set me apart,” he said. “If you listen to my music, you can definitely get a sense that I don’t sound like anybody out there. My craft is my craft and I’ve been able to craft something that’s uniquely me. What I’m saying and what I’m doing, only I can do it.”
Jizzel said his first attempts at music were ultimately all about attracting as many women as possible. And while some of that is still true today, his work has evolved into more of an artistic expression that also entertains people along the way.
“It’s music that you can picture yourself within the rhymes,” he said. “I want my music to be something that everybody can relate to and do. That’s how I write my music – if you hear what I’m saying you’ll have a visual of it, like a video in your mind. I’m painting pictures for people. When I was younger, I didn’t realize what I was doing but as I got older, people kept telling me they could see it because I’m paining visuals with my words. It’s a work of art.”
That realization started at a young age when he and his brother would record their songs at home on their boombox over the top of other tapes. His first song “Living in the Jungle” came about that way, and he hasn’t looked back since. He’s been rapping all his life, he said, and over the years has made a name for himself that he knows is about to expand to places all over the U.S. and throughout the world.
Not only does he have music to share with the world, but he’s also a young entrepreneur. His new shoe line called LAM shoes for his philosophy of Life And Money, are currently available for purchase on http://aliveshoes.com/.
He is working on more music to release early this year, and he has a live performance slated for Feb. 15 at the Louise Cocktail Lounge in Sacramento.
To listen to Jizzel’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:
https://www.instagram.com/jizzelthagee/
https://twitter.com/j_t_gee
Jizzelthageelam@facebook.com
jizzelthagee@youtube.com
jizzelthagee@soundcloud.com
jizzelthageelam@soundcloud.com
jamarbrinston@soundcloud.com
jizzelthagee@reverbnation.com
https://myafton.com/JizzelThaGee
https://vintagemediagroup.com/jizzel-tha-gee-the-oakland-beast/
https://mobile.datpiff.com/mixtape/882940
Rap artist Jizzel Tha Gee talks about his recent music
Topics: 2019 Audio featured Featured Music Artist Hip Hop indie Instagram Music Track New Music rap Single Soundcloud Trap underground Upcoming Artist
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Rixh Rose - Chanel 101 (Official Video) https://youtu.be/rKQJYKMIUAI Ballhawg Music presents the brand new hip hop rap single "Chanel 101" by
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BBC BASIC forum
for the Windows, Linux (86), Mac OS-X, Android, iOS and Raspberry Pi editions of BBC BASIC
Home Board index GENERAL Miscellaneous
BasicBoy(Maizie Bones, BB4W game)has finished in 1st place in a Maze theme game programming contest!!!
Here you can talk about anything related to BBC BASIC, not covered in another category
kigohhere
Post by kigohhere » Mon 29 Oct 2018, 22:56
https://www.syntaxbomb.com/index.php/topic,4989.0.html
Full details!!!
Joined: Mon 02 Apr 2018, 09:12
Re: BasicBoy(Maizie Bones, BB4W game)has finished in 1st place in a Maze theme game programming contest!!!
Post by guest » Tue 30 Oct 2018, 12:34
kigohhere wrote: ↑
Mon 29 Oct 2018, 22:56
Indeed. Three wins for BBC BASIC now!
Reading one of the related threads over at SyntaxBomb, 'BasicBoy' states that "The assembler code was for 'fake-mapping' a bitmap image to a sphere … or a cylinder ... BBC Basic (being an interpreted language) just isn't fast enough to do this at an acceptable speed". I'd slightly take issue with that comment: of course interpreted BASIC code wouldn't be fast enough to do the mapping in real-time, but nor is it fast enough to blit individual pixels to the screen to draw 2D or 3D graphics. It's the availability of graphics library routines (e.g. Windows GDI or SDL 2.0), typically coded in C, to do the 'heavy lifting' that makes any of this possible.
And so it is for mapping a 2D image onto a 3D object like a cylinder or a sphere. This is the sort of thing that 3D libraries like Direct3D or OpenGL can do very easily, and by leveraging them it is possible to reproduce the effects described without resorting to assembler code. Here's a proof-of-principle demonstration: a partial simulation of the Treasure Tower subgame written in 100% BBC BASIC code and running in BBCSDL (this is on Windows but in principle it should work on Linux, MacOS, Android and iOS as well). The graphics are initially rendered onto a 2D surface and then wrapped around a half-cylinder using OpenGL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqZYOeNA95Y
Joined: Wed 04 Jul 2018, 16:23
Post by David Williams » Tue 30 Oct 2018, 17:21
Excellent stuff, Richard. I really want to see how you did that (at the code level).
There's probably going to be another code-a-game contest coming up soon at SyntaxBomb, and I'm intent this time on submitting a cross-platform entry for it (I think it's pretty much expected now). I believe I have more-or-less everything I need in terms of (your) BBCSDL examples to start off on the right foot.
In the meantime, there's another (huge) game-coding contest starting in 31 days: the world-famous 'Ludum Dare' compo & jam:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludum_Dare
https://ldjam.com/
Ludum Dare, which is about to begin its 43rd contest, now attracts literally thousands of submissions. That means a lot of exposure for one's preferred programming language (for those who wish to look at it that way!).
I do hope that some BBC BASIC users will give it a crack. They will have to work very quickly though, as the contest runs for only 72 hours (for the compo), and 48 hours for the jam. That's quite some pressure to work under.
Personally, I've sworn allegiance to SyntaxBomb, so that precludes my participation in Ludum Dare.
David Williams wrote: ↑
Tue 30 Oct 2018, 17:21
I do of course intend to publish the code, but it's not at that stage yet and I'm juggling a few things at the moment. Something else I've recently succeeded in doing (also demonstrated in that video) is outputting both music and sound effects in a cross-platform context - without having to link with SDL_mixer. As a useful side-effect you can output multiple overlapping sounds without any being truncated, which would have been helpful in my reworking of FOD for BBCSDL. It does however imply that if you give the player the choice of disabling the background music you must stream 'silence' instead!
p_m21987
Post by p_m21987 » Tue 30 Oct 2018, 21:54
Congratulations on winning!
There's probably going to be another code-a-game contest coming up soon at SyntaxBomb
Do you know when it will happen? I'd be interested in trying to submit something if it's scheduled for a time when I won't be busy.
Patrick M wrote: ↑
Probably within the next few weeks, and hopefully by the end of November at the latest. Best to keep an eye for any announcements at SyntaxBomb.
Post by kigohhere » Wed 31 Oct 2018, 04:12
guest wrote: ↑
Looks unbelievable but really happened.
These BBC Basic users showed audience their creative ideas and awesome programming knowledge.
I really look forward to a lot of wonderful entries from BBC Basic users in the near future!!
The above partial simulation video is nice and very excellent!
Post by guest » Thu 01 Nov 2018, 09:27
I'm intent this time on submitting a cross-platform entry for it (I think it's pretty much expected now).
That's good, but it still leaves some choices. For example would it be 'desktop platforms only' (i.e. relying on a keyboard and mouse) or also suitable for running on touchscreen devices? Would the supported platforms include iOS, thus ruling out assembler code and/or compiled binary blobs?
Personally I find the challenge of doing everything acceptably fast In 100% BASIC code (leveraging the available libraries via SYS to the full) quite stimulating, but you may see it as too much of a limitation.
Post by David Williams » Thu 01 Nov 2018, 18:24
Thu 01 Nov 2018, 09:27
Depending on what kind of game it's going to be (the upcoming contest is still only at the 'ideas' stage over at SyntaxBomb), I'm probably going to go for a 'multiple builds versions' approach, rather than producing a single cross-platform program. This is mostly for code efficiency reasons. Assuming it's an 'arcade video game' (for which I will always prioritise performance!), there will be a dedicated BB4W version, a BBCSDL Android version, and almost certainly a BBCSDL Linux (x86) version. As for the Raspberry Pi edition of BBCSDL - well, I'm unhappy with the overall performance prospects (I'll e-mail you privately about this). I'm also probably going to produce a version for RISC OS (because the process will be fun and nostalgia-filled).
BB4W (with my usual graphics drawing methods) pretty much guarantees excellent performance.
Same with BBCSDL for Android (only if I use my custom plotters; the 100% BASIC/SDL-only approach just doesn't produce good performance on my mid-range phone).
I think BBCSDL for Linux (x86) will be fine performance-wise, and I look forward to producing a build for it.
MacOS should be fine, I guess.
The BBCSDL for Raspberry Pi version currently looks like a non-starter judging by some tests conducted earlier today.
The RISC OS version will be fine in terms of performance (even if I have to limit the colours to 256).
In the arcade/action video context, 'acceptably fast' for me means high frame rates (60 fps for 60 Hz displays, etc.), and silky smooth animation and motion. I'm not a BBC BASIC purist (obviously!), and I'll be more motivated by getting the game done and dusted before the deadline than worrying about the implementation (hence my willingness to resort to assembler or C (the latter just saves time in some cases)).
I'm looking forward to the next contest. I just hope that an interesting concept is decided for it, and that I can come up with an idea.
(I might turn to this forum for ideas!)
In the arcade/action video context, 'acceptably fast' for me means high frame rates (60 fps for 60 Hz displays, etc.)
I'm sure you'd agree that what matters most is that the animation speed (and therefore gameplay) is independent of frame rate. Personally I don't see anything wrong with the frame rate falling on a slower device, so if it runs at a full 60 fps on a fast PC but only 20 fps on a Raspberry Pi, say, that seems perfectly reasonable to me and only to be expected. 20 fps should be easily fast enough to play a game.
Again, achieving only "mid-range" performance on a "mid-range" phone is what I would expect! It's quite normal for a video game to work at its best only on the very latest and fastest hardware. I would judge that supporting iOS should be a higher priority than achieving some arbitrary threshold of performance on Android.
Remember that although the current Linux and MacOS releases of BBCSDL are 32-bits, they are both under 'sentence of death'. Arguably I should have already replaced the Linux edition with a 64-bit build, and Apple have announced that support for 32-bit apps in MacOS is going to be discontinued soon, probably within months. There is currently no assembler in the 64-bit editions so you may want to take that into account.
My recommendation, for what it's worth (you may think very little!), would be to write just one BBCSDL version that will run on all the supported platforms (which means no assembler or compiled code in order to support iOS and 64-bit x86). If that means that a full 60 fps and "silky smooth" animation can only be achieved on the fastest machines, I don't think anybody should be surprised or disappointed.
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A sanctuary for cows and people: New Gokula Farm
The golden gates of New Gokula Farm rise above the rolling green hills at the end of a quiet meandering track through the Hunter Valley. Nestled at the foothills of Pokolbin State forest in Millfield, the farm is a sanctuary to 65 cows, bullocks and calves and home to the Hare Kristna temple of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda.
We are greeted by quiet, children play in a playground below the main temple, swathed in richly coloured Indian fabrics. There is a heady strong scent and song wafting from the mud brick temple. The sign by the walk to the temple states:
‘Welcome to New Gokula Farm. We are working tirelessly to maintain a sacred, spiritual atmosphere…’ Followed by their requests on how they wish visitors to respect their place.
In the simple temple is an alter with Indian figures made from cloth and richly decorated, a couple of devotees sing, dance and play a tambourine, dressed in their traditional white robes. It is light, joyful.
Photos of resident cows each with a name, most have sponsors that ensure their care is provided for.
The Hunter Organic Growers members and visitors gather in their large hall, an enclosed verandah off the temple. It’s hot outside, the light streams through the many windows. Large dishes of broad beans and their leaves, salads with cheese and a traditional puffed bread of Puris, and rice were served. A lemon drink and cold desserts of sweet rice pudding and a semolina and mulberry dish called Halava. Many of the ingredients were grown less than 100 meters from where we consumed them. Vegetarian food has never been so good!
Kaliya. A man with a thoughtful face pink from the sun wearing a broad brimmed hat speaks about New Gokula. It is a place of diversity, an interactive farm that is not aiming for commercial success but to provide for their needs and a place where people can come to experience their way of life. He stands in front of a wall of photographs proudly displaying their cows like a family album, each with their own name. The cows are supported through a sponsorship program, individuals may select a cow to support. Their fundamental principal is a symbiotic relationship with the cows, a sacred animal in Indian culture. Permaculture shares similar ethics of respect for all living things and the natural course of nature. “It’s a nice pleasure working with cows and the natural environment”.
Kaliya with a resident Rooster
A short walk from the temple is a greenhouse for their sacred Tulsi Ocimum tenuiflorum, a tropical plant. Often described as Holy Basil, it is not actually a basil but is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae native to India. It grows as a many branched sub-shrub, 30–60 cm tall with green or purple leaves. Traditionally it is used as a medicinal plant and an uplifting herbal tea. New Gokula uses it as part of their worship, being considered an elixir of life. They provide plants for Hare Kristna groups in Sydney. Beside the glass house grows a Neem tree also native to India. It’s used as a toothbrush by chewing the twigs, the leaves are eaten as greens. It has significant value as a pest repellent in organic farming practices and for a wide variety of medicinal uses including as an antiseptic, antifungal, antihistamine, and insect repellent, in addition to cosmetic uses and cooking.
Down a gravel lane an orchard, and a field of large cabbages and broad beans that tower above our heads await their harvest. A man with a broad grin and heavy build stands up from behind a wheel barrow. All the goodness of gardening is written on his face.
There is another photographer snapping away. His white robes a contrast to the green pastures. He is eager to chat about photography, where the best places are at the farm to shoot at each time of day, travel and his family. He came from Luxemburg, after travelling in his three month university breaks around Europe and holding slide nights of his photos in cities he visited, sharing his stories. Now with a wife and child he has settled at the farm only this month, working as an educator of the Hare Kristna faith. He has settled.
An elderly cow that doesn't mind all the attention
Here in these fields of plenty cows have a home for life. Four elderly cows rest in the shade of a eucalypt. Two of them came from a neighbour to retire here. They seem unperturbed by the crowd that gathers to pat the friendly chocolate and white milking cow. She sits quietly taking it all in. Kaliya is asked whether they put them down when life becomes a bit too tough for them. “They're not going to put me down so I won't put them down!” If a cow is in a difficult situation he explains that he’ll limit the feeding and they'll go on their own. They have their cycles of happiness and suffering as we do. They bring as many people as they can to experience the farm and the placid cows. It’s valuable to have assets where people can come and be in nature, see where our food comes from. We've become disconnected from our roots, its better if we live close to our needs. Cows relax you, they're not stressing about what you have to do at 3.45pm!
Seven milking cows currently provide for the dairy, a small building situated above the fields of cultivated for their meals and their vegetarian restaurant in Newcastle. “Milk is very close to the blood” Kaliya reaches inside a fridge and produces a stainless bucket brimming with a thick creamy coloured milk. This is illegal, be very careful. A look of delight and mischief brims in his face. “Doctors use raw milk therapy.” ‘The milk cure’ as it has become known employs milk as a curative agent for disease. The writings of a Colonel McCarrison, a British Army medical officer record the absence of disease seen in a district of India over a nine year period that he observed the locals thrive on a simple diet of vegetables, fruits, and milk and milk products. At the farm they drink lots of milk. A fresh Indian lightly flavoured cheese, Paneer is made by boiling whey with an added souring agent. Butter is made on site by churning yoghurt. Ghee is made by heating butter. A health inspector once asked if they were selling raw milk. “No, our members own these cows, I just milk them.” was Kaliya’s response.
Many thanks to Gaura and Sachi for cooking such a wonderful lunch that was enjoyed by all.
New Gokula Farm publishes a newsletter and website www.newgokula.com.
Posted by Michelle at 4:09 PM No comments:
Labels: broad beans, butter, cabbages, cows, dairy, farm, Hunter Organic Growers Society, hunter valley, milk, new gokula farm, organic, paneer, sanctuary, sponsorship, vegetarian
A gardener's haven in Cardiff
The brick facade peeping out from native shrubbery of Gerda Maeder's home in a quiet Cardiff suburban street gives nothing away. Stepping out the back under a magnificent 20 year old 'roof' of a wisteria, we begin to glimpse the 1.5 acre oasis of food that is Gerda's passion. A swarm of eager visitors fill the courtyard. We are provided with a safety induction... mind the edge of the deck that's yet to be finished by my husband, there's a bath of water over there in case of fire or emergency... Oh and that's the cubby... a substantial hideaway emerging from a tangle of beautiful vines. This is a labour of love, quirks and anything goes, there are no rules here!
A long snake like form hangs from a pergola. New guinea bean, eaten like zucchini, Gerda harvests one and shares it among those of us willing to try this strange fruit.... it could feed a small village. Lake Cardiff, as the frog pond is affectionately known, greets us at the bottom of a hand crafted timber stair, the entry to the garden. Chooks scratch in a home made coop, a mesh of wire, tin and recycled bits put to good use. A coffee tree - please take some berries as they are a labour to prepare. Miracle fruit grows in a thicket of trees, it changes your taste buds to make sour foods taste sweet! Over a central pathway of railway sleepers and gravel that adds some structure the garden slopes down into a wild concave of lush growth. A goat picks over the neighbors fence at a tree stump, climbing. There is the unsuccessful cherry tree that is going to be cut down as it is shading the grove of citrus. A fragrant lemon myrtle tree, beautiful for tea grows in the orchard, a close grouping of anything edible. Pipino is a little bit weedy, a ground cover vine related to tomatoe, the solencae family. She removes the fruit to protect from fruit fly in summer, it's left to mature the rest of the year. 'I try to grow as many natives as possible as they attract beneficial insects"... even in the orchard. This is a working garden, although she made an effort to make it showy for the HOGs visit, it's beauty is in its wildness... tamarillos... lemonades... pomello tree... the unsuccessful hazelnut....yacon... tomatoes... roses... Everything imaginable grows here.
At the bottom of the gully, beyond the impressive stand of bamboo, a creek flanked by tree ferns and native sandpaper figs, winds through. Beyond is the bush area where with the help of garden deisgner Maree, they are trying to regenerate as many of the current natives and out compete the weeds. A solid strategy is needed to win the battle against lantana and more. All ground covers and vines are removed so trees can be mowed around. They saved what they could eg remanat dianella. Lantana and vine weeds are turned into mulch, a method working to increase manageability of morning glory and jap honey suckle. It will take a few more years for the natives to establish. Wattle seed has been thrown around and native indigofera planted, indigenous to the area. ...birds are coming... 100 have been counted by a neighbour. Gerda says that is is really good to have an expert help you, Maree has assisted with plant selection and placement. However it's still a challenge to balance, neighbors at the rear were concerned about the bush close to their homes, therefore they keep a firebreak. The adjacent reserve has a lantana infestation that they continue to work to keep at bay. The creek fills with run off causing a torrent after rain. It's constantly changing, new pools and patterns to it's banks forming with the weather. The neighbors have a goat for weed control. And then there is the native bush food... anniseed and cinnamon myrtle. .. bush tucker sandpaper figs...plums... munch munch as we walk back up the hill, over the hand crafted steps with a last glance back at lake cardiff and an urban oasis.
Thank you to Gerda for welcoming HOGs and welcome to all our new visitors and to the Newcastle Urban Gardeners Meetup group:
http://www.meetup.com/Newcastle-Urban-Gardeners/
Labels: bush food, bush garden, creek, hogs, hunter gardens, Hunter Organic Growers Society, native gardening, new guinea bean, Newcastle, permaculture, sandpaper fig, vegies
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Home Media GETTING THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: HARNESSING VALUE FROM PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS
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CEO's Desk
YBhg Dato’ Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal, CEO
If you happen to be in South San Francisco and drive along the road called DNA Way, you will never escape the sight of a prominent campus facility that belongs to a company called Genentech Inc. The story of how Genentech was founded is an inspiring illustration of how a partnership in innovation has advanced a new era of technological change and created a new multi-billion dollars industry. Founded in 1976 by Bob Swanson, a venture capitalist and Dr. Herbert Boyer, a biochemist at the University of California in San Francisco, Genentech is hailed to be the first biotech company in the world. Swanson was looking for research that could be brought to the market at Bay Area but his attempt was futile when no scientists were ready for commercialisation. Swanson came across Boyer’s patent on the recombinant DNA technology, and placed a call to Boyer for a meeting. Their 10-minute meeting on the fateful late Friday afternoon turned into a 3-hour discussion; the meeting concluded with the birth of Genentech, and the rest is history. Together they obtained the license on the technology and generated more than US250 million in royalties over 20 years for the two universities – The Stanford University and the University of California San Francisco. Today, the company has more than 30 medicines on the market, generating over US14 billion a year.
This is the best part of the story – both sides win.
The commercialisation of biotechnology products will meet several challenges such as sufficient funding, market positioning, regulatory requirement, intellectual property rights management, resources availability and technical expertise. Many of these challenges do not fall neatly into either the public or private sectors; instead, they require joint efforts from all sectors. To address this, an innovative and synergistic public-private partnership (PPP) is crucial for undertaking initiatives faced with such profound challenges.
Last month, BiotechCorp organised the S2A for Bioeconomy Seminar 2014 as part of its efforts to create a platform to facilitate interaction and engagement between multiple stakeholders in the public and private sectors. The seminar featured, among others, sharing of experience by The University of California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3) and Larta Institute, two prominent organisations that are vital in advocating PPP in life sciences and biotechnology industry.
QB3 has an innovative collaborative model to drive commercial-based research and innovation by providing mentorships, professional development, funding and partnership to empower entrepreneurial scientists. BiotechCorp has forged a good working relationship with QB3 over the years where a number of Malaysians pursued their post-doctoral training and established start-up companies under the Biotechnology Entrepreneur Programme.
The Larta Institute’s network-centric approach to address entrepreneurs’ technology, market and business hurdles is another model worth our attention. It brings together government and support organisations with entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, research institutions and industry to ensure successful transformation of innovation into commercialisation. To date, Larta Institute has successfully transformed more than 3,500 innovations into commercially successful enterprises.
It is important to maximise the value and impact of public-private sector engagement to accelerate the transition of the National Biotechnology Policy from Phase 2: Science to Business to the next phase of Going Global. In doing so, Bio-entrepreneurship Programme will be one of the key elements in the Bioeconomy Accelerator Programmes (Bio-Accelerators). The programme will act as a support framework to develop global-centric bio-entrepreneurs.
The Ministry of Education also plays an important role in the development of high impact scientific research, in line with the objectives of the National Higher Education Strategic Plan which will provide the technological leap for local biotech companies to move up the value chain.
The progress we are making on these strategic imperatives is highly encouraging. Thus far, there have been several ongoing collaborations between BioNexus companies with institutions of higher learning and research institutes to translate innovation into products. Some examples include:
Diploid oysters between USM and Seaharvest Sdn Bhd
Commercially viable solid state cultivation of Tiger Milk mushroom between FRIM and Ligno Biotech Sdn Bhd
Bacteriophages production as bio-pesticides for the control of crop diseases between MARDI and UPM with All Cosmos Industries Sdn Bhd
GranuMasTM – a locally invented biomaterial made from limestone to be used as bone graft substitute in various surgeries. GranuLab Sdn Bhd is collaborating with SIRIM, UKM, IIUM and Nuclear Malaysia.
These are just some of the success stories of product commercialisation with participation from the local universities and agencies. I am very optimistic that pockets of innovation are steadily emerging from our local universities, finding its way to the market. The challenge is to create a platform which provides the right linkages and channels to accelerate commercialisation of the technology. In order to create a successful partnership, we need to start with the end in mind and then figure out the right partner and the best strategy to produce the desired outcome, as illustrated in the Swanson-Boyer collaboration.
There is also a need to create and maintain the infrastructure to sustain and achieve more value for money out of partnerships. Innovation and flexibility must continue to be hallmarks of the PPP model for it to continue to maximise its value. The central objective is to capitalise on the strengths and advantages of one another and to optimise the use of resources for the collective and broad impact we are seeking. Partnership is key to propel the Malaysian biotechnology industry to greater heights, and if done effectively and efficiently, the success of San Francisco as a biotech hub could be replicated here in Malaysia, if not more successful.
Join us on this exciting journey!
April 1, 2014 / Uncategorised
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Classical Communiqué Classical blog
Discussing the way classical music touches the mind and the heart.
The Concerto: A 400-Year-Old Recipe That Still Cooks
Friday, June 13, 2014 | Permalink
NPR | Tom Huizenga
The concerto. It's a musical recipe more than 400 years old but composers still cook with it. And why shouldn't they? We still seem to crave the sound of a virtuosic soloist playing with (and often against) an orchestra. As in centuries past, virtuosos still inspire, and in many cases commission, composers to write some of their best music, which can push an instrument to its creative limit. We've come a long way since the earliest concertos by Torelli and Vivaldi, but some of the old formulas — from the three-movement template to the fast-slow-fast tempo indications — still ring through in contemporary concertos, including these three fascinating examples from John Adams, Japanese composer Toshio Hosokawa and Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian.
Listen to the pieces on NPR's Classical Blog.
Artist: Timothy McAllister
Album: Saxophone Concerto
Song: Animato (from Saxophone Concerto)
Invented for military bands and orchestras, the saxophone has been something of an outsider in classical music. Instead it turned out to be a prominent agent for a very different sound — jazz. Relatively few classical composers have given the instrument a successful spotlight, but John Adams is out to change that with his new Saxophone Concerto. Far from cutting-edge, the 28-minute piece (with three sections following the old Italian fast-slow-fast formula) is a gleaming vehicle for virtuoso saxophonist Timothy McAllister. He nails the fluent angularity and punchiness in the music with a lyrical touch somewhere comfortably between jazz and classical styles. Adams is no stranger to the saxophone. He came to the instrument through his father, an alto player in 1930s jazz bands, and deployed a quartet of them in his 1987 opera Nixon in China. You can hear the influence of swing music, and the more frenetic pacing of great bebop sax men like Charlie Parker, over Adams' pulsating orchestra.
Artist: Patricia Kopatchinskaja
Album: Quasi Parlando
Song: Con moto, molto semplice (from Concerto No. 2)
The concerto is often thought of as a platform for soloists to show off their stuff (as in the Adams piece above), but Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian takes the opposite path. His Concerto No. 2, "Four Serious Songs" (2006) for violin and string orchestra, feels more like an austere and intimate ritual devoid of pride and opulence. In this superb new recording, violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja often plays alone and with little or no vibrato. You can almost feel a chill, bone-dry wind blowing through the music in icy glissandos and barren passages that seem to wander off. There are no "songs" (or little that's hummable) in this evocative concerto. Instead the reference is to Brahms and his late Four Serious Songs. Brahms' first three songs, with texts from the Old Testament, reflect on the transience of life; the final song, from 1 Corinthians 13, invokes the power of love. Fittingly, there are passages in the fourth and final movement of Mansurian's concerto (excerpted here) where a gently swaying group of strings provides some much needed warmth — and perhaps a ray of hope.
Artist: Jun Märkl
Album: Toshio Hosokawa: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1
Song: Horn Concerto
As far back as Vivaldi's Four Seasons, nature has inspired composers to write concertos. In his captivating Horn Concerto from 2010, subtitled "Moment of Blossoming," 59-year-old Japanese composer Toshio Hosakawa imagines the orchestra, even the concert hall, as a pond opening to the sky, and the solo horn as a lotus blossom whose roots are anchored in mud far below the surface. A sustained thread of tone and soft pings of percussion depict calm water. Sliding strings lend a gentle breeze. The mysterious flower, an iconic symbol with spiritual associations in Asian cultures, eventually achieves its purpose and bursts into what Hosokawa calls "beautiful, jewel-like blossoms." The real star in this new recording is Stefan Dohr, principal horn player of the Berlin Philharmonic, for whom the piece was written. Color, breath control, perfect intonation and above all a cinematic sense of atmosphere, Dohr has it all in this piece that slowly, powerfully unfolds.
More Classical Posts
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Human Feelings, Otherworldly Sounds: The Music Of Makebelief
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Celtic Radio Community -> Culture and Heritage -> Genealogy & Family History
Pages: (5) [1] 2 3 ... Last » ( Go to first unread post )
How Far Back..., ...have you traced your family?
Posted: 09-Feb-2005, 11:08 PM
Celtic Guardian
Group: Celtic Nation
Zodiac: Alder
Realm: Pittsburgh-ish, Pennsylvania
How far back have you been able to trace your family thus far? A few generations? A dozen? Back to the 1800s, or to Adam?
I myself have had mixed results, depending on which branch one looks at. My maiden name (Kellerman) has come to a screaming halt after only about five generations. From there it seems they sprouted out from under a mushroom somewhere. Now, if you look at my Schrum line on my mother's side, we have that back into the mid-1600s. Other lines seem to come to a general halt sometime around the time they immigrated to America, whenever that may have been. Occasionally I've managed to get a generation or two before that, but rarely so.
How's your luck been holding out?
Aaediwen
Group: Super Moderator
Joined: 09-Oct-2003
Zodiac: Holly
Realm: Kentucky
My dad has traced one branch back 13 generations. to one Richard Creech, who came across from Fife
Poet and seeker of knowledge
I somehow, by some miracle, managed to get one of my husband's lines back into England/Switzerland, early 1500s. Right now I'm trying to figure out which one of those Hornes held a grant of arms, from which monarch, and for what. And figure out where the heck Chestershire was in England, as that was where they had been granted land. Fortunately, it hasn't become work yet and it's still fun. LOL
Avonlea22
Posted: 10-Feb-2005, 08:07 AM
Zodiac: Ash
Realm: Elizabethtown, PA
I've been able to trace my Fathers side only to his parents. I just wrote a letter to one of his cousins who may have some more information. As far as his mom, I have all the way back to 1635, when one of the ancestors came from Hull England to Connecticut.
It's my Grandfathers side that I'm more interested in at the moment. I'm trying to find out if his side of the family has roots in Scotland or not.
I know nothing about my Mothers side of the family. Maybe I should work on that.
le gach dea-mhéin
~Brian
AShruleEgan
Group: Ireland
Zodiac: Rowan
Realm: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
For my grandfathers side, the Shrule, Ireland Egan's, we go back to Thomas Egan, born 1793 and his wife Mary ???, born 1790.
My grandmothers side, the White's of Ballyshannon, Ireland, we go back to William Andrew White and his wife, ??? Kilfeather, were both born in the late 1820's.
Since most of the records for County Mayo and Donegal were destroyed, it's hard to find anything further back. I'll just keep searching all the posts on the genealogy pages and hopefully find some relative that has more info.
Joined: 09-Nov-2003
Realm: The desert of Arizona
On my mother's mother's side I got back as far as 1508, with the help of relatives. On my mother's dad side, I got back as far as 1800. On my dad's side, I can't even get beyond him! His parents into Ellis Island from Sicily. I know that much.
Fine art & photography by DESERT ROSE IMAGES
http://www.desertrose-images.com
dfilpus
Realm: Chapel Hill NC
The earliest birthdate is 1814, three generations back in Finland. Since I am the second generation born in this country, this makes five generations back and two generations forward. Several of my cousins are grandparents.
Näkemiin
Dave (SCA: Geoffrey Genour of Carney)
Protector of Bits and Bytes, Third cousin once removed to Phil, Prince of Insufficient Light
Help out with the site! Win prizes!
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Mailagnas maqqas Dunaidonas
Zodiac: Oak
In my Livingston line, documentation seems fairly reliable back to:
Sir Andrew de Livingston was one of the Scottish knights summoned by King Edward I on May 24th 1297 to attend his expedition to Flanders. He was killed the same year in the revolt led by the great Scottish hero Sir William Wallace. Sir Andrew was the Sheriff of Lanark, and it appears that Sir William Wallace emerged as the leader of the Scottish forces after Sir Andrew was killed.
It is on official record that the Sheriff of Lanark was killed when Scottish rebels burned Lanark in 1297. Blind Harry, the Minstrel, asserts that this sheriff was an Englishman by the name of Hesilrig; but there is no record of such a man having held this office. Sir Andrew de Livingston is known to have been Sheriff of Lanark during the year preceding Wallace?s Revolt; and it is also evident that he must have been deceased about this time due to the fact that after Wallace?s Revolt there is no further reference to him in the public records.
While this branch of the Livingstons are considered lowland Scots, the lineage possibly began with a Saxon by the name of Leofing (son of Leof), which became Leving or Levingus. The town named for Leving was Leving's Toun, which became Livingston, which eventually became the family name.
Livingston lineage
Síochán leat,
Mailagnas
Clan Donald USA
EMTQueen
Posted: 29-Mar-2005, 03:00 PM
Zodiac: Ivy
I've traced one ancestor to the Civil War period. Not much before that and I don't know how he's related to me (uncle, cousin, great-great-grandparent?).
QUOTE (Avonlea22 @ 10-Feb-2005, 09:07 AM)
Well...I just received some info from my dad's cousin. I now have info going back to the birth of my great, great grandfather in 1838. Born in Castlefinn, Donegal, Ireland. His wife (of course my great, great grandmother) was born in County Tyrone in 1852. I also now have the DOB and deaths of all 7 of their children, which includes my great Grandfather! Still looking to find more info, though.
morgana_l_f
Posted: 31-Mar-2005, 08:26 AM
Group: Celtic Princess
Realm: North Dakota
My dad's family has been traced back to the late 1500s- two HUGE books were compiled on them. But my mom's familyi've only been able to track down 5 generations. in the mid-1800s mygreat-great grandfather was tired of getting his mail mixed up with everyone else's in the town and changed his name. It was Jens Christianson- Do you know how many Jens Christiansons there were in 1800s Denmark!!!?
Lyra Luminara
Posted: 17-Apr-2005, 03:36 PM
Braveheart Member
Zodiac: Vine
Realm: Éire (okay fine, it's really PA, USA but that's just boring.)
I've only been able to get back to about 1815 because England only started to do censuses in the early 1800s so yeaaa
If we could just stand here, without the words, would that be enough? ..Look at the sky now. What color is it? Or the way a hawk flies. Or you wake up and your ribs are bruised thinking so hard on somebody. What do you call that?
"Don't cross the street if you can't get out of the kitchen"
Nancy-Raven
Group: Scotland
Realm: Quebec
I've able to trace ancestor on my mother's side at beginning of the 1600 in France from an island call St-Malo.On my father side I have nothing except the name of my grandparents.I really wish to find more , but I always say to myself I'm lucky to know all this.My best friend have mostly nothing on both side.
DaibhidhChleirigh
Posted: 24-Nov-2005, 12:51 PM
Realm: Idaho
My Grandfather was able to get back to the 1600's on my Grandmother's side. But we have ha a lot of difficulty with my Grandfather's side. He, himself, was born in Bridgeton, outside of Glasgow. We have an "extract" copy from his parents marriage. But cannot locate the origainal or any other records from Scotland. It is like everything just stopped or dissapeared. So only about 1905 and the crossing of the great waters is all that we have on his side.
David S. R. Clark
"All that is needed for EVIL to flourish, is for GOOD men to do nothing!"
celticfire
Idle Dreamer
Zodiac: Birch
I have traced my grandmother's family back to 1690s Londonderry, Ireland. Some of my mother's British roots have been around since the 10th century-ish era
My heart's in the highlands
My heart is not here
A-chasing the deer
--Robert Burns
Thig crioch air an saoghal, ach mairidh gaol is ceòl.
The world will pass away, but love and music last forever.
Gluais faicilleach le cupan làn.
Go carefully with a full cup.
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Christmas Comics Loot!
So, what comics-related loot did I get for Christmas? Well, let's see.
Peachy got me THE ADVENTURES OF UNEMPLOYED MAN, which I said I wanted, so yay! Expect a review relatively soon.
My mom got me the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS . If you folks are unaware of it, it's a hardcover that collects every single Stan Lee/Steve Ditko Spider-Man story, from AMAZING FANTASY #15 to AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #37, along with some annuals, and even a couple of stories drawn by Jack Kirby! Truly, the Marvel triumvirate was incredible!
My friend Maya got me some new copies of some old comics that I read to pieces — in some cases literally — when I was younger, which includes SILVER SURFER #64, which has everything I wanted in a comic when I was 12 — evil twins and Ron Lim art. LOOK HOW SHINY!!
Maya also got me the AVENGERS comics that were missing from my Kurt Busiek/George Perez collection, so score!
Finally, talking about completing collections, guess what else Peachy got me? Guess. Go on. You'll never guess.
HOLY CRAP, NEW TEEN TITANS #1! You have to understand, I don't have the Marv Wolfman/George Perez run — just a bunch of selected issues. And I really, really, really want to get the whole run, so I've been buying it in bits and pieces, but financial constraints would put me in a bind on whether or not I should get issues 1 and 2 when I saw them, as they were the most expensive of the entire 50-issue lot. But now I have issue 1 for nothing, and I can therefore buy issue 2. When I see it.
I got a bunch of other stuff too - including a Captain Marvel mini-action figure from Santa, NBA 2K11 for the PS3 from my brother and his family, and the Before Sunrise/Before Sunset (my favorite movies) screenplays from my friend Katherine, but this is a comics site, and we'll stick to the comics.
Featured In: Christmas, Duy, George Perez, ron lim, silver surfer, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
That is a sweet Christmas haul. I'm particularly jealous of the Spidey book. Those Marvel Omnibuses are awesome but I can never afford them. I got the Morrison X-Men Omnibus for Christmas a few years ago so I know how great getting one as a gift feels.
Also, Teen Titans #1? Best. Gift. Ever!
Yep, a couple of years ago, my family gave me ABSOLUTE CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, and it was AWESOME.
I've been collecting NEW TEEN TITANS for the last year and a half, and I'm more than halfway done. Number 1 was a big roadblock just because of the expense, and number 2 is the only one that's bigger. I haven't read ANY of the issues, except for the ones that I read when I was younger (like the one where they fight the ReCOMbatants, aka the DNAgents), because I want to read them all in one gigantic go.
I've set myself the task of finding and buying every issue of DC Comics Presents and the one that's rarest and most expensive seems to #26 with the New Teen Titans preview in. New Teen Titans #1 and #2 must cost a bomb.
Yeah, I think #2 is like 18 bucks.
You get any cool comics-related things for Christmas, Paul?
I got all eight volumes of Essential Fantastic Four from various friends and loved ones so I've got almost twenty years of FF to read. I'm still on volume one so far but I'm loving the Lee/Kirby craziness. Thing keeps turning back into a human every single issue for no apparent reason. I think Stan must have got off on tormenting him.
I also bought the Superman: Kryptonite Nevermore hardback as a present for myself (well that's how I justified it.) Worth the price though, I loved it.
Not that I've read much of the FF stuff, but I think Kirby and Lee simply PEAK at Galactus, and then Kirby just keeps getting better while I think Stan gets kind of tapped out (not that I blame him).
KRYPTONITE NEVERMORE is all Adams, right? Does it have the one where Superman fights the sand version of himself?
Kryptonite Nevermore has some brilliant Adams covers but it's all sweet, sweet Curt Swan art with Denny O' Neil writing.
Yeah, it's got that sand creature, The Quarrmer, gradually draining away a third of Superman's powers. It's really great stuff. I love all that 70s Bronze Age stuff where he's working as a newsreader and has sideburns.
Jon Gorga said...
Duy,
Who are all these comics-aware people in your life!? I've always felt lucky to have the two or three people who know what makes a great comics gift. (My folks try very hard. They basically read The New York Times and buy me what George Gene Gustines says is the best of the year for Christmas.)
You are lucky indeed, sir.
Oh Jon, they're not all comics-aware; they just know I like comics and some of them read the site and get ideas from there. Peachy, however, was the one who first heard of UNEMPLOYED MAN and decided to give it to me, which I think is awesome.
As for my mom, she pretty much said "What do you want for Christmas?" And I said "If money's not an issue, I'd really like the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS. If money is an issue, I can think of something else." I guess money wasn't an issue.
Asterios Polyp Annotations, Part 4
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Help Out Tom Ziuko!
Comics Techniques and Tricks: Brian Crane and PICK...
So What Was FINAL CRISIS About?
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The Tao of Ric: True Lies & A Fistful of Meyerisms Part 6
THE TAO OF RIC & A FISTFUL OF MEYERISMS PART 6
SHAW WARS--EPISODE V: THE BULLSHIT STRIKES BACK
"After more than a decade of promises and hopes, we're still left with only the bootlegs while Run Run Shaw is still laughing the longest, loudest...and last." *--Ric's pomposity knows no bounds; this being from 2002 shortly before the Shaw remasters emerged. So not only did Shaw refuse your written word, but he also got the last loud and long laugh on you, Ric.
*This is a BIG'UN. Some last minute additions demanded it. The breadth of this post will go a long way in painting an even bigger picture of Ric's path of destruction and we're only covering his raping of Asian movies. On another note, Fellow blogger, Steve Hardy who runs the dedicated and well written Asian cinema blog, Chopsticks On Fire contributed an hilarious image (see above) and samurai cinema celebrity, Brick McBurly kindly consented to allow his review for one of Ric's non Chinese crash and burn commentaries. Also, a big thank you to Japanese cinema authority, Michael Reid for providing me with a lot of helpful information on Nipponese cinema. *
If you've been keeping up, or have even maintained both the stamina and the patience to make it this far, you will have surmised that Ric Meyers has spent an enormous amount of his "career" spreading a high degree of misinformation regarding Asian cinema. He has proven to have an easily bruised ego should you not heed his words (read holier than thou), or show zero interest in his written endeavors. This trend is noticeable in his vocal assaults against the Shaw Brothers (his Shaw "doesn't want anyone to make money but him." * verbal skirmishes are priceless) and also most recently against the makers of not only KUNG FU PANDA 2 (2010), but those behind his own FILMS OF FURY book-to-movie documentary. The sources and his actual words have been documented here throughout this series of articles. The sad state of affairs is that Meyers holds more credence in his rejection than he does in the mango sized explosive diarrhea he has projected over the years.
He's insulted several of the subjects mentioned during his unbelievably useless commentaries (much like we're doing here) and made even more baffling remarks that are both racist and untrue. But what's most startling is how frequently he contradicts much of the things he has said, some of which was covered in Part 4. Equally insulting is that ever since writing his first book, he has taken credit for spreading the martial gospel as if everybody had forgotten the 1970s, or had never heard of their local version of Kung Fu Theater. Furthermore, it's entirely applicable that some fans discovered the genre through Ric's writings and that alone is a terrible injustice. It's also saddening that many of us initially took Ric's rambles as fact (including myself) till it eventually became obvious the man was a fraudulent talebearer.
He's also displayed a total inability to take photos without shoving his book into the camera. Also, he rarely goes too long without promoting himself, or his "accomplishments", the likes of which truly pornogrify (haha, I just made that word up) the meaning. His special brand of back patting is legendary and frequently mentioned throughout this series; the one quoted below being an especially choice example.
"What can I say? I don't want to take credit for psychically forcing the Shaw Brothers Studio to finally put their movies where their mouths are, but what else can we conclude? Here are the facts. You be the judge." *--Yes, the FACTS, Ric. Amazingly, when the Shaw titles were finally confirmed to be hitting DVD shelves, Meyers tried to take credit for their release!
Even more ignominious was after years of stating the Shaw films were either destroyed in a fire, or dissolved, when they finally did surface beautifully restored in widescreen, Meyers brazenly alluded that he was somehow responsible! He made even more outrageous statements that he had predicted it(!) despite his repeated claims of the disintegration of the Shaw library by whatever catastrophe he happened to decide on at the moment. After all these years of spreading an incredible, and uncatalogued degree of exaggerations and fabrications, Meyers is still in business snagging numerous gigs and landing jobs where he continues to make a mockery of the genre all the while masquerading as kung fu's champion.
Meyers also has a new book out entitled FILMS OF FURY--a disastrous waste of trees if the Introduction is anything to go by--which also bears high praise from the Boston Globe championing Err Meyers as "America's Leading Expert On Martial Arts Movies." Proving he has learned little after all these years, right from the very beginning in said Introduction of his new book, Ric makes an incredibly sloppy error that any moderately knowledgeable fan would know the difference in; this major mistake being his referencing the pronunciation of Liu Chia Liang as Cantonese when in fact it's the Mandarin pronunciation. And he doesn't stop there. He goes on for half a page about how he's most familiar with the directors Mandarin name of Lau Kar Leung and that's how he will refer to him throughout! That's an awfully LONG typo, Ric! Liu is Mando, Lau is Canto. What's so disparaging is that he claims to have multiple proofreaders to catch this shit.
If that weren't "hand on the chalkboard" enough, in the trailer for Meyers' "movie", Lo Lieh is incorrectly labeled as Gordon Liu! He may not be directly responsible for that one, but it's hilarious knowing his reputation for doing this same exact thing that it would manage to seep into a film he had a hand in.
MEYERISMS MADE IN JAPAN!
"One extra, though, just flat out sucks. This is the first film in the Samurai Cinema series that has included film commentary, and Animeigo couldn’t have picked someone worse to do it. The commentary is by one Ric Meyers...The short version is that Meyers buys into Ninjer lore big time, doesn’t talk about the film, and really enjoys talkin’ about Ric Meyers. It’s awful, and only the pile of dung that is the commentary for Snake Woman’s Curse keeps it from bein’ the worst DVD film commentary the Brickster’s ever heard." *--Japanese celebrity and samurai cinema specialist, Brick McBurly brilliantly summing up Asian cinemas "leading authority" after listening to his SHINOBI NO MONO 2 commentary track.
If his decade spanning mutilation of Chinese cinema weren't damaging enough, Meyers has also turned his trademarked Asian Death Ray against the artistry of Japanese Chambara pictures. Like Godzilla crushing Tokyo underfoot, Monster Meyers unleashed his 'no-nothing-at-all' on a slew of DVD releases from Animiego, a company that specializes in Japanese samurai cinema. Discs such as the SHOGUN ASSASSIN box set, the SLEEPY EYES OF DEATH box set and SHINOBI NO MONO 2 all bear his seppuka inducing vocal accompaniment.
I've not listened to any of these, and while I know relatively little in regards to samurai movies, there are many others who do and are far more learned on the subject than Mr. Meyers. One such knowledgeable Daimyo of Japanese sword slinging cinema is Cincinnati born Brick McBurly. He has kindly given his consent to use the Ric related portions of his review that beautifully lays siege to Meyers' movie malarkey that has recently migrated to the Land of the Rising Sun. Below are the best parts--which constitutes the whole thing, really--that accentuate the accompanying list of Meyerisms; so think of this as something of a bonus!
"The Brickster usually likes to keep things on a postive note, but I just heard the second worst samurai film commentary of all time and I feel the need to do some rantin'." *--Where have I heard something similar before? Hmmmmm.....
"To my knowledge, this is the first time Animeigo has included commentary on one of its 'Samurai Cinema' releases, and hopefully they can get someone better next time (like Pat Galloway, fer crissakes)." *--Pat Galloway is a noted, very much learned expert on Japanese cinema and an author of three great books on the subject.
"Your host for this exercise in inanity is Ric Meyers. I knew this commentary would likely be trouble when the DVD copy described him as 'martial arts scholar and author of the Ninja Master book series'. There's at least two red flags right there. 'Ninja Master' sounded vaguely familiar and sure enough, when the Brickster rooted through his ficton collection, he came up with a copy of 'Dragon Rising' from 1985. I had bought this book years ago on eBay in a lot of 20 samurai fiction books. It's the adventures of Brett Wallace, the American Ninjer Master, and Brett lives to perpetuate every ninja sterotype there is. Well, thinks the Brickster, Ric's had over 20 years to learn a bit more since that's been written-maybe his commentary will reflect it." *--The rib-tickling hilarity and gut busting irony of that last statement is that even after 30 years "being in business", Meyers can't put the right name to a face much less give us an authoritative assessment of Japan's rich history rife with ninjers and female samurai.
"No such luck. Now, Ric Meyers doesn't seem to know a lot about Japanese history, samurai, ninja, or film history, but he sure does know a lot about Ric Meyers. Unfortunately, he's more than happy to share, and takes up a huge chunk of the film's openin' tellin' you how great he is and also spends time later tellin' you how fantastic his Ninja Master books are and how they'll give you a true picture of ninjitsu. In fact, he spends more time time doin' this than he does talkin' about the film-a cardinal sin. If yer doin' commentary, COMMENT ON THE DAMN FILM. I don't think he actually speaks of the film for more than 10-15 minutes of the runnin' time." *--The more of this condemnation of Ric's pestilent potpourri I read, the more I think McBurly and I have to be kindred spirits of some kind.
"He's also a self proclaimed butcher of the Japanese language, which he admits to twice durin' the proceedin's. To give you an idea, he pronounces the name of the hero, Goemon, as 'Go-Man'. Similar names and titles get the same treatment." *--Ric "The Butcher" Meyers has committed similar atrocities on the Chinese language, too, Brick. This series of articles is infested with them. If he's not mangling names, he's giving them to the wrong damn actor.
"But worst of all, he's spreadin' the ninjer gospel. Big time. He claims to have went to Japan and gotten his information from Japanese historians, but they must be the same 'martial arts' historians Stephen Hayes uses. Paraphrasin'-'Samurai practiced Bushido, and therefore had to hire commoners and specialized warriors to carry out their dirty work. These warriors were held in contempt by samurai and were of low status. They formed large ninjer clans and hired themselves out to the highest bidder. They practiced the 18 sekrit martial arts of ninjitsu and nothing is really known of them because everything was kept sekrit. Ninjitsu itself came over from China.' If that ain't enough, he throws in gems like 'kunoichi were female samurai', Akechi Mitsuhide-who he never mentions by name-is 'the 15 day Shogun', and 'samurai were about 3% of the population'. When speakin' of the historical situation the film covers (Akechi Mitsuhide's rebellion and Honnoji), he shrugs it off with "I think a lot of this did happen in real life" but never mentions who any of the iconic figures are (Ieyasu, Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, Mitsuhide, etc)." *--Interestingly, Meyers repeats some of this on many of his gloriously erroneous kung fu commentaries (or 'Hard Work' since he now so proudly proclaims that kung fu isn't actually kung fu, but hard work), but adjusts it to suit the Chinese parameters such as elaborating on ninjas as originally being the Mao Shan priests who are featured in numerous 'Hard Work' movies such as Liu Chia Liang's LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA (1982).
"This was enough to make the Brickster weep. But wait-there's more! Film history time! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is called the best of the western ninja movies, and Meyer's Ninja Master series the best western ninja fiction-although he also calls Eric Van Lustbader's crap-tastic novel 'Ninja' a 'well written book that treats ninjitsu seriously'. He brings up more Chinese ninja films than he does Japanese ninja films. His commentary on film history was so bad, in fact, that Animeigo had to include Commentary Notes in their extras specifically to correct points he had made about Ichikawa Raizo and the Shinobi No Mono series." *--Ric is apparently an animal lover as he also states that KUNG FU PANDA is the greatest kung fu movie of all time. For more of Ric's ninja nonsense, the amount of spooge he ejaculates onto the LIFE OF A NINJA (1983) disc is anything but orgasmic.
"Sheesh...I think I can calm down now. By all means, buy the DVD-it's fantastic. But I'm tellin' ya-don't press that commentary button, unless you've got a strong masochistic streak." *--The use of "masochistic streak" would no doubt get Ric all a tingle since he's a fist pumpin' purveyor of Japanese bondage-rape movies. He's also starred in, and allegedly directed two bondage porn flicks (which are covered in Part 1); one of which he bragged about a 'Hard Work' fight scene he participated in. Honestly, Meyers' boasting of this scene is premature and far from the money shot he would have you believe. See what I did there?
"Not only is Shinobi No Mono 3: Resurrection (BW, 1963) the best of the ‘Goemon’ trilogy that led off the eight film series, but it’s made even better by the fact that Animeigo was smart enuff to not include a wretched commentary track by Ric Myers this time around! No more hearin’ about how Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the best of the western ninja films, loads of factual errors, butchered Japanese names, boatloads of ninja legends floated as fact, or Myers singin’ his own praises as a self-proclaimed ninja expert." *--This is a bonus Brick remark of an already bonus series of Meyerisms detailed by somebody else who has experienced the Horrors of the Malformed Meyers Mendacity.
It's been passed on to me that Animeigo used Ric the Great for their releases because he was a good talker, was enthusiastic about the job and to top it off, worked for free. Not only has the man been a virtual Pied Piper of Chinese martial arts cinema, but now he's set his prevaricative sights on samurai movies in what is the equivalent of cinematic rape. Unfortunately, the fine folks at Animeigo forgot what their parents told them about accepting candy from strangers; especially those unassuming clowns brandishing a Shaolin Abbot beard and a neverending array of Hawaiian T-shirts.
YOU'VE BEEN RIC-ROLLED! 200+ MARVELLOUS MEYERISMS!
NUMBERS 153-194 including bonus Japanese Meyers Malarkey!
153. "...so I was ahead of the curve there, and ever since I have remained ahead of the curve because I’ve found that Americans, as I say in the American chapter in the book, don’t like kung fu. They like taekwondo. They like karate. They like stuff that’s angry, that’s aggressive, where you can look cool and use your muscles and your emotions. While kung fu is very, you know, Kung Fu Panda [and] Shaolin Soccer." *--Tell that to everybody who was 'Kung Fu Fighting' with Carl Douglas back in the 1970s you babbling moron. (craveonline.com interview)
154. States on the INHERITOR OF KUNG FU (the 1981 movie he stupidly believes is the 1977 film) commentary that Chu Yu-wan's (it's Chu Yuan, of course) swordplay films will never be seen in America because they are gone forever.
155. Ric makes the absurd statement that the director of INHERITOR OF KUNG FU has "obviously never done martial arts movies before." * The director is Pao Hsueh Li, who formerly was a cinematographer and directed numerous Shaw Brothers action movies including several co-directed efforts with Chang Cheh as well as a slew of independent features.
156. Once more on the INHERITOR OF KUNG FU commentary, Meyers, who apparently isn't watching the film, credits I Kuang as screenwriter despite it being written by Jin Shu Mei (who also wrote and supervised THE HEROES), who also happened to be married to the director, Pao Hsueh Li. I Kuang actually is writer on the OTHER film that bears this same title.
157. States actor Chen Hung Lieh only directed one movie despite four other directing credits.
158. THE CASINO from 1972 is the first kung fu gambling movie, Ric, despite you listing it as uncategorizable.
159. States Cheng Tien Chi went from starring in SUPER NINJAS from 1982 to SEVEN STEPS OF KUNG FU in 1979.
160. In 2001, Ric wasn't sure if BELLS OF DEATH (1968) was a Shaw Brothers production or not, despite the widescreen Southgate tape having been around for almost two decades. He calls it a kung fu movie even though there's no kung fu, but plenty of Japanese styled swordplay.
161. On the back cover of the SWORDSMAN & ENCHANTRESS (1978) Hong Kong DVD, Meyers writes "...wushu warriors try to attain the 'deer sword' and escape from the insidious maze-like 'Toy Land'....a fascinating and entertaining adventure of consummate swordsmen and sorceresses." *--There is a Toy Land, but no mazes, nor are there any sorceresses.
162. Meyers enjoys repeating a lot of the same bullshit from one joke commentary to the next. For the third time, he mentions Ti Lung starring in Chang Cheh's 8 MAN ARMY; a film "which has never been shown here." *--It's never been shown anywhere, Ric, because the damn thing doesn't exist.
163. Constantly refers to HEROES OF THE EAST (1978) as the KRAMER VS. KRAMER of kung fu movies. The correlation, aside from two bickering married couples, between the two films alludes me.
164. "For years I’ve been advising the DVD industry that they need to put their Hong Kong Cinema releases into context." *--What the Obama of the Martial Arts film genre is REALLY saying here is that he wants to do commentaries and synopsis' for any and all Asian films so that he can thoroughly piss all over them in his own inimitable fashion by making up random stories, misnaming the actors and intermittently shill his wares on those watching and the unfortunate souls that listen to his useless commentaries. That run-on sentence was enough to make ya choke, but it had to be done.
165. Ric, to this day, makes the generality that American action filmmakers grew up watching fullscreen kung fu movies which explains why they shoot all the action so tight in the camera. He usually adds to this how he saw them in beautiful widescreen prints in theaters as if nobody else had ever done so.
166. "I hope you enjoyed those credits, by the way, because those are the only ones you get! (Laughs) You don't get the co-stars, you don't get, uh, the writer, you don't get nothin', except, of course, here on the audio commentary track. That's what I am here to tell you." *--We, the viewers, would get more accurate info by you shutting up.
167. CALL ME DRAGON, starring Bruce Liang and Yasuaki Kurata was made in 1974, not 1978.
168. On the commentary for THE FISTS, THE KICKS AND THE EVILS (1979), both Meyers and Samuels refer to ACTOR Lin Ho Nien (THE MASTER [1980]) as Lee Tso Nam, the DIRECTOR of such movies as THE HOT, THE COOL AND THE VICIOUS (1976) and CHALLENGE OF DEATH (1978). They also insinuate Lee Tso Nam is the credited director, Do Liu Boh, whose name graces the credits of very different movies. The plot thickens.
169. Again on the FISTS, KICKS AND EVILS ramblefest, Ric reads off his IMDB list yet again, but for whatever reason, forgets once more to discuss Bruce Liang's father, Liang Shao Sung, who was also an actor and martial arts choreographer.
170. Ric mildly argues with Bobby Samuels on 1978s NINJA CHECKMATE (MYSTERY OF CHESSBOXING) commentary over whether the film is a Taiwanese or HK production. "...Daniel Farmer and Bruce Long, who are sort of, like my fact checkers along with, uh, Laynez Zebrowski(?) always does the fact checking on my writing..." *--To quote Donald Trump, "You're fired."
171. The movie with the flying spiders and black monk is not NINJA HUNTER (1984), Ric. It's NINJA: THE FINAL DUEL (1986).
172. On the commentary for NINJA CHECKMATE, alias MYSTERY OF CHESSBOXING (1978), both Meyers and Samuels subtlely address fan criticism of their frequently erroneous play by play but ask for "constructive comments...be nice, or be gone...we have enough abuse in our lives without you guys..." *--Get your shit right, Ric, and maybe you wouldn't get abuse. You been fuckin' up for what, 30 years now? And stop makin' shit up, too, while you're at it.
173. "My work speaks for itself." *--Let's see, we are six chapters in, and so far, this is the single most accurate thing you have EVER said.
174. On the same NINJA CHECKMATE commentary, Ric reads excerpts from other peoples writing including a lengthy, nauseatingly dull overview of Chinese Checkers (don't laugh!) that goes on for what seems like an eternity.
175. If I listen to one more Rollickin' Ric commentary where 60% of it is reading verbatim from IMDB and the other 40% is repeated, nonsensical, wishy-washy jargon from other commentaries I'm gonna take revenge for master.
176. The June 1997 issue of Asian Cult Cinema was the inaugural appearance of Meyers' 'Ric and Infamous' column. He starts things off by feverishly patting himself on the back about his "god given talents" then proceeds to heap praise on his own book and any other book his greasy mits have touched pen to paper. Meanwhile, other far more reliable and respectable authors such as Bey Logan have their contributions referred to as "a considerable continuation" or a "fine fan's celebration."
177. In nearly every single article and column write up from Meyers, he consistently promotes himself and his books either at the start, at the end, or often times, both. The man's back surely must be sore by now.
178. In the January, 1998 issue of Asian Cult Cinema, Ric states this regarding the re-opening of the Shaw Brothers studio--"...the majority of people the studio fired are still begging for work. Will the disgraced and rejected be allowed back? Will they be willing to work for a pittance and/or a room in the old Shaw star dorms?" *--apparently Ric still felt the sting of Sir Run Run Shaw not showing any interest in having a copy of his catty contribution to the "Hard Work" genre so he felt the need to make up yet another scathingly crude remark. How the hell can one man be so ego-crushed when his book was jam packed with more lies than all of former USA Today reporter and Nobel Prize finalist Jack Kelley's crap combined.
179. In the same issue, Meyers actually refers to his updated book as "long awaited". Yes, Ric, we kung fu fans were waiting with bated breath for your special brand of falsified information.
180. Asian cult Cinema issue 22 has a multitude of culture clashing Meyerisms--He rambles on and on about how so many of Hollywood's high society continuously refers to 'Kung Fu Movies' as 'Karate Movies', etc; something he still does today. If only we could get you to properly recognize the right damn movie you're doing commentary for, or know the correct name for whoever happens to be onscreen at the time. Also, Meyers still doesn't know the difference between Cantonese and Mandarin.
181. In the same issue, Meyers attempts to champion his false stance for truth, justice and the American way by denouncing an alleged NY Times article that listed translated Cantonese titles of American movies. No one in their right mind would have taken this list seriously--a list that was proven mere days later to be a hoax--but Meyers uses it as a means by which to stand atop his double-dealing, and very slippery soap box.
182. In issue 23 from 1999 of Asian Cult Cinema, Meyers refers to his own book on martial arts movies as groundbreaking. Okay. I guess I will step into the Meyers-Zone and state that this article here on his ignominious, misguided label as a "leading authority" is "groundbreaking", too!
183. In issue 29 of Asian Cult Cinema from 2000, Meyers refers to HITMAN IN THE HAND OF BUDDHA (1981) as Hwang Jang Lee's only hero role. I guess movies like RAGING RIVALS, FIVE FINGERS OF STEEL and SHAOLIN FIST OF FURY don't count.
184. ACC Issue 33 from 2001 features more mythomaniacal Meyerisms with his continued animosity directed towards Sir Run Run Shaw--"The sad fact of the matter is that if Run Run Shaw had known how successful his films would be on American television, he never would have sold them to World Northal's Black Belt Theater. He seemed more interested in making some fast, easy money than actually giving his stars and directors international credibility." *--Lo Lieh in STRANGER & THE GUNFIGHTER? David Chiang in LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES? Ti Lung in SHATTER? The plethora of Shaw actors in CLEOPATRA JONES & THE CASINO OF GOLD? Please refer to Part 5 to see that both Shaw Brothers and Kung Fu movies were Alive and Well, and Living In the 1970s long before Shaw sold them to television.
185. For this one here, forget for a moment that Meyers had previously and repeatedly stated the Shaw library was gone forever. In issue 37 from 2002 of Asian Cult Cinema, Meyers has the temerity to allude to the notion that his participation has made the crew at Celestial realize these are more than just 700+ of old movies. He even goes on to boast about helping them with behind the scenes articles! What articles? This would explain why some of the extra features have conflicting information.
186. To bask in the sloppiness of the now buried rag mag, Asian Cult Cinema, it should be noted that Ric's column, 'Ric and Infamous' is frequently mislabeled in the Table of Contents as beginning on the wrong page, or not even listed at all!
187. Filmmaker and former ACC columnist, Max Allan Collins once made the remark that Ric Meyers was "doing a hell of a job on those [DVD] commentaries."--If spreading lies, blatantly making shit up and erroneously mislabeling actors, directors and entire movies constitutes doing a "hell of a job", then Meyers has cornered the market.
188. If Ric fucking up Chinese movies and becoming a "leading authority" in the process weren't bad enough, he also has seen fit to rape the shit out of Japanese movies, too. In his "revised and corrected" 2001 update of his first book from 1985, Meyers seems to have corrected little, if anything at all. He claims there are 11 films in the SLEEPY EYES OF DEATH series starring Raizo Ichikawa when it's actually 12, plus two more with Hiroki Matsukata making 14 total for Daiei's series.
189. Meyers claims to be a huge fan of the Zatoichi series and proves it by describing the first film in great detail... only this feeble-minded synopsis belongs to the first sequel, THE TALE OF ZATOICHI CONTINUES (1962).
190. Ric puts in some serious overtime massacring the famed ZAT series further by proclaiming ZATOICHI ON THE ROAD (he refers to it as ZATOICHI & THE SCOUNDRELS) is not only from 1964, but it is also the sixth film in the series as well as the first in color. It's from 1963, is the FIFTH film in the series and the THIRD movie was the first in color. Phew!
191. On a related note, Ric continues his problem with numbers by stating there are only seven films in the eight film SHINOBI NO MONO series starring Raizo Ichikawa.
192. Toho took over the series for the last three entries despite Meyers saying it was two. These three are ZATOICHI AT LARGE, ZATOICHI IN DESPERATION and ZATOICHI'S CONSPIRACY.
193. Meyers is also apparently oblivious to the fact that there are three films in the HANZO THE RAZOR trilogy. He only discusses the first two, but leaves out the third, WHO'S GOT THE GOLD? (1974) without even a mention of it.
194. Just what in the hell are the GAMBLER COP and LONE WOLF GAMBLER series' starring Sonny Chiba, Ric?! Must be more of that patented creative licensing that made Meyers such an attractive proposition for Thomas Weisser's Asian Cult Cinema magazine; a publication where some of the contributors lived in the Land of Made Up Shit. I am gonna assume Err Meyers is attaching his own titles to Chiba's YAKUZA DEKA films and his co-starring role in WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY 2: SHE-CAT GAMBLER (1971).
THE SAGA CONCLUDES IN PART 7! PHEW!!
Labels: The Tao of Ric
This is Daniel Farmer...Meyers had asked me if the film was a Taiwan or Hong Kong production for Ninja Checkmate. I told him it was filmed in Taiwan with Tiwanese actors but some pre and post production work was done in Hong Kong so you could say it was a Hong Kong production if you want to look at it that way. I also told him people thought Jack and Mark Long were really brothers but were not...obviously it got mixed up by Ric when the commentary was made. Thanks
The Tao of Ric: True Lies & A Fistful of Meyerisms...
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Warner New Hampshire’s Pearl Habor Casualty: Ensign Edward Blanchard Cloues, USN (1917-1941)
Posted on 15 February, 2013 by Janice Brown
Ensign Edward Blanchard Cloues, son of Alfred S. & Hattie (Blanchard) Cloues was born 25 December 1917 at Warner, New Hampshire He was aboard the USS. Arizona when it was sunk on 7 December 1941 during the Japanese attack. His body remains with the ship and his shipmates. He was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously, which was sent to his mother in May 1942.
Edward Blanchard Cloues
Photograph from the United States Naval Academy
http://www.usna.com/NC/History/ClassOf1940/C.htm
“Eddie,” as he was known to his family and friends, had graduated from Simonds Free High School at the top of his class, had been active in sports, and a member of the school’s orchestra. He attended the University of New Hampshire for a year pending his appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he graduated in 1940.
He was assigned to the Battleship USS Arizona (BB 39), stationed at Pearl Harbor Hawaii, reporting for duty June 29, 1940. He was supposed to be on leave in Honolulu, but had traded with another Ensign for ship’s duty. He was on engineering duty in one of the USS Arizona’s turrets when the battleship was attacked, and he was killed in action.
The life and service of Edward B. Cloues has been memorialized in the following ways.
. . According to Time Magazine, after Edward’s death his mother placed a memorial in the window of Horace Martin’s store, displaying Eddie’s “Annapolis class ring, his sword, his citation for bravery, his Purple Heart, his classbook, his epaulets, his fancy dress hat, the linen he had sent home from Madeira, a Nazi knife sent home from Germany on a trip before the war, and some shell necklaces from Pearl Harbor, mailed just before Dec. 7.”
. The USS Cloues (DE 265) was the first ship to be named for a New Hampshire hero of World War II. His mother christened the ship at the Boston Navy Yard on 10 Aug 1943.
. His name is inscribed on the honor roll of the New Hampshire Marine Memorial at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
. On 8 February 1946, Post #39 American Legion changed its name to Wilkins-Cloues Post #39 1.
. His name is listed on the bronze plaque at the entrance of Warner’s Town Hall (which also honors 98 other men and women who were residents of Warner during their service in World War II).
***Interesting Reading***
Nashua Area Men and Women in World War II, (Section on Edward Cloes) by Ron Dube
USS Arizona: Biography of Edward Blanchard Cloues
***LIFE MAG PICTURES*** Letters from Home: What goes on in Warner NH, by John Field, Life Magazine, 27 Sep 1943
——BIOGRAPHY OF Edward Blanchard Cloues——–
History of Cloues [DE-265]
GENEALOGY OF CLOUES/CLOES/CLOWES/CLOYES
[Editors note: The origin of Jacob Cloues is not definitely known. There was a John Cloues residing in Boston who would have been a contemporary to Jacob, but it is unknown if he was related. There were Cloues families living in Virginia, Delaware, Philadelphia PA and Long Island during this time who could all have been the source of this family. A “Goodwife CLOYES was buried in July 1701 in Boston MA]
=========First Generation==========
Jacob Cloues, b. abt 1754; d. 31 Oct 1799, age 45 years in Boston MA [as published in Oracle of the Day newspaper, Portsmouth NH]; he m. 8 Oct 1778 in Boston MA to Hannah Gray, daughter of Nicholas & Bathsheba (Edwards) Gray. She b. abt 1758 in MA and d. after 1827 in Boston MA. He was a “tabacconist” (tobacconist) on Fish Street (now North Street) in 1798, probably only having come there a few years previous to that date, as the name Cloues is not in the directory for 1789. On 10 Dec 1799 Hannah Cloues of Boston, widow was appointed administratrix of the estate of Jacob Cloues, late of Boston, tobacconist, deceased, William McKean tobacconist, being one of her bondsmen. On 13 January 1801, Hannah Cloues was appointed guardian to Jacob, William, and Bathsheba, minors above fourteen, children of Jacob Cloues, deceased. On the same date a guardian was also appointed to Sally and Philip Cloues, minors under fourteen.
Children of Jacob & Hannah (Gray) Cloues:
1. +Jacob Cloues 2nd, b. abt 1782, d. 14 May 1815
2. Bathsheba Cloues, b. abt 1784, d. Oct 1812 Boston MA; m. 24 Oct 1802 in Boston MA to John Peak
3. William Cloues, b. abt 1786; m. 23 Jan 1800 in Boston MA by Rev. Thomas Baldwin to Betsey Cox.
4. Philip Cloues, b abt 1788
5. Sally Cloues, b. abt 1790 Boston MA
=========Second Generation==========
Jacob Cloues 2d, son of Jacob & Hannah (Gray) Cloues, b. abt 1782, d. 14 May 1815 in Boston MA; m. 19 Nov 1801 [Low genealogy says 11 May 1802] Boston MA to Phebe Ann (Low) French, dau of William & Elizabeth (Knower) Low (a revolutionary soldier belonging to a company of militia called into service on 19 Apr 1775 to the Lexington alarm). She was b. 27 Jan 1777 in Chelsea MA and d. 16 Aug 1850. She m1) 1 May 1796 in Boston MA to Jacob French. Jacob Cloues is listed in the US Marine Corps Muster Rolls as enlisting 7 Sep 1807 as a private at the Navy yard Charlestown, muster date November 1807. According to “Genealogy and history of representative citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1902, page 316, “the Columbia Sentinel for May 17, 1815 contains the following ‘Died in this town, Mr. Jacob Cloues, aet 33….the family tradition…is that he fell from a wharf where he was watching for a return of a vessel in which he was interesting, bringing in a prize, and was drowned. A few months later, August 14, 1815 Phebe Cloues, of Boston, widow, was appointed to administer the estate of Jacob Cloues, late of Boston, tobacconist, deceased.
1798 Boston records:
JACOB CLOUES, owner and occupier; Brick dwelling; North Side Fish Street; East on sd. Street; South on Danl. English; & North on Sylvester; 1 work shop, wood, 240 square feet.
Land, 1,820 square feet, house, 480 square feet; 2 stories, 6 windows; Value $2,0000
Child of Jacob & Phoebe A. (Low) French:
1. Elizabeth Low French, b. 26 Jan 1797; m. 14 June 1817 to Edward Bell. She d. 31 July 1839
Children of Jacob & Phoebe A. (Low) Cloues:
1. +Jacob Cloues III, b. 11 Sep 1801
2. +Aaron Richardson Cloues, b.29 Jan 1807; d. 2 Sep 1852 Boston MA; m. Lucy Ann Barnicoat
3. Nancy Low Cloues, b. 1 July 1810, d. 16 Jan 1884; m.1) 23 Oct 1823 Boston MA to Anthony W.L. Sumbardo; m2) 22 June 1829 William Lewis. Children: Anthony W.L. Sumbardo, Phoebe Ann Lewis, Harriet Augusta Lewis, Henrietta C Lewis, Nancy M. Lewis, Lucyanna C. Lewis, Mary E. L. Lewis and Eliza F. Lewis.
4. Phebe Ann Cloues, b. 7 March 1810, d. 6 June 1880 in MA; m. William Richards Bell. 17 Children [BELL]: Aaron Cloues, Charles Parker, George Low, Edwin Forrest, Mary Franklin Monroe, Henrietta Hobart and six other children [17 children in all; twins being born 3 times, nine of the children died in infancy]
5. Samuel Low Cloues, b. abt 1812; d. 7 May 1851 in Boston MA, age 39
==========Third Generation=============
Jacob Cloues III, son of Jacob & Phebe A. (Low) Cloues, b. 11 Sep 1801; d. 4 Apr 1883, age 80 in Boston MA; m. 12 May 1831 in Boston MA to Emeline Reed in Boston MA. She b. abt Jan 1806 in MA and d. 29 April 1890, age 84 yrs 3 mo in Boston MA, her address being 4 Sheafe Street, Boston. Both the census and his death record indicate his occupation of sail maker.
1865 Massachusetts Census > Suffolk > Boston > Ward 1
Jacob Cloues M 63 MA sail maker
Emmeline Cloues F 58 MA
Mary E. Cloues 20 MA writing
Harriet L. Cloues 18 MA
Aaron Cloues 16 MA telegraph office
William J. Cloues 5 MA
Children of Jacob & Emeline (Reed) Cloues:
1. +Phoebe Elizabeth Cloues, b. abt 1830; d. 20 Feb 1867/1868, age 36; m1) 19 Sep 1849 in Boston MA to John A. Lee; m2) Charles F. Dearborn.
2. Theodore Cunningham Cloues, b. 17 June 1833 Boston MA; d. 24 June 1913 Somerville MA, unmarried, Officer in USN.
3. Emma L. Clowes, b 28 Aug 1836 Boston MA; m. 1 Feb 1864 in Boston MA to Charles B. Whelpley, son of Samuel & Jane Whelpley.
4. Jacob Cloues, b., d about age 4
5. Eliza Rebecca Cloues, b.; d. about 2 years old.
6. +Samuel Cloues, b. 26 Jan 1839; d. 3 Jan 1863 Boston MA, age 34
7. Mary Eliza Cloues, b. 14 Feb 1846-7 Boston MA; m. 14 June 1866 in Boston MA to Zoeth Rich Knowles, son of Franklin & Caroline Knowles. He was b. in Londonderry NH; a cabinetmaker.
8. Harriet “Hattie” Lewis Cloues, b. 13 Feb 1847 MA; m1) 18 Dec 1883 in Boston MA to Hezikiah Q. Hawes of Boston, Clerk, son of Joshua Y. & Arzilla P. Hawes. Children: Charles Whelpley Hawes b 16 May 1866, d 20 Jan 1875 and Harry Elmer Hawes, b. 29 Oct 1868, d. 13 Nov 1868. Harriet m2) Thomas Adams Noyes. Children: Tracey Allen Noyes b 25 Jan 1885, d 19 July 1885.
8. +Aaron Cloues, b. 14 Aug 1849 MA; m. 20 Feb 1873 to May A Putnam, dau of John P. & Jane Putnam. She age 20.
Aaron Richardson Cloues, son of Jacob & Phebe A. (Low) Cloues, b.29 Jan 1807; d. 2 Sep 1852 Boston MA; m. Lucy Ann Barnicoat, dau of William & Lucy Barnicoat. She b. abt 1816 in Boston MA; d. 8 Sep 1871 in Boston MA, 54 yrs 11mo 18 days of purpura; residence 372 Tremont Street, Boston MA. He was a grocer.
1850 US Census > Massachusetts > Suffolk > East Boston (Boston Ward 4) > 9
Aaron R. Cloues 40 M Grocer MA
Lucy A. Cloues 32 F MA
Eliza B. Cloues 10 F MA
Phebeann Cloues 8 F MA
Sophronia E. Hill 18 F
Children of Aaron R. & Lucy A. (Barnicoat) Cloues:
1. Lucy Ann Cloues, b. 25 June 1838 MA
2. son, d. in infancy
3. Elizabeth “Eliza” Bell Cloues, b. 20 Apr 1840 Chelsea MA; d. 6 Apr 1906 in Boston MA, unmarried.
4. Phoebe Ann Cloues, b. 9 Sep 1841
5. son, dau, twins, died at birth
============Fourth Generation===========
Phoebe Elizabeth Cloues, dau of Jacob & Emeline (Reed) Cloes, b. abt 1830-32; d. 20 Feb 1867/1868, age 36; m1) 19 Sep 1849 in Boston MA to John Adams Lee; m2) 6 May 1857 in Boston MA to Charles Francis Dearborn, son of Charles H. & Elizabeth (Markley) Dearborn. He b. abt 1831 in Alexandria VA. [in 1850 census Charles F. living with his mother Elizabeth RICE and her 2nd husband Thomas Rice a Mariner living in Alexandria VA.]
1860 US Census > MA > Suffolk > Boston
Charles F. Dearborn 29 M Marine, b. Alexandra VA
Feebe E. Dearborn, 26 F b. Boston, Mass
Harriett F. Dearborn, 26 F b. Boston, Mass
Emeline Dearborn, 8/12 b. Boston MA
Child of John A. & Phoebe E. (Cloues) Lee:
1. John William Lee, b. 19 July 1850 in Boston MA; m. –; d. in Omaha, Nebraska
Children of Charles F. & Phoebe E. (Cloues) Dearborn:
2. Harriet Augusta Dearborn, b. 16 Jan 1858 [or 17 Jan 1859] in Boston MA; m. 1880 to John Edwin Clough; children [CLOUGH]: Grace and Harrey E.
3. Emeline Elizabeth Dearborn, b. 1 Nov 1861; m. Frank A. Cutler. Children [CUTLER]: Percy Dearborn and Mary Eliza.
4. Charles Augustus Dearborn, b. 9 Feb 1863; m. –?
Samuel Cloues, son of Jacob & Emeline (Reed) Cloes b 26 Jan 1839; d. 3 Jan 1863 Boston MA, age 24y 11m 9d ; m. 27 March 1859 in Boston MA to Mary Eliza Beale/Beals, dau of William & Mary Beals. She was. b. Feb 1841 in Boston MA and d. 19 Nov 1862, age 21 yr 9 mo 4 days. Their marriage records states his occupation as engraver.
Samuel Cloues, Boston. One Frame Wood Engravings. These specimens, as well as those by John Filmer, though differing in style, exhibit considerable proficiency in the art of lining. Diploma [Lithography]
Child of Samuel & Mary E. (Beale/Beals) Cloues:
1. +William Jacob Thomas Cloues, b 3 March [or 21 March] 1860 Boston MA
Aaron R. Cloues, son of Jacob & Emeline (Reed) Cloues, b. 14 Aug 1849 MA, d 1887; buried Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett MA; m. 20 Feb 1873 to May/Mary Adlaide Putnam, dau of John P. & Jane Putnam, age 20. She b. 18 Jan 1853 in Chelsea MA.
Children of Aaron A. & Mary A. (Putnam) Cloues:
1. Charles Putnam Cloues, b. 19 Dec 1873; m. 15 Nov 1899 in Chelsea MA to Anna B. Kelly, dau of Henry H. & Annie M. (Richardson) Kelly. Children [CLOUES]: Marjorie Richard, Dorothy Anna (d 1914) and Mary Adalaide. His occupation: Butcher.
2. Edith May Cloues, b. 3 Aug 1879 MA; m. 16 Sep 1908 in Chelsea MA to Frederick B. Emerson, son of Benjamin & Abbie A. (McDuffie) Emerson. Children [EMERSON]: Jane P. and Priscilla.
================Fifth Generation=================
William Jacob Thomas Cloues, son of Samuel & Mary E. (Beale/Beals) Cloues, b. 3 March 1860 in Boston MA; m. 14 June 1887 Helen Virginia Ross, daughter of William & Helen M. Ross. He grad 1877 Boston Public Latin School and Worcester Academy in 1880; He graduated Brown University in 1884 and Newton theological institution in 1887; ordained Baptist ministry July 1887; pastor People’s Church Dover ME 1887-88; Littleton MA 1888-99, 1st Church Montpelier VT 1899-02; cataloged Randolph (VT) public Library 1903; pastor Warner NH 1904-9, assistant librarian Hills Library, Newton Theological Institution, Newton Center MA 1911-?; Several other responsibilities and associations; trustee Reuben Hoar Public Library, Littleton MA.
1910 US Census > Massachusetts > Suffolk > Boston Ward 3 > District 1300 > 28
Ross, Helen M. Head W M 75 widow 7 ch 5 living Maine Maine Maine
Ross, William S. son M W 35 single MA VA Maine teamster
Cloues/Cloes, Helen A. dau W F 46 m1x 22 yrs 3 ch 3 living Maine VA Maine
Cloues/Cloes, William J son in law W M 50 m1x 22 yrs MA MA MA clergyman Baptist church
Children of William & Helen V. (Ross) Cloues:
1. William Arthur Cloues, b. 6 April 1888; m. 20 Nov 1911 in Webster NH to Ethel B. Walker, daughter of Milton J. & Alice (Elliott) Walker. She b about 1888.
2. +Alfred Samuel Cloues, b. 20 Dec 1889 Littleton MA
3. Paul Cloues, b. 24 Oct 1893 in Littleton MA, d. 3 Nov 1971; m. Elizabeth Maud Bartlett. She b. 13 Oct 1892 and d. 22 Feb 1967 NH. Children [CLOUES]: Pauline (b 10 Jan 1919, d. 17 Apr 2007), David P. (who m. Ruth M. res N. Chelmsford MA) and Elizabeth (who m. John T. Griffin of Waltham MA).
=================Sixth Generation=================
Alfred Samuel Cloues, son of William J. & Helen V. (Ross) Cloues, b. 20 Dec 1889 Littleton MA, d. July 1964 NH; he married 12 June 1916 to Hattie A. Blanchard, daughter of Edward & Etta S. (Chase) Blanchard. She b. Feb 1889 in MA. He attended Brown University; lumber operations in Warner NH 1912-30; postmaster City of Warner, auto dealer, garage proprietor 1920-33; treasurer County of Merrimack 8 yrs; treasurer State of NH 1953-? Pres. Merrimack County Telephone Co.
Massachusetts > Concord > 1914 > Concord, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1914
Cloues, Alfred, civil engineer, boards Adams House
Cloues, Paul (Bridgewater, Mass.) sum res lower Main
Massachusetts > Newton > 1915 > Newton, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1915 > 266
Cloues Alfred S civil engineer boards 24 Ripley
Cloues Paul student boards 24 Ripley
Cloues William J. asst librarian Newton Theological Institution h 24 Ripley
1920 US Census > NH > Merrimack > Warner
Cloues Alfred D. Head M W 30 married MA MA MA manager lumber mill
Cloues Hattie B. wife F W 30 married MA NH VT
Cloues Edward B. son M W 2 single NH
Blanchard, Edward J. father in law M W 54 widow NH NH NH engineman marine
1930 US census
New Hampshire > Merrimack > Warner > District 54 > 4
Cloues/Clowes Alfred S. Head 4000 M W 40 married at age 26 MA MA MA Postmaster US Post Office
Cloues Hattie B wife F W 41 married at age 27 MA VT VT
Cloues Edward B SON M W 12 single NH
Cloues, Alfred S. Jr. son M W 9 single
Cloues, William J. son M W 5 single
Yuill, Myra H. Servant F W 66 widow NH MA NH
First Name: William
Middle Name: J
Last Name: Cloues
Name Suffix:
Birth Date: 1 May 1924
Social Security Number: 001-16-9940
Place of Issuance: New Hampshire
Last Residence: Merrimack, New Hampshire
Zip Code of Last Residence: 03257
Death Date: 26 October 2006
Estimated Age at Death: 82
Children of Alfred S. & Hattie (Blanchard) Cloues:
1. **Edward Blanchard Cloues, b 25 Dec 1916 in Warner NH; Ensign, USN. died 7 Dec 1941 USS Arizona, Honolulu Hawaii
2. +Alfred S. “Sam” Cloues Jr., b. 20 June 1920 Warner NH, d. 1 Feb 2006 Keene, Cheshire Co. NH
3. William Jacob Cloues, b. 1 May 1924 NH, d. 26 Oct 2006 in New London, Merrimack Co. NH; m. 12 May 1946 to Edith Beryl Moshier, dau of Ansel Byron & Florence Bertha (Jaynes) Moshier
=================Seventh Generation=================
Alfred S. “Sam” Cloues Jr., son of Alfred S. & Hattie (Blanchard) Cloues, b. 20 June 1920 Warner NH, d. 1 Feb 2006 Keene, Cheshire Co. NH ; m. Jeannette Callas.
Obituary:KEENE – Alfred S. “Sam”Cloues Jr., 85, of Arch Street, died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006, at the Cheshire Medical Center following a brief illness. Sam, as he was known to most everyone, is remembered by his family and friends for his devotion to his family and his dedication to his hometown of Warner, where he lived for most of his life. He warmed his family and the town with his friendliness, generosity, hard work and keen sense of humor. He loved books, which he amassed in great piles throughout his house. Mr. Cloues was born in Warner on June 20, 1920, the son of Alfred S. and Hattie (Blanchard) Cloues. He graduated from Simonds Free High School in Warner. During his high school years, he was a musician and played first trumpet with Roy Flanders and his Dixieland Band. Mr. Cloues went on to attend the University of New Hampshire and took accounting courses from the LaSalle Extension University. Mr. Cloues was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater in New Guinea, Australia and the Philippines with an anti-aircraft unit, in which he was responsible for portable searchlights and radar. After World War II, Mr. Cloues was a public accountant for more than 35 years. He was a founding partner of the accounting firm of Anderson & Cloues in Concord. Mr. Cloues served a number of community organizations, including the American Legion Wilkins-Cloues-Bigelow Post 39, the Kiwanis Club of Concord, the Pillsbury Free Library, the Pine Grove Cemetery, the Warner Fall Foliage Festival, the Warner Historical Society, the United Church of Warner, the board of directors of the Citizens National Bank in Newport and the board of incorporators of Concord Hospital. He also served as chair for the local March of Dimes.He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Jeannette (Callas) Cloues; his daughter, Jeanne E. Cloues of Walpole; two sons, Edward B. Cloues II of Gwynedd Valley, Pa., and Richard R. Cloues of Stone Mountain, Ga.; his grandchildren, E. Matthew Cloues, M. Elizabeth Cloues, Kacey E. Cloues, Jacob S. Cloues, Dustin W. Cloues; one brother, William J. Cloues of New London; two nieces and one nephew.Mr. Cloues was predeceased by his brother, Edward B. Cloues, who died on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.A private graveside service for the family will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery in Warner on Tuesday afternoon.Friends and neighbors are invited to celebrate his life and reminisce with the family at one of Sam’s favorite places in Warner, Main Street Bookends, from 5:15 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.Memorial donations may be made to the Warner Historical Society, P.O. Box 189, 15 West Main St., Warner 03278.
Arrangements are being handled by Fletcher Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Keene.
Children of Alfred S. & Jeannette (Callas) Cloues:
1. Jeanne E. Cloues
2. Edward B. Cloues II
3. Richard R. Cloues
. Massachusetts Vital Records 1841-1911, et al
. FamilySearch Database, Births-Marriages-Deaths
. Book: Descendants of William Low of Boston, Massachusetts, by Edmund Dana Barbour, 1890
. Book: Genealogy and history of representative citizens of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, H. Clay Evans, 1902
. Book: Who’s who in New England, Volume 2, by Albert Nelson Marquis, 1915; p. 250
. Book: Catalog of the Newton Theological Institution
. Descendants of William Low, of Boston, Massachusetts
[Boston?: Unknown,, 1890; Barbour, Edmund Dana.
. Genealogy and history of representative citizens of the commonwealth of Massachusetts; Boston: New England Historical Pub. Co., 1902.
. About Warner NH: Wilkins-Cloues-Bigelow-Pearson Post 39
This entry was posted in Genealogy, Military of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Men and tagged Arizona, Cloues, Edward, KIA, Manchester, medal, memorial, navy, New Hampshire, NH, on duty, Pearl Harbor, Purple Heart, Turret, USN, USS, war, Warner, World War II. Bookmark the permalink.
6 Responses to Warner New Hampshire’s Pearl Habor Casualty: Ensign Edward Blanchard Cloues, USN (1917-1941)
Richard Cloues says:
From an “eighth generationer,” thank you so much for publishing the information about the Cloues family and my Uncle Edward who was killed at Pearl Harbor. My mother (Jeannette Callas Cloues) had put together some genealogical information a number of years ago but it was pretty sparse in terms of the earlier generations.
There appears to be one mistake of content and presentation: My father’s obituary (for Alfred S. Cloues, Jr. [1920-2006], which should be part of a missing “Seventh Generation” section including his brothers Edward and William) is included in the section on Alfred S. Cloues (Sr.) [1889-1964] (“Sixth Generation”). That the obituary is misplaced becomes clear from reading, but at first glance it is confusing. There’s also a misspelling of our last name right after that, in the section of “children of Alfred and Hattie “Cloes.”
Again–from an eighth-generationist New Hampshire ex-pat now living in Georgia with his part of the ninth generation–thank you for publishing this information about our New Hampshire family.
Richard Cloues
Janice Brown says:
I had not originally intended to create a seventh+ generation Cloues listing, but I did this time, since you mentioned the confusion regarding your father’s obituary. I also repaired the typo from Cloes to Cloues. Thank you for your kind words.
Edward Blanchard Cloues, II says:
17 March, 2013 at 11:32 AM
While surfing the web on Friday night, I was quite surprised and equally delighted to find this wonderful history of my family. I forwarded it to my brother and sister and I see you have already heard from Richard who is an avid historian.
Thank you for your research and interesting blog. It is a gift to me since it combines so many disparate pieces of information into one place.
19 March, 2013 at 8:53 AM
Edward, you are very welcome. I enjoyed researching your Cloues family tree. I did not look at wills or deeds, and I am sure those documents might shed more light on the origin of Jacob Cloues. I see so many families whose name changed over time, so its wonderful that your family kept the early spelling. You might check back from time to time, as I will add more information when I discover it.
Donald R Olney says:
7 February, 2014 at 5:22 PM
Thank you for the Cloues family genealogy you have provided. My great-great grandmother is Phoebe Elizabeth Cloues (fourth generation) via her marriage to Charles Francis Dearborn. Their daughter Emeline (Emma) Elizabeth Dearborn is my great grandmother with her daughter with Frank Herman Cutler being my grandmother Mary Eliza Cutler Wentworth.
Going thru old family portraits, I found two on which the name Zoe Knowles had been handwritten on the back. An internet search took me to the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library website where I found he was married to Mary Eliza Cloues, Phoebe’s younger sister; I realized she was a famous woman. The four portraits with Eliza Knowles written on the back made sense. The pictures on the Scottish Rite website do not resemble Zoe Knowles on the portraits I have. I believe the pictures on the Scottish Rite website are correctly identified by a Civil War expert as Theodore Cunningham Cloues, older brother of Mary Eliza and Phoebe Elizabeth Cloues. An internet search for Mary Eliza Cloues brought me to your website that helped me fill in the missing pieces of our family genealogy.
I have what I call “young” and “old” portraits that I have scanned. The “young” portraits appear to be taken when Zoe and Eliza were in their 30’s, and the “old” pictures in their mid-50’s to mid-60’s. In the “young” portrait, Zoe is wearing his Medal of Honor for his service to the Union Army during the Civil War. I will be glad to email the 600 dpi “as scanned” images to anyone in the family who wants copies.
In my home I have two pieces of furniture made by Zoe Knowles. One is a chair and the other is a display cabinet with glass panel doors and mirror back. Both have elaborate hand carving. In 1984, my mother wrote a note they were 115 to 125 years old. I can email pictures of those pieces to anyone who may want them.
There is also a note in our genealogy file that Theodore Cunningham Cloues resided with his niece (Emma Dearborn Cutler) and her family (my grandmother) once he retired from the Navy after a long career (50 years?) as a sail maker.
Another note in our file states the first husband of Phoebe Cloues (John Lee) was captain of a sailing ship and died at sea. Her second husband, Charles Francis Dearborn, was the first mate on that ship. I do not know the source of that information other than it may have been handed down thru family members.
Don Olney
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By Deux Hommes on February 28, 2014
Growing up in the Bronx NY, one of my main sources of fashion inspiration was hip-hop street culture. The music was congruent with a “I don’t give a fuck what anyone say’s about my dress code mentality.” My jeans are 5 times bigger than my waist size, yes they are sagging below my ass and I feel like i’m cool as fuck”. At least that’s how I felt.
My attention was mainly on the street hustlers from my neighborhood. Poverty, drugs, hip-hop and crime were a normal thing for young kids to be surrounded by growing up in the area. I remember the hot summer days with kids running around screaming and getting on their parents’ last nerves.
The coolest things about the summer wasn’t just the hot weather and the summer freedom I felt when going to play basketball or Central Park with my family for a picnic. There was something else that made summer amazing; they were the regular “Block Parties.” Block parties were something that everyone would look forward to; barbecues were ignited outside of every building as well as gigantic speakers blasting old school hip-hop hits as well as the latest BadBoys, Biggie, Jay-z & 2Pac hits.
But most importantly, it was a time where everyone in my neighborhood pulled out their latest and freshest gear to dress for the occasion. The ladies would pull out all the stops with their styling starting at the top with their hair- weaves, braids extensions and fancy hair dos. Men and teenagers would wear the hip-hop power house labels of the time like Enyce, Mecca, Roca Wear, Sean John, and Parasucco and style with some jeans and either the latest Jordan’s or a fresh pair of Timberlands. At these epic events, the people that stood out the most to me were always the hustlers because of how they dressed.
Hustlers were my first fashion inspiration as a teenager. I used to stare at the latest and most expensive brands they wore daily on my way home from school. I’d later look out my 5th floor window watching them further and learning. I kept a mental diary of street style. The way these guys would dress would cut through the loud hip hop and r & b music coming from cars, the loud noise at the corner convenience stores, and the apartments in my building constantly creating more noise. It was truly inspirational.
Most of my attention used to be consumed by the way these guys used to wear their “Tim’s” or Timberland boots.
I was completely fascinated with the different ways they were worn. One of my favorite looks was a graphic t with jean shorts and the classic yellow Timberlands. I remember wanting a pair of Tim’s so bad it was all I could think of day in and day out. Daily, I would speak about them, go window-shopping for them, dream about them and even picture myself wearing them.
On my 13th birthday in the fall of 1998 I begged both of my parents for an affordable pair. After working many hours at the local super market bagging groceries, I was able to save up half and convince my dad to put up the rest. While I wanted the classic yellow ones or the all white leather with dark gray soles, I settled for a pair of light brown suede uppers with brown soles. Still, when I got them it made me the happiest person on earth. The feeling was indescribable. Growing up I never had liked waking up early to go to school, but once I got my first pair of Tim’s that all changed because of the pride I had walking to school in my new boots.
It was at that moment where I started to develop a sense of appreciation for styling myself daily. My new mantra was to always dress the way I wanted to. That first pair sparked something inside of me that was bigger than life. When I was able to afford it, I made sure to always keep a pair of Tims in my closet of the original classic yellow ones (which if you remember I didn’t get right away). It became my identity as every 6 months to a year I would buy a brand new pair. Because of what sparked my interest as a young child and the work I put forth into earning my first pair (as well as all the styling possibilities) this is still my identity to this day.
Part III:
As I grew and developed a deeper and more knowledgeable appreciation and intense interest in fashion, my style changed with time. My silhouettes went from a 3xl in a long basic white t to a large then into a medium. My jeans shrank from a size 40 waist, which I wore very low to a true to size 30 waist jean. I was influenced by my surroundings early and have evolved with my surrounding and taste currently.
At age 22 I had drifted away from hip-hop influenced street wear culture into what was then high fashion. Since, “high fashion” has constantly been evolving. This website fashion blog and Deux Hommes is the current manifestation of high fashion in society and just like me, is now looking to outpace the trends, have a respect for where it came from, but be forward thinking about helping to develop and shape fashion’s future……My story, just like fashion’s is to be continued…
Tags: Bronx, Jordan's, Tim's, timberlands, Hip Hop, streetstyle, Style, NYC, Fashion
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Lensatic
Using the law as a compass to point readers in the right direction, I focus on the legal and business issues of the day as it pertains to creatives, athletes, entrepreneurs and business owners.
A History of Album Release Strategies
In lieu of Lil Wayne's "original" album release method, here's a timeline of unconventional album release strategies.
Those who cannot remember the past (or prefer to credit themselves with originating it) are condemned to repeat it (and profit from it).
Labels: album release, celebrities, facebook, marketing, music, publicity, social media, The Atlantic
Transmedia & the Future of Filmmaking
"[Transmedia] enables you to be connected to so many other people on the basis of the fact that they're experiencing the same work as you at the same time. This is the evolution of storytelling." - Lance Weiler
"So yes, I'm a filmmaker; yes, I create my world; but I don't believe that I should be the complete tastemaker. Giving the audience the benefit of the doubt is better than me being the sole creator." - Zeke Zelker
"There's this thing video game designers call a 'golden path'—there's a definite way that the majority of people are going to experience the game, and the designers plot that. A lot of the interactivity in a video game is really just the illusion of interactivity. It's about engaging the audience and giving at least the feeling of volition. But as the artist you have to have the sense that you are, in some way, controlling it, blending the craft of storytelling with the illusion of agency." - Tommy Pallota
The NY Press recently published a great article on Transmedia by Zachary Wigon. The article is worth your time to read and reflect on. It begins with Wigon's definition of Transmedia:
A cinema/digital media hybrid anchored in filmmaking, this new brand of storytelling is defined by works that combine the typical moviegoing experience with more interactive elements, enabled by new media tools. There's no standard formula for making a transmedia work—the field is too young to have ossified in form yet—so the new medium is being produced in varying iterations.
The article cites the work of:
Lance Weiler, a filmmaker and new media consultant whose name is typically the first to come up in discussions of transmedia (he's been making transmedia work ever since he created a network of websites presenting his fictional narrative for 1998's The Last Broadcast as reality, a marketing idea recycled for The Blair Witch Project). [Lance] recently had a short film shown at Sundance called Pandemic 41.410806, -75.654259. Alongside the premiere of the horror short, about a brother and sister whose mother is possessed by some sort of zombie-like disease, Weiler created an interactive experience that took place during the festival itself, entitled Pandemic 1.0. The experience, also termed an "alternate reality game" or ARG, consisted of a website that named specific hidden objects that needed to be found around Park City in order to stop an outbreak of the illness portrayed in the short. Anyone in Park City could participate, viewing media on the website while they gathered items.
One of the benefits of transmedia is that:
Films have not one but two ways to gain an audience: through traditional filmic means, like festivals and theatrical releases, and through new channels being opened up by the films' added components, found over the net and elsewhere. That being said, at the moment, transmedia films are certainly under the radar; plenty of people who work in the independent film industry are only vaguely aware of it. But those who do believe in the field believe in it fervently.
Another benefit is that you can actually make money through transmedia:
For Zeke Zelker, who produced the interactive component of Pandemic, transmedia represents a way to monetize independent filmmaking as never before.
Talking about his upcoming feature film, Billboard, Zelker explains, "From a very young age, I understood that you have entertainment and then around the entertainment you have various profit centers. My film is about a radio station that has a billboard-sitting contest. How do those entities make money? Advertising. So I'm going to use a lot of branding to raise the money for the film. Brand integration. Not a bastardized aspect of what Morgan Spurlock did, but actual integration, with real ads on the billboard in the film going to companies that pay for it. For my last film, we put T-shirts in retail stores, and had, on the tags, a link that would allow them to watch the movie for free if they bought the shirt. I was making more money selling the shirts than I would have been making from downloads of the film."
And Zeke's plan:
Zelker explains that his ambitious project has many phases. He's already launched a radio station online to serve as the station that holds the contest his film revolves around. He has opened the station to submissions from any bands who want airplay; the bands who get the most plays on the station's website will see their songs used in the film. Next, Zelker plans to travel around the country, holding auditions for his actors and videotaping them. The audition videos will be uploaded to a site on which the audience can vote for who they want to see in the film, effectively crowd-sourcing his casting. Finally, after the film is released, he plans to run a nationwide ARG that sends fans on a scavenger hunt using clues that Zelker has dropped on various media platforms—online and in the film—to find a painting used in the film. The person who finds the painting wins $96,000, the same amount of prize money as in the film's billboard-sitting contest.
A big part of the transmedia concept for the filmmaker is allowing for certain elements of a film to spin out into something totally separate from the film but still be a part of the film's world.
"There's this central story I have, but then there are all these other things coming out of that—things I want the audience to crack out, to break away to a certain extent.
I think with transmedia you can section off parts that can be explored by the audience, but keep those separate. I don't mind letting go of certain aspects. But with other aspects—if I've written 12 drafts of a script, there's no room for modifying that story." (Lance Weiler)
However, it is easy to forget the importance of art, creativity and story-telling in transmedia by just dwelling on technology:
For all of the talk about transmedia as a major technological progression in storytelling, there has been relatively little discussion of the artistic merits of transmedia works—almost all discussion seems to concentrate on the way the works utilize media platforms.
"One of the problems I've found with transmedia is that people tend to talk about the technology and platforms before the story and characters," says Tommy Pallotta, a producer of Richard Linklater's Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly, who recently directed a transmedia film called Collapsus (which Weiler, everpresent in the field, actually co-wrote) for a Dutch production company. The film, available in its entirety online, is a cautionary tale about a future in which environmental disaster provides opportunities for geopolitical espionage. It features intermittent tasks the user must perform (i.e., descramble a telephone conversation), as well as frequent (fictional) news segments that interrupt the film to comment on the narrative developments (though the viewer can skip these segments if they desire).
"Telling a successful story is always a challenge," Pallotta continues. "To tell it on multiple platforms creates a greater challenge because you're asking a lot more from the audience. You need to find your character and story first, and then go from there to a compelling reason why you need multiple platforms."
However, because of the newness of the transmedia concept there are no fast rules and what works for one filmmaker is not necessarily preferable or relatable to another:
"Every transmedia project you see is going to be different because people are still trying to find the right form. With Collapsus, I didn't want to jump around platforms. I tried to create a single destination for everything. My goal with Collapsus was to create a stand-alone experience that is not ephemeral. Obviously, it becomes individualized based on how people interact—you and I doing it have different experiences—but it's not a choose-your-own-adventure either. I thought of it as annotated storytelling: if you want to go deeper, you can."
Some of the conclusions to be drawn on the use and effectiveness of transmedia begin with the questions it poses:
The ultimate question seems to be what filmmaking will look like once transmedia's done with it: Will audiences feel understimulated without multiple streams of video available to them during the course of a film? Will they feel disconnected from works that don't engage them on an individual level, or in real-life activities? Will they demand the ability to provide feedback on elements as crucial as casting decisions?
And so just like the web has transformed, filmmaking will transform itself merging the traditions of the past with the technologies of the present to give filmmakers a choice into how best to tell a story:
If what occurs is a "Web 2.0-ing" of filmmaking, one suspects future iterations of film could consist of artistic decisions that are heavily informed (if not made) by the audience, as well as a greater ability for niche films to find their audience communities. It sounds like a solution to the revenue issue—one that comes at the cost, perhaps, of artistic quality, depending on one's belief in whether or not the audience has taste. Of course, this is all purely speculative; there are different ideas about the degree to which transmedia should genuinely enable audience participation rather than merely provide the illusion of such. Which side wins out has yet to be seen.
In conclusion, a filmmaker would be wise to consider the transmedia possibilties their idea potentially has. Not only could it unlock a wider audience and a larger source of revenue but it could also unleash the filmmaker's creativity as he or she winds down the different paths of storytelling their film can take in multiple platforms.
Labels: advice, distribution, filmmaking, NY Press, producers, profit, projects, promotion, publicity, strategy, technology, transmedia, website
8 Legal and Business Tips Filmmakers Often Overlook
From an article I wrote for the May issue of the NALIP-NY newsletter (There is a NY-centric focus but the advice is translatable to other US cities):
Filmmakers are so caught up in the artistic prospects of their project that they forget that every time they start a production, no matter how small, it is essentially starting a new business. Many filmmakers prefer avoiding the business of filmmaking to immerse themselves in the art of filmmaking. BUT because film is such an expensive and collaborative artform, you will not get to make your art without understanding the business. You should be aware of the business and legal issues so that you can address them early on, get further ahead in the industry and find ways to improve or protect your production financially, logistically and, even, creatively.
Get insurance – Many filmmakers think they can’t afford to pay for insurance. But can you afford to pay someone’s medical bills if there is an accident? Most insurance brokers will tailor the insurance premiums to fit your budget, so you might only have to pay a couple hundred dollars for a million dollar insurance policy. Depending on your production get General Liability, Equipment, Worker’s Compensation, Errors and Omission (E&O), and/or maybe even some performance related insurance.
Get permits – Don’t think of it as a burden, think of it as a resource. Although sometimes you have to play guerrilla, it is better to avoid it. The New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting is very helpful to filmmakers with permits and more. Note that before you get a permit, you will need insurance.
Use SAG agreements – The Screen Actor’s Guild is interested in helping SAG actors work. They know that most filmmakers can’t afford to pay actors but it’s better for an actor to be working for credit then to not be working. That is why they have drafted agreements that cover even the “brokest” filmmaker.
Always look into city, state and federal tax incentives –
a) Made In NY Incentive Program
b) The New York State Film Production Tax Credit
c) Federal Tax Incentives
Get signed release forms – This one is simple but easily overlooked. Review your final edit and make sure that anything or anyone on the screen (cast, extras, props, music, footage, locations, and any non-incidental trademark logos & art works) has given permission to appear.
Copyright pointers – It would take a textbook to cover the topic of copyright but at a minimum know that copyright does not protect an idea or concept, only the expression of such idea. Copyright does NOT cover titles, short phrases, typeface, facts, historical information, or works in the public domain. The scope of U.S. copyright law is essentially domestic. The U.S.’s membership in the Berne Convention assures U.S. copyright holder’s protections overseas. At a minimum, register your scripts with the Writer’s Guild of America and then the U.S. Copyright Office.
Fair Use – Everyone, especially documentarians, should know what constitutes “fair use” of copyrighted material i.e. where using it in a production without permission will not constitute infringement. Fair use is allowable for purposes of criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research. In addition, four factors are taken into account:
a) Purpose and character of use (is it for profit or non-profit?)
b) Nature of the copyrighted material
c) Amount and substantiality of the portion used
d) Effect of the use on the market value of the copyrighted work
Know your rights with a distributor – Never grant rights to your work until you can be assured that you will see a return. Also:
a) Limit editing rights. Do not allow the distributor to remake your film.
b) Contractually own the marketing materials your distributor makes for one territory so you can use them in other territories.
c) Use the Independent Film Television Alliance to collect foreign royalty revenues.
Stay on the forefront of these issues by, at a minimum, regularly reading THR, Variety and Indiewire. As any lawyer or accountant will tell you, an informed client is the best client.
Labels: advice, copyright, directors, distribution, fair use, filmmaking, government, incentives, Indiewire, insurance, NALIP-NY, producers, production company, strategy, Tax credit, THR, Variety
NALIP-NY member spotlight: Manolo Celi
Here's the article I wrote for the May issue of the NALIP-NY newsletter on the director, Manolo Celi:
“Everything is significant.”
With that motto, director Manolo Celi has blazed his own path in the film and advertising world, garnering awards and recognition for his quirky and anti-nihilistic visions. He has worked with domestic and international agencies like Alma DDB, Downtown Chicago Partners, and Zubi Advertising, among others. In addition, his short films have played and won awards in global film festivals, including the Tribeca Film Festival. Recently, he directed a piece for wheres-the-bear.com, an urban ad project, that has spanned the globe since Cannes, depicting the misadventures of a transgendered teddy bear. Now, Manolo is set to blaze the scene anew with his first feature, Tony Tango, about a “large and in-charge” dancer who aims to save the world through dance.
Manolo believes in taking chances and not being afraid to be yourself. This belief directs his approach to directing and informs his artistic influences. It is no wonder that Manolo admires distinct master storytellers like Fellini, Spielberg and Godard. Like them, Manolo follows his instincts and lets his creativity shine through, whether he is making a film or a commercial. Furthermore, he applies his motto, ‘everything is significant,’ to all aspects of production from what boards he accepts to how he lights and designs the set to how he treats the cast, crew and clients. With that approach, he is better able to find and depict the ever-elusive truth of human experiences on screen.
As he says, “True art expresses absolute truth because that is what reaches people... It is the same with commercials... the most popular and award-winning commercials… convey real human emotions. And, that is what I strive for in everything I do - whether it is comedic or dramatic.” It was this striving to connect to human experience through comedy that moved him to make Tony Tango.
In closing, he advises filmmakers, “Do your homework. Find out who makes the work you like, how they did it and how they succeeded where others failed. Steal from the best. And think of yourself as the best... Because only you are the very best at being you.”
Visit Manolo’s website.
Visit Tony Tango’s website, “Like” Tony on Facebook and “Follow” his dance moves on Twitter.
Labels: advertising, directors, feature, film, filmmaking, latino, NALIP-NY, producers, projects, website
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David Bain
What the jury wasn’t told
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The retrial 2009
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... plainly biased in favour of conservative Governments
Judge Ian Callinan
Ian Callinan is a retired High Court judge from Australia with a controversial background. He had close links with the Queensland Government and, in his first case as a judge on the High Court, he was forced to stand down because of perceived bias towards the Government’s position in that case – see About Justice Ian Callinan.
Nevertheless, Amy Adams appointed him to conduct the second review of David Bain’s compensation claim. On 18 February, 2016, the NZ Herald reported that Cabinet had received Callinan’s report which “found that Bain did not meet the threshold of ‘innocent beyond reasonable doubt’,” and said this dealt “a blow to Bain’s compensation claim for wrongful imprisonment”.
After Judge Ian Callinan’s decision was leaked to the media on 18 February, 2016, radio talkback host Mike Hosking rang Ian Binnie in Canada to get his comments (3:55). Comparing the case to that of Lindy Chamberlain in Australia, Binnie said: “This case is becoming quite well known internationally. I just don’t think the New Zealand Government has a leg to stand on.”
But Callinan provided the gimpy leg the Government needed. He conducted his investigation into the case but never met with or interviewed David as part of that investigation. Nevertheless, when Justice Minister Amy Adams finally announced the Government’s decision in August 2016, she also released the full report which said:
“The applicant has not proved on the balance of probabilities that he did not kill his siblings and his parents on the morning of the 20th June 1994” (para 407).
David Bain’s & Joe Karam’s response
David was quoted in the media as being ‘disgusted’ that Ian Callinan formed his opinion without even bothering to interview him. He said his rights were “completely abused” by Justice Callinan who made “extremely hurtful” comments in finding Bain had not proved his innocence “on the balance of probabilities”. Failing to allow a witness to respond to criticism was one of the reasons the 2012 report by Canadian judge Ian Binnie, was discarded by Judith Collins (on Robert Fisher’s advice).
Joe Karam described Callinan’s report as a ‘train wreck’. He said it contained numerous issues of concern and that Callinan had made many of the same “mistakes” that Binnie was accused of. He pointed out that whereas Binnie’s report was rejected because of these alleged ‘errors of principle’, Callinan’s was accepted – because it suited the Government’s stance on the case. The defence team informed the Government they intended to challenge the quality and integrity of Callinan’s report in court.
Significant documents
Masthead photo copyright Martin Hunter - Getty Images.
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Hi Blog. Here is a report from Sendaiben about his experiences going through the rigmarole (found in every country) for naturalization. His most recent experience, however, was for him very negative and even off-putting, ultimately being told that he would have to render himself STATELESS in order to obtain Japanese citizenship.
Quite a different experience from what I went through more than a decade ago. And this is the country that encourages people to naturalize if they want rights? What a crock. Arudou Debito
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From: Sendaiben
Subject: Sendai Houmukyoku Interview
A couple of people asked me to write up my recent (well, relatively recent, given that it happened just before the earthquake) experience of talking to the Houmukyoku (Ministry of Justice office) in Sendai about naturalizing as a Japanese citizen.
I have talked to them before on a couple of occasions (most recently in 2008 or so) where they explained the procedure and the necessary paperwork, then asked me to come back when it was all done. The people I spoke to in the past were relatively friendly and encouraging, and treated me in a professional and courteous manner. I came out of the interviews fairly enthusiastic about naturalizing.
Fast forward two and a half years, when I finally had all the paperwork together. Gathering all the required pieces of paper was extremely time-consuming in my case, for a few reasons:
1. the UK has a fairly decentralized record keeping system
2. my parents both died over twenty years ago, so I was not able to get certain dates and other information from them
3. I was born outside the UK
It took several weeks of effort over a period of a couple of years to get hold of the various birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates that I needed for my immediate family (parents and brother). I understand I will also need the full range of Japanese documents (koseki touhons, ARC printouts, tax certificates, etc.), but this will be relatively simple to do here in Sendai and as these documents expire within a few months of issue I haven’t bothered to get them yet.
I called the Houmukyoku in February and arranged to go in for an interview in early March (the Sendai office tends to take two or three weeks to make an appointment).
I had a new case officer, a youngish guy in his mid-30s. He was brusque to the point of rudeness throughout our interactions, neglecting to use polite Japanese and ignoring me for extended periods several times. Not in the slightest bit friendly or encouraging, our interview went more or less as follows:
1. I explained that I had been in before, and that I was coming in again to confirm my understanding of the process. I presented all the documents I had.
2. The officer admitted everything was in order, then asked me to fill in some forms (including a statement of intent). My handwritten Japanese in terms of kanji recall is very poor, as I do all my writing on computers and phones. Because of this, I looked up several kanji on my phone while writing.
3. The officer seized upon this as a reason why I would not be eligible to naturalize, and suggested I “go away and learn Japanese”. I should explain that I have passed the JLPT 1 and kanji kentei 7, both of which should have served as proof that my Japanese is good enough for naturalization purposes. My case officer disagreed 🙂
4. He went on to explain how the system had changed from the last time I had it explained to me. For UK nationals, towards the end of the application process, there is a requirement that they formally renounce their UK citizenship, and obtain written proof of this from the UK government. At this point they become stateless, and are given special permission to remain in Japan until the naturalization process is complete. If the application is successful, they then receive Japanese citizenship. If unsuccessful, the UK will return citizenship upon request once.
5. I gathered my notes, thanked him, and left.
I was actually very discouraged by this. Now, I am fairly sure that if I went ahead and applied, I would probably be successful. I have a good job, a Japanese family, I have been living here for eleven years, and am fairly well-integrated into society. I like Sendai, and plan to live here for a while, if not for good. However, I don’t need to naturalize, and probably won’t bother for at least another couple of years (when I will probably call up the Sendai Houmukyoku and hope that I get a more pleasant case officer).
I am a bit disappointed though. I would have thought Japan would be encouraging people to naturalize, rather than doing everything possible to discourage them.
Hong Kong or maybe Singapore are starting to look more attractive. We’ll see how it goes.
Sendaiben
Immigration & Assimilation, Ironies & Hypocrisies, Japanese Government, Problematic Foreign Treatment, Unsustainable Japanese Society
40 comments on “Sendaiben on MOJ interview for his naturalization, went badly: GOJ now requires applicants become STATELESS?”
Bitter Valley says:
If I was less cynical, I would say you were unlucky in drawing an asshole of a case officer. These petty little bureaucrats are everywhere in Japan and it seems to be pot luck if you get a nice/ ordinary/ or asshole administrator.
May I ask if the administrator was younger than you or the same age? If so, his behavior was exceptionally rude and I’d have been pretty angry too.
I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with these petty bureaucrats in Shibuya, although for every bad one there has been a decent one who has treated me normally and like an adult (no baby Japanese, no Engrish) despite the fact that I am a “worthless gaijin,” etc. Just as I think of myself as a middle-aged professional entitled some basic courtesy, I get some petty administrator gaijinizing me. There always seems to be a sort of default with people that no matter what you have achieved or who you might be, to the bureaucrat you are a gaijin first, second and third.
But you would think this moron would actually have some common sense. Someone in Tohoku who is intelligent and educated is interested in investing his life in this country when it desperately needs people? What a joke!
amro says:
That’s a requirement for certain nationalities that they can get away with doing it to, to make sure they renounce their other citizenship. Obviously they don’t require this for nationals who legally cannot become stateless (such as Americans). More here:
http://www.turning-japanese.info/2011/05/faq-can-you-not-renounce-your-original.html
And here’s an account from a British citizen who naturalized and had to do the same thing:
http://www.turning-japanese.info/2011/04/naturalization-story-from-british-jet.html
It seems that the foreign countries involved are okay with it. I wouldn’t go as far as to call this discouraging though. Well, the lack of dual citizenship is discouraging, but I don’t think the way they enforce it is all that relevant.
To Sendaiben, best of luck for the next time you feel up to it!
Well now is it JLPT 1 or JLPT N1? The first means nothing, the second next to nothing. You have to take into account that Japanese language education both inside and outside Japan is premissed on what has been called the bigotry of low expectations and that the highest JLPT levels are equivalent to survival Japanese, no matter what Japan Foundation apparatchiks might claim. Kanji Kentei 7 qualification also isn’t something I would brag about. Maybe use the next couple of years to study for jun2 or 2 in your free time?
I should point out though that while I may sound harsh I’m not saying your Japanese is “bad”, I’m in no position to judge that. But invoking the JLPT as a measure of your ability may point to you judging yourself by a different standard than the one your case officer uses. My own experiences that the self-confidence to ability ratio among my Anglosphere friends in Japan is much higher than that of my Chinese and Korean friends.
Piglet says:
I always thought that international conventions strongly discourage member countries from creating stateless people. I find it quite risky (for legal reasons, insurance, etc…) to become stateless even for a short amount of time. Even though I am strongly advocating multi-citizenship (which correspond much more to our multipolar, complex modern world), in that case I would suggest that a written statement certifying you will renounce your former citizenship once you get a formal approval should be enough.
Concerning the behavior of the bureaucrat, I hope you wrote his name so you could send a complain about him.
HK and Singapore are indeed much more immigration-friendly but Singapore is not yet a democracy and nobody knows what will happen to HK after 2047 (which admittedly leaves a lot of time).
Charuzu says:
To require that people become stateless is to imperil their safety.
These immigrants generally have family outside Japan.
As stateless people, should they need to travel to visit these relatives, their ability to travel, and their safety, is potentially seriously at risk.
A stateless British person transecting Russia, for example, and having to stay over there due to some unforeseen reason, could find himself very badly treated, and with no one to appeal.
Requiring the renunciation of all citizenship is to endanger the human rights of these stateless individuals.
Depressing that Japan, a country that endlessly prates about how it was a victim of World War 2, seeks to victimise others.
This is ridiculous. Not least because my understanding is that you cannot renounce your British citizenship (well you can, but you won’t lose your British citizenship) unless you are in possession of another citizenship at the time of renunciation. Does this requirement apply to all countries?
The official advice can be found at:
(http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/givingupcitizenship/howtogiveupnationality/)
I have copied and pasted the relevant sections. It is clear that you cannot give up your British citizenship unless you present as evidence at the same time either a new passport or a document confirming that you will get a new citizenship automatically on renouncing your British citizenship. (not an intention or hope to get a new citizenship.) This should mean that without this evidence they will not allow you to renounce your old citizenship.
(Also I think the ability to resume British citizenship only applies where you took another citizenship afterwards and if renunciation was done to gain that citizenship, you are not limited to one chance to resume British citizenship.)
It surely cannot be right (and I doubt it is legally) that you have to get permission from your old country to renounce your previous citizenship. Just think of the potential problems, Japan should stand on its own feet on an issue such as this and not be at the mercy of foreign governments and foreign bureaucracy.
Can I give up my citizenship?
If you are a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British overseas citizen, a British subject or a British national (overseas), you may give up your citizenship or status if you:
already have another citizenship or nationality; or
are going to get another citizenship or nationality after you have given up your British citizenship, British overseas territories citizenship, British overseas citizenship, British subject status or British national (overseas) status.
In addition to this, you must also be:
aged 18 or over (but if you are under 18 and have been married, we will treat you as meeting the age requirement); and
of sound mind (but if you are not of sound mind, you may still be allowed to give up your British citizenship or other British nationality if it would be in your best interests).
What to send with your form to give up British citizenship or status
Evidence of your future status
You should send us evidence that either:
you have another citizenship or nationality, or will have one when you have made your declaration to give up your British status. This may be a passport issued to you by the other country of which you are a national, or a statement by the authorities of that country that you are one of its nationals; or
you are about to become a citizen of another country. This should be a letter from the authorities of the country concerned confirming that you will be granted citizenship of that country when you have given up your British citizenship or status.
According to the French consulate, you cannot loose your French citizenship even if you renounce it (and especially if it would render you stateless). I don’t believe the Japanese government would officially require this. Is there a chance it was a personal interpretation of the bureaucrat?
Here we go, this section explains what happens if you fail to get a new citizenship within 6 months. (of course this contradicts what was said elsewhere on the official British government site)
If you do not gain citizenship of another country
If we registered your declaration because you expected to gain another citizenship, but you do not do this within six months of the registration, the registration will not take effect.
In this case, you should send us your copy of the application form, together with a letter from the authorities of the other country confirming that you have not gained that country’s citizenship.
We will make a note on your application form to show that you have not given up your British citizenship or status because the registration did not take effect.
Just for completeness, here is the actual letter of the law from the British Nationality Act 1981 (Part I section 12):
12. Renunciation.
(1)If any British citizen of full age and capacity makes in the prescribed manner a declaration of renunciation of British citizenship, then, subject to subsections (3) and (4), the Secretary of State shall cause the declaration to be registered.
(2)On the registration of a declaration made in pursuance of this section the person who made it shall cease to be a British citizen.
(3)A declaration made by a person in pursuance of this section shall not be registered unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that the person who made it will after the registration have or acquire some citizenship or nationality other than British citizenship; and if that person does not have any such citizenship or nationality on the date of registration and does not acquire some such citizenship or nationality within six months from that date, he shall be, and be deemed to have remained, a British citizen notwithstanding the registration.
(4)The Secretary of State may withhold registration of any declaration made in pursuance of this section if it is made during any war in which Her Majesty may be engaged in right of Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom.
(5)For the purposes of this section any person who has been married [F1, or has formed a civil partnership,] shall be deemed to be of full age.
People with Japanese passpports living in Canada with Canadian passports ? Secretly, yes.
The Canadian application didn’t require a formal renouncement. Staying low on the radar offers these people their freedom to live, do business and pay taxes in both places. They’re honest people living in stealth.
why do you have to become stateless just so you can prove to the j-govt that you are at there mercy? this looks like a violation of human rights. and i just spoke to a human rights lawyer and he told me that its illegal under international protocol because it has to be under different circumstances for a person to become stateless such as civil war etc.so the next time a j-govt clone asked you to do such a thing i would report this as a violation of your human rights
Joe Jones says:
The case worker’s antics sound pretty reprehensible.
That said, everyone above is missing the point with regard to the rules. It is explained very well here (and Sendaiben saw it back in March):
http://www.turning-japanese.info/2010/07/renouncing-former-nationalities.html
The UK lets its subjects renounce nationality and become stateless for the purpose of naturalizing elsewhere, with the provision that they get their UK nationality back immediately if the naturalization process falls through. This is why Japan makes Britons renounce before they can take Japanese nationality.
Americans don’t have the benefit of such a procedure under US law, so they are allowed to complete naturalization in Japan first, and then renounce their US nationality.
There are some countries (like South Korea, I believe) where you are automatically expatriated under that country’s law if you take nationality elsewhere, so this issue doesn’t come up at all.
I think the Japanese justice ministry should be commended for taking the trouble to harmonize its rules with the rules of every other country on the planet…
Finally, to address Sendaiben’s last comment above, neither China nor Singapore allows dual nationality. They both have straightforward permanent residency systems, but why bother to get PR there when you already have it in Japan?
Did the bureaucrat cite any identifiable rules/policies that make becoming stateless part of the process? That would be interesting to know about.
Just a quick reply to Bart, While you may not mean to be “harsh,” your thoughts would carry more weight with me if your own message didn’t include one misspelled word and one grammar/spelling error. I assume English is your first language…. I hope that some country’s requirement for perfect English writing skills does not at some point affect your citizenship.
Loverilakkuma says:
Boy, it seems like the Japanese immigration bureau is getting nutty as a fruitcake. Sending an undisciplined immigration officer who gives an applicant wrong instructions– with an inappropriate manner–is a clear indication that they are undermining their integrity and professionalism. I’ve never heard such a word like “stateless.” It’s NOT even in the glossary list of the US Customs and Immigration Service.
Yep, Chris is dead right. The UK government won’t let anyone renounce their citizenship without a new nationality ready and waiting to replace it. So perhaps this is a subtle Japanese way of saying “No Brits need apply.”?
tkyosam says:
Dude, I hope you got that idiot’s name and wrote a formal letter to people in charge there.
schmitty says:
Singapore is a much more multicultural society, and becoming a citizen there is actually promoted. PR or Singaporean is the same thing when it comes to employment. There is no such thing in Japan. A gaijin is a gaijin whether a citizen, PR or spouse of JN. Singaporeans have recently complained that there are too many foriegners there, but I think they know immigration is what drives their success. I have never bothered with PR in Japan, because I dont feel accepted here. When I walk into a 7 11, Im a gaijin. When I walk into Johathans, Im a gaijin. On the train, lets stare at the gaijin. In singapore, or even the UK or USA, because we have so much nationality in the mix, you dont know who is a citizen or who isnt. Here its not that way.
Pitarou says:
Some countries provide a mechanism that allows their nationals to provisionally renounce their nationality while they are applying for a new nationality. I.e. if their application for new nationality doesn’t succeed, they can get their old nationality back. It would appear that the Japanese authorities are taking advantage of this mechanism when it’s available.
The mechanism is described in the 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness:
1. (a) If the law of a Contracting State permits renunciation of nationality, such renunciation shall
not result in loss of nationality unless the person concerned possesses or acquires another nationality.
2. A national of a Contracting State who seeks naturalization in a foreign country shall not lose his
nationality unless he acquires or has been accorded assurance of acquiring the nationality of that foreign
It kind of sucks that a mechanism designed to *reduce* statelessness is being used in this way.
Here are the signatories to the convention:
Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Chad, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kiribati, Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia (The Former Yugoslav Republic of), Malawi, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Convention_on_the_Reduction_of_Statelessness
Hi Pitarou-san,
I have the same feeling and thought with you that;
>Japanese authorities are taking advantage of this mechanism when it’s available.
>It kind of sucks that a mechanism designed to *reduce* statelessness is being used in this way.
According to Act of citizenship there is no requirement that one must become stateless for the process, actually. Wonder those signatories countres know that Japan regards applicants as STATELESS status after providing the provisionally renouncement and once one has obtained Japanese citizenship, it appears in Koseki (Japanese family registration) that one used to be MUKOKUSEKI (stateless).
One thing is a little bit weird on this story.
” … JLPT 1 and kanji kentei 7, both of which should have served as proof that my Japanese is good enough…”.
I agree that JLPT 1 proofs that your (passive) language skill reach the upper levels, but Kentei 7 includes only the level a 4th grader has. No wonder that you don’t impress the person in charge …
— You only need a third-grader J-level to pass requirements for citizenship. At least when I went through. The dickhead in charge was shifting the goalposts at whim.
sendaiben says:
Wow, this is quite the lively thread! Thanks for all the comments.
My intention writing this was to provide an account of how my experience went down. I didn’t appreciate how the MOJ official handled things (like I said, I’ve had much better experiences in the past), but I don’t think he did anything ‘wrong’ or worth complaining about. I am not at all shy about complaining when warranted, but I don’t really think I have much to complain about here.
I only mentioned my Japanese ‘paper’ qualifications to show that I should be okay on paper meeting the GOJ’s standard of ES level Japanese. My spoken Japanese is much better than my reading and writing.
Singapore (and Hong Kong) are examples of countries that seem similar to Japan while being in effect much more welcoming. What really brought it home to me was the announcement made on Singapore Airlines when landing in Changi airport: “to all Singaporeans and permanent residents: welcome home”. Sadly I can’t imagine that announcement being made in Japan 😉
I’ll definitely be here at least four more years. After that, it depends on employment and environmental factors. I may even drop by the Sendai houmukyoku again!
Micky Blick says:
This has probably come about because some countries (e.g. the UK) recognize dual citizenship, but Japanese law doesn’t. The advice given to me when I investigated naturalization was, don’t give up your British passport, and just tell the Japanese that you did. Apparently this used to work.
I’m not making excuses for the behavior of the officer, or the process itself. Just trying to shed some light on why things may have changed.
giantpanda says:
“You only need a third-grader J-level to pass requirements for citizenship.” I was not aware that any language ability was needed – A South American friend who just obtained her Japanese citizenship speaks woeful Japanese and has next to zero reading and writing ability. She does have a Japanese husband and daughter though…
— I have written extensively about my experiences. Please read the link I provided earlier. You can also read a more updated version at an outside site here.
Debito:
The point that you make “The dickhead in charge was shifting the goalposts at whim” is key.
Until the Japanese government creates processes that are transparent, and evenly enforced, then naturalisation, like everything else, will ultimately be viewed as the caprice of some bureaucrat.
Indeed, [and on a separate topic] the future problems with remediation of the Fukushima disaster will, I predict, untimately also stem from opaque governmental standards, capriciously enforced.
In other words, the problems of lack of transparency and unequal application of the law are systemic.
They have the effect of having the government behave not as a modern democracy, but more like a pre-modern state.
Piglet: Singapore is so a democracy. It’s just a bit of a quirky democracy.
I would expect it becomes less foreign-friendly in the future than it has been, because the anti-foreigner sentiment is growing and the government are having to respond to that: they’ve already started making it harder to get permanent residence and to progress to citizenship, and to create more of a distinction between PRs and citizens in terms of benefits, such as availability of schooling. I doubt we’ll ever sink to Japanese levels, though.
— Let’s not get into too much of a digression about Singapore. Bring it back to Japan, as you have done, thanks.
Mark in Yayoi says:
Charuzu in post #4 has already made most of the points I wanted to make.
I can only add that becoming momentarily stateless makes the applicant totally dependent on the safe processing of his documents by the MoJ, and if anything were to happen to them, the applicant could find himself stateless for a very long time, and unable to either (1) verify his legal residency status in Japan or (2) travel abroad in any way.
Bureaucrats in Sendai, of all places, should be aware of this — how many paper koseki records were lost without trace in the recent earthquake and tsunami? How many evacuees lost their passports and alien papers? Now imagine that some of those irretrievably lost papers belong to people who have given up their original nationalities in hopes of acquiring that of Japan.
This would be a disaster at the personal level, and could be immensely mitigated by having a system that ensures that no one is ever stateless even for a moment. The MoJ is indeed being contemptuous of human rights when they demand that applicants leave the protection of their home countries behind and take a flying leap forward while trusting Japan’s bureaucracy.
If anything happens to you while you are stateless (accident, earthquake, death in your family, robbery, etc…), you might get into trouble because you wouldn’t have any legal status so to say. I wouldn’t recommend anybody to become voluntarily stateless for any reason and for any amount of time.
Scuzzy says:
@sendaiben,
May I ask, what is your motivation to naturalize in Japan? Is it that good for you here? Not to dis you, if its great for you. It just seems the longer I stay here, the more unwelcome, especially when it comes to employment, I am. I could see business perhaps, but even that is tough. Thanks for any answer.
I’m currently naturalizing, but I wouldn’t dare try to do it without a legal scrivener/gyouseishoshi (immigration lawyer). These folks know exactly what to say to the bureaucrats, and have clients perform the process of naturalizing many many times. The immigration lawyer I am using costs around 2000$ (1000$ upfront, 1000$ after submission), and will fully refund if the naturalization is successful.
It’s said that u get that crappy service from the bureaucrats, and the system of paying scriveners is essentially an outsourcing of the explanation and a way of front-loading/fast-tracking paperwork. Knowing the system, and that I’m only naturalizing once, I’ve opted for professional help.
— What does your scrivener say about the GOJ apparently requiring candidates to become Stateless?
Hi Scuzzy
Basically I’ve been here for eleven years, have a family, a business, and a good job. I like it here and given that I am probably going to be here a while longer, I thought I might as well naturalize. No rush though, and no pressing need 🙂
My explanation session to initiate the naturalization process
was just short of nightmarish. The officer spoke very quickly
and then with apparent disdain when he surmised my speaking/
listening ability. After thirty years here it is serviceable:
my girlfriend doesn’t speak English nor do other Japanese friends; I teach using Japanese (mea culpa) to my academically challenged students, etc. That was two years ago. Obtaining the paperwork from family was very time consuming but I have most of it. The experience has been so depressing I have put off trying to complete it. I would like to learn the name of the legal help that Scott (above) has contracted. Or information from anyone else who has found competent legal assistance to navigate these difficult waters. Thank you. kevmon@nsknet.or.jp
Sebasbank says:
Just a correction.
China does not offer any kind of Permanent resident status, if you ignore the 30 or 50 executives of companies than have over 50M investment in China that are elligible to a 10 year “green card”, other foreigners, wether married to a local or not, can’t get any visas valid over 2 years.
You might consider Hong Kong or Macau as China, which offers PR after 7 years, but this does not give you the right to even travel to Mainland China, as you still need to apply for a China visa.
Taiwan, on the other hand (if you consider it as the real China) does offer PR (as long as you stay 185 days within the country every year).
In the case of Taiwan, the naturalization process is even more funny, you have to become stateless, and if your application is acepted you will be given a “resident”status for up to 5 years (not citizenship), you will have to remain in Taiwan for a full year (as a stateless resident) to be eligible to gain citizenship. If you leave the country with a “laisser paser”during the first year, you will have to wait a couple of years more before becoming a citizen of Taiwan, efectivelly making you stateless for 2,3 or more years.
After all, Japan is not that bad then 🙂
— How awful. I understand countries wanting to test the degree of commitment to an adopted society in their candidates, but requiring them to be Stateless should be rendered unlawful under international law. Everyone has the right to one nationality. Forcing them to give it up and put themselves at great risk during unforeseen life events is just heartless and cruel ijime.
Kaoru says:
Just to reiterate what’s been said several times above concerning becoming stateless as a condition, this ONLY applies to candidates from countries that have a provisional renunciation system in place. The UK has such a system, so I was required to renounce (and prove it) before they’d send the papers off for approval. This was back in 2005. Naturally I voiced my concerns to the officer in charge (who was very reasonable and professional) and he explained that the UK was one of many countries with such a system, and that the renunciation is conditional on the candidate receiving a new nationality within 6 months. So the renunciation process is more like a escrow system, and technically wouldn’t come into effect until after the application is approved. At no point would you be stateless in any more than a purely anecdotal sense.
“At no point would you be stateless in any more than a purely anecdotal sense.” OK this makes more sense…
I am really looking forward to seeing the day when Japan accepts multiple citizenships. The idea that you have to swear “loyalty” to one country (and only one!) is so… archaic. But that’s another debate.
Robert Flynn says:
Sendaiben: “Singapore (and Hong Kong) are examples of countries that seem similar to Japan while being in effect much more welcoming.”
Hong Kong is not a country. You can’t naturalize there unless you want to become a citizen of China (Yes it happens, though rare. Google Mike Rowse). You can be a permanent resident after seven years, which is great as far as it goes. Hong Kong people, particularly ethnic Chinese, are a mishmash of nationalities, from various classes of citizenship conferred by the UK – for most, this means they are very much not full British citizens, and never will be – to citizens of China, and then of course to those who went out and procured citizenship of other countries once it was established (1984) that Hong Kong was going back to China.
If Hong Kong is your bag, by all means go for it, but do find out a little more about it before you go jumping to conclusions. And if you’re considering living there, don’t make the mistake of assuming you can just swap a large country like Japan for a tiny enclave like Hong Kong without noticing some major differences – housing, personal transportation (if you get my drift), travel, culture, shopping, pastimes, etc.
And in some ways, yes Hong Kong is wonderful, cosmopolitan, and multicultural. In others, it is exceptionally monocultural. Not Chinese. Cantonese.
“Singapore is a much more multicultural society, and becoming a citizen there is actually promoted.”
Not if you’re a maid. Have a look some time at the government-set rules that apply to them. Seriously, take a look.
And for the citizens/residents of Singapore, there are plenty of websites dealing with “maid problems”. You will quickly notice from reading a few that in “cosmopolitan” Singapore, not all foreigners are alike. The following is a far from isolated example of the kind of attitude people have to their maids. Ask yourself, would _you_ like to be viewed as some kind of moronic half-human that can’t decide their own relationships? By your employer?
http://www.expatsingapore.com/forum/index.php?topic=34058.0
Singapore isn’t better than Japan, it just has a different set of ugly attitudes. The same goes for Hong Kong.
ril says:
“Singapore isn’t better than Japan, it just has a different set of ugly attitudes…”
I don’t know Singapore, but isn’t that ugly attitude you are pointing to coming from an expat in Singapore? So is it the immigrants that are the problem, then..?
Ril: “I don’t know Singapore, but isn’t that ugly attitude you are pointing to coming from an expat in Singapore? So is it the immigrants that are the problem, then..?”
The link I put up is consistent with my comment: “for the citizens/residents of Singapore…”. In other words, for the whole of the community that employs maids there. I will not be linkbombing this thread, so feel free to research this subject if you doubt my point. You’ll find discrimination from all the main ethnic Singaporean groups, and among expats.
Maids in Singapore are without doubt accorded second class status, both socially and officially. To take a single example of the latter, they’re required to be tested for pregnancy every six months. Consider that for a moment…and whether it would be appropriate to do that to other people. Apart from the gross invasion of privacy (and let’s face it, human rights), it carries the consequence of dismissal and deportation.
It’s hardly a minor issue, discrimination on this level, because maids are an essential part of Singapore society, they’re the reason a lot of households are able to have both parents working, and so in terms of numbers, discrimination is being applied to a huge group of people.
I encourage you to have a look at some of the official – in other words, government mandated – employment rules for maids. Then you’ll know Singapore a little better, and you can decide if immigrants are the problem…
— And now we’ll draw this tangent on Singapore to a close.
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Jim Di Griz on My Japan Times JBC column 117: The annual Top Ten for 2019 of human rights issues as they affected NJ residents in Japan
Jim Di Griz on Finance Minister Aso apologizes if ‘single-race nation’ remark (essentially denying Japan’s officially-recognized multiethnic society) was “misunderstood”
David Markle on Debito.org’s stance on the Carlos Ghosn Case, at last: A boardroom coup making “thin legal soup” that might shame Japan’s “hostage justice” judicial system into reform
TJJ on Debito.org’s stance on the Carlos Ghosn Case, at last: A boardroom coup making “thin legal soup” that might shame Japan’s “hostage justice” judicial system into reform
Finance Minister Aso apologizes if ‘single-race nation’ remark (essentially denying Japan’s officially-recognized multiethnic society) was “misunderstood”
My Japan Times JBC column 117: The annual Top Ten for 2019 of human rights issues as they affected NJ residents in Japan
Debito.org’s stance on the Carlos Ghosn Case, at last: A boardroom coup making “thin legal soup” that might shame Japan’s “hostage justice” judicial system into reform
My SNA Visible Minorities column 5: “Local Governments Classifying Japanese Citizens as Foreigners”, Dec. 16, 2019
“Every Foreign Guest must present passport for photocopying” at Hotel Crown Hills Kokura; Japanese Police up to same old unlawful tricks in Fukuoka Prefecture
SITYS: MH Fox translation: “Gangsters and foreigners have no rights”, book excerpt by former J prosecutor Ichikawa Hiroshi Ichikawa on jiadep.org
DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 27, 2019
Dr. Oussouby Sacko, African-born President of Kyoto Seika U, speaks at JALT, shows more blind spots re racism and tokenism
My SNA Visible Minorities Col 4: “The Xeno-Scapegoating of Japanese Halloween”, Nov 18, 2019
Dejima Award #7: Nagoya City officially classifies “Foreigner City Denizens” to include “naturalized persons, children of international marriages, people with foreign cultures or roots in their backgrounds”. Viva Eugenics.
Senaiho Update 3: Civil suit to be launched over school “Hair Police” forced-haircut bullying of student in Yamanashi JHS (UPDATED)
My Shingetsu News Agency Visible Minorities col 3: “Racial Profiling at Japanese Hotel Check-Ins”, October 23, 2019
Last word on NJ hotel passport checks (thanks to a lawyer): It’s as Debito.org has said for more than a decade: NJ Residents are exempt from showing any ID.
Reuters: Japanese police urged to take “light-touch” towards NJ during Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup. Yeah, sure.
Fujisankei-owned Japan Today posts article on “What to do if stopped by J police” for Rugby World Cup visitors, after consulting with Debito.org. Then does not acknowledge Debito.org and leaves out valuable advice
ICI Hotel Kanda unlawfully requires ID from all “foreign guests”, including NJ residents of Japan, as a precondition for stay; claims it’s demanded by Tokyo Metropolitan Police (UPDATED)
Sept. 19, 1999: 20th Anniversary of the Otaru Onsens Case today: Kindle eBooks “Japanese Only” and “Guidebook” are now downloadable for (almost) free
“Educating the Non-Japanese Underclass”, my Shingetsu News Agency “Visible Minorities” Col 2, Sept 17, 2019
Mainichi: “‘Prison camps for Brazilians’: Foreign kids in Japan being ushered into special education.” Perpetuates the Japan-“educated” NJ underclass
XY on being racially profiled–by a designated police task force looking for “bad foreigners”–for a traffic fender bender caused by someone else!
Kyoto JET Programme teacher TS on being made homeless due to xenophobic landlord, and Kyoto Board of Education (who found the apartment) refuses to help
DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER AUGUST 23, 2019
“Visible Minorities”: My first monthly column for the Shingetsu News Agency, Aug 19, 2019
Book “Embedded Racism in Japan”, acclaimed as “important, courageous and challenging” and “a must-read” by prominent academic journals, now discounted to $34.99 if bought through publisher directly, using promo code LEX30AUTH16
Japan Times JBC 116: “‘Love it or leave it’ is not a real choice” (on how Trump’s alienation of critics of color is standard procedure in Japan), July 24, 2019
Kyodo: Japan celebrates its South American Japanese diaspora. Praising them for doing what it complains NJ immigrants to Japan do. (Like take Nippon Foundation money to sterilize Peruvian indigenous peoples?)
US State Dept. 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Japan: Highlights for Debito.org Readers
Reuters: Yet another NJ detainee dies after hunger strike after 3 years in Japan “detention center”; time for a change in labeling
DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER JUNE 30, 2019
Mainichi: New “open door” visa programs violate basic NJ human rights (now including marriage and children), don’t resolve cruel detention centers, and still curb actual immigration and assimilation
Anonymous on Ethical Issues/Discriminatory practices being carried out by Todai and Kyodai against MEXT scholars
SCMP: Japan needs thousands of foreign workers to decommission Fukushima nuclear site. High irony alert: First blame NJ, then have them clean up your deadly messes.
Foreign Minister Kouno Taro asks world media to use Japanese ordering of names (Abe Shinzo, not Shinzo Abe) in overseas reportage. Actually, I agree.
SCMP: “Japan: now open to foreign workers, but still just as racist?” Quotes Debito.
Yomiuri: GOJ now requiring hospitals (unlawfully) demand Gaijin Cards from NJ as a precondition for medical treatment
Mark: New Discriminatory Policy by Rakuten Mobile Inc., now “stricter with foreigners”, refusing even Todai MEXT Scholarship Students cellphones
Kyodo: Half of foreigners in Tokyo experienced discrimination: ARIC survey
My Japan Times JBC 115: “Know your rights when checking in at an Airbnb” (Apr 17, 2019)
DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER APRIL 18, 2019
XY: Hotel calls cops on NJ Resident at check-in for not showing passport. And cops misinterpret laws. Unlawful official harassment is escalating.
Senaiho Update 2: School Bullying in Yamanashi JHS: How people who file complaints for official harassment get harassed back.
Record 2.73 million NJ residents in Japan in 2018; media also shoehorns in mention of NJ crime, without mention of NJ contributions
Fox on getting interrogated at Sumitomo Prestia Bank in Kobe. Thanks to new FSA regulations that encourage even more racial profiling.
“Gaikokujin Appetizer Charge” in Osaka Dotonbori restaurant? Debito.org investigates.
MC on new Minpaku Law and NJ check-ins: Govt. telling AirBnB hostels that “foreign guests” must have passports photocopied etc. Yet not in actual text of the Minpaku Law. Or any law.
NYT: Hair policing soon to be treated as “racial discrimination” by NYC Commission of Human Rights. Compare with JHS & HS Hair Police in Japan.
UPDATE: Senaiho on the stacked Board of Education committee investigating his Yamanashi jr. high school Hair Police complaint
Debito article in Shingetsu News Agency: “The Japan Times Becomes Servant to the Elite” (Feb 2, 2019)
Japan Times JBC 114 DIRECTOR’S CUT of “Top Ten for 2018” column, with links to sources
My Japan Times JBC 114 column: Top Ten Issues that Affected NJ Residents in 2018
“Nippon Claimed” multiethnic tennis star Osaka Naomi gets “whitewashed” by her sponsor. Without consulting her. Compare with singer Crystal Kay.
DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER JANUARY 27, 2019
Senaiho on criminal complaint against Jr High School “Hair Police” in Yamanashi
Pop Matters.com: Foreigners’ Rights in Japan: Interview with Activist and Writer Debito Arudou
Surprising survey results from Pew Research Center: Japan supportive of “immigration”
Happy New Year 2019! Annual Top Ten Human Rights list forthcoming
SendaiBen on “Anytime Fitness” Sports Gym Gaijin Carding him, and how he got them to stoppit
Japan Times officially sanitizes WWII “comfort women” and “forced laborers”. Pressure on my JT Just Be Cause column too.
BBC: Fukuoka Hilton Hotel refuses entry to Cuban Ambassador due to “US sanctions”. J authorities call action “illegal”. How quaint.
JT: GOJ Cabinet approves new NJ worker visa categories. Small print: Don’t bring your families. Or try to escape.
Nikkei: Japanese-Brazilians snub Tokyo’s diaspora residency program, attracting exactly ZERO applications after starting 3 months ago
Nikkei Asian Review: “In rural Japan, immigrants spark a rebirth”. An optimistic antidote to the regular media Gaijin Bashing
Fuji TV’s “Taikyo no Shunkan”: Reality TV targeting NJ as sport. Again.
Excellent Japan Times feature on dual citizenship in Japan: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy leaves many in the dark
SCMP: “Tennis queen Naomi Osaka a role model, says ‘Indian’ Miss Japan Priyanka Yoshikawa”. A little more complex than that.
DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 23, 2018
My Japan Times JBC Col 113: “Warning to Naomi Osaka: Playing for Japan can seriously shorten your career” (Sep. 19, 2018)
Naomi Osaka’s US Open victory over Serena Williams: Congratulations, but I don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Farrah on Hamamatsu’s city-sponsored “Gaijin Day” event: Problematic wording and execution, esp. given the history of Hamamatsu, and who attended.
JT/Kyodo: Immigration Bureau to be upgraded to Immigration Agency April 2019. Baby steps towards Immigration Ministry with actual immigration policy?
TJ on “Doing a Debito”: Gaijin Carded at Nagoya Airport and Airport Comfort Inn
Trevor Noah controversy on French World Cup team: “Africa won the World Cup”. Debito.org disagrees with French Ambassador’s protest letter.
GOJ sets targets for importing even more NJ temp labor, Kyodo editorializes on how badly Japan needs NJ
NYT: Dr. Sacko, Kyoto Seika University’s African-Born President, claims no experience of racism in Japan. Just of “being treated differently because he doesn’t look Japanese”. Huh?
Kyodo/Mainichi: Japan increases “nuclear security” before 2019 Rugby World Cup, 2020 Olympics (again, insinuating NJ are potential terrorists)
My Japan Times JUST BE CAUSE 112: “What about we stop it with the ‘whataboutism’?” (July 16, 2018)
DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER JULY 16, 2018
“Japanese Only” Osaka Nishinari-ku Izakaya Bar brags on Instagram about refusing foreign customers service for a laugh! (UPDATE: RETRACTED)
Japan lowering age of adulthood to from age 20 to 18 in 2022: Also means Japan’s dual nationals now must declare by age 20, not 22.
What I Learned Today #1: Hitler showed a documentary to Scandinavia, and got them to surrender in 1940
Reuters/Asahi: New “minpaku” law stifles homesharing with tourists, on grounds insinuating foreigners are “unsafe” for children walking to school! (or ISIS terrorists)
JT/JIJI: Japan plans new surveillance system to centralize NJ residents’ data. (Actually, it’s to justify police budgets as crime overall continues to drop.)
NHK World: Japan’s social media “rife” with fake rumors after recent Osaka quake, including foreigner “thefts and burglaries”, “looting convenience stores”. Again.
Japan Times: Preferential visa system extended to foreign 4th-generation Japanese [sic]: Allowing even NJ minors to build Olympic facilities!
JT and Nikkei: Japan to offer longer stays for “Trainees”, but with contract lengths that void qualifying for Permanent Residency
Sapporo Consadole player and former England Team soccer striker Jay Bothroyd refused entry to Hokkaido Classic golf course for being “not Japanese”
“Japanese Only” sign on Izakaya Bar “100” (Momosaku 百作) in Asakusa, Tokyo
“Japanese Only” diving and hiking tour company in Tokashikimura, Okinawa: “Begin Diving Buddies”
Mainichi: Zainichi Korean’s hate speech lawsuit ends in her favor. Bravo. But Mainichi plays word games, mistranslates “racial discrimination” (jinshu sabetsu) into “ethnic discrimination” in English!
“Japanese Only” tourist information booth in JR Beppu Station
Racial Profiling by Japanese Police in Tokyo Azabu: Uprizine’s Interview with Austin Freeman, a student at Temple University Japan
Japan Supreme Court enforces Hague Convention on Int’l Child Abductions (for Japanese claimants). Yet Sakura TV claims Hague is for “selfish White men” trying to entrap women from “uncivilized countries” as “babysitters”
Asahi: Setagaya Ward plans to battle inter alia racial, ethnic discrimination (in specific) in a local ordinance. Progressive steps!
Kyoto City Govt. subway advert has Visible Minority as poster girl for free AIDS/STDs testing. Wrong on many levels, especially statistically.
My Japan Times column JBC 111: “White Supremacists and Japan: A Love Story” (March 8, 2018)
DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER MARCH 7, 2018
Asahi: Japanese living abroad plan unprecedented lawsuit demanding dual citizenship. Bravo!
Wash Post: South Korea’s naturalized athletes in the PyeongChang Olympics; beyond treated as mercenaries?
Wash Post: “NBC apologizes to Koreans for Olympics coverage praising Japan’s brutal occupation”, rightly so
Books by Dr. ARUDOU Debito
Book IN APPROPRIATE: A novel of culture, kidnapping, and revenge in modern Japan
HANDBOOK for Newcomers, Migrants, and Immigrants to Japan, by Dr. ARUDOU, Debito and Higuchi Akira
JAPANESE ONLY By Dr. ARUDOU, Debito (English and Japanese)
JAPANESE ONLY By Dr. ARUDOU, Debito (Japanese)
"Embedded Racism"
"Pinprick Protests"
Anti-discrimination templates/meetings
Bad Business Practices
Bad Social Science
Blog Polls
Child Abductions
Cultural Issue
debito.org blog and website biz
Dejima Awards
Exclusionism
Fingerprinting, Targeting, Tracking NJ
G7/G8 Summits
Gaiatsu
GAIJIN HANZAI mag
Handbook for Newcomers
Hate Speech and Xenophobia
Immigration & Assimilation
Ironies & Hypocrisies
Issho.org/Tony Laszlo
Japan's "Blame Game"
Japanese police/Foreign crime
Japanese Politics
Labor issues
NJ legacies
NJ voices ignored, discounted & discredited
Otaru Onsen Lawsuit
Pension System
Problematic Foreign Treatment
Racist Images in Media
Shoe on the Other Foot Dept.
SITYS
Speech materials
Tangents
Unsustainable Japanese Society
What I Learned Today
Referential Sites
"Japanese Only" gallery of exclusionary places in Japan
"The Community in Japan" — a group for J residents to join and get advice
Activists' Page — site for people wanting to make Japan a better place for everyone
Blacklist of Japanese Universities
Donate to Debito.org
In a jam in Japan? "What to do if…" help site
List of all Dr. ARUDOU Debito's publications
Residents' Page — site for people who live or want to live in Japan
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Ultimates #6
4:55 PM Dominik Zine Comics, Dominik Zine, Marvel, Reviews, Ultimates Edit
(Warning: SPOILERS for Al Ewing’s Ultimates, and minor spoilers for the endings of Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars and Kieron Gillen’s Journey Into Mystery.)
PREVIOUSLY ON ULTIMATES:
The Ultimates team was formed to find solutions to ultimate problems of the cosmic variety. The current members are:
– Adam "Blue Marvel" Brashear – genius, anti-matter generator and Marvel’s Superman counterpart;
– Monica "Spectrum" Rambeau – living energy, former leader of the Avengers;
– Carol "Captain Marvel" Danvers – ex-Air Force Colonel, energy absorber/projector, current Commander of the Alpha Flight Space Station (Earth’s first line of defense against alien threats) and ambassador for planet Earth;
– King T’Challa of Wakanda – the Black Panther and the team’s financier;
– America Chavez – an inter-dimensional traveler from a utopian universe, a Young Avenger and an all-around badass.
The comic’s first arc dealt with the problem of Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds. Despite what you might expect from a superhero team book, their solution did not involve fighting him. Instead, they researched his background, how he came to be, and used that research to cure him of his hunger. Thus, Galactus became Lifebringer and begun to rebuild worlds he previously devoured.
Following that, the team decided to solve the mess that is the Marvel timeline, with its multitude of time-travelers and alternate futures. With the help of the current Giant-Man, Raz Malhotra, they modified a Quinjet and passed through the Negative Zone to get outside of the known universe and survey the damage done to the timestream. Along the way they encountered Blue Marvel’s nemesis, Conner "Anti-Man" Sims, his former friend turned insane superpowered murderer whom Brashear never managed to cure. Persuaded by his teammates, Blue Marvel agreed to let him take a spot on the Quinjet and made an attempt at helping him.
The team attempted and failed to get to their destination, saved only by the timely arrival of Lifebringer. He managed to dissuade them from doing anything to the timestream, showing them how it works. After sending them back home, Lifebringer came face to face with Eternity, the personification of the universe – all universes – bound by unknown forces. The former Devourer took it upon himself to discover who dared, and was capable, to do such a thing. Meanwhile, through the doorway left open by Lifebringer came the one remaining inhabitant of the Marvel universe, who didn’t return following Secret Wars. Thanos the Mad Titan is back with a new obsession – nothingness.
ULTIMATES #6 REVIEW
This issue is a slight change of pace (along with a change in the art style, courtesy of the guest artist, ODY-C’s Christian Ward). Instead of the team – unceremoniously dropped by Galactus at Alpha Flight Space Station – it focuses on Lifebringer himself. Last issue he took on the quest to find out who managed to shackle Eternity. But for now that mission has to wait, as Galactus is confronted by two of Marvel’s major cosmic entities, Master Order and Lord Chaos.
As we learn from them, the transformation from Devourer to Lifebringer has left everyone in the cosmic hierarchy uneasy and angry. Galactus was supposed to undergo this change – just not now. And those beings would like a return to the previous status quo, though for different reasons. Master Order believes everything has its place and should remain in it (he’s basically an angry comic book fan unable to accept any change to the status quo). Lord Chaos has simpler reasons – he just likes to watch Galactus devour planets, and he is furious that is no longer the case. Thus, they came to demand he return to his former role as the Devourer – by force, if need be. After all, they always were his betters in the hierarchy of cosmic entities.
So Galactus punches Master Order in the face.
Well, metaphorically, as their confrontation is basically a clash of ideas, and that punch is mostly a representation of Galactus’ new strength. Lord Chaos goes down even faster. While he is a being of disorder, he is also a part of a balanced system, and thus unable to ever truly be himself. Therefore, he is weak, compared to Master Order, who is always true to himself.
Having taken care of both beings, Lifebringer sends them with a message to others: Galactus will not regress. Not without a fight.
And that’s when he is contacted by Owen Reece, the Molecule Man, taking a break from rebuilding the multiverse with Reed Richards and family, and chilling in his own quasi-reality. Galactus is noticeably more cautious when dealing with him, constantly reminding himself that Reece, thanks to his power of controlling the building blocks of reality itself, could end him with a thought.
Reece sheds some light on a problem that might be connected to Eternity being chained up. If you’ve been following Jonathan Hickman’s runs on Avengers and New Avengers, you know that despite everyone’s attempts at stopping it, every universe ended. Then Secret Wars happened and everything was rebuilt. So did the omniverse die? Is this still the seventh cosmos, or already the eighth? The cosmic aspects are in discord over it. Some – Eternity’s children among them – believe the omniverse didn’t die. Others believe everything did die – but it shouldn’t have and everything should be back to the way it was, including Galactus himself.
Lastly, Molecule Man reminds Galactus of the myth of Sisyphus, condemned to push a boulder upon a mountainside, only for it to roll back down. Reece wonders if the bottom of the mountain is where the rock is supposed to be. Gravity, will of the gods, and tradition say that this is its place. This particular question is related to Galactus himself, as he fights against reverting to his former role. It is a fight both in-story, but also on a metatextual level. The Big Two love their status quo, and while something might change for a while, there’s always a risk that everything will be back to the way it was.
A few years back Kieron Gillen ended his Journey Into Mystery run by having Kid Loki be taken over by the older version of himself, as the endgame of the former’s plan to change. Gillen explained this decision on his blog, as influenced by this particular problem. No matter how long Kid Loki was allowed to be his joyful, roguish self, in the end he would be forced back into the role of the villain, unable to prove he can be anything else. Gillen was criticized for it, but he is right. Already we have Steve Rogers return to the role of Captain America, and while Sam Wilson still gets to use his shield, as soon as someone decides we only need one Cap, they’ll find a way to take it from him. Loki himself, if the recent The Mighty Thor issues are to be believed, has become a much less morally clear character, and there are fears this is the beginning of him going back to villainous ways.
Changing the status quo isn’t hard in comics. Keeping that change for a longer period of time – that’s the Sisyphean task for Galactus and Al Ewing. And if past attempts are anything to judge by – they are incredibly likely to fail.
Dominik Zine is a nerdy lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.
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Written by James M. Tate / 12/31/2011 / No comments / comedy , ensemble , garry marshall , michelle pheiffer , robert davi , tens
title: NEW YEARS EVE
cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro, Abigail Breslin
What director Robert Altman perfected… an ensemble cast carrying an entire film through a weaving in-and-out of several stories, some connected more than others but all enveloped in one main theme… Garry Marshall has ruined, twice. First with VALENTINE’S DAY, which followed a group of lovestrucks leading up to the Hallmark holiday – and now we have NEW YEAR’S EVE where a group of eclectic idiots await the New Year countdown in New York City… And unlike its cheesy predecessor, it’s not even fun to bag on. The special guest stars are introduced like members of THE LOVE BOAT: these include Michelle Pfeiffer, sadly looking far past her prime, as a depressed working gal who quits her job and with the help of flavor of the month Zac Efron, she’s given a tour of the city to accomplish her strange resolutions. Also on board is Hillary Swank as the person responsible for raising the New Year’s ball. Sara Jessica Parker as the mother of the now teenaged LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE actress Abigail Breslin, who longs to kiss her dreamboy at midnight. There’s Robert DeNiro in yet another “what’s he doing in this movie?” role as a dying man in a hospital; his last wish to go outside to make the countdown. Ashton Kutcher and “that girl from Glee” are stuck in an elevator, and wouldn’t you know it – she sings! Two couples race to have a baby on the New Year to win a contest. And Jon Bon Jovi plays himself – but with another name – as a rock star who’s ex girlfriend sulks around and… There’s really no use of setting up these stories since none of them amount to anything, and worst of all, they all begin with an assumption that we, as an audience, would care in the first place.
comedy, ensemble, garry marshall, michelle pheiffer, robert davi, tens
title: NEW YEARS EVE year: 2011 cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro, Abigail Breslin rating: * What director Robert Altman perfected...
Labels: comedy, ensemble, garry marshall, michelle pheiffer, robert davi, tens
Written by James M. Tate / 12/30/2011 / 1 Comment / daniel craig , neo noir , remake , rooney mara , suspense , tens
title: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
cast: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer
rating: ***
The first half of this intense, cerebral thriller, based on a novel made into a popular foreign film, hands off between two stories: one has a maligned reporter investigating the death of a young girl forty years earlier on an island inhabited by a rich and powerful family; the other a punk rock hacker tough chick dealing with a seedy government worker who doles out her allowance. The two leads, played by Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, are in fact connected from the beginning: she was hired to get the digs on his prior investigation that landed him in hot water. Eventually the two join up to solve the murder, or rather, disappearance of the young girl... and the real work begins. Director David Fincher piles on the right amount of Neo-Noir intensity, and although a particular rape scene might be a bit much for mainstream viewers, it pays off later. And after the two leads join up to tackle Craig's case they make for a unique contradictory duo: the dapper reporter and the rogue punker with that particular tattoo yet her real importance is how she can hack into computers with ease. But when their partnership turns sexual it seems forced and tacked-on: Although Rooney makes a desirably subliminal ingenue and Craig has that quiet tough guy thing going, together they have the sexual chemistry of Tom and Jerry. Other downfalls include a predictable turnout – both the killer and the fate of the victim can be seen from a mile off. And the last twenty minutes involving Craig’s redemption as a journalist thanks to his wily partner… after the main story ends with a rather clichéd torture scene followed by a quickie road chase… feels like Fincher didn’t quite know how, or when, to end the film. But the tense, intriguing buildup is everything here: and with darkly foreboding scenery and soundtrack connected like an esthetically morbid Siamese twin, it’s a unique film that, whether you’re familiar with the story or not, will mesmerize… if you let it.
daniel craig, neo noir, remake, rooney mara, suspense, tens
title: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO year: 2011 cast: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer rating: *** The first half of this i...
Labels: daniel craig, neo noir, remake, rooney mara, suspense, tens
Written by James M. Tate / 12/28/2011 / No comments / john goodman , oscar nominated 2012 , tens
title: THE ARTIST
cast: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo
rating: ****
Silent films, as we all know, are a thing of the past… Yet with all the noisy, cliché ridden big budget flicks lately, something like THE ARTIST is long overdue. Story centers on a silent film era swashbuckler George Valentin, who mugs his way through his signature movies like a true… artist. He’s a bit carried away with himself but isn’t smug about it: He’s proudly on top of his game and that’s that. Enter the gorgeous Peppy Miller, who, as a climbing bit player/extra, lives up to her first name with classic beauty to match. She winds up the dance partner in one of Valentin’s movies, and thus begins a subliminal love story that words needn’t explain in this unique film by writer/director Michel Hazanavicius that uses title cards, melodramatic music, and facial expressions to replace dialog. A few offbeat scenes that involve Valentin – after Talking Pictures i.e. Talkies make his career defunct – hallucinating fictional characters and hearing actual noises seem too much a TWILIGHT ZONE episode. But the movie never strays too far from the simple story of a man past his prime and a woman who’s not only beginning to shine, but with a “secret” that might give our hero a second chance… if he can get past his own navel. Familiar faces include John Goodman as a Hal Roach type director, James Cromwell as a faithful butler, and Penelope Anne Miller as Valentin’s bitter wife. But the show truly belongs to imports Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, whose energetic turns are splendid gifts for classic film buffs: they not only convey every emotion possible but dance like the actors and actresses from the golden age of cinema: without seeming like an imitation and/or a homage to the real thing. But the best performer might just be Uggo as Valentin’s trick-laden terrier, embodying his on-screen co-star, off-screen best friend, and much more. If there were only an Oscar for animals, he’d beat that War Horse by a long shot.
john goodman, oscar nominated 2012, tens
title: THE ARTIST year: 2011 cast: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo rating: **** Silent films, as we all know, are a thing of the past… ...
Labels: john goodman, oscar nominated 2012, tens
Written by James M. Tate / 12/27/2011 / No comments / cameron crowe , matt damon , quirky , scarlett johansson , tens
year: 2011 cast: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson rating: ***
Here's a farfetched premise remarkably based on a true story that includes a good cast, great tunes (including Bob Dylan), and loads of the usual sunny optimism ala director Cameron Crowe to make even the biggest flaws not matter.
Matt Damon, six months after losing his wife, takes his two children – a sweet little girl and a brooding teenage boy – to find a new house in a new town. Turns out their dream home is on the property of... a zoo!
Most of the film deals with the restoration and coping with the sporadic obstacles including an uptight inspector who could shut everything down; an aged sick tiger; a dangerous bear; and worst of all, dwindling funds.
Scarlett Johansson is a nice distraction, serving more than the obvious love-interest. As chief of operations and the only real expert on board, she’s the one character who keeps it all moving.
It’s fun seeing the zoo morph from a shamble to the real thing, but overlong scenes dealing with the teenage son – too deep and honest to be realistic – ruins the overall flow... As do moments when the little girl tries way too hard to win the cutie pie of the year award.
But with all the people and animals on board, it’s really Damon’s solo venture: In dealing with the memory of his wife while battling constant snags that could keep his dreams from coming true, he's a down-home protagonist to not only care about, but root for.
cameron crowe, matt damon, quirky, scarlett johansson, tens
year: 2011 cast: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson rating: *** Here's a farfetched premise remarkably based on a true story that i...
Labels: cameron crowe, matt damon, quirky, scarlett johansson, tens
Written by James M. Tate / 12/26/2011 / No comments / drama , oscar nominated 2012 , steven spielberg , tens
title: WAR HORSE
cast: Jeremy Irvine, Niels Arestrup, Celine Buckens
In 1979's THE BLACK STALLION, it took only the first glance by a kid and a horse to build a connection that would carry through the entire film. That kind of emotional synergy is not only lacking in this old school epic directed by Steven Spielberg, but is practically nonexistent. We begin with a horse that, after being auctioned and sold to a poor farmer who spent more than it's worth, is tamed by his son to plow the fields: even though it’s not built for this kind of work. Spielberg spends too much attention on the dusky skyline, the searing soundtrack, and the gorgeous scenery that the characters seem like props in the background. When World War I breaks out, the horse is sold – along with a black horse that seems its counterpart – and we’re handed off to a new owner: a young British soldier equally entranced as the father and son. The battles scenes are filmed wonderfully, the camera rolling with the action as bombs blast like they’re right behind us – but once again, the characters get lost in the visual spectacle. But it’s when the horses find harbor in a small French farm, hidden by a wise old man (Niels Arestrup) and his beautiful granddaughter (Celine Buckens), that the only real connection occurs. In one suspenseful scene, the girl hides the mares as German officers arrive to take what they need, and we finally have a human story. Meanwhile, the farmer's son, and supposedly the main protagonist, is thrown back into the movie as a soldier in the front lines… And although his battle scenes are somewhat intense, where’s the plot we paid for? If this were about the young girl and the creature she risked her life to protect, it would have been a much better, more meaningful film. But the main problem is the horse itself – although being an extremely talented “actor,” as a character with so many captivated owners, the relationship with its original family means very little by the end.
drama, oscar nominated 2012, steven spielberg, tens
title: WAR HORSE year: 2011 cast: Jeremy Irvine, Niels Arestrup, Celine Buckens rating: ** In 1979's THE BLACK STALLION, it took...
Labels: drama, oscar nominated 2012, steven spielberg, tens
Written by James M. Tate / 12/25/2011 / No comments / arthouse , indy , jean smart , nineties , sarah polley , stephen rae , tani cohen
title: GUINEVERE
cast: Sarah Polley, Stephen Rae, Jean Smart
rating: ***1/2
At last, a LOLITA for modern audiences and not treated like your typical male fantasy. Stephen Rae, possessing a sly charm tucked within a tragic countenance, is perfect in the role as a struggling artist/photographer named Connie who takes in young female “students,” referring to them as Guinevere. Sarah Polley is Harper, a melancholy rich girl who lacks enthusiasm for life and especially art, until meeting the free-spirited photographer at her sister’s wedding. She needs guidance from an experienced mentor and most importantly, a place to crash, where she gets lessons in love and possibly becoming a future artist, contrary to what she considers a boring, mathematical lineage. Her uptight suburban family’s dissociated from the ineffectually hip city folk: especially the mother played by Jean Smart who – in one scene as she tears Connie apart in a viciously condescending monotone – practically steals the show. And although it’s not always apparent what Connie has over Harper and the string of former students, including Gina Gershon and Sandra Oh, and his health decline is a bit rushed towards the end, Rae plays the character so genuinely the flaws don’t matter: it’s a beautifully filmed character-study about life, love, art, and understanding where each one belongs.
arthouse, indy, jean smart, nineties, sarah polley, stephen rae, tani cohen
title: GUINEVERE year: 1999 cast: Sarah Polley, Stephen Rae, Jean Smart rating: ***1/2 At last, a LOLITA for modern audiences and not tr...
Labels: arthouse, indy, jean smart, nineties, sarah polley, stephen rae, tani cohen
Written by James M. Tate / 12/24/2011 / No comments / comedy , jason bateman , olivia wilde , ryan reynolds , tens
THE CHANGE-UP
title: THE CHANGE-UP
cast: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Olivia Wilde
The FREAKY FRIDAY template is used in the raunchy comedy genre: involving a mild-mannered suburban father/workaholic lawyer Jason Bateman changing bodies with his womanizing actor best friend Ryan Reynolds. We don’t get to know each character’s contrary lifestyles, or personalities therein, to merit a significant change when it occurs (they both drunkenly pee in a fountain at the same time), which is important since the entire plot resides on how each guy reacts to living a different lifestyle. The jokes try too hard to push the how-far-can-we-go envelope, making each moment involving their uncomfortable circumstances – Bateman’s hunted by his sexy secretary while Reynolds changes diapers and lands deals in the office – seem secondary to the dialog's shock value. But while Jason Bateman never enjoys his “vacation” taking on the single man’s life he so whined about during the first ten minutes, Reynolds, after a while, does seem genuinely contented with his neglected wife. It’s when they switch back to normal, and the envelope is sealed, we realize the movie wasn’t completely pointless… these poor fellas went through hell and back, after all... but is it worth sitting through all over again?
comedy, jason bateman, olivia wilde, ryan reynolds, tens
title: THE CHANGE-UP year: 2011 cast: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Olivia Wilde rating: ** The FREAKY FRIDAY template is used in the ...
Labels: comedy, jason bateman, olivia wilde, ryan reynolds, tens
Written by James M. Tate / 12/21/2011 / 1 Comment / action , blockbuster , franchise , jeremy renner , sequel , suspense , tens , tom cruise
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL
year: 2011 cast: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner rating: ****
If you thought the new Superman movie hasn’t hit theaters yet, think again...
Tom Cruise, returning in the fourth installment of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, needs only a cape to be a comic book hero. And thankfully, all the extraordinarily grandiose action occurs within a tight plot and the rest of his team... including Paula Patton as a smart and gorgeous agent, Simon Pegg as the comic relief hacker, and Jeremy Renner as an ace who doesn’t show all his cards at once... add equally to the proceedings.
Beginning with a jailbreak from a Russian prison and ending with a good old fashion nuclear crisis, the action never stops – but there are enough pockets of downtime to reboot the characters, and the audience, onto the next level. And it takes all four members working overtime to catch up with a villain named Hendricks, who, in triggering a bomb in Russia blamed on the IMF, skips around with the maligned, desperate team – more covert than ever having been stripped of their status – close on his trail.
A standout segment occurs in Dubai within, and outside of, the tallest building in the world – fitting to the tallest tale in the world, but one that, with each second metered in a calculating, suspenseful precision, will keep even the most stringent fans of the spy genre fulfilled despite the fact it’s more escapist fantasy than a legitimate espionage.
action, blockbuster, franchise, jeremy renner, sequel, suspense, tens, tom cruise
year: 2011 cast: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner rating: **** If you thought the new Superman movie hasn ’t hit theaters yet,...
Labels: action, blockbuster, franchise, jeremy renner, sequel, suspense, tens, tom cruise
Written by James M. Tate / 12/19/2011 / No comments / bio , kenneth branagh , marilyn monroe , tens
title: MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
cast: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh
At this point, Marilyn Monroe is known for just about everything except movies. Her image alone represents beauty as something eternal; since she died young, perfection is all we’re left with. So here’s a film about Monroe the actress, chosen by British icon Laurence Olivier to co-star in his 1957 comedy THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL. The first half has Monroe faltering and floundering, unable to get any line right – and by the end she’s stealing the picture, supposedly causing Olivier to return to the stage… But where’s the arc? Well it’s that middle ground the film (based on a memoir) is named after – the week long friendship between Marilyn and Colin Clark, played with noble naiveté by Eddie Redmayne, who, from a rich family and interested in show business, lands a job as third assistant director. Through his awestruck eyes we see Marilyn, not only as a timid starlet overmatched against the British dynamo, but a sweet natured, pill-popping victim of circumstance. The relationship between Marilyn and Clark lacks depth, and seems more of a fantastical valentine to a beautiful mirage than a genuine relationship, or a substantial film bio, which, if more attention was given to Kenneth Branagh as the frustrated Olivier trying to harness Monroe into his kind of performer, this would be more of. But Michelle Williams’s portrayal of the vulnerable bombshell makes everything work despite the fact that, being no match to the real Norma Jean esthetically, her performance becomes more than a lookalike/imitation: she really gets inside and pulls something out.
bio, kenneth branagh, marilyn monroe, tens
title: MY WEEK WITH MARILYN year: 2011 cast: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh rating: *** At this point, Marilyn Monroe...
Labels: bio, kenneth branagh, marilyn monroe, tens
title: YOUNG ADULT
cast: Charlize Theron
rating: *1/2
A selfish, beautiful, irate, desperate, greedy, cunning woman returns to her small town to snare her high school sweetheart Buddy Slade, who’s proudly married with a newborn baby. Charlize Theron is Mavis Gary, the hardened, boozing author of a young adult series with just enough bitterness to make for a fun anti-heroine. But when she meets a former schoolmate at a bar… an overweight geek who was beaten and crippled for being homosexual even though he wasn’t… the movie hits a wall way too soon. Although Patton Oswalt plays tubby underdog Matt Freehauf with sincerity, his character, in constantly warning Mavis about her plan to break up Buddy’s family, and then their comfortable drinking kinship thereafter, deletes any spontaneous edge she’d have otherwise. The intriguing plotline becomes a simplistic character-study of two polar opposites complaining about their lives – and the film goes nowhere. Even when Mavis makes her moves on Buddy Slade, who, played by Patrick Wilson, looks good but hardly has a pulse, it never seems she has anything to really gain or lose, nor is there a substantial motivation for her actions. Then the very ending, as dark comedy turns to uncomfortable melodrama when Mavis confronts – and is confronted by – Buddy's wife and her friends during an outdoor party, the film fizzles into nowhere: leading to one of the grossest sex scenes in cinematic history... followed by an early morning conversation that could have succeeded in a darkly humorous epilogue if only director Jason Reitman, or writer Diablo Cody, knew what kind of movie they were making in the first place.
charlize theron, dark comedy, tens
title: YOUNG ADULT year: 2011 cast: Charlize Theron rating: *1/2 A selfish, beautiful, irate, desperate, greedy, cunning woman retur...
Labels: charlize theron, dark comedy, tens
Written by James M. Tate / 12/16/2011 / No comments / action , jared harris , jude law , mystery , robert downey jr. , sequel , suspense , tens
title: SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS
cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris
rating: **1/2
The usual template for an action-packed sequel is to outdo the original with more explosions, fights, etc., and although there are some of these elements, mostly we have an 18th century cold-war thriller where Holmes and Watson take on the evil Professor Moriarty, played by a sneering Jared Harris, who, through bombing buildings, wants to ignite a sort of World War III… only thing is, there hasn’t been a First World War yet. But that’s how it all plays out: in a James Bond meets Tom Clancy meets modern day headlines with a few good fights and not enough of what makes this new Sherlock Holmes, and the original Inspector created by author Conan Doyle, work: the steel-trapped brain that can figure out anything to solve a crime. There’s little mystery involved since we quickly learn the intentions of the bad guy – to start a few fake battles to cause a real big one – and the bickering relationship between Holmes and Watson has dwindled considerably, making it less humorous but ultimately allowing Jude Law’s Watson to be more than a straight man, especially during the climax. Robert Downey Jr. displays the essential offbeat charm but seems to be holding back at times. And while Rachel McAdams provides a mere cameo, Noomi Repace steps in as a fortune teller whose brothers have joined Moriarty to… well that’s all part the plot and, while somewhat convoluted and lacking the sparse punch of the original, there remains that essential string tugging the audience along to the next suspense-filled obstacle: too bad there’s not enough of them this time around. And those narrated brainstorms during perilous situations... careening us back to the action at hand... seem more forced than imperative. But the stuff that does work, like a fight on a train, makes for a pretty good time.
action, jared harris, jude law, mystery, robert downey jr., sequel, suspense, tens
title: SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS year: 2011 cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris rating: **1/2 The usual template...
Labels: action, jared harris, jude law, mystery, robert downey jr., sequel, suspense, tens
Written by James M. Tate / 12/12/2011 / No comments / katy kurtzman , michael landon , seventies , TV
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: THE MUSIC BOX
Katy Kurtzman
title: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: THE MUSIC BOX
cast: Melissa Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Katy Kurtzman
That infamous rich bitch Nellie Oleson has a music box and poor little Laura Ingalls really, really wants it. It’s that simple? You wish! Laura, after swiping the box from Nellie’s bedroom during a private club meeting, hides it in her barn. And whenever needing a “fix,” she goes inside and listens to the chiming, metronomic tune that, after hearing it a dozen times, might drive you crazy. It sure does Laura… as the tune permeates into surreal, creepy, guilt-driven nightmares. The standout guest star is Katy Kurtzman, who in the next season would play a young Caroline Ingalls… Here she’s a sweet stuttering prairie girl named Annie who Nellie keeps from joining her club because… she’s just not normal enough, in Nellie's estimation, to belong. During one scene Nellie recites an impromptu poem that seems written by Mohammed Ali: “A chicken can squawk and a butterfly can flutter… But Anna can’t talk… All she can do is stutter!” This (and other classic Bad Nellie moments) makes for a classic episode: Especially after she catches Laura with the Music box and blackmails her into a form of mental slavery. And as Laura conceals the truth, she breaks poor Anna’s heart... All leading to a climactic emotional scene that proves Katy Kurtzman, who stutters and cries at the same time, was one talented child actress.
katy kurtzman, michael landon, seventies, TV
Katy Kurtzman title: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: THE MUSIC BOX year: 1977 cast: Melissa Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Katy Kurtzman rat...
Labels: katy kurtzman, michael landon, seventies, TV
Written by James M. Tate / 12/11/2011 / No comments / action , adventure , andy serkis , computer animated , daniel craig , peter jackson , steven spielberg , tens
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
year: 2011 voices: Andy Serkis, Jamie Bell rating: ***1/2
Steven Spielberg’s computer animated adventure about a young boy Tintin, his little white dog Snowy, and an endearingly drunken Captain Haddock might be too much of a good thing – but it’s a good thing nonetheless.
The frantic action is non-stop: from the minute Tintin sees a model ship called THE UNICORN, he’s dead set on buying it. But a few seedy characters want it for themselves and the daring young investigative reporter needs to find out why – all having to do with the lineage of the underdog alcoholic Captain, held hostage at sea by the main antagonist: a greedy yet cunningly classy villain named Sakharine, much like Belloq from Spielberg’s RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, which this movie tries hard to emulate by wielding a constant handing-off of perilous escapades.
The problem is we don’t get to know any of the characters enough (who'd be more interesting if they were actually human) to really care about them, or take part emotionally in their quest: which is too hackneyed to sustain genuine interest, although the dialog sets up each situation well enough and there are a few semi-witty moments by two keystone cops.
But the best scenes involve Haddock, voiced wonderfully by Andy Serkis, recalling his father’s pirate ship battles: the imagery of the tale surrounding the scene as he talks. And the rambunctious Snowy merely provides a peripheral mascot to the action, yet he’s a character worth loving for no other reason than being furry and cute.
As for Tintin, he’s got a heart for adventure but why exactly? Well perhaps it doesn’t matter… If you want two hours of nothing but thrills, this will do it for you. With the constantly moving camera gliding in, out, up and around like a ghost on pep pills, it feels more like producer Peter Jackson’s baby than Spielberg’s. But it’s the John Williams score, and the feeling of being young again, that gives the iconic director his signature throughout.
action, adventure, andy serkis, computer animated, daniel craig, peter jackson, steven spielberg, tens
year: 2011 voices : Andy Serkis, Jamie Bell rating: ***1/2 Steven Spielberg’s computer animated adventure about a young boy Tintin, h...
Labels: action, adventure, andy serkis, computer animated, daniel craig, peter jackson, steven spielberg, tens
year: 2011 cast: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana, Jessica Barden, Paris Arrowsmith rating: ***
The opening and closing sequences, mirroring each other in content and closure, envelope this unique action/suspense in such a clever fashion you’ll forget the flaws.
Our taut story centers on a teenage girl, Hanna, raised in the snowy Finland wilderness, displaying cunning agile as she hunts deer and learns from her mentor/father played by Eric Bana, making the most of a small (but important) amount of screen time.
But soon enough, wary of her claustrophobic, contained anonymity, Hanna decides to venture into civilization, warned she’d be hunted by federal agents – one in particular played by Cate Blanchett, as coolly calculating as the titular protagonist sans the chaste sympathy of youth.
Hanna’s adventure is tight and suspenseful as she, after a seemingly easy yet downright bloody escape – dad trained her to get out of any situation – travels across Europe with deadly agents on her tail. The metronomic techno soundtrack not only works as a hypnotic score but seems a robotic muse keeping the daring phenom alive and kicking to the next venture.
Along the way she meets… and surreptitiously joins up with… a family consisting of father, mother, son, and teenage daughter (smitten with Hanna's rogue naivete), and the film hits a wall – that Hanna smashes through once the agents tail her again.
Blanchett displays the right amount of detached evil to counter our heroine's equally determined quest to survive, and more importantly, the persistence to discover her true origins which, once disclosed, makes things clearer for an audience that, having suspended disbelief this long, are willing to accept just about anything.
Saoirse Ronan (THE LOVELY BONES) is great in the lead role: with narrowed eyes and the right amount of tomboyish beauty, she's a sublime mix of naïve innocence and lethal cunning. Not a perfect film, but it should keep you interested.
RENT HANNA ON NETFLIX
action, lesbian, saoirse ronan, suspense, tens
year: 2011 cast: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana, Jessica Barden, Paris Arrowsmith rating: *** The opening and closing seque...
Labels: action, lesbian, saoirse ronan, suspense, tens
GREYSTOKE: THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, LORD OF THE APES
year: 1984 rating: **
While being a more faithful rendition of Tarzan, the ape lord created by Edgar Rice Burroughs turned into an endearing airhead in older films, the brooding saga, made by CHARIOTS OF FIRE director Hugh Hudson, ultimately misses the vine.
The prologue introduces us to the gorillas in their African jungle habitat during a volcanic eruption, seeming like a creation of sorts. The simians (created by Rick Baker) are esthetically pleasing but all their screams get annoying, and they never feel like characters to invest time in.
The humans in England are a bit more deserving our attention… Ralph Richardson, in his final screen role, plays the Earl of Greystoke: consisting of a giant mansion sprawled along a plush countryside. His son Jack, discontented with easy living, takes his wife to Africa where, after a shipwreck (that we unfortunately never witness) is stranding in the jungle and… Let’s cut to the chase: the parents die and their infant is raised by apes. The scenes with the young Tarzan (who’s never referred to as such) are wonderful looking, but the coming-of-ape montage cuts so sporadically we never feel he’s in any danger, nor is an effective kinship established with his new parental figures. He grows to be Christopher Lambert, with narrowed eyes and swiftly cunning agility, but he seems more posing the role than performing it.
Eventually Tarzan aka John Clayton is taken by Ian Holm, the surviving member of a massacred hunting party – after much too easy tutoring lessons to make him more human – to be with his grandfather in England. Here’s where a real story could have sunk in... but the scenes skip around so much it's like half a film – and a long one at that. As Lambert makes noises like lions, and leaps around bedrooms like an ape, it often feels more parody than serious; and Andie McDowell's dubbed voice (by Glenn Close) is preposterously distracting.
All in all, our titular hero’s never successfully established as the lord of the jungle or a man trying to find his place in England. Even Ian Holm tells Clayton to realize he’s human in order to fit into the jungle or civilization. Too bad for the audience he never really does.
christopher lambert, eighties, glenn close, hugh hudson, ian holm, robert towne
year: 1984 rating: ** While being a more faithful rendition of Tarzan, the ape lord created by Edgar Rice Burroughs turned into an endea...
Labels: christopher lambert, eighties, glenn close, hugh hudson, ian holm, robert towne
A NEGATIVE REVIEW OF THE OVERLONG/OVERRATED 'CASINO'
year: 1995 cast: Robert De Niro rating: **1/2
During the first act, as we learn the intricate ins-and-outs of a 1970's Las Vegas CASINO… taking us so close inside the operation we feel both part of the roulette tables and the dice rolling across them... it's intentionally created in the same flowing biographical fashion director Martin Scorsese showed us with an entire mob's operation in GOODFELLAS...
But then something happens, or stops happening, or both: The main character, Sam "Ace" Rothstein, played by Robert De Niro, is a man of mind, not action. He’s to gambling what Scorsese is to directing… a natural… and the casino itself becomes an absorbing character: we feel pulse of the machines, and the men behind the scenes, keeping the moneymaking beast alive while protecting it from cheaters, con artists, and crooked politicians.
Poster too good for the movie, fella
Enter Joe Pesci as Nicky, Rothstein’s childhood friend: the muscle who is familiar and cocky, dangerous and ultimately undependable. And there's the flavor of the month, Sharon Stone, as Sam’s trophy girlfriend turned wife, Ginger, who becomes the apple of his eye – and soon, for a man who seemed so infallible, nothing matters but trusting a woman who repeatedly warned him not to.
The movie hits a wall with this escalating-downhill relationship between Sam and Ginger, but it was faltering beforehand – De Niro, Pesci, and some of the other shady characters, although colorful and formidable, aren’t interesting enough to really care about – unlike GOODFELLAS, RAGING BULL or TAXI DRIVER, they all seem more written than real.
The duel-narration here... while beautiful in GOODFELLAS between Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco... works here and it doesn’t: De Niro’s by-the-numbers account is fine in the beginning, giving us a firsthand account of how things run, but it becomes a rambling safety net for the lack of a streamlined plot: especially when his business luck turns sour.
Another fan poster, or something
Meanwhile Joe Pesci’s counterpoint is completely unnecessary, sounding like a mafia goon's version of Bugs Bunny, filling us with details better left for the audience to figure on their own (and given his character's fate... is the narration recorded in Satan's private broadcasting station?)...
Then the last half runs itself completely ragged: juggling the dull doomed love story straight out of a nighttime soap, and Ace and Nicky's edgy friendship that meanders to a predictably violent conclusion (and they never seemed that tight to begin with for the eventual unraveling to really matter).
If Scorsese and scriptwriter Nicholas Pillegi stuck closer to the Casino, perhaps CASINO, and its characters, might have had more purpose. What we’re left with is too much style without substance.
(And has there ever been a character more deserving a bloody death than James Wood's pimp/hustler who not only repeatedly steals Stone from DeNiro, but kidnaps, and continually threatens, his daughter? While we witness the immense, overboard bloodshed of everyone else, James comes out with a few bruises. What the hell were they thinking?!)
gangster, joe pesci, martin scorsese, melodrama, mob, nineties, robert deniro, sharon stone
year: 1995 cast: Robert De Niro rating: **1/2 During the first act, as we learn the intricate ins-and-outs of a 1970's Las Vegas CAS...
Labels: gangster, joe pesci, martin scorsese, melodrama, mob, nineties, robert deniro, sharon stone
Written by James M. Tate / 12/09/2011 / No comments / comedy , jonah hill , tens
title: THE SITTER
cast: Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell
During the opening credits, the name David Simkins doesn't appear anywhere... He's the writer of ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING, the 1987 comedy starring Elizabeth Shue as a reluctant, frustrated teen who takes the kids downtown to help a friend; then gets chased by bad guys and... Everything else that this movies imitates. Jonah Hill wields his usual mellow guy with stunned sarcasm but his signature dry humor's all dress up with nowhere to go. Most of the time he's putting up with each child's annoying personality: the little girl wears makeup, sings dirty lyrics, and sprays perfume in his mouth; her neurotic older (but still young) brother takes pills to feel normal; and an adopted Puerto Rican boy blows up toilets. From one dull situation to the next, it never seems the characters are in any real danger, even though a maniacal drug dealer, overacted by Sam Rockwell, wants them all dead. And the biggest (unintentional) laugh occurs when an extremely gorgeous girl admits she's had a crush on Hill since high school, and even acts nervous around him. Makes you wonder, is the overweight actor playing himself: a millionaire movie star? This is perhaps one of the worst comedies in a long time, going in one ear and out the other: like a bullet from a shotgun. And a particular scene where Hill gives one of the kids advice on life is so politically-correct, you'll long for days when comedies were meant for laughs, not agendas.
comedy, jonah hill, tens
title: THE SITTER year: 2011 cast: Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell rating: * During the opening credits, the name David Simkins doesn't ...
Labels: comedy, jonah hill, tens
JAWS CLONE IN THE SAND ALA BLOOD BEACH
This beach-set horror/suspense is yet another JAWS clone in the spirit of ALLIGATOR and PIRANHA, and has all the elements including the Sheriff, his trusty gal, and an airhead deputy.
Throw in some established character-actors like Burt Young, Otis Young, and John Saxon as politically-strapped law officials and you have yourself a low-budget thriller that works despite itself.
The random sand-slurping deaths are entertaining as hell, and there's a semi intriguing mystery involving what exactly is underneath. Marianna Hill, Fredo's trophy wife from THE GODFATHER, makes for a terrific screeching ingenue, and BIG WEDNESDAY alumni Darrell Fetty's unexpected death scene (pictured) is one of the best in low-low budget cinema.
burt young, darrell fetty, eco-horror, eighties, john saxon
1981 rating: *** This beach-set horror/suspense is yet another JAWS clone in the spirit of ALLIGATOR and PIRANHA, and has all the elem...
Labels: burt young, darrell fetty, eco-horror, eighties, john saxon
Written by James M. Tate / 12/07/2011 / No comments / action , jude law , mystery , robert downey jr. , zeroes
title: SHERLOCK HOLMES
cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the real Sherlock Holmes, consisting of stories and novels written about the great British sleuth who could lasso facts like most people breathe, is not only spinning in his grave – he’s doing karate kicks. Okay, well, there are tons of liberties taken to change the lanky cerebral Inspector into an ass kicking, pit-fighting lunatic, but it’s a lot of fun. Robert Downey Jr. has the right amount of askew charisma in playing the fanatical Holmes, who would be lost without his better half… that being Doctor Watson, just as calm and calculated as his boss is spontaneous and quirky. But the rogue Inspector can figure out just about anything in seconds flat, and that’s the most fun: the lightning-speed fashion Downey gathers facts and deduces clues: about both crimes and people. But this is somewhat hindered by a heavy that, being a wraith-like leader of a Satanic cult, feels more of a world-dominating Bond villain, providing less mystery for our heroes who spend the most time fighting antagonists like revved up action stars. But the fights flow nicely, and the gorgeous Olde England location feels like a ragged bedlam character in itself. Downey and Judd Law, portraying Watson with the right amount of frustrated woe, have great chemistry – and there are terrific one-liners and brainy, scheming dialog that will keep the viewer alert even after they’ve stop caring about the turnout. And Rachel McAdams as the poisoned apple of Holmes’s eye adds an unpredictable vitality whenever needed: acting both as the love interest and the one person our titular hero can’t control or figure out. CLICK HERE for SHERLOCK HOLMES: GAME OF SHADOWS review.
action, jude law, mystery, robert downey jr., zeroes
title: SHERLOCK HOLMES year: 2009 cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law rating: ***1/2 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the real Sherlock ...
Labels: action, jude law, mystery, robert downey jr., zeroes
DAY OF THE ANIMALS
year: 1977 cast: Christopher George, Leslie Neilson, Andrew Stevens rating: **
A limp eco-horror about wilderness animals going berserk because of the man-caused depletion of the ozone layer. The critter madness occurs during a hiking trip: consisting of an ensemble cast led by Christopher George.
There's no mystery involved as to why the beasts, mostly birds (Hitchcock, anyone?) and then wolves and German Shepards have become deadly since the movie begins with a scrawl teaching us: "According to scientists, what you're about to see is possible."
Unlike FROGS, PIRANHA, and KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS, the characters/victims are paper-thin and uninteresting, except Leslie Nielsen as an temperamental bully who suddenly becomes a raping caveman.
The body count dwindles quickly during the last half hour; ironically, this is when the film improves upon the terribly boring lead-up consisting of what looks like stock footage of wildlife seeming friendly enough save for a foreboding soundtrack.
action, andrew stevens, christopher george, eco-horror, leslie nielson, seventies
year: 1977 cast: Christopher George, Leslie Neilson, Andrew Stevens rating: ** A limp eco -horror about wilderness animals going ber...
Labels: action, andrew stevens, christopher george, eco-horror, leslie nielson, seventies
BOBBIE JO AND THE OUTLAW
year: 1976 cast: Marjoe Gortner, Lynda Carter, Merrie Lynn Ross, Belinda Balaski rating: ***
B-Movie director Mark L. Lester makes his own BONNIE AND CLYDE, and it's hit and miss... but even the misses hit the mark occasionally.
The first twenty minutes, as rogue "outlaw" Marjoe Gortner (fastest draw in a Wild West sideshow) and carhop/waitress Lynda Carter hook up, is somewhat forced and the acting isn't great i.e. the performances, while fitting the low-budget exploitation genre, don't live up to the performers.
But when Bobbie's stripper sister Merrie Lynn Ross and her spontaneously lethal husband Jesse Vint join the renegades, aided by Belinda Balaski as Bobbie's dorky waitress friend, things pick up as the gang travels from one bank job to the next.
The bank heists are involving, providing our antiheroes a platform to rile customers and really take charge. Here we learn which member of the gang is fit for the life of crime. While on the outside realm, Gene Evans lends merit as the silly... but ultimately dangerous... Sheriff: the closer the cops move in, the more intense things get.
There's funny banter between the bank robbing antagonists, an eclectic lot sharing stuffy motel rooms along the lonesome highway, leading to some fantastic moments, especially with Vint's constant adlibs.
Despite being Gortner's film, Jesse steals this road show. His character, being the loose-cannon with his mouth and gun, provides an unpredictable factor essential in any exploitation with a vibe of underlined violence. And while Lynda Carter is the mainliner in the female department, and looks as incredible as ever, Merrie Lynn Ross, reminiscent of a Film Noir gun moll, is a far more interesting character (she also produced the film).
Mark L. Lester's direction during action scenes are top-notch, the shootouts (including tons of slow-mo) are Peckinpah-inspired. And the rambling country music keeps things rolling nicely in this decent shoot-em-up drive-in flick.
action, belinda balaski, exploitation, lynda carter, marjoe gortner, mark l. lester, seventies
year: 1976 cast: Marjoe Gortner, Lynda Carter, Merrie Lynn Ross, Belinda Balaski rating: *** B-Movie director Mark L. Lester makes his o...
Labels: action, belinda balaski, exploitation, lynda carter, marjoe gortner, mark l. lester, seventies
Written by James M. Tate / 12/06/2011 / No comments / action , al adamson , exploitation , jazz score , john bud cardos , john carradine , robert dix , scott brady , seventies , western
FIVE BLOODY GRAVES
title: FIVE BLOODY GRAVES
cast: Robert Dix, Scott Brady, John Carradine
A more suitable title for this exploitation-Western would be VALLEY OF DEATH, as a ragtag group consisting of cowboys, hookers and a preacher get picked off by Indians who appear from the rocks whenever the dialog runs its course. Add to this a jazzy game-show score and Death as the narrator, philosophizing why each character must die, sometimes even giving it away but that's alright, because in this doomed situation: death is the main character. A campy yet brilliant low budget Western with some terrific actors like Scott Brady (who dies gallantly), Jim Davis as a scumbag rapist, and John Carradine as a pistol-wielding preacher, but none work too hard except John Bud Cardos in duo-roles as a friendly Indian and a bad one, the latter battling star (and writer) Robert Dix, firmly strident throughout, in the knife-wielding climax that begins on a cliff top and winds up in a river and down a waterfall: THE QUIET MAN be damned.
action, al adamson, exploitation, jazz score, john bud cardos, john carradine, robert dix, scott brady, seventies, western
title: FIVE BLOODY GRAVES year: 1970 cast: Robert Dix, Scott Brady, John Carradine rating: *** A more suitable title for this e...
Labels: action, al adamson, exploitation, jazz score, john bud cardos, john carradine, robert dix, scott brady, seventies, western
THE NORLISS TAPES
title: THE NORLISS TAPES
cast: Roy Thinnes, Angie Dickenson, Claude Akins
Even Dan Curtis's good made-for-TV movies, like "The Night Stalker", "The Night Prowler", and "Trilogy of Terror", often lean towards overkill, and that's not a bad thing when there's enough suspenseful build-up to merit a crashing climax. This movie, about a missing writer who's left behind audio tapes for a book debunking witchcraft, plays out 95% backstory, showing the author - his recorded voice providing narration - investigating a woman's account of her husband, buried in the basement, coming back to life. The awakened man-monster, with a blue face, fangs, and nasty temper, appears way too soon instead of lurking in the shadows where he, and any good horror film antagonist, belongs... at least till they earn it.
claude akins, dan curtis, horror, import, made-for-TV, seventies, suspense
title: THE NORLISS TAPES year: 1973 cast: Roy Thinnes, Angie Dickenson, Claude Akins rating: ** Even Dan Curtis's good made-for-TV...
Labels: claude akins, dan curtis, horror, import, made-for-TV, seventies, suspense
Written by James M. Tate / 12/05/2011 / No comments / elliott gould , george segal , robert altman , seventies
CALIFORNIA SPLIT
title: CALIFORNIA SPLIT
cast: George Segal, Elliott Gould
Robert Altman delves smoothly into the world of low-rent gambling with George Segal as a debt-burdened writer and Elliott Gould as a jobless loser playing poker, betting on horses, sharing women and spontaneous conversations. From their humble beginnings in California, to their misadventures in Nevada, to the conclusion in Reno, this is a grand odd-couple character-study where gambling is more than a device, but a character in itself: the phantom antagonist. At times Altman's loose, improvisational style is wonderfully voyeuresque, and there's always a new street-savvy, bickering situation to struggle through. Segal proves once again he's not just a funnyman banjo player. And for Gould, it's the perfect follow-up to Altman's THE LONG GOODBYE, only he's more hyperactive and troublesome, while Segal provides the base. Highlights include the random confrontations between the boys and mustached bully Edward Walsh, brother of actor Joseph (THE DRIVER) Walsh, who wrote the script and plays a crippled bookie.
elliott gould, george segal, robert altman, seventies
title: CALIFORNIA SPLIT year: 1 974 cast: George Segal, Elliott Gould rating: ****1/2 Robert Altman delves smoothly into the world of lo...
Labels: elliott gould, george segal, robert altman, seventies
title: BUSTING
cast: Elliott Gould, Robert Blake, Allen Garfield
A very hard to find seventies crime drama with Elliott Gould and Robert Blake as vice cops busting gay bars, low-rent hookers, sex shops and high price call girls, then eventually stumbling upon a bigwig pimp played by underrated Allen Garfield, and his henchman Sig Haig who, it turns out, doesn't have to do much since his boss owns the courts and the cops. Gould and Blake go on their own to nab Garfield with predictable results, although the adventurous climb to the top, by hanging at the bottom, is quite enjoyable, and a FRENCH CONNECTION-style foot chase in an outdoor bizarre makes for very addictive pleasure. Blake, unlit cigarette in mouth, is warming up for his famous TV-gig a year later, and Gould's performance is natural and easy but with some intensity.
allen garfield, cop, crime, elliott gould, robert blake, seventies, sid haig
title: BUSTING year: 1974 cast: Elliott Gould, Robert Blake, Allen Garfield rating: ***1/2 A very hard to find seventies crime drama with...
Labels: allen garfield, cop, crime, elliott gould, robert blake, seventies, sid haig
MOHAMMAD ALI IN THE GREATEST
In 1977 Mohammad Ali wasn't only a boxing champion, he was a personality. His confidence and poetic rants made people smile, sometimes in disbelief. So they decided, instead of creating a documentary, to allow him to star in a film covering his lean and hungry youth when he went by the name Cassius Clay, soon to rise as the greatest boxer in the world.
Another somewhat dependable actor plays a teenage Ali, but then we switch to the real thing much too soon. When this was shot, Ali was a man who seemed mellow and tired i.e. nearing the end of his game. An iconic athelete playing a hungry climber is not only misplaced, but at times downright embarrassing. While he does have a graceful, laidback charm, and it's fun seeing him interact with real actors like Ernest Borgnine and Robert Duvall, the film, in cutting from excerpts of actual fights back to the movie-at-hand, feels spotty and contrived. This is Ali's personal propaganda for his life and name-changing Muslim faith and the hardships against the white man, all played out like something you'd see on television. And the last fifteen minutes, as Ali jogs to a Bill Conti-like score before the final bout, it's obvious that without Sly Stallone's blockbuster ROCKY the year before, THE GREATEST would never have been made: at least not in this fashion.
biopic, boxing, ernest borgnine, robert duvall, seventies, sport
year: 1977 rating: ** In 1977 Mohammad Ali wasn't only a boxing champion, he was a personality. His confidence and poetic rants...
Labels: biopic, boxing, ernest borgnine, robert duvall, seventies, sport
BURT REYNOLDS ACTUALLY GETS CAUGHT IN 'THE LONGEST YARD'
year: 1974 cast: Burt Reynolds, James Hamptonl rating: ****
Having experienced the many Burt Reynolds road flicks throughout the mid/late seventies and early eighties, you'd expect him to, in the very beginning as he's being chased by cops in a stolen hot rod, get away and avoid all punishment. Nothing doing since Burt, playing a has-been football star, is sent to a backwards Florida work-camp where he's called upon by a power hungry warden (Eddie Albert) to start a team of convicts: who end up challenging the prison guard semi-pro outfit with a start-up game.
The best scenes involve Reynolds and manager James Hampton interviewing each brute as possible team members; the gritty moments before the plot's underway as Reynolds survives the swampy chain-gang; or the end game itself shown on split-screen like Robert Altman's M*A*S*H. But things never get too intense or realistic as the entire film... despite some seriousness and creepiness (thanks to prison rat Charles Tyner)... remains with a knowing, comfortable wink: the template of Burt's work to come.
burt reynolds, prison, seventies
year: 1974 cast: Burt Reynolds, James Hamptonl rating: **** Having experienced the many Burt Reynolds road flicks throughout the mid/...
Labels: burt reynolds, prison, seventies
Squeal like a Scorchy!
title: SCORCHY
cast: Connie Stevens, William Smith
Here we have a woman with layers. Sexy, sultry Connie Stevens can daylight as a cop and moonlight as a drug-smuggler as she thwarts an operation entailing heroin hidden in antiques imported from Greece to America (basically the plot of Don Siegel's THE LINEUP); that is, when she's not swimming naked or bedding down Greg Evigan she's kicking ass and taking names: like Ceaser Danova, providing the top villain spot... although it's William Smith, as the menacing henchman, that she really contends with: especially during an incredible chase where, on a city street, she just happens upon a dune buggy with keys inside. Stevens is perfectly cast here; she's got all the juice to make this lemon shine. But despite the cornball factor, this airhead actioneer really has it all: including a techno soundtrack that was either re-dubbed years later during the Miami Vice craze or, for better or worse, was very ahead of its time. And Stevens, after a steamy sex scene turned deadly, provides a screaming-pig's squeal that'd make the late Bill McKinney either proud or jealous.
action, chicks with guns, cop, crime, drama, exploitation, seventies, smuggling, william smith
Squeal like a Scorchy! title: SCORCHY year: 1978 cast: Connie Stevens, William Smith rating: ***1/2 Here we have a woman wi...
Labels: action, chicks with guns, cop, crime, drama, exploitation, seventies, smuggling, william smith
Written by James M. Tate / 12/01/2011 / No comments / eighties , john goodman , richard dreyfuss , romance , steven spielberg
SPIELBERG & DREYFUSS RETURN WITH ALWAYS
1989 rating: *1/2
During the 1970’s, Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfuss made a great team. The intense little actor played a likable shark expert in JAWS and a suburban alien-obsessed dad in CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND... Ten years later, they attempt to rekindle that magic. And although there’s some good use of The Spielberg Touch… flowing camerawork weaving in and out of glorious special effects… this is a romance that tries too hard to pull heartstrings.
Goodman and Johnson
Dreyfuss and sidekick John Goodman are firefighting pilots with a dangerous job. Dreyfuss is a daredevil who, with each venture, risks his life more than necessary. The first thirty minutes consists of Holly Hunter, Dreyfus’s girlfriend who works ground control, and Goodman trying to tell their friend he’s taking too many chances: All this occurs between sappy dialog and the building of a relationship that wasn’t very special to begin with. That is, until Dreyfus is killed and, while wandering around a earth-based purgatory, New Age angel Audrey Hepburn gives him an afterlife mission: to help a handsome young pilot, Brad Johnson, earn his wings.
Johnson’s true aim is to win over Holly Hunter – turning an interesting twist into a wasted subplot. Dreyfuss, as a ghost, seems more like a creepy stalker, placing thoughts into people’s minds to maneuver their choices – especially Hunter, who he won’t let go of. Meanwhile, he reluctantly helps Johnson… who unsuccessfully balances a suave yet dorky character… become a great pilot.
Holly Hunter, while being a cute, spunky actress, is miscast as an ingénue every man desires, especially the much too perfect Johnson. Goodman does his usual fat funny guy, but to an annoying level – he and everyone else seem to be playing for opening night audiences. And like Dreyfus goes so overboard with forced sentimentality you’ll wish the shark had got him or that those aliens never brought him home. The Ariel shots, while filmed beautifully (especially the pivotal death scene), are simply used as breaks from an overlong Hallmark Card: And the best news, Steven Spielberg would thankfully end his creative mid-life crisis after HOOK and get back to business at hand with JURASSIC PARK, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and especially SCHINDLER'S LIST.
eighties, john goodman, richard dreyfuss, romance, steven spielberg
1989 rating: *1/2 During the 1970’s, Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfuss made a great team. The intense little actor played a likable ...
Labels: eighties, john goodman, richard dreyfuss, romance, steven spielberg
ONE MILLION AC/DC
title: ONE MILLION AC/DC
cast: Gary Kent
camp value: ***
If the entire movie centered on caveman stud Olaf (Gary Kent) sauntering in and out of the cave trying to kill the plastic toy T-REX with a bow and arrow instead of various scenes of pointless in-and-out, this would have been a great grade Z-cheapie. The myriad of full frontal sexual writhing gets tiresome, and there's simply too much of it, although the orgy where prehistoric men are drinking wine out of coffee cups with handles, and their women are feeding them grapes, is good because there's horrible "acting" involved. But the plastic toy T-REX "monster," obviously being moved around by someone's hand and on the verge of falling over, makes this one a complete howler. Not to forget an unbelievable scene where Olaf and his girl walk in front of the camera and sing to the tune of "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" with the words "The Spear Goes into the Monster" repeated until the clincher... "The Monster Loses His Mind": possibly the greatest twenty seconds ever captured on film that you can now enjoy...
ed wood, exploitation, gary kent, sixties
title: ONE MILLION AC/DC year: 1969 cast : Gary Kent camp value: *** If the entire movie centered on caveman stud Olaf (Gary Kent) saunt...
Labels: ed wood, exploitation, gary kent, sixties
Written by James M. Tate / 11/29/2011 / No comments / music , seventies , steely dan , tom petty
TOM PETTY BOTH ACTS & SINGS IN THE MOTION PICTURE 'FM'
title: FM
cast: Michael Brandon, Martin Mull, Cassie Yates, Tom Petty
The Steely Dan title song playing as a big orange sun rises above the immense city skyline anticipates heaven for rock fans and "no static at all." During the next twenty minutes, through a handing-off of various turns at the mic... meeting each disc jockey working a radio station playing wall-to-wall music... the good times continue to roll. The likable boss (Michael Brandon), also a DJ, fights to keep the airwaves commercial free, providing the dream radio station "for the people." The tunes are great, the live performances pretty good, and the eclectic cast of DJ's are decent enough: including Martin Mull, Cleavon Little, Cassie Yates, Alex Karras, Eileen Brennan, and guest star (in the movie and the station) Tom Petty as Tom Petty. But the initial spontaneous fun (reminiscent of CAR WASH) is soon marred by a cliche subplot involving villainous corporate goons forcing Army commercials on the station, turning a laidback character-study into typical underdog vs big business fare... and guess who wins?
music, seventies, steely dan, tom petty
title: FM year: 1978 cast: Michael Brandon, Martin Mull, Cassie Yates, Tom Petty rating: **1/2 The Steely Dan title song playi...
Labels: music, seventies, steely dan, tom petty
Gotta hand it to the Coen Brothers: after a decade of casting Hollywood bigshots like George Clooney and Brad Pitt, they make a small film where the most recognized actor is George Wyner...
This 1960's character-study draws you in with a purposely-sluggish pace involving a Jewish mathematics teacher, downplayed with charming droll by Michael Stuhbarg, going through sheer hell: his wife has just left him, his kids don't respect him, his brother mooches off him, and even the local rabbis can't help in his search for the meaning of life... and why it's treating him so badly.
Although wonderfully filmed, and reminiscent of FARGO with a bevy of quirky, long-faced drones sinking deeper into their own personal abyss, the odd charm peters out and we're left with questions without answers.
The b-story involving Stuhbarg's stoned son preparing for his bar mitzvah is interesting but eventually a waste. And the first ten minutes, which has nothing to do with the rest of the film... centering on a Yiddish couple in the 19th century visited by a dead man... is perhaps the best and/or most intriguing scene. While an ambiguous ending, a device the Coens seem prone to lately, leaves a dull aftertaste that can turn a good review into a bad one.
coen brothers, dark comedy, george wyner, zeroes
year: 2009 rating: *** Gotta hand it to the Coen Brothers: after a decade of casting Hollywood bigshots like George Clooney and Brad Pit...
Labels: coen brothers, dark comedy, george wyner, zeroes
Written by James M. Tate / 11/28/2011 / No comments / cop , eighties , kurt russell , mel gibsin , melodrama , michelle pheiffer , neo noir , robert towne
Anyone thinking this will be a corny movie involving three great looking people in a steamy crime melodrama dealing with a predictable love triangle, like the poster implies, you’re only half right...
Written and directed by Robert Towne, who penned CHINATOWN, arguably the greatest original script-to-film ever made, this starts out all right: building enough suspense and interesting characters through tight dialogue, making you wonder who Mel Gibson, as an infamous L.A. drug pusher, is waiting to connect with as Kurt Russell, playing his high school friend who's a detective, and Michelle Pheiffer, as a restaurant owner, are caught in-between: Gibson, who swears he's gone straight, plays down as a guy being watched by everyone: from the feds to junkies to other dealers.
Kurt Russell provides an effective counterbalance as the good cop (especially compared to seedy agent J.T. Walsh) with the hots for Pheiffer, who eventually realizes she’s in love with Gibson: and your typical steamy love scene ensues. This, along with searing saxophone riffs heard in every eighties cop film, turns an involving dialog-driven plot into soap operatic fare… yet a tense vibe remains that’ll keep you locked in till the end. And it could have used a better, more fitting title.
cop, eighties, kurt russell, mel gibsin, melodrama, michelle pheiffer, neo noir, robert towne
1988 rating: *** Anyone thinking this will be a corny movie involving three great looking people in a steamy crime melodrama dealing w...
Labels: cop, eighties, kurt russell, mel gibsin,
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First CCS Quiz Night
Written on Sunday, December 16th, 2007, by Adam Chamberlin
The quiz night that was held on Thursday 13th December was a success.
We had a good selection of club members with their families turn up to compete in a very random quiz with a twist. We had two timed rounds with extra points gained with various picture and dingbats questions.
People turned up in twos and made teams of 4 or 5 which generally consisted of couples and families except team Rush who only had one Rush in there, I think the rest were honoree oneʼs for the evening.
So the teams that were battling it out were Team Rush, The On Timers (who turned up late!), Chain Reaction, Dougal and the Muppets. Due to the questions being random in the first round it was close between the teams but the On Timers were in lead. The second round saw the teams scores stretch out even further with at one point Team Rush who were trailing, catching up with the On Timers.
It would all boil down to the secret round on the Tour de France I had planned to throw any non cyclistʼs off which the On Timers were not cyclistʼs, they were Adamʼs family. At this point their was less than 10 point between them and a total of 15 points from this round. It was a multiple choice paper so there was a chance that any one not knowing the history of the tour could take a guess. Peter and I kept the scores a secret from the last two rounds as we read out the answer’s and heard cheers and groans from around the room.
The moment of truth, who won. It was a even score between Team Rush who consisted of Roger, Adam, Colin, Brian and Geoff and the On Timers who was Lyn and Ken, Adamʼs Mum and Dad, Sean his brother and Sarah, Seanʼs girlfriend.
Well done to you who won prizes and to all who took part. Other prizes went to the Muppets and Dougal for the extra picture rounds. Iʼd like to thank Peter for helping me in the quiz master duties and the internet with the questions.
This article is filed under the category: Events
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Dorf on Law
Law, Politics, Economics, and More from Michael Dorf, Neil Buchanan, Sherry Colb, Diane Klein, Eric Segall, and (Occasionally) Others
There Is Nothing Wrong With the "Lock Him Up!" Chants
by Neil H. Buchanan
After this week's Democratic presidential debate, a very stern columnist for The Washington Post chastised Senator Bernie Sanders for giving the wrong answer to Rachel Maddow's question about recent chants of "Lock him up!" at various gatherings, including at some Sanders rallies. Stephen Stromberg instructed us as follows:
"The right answer is: 'It is understandable that people are frustrated with President Trump. But everyone else should resist stooping to his level. I wish people would not do Trump-like chants at my rallies.'"
But Sanders "bomb[ed] the ‘lock him up’ test," said Stromberg, by instead saying: "Well, I think the people of this country are catching on to the degree that this president thinks he is above the law. And what the American people are saying is: Nobody is above the law." Or, as Stromberg characterized it: "Instead, Sanders essentially said, “Well, people think the president is a criminal.'"
Remember, this was the WRONG ANSWER. There is but one acceptable answer, and only if Sanders had said the right words -- "Hey guys, I wish you wouldn't go low like Trump's voters" -- would he have aced the test.
There might be reasonable disagreements about how one feels about "Lock him up!" chants, but this is silly. What is going on?
One of the odd things about writing multiple columns per week is that it is all too possible to forget what one has written. This can take many forms, the most common of which is to repeat an argument (not on purpose) that I have made in a previous column, which can cause a moment of embarrassment when I am reminded of the previous column. Because arguments often need to be repeated and reformulated, however, this is not necessarily a bad thing even when it is inadvertent.
A different form of too-many-columns-to-remember amnesia is simply forgetting about a column entirely. A month or so ago, I was having a conversation with Professor Dorf and started to make what I thought was a very important point. Cutting me off (politely), he responded: "Yes, you wrote your column on that subject last week." Duly chastened.
Earlier this week, I was glancing through the "dashboard" for this blog, and I noticed that I had fairly recently written a column about the possibility that we would soon hear "Lock him up!" chants at Democratic rallies. The publication date was August 6, which is notable because it was before the incident at Game 5 of the World Series in which Washington Nationals fans spontaneously booed Donald Trump and then began the fateful chant.
Indeed, August 6 was long before anyone thought that the Nationals could possibly make the playoffs, much less beat the Dodgers or Astros. In turn, it was almost three months before the good feelings about the Nats' surprise win were summarily trashed when a player donned a MAGA hat at the White House and smiled while Trump hugged him. Time flies.
After that audience chant at Game 5, Senator Chris Coons reached for the smelling salts and penned a reprimand for The Washington Post: "‘Lock him up’? We’re better than that." To be clear, I quite like Coons, whom I knew when he was in college (during which time he had an admirable moral epiphany and changed from being a Reagan-loving young conservative to a moderate Democrat), but this op-ed is an all-too-predictable example of the infuriating tendency among a certain type of Democrats to over-criticize themselves and doubt everything that they and their supporters do.
And although Coons's op-ed was not as annoyingly judgmental as Stromberg's (because being aggressively judgmental would itself be something that Coons would condemn), I have to say that Coons was doing something worse in his op-ed. That is, whereas Stromberg was at least directing his ire at a specific person who most likely has the stature to make the chants stop, Coons was simply scolding a group of people who organically started to do something that they clearly enjoyed.
While there is nothing wrong with expressing the hope that groups will act in various ways (and not in other ways), the "we're better than this" formulation struck me as classic concern trolling, which I have never liked because it allows an author to pretend to be concerned about form rather than substance (and is also smarmy, smug, and/or unctuous -- take your pick -- to boot). "I agree with you that he's a criminal, guys, but do you have to be so in-your-face about it?"
In any case, because I honestly do not remember writing my August 6 column, I also do not remember what motivated me to write it. In it, I made no references to any recent incidents, so maybe I simply had one of those moments when I anticipated something that was all but inevitable. No matter the reason for writing the column, however, I have to say that I quite agree with the oddly familiar stranger who wrote it.
In particular, I still see no reason why sarcasm should not be part of the arsenal in a political campaign. The reason that people at Nationals Park joined in the chanting, after all, was surely because they liked the wicked joke that it contained. "Your crowds chant 'Lock her up!" all the time without the slightest hint as to what crime Hillary Clinton supposedly committed, and after she was exonerated by a full investigation. You were not indicted because the Justice Department said you cannot be indicted; but that doesn't mean you won't eventually go to jail."
Of course, Coons and Stromberg (and other concerned souls) argue that it is bad for partisans to call for their opponents to be jailed, because (in Coons's words) "in the United States, we don’t simply lock up politicians we disagree with, and we shouldn’t chant about wanting to either." As I wrote back in August, that is simply an inane way to think about this, and it is indeed an especially dishonest example of false equivalence.
Again, the anti-Trump chants can only be understood as a direct response to the Trump crowds' chants for the last three-plus years. And I say that not in the sense that "they did it first," but in the essential sense that the anti-Trump version is -- to repeat -- a response to years of howling mobs calling for banana republic-style political hit jobs. A response, that is, that says: "Yes, there honestly is a time when it is essential that one's political opponents go to jail, and that time is when they are actually guilty of crimes."
As my doppelgänger noted in August, it is of course possible to add a bunch of qualifiers about the circumstances under which Trump should be locked up, but he/I then argued that any such "qualifiers -- if he really did it, if a jury of his peers finds him guilty after due process is provided -- are implicit in a way that simply is not present in the ravings of Trump and his supporters," concluding:
"Based on everything we know, Donald Trump has committed multiple crimes, both before and after the 2016 election. If the facts as we know them are true, and if he is properly prosecuted, and if he is found guilty by a duly-empaneled jury, then he should go to jail. And short-handing that statement would not be proof that a speaker was just as bad as Trump."
Maybe Stromberg is right that Sanders should urge his supporters to take a higher road. On the other hand, Sanders did not say that he approved of the chants. As Stromberg described it, after Sanders explained that Americans are unhappy that Trump thinks he is above the law, Sanders "pivoted to talk about how the country would unite around his agenda."
That does not sound like someone who is inciting his crowds to revel in un-American political thuggery. Instead, it sounds like someone who thinks that Maddow's question was frankly an attempt to create a distracting issue out of thin air and that there are better ways to spend one's allotted 75 seconds.
Would I start such a chant or join in, if I were at a rally? Probably not, but so what? This chant is something that actually makes an important point, which is that the true lawbreaker is Donald Trump. People like Stromberg and Coons can gnash their teeth and wish that Democrats' supporters were all better behaved girls and boys, and maybe that truly would convince centrist voters that it is not true that both sides are the same.
At the very least, however, it is essential not to slander the chanters by claiming falsely that they are making the same immoral argument that Trump's voters are making. Trump should be impeached, convicted by the Senate and removed from office, and then indicted and given due process in a court of law. Based on everything that we know, he would then be found guilty by any jury that looks fairly at the law and evidence, at which point he should be locked up.
That is not, contra Coons, wanting to "simply lock up politicians we disagree with." It is wanting to lock up people who have (brazenly and without remorse) broken the law. That sounds very American to me.
Posted by Neil H. Buchanan at 12:17 PM
Michael A Livingston said...
This sounds a lot like 1984 to me ("Four legs good, two legs bad, “ etc.) .. .
I don't know how much I support the chants but Trump leading the way here is different in a notable enough way than at least some of the chants. I don't want Democratic campaigns to encourage that sort of thing at rallies. But, some fans at the ball game doing it sarcastically (or honestly thinking he should be locked up -- it does matter to examine the issues on the merits too) is not the same thing.
The general concern of some was that it was rude and disrespectful, as I understand it, and that is a bit much. At some point, public protests that are rude are justified. And, bluntly, Trump is a criminal. I don't think in the end he should be "locked up" as much as impeached and after he leaves office to be criminally/civilly penalized for his acts (he already has been civilly penalized such as the Trump University thing) in an appropriate fashion. Jail time, all things considered, is not necessary here. But, again, the chants aren't meant to be taken totally literally.
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Was ist ENDURE?
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You are here : Home > About ENDURE > All the news > France unveils €30m research programme .
France unveils €30m research programme
France has unveiled its €30 million ‘research priority programme’ to continue its drive towards reduced pesticide use. Called ‘Cultiver et Protéger Autrement’ (cultivating and protecting differently), the programme will focus on using agroecology, biocontrol and preventive measures to deliver high-performance, sustainable agriculture.
Led by ENDURE partner INRA, and involving ENDURE’s other French partners CIRAD and ACTA, the programme continues the work outlined in the country’s Ecophyto plans and is designed to create real innovations and changes in practices over the coming decade or so.
The thinking behind the programme is based on three principles: prevention (prophylaxis), making better use of agroecology and rethinking value chains. In the programme’s summary report, revealed at February’s Paris International Agricultural Show, the authors note that crop protection as currently practiced in France and worldwide relies heavily on curative approaches, using effective crop protection products. However, the efficacy of these products means that pest pressure is not taken into account. This approach needs to be reversed, says the report, with priority instead given to the use of adapted prophylactic methods.
It notes that one of agroecology’s basic principles is to seek increased functional biodiversity to enhance biological regulation and ecosystem services. This increase, it adds, must be considered at different spatial scales (plant, field, cropping system and landscape) and over different time scales. Agroecology, it says, makes it possible not simply to search for alternatives to pesticides but to employ levers which increase biological regulation and limit the presence of pests.
With a focus on increased diversification in farming systems, the programme recognises that a rethinking of current value chains will be required, including new processing and marketing channels. The promotion of pesticide and residue-free production will require recognition among consumers of the characteristics of these products so will involve downstream stakeholders in agri-food chains. And upstream stakeholders will have a role to play too, particularly biocontrol and agricultural equipment companies. An evolution in public policies will also be essential to enable these changes.
The programme has identified two courses of action: calls for projects on various themes and in different waves, focused on the ‘fronts of science’ and structuring tools, and events for the scientific community and agricultural sector.
On the ‘fronts of science’, the programme has identified various prophylactic principles that can already be used. These can be agronomic (diversifying rotations, using resistant and competitive varieties, intercropping, managing agroecological infrastructure to boost beneficials etc.) and through biocontrol (macroorganisms, microorganisms, chemical mediators such as pheromones, and natural substances).
However, says the report, these major principles for prophylaxis and strengthening biological regulation are understood for only a small number of species and cropping systems, and the mechanisms underlying them are not well enough understood to employ them more widely. One of the programme’s first objectives will therefore be to strengthen knowledge in areas insufficiently addressed in current research through calls for projects on:
Cover crops with high functional diversity, microbiome and plant resistance for pesticide-free cultivation systems
Three objectives have been set, with the desire to have strong interactions between them: understanding plant/plant interactions to develop cover crops with high functional diversity; studying relationships within the microbiome in order to understand and use the effects of microorganisms on pest regulation; identifying and exploiting new sources of plant resistance taking into account these interactions.
EcophytoPIC, France's IPM portal, offers access to masses of sources of information on topics such as biocontrol
Design of innovative cropping systems, deployment of biocontrol and socio-economic levers for transition
Three objectives have been set. The first concerns the conditions for the expression of the positive effects of a diversity of agronomic species in the field, technical practices to maximise the productive and environmental benefits of the effects of interactions, and the development of adapted agricultural equipment. The second addresses pest regulation using macro and microorganisms, natural substances, beneficials and stimulating plant defences, and concerns methods and collective organisation at the field or territorial scale to prevent the emergence, development or dispersal of pest populations. The third addresses the socio-economic conditions of transition: advice and access to actionable knowledge, on-farm organisation of work, organisation of downstream production chains, consumer behaviour and public policies.
To ensure the programme’s impact and to provide France’s scientific community with resources in terms of infrastructure, ‘structuring tools’ for research and applied research are being targeted.
Enhanced epidemiological surveillance systems to develop prophylaxis
The report explains that this is based on taking into account the cycle of weeds, pests and diseases, identifying the steps at which it is necessary to act in order to maintain population trajectories within acceptable ranges. This will involve more widespread and automation of observation methods and biological monitoring in real time. This will involve a new epidemio-surveillance system using new-generation networked sensors capable of real-time reporting; metrics and modelling to cover changes in risk trajectories over the entire growing season; biostatistical methods to deal with the mass and diversity of information produced by sensor networks, linking them to climate data and crop growth models; and lastly, information networks for the deployment of instrument sites and the sharing of information between actors.
Research in combination with the ‘0 pesticides’ experimental and innovation systems
The programme will work with and exploit the scientific results from the ‘0 pesticides’ local experimental initiatives, which are driven by actors in the field, and in the Ecophyto Plan’s DEPHY experimental network.
Chemical exposome infrastructure
The report notes that pesticide use has led over time to the accumulation of products and their derivatives in different environmental compartments. The characterisation of the exposome, it says, requires the combination of various exposure assessment methodologies, including biological sample analyses, measuring the environment of each individual, using existing cohorts, environmental observatories, databases, sample banks and potentially connected sensors. It requires new approaches, important methodological developments and efficient infrastructure, which will need to be developed.
As part of the programme, a foresight study is to be conducted. Addressing ‘European agriculture without pesticides’, scenarios will be developed to feed a modelling exercise looking towards the year 2050. This will build on the hypotheses and expected results of the programme and make it possible to investigate trajectories for the transformation of European agriculture
Read more on the INRA website here (in French)
Download Cultiver et Protéger Autrement here (in French): Cultiver et Protéger Autrement
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Nov 15, 2019 03:52 AM EST By Staff Reporter
American Horror Story Season 10: Will It Be The Last?
You know what the next death in American Horror Story will be?
The show itself. The show itself.
That’s all folks! Another season of AHS comes to an end... What would you rate #AHS1984 from 1-10? A post shared by American Horror Story Fans (@thehorrorstory) on Nov 14, 2019 at 8:30am PST
American Horror Story: 1984 has just ended, but people are already looking forward to its next season. The ninth season lost a lot of its series regulars, including Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters.
According to the creator of AHS, Ryan Murphy, Season 10 could potentially be the final season for this FX show.
Speaking to Deadline, the showrunner revealed that the series is currently only "contracted" through next season, so they are treating it as if it could be the final one.
"We're working on an idea for Season 10 that I think people will love because it's about reuniting fan-favorite actors to come back - because it might be our last season," Murphy said. "It's the last season we have contracted."
NEWS // Which actors would you like to see back for AHS Season 10?! A post shared by American Horror Story Fans (@thehorrorstory) on Nov 14, 2019 at 2:31pm PST
Murphy added that he has been quietly reaching out to people for possible castings. However, he has not reached out to everybody yet because he does not have a role for them.
Interetsingly though, Murphy emphasized that everybody he reached out to already said "yes."
While Murphy is not closing the door to continuing the franchise into 11th season and beyond, FX chairman John Landgraf is reportedly want them to keep it going.
Murphy said that they are in the middle of negotiations about beyond Season 10 and have had conversations about the show going 20 seasons.
Should FX opt against ordering the 11th season, he would absolutely "call up" his current bosses at Netflix to gauge their interest in acquiring the franchise.
Since AHS debuted in 2011, the series has aired a new season every year either in September or October. It is safe to say that the creator has plenty of time to dream up whatever horror nightmare scenario he plans to unleash in the 10th season.
People are already speculating what could happen for next year's new season, with an Episode 8 of 1984 including a significant clue about the upcoming one and what its overall theme could be.
So even if there is still no official date for the series to air or has been announced, that has not stopped fans from starting to theorize what it may entail.
Reddit user ohStephen said that Season 10 could involve urban legends given what the "reporter" Stacy discussed with Donna and Brooke on the November 6 episode.
"Back in the 70s, all anyone cared about was Bigfoot and aliens, the Loch Ness Monster," she said in one scene and later explaining that in the 80s, they are all about serial killers.
READ MORE: One Direction Had a Mini-Reunion Early This Week! PROOF HERE
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Home > Equine Research Foundation
Equine Research Foundation
The Equine Research Foundation is a nonprofit public charity described by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service. It is not a private foundation, as it is a nonprofit organization described in sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is run by a Board of five Directors.
The purpose of the Foundation is to further scientific and public knowledge about equine learning abilities, perception, behavior, training, care and welfare and, thereby, improve human-horse interactions. All studies are noninvasive and rely on positive reinforcement.
The public can participate in positive reinforcement clinics, gain knowledge through the Foundation's publications and consultations and make contributions that qualify for a charity tax deduction.
Advancing Equine Knowledge
The Equine Research Foundation supports research aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the learning, cognitive and perceptual capabilities of horses. The study of cognition is concerned with the mental processes, representations and skills involved in thinking and learning. Researchers at the Equine Research Foundation are finding that horses have more advanced cognitive abilities than was previously thought and can solve complex problems. These studies show that horses are thinking creatures that respond best to humans who acknowledge their minds and emotions. General and scientific horse articles are available to those interested in learning more about horses and why horses behave as they do.
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Positive reinforcement horse training clinics are available off-site. Participants learn how to train horses using positive reinforcement, eclectic horsemanship, herd behavior and psychology. Positive reinforcement training is an excellent complement to other training methods and helps build better relationships between horses and humans.
Phone consultations with an Equine Research Foundation expert are available to anyone interested in learning more about horse behavior, cognition and perception, or training and handling.
The Equine Research Foundation also offers consultation and superior court-approved expert witness services for select equine-related legal cases. To speak to the Foundation about these services and rates, please email.
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HOME National News Defence Force Malawi not on list: 12 African Countries With Highest Military Strength
Malawi not on list: 12 African Countries With Highest Military Strength
Andrew Kandulu
As it is always being sang, Malawi is not always to trend on good things but on bad ones, then is not surprisingly to see its Defence force is not well funded. Even though, some African countries also are suffering due to political upheaval, fighting and oppression, Global Firepower (GFP) has ranked the African nations based on their military might.
Here are the top 12 most powerful countries in Africa, with their Power Index (PwrIndx).
12) Democratic Republic of Congo (PwrIndx: 2.6642)
Active Personnel: 144,000
The population of Democratic Republic of Congo is 75,507,308. The nation covers 2,344,858 sq km. Its defense budget is $162,000,000.
11) Sudan (PwrIndx: 2.3465)
Sudan covers an area of 1,861,484 sq km and has a coastline of 853 km. The nation’s defense budget is $2,470,000,000. It has 360 tanks and 168 aircraft.
10) Libya (PwrIndx: 2.3353)
Active Personnel: 76,000
Libya has a population of 6,244,174. It covers 1,759,540 sq km and has a coastline of 1,770 km. The nation’s defense budget is $3 billion. Libya has 400 tanks and 46 aircraft.
9) Angola (PwrIndx: 2.2599)
Angola’s population is 18,565,269. It has 107,000 active frontline personnel and 3,039,089 people are fit for service. Angola has one of the largest air forces in Africa. Angola has 140 tanks and 270 aircraft.
8) Tunisia (PwrIndx: 1.8635)
Tunisia’s defense budget is $550,000,000. It covers an area of 163,610 sq km and a coastline of 1,148 km. The nation has 350 tanks and 139 aircraft. Total naval strength is 150.
7) Morocco (PwrIndx: 1.8499)
The population of Morocco is 32,649,130 and the defense budget is $3.4 billion. Morocco covers an area of 446,550 sq km and has a coastline of 1,835. It has 1,348 tanks and 323 aircraft.
6) Kenya (PwrIndx: 1.7689)
Kenya covers an area of 580,367 sq km and a coastline of 536 km. The nation’s defense budget is $595 million. Kenya has 24,120 active frontline personnel and 12,168,138 people are fit for service
5) Nigeria (PwrIndx: 1.5261)
Population of Nigeria is 174,507,539. The country’s defense budget is $2.33 billion. It has 363 tanks and 96 aircraft. Nigeria’s total naval strength is 75. It covers 923,768 sq km and has a coastline of 853 km.
4) South Africa (PwrIndx: 1.3467)
South Africa covers 1,219,090 sq km and has a coastline of 2,798 km. Defense budget of South Africa is $4.61 billion. The nation has 191 tanks, 213 aircraft, and its total naval strength is 30.
3) Ethiopia (PwrIndx: 1.3229)
The population of Ethiopia is 93,877,025. It has 182,500 active frontline personnel. The nation covers 1,104,300 sq km. Ethiopia’s defense budget is $340 million. It has 560 tanks and 81 aircraft.
2) Algeria (PwrIndx: 1.1698)
Algeria covers an area of 2,381,741 sq km and has a coastline of 998 km. The nation’s defense budget is $10.57 billion.
1) Egypt (PwrIndx: 0.6122)
Egypt is the most powerful nation in Africa. It has 4,767 tanks and 1,100 aircraft. Its total naval strength is 237. As of 2011 the Egyptian Armed forces have more than 438,500 active personnel, in addition to 800,000 personnel available in reserve and over 400,000 paramilitary personnel making it one of the largest armies in the world. At $7.85 billion, it also has the largest defense budgets in the world.
It would be wonderful if some of these nations use their military power to spread peace and goodwill among its citizens.
Military Strength
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Selected to Zomba Catholic Secondary school (2004-2007) Holder of Bachelor’s Degree in Arts Humanities, Double major in French language and Literature, Theology and religious studies, at University of Malawi, Chancellor College Hobbies: Reading novels, new papers, writing short stories, enjoy watching science fiction movies, comedies and soccer
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Regrets, We’ve Had a Few
by Greg Prince on 23 June 2019 11:26 pm
The New York Mets have issued the following statement.
The Mets sincerely regret the incident that took place with one of our beat writers following today’s game in the clubhouse.
The Mets also sincerely regret the incident that took place with one of our relievers during today’s game on the mound.
The Mets further regret the incident that […]
24 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | Jacob deGrom, Jason Vargas, Mickey Callaway, Pete Alonso, public relations, Regrets, Reversion to Form, Seth Lugo, Statements
The Kid I Snuck Into the Party
So I’m walking across Mets Plaza in front of Citi Field the other day, quietest place you’d ever encounter late on a Tuesday morning in December. Nobody around for miles as far as I could tell. What a shame, I thought. I’m going to the holiday party the team holds for kids inside. To me […]
16 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | Daniel Murphy, Happy Holidays, Jon Niese, Justin Turner, Media, Mets Holiday Party, public relations, Winter
Fred from Locust Valley Calls Steve Somers
by Greg Prince on 23 May 2011 4:15 pm
“Your phone number for a Monday night schmooze, One Eight Seven Seven, Three Three Seven, Six Six Six Six on your Fan — WFAN, here taking your calls until Richard Neer at ten o’clock. Fred from Locust Valley, you’re next.”
“Hello Steve.”
“Hello Fred! You’re calling from the Valley of the Locusts, with the bedbugs…what already?”
“Steve, I […]
36 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | Fred Wilpon, public relations, WFAN
At Long Last, No Half-Measures
by Greg Prince on 5 October 2010 2:34 pm
George H.W. Bush, one of six U.S. presidents to have served while a Wilpon has been running the Mets, once attempted to combat perceptions that he was oblivious to people’s problems by declaring, “Message: I care.” Bill Clinton, the president who succeeded him when that message proved unconvincing, famously empathized with Americans, “I feel your […]
26 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | 2006 Mets, 2011 Mets, Bill Clinton, Fred Wilpon, General Manager, George H.W. Bush, Hope, Jeff Wilpon, Jerry Manuel, Mets Managers, Omar Minaya, Ownership, public relations, Team History
Calms Before and After Storms
by Greg Prince on 2 October 2010 4:48 am
If a manager and a general manager fall in the forest of rumors and you don’t hear it, did it happen? If the buzz surrounding a potential double-dismissal drowns out the noise from a walkoff home run, did the dinger make a sound? And if you’re standing in a deserted dugout after batting practice has […]
6 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | 30 Rock, Blogging, Chris Carter, Delta Club, Jerry Manuel, Jon Niese, Josh Thole, Media, Mike Pelfrey, Omar Minaya, public relations, R.A. Dickey, West Wing
Standard September Mets Loss Blog Post
by Greg Prince on 11 September 2010 5:30 am
Expression of resigned exasperation with latest result.
Acknowledgement that result doesn’t matter at this stage of season, yet it is always frustrating to encounter this sort of result.
Link to article spelling out game details.
Snarky aside.
Key example of what went wrong in game.
Assertion of saving grace, focusing on how this was just one game and player who […]
5 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | Carlos Beltran, Discouraging Developments, Embarrassment, Jeff Wilpon, Jenrry Mejia, Johan Santana, Luis Castillo, Media, Oliver Perez, Omar Minaya, public relations, Roy Halladay, Sean Green, September, Walter Reed
The Return of Rodriguez
by Greg Prince on 15 August 2010 5:00 am
You know, I would have canned the K-Rod entrance music for one night.
It had occurred to me Francisco Rodriguez might pitch at this game I was going to Saturday, but caught up in the Mets’ passive resistance movement (passing on scoring, resisting ground balls), I’d sort of forgotten he was back. But then, suddenly, it’s […]
3 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | Frankie Rodriguez, Mess, Mets Fans, public relations
Warning: Bay May Not Be Visible
by Greg Prince on 3 March 2010 8:26 am
Truth in advertising creeps into Metspeak, according to the Times‘ Bats blog:
Mets fans had a tough time feeling comfortable in Citi Field ast season, mainly because the team performed so poorly. But some fans were also irked that they could not see parts of the field from their seats, especially in left field.
In the third […]
19 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | Citi Field, Dave Howard, Geometry, Logic, Mets Marketing, New York Post, New York Times, public relations, Vantage Point Seating
Thirty Years With the Wilpons
by Greg Prince on 21 January 2010 6:19 pm
In the three decades since Fred Wilpon entered our consciousness, oftentimes the best thing about the ownership group he’s played a major part in running was who he was and who they weren’t.
First, it was outstanding that Doubleday & Company, Inc. — 95% majority owners of the New York Mets as of January 24, 1980 […]
31 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | Fred Wilpon, Jeff Wilpon, Joan Payson, Lorinda de Roulet, Nelson Doubleday, Ownership, public relations, Team History
Omar Clarifies Everything, Per Usual
Omar Minaya has told Newsday…ah, y’know what? I was going to update the saga of the ‘scope, but honestly, what’s the point? Without getting into Minaya’s crystal-clear explanation that he did talk to Beltran but he didn’t tell Beltran to have the surgery but there’s no problem between the organization and Beltran even though the […]
7 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | Carlos Beltran, Injuries, Omar Minaya, public relations
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Apartment Construction Financing Struggles
Headwinds for Apartment Development
Fident has been fortunate to work with many capable multifamily developers throughout the western United States. As we enter 2018, nine years into the current up-cycle, changes in the capital markets’ landscape makes financing apartment construction more challenging. Those challenges most prevalent the current financing landscape include:
Lender caution equates to scaling back leverage and construction loan allocations.
Interest rates are rising and are projected to continue rising.
Cap rates for multifamily, especially new development, have continued to decline and many investors fear that trend could cease or reverse. As a result, many seek a larger spread between stabilized cap on cost and pro forma exit cap rates.
Equity has begun favoring more defensive positions as a preferred equity provider to approximately 80-85% of cost where they earn a fixed rate of return, rather than pursuing 90/10 J.V. structures that might put their last dollar as high as 96% of cost.
Core locations developed at the right basis remain the “belle of the ball.” Development proposed in locations with a strong influx of new product or in suburban areas that are less insulated from a downturn receive a lot of scrutiny.
For many projects, the simple fact is that apartment deals are becoming harder to finance.
An Apartment Deal on the Bubble
One of Fident’s recent assignments capitalized a 150+ unit project in top-50 MSA. The deal can succinctly be described as “on the bubble.” It pencils, but just barely. Conservative adjustments to more than one or two pro forma assumptions easily make the deal less attractive on a risk-adjusted basis than other opportunities competing for investment dollars.
Fortunately, we sourced and structured a capital stack that holds an attractive construction loan (70% LTC at LIBOR plus 300) and an 85/15 JV equity partner that provides market-level profit splits. This was a tough assignment; we contacted dozens of capital providers for both debt and equity before securing vibrant partners under terms that the sponsor found acceptable. Not all projects of this nature are so fortunate.
HUD 2212(D)(4) – the Apartment Financing Road Less Travelled.
Our belief is that dozens of deals like are struggling to get financed. They need help. In these scenarios, a HUD 221(D)(4) (the “D4”) loan can bring new life to a project.
As with many financing choices, the D4 provides both positives and negatives:
We’ve known about the “D4” program for years and the construction/perm loan has always been compelling, at least on its face. It’s the bureaucratic nature of HUD, the admirative burden of closing these loans, and the long and opaque process that has always kept Fident from giving it material consideration, or recommendation.
That changed when we met a top MAP (Multifamily Accelerated Processing) lender for HUD at the CREF/MBA conference earlier this year. In just 3 years, this firm has burst to the number 3 lending spot. They have done this, in part, by committing to clean business process and excellence in one thing, and one thing only: HUD loans. They have deep relationships with the vendors that service HUD and drive the D4 process to make it much more tolerable than if left to more passive project management.
Further, their equity investor affiliates will take J.V. positions in these long-lived deals under the reasonably attractive structure of a 90/10 deal with an 8% pref. and a 60/40 split. This equity will also stay in these positions for 10 or more years.
It was this firm’s vision for the HUD program plus their vitality and enthusiasm that compelled us to compare the traditional capital stack we sourced for the aforementioned “bubble deal” against D4 financing.
Clearly, the HUD financing is highly accretive and compelling. However, both the equity partner and developer may need to change their thinking about investment duration. For a quick flip, traditional debt may be the way to go. It provides a quicker close and an open repayment. HUD’s 8 to 12-month process better suits a longer-term hold. To be clear, a sale could be consummated at or near stabilization, as the D4 debt can be assumed for only five basis points. However, removing the flexibility for a buyer to bring their own debt, or having to choke down the cost of early repayment on a 10-year step-down prepayment penalty could limit activity. Importantly, in a rising interest rate environment, a D4 could provide 60% LTC (an estimation) to a buyer at rates that are no longer achievable, thereby becoming an asset in and of itself.
The D4 Has a Role to Fill
We’re not here to say that this HUD program is the be all and end all. But numerous apartment deals have found increased construction costs and conservative senior leverage a real challenge for equity investors to accept. If you marry a single high-leverage loan that can go 42 – 43 years at a fixed rate on a non-recourse basis, to a long-term investment view, these vehicles can be tough to beat and significant wealth creation tools.
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Vancouver Solidarity Activists Support
the National Constituent Assembly in Venezuela
By Alison Bodine
In the days leading up to the National Constituent Assembly vote in Venezuela, the government of the US and the government of Canada both released statements demanding that the vote be cancelled. These outrageous statements, which also included US government threats for further sanctions, signified an escalation in imperialist intervention in Venezuela’s internal affairs.
It was this mind that people in support of the Constituent Assembly and the sovereignty and self-determination of Venezuela came to the streets of Vancouver for a solidarity action on Sunday, July 30 organized by the Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign. In fact, by the time the action in Vancouver began, people in Venezuela had already begun voting for the 545 members of the National Assembly that are now tasked with improving and broadening the Venezuelan Constitution.
The rally began with dynamic greetings direct from Venezuela. The first message came from Estela Vazquez, Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199 in New York City, who was in Venezuela as an international observer of the National Constituent Assembly elections. Estela emphasized the importance of international solidarity with Venezuela and the Bolivarian Revolution. She was followed by Christina Schiavoni, a Venezuela solidarity activist from the Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle in NYC, currently living and researching in Caracas, Venezuela. Christina described the atmosphere of voting day in Venezuela as energetic and positive, despite the multiple attacks carried out by the violent opposition that day. Participants at the rally also heard from Brian Sproule (CPC-ML) and Tamara Hansen, Coordinator, Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC).
As the protest ended, the first results from the Constituent Assembly elections came in, showing that over 8 million people had voted. This is a tremendous victory for the people of Venezuela, President Maduro and the Bolivarian revolutionary process!
However, this victory in no way means neither the end of the violent right-wing attacks in Venezuela nor an end to imperialist intervention in Venezuela. The ultimate goal of the counter-revolutionary opposition and their imperialist allies is to overthrow the democratically elected President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and reverse the gains of the Bolivarian revolution.
A New Petition
As part of the solidarity action on July 30, the Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign also launched a new petition demanding “Canada Hands Off Venezuela!” This petition targets the Foreign Minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland, whom recently released shameful and interventionist statements demanding that the government of Venezuela cancel the Constituent Assembly elections, and in support of US sanctions against Venezuela.
The Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign will continue to organize monthly Venezuela solidarity actions. We must continue to come together and unite to defend Venezuela in the face of increasing attacks by the governments of United States and their imperialist allies, and continued right-wing violence and terror!
For more information about the Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign go to www.firethistime.net or follow @FTT_np on Twitter.
US and Canada Respect the Sovereignty and Self-Determination of the Venezuelan People!
No to Regime Change in Venezuela!
No to Right-Wing Violence!
Follow Alison Bodine on Twitter: @Alisoncolette
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What is Bentonite?
Formation & Evolution
Sodium Bentonite Studies
Pascalite
Indigenous Clay Use
Buruli Ulcers and Clay
Links to New Examples
Welcome to Eytons' Earth
Bentonite: Public Research Project
Featured: Did You Know...?
Clay baths may be more amazing than you might think. Discover the art of clay baths for profound relaxation, detoxification, skin cleansing, and general wellness.
Quick Links to other Articles in this Section
|| Pascalite Article - White Calcium Bentonite || Clay Use by Primitives & Indigenous Cultures ||
|| Trace Minerals and Clay || Living Clay: Bentonite ||
A source sodium bentonite for colon cleansing: USP Sodium Bentonite
A source for calcium bentonite/montmorillonite: Calcium Bentonite
Hydrated Sodium Bentonite & Montmorillonite - Edible Clay Minerals
"In my experience with and research about clay, I have come to the conclusion that good clay is homeostatic. This means that if you and I take the same clay at the same time we might get different results, based on what our bodies need. Homeostasis is the "tendency toward a stable state of equilibrium," so you may need some minerals I don’t and I may need some detoxification you don’t, and clay can do all of that."
- Julie Crist, M. Ac.
Hydrated Bentonite
NATURE'S AGE OLD AID TO INTESTINAL DETOXIFICATION
NOW PROVEN SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND
HOW DOES BENTONITE, A CLAY, WORK ?
In the MEDICAL ANNALS of the DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Vol. 20, No. 6, June, 1961, under the title "The Value of Bentonite for Diarrhea" we may read the results of the clinical work performed by a team of medical doctors, using Hydrated Bentonite** in the treatment of diarrhea ( 34 cases ). The causative factors of the diarrhea were virus infections, food allergy, spastic colitis, and food poisoning. The results of the scientific investigation indicated that liquid bentonite provides substantial relief in 97 percent of the cases. The percent of relief indicated as to concomitant symptoms was: abdominal cramps 80%; headaches 71%; nausea 85%; and weakness 100%.
The above investigation produced clinical "in vivo" ( in the animal body ) data as to the efficacy of HYDRATED BENTONITE as an aid in detoxification of the human alimentary canal ( in this instance, with respect to various factors causing diarrhea and certain concomitant symptoms ).
The scientific article in question concludes with the following:
"By virtue of its physical action bentonite serves as an adsorbent aid in detoxification of the intestinal canal."
As to hydrated bentonite itself, let us learn more about it, and review the results of some "in vitro" ( in the laboratory ) experiments which illustrate how it works, so as to better comprehend why it acts as it does.
Bentonite is one of the volcanic ashes as is kaolin, Montmorillonite and Fuller's Earth. It is not a drug or a chemical composition made in a laboratory. It is a product of Mother Earth.
Bentonite in ages past was blown into the sky by volcanic action, then sifted down to the earth to help impregnate the soil with its 25 to 35 trace minerals. But, sometimes it accumulated in layers or veins from which it is mined. A secret process is used in producing the Hydrated Bentonite preparation ( which was employed in both the in vivo and in vitro experiments herein described - commercially sold as Vit-Ra-Tox #16, Sonne's #7 and Springreen #77 -- http://www.sonnes.com ). The natural bentonite is cleaned and the usable portion separated from the dirt and other residues. Bentonite, under a high power microscope, is seeing as extremely minute rectangular particles similar in shape to a calling card.
America's outstanding authority on bentonite claims its action is due to five characteristics. First, it has a large and varied mineral content. Second, it has a negative electrical attraction for positively charged particles. In the human bodies many of the toxic poisons are positively charged. Third, its particles, being shaped like a "calling card" with the wide surfaces negative and the edges of the card positive, have many times more negative than positive pulling power. Fourth, the very minuteness of the particles of bentonite give a large surface area in proportion to the volume used thus enabling it pick up many times its own weight in positively charged particles. Fifth, to obtain maximum effectiveness in the human body, it must be put in a liquid colloidal-gel state. This is why it cannot be made into tablet form which would save shipping costs.
There is no evidence to show it has any chemical effect on the body. Its actions seems to purely physical. In almost every common, chronic distress, there is a congestion - an un-eliminated accumulation of normal body wastes on which many germs can thrive. Both US Government Bureau of Mines Booklet #609, and a late edition of the Dispensatory of The United States of America, an official compendium, give bentonite high praise. We quote from an addition of the US Dispensatory: "In aqueous suspension, the individual particles of bentonite are negatively charged, this resulting in a strong attraction for positively charged particles and being responsible for the ability in bentonite to clarify such liquid as contains positively charged particles of suspended matter . . . In addition to the growing number of external uses for bentonite, it has been reported to be of value as an intestinal evacuant when used in the form of a gel."
According to Robert T. Martins, B.S., University of Minnesota; Ph.D., Cornell University and Mineralogist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one gram ( 1/28th of an ounce ) of this product has a surface area of 800 sq. meters. This would be forty times that of its only competitor now being commercially used by doctors and hospitals. The greater the surface area the greater its power to pick up positively particles.
Since bentonite has such strong adsorptive powers, its consumption could render unavailable some of the necessary nutrients, as certain vitamins, by adsorbing them from the elementary canal. However, independent experiments purposely designed to find out how much this absorption would adversely affect the growth and health of experimental animals indicated no ill effects when the intake of bentonite was 25% of the total diet, but did adversely affect the health when the intake of bentonite was increased to 50% of the total diet. ( From Annals of the NY Academy of Science, Vol. 57 page 678, May 10, 1954. )
Since our product is mostly water with only proportion of bentonite, to reach this state of toxicity it would mean projecting the results of this experiment to where the person would have to consume each day a supply designed for 1032 days. In other words, mathematically for the bentonite in our product to reach the toxic level of 50% of the diet it would be necessary to consume a three year supply each day over an extended period.
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS ON HYDRATED BENTONITE - 1961
Illustrating the Mechanics of How It Acts as an Aid in Detoxification via the Alimentary Tract
Three IN VITRO ( in the laboratory ) experiments ( reviewed below ) were conducted by Dr. Howard E. Lind, M.S., BS, Ph.D. Dr. Lind is president of Lind Laboratories, Brookline, Mass. He was born in Providence, R.I., 1913; received his Bachelor of Science from the University of RI, 1934 and was assistant in Bacteriology there 1934 - 1935; Master of Public Health, Mass. Institute of Technology 1937; attended Saint Louis University 1939 - 1940; Senior Bacteriologist at Chicago Branch Laboratory, State Health Dept., Illinois 1940 - 1943; Bacteriologist at Dow Chemical Co., 1945 - 1946; Research Director at Sias Memorial Laboratory of Brooks Hospital, Brookline, Mass., 1946 to date.
EXPERIMENT I
( Reported Feb. 7, 1961 )
To demonstrate in vitro sorptive ( to condense and hold upon its surface ) powers of an aqueous solution of bentonite.
One hundred fifty milliliters of the Bentonite preparation were placed in a 250 ml. beaker which contained a plastic coated magnetic agitator. One ml. of a 24 hour broth culture of serratia marcescene was added to the bentonite preparation and the beaker placed on a magnetic agitator. One ml. of a 24 hour broth culture of serratia marcescene was added to the bentonite preparation and the beaker placed on a magnetic stirrer. In order to avoid the heat of the magnetic stirrer the beaker was placed approximately 1/4 inch above the base. After five minutes of stirring, 1 ml. of bentonite suspension was removed for culturing.
A brass-coated mesh cylinder containing alkaline pellets was lowered into the bentonite-bacteria mixture and allowed to remain for thirty minutes. The cylinder with its surrounding jell was removed, washed with water, filled with new pellets and again placed in the bentonite-bacteria solution. This was repeated at 30 minute intervals for 90 minutes. This experiment was repeated several times to show that the phenomenon was genuine and reproducible.
The two trials below indicate the quantitative extremes of bacteria population change.
CHANGES IN BACTERIAL COUNTS OF SERRATIA MARCESCENS IN PRESENCE OF BENTONITE
Trial 1 Trial 2
Bacterial count/ml. Reduction %* Bacterial count/ml. Reduction %
Initial 4,095,000 5,760,000
30 minutes 3,675,000 10.257 % 4,260,000 26.042 %
90 minutes 620,000 75.150 % 27,500 98.967 %
( % reduction ) ( 85 % ) ( 99 + % )
These two trials representing the extremes of a series of runs show a minimum reduction of 85% and a maximum reduction of 99% of the bacteria in 90 minutes. Results indicate that approximately 25% of the bentonite preparation was able to remove 85% to 99% of the organisms.
The research results indicated that by the in vitro method it has been possible to demonstrate that the bentonite preparation Vit-Ra-Tox #16 ( et al. ) is able to remove bacteria by sorption. It was definitely established that the bacteria were not inactivated but were removed by sorption.
EXPERIMENT II
( Reported March 10, 1961 )
To demonstrate in vivo sorption powers of a bentonite preparation against two organisms, Escherichia coli ( a gram-negative organism ) and Staphylococcus Aureus ( a gram-positive organism ).
Essentially the same as in Experiment I, reported above, but modified by using a four-hour culture instead of the 24-hour culture of Experiment I. This was to avoid excessive clumping of the organisms.
CHANGES IN BACTERIA COUNTS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN THE PRESENCE OF BENTONITE
Bacterial count/ml. Reduction %* Bacterial count/ml. Reduction %*
Initial 1,170,000 10,500,000
30 minutes 410,000 64.940% 6,100,000 41.905%
60 minutes 0 100.00% 5,200,000 14.755%
90 minutes 0 - 900,000 82.693%
( % reduction ) ( 100 % ) ( 91 % )
The above two trials show that the E. coli were reduced 100% and 91% respectively after 60 to 90 minutes using only about 20% of the bentonite preparation. This compares favorably with the removal of the serratia marcescents in Experiment I above.
CHANGES IN BACTERIAL COUNTS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IN THE PRESENCE OF BENTONITE
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Bacterial count/ml. Reduction %* Bacterial count/ml. Reduction %* Bacterial count/ml. Reduction %*
Initial 780,000 230,000 490,000
30 minutes 740,000 5.129% 160,000 30.435% 290,000 40.816%
60 minutes 810,000 -8.642% 100,000 37.500% 290,000 -0-
90 minutes 620,000 23.547% 140,000 -28.572% 300,000 -3.333%
( % reduction) ( 21% ) ( 39% ) ( 40% )
With S. Aureus ( a gram-positive organism ), in Trials 1, 2, 3, it was shown that the numbers of S. Aureus were reduced 21%, 39%, and 40% respectively, or an average of 33%. Results of these trials indicate that 20-30% of the bentonite was able to remove 33% of the organisms.
The research indicated that by the technique employed, it has been possible to confirm the previous conclusion that the bentonite preparation can remove significant numbers of certain gram-negative bacteria, while it appears to be only one-third as effective as to a gram-positive organism, S. Aureus.
EXPERIMENT III
( Reported May 8, 1961 )
To demonstrate in vitro sorptive powers of a bentonite preparation against A. Proteus mirabilis, a gram-negative organism which can cause diarrhea, and B. its selective sorptive value in a mixture of 3 organisms, namely Proteus mirabilis ( gram-negative ), Escherichia coli ( gram-negative ) and Staphylococcus aureus
( gram-positive ).
Essentially the same as that used in Experiment I and II above, using the 4-hour culture used in Experiment II instead of the 24-hour one of Experiment I, and lowering the concentration of each organism.
A. CHANGES IN BACTERIAL COUNTS OF PROTEUS MIRABILIS IN THE PRESENCE OF BENTONITE
Initial 155,000 240,000
30 minutes 45,000 70.968% 70,000 70.834%
90 minutes 1,000 93.333% -0- -
120 minutes -0- - -0- -
( % reduction ) ( 100% ) ( 100% )
In trials #1 and #2, it was shown that the numbers of Proteus mirabilis were reduced 100% after 90 to 120 minutes in the concentration of organisms employed by 15% of the volume of bentonite.
B. CHANGES IN BACTERIAL COUNTS OF A MIXTURE OF P. MIRABILIS, E. COLI, AND S. AUREUS
Bacterial count/ml. Reduction % * Bacterial count/ml. Reduction %*
Proteus mirabilis
Initial 34,000 90,000
60 minutes 2,000 88.889% 10,000 50.000%
90 minutes 1,000 50.000% 0 -
30 minutes 14,000 22.223% 10,000 -0-
60 minutes 8,000 42.857% 1,000 90.000%
Initial 2,000 3,000
30 minutes 2,000 -0- 2,000 33.334%
60 minutes 3,000 -33.334% 3,000 -33.334%
90 minutes 0 - 0 -
In trials #3 and #4 it was indicated that approximately 15% of the bentonite preparation removed from 95-100% of Proteus mirabilis organism, 83-100% of the E. coli organisms and 100% of the S. aureus organism in the concentrations employed. In other words there appeared to be selective sorption when the quantity of organism concentration was much less than the high concentration used in previous tests.
With lower concentrations of mixed organisms there appears to be selective sorption. However, when the population of mixed organisms is over 100,000 and the concentration of bentonite remains the same as when individual organisms were used, there was apparently little or no selective sorption by the technique employed. Thus it may be that selectivity of mixed organisms above 100,000 will require the use of a much larger quantity of bentonite than that used for sorption of single organisms or for sorption of mixed organisms under 100,000 population.
While the bentonite is working to remove the undesirable bacteria it could also remove an equal number of desirable bacteria, but when one realizes the large difference in the relative population of the this may not present a problem. In a normal healthy individual the population of desirable bacteria can run from 100,000 to 100,000,000 per cubic centimeter while the undesirable will generally run only 1/10 of one percent to 1%
( .001 to .01 ) of that number. However, when the population of undesirable bacteria gets up to 2% or 3%, the individual may be in real trouble and may perhaps have as, cramps, or serious diarrhea. To illustrate, assume a desirable population of 50,000 organisms with 1% undesirable or 500,000, assuming that the undesirable population increases to 2% or 1,000,000 and by increasing the quantity of bentonite suppose we removed 500,000 of each within 2 hours, we then would get:
Desirable 50,000,000 But, Undesirable 1,000,000
Removed 500,000 Removed 500,000
Balance 49,500,000 We now have 500,000
or a reduction of only 1% which should be rapidly replaced with or a reduction of 50% in this category, bringing the population back to a more normal state, where it should stay if conditions of normal good health prevail.
Note: In this summary Dr. Lind stated, "It also appears that if one wishes to accurately determine that a specific organism will be removed or sorpted from the gut by bentonite, one must set up "in vivo" experiments in animals. This would involve oral administration of the specific organism in question and following its path through the gut in the presence of a bentonite preparation." The clinical work done by Dr. Damrau's group mentioned in the first paragraph of this article, seems to have already demonstrated this "in vivo" ( in the body ) within the scope of the matters under investigation. In that research results in the treatment of diarrhea in humans were indicated as 97% satisfactory and had the dosage been raised as per Dr. Lind's procedures, the results might have been more impressive.
Far infrared therapy can be combined with external clay therapy with excellent results.
TDP Mineral Lamp & Clay Therapy
Although any far infrared heat source may be used with clay, the FDA approved TDP Lamp provides a source of gentle energy that may provide an enhanced synergistic effect due to the clay plate that the lamp uses.
General Uses of Clay
Healing Clay Uses - Pelotherapy
Introduction to Healing Clay
Pelotherapy and Healing Clays of the World
Clay Chemistry
Clay Chemistry - Healing Clays: Bentonite, Illite, Montmorillonite
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Topic: hydrated-bentonite.php
william (Sydney) says...
I have used green clay for a bad
fungal infection after trying many creams with cortasone which failed, the results were excellent. I was able to get 100% positive cure, after one week.
~William
8th June 2015 4:08pm
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450 Contemporary Piano Studies in 15 Keys
Sample Scores
Listen: Recorded Pieces
C G F D B♭
Coil Bound V1
PDF V1
Paperback V1
A E♭ E A♭ B
PDF V2
Paperback V2
D♭ F# G♭ C# C♭
PDF V3
About These Books
450 Contemporary Piano Studies in 15 Keys Drawing on author and composer Charles Austin's extensive lifetime experience as an educator and working musician, this work of 30 pieces in each of 15 keys (five keys in each of three volumes) introduces and explores multiple styles—from Classical to Jazz, Blues, 'Country' and Latin, and is an invaluable resource for piano students and teachers at all levels.
These pieces can be played as sight reading pieces, or as quick studies, where the wide range of difficulty and complexity will allow both beginner and advanced students to be served. There is a wide range of difficulty and style in these pieces and enough depth, value and detail for most to be studied and performed as pieces on their own. Through chord symbols and other notation, the player will become more familiar with harmony, voice-leading, counterpoint, and the relationship of melody and harmony thus paving the way for improvisation and composition.
Pianists involved with of any area of piano or music studies will benefit from playing these pieces. The idea of reading and playing in all fifteen keys could be construed as unusual but in some professional arenas, a player often encounters unfamiliar keys. The aim of these pieces is to prepare the pianist/musician of the jazz/pop background to cope with this reality and to help those who have only studied classical piano to become exposed to contemporary jazz art and commercial music styles in practice.
Preface
450 Contemporary Piano Studies in 15 Keys consists of three volumes. Each volume contains original pieces in piano arrangements in various styles (jazz, classical, blues, rock, and pop etc.). They are designed to give the player some insight into styles, harmonic structure and voice leading, and a greater sense of what the notes are doing in a functional way.
Volume 1: C, G, F, D, B♭
Book 1 — 75 quarter note pieces
Book 2 — 75 eighth note pieces of progressive difficulty in keys of up to two sharps and two flats.
Volume 2: A, E♭, E, A♭, B
Book 2 — 75 eighth note pieces of progressive difficulty in keys of three through five sharps and three and four flats.
Volume 3: D♭, F#, G♭, C#, C♭
Book 2 — 75 eighth note pieces of progressive difficulty in keys of six through seven sharps and five through seven flats.
Volume 1 begins with simple diatonic tunes in C major through two sharps and two flats which progress in difficulty through the factors of intervallic, chromatic, and rhythmic complexity. Volume 2 and Volume 3 are much like Volume 1 in terms of progress through keys. Each of these volumes has a general graduated level of difficulty. Each volume starts with quarter note pieces (Book 1) and progresses to eighth note pieces (Book 2) with each volume being a little more difficult than the one that precedes it in terms of keys and the other factors of difficulty mentioned.
Reviews & Reader Comments
Free Sheet Music: Joy Ride -- Intermediate Level
"...these pieces are very inventive, covering the kinds of gestures/textures that jazz/pop pianists play with lots of groove and dynamic subtlety... I got through C, G, F, D and B-flat. I really like how you present the keys in this format; it's how I've always taught them. You deserve all the success you can stand from this very vital piano project."
Orlando Fiol Ph.D. Professional Pianist/Keyboardist, Percussionist, Arranger, Performer and Pedagogue, Charlotte NC
"...filled with natural real sounding beautiful music. ...present different styles (classical, blues, jazz and others), various genres (waltz, ballade and so on). ...15 compositions written in each key with different modes (major, minor, pentatonic, diatonic and so on). The idea of the author is to introduce “hard” keys earlier with simple forms. This grand work is based on the life experience of Charles Austin as a jazz performer and a teacher... very useful for the classical pianist. It helps them to develop the connection between the emotions and the mind, the ability to make decisions and to accumulate attention on stage. Creation and improvisation skills make a performer feel free at the keyboard and to avoid stage fright. The student should study this book to get better sight reading skills, to improve rhythm, to dissolve technical tasks, to have nice concert repertoire..." (read full review)
Janina Karaliene, Piano Teacher, Vilnius, Lithuania.
"... a complete studies' method ... the pieces are beautiful and interesting, with a great variety in styles ... Besides their musicality, the pieces' difficulty greatly vary in such an extent, that one could cover several years of piano technique practice. The instructions given inside are crystal clear, offering great help to the students learning procedure, ultimately contributing towards better understanding. There are more than one ways to benefit from this method, from sight-reading to harmonic and structural analysis. In conclusion, I would recommend this truly colorful book, to piano teachers and students as an alternative and complimentary studies' books, to often-played or even "monotonous" other methods. An amazing work!" (from Amazon.com)
Savvas Pavlidis, Thessaloniki, Greece, Piano Teacher
“This is no armchair text! This text is another worthy example of terrific international jazz education publications.”
International Association of Jazz Educators Magazine
"... one of the most innovative and creative jazz instructors and performers currently writing education material ...some of the most intricate and entertaining approaches for piano key studies ...450 Contemporary Piano Studies in 15 Keys should be in every public library as a fine reference work on jazz piano..."
Lee Prosser — jazzreview.com
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4 points to consider when tackling Twitter
Rich Cherecwich
4 points to consider when tackling Twitter Rich Cherecwich
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When Twitter first started gaining steam, many probably scoffed at the idea of exchanging brief, 140-character messages, or "tweets," with others. But with 6 million (and counting) users, the social media application is beginning to prove its marketing value.
Twitter is essentially an instant messenger made public -- the 140-character messages, or "tweets," can be seen by everyone, and the conversations are always free-flowing. While consumers use the service to blab about how badly they want a pizza or to arrange weekend plans, they also use it to discuss your business, brand, or product -- and they'll continue to do so, whether you participate or not.
But don't just start firing off marketing missives to the Twitter community. If you actually want to leverage Twitter as a marketing tool, you'll need a plan, and you'll need to stick with it for the long haul. Here's what you need to keep in mind before you start to tweet.
It's not a campaign
Social media is not merely a flash in the pan; and regardless of whether or not Twitter becomes the next great marketing application, a similar service will still be popular years from now. If you want to jump into Twitter -- or any form social media -- be prepared to invest a great amount of time. You can't merely spend one week talking to consumers and then vanish.
Before diving in, you'll need a plan, including figuring out what you want to accomplish, and why you are joining the conversation in the first place. When you log onto Twitter, you're asked "What are you doing?" But when marketing via Twitter, the most important question to keep in mind is, "What are you thinking?" according to Rodney Rumford, CEO of Gravitational Media.
"I share information that is unique and valuable to my followers," Rumford said, speaking at the Gravity Summit in Los Angeles. "Think about your target, your audience, and how you can give them information."
Listen, don't push
When you focus on providing value to your followers -- whether they're current clients or prospective ones -- it's important to remember Twitter isn't a push marketing tool. Don't beat your clients over the head with offers or use Twitter merely as a promotional tool. Instead, engage in real conversations.
Rumford equates Twitter to a river, and just like how a fisherman would set up multiple nets in the river, you'll need to set up multiple filters to listen in on the conversations that are already happening. Search.twitter.com lets you find out who is discussing your brand, product, business, and competitors. After you listen in, join the conversation with insightful commentary. "Be a fly on the wall, listen, and add value when appropriate," Rumford said. "There are great nuggets in this river, and you're panning for gold."
Twitter isn't merely for big brands either. By listening and joining existing conversations, small businesses gain equal footing with the big corporations, and can even take a bit out of some of their biggest competitors.
It's more than customer service
Brands like Zappos, Comcast, and Sprint get great press for using Twitter to join consumer conversations and assuage customer crises. Consumers are also more likely to leave with a positive experience when they know they're talking to a real human being -- not just a brand, but a face and a name. But customer service shouldn't be the only reason you use Twitter. "Customer service is low-hanging fruit," Rumford said. "Every brand should already be using it for that."
When planning out your Twitter strategy, consider creating multiple accounts to communicate with different audiences. Think about the issues you'll want to address with these accounts, and how each can add value for both your business and clients. The Kogi Korean BBG Taco Truck, a Los Angeles-based small business, uses its Twitter page to announce where it will set up next, and draws hundreds of people everywhere it goes. Services like Splitweet and TweetGrid let you manage multiple accounts.
Every tweet counts
Everything on Twitter is public, which means consumers can view your stream of messages regardless of whether or not they follow you, or even have a registered Twitter account. Therefore, every message you write counts. While Twitter offers the ability to protect your tweets from outside viewers, don't do it. "That defeats the purpose," Rumford said. "The whole point is to be social."
In that regard, you'll also want to treat every voice as an equal. Answer every message you can, whether that consumer has 5,000 followers or just five. "When you answer someone who is less influential, it shows you're willing to interact with everyone, so it's really good for business," Rumford said.
Because Twitter facilitates free-flowing conversation, it's inevitable that you'll attract brand detractors. In the fish bowl that is Twitter, these hecklers provide the perfect opportunity to show your true colors. Discuss their issues and turn that person into a satisfied customer, and possibly a brand evangelist. And remember, it's all public. "When I'm having these conversations, I'm being judged by everyone that follows them, and they're seeing how I interact with my business prospects and clients," Rumford said. "Be aware of that."
Rich Cherecwich is associate editor, iMedia Connection.
A former reporter and editor, Rich Cherecwich has an intimate knowledge of how journalists conceptualize, craft and write their content. At WIT Strategy, he works closely with clients to develop, edit and publish high-level thought leadership...
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Paladin’s Quest
Posted by Robert Fenner on June 29, 2016
Paladin's Quest / Lennus: Memories of the Ancient Machine (レナス 古代機械の記憶) - SNES (1992)
This entry is part 1 of 2 in the series Paladin's Quest / Lennus
Paladin's Quest / Lennus
Lennus II
MISSING A FEW IMAGES
Despite their pedigree, Enix America Inc. was one of the more peculiar localizers of the 1990s. After bringing Dragon Warrior II, III and IV westward several years after their Japanese release dates, the publisher all-but-abandoned their flagship franchise in the west, leaving its critically-acclaimed 16-bit entries to languish in Japan for the better part of two decades. Instead, they turned to translating a handful of titles from different Japanese developers that were great, like Quintet’s Actraiser; bad, like Produce’s The 7th Saga; or just plain weird, like Almanic’s E.V.O: The Search For Eden.
Copya System’s Lennus series falls somewhere between bad and weird. They’re a duo of grindy and time-consuming turn-based JRPGs, but their bizarre art design is unlike anything the genre has seen before, or ever again. The planet Lennus is a pastel-colored world of geometric trees, strange humanoid races that live in eggshell houses, and ravenous beasts of all shapes and sizes: From bug-eyed rabbits to great dinosaurs, with ladybug men in between. It gives the distinct air of 1970s French science fiction, ala Fantastic Planet or the works of the late Jean “Moebius” Giraud, something seen rarely in any video game. Lennus’ concept art was by award-winning science fiction illustrators Hiroyuki Katō and Keisuke Gotō, famed for their intensely-detailed covers of Hayakwa S-F Magazine, with monster designs handled by Shuji Imai, illustrator for Nintendo Power (including Howard and Nester, of all things). These three artists, under the guidance of the game’s writer/director Hidenori Shibao, managed to create a world that, while not always visually attractive, stood apart from its fantasy manga-style contemporaries. The music is by the prolific Kouhei Tanaka (Gravity Rush, The Granstream Saga, Tengai Makyou), and although it’s nothing to write home about, it still manages to fit the game’s mood while being pleasant to the ear.
Cover of a 1991 issue of S-F Magazine, illustrated by Hiroyuki Katō & Keisuke Gotō
Enix America opted not to keep the planet’s name as the game’s title, instead going with the much-more mundane Paladin’s Quest, perhaps to bring their Dragon Quest series to mind. The name ends up being a complete misnomer; there are no Paladins to be found in Paladin’s Quest! Instead, this quest is concerned with stopping a rampaging machine.
Long ago, the Great Heroes from Planet Raiga, Kormu, Sophie and Gabnid, created the ancient machine Dal Gren. Gabnid, however, drunk on power and jealous of Sophie’s love for Kormu, repurposed Dal Gren as an instrument for destruction. The heartbroken Kormu and Sophie took up arms against their former friend, slaying him and sealing Dal Gren away.
In the present day, the northern continent of Naskuot and the southern continent of Saskuot are embroiled in war. Saskuot, recently conquered by the dictator Lord Zaygos, turns its military towards Naskuot in an effort to rule all of Lennus. The game opens at an unnamed magic school in Naskuot with Chezni, a student who strives to become a great spiritualist. One day after school, Chezni is challenged by his classmate Duke to climb The Tower of Gabnid, a prominent and forbidden structure looming over the school.
When Chezni and Duke reach the top, they find a room of wires, circuits and technological marvels. Duke dares Chezni to put his hand on a palm-activated panel, but alas, the panel in question is used to activate Dal Gren! Chezni finds himself in an unwinnable battle against the powerful machine and is knocked out. When he comes to, Chezni finds the school in ruins and the headmaster, the only survivor, gives him the scolding of his life. And with that, Chezni sets out to stop Dal Gren and right what went wrong.
The mysterious console brings Dal Gren to life.
Chezni
Our hapless hero, all Chezni wanted to do was learn to be a great spiritualist, until he unwittingly activated Dal Gren, destroying the school and killing all of his peers. He sets out across Lennus to stop the machine and atone for his sins along the way. Chezni is a descendant of the Great Hero Kormu.
Chezni’s kinda-sorta love interest and a talented mage in her own right. After you rescue her from Zaygos’ forces early on, she joins as the game’s sole permanent party member. Technically this makes her the leading lady, but after joining up she hardly speaks two words for the rest of the game. Midia’s a descendent of Great Mage Sophie, lover of Kormu, so maybe it’s best not to think too much about the nature of her and Chezni’s relationship lest we get into some icky territory.
This pushy pipsqueak won’t leave you alone until you agree to climb The Tower of Gabnid with him, but as soon as Chezni activates Dal Gren he freaks out and runs away crying. Duke isn’t seen again until the very end of the game, at which point it’s revealed he’s actually…
Lord Zaygos
The wicked dictator of Saskuot who strives to conquer Lennus by force! Why? Well, the game doesn’t really get into that, he’s just an evil guy. Zaygos disguised himself as Duke to trick Chezni into activating Dal Gren, so he could harness the machine’s power to aid his quest for global domination. It’s left unexplained why Zaygos couldn’t have activated the machine himself; maybe Dal Gren only responds to Kormu’s DNA, or maybe Zaygos just likes pretending to be a child.
Fritz is a friendly woodsman living in a cabin on Resutar Island. He’s always happy to allow travellers to stay the night in his home, until it gets blown up by Zaygos’ goblin army. Fritz won’t stand for that kind of business so he joins Chezni to rescue Midia, bringing his expertise with a bow along with him. After Midia is safe and sound, he stays behind to rebuild his cabin.
Nephew to the elder of the Skuruu, a nomadic tribe of winged people who live in camps built upon kites high in the sky. The activation of Dal Gren had the side effect of mutating the Skuruu’s avian livestock, the Purpbirds, causing them to gain sentience and stage a rebellion against their masters. The elder sends Chezni, Midia and Tiger to kill the Purpbird leader and quash the uprising, which is actually quite sad if you stop to think about it.
This former miner is a shell of his former self when you encounter him in the underground town of Hagudo. A vein of lava erupted from the nearby mines, killing his son and putting him out of business. Although he’s the only one capable of stopping the rising lava, Smash just drinks his days away at the local pub. He won’t gain the resolve to help unless the bar’s pianist plays Godom Lullaby, a song that the pianist hates. Chezni has to find a way to get the song played so Smash can seal the vein with his mining explosives. Comically, sealing the vein causes all of the lava to disappear, revealing that all of the people and houses that were once covered have survived intact.
The leader of the Saskuot Resistance, the only group in the country who oppose Zaygos’ rule. In an act of domestic terrorism, Grunt destroys the cable car wire you’re travelling on and kidnaps your group to his secret base. To prove you’re not with Zaygos, he has his men hold Midia hostage and forces himself into your party to rescue…
Grunt’s second-in-command, Wind was taken prisoner by Zaygos’ forces in the town of Conshuito. She doesn’t have much of a role outside of being a living macguffin, but she puts up a good fight during the brief period she’s with you.
MeanMa
Her name is somewhat deceptive, as MeanMa is quite friendly. One of the mercenaries you can hire, MeanMa is notable for being a bit too friendly; she joins for free and holds her own on the battlefield but refuses to be dismissed. The only way to ditch MeanMa is to let her fall in combat, or for her to be chased out by…
Chill is a real jerk. When you enter the town of Conshuito to rescue Wind, Chill becomes infatuated with Chezni, forcing out the mercenary in the fourth slot of your party. When you reach Wind, Chill realizes that you’re working for the resistance, spars with you, and runs off to sound the alarm and turn the town hostile. You never actually get a chance to use Chill in battle; she leaves the party if you leave Conshuito before saving Wind, so her sole purpose is to force you to fight her without a full party.
A member of Grunt’s Resistance, Fiery is seeking vengeance for her brother, who was killed by Zaygos. She breaks you out of Zaygos’ prison and helps you destroy Noi Gren, Zaygos’ emulation of Dal Gren.
Another optional mercenary, Lilie serves no storyline purpose but is notable for her absurd recruitment method. Lilie wants nothing more than to take part in a parade, but she wants to be properly dressed for the occasion. For an extortionate sum, she asks you to buy her a dress, accessories, a whip and boots, making her come across more like a financial dominatrix than a parade-goer. For the money you pay, she isn’t a very powerful ally, so her presence just adds to the game’s weirdness factor.
Found in the underground ancient ruins, Nails is a robot built by Gabnid ten thousand years ago. Despite his age he’s kept himself in good nick, boasting a range of powerful attacks and a high HP count. The only thing about Nails is, being a robot, he can’t gain levels and he can only heal himself through a unique, battle-only ability. He comes in handy when you first find him, but his finite potential means he’ll soon become outpaced.
So many optional characters for 1992!
Along with the characters named above, there’s a whopping sixteen additional mercenaries you can recruit to round out your party. Some of them charge money, some join for free, some are completely useless — including a conman who runs off with your money! — and some are just bizarre like the aforementioned MeanMa and Lilie. You can’t change a mercenary’s equipment, meaning everybody except late game mercs will become outpaced eventually, but making careful use of them proves to be invaluable during your trek across Lennus.
Amusingly, Headmaster Daicant and Lady Daphne are palette swaps of each other. His beard becomes her huge chin!
It’s impressive that each recruitable character has a unique portrait, which makes it all-the-more baffling that none of them have a unique sprite, instead sharing a sprite with a townsperson of their race and gender, which often look nothing like their portrait. Sometimes two separate mercenaries will even use the same sprite! The same holds true for all storyline characters, with the exception of Chezni, Midia and Duke.
Monsters are alien and numerous.
The world of Lennus is pretty inhospitable from the outset. Chezni on his lonesome isn’t much of a melee fighter, instead being handy with spells. However, there’s no MP in this game; all spells are cast from HP, so you have to keep a careful eye on your stats and make sure you don’t put yourself in a precarious position. Due to the nature of this system, there are no healing spells, nor can magic be used outside of battle, so HP is restored via the use of refillable medicine bottles or through special battle-only equipment functions. Each spell falls into one of eight categories: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Sky, Light, Sphere and Heart. Chezni begins his quest only with affinity for fire spells, but more affinities can be purchased from special magic shops. Each affinity you earn not only grants you new spells of its nature, but it also combines with your other affinities, giving you hybrid spells that fall into both categories. Using magic regularly in battle is important, as affinities only grow in power through usage. Using hybrid spells is particularly beneficial as they strengthen two categories at once.
Selecting body parts with the D-Pad.
Paladin’s Quest‘s overall weirdness extends to its battle system, which is primarily controlled using the D-Pad. Menu commands are positioned around each cardinal direction, and choosing to attack presents you with a list of your body parts. Selecting your belt is how you down a medicine bottle (or throw a bomb, depending on what you’re wearing), but you can just as easily swing a sword as you can headbutt, kick, or hurl your body, although doing so may provide diminishing returns. Choosing when to use body parts comes into play later on when you’re equipped with gear that bestows special effects; Midia’s Crown of Sophie restores her HP when you select it, while Nails the robot can launch missiles from his head.
The quest to stop Dal Gren follows the formula laid by many of Paladin’s Quest‘s 16-bit JRPG contemporaries: Travel from town to town solving problems, working your way through vast dungeons along the way. There’s the odd dull cavern, but some of the dungeons look wonderfully inspired: The city of Jurayn is centered around the Sky Temple, a sacred tower that resembles a lily: You’ll clamber through its basement before ascending to the sky above, climbing to the top of the lily as you watch the world recede through its glass floors. Unfortunately, the unique settings do little to mitigate the fact that they’re meandering slogs through winding corridors, your walk speed as slow as the encounter rate is high.
The bizarre writing of Paladin’s Quest.
The writing and tone in Paladin’s Quest is just as bizarre as its visuals. Characters speak in a sort of stilted manner, such as a political prisoner languishing in jail lamenting that he goofed up, or an evil townsperson telling you his city doesn’t tolerate smiles. Each recruitable character also has their own status screen quote. Most are plain, but MeanMa’s plea of “Don’t dismiss me!” will probably make you smile in its weirdness. Paladin’s Quest isn’t really meant to be a parody but it does have its odd jokey moments. At one point you’ll travel through a weird cave through of parasites only to be barfed out of a dragon’s mouth, realizing what you believed to be a cave entrance was actually its sphincter. Later still, you’ll walk into a house presented in 8-bit style that holds a priest straight out of Dragon Quest, who realizes he’s in the wrong game and makes a quick exit. These comedy scenes are few and not very funny, but they lend to the game’s overarching vibe of otherworldliness.
Exploring the extraordinary world of Paladin’s Quest provided me with an entire summer of fun twenty years ago, but nowadays it’s a very hard game to return to. It’s long, grindy and the enemies have endless amounts of HP. Eventually you gain access to a wonderfully designed airship that resembles a temari ball if it took to the skies, but by that point there’s literally nothing left to do but tackle the final boss. But, despite its shortcomings, the wholly unique — and occasionally nightmarish — world of Planet Lennus stands in stark contrast to the multitude of JRPGs that settled for a more uniform fantasy setting. Paladin’s Quest still deserves to be seen, but perhaps not from start to finish.
MobyGames: Paladin’s Quest – Contains the game’s entire developer credits, among other useful tidbits.
RPGClassics: Paladin’s Quest Shrine – Home of a thorough walkthrough of the game.
Solution to Doth’s Maze – An agonizing puzzle found late in the game.
Series Navigation Lennus II >>
Dark Half
7th Saga, The
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation
Lufia & The Fortress of Doom
Brain Lord
Aretha: The Super Famicom
Tag: 16-bit RPG, Enix, RPG: Japanese, Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Top 47,858 Games of All Time Episode 103: Seiken Densetsu 3, Lords of Thunder
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Geophysics of the Azuara impact structure
The gravity survey comprises 350 gravity stations with a 500 m spacing, covering about 185 km profile length (Fig. 1). Bouguer corrected gravity data (correction density: 2300 kg/m3; reference level: 820 m a. s.l.) have resulted in a Bouguer anomaly map (Fig. 1). It shows a complex gravity field which, apart from the impact, could already be expected from the known lithological and structural setting in the Azuara region. The gravity field is dominated by a strong regional gradient superimposed by an overall negative anomaly within the Azuara structure. For further analysis a provisional regional gravity field (Fig. 2) has been subtracted. Since the survey lacks gravity stations outside the Azuara structure, this regional field is based on the Bouguer map, 1:1,000,000, for the Iberian Peninsula (IGCE, 1976) and data kindly supplied by A. Casas (Barcelona).
Fig. 1. Azuara impact structure: Provisional Bouguer anomalies. Counter interval 1 mgal.
Fig. 2. Azuara impact structure: Provisional gravity regional field. Counter interval 1 mgal.
The lack of sufficient station density suggested the computation of Bouguer residual anomalies (Fig. 4) for selected profiles (Fig. 3). They display a broad gravity minimum within the roughly ring-like border of the Azuara structure. The amplitude amounts to roughly -10 mgal. A pronounced negative gravity anomaly conforms to nearly all impact structures for which gravity surveys exist. Ejection, brecciation, and shockwave-induced microfracturing are regarded as to cause the main mass deficit. Moreover, the amplitude of c. -10 mgal proves to be reasonable; impact structures of comparable size show the same order of magnitude (Pohl, J. (1990), Fennoscandian Impact Symposium, May 29-31, 1990, Espoo, Finland.). Some caution is necessary, however, since the impact sites under consideration have in part a markedly different internal structure as well as sedimentation and erosion history. In addition, the amplitude of the Azuara anomaly depends on the choice of the regional field contours.
Fig. 3. Location map for selected gravity profiles. 1= Paleozoic, 2 = Mesozoic, 3 = Pelarda Fm. impact ejecta, 4 = Cenozoic.
Fig. 4. Profiles of provisional gravity residual anomalies in the Azuara structure. For the location of the profiles see Fig. 3. Zero axis corresponds to the intersection of the profiles.
The six radial gravity residual profiles from Fig. 4 have been stacked to yield a mean radial profile (Fig. 5) as a basis for simple model calculations. The structure of the model (Fig. 5.) has been adapted to results of similar computations for other large impacts (e.g., Rochechouart (Pohl et al., 1978; Schmidt, 1984), Ries (Jung et al., 1969; Ernstson & Pohl, 1977), and it is evident that a fundamentally different density distribution does not need consideration. As in the case of the Ries and Rochechouart impacts, a rather flat structure, some kilometers deep, satisfies the measured gravity. The mass deficiency of the model totals 1.24 x 1014 kg, which is within the frame of gravity-derived data for other large impact structures (Fig. 6).
Fig. 5. Model calculations for the Azuara gravity anomaly. Top: Radial profile of averaged Bouguer residual gravity. Bottom: Density model of circular symmetry. M = total mass of the model.
Fig. 6. Gravity-derived mass deficiencies as a function of diameter for terrestrial impact structures. Data from Pohl et al. (1978, and references therein), Ernstson (1984).
As a rule, complex impact structures show gravity anomalies which are also complex. Inner rings, a central uplift, peripheral graben zones, and breccia deposits may contribute to local anomalies of both signs and of roughly circular symmetry which superimpose the main negative anomaly. In this connection, the observation of relative positive anomalies which form a ring-like gravity pattern inside the Azuara morphological rim (Fig. 4 and Fig. 7) is striking. From Fig. 7, a diameter of about 17 km is derived which is roughly half the diameter of the main ring. The local gravity anomalies may be explained by Mesozoic and/or Paleozoic rocks, which form a structural inner ring covered by low-density Tertiary sediments.
Fig. 7. Inner ring (?) of the Azuara structure. The dashed line traces relative positive anomalies shown in Fig. 4. Geology same as in Fig. 3.
Geomagnetic survey
The 35 – 40 km-diameter Azuara impact structure is exceptional because of its purely sedimentary target of about 10 km thickness. Although this thick sedimentary target is to a large amount composed of carbonate rocks and quartzites, significant magnetic anomalies obviously related with the crater structure are measured (Fig. 2) [full article Ernstson, K. & Fiebag, J. (1992): The Azuara impact structure (Spain): new insights from geophysical and geological investigations. – Int. J. Earth Sci., 81, 403-427; http://www.springerlink.com/content/h3817t72781601tn/ ].
From rock magnetic susceptibility measurements it is very probable that the suevitic basal breccia [http://www.impact-structures.com/impact-rocks-impactites/the-suevite-page/suevites-from-the-azuara-and-rubielos-de-la-cerida-spain-impact-structures/] must be considered the causative body of the anomalies. While crater carbonate rocks and sandstone have maximum susceptibilities of the order of 10 – 20 * 10-3 SI, susceptibilities up to 1.6 * 10-3 SI for basal breccia samples have been measured. Moreover, basal breccia samples may show a significant remnant magnetization. From the frequently distinct reddish color of the suevitic basal breccia we conclude that on formation of the basal breccia new magnetic phases occurred possibly due to strongly enhanced temperatures at the same time responsible for a thermo-remnant magnetization.
In a strongly simplified model (Fig. 4) we show how the concentration of the Azuara magnetic anomalies in the outer zones of the impact structure (see Fig. 2) can be explained.
Fig. 8. Total-field magnetic and gravity profile across the Azuara impact structure (Fig. 3). Model for the origin of the magnetic anomalies in Fig. 4.
Fig. 9. The combined geomagnetic and gravity profile of Fig. 2 across the Azuara impact structure (roughly delineated by the dotted line). Image: Google Earth.
Fig. 10. Simple model for the source of the magnetic anomalies of the Azuara impact structure.
Ernstson, K.: A gravity-derived model for the Steinheim impact crater. – Geol. Rundschau, 73, 2, 483-498, 1984.
Ernstson, K. & Pohl, J.: Neue Modelle zur Verteilung der Dichte und Geschwindigkeit im Ries-Krater. – Geologica Bavarica, 75, 355-371, 1977.
Ernstson, K. & Fiebag, J. (1992): The Azuara impact structure (Spain): new insights from geophysical and geological investigations. – Int. J. Earth Sci., 81, 403-427
IGCE (Instituto geográfico y catastral España): Mapa gravimétrico, Peninsula Ibérica e Islas Baleares. Anomalias Bouguer Sistema, 1967.
Jung, K., Schaaf, H. & Kahle, H.-G.: Ergebnisse gravimetrischer Messungen im Ries. – Geologica Bavarica, 61, 337-342, 1969.
Pohl, J.: Comparative gravity and magnetic studies of impact structures (Abstr.). Fennoscandian Impact Symposium, May 29-31, 1990, Espoo, Finland, 1990.
Pohl, J., Ernstson, K. & Lambert, P.: Gravity measurements in the Rochechouart impact structure (France). – Meteoritics, 13, 601-604, 1978.
The Azuara impact structure
Azuara from space
Azuara shock effects (shock metamorphism)
Impact breccias in the Azuara structure
Breccia dikes in the Azuara impact structure
The Azuara megabreccia near Belchite and Herrera de los Navarros
Impactites: some peculiarities in the Azuara structure
Peculiar structural features in the Azuara impact structure
Dislocated megablocks
Ejecta of the Azuara impact structure (Pelarda Formation)
Autovía Mudéjar: geology in the Iberian Chain
The Rubielos de la Cérida impact basin
Impact ejecta deposits at the Puerto Mínguez
Shock deformation in Triassic Buntsandstein conglomerates, Spain
6th IMPACT workshop Granada (Spain)
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Outline of the Gladiator Games
Gladiators averaged 5'7" tall, much bigger than the average Roman height of 5'4" (female 5'). All gladiators were bound by a sacred oath (sacramentum) of service: Uri, vinciri, verberari, ferroque necari (I will endure, to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword). Novices trained under teachers (doctore) of fighting styles, and ascended up a hierarchy of grades to primus palus. Weighted blunt wooden weapons were used. Proficiency was mastered through constant rehearsal as choreographed fight "numbers". Training included preparation for a stoical, unflinching death. The night before the munus, the gladiators had a "last meal" banquet and opportunity to order their affairs.
Games were advertised on billboards giving the reason for the event, its editor, and the number of paired gladiators (ordinarii). Other highlighted features could include details of venationes, executions, music and spectator luxuries provided, such as sun awnings and water sprinklers. Food, drink, sweets and occasionally "door prizes" were offered. A detailed program (libellus) listed the names, types and match records of gladiator pairs (of interest to gamblers) and their order of appearance.
A procession (pompa) entered the arena led by lictors bearing fasces (to signify the magistrate-editor's power over life and death), musicians playing a fanfare, imaginers carrying images of the gods to "witness" the proceedings, and the palm-carriers of the palm branch awarded to victors. The magistrate-editor entered among a retinue who carried the arms and armour, and finally the gladiators.
The official games usually began with venationes (beast-hunts) and bestiarii (beast-fighting) gladiators. Next came the ludi meridiani, of variable content but usually involving executions of noxii (sometimes as mythological re-enactments) or others condemned (damnati) to the arena. There were also comedy fights; some may have been lethal. A crude Pompeian graffito suggests a burlesque of musicians, dressed as animals named Ursus tibicen (flute-playing bear) and Pullus cornicen (horn-blowing chicken), perhaps as accompaniment to clowning by paegniarii during a "mock" contest.
Before the listed contests were fought, the gladiators may have held informal warm-up matches, using blunted weapons – some munera, however, may have used blunted weapons throughout. The editor, his representative or an honoured guest would check the weapons (probatio armorum) for the scheduled matches. These were the highlight of the day, and were as inventive, varied and novel as the editor could afford. Armatures could be very costly – some were flamboyantly decorated with exotic feathers, jewels and precious metals. In late Republican munera, a dozen pairs could fight one match at a time in the course of an afternoon. Fights were interspersed or accompanied by music to accentuate the action. Music may have heightened the suspense during a gladiator's appeal; blows may have been accompanied by trumpet-blasts.
In the earliest munera, death was considered the proper outcome of combat. During the Imperial era, matches were sometimes advertised sine missione (without release [from the sentence of death]), which suggests that missio (the sparing of a defeated gladiator's life) had become common. The contract between editor and lanista could include compensation for unexpected deaths. As the demand for gladiators began to exceed supply, matches sine missione were officially banned, a pragmatic Augustan decision to reflect popular demands for "natural justice". Refusals by Caligula and Claudius to spare popular but defeated fighters did nothing to boost their own popularity.
By common custom, the spectators decided whether or not a losing gladiator should be spared, and chose the winner in the rare event of a stans missus "standing tie" by joining their shields, and resting their left knees on the ground. The matches were supervised by a senior referee (summa rudis) and an assistant, shown in mosaics with long staffs (rudes) to caution or separate opponents. A gladiator's self-acknowledged defeat, signaled by a raised finger (ad digitum), was an appeal for mercy. During the match, referees exercised judgement and could pause bouts to allow combatants rest, refreshment and a "rub-down".
Most gladiators fought about three munera annually. Many died in their first match and about half in their first year, but a few fought in up to 150 combats.The average gladiator lifespan was short; few survived more than 10 matches or lived past the age of 30. A single bout probably lasted 10 minutes. Spectators preferred well matched ordinarii with complementary fighting styles but other combinations are found, such as several gladiators fighting together or the serial replacement of a match loser by a new gladiator, who would fight the winner.
Victors received the palm branch and an award from the editor, but for anyone originally condemned ad ludum the greatest reward was manumission (freedom), symbolised by the gift of a wooden training sword. The body of a gladiator who had died well was placed on a couch of Libitina and removed from the arena with dignity. But the disgraced had Dis Pater (god of the underworld) strike the corpse with a mallet, and Mercury test for life-signs with a heated "wand"; once confirmed as dead, the body was dragged away.
Villa Dar Buc Ammera Mosaic of the Gladiators, on the triclinium floor, with victorious central figure and Rudis (referee)
Latin Gladiator terms
Pugnare! "Fight!"
Separatus! "Separate!"
Subsisto! "Stop!"
Surgo! "Get up!"
Recedo! "Retreat!"
Fraudator! "Cheater!"
Habet, hoc habet! "Got him! He’s had it!"
Volumus sanguine! "We want blood!"
Pulcher! "Pretty boy!"
Ita! "Yes!" Non! "No!"
Bonum! "Good!" Malo! "Bad!"
Vivo! "Live!"
Mortem! "Death!"
Victor! "Winner!"
Plaudo! "Applause!"
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Howick Summer Festival - 26 Feb, Lloyd Elsmore Park
At the Howick Lions Summer Festival our Roman living history camp gave demonstrations of Roman equipment, answered questions, and provided children's activities: "Join the Roman Army! Sign the wax-tablet, wear a Roman helmet, and shoot the manuballista at barbarian balloon-head to save Rome!"
Our Roman show signed up a new recruit to join the Roman Army who was dressed as his equipment was described to the audience: tunic, segmentata, helm, scutum, gladius, pilum, caligae (worn under the balteus), cloak to carry his loot, pugio to cut up his lunch, the dolabra axe-pick for building roads, and the all-important toilet sponge-stick. He swore the military oath to fight to the death for the emperor and the glory of Rome, then joined our shield charge at the crowd with drawn swords. His training included pilum throwing, gladius sword-fighting, and vallum shield-formation advancing against archery fire, as he trained to shoot the recurve-bow. Finally the ballista field-artillery where the recruit pulled the release-pin to fire the powerful ballista darts at the barbarians. The Roman army is a great career, and we told his mother he'd be back in 30 years.
Our Gladiator show was specially geared toward young families with plenty of audience participation. We had the Roman emperor, his loyal bodyguard, his lictor carrying the fasces symbol of imperial power, the imaginer holding up the image of Jupiter witnessing proceedings, the Priestesses of Fortuna blessing our gladiators for luck, the arena musicians clashing their cymbals, and the official weapons-inspector checking that the swords were real steel.
The first match saw the undefeated champion Marcus the Butcher fighting as a murmillo versus the unknown first-timer Nemo fighting as a thraex. Nemo was dominated by the size and power of the murmillo, but due to his speed and agility put up a surprisingly good counter-attack. Finally overwhelmed, what should have been his death was manumitted by the cheering mob voting thumbs-up for life. The Romans always appreciate courage against the odds.
The wild beast show had two beastiarii fighting against a tiger. The tiger made a valiant effort, but was finally dispatched.
The final match saw the victorious Marcus the Butcher versus Petronius the Pict fighting as a retiarius with trident and net. This was a battle for the ages as Petronius deftly avoided the huge murmillo and wrapped him up in the net and trident jabs. However, just as his death was assured, Marcus grabbed a discarded scissor and slashed Petronius. The cheering mob howled to give him another chance fighting as a scissor for their entertainment, much to the chagrin of Petronius cheated of his victory and ultimately rewarded with death. Ghoul-faced Charon checked the corpse and affirmed that he really was dead and not just shamming. Fortunately there was a Greek doctor that knew some amazing medicine learned from Asclepius how to bring the dead back to life. It was a relief to the little ones that Petronius was all okay. So we can kill him again tomorrow. The Emperor handed out Mars Bars to his loyal subjects.
You can watch a video of the fights below.
The NZ Gladiator School's Marcus and Nemo in training under the guidance of doctore Petronius. Brutus the lanister described the gladiator types to the watching crowd, and offered them the chance to participate, but sadly no takers.
Early morning and the ever-efficient Romans were the first to set up camp. The only ones that beat us there were the Fire Brigade. A funny story, they sheepishly admitted that they had got there especially early just in order to camp in our regular spot (since we had beat them to it last year, when space was at a premium). They didn't know the Military Tattoo had been replaced by the Summer Festival so we were all in different places now anyway!
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Published on February 26th, 2014 | by admin
Thief PS4 Review
Thief PS4 Review admin
Summary: All in all, Thief successfully ticks the right boxes on the PlayStation 4, although it's not a totally next-gen experience.
Cliched but fun!
Welcome back to the cutthroat world of Garrett, a master thief who has become embroiled in a dark conspiracy that is ignited by an occult ceremony which serves as the catalyst to this immersive story.
Developer: Eidos Montreal
Distributor: Namco Bandai
Platform: PS4 (Available on PC, PS3, Xbox One & Xbox 360)
Reviewer: Andrew Bistak
Thief is developed by Eidos Montreal and just like the latest Tomb Raider game, Thief is a reimagining of the previous games which takes this franchise to whole new next-gen level. The game also supports both the novice and professional gamer with three modes of difficulty that include Rogue, Thief, Master and Customisation. Another interesting element of the game is the customisable HUD which allows you to tweak what you want displayed.
For those sadists, the Customisation Mode allows users to really tweak the difficulty of the game which also boasts a permadeath mode. This really increases the stress level of the gamer as every action must be monitored or you’ll be meeting your maker in no time. As to the maker of Thief itself, it is directed by French-Canadian Nicolas Cantin and ironically it’s been 16 years since Thief first graced the PC.
The story of Thief is as rich and colourful as the gameplay itself which is set in a very troubled city that is an amalgam of Victorian inspired buildings meets the world of Streampunk with a perhaps a of magic. The first level serves as a tutorial which not only teaches the player the control systems of Thief but lays the foundation of the story. As Garrett and his unwilling prodigy Erin move across the rooftops, they have been sent by Basso, an “underground” businessman to steal a precious item. However as they banter between each other, Garrett notices that Erin has changed and become a harder and more violent young woman who is quite reckless with her thief skills.
As a result Garret steals Erin’s blackjack which is a club/climbing tool which he believes will make her think first before acting. When they do reach their intended destination, they discover that a dark occult ceremony has commenced and Garrett informs Erin that the mission is cancelled. The headstrong Erin defies Garrett and when she attempts to finish Basso’s mission, she causes a chain reaction which draws both thieves into the ceremony’s unholy vortex.
Fast forward to a year later and Garrett returns to the city where he seeks the Queen of Beggars for answers and discovers that he has been missing for all this time. To compound the situation, it appears that Erin is dead and that the city is now under the ruthless control of the Baron and the insidious Thief Taker General. Although Garrett has returned, his world is vastly different and he is unwittingly drawn into this dark mystery with many questions and very few answers.
The gameplay of Thief is in the style of a first person shooter where you interact with just about everything in this mode and works quite well. However there are a few places where the game does switch to a third person mode such as when you’re climbing the sides of buildings or other precariously placed areas. This transition from first person to third is fortunately quite smooth. The gaming engine of Thief also gives the player a variety of ways to complete missions with different pathways and combat options.
When you are exploring the world of Thief, Garrett interacts with environment quite flawlessly and as you run across the rooftops, the game has this real Parkour feel behind it. The controls are well mapped but did take me around an hour or so to master them because I was not familiar with the layout. It’s not bad but just different. The game also uses the DualShock 4 controller in terms of the touch pad to navigate through items and the light which is used to inform the player how hidden they are.
Apart from climbing ropes, running on roof tops, Garrett must also employ his thief skills to pick locks, disarm traps and find secret levers which really enhances the gameplay. Nothing is more fun than searching for a hidden lever on a painting as you to attempt to find it before the guards find you. The game also supports a skill tree system that include upgrades to dexterity, sense, combat, speed, efficiency, marksmen and stealth. By upgrading these skills, it increases your overall ability. Another interesting element of the game is the focus mode which basically transforms your vision into something akin to Batman’s detective vision which highlights traps and other objects that you can interact with.
Unlike Arkham Asylum, this is limited but can be recharged by finding a flowering poppy. Garret also has access to a small arsenal of arrows to be used with his powerful collapsible compound bow. For example, you may have rope arrows to reach destinations that would make climbing impossible or water arrows to extinguish flames. Another useful arrow for stealth is the choke arrow which forces enemies to become incapacitated from coughing or the blunt arrow for distraction. These are also vital elements to the gameplay. Garrett can also upgrade other items such as his bow, blackjack or lock picking tools to improve his chances of success.
There are a variety of different missions in the game but like most, they require the player to use their thieving skills to “steal” something and when it comes to combat, the game does reward stealth opposed to direct fighting. With that said, combat is quite clunky in the game but once again this is a game of stealth which the game heavily points you in that direction. To assist with your stealth, there is a light meter available to the player which informs you how hidden you are in the shadows and even though at times you are completely hidden and depending on difficulty, the guards can sometimes find you, especially if you get greedy and try to pick pocket them.
When you do need to go home and lick your wounds, Garrett has access to his Clock Tower which also allows you to stock up on goods and lock away the precious items that you have found on your travels. Although no multiplayer, the game does offer the player access to online leaderboards and given the gameplay, Thief is not a game that would work well as a multiplayer title. Add in some challenge stages and Thief is a fun single-player with an interesting story, fun characters and a relatively sturdy gaming engine apart from combat.
Graphically Thief looks quite detailed on the PlayStation 4 that not only supports a very complex level design but makes great use of lightning and high resolution textures. The game itself uses the powerful Unreal Engine 3 that makes the entire world look quite realistic. Characters are detailed and move with a human-like grace in the game. I also love the use of particle effects in the game. Even though the game is a first person title, you do see the hands and arms of Garret and the texture detail here is extremely detailed. For the most part, the game keeps a constant FPS but at times, there was some slow down but this is quite minimal. The biggest let down with the graphics are probably the cinematics that seem to drop in resolution and does jar a little from the high definition gameplay. Nonetheless the cutscenes are still a joy to watch.
The developers should also be commended with the audio track and this is one game that makes full use of surround sound, especially the background ambience. The voice acting is quite professional, although there are a few voices that do sound a little forced and contrived but thankfully not Garrett who is played exceptionally well by Romano Orzari. In terms of sound or audio, one level was really frustrating as you were exploring an ancient area that was part of a brothel and needless to say the noises of some “client” getting lashed by a whip was really annoying. Apart from that all the other sound effects work in conjunction with the gameplay.
In conclusion, Thief is a game that totally focuses on stealth and contains a relatively sturdy gaming engine with some truly beautiful graphics. One gripe with the gameplay is the clunky combat system and thankfully this can be avoided for the most part and even when you do fight, it is still a satisfying experience for a thief that does not kill. All in all, Thief successfully ticks the right boxes on the PlayStation 4, although it’s not a totally next-gen experience.
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Home Tags Justice TS Thakur
Tag: Justice TS Thakur
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Home » » King Arthur and Medieval Britain DVD Review
You can own this DVD today
Synopsis: For centuries, the adventures of King Arthur and his fabled court of heroes, the Knights of the Round Table, have dominated the imagination of the western world. This special collection presents five original specials that will help separate fact from fiction.
Quest for King Arthur examines the tantalizing historical facts behind the story of King Arthur and his band of deathless heroes and illuminates the contemporary quest by researchers to establish if the 6th-century warlord truly existed.
King Arthur: His Life and Legends offers stunning recreations and abundant images from centuries past, to explore the social, political and emotional factors that have made Arthur's story so dear to Western culture.
Ancient Mysteries: Camelot takes the viewer on a magical quest through England and Wales in search of Lancelot, Guinevere, Merlin, and Excalibur in an attempt to uncover evidence that Arthur s battles really took place.
Knights and Armor traces the history of arms and armor with an up-close look at the world-famous Graz collection of Armor in Austria and recaptures the chivalry and grandeur of a legendary, by-gone age.
Quest for the Holy Grail wonders if it is possible this sacred relic has survived as a hidden treasure or could it be one of the ancient vessels displayed in museums throughout the world.
Review: The History Channel is known for releasing some of the best documentaries out there and this set on King Arthur is no exception! The DVD set is a collection of various documentaries and episodes from Ancient Mysteries that all focus on King Arthur and Camelot! This is a fantastic collection and a great way to have focused material on such an important historical subject. We absolutely love this one!
DISC 1: Quest for King Arthur / King Arthur: His Life and Legends / Ancient Mysteries: Camelot
DISC 2: Knights and Armor / Ancient Mysteries: Quest For The Holy Grail
Interest Range: History Channel, Documentary
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Home / $AUD / $CAD / $EUR / $GBP / $JPY / $TLT / $USD / Dollar Upbeat to Start Fourth Quarter
Dollar Upbeat to Start Fourth Quarter
October 02, 2017 $AUD, $CAD, $EUR, $GBP, $JPY, $TLT, $USD
The US dollar is broadly higher as the quarter-end positioning losses seen at the end of last week area reversed. Developments in the US are seen as dollar positive, while the Catalonia-Madrid conflict, and slightly softer EMU manufacturing PMI weighs on the euro. The UK also reported a disappointing manufacturing PMI, and more differences with the Tory government are taking a toll on sterling. Japan's Tankan Survey was stronger than expected, but the rise in US Treasury yields and the LDP's slippage in the opinion polls has seen the greenback return to JPY113 from a JPY112.20 low before the weekend.
US 10-year yield reached nearly 2.37% earlier today, its highest level in 2.5 months. The focus on US tax cuts and the heightened speculation that Warsh could be the next Fed chair are factors thought to be lifting yields. We suspect the market may be jumping to a conclusion about Warsh, as he is just one of several candidates under consideration.
We had thought odds of Yellen;s reappointment was higher than the market had seemed to believe, but the betting markets have adjusted. We think that given the nearly complete turnover among the Board of Governors, there is pressure for some continuity and preservation of institutional memory. In this respect, perhaps Governor Powell, the remaining Republican-appointee on the Board, may be the compelling alternative to Yellen.
We remain impressed that the market's new found confidence in a Fed hike in December was not shaken by the disappointing core PCE deflator seen before the weekend. The Fed funds have been steady at 1.16% for the effective average since the June hike. Assuming no chance of a hike in November, and. If an allowance is made for the end of the December, where the effective average Fed funds rate would slip 10 bp for the last three days of the month (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), then fair value for the December contract IF the Fed were to hike would be about 1.29%.
The implied yield is 1.255% presently, or a nearly 72% chance of a hike has been discounted. In the CME's interpolation, there is a nearly 77% chance of a hike priced in, while Bloomberg's calculation puts it at nearly 70% chance.
Spain's assets are underperforming in the wake of the weekend conflict between the Catalonians seeking to participate in an independence referendum that the Spanish Supreme Court ruled was illegal. The tragedy lies in both sides pursuing their interest. It seems easy for journalists and many other observers to express sympathy for the Catalonians, but few would be as supportive if it were happening in their own country.
Of course, the violent treatment of the illegal voters is not only reprehensible, but it is also counter-productive. At the same time, the national government cannot simply stand may and see 20% of its economy be severed. What did the US do when parts of the South took the 1860 election as a referendum on independence? What would Germany do if Bavaria threatened to have an independence referendum? There are other parts of Spain that are watching to see if they can strike out as well. The northern part of Italy will hold a referendum soon as well.
Spanish shares are off more than 1.2%, with financials down nearly twice as much. Materials and healthcare are the only two sectors gaining today. The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is up about 0.25%. Of note, the DAX gapped higher after gapping higher before the weekend. It is within 0.5% of the record high seen in June. Spanish 10-year bond yield is up seven bp, nearly twice the increase seen in Italy today. Core bond yields are little changed.
The eurozone manufacturing PMI came in a smidgen below the 58.2 flash reading at 58.1. This still represents an increase from the 57.4 reading in August, and it suggests the regional economy finished Q3 with positive momentum. Germany's report confirmed the flash reading of 60.6. France ticked up to 56.1 from the 56.0 flash and the 55.8 in August. Spain's manufacturing PMI surprised on the upside at 54.3 from 52.4 It snapped a three-month decline and is the highest reading since June. Italy disappointed with an unchanged 56.3 reading. The median forecast had expected a modest increase.
The UK also disappointed. The manufacturing PMI slipped to 55.9 from a revised 56.7 reading in August. It had originally been reported at 56.9. The decline was larger than expected. The UK reports the construction PMI tomorrow and the services PMI on Wednesday. Despite today's report and the outright contraction in July services consumption reported before the weekend, the market remains heavily leaning to a November rate hike. Interpolating from the OIS suggests around an 80% chance of a hike then. The implied yield on the December Short Sterling futures contract is 53.5 bp and the peak last month was 56 bp.
Japan's Tankan Survey showed sentiment among large manufacturers is at its best level in a decade. Sentiment was generally firm. However, there were a couple of disappointing elements. First, despite the optimism capex plans were shaved to 7.7% from 8.0%. Second, the large companies expect the dollar to average JPY109.29 in the fiscal year ending March 2018. So far, it is averaging a little above JPY111 during the fiscal year. However, it may be better to understand this not as a forecast but more revealing something closer to their internal hedges. That interpretation is consistent with our discussions suggesting that Japanese businesses have not a problem with JPY110.
The dollar looks set to trade between two large option strikes that are to expire today. One is struck at JPY112.50 ($850 mln), and the other struck at JPY113 ($470 mln). There does not appear to be significant nearby strikes for the euro, but there is a large (~1.6 bln euros) struck at $1.1770 that expires tomorrow.
Last week's low in the euro was set near just above $1.1715. We suggest the topping pattern that has been carved points to a move toward $1.1600, with the mid-August lows near $1.6660 offering intermittent support. While the near-term technical readings are stretched, we see the medium term technicals at their strongest for the dollar for many months. Sterling has been driven below the 20-day moving average and may close below its for the first time since late-August. With today's break, it has retraced more than 61.8% of the rally spurred by the BOE's hawkishness and is through the 38.2% retracement objective since that late August low (~$1.3320). The next area of support is seen near $1.3220. The low from the day the BOE met was near $1.3155.
The dollar-bloc currencies are also under pressure. The US dollar is moving through CAD1.25. Support is now pegged near CAD1.2420 and potentially extends toward CAD1.2600 near-term. The Australian dollar is flirting with support at $0.7800. It has been frayed, and the corrective upticks have been limited. A convincing break would be a bearish technical development and project toward $0.7600, with an initial target near $0.7730.
Dollar Upbeat to Start Fourth Quarter Reviewed by Marc Chandler on October 02, 2017 Rating: 5
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CHEF UPDATES
2 New Cleveland Food Shows, Coming Right Up!
I'm going to make two quick announcements...and I really think you're gonna love 'em!
1) Thursday, August 14, 2014 -- The world premiere of the locally produced culinary film entitled The Steel Fired Story of Chef Nowak will be screening at the Capitol Theatre on West 65th Street at both 7pm and 8pm.
Created by Cleveland-based Emerging Chefs, this film stars Chef Michael Nowak of The Black Pig in Ohio City, which specializes in French-inspired cuisine featuring locally sourced ingredients and an innovative menu. Nowak’s entrepreneurial passion flavors every dish with gritty precision and authentic simplicity.
The film shares a “day-in-the-life experience” of an emerging chef and his growing family. It's a touching behind-the-scenes story of a talented chef and dedicated family man.
Official trailer of "The Steel Fired Story of Chef Nowak"
Tickets for this film are free but are limited to 90 people per show. (It is recommended that you call first.)
“I am thrilled and humbled to be a part of this documentary,” says Chef Nowak. “It honestly portrays the challenging days all chefs and what their families must endure for the success of the restaurant.”
2) Sunday, August 17, 2014 (9 pm ET) -- The Great Food Truck Race is back for a fifth season with a brand-new cast of food truck hopefuls, including Cleveland's very own "Let There Be Bacon" team, helmed by Matt Heyman, Dylan Doss and Jon Ashton!
Chefs Matt Heyman, Dylan Doss and Jon Ashton always wanted to open their own restaurant, but Matt was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and the treatment left him unable to handle the rigors of daily restaurant life full-time. Now cancer-free, Matt is back in the kitchen with Dylan and Jon on the road to achieve their culinary dreams. Their menu is devoted to one of the major food groups in Northeast Ohio: bacon. These guys are funny, fearless, and ready to bring their bacon skills to streets across the country.
Each three-person team in the show is provided a vehicle for the race, but only the grand-prize winner gets to keep their food truck and a $50,000 cash prize to start their business. Hosted by Tyler Florence, the seven-episode series premieres on Sunday, August 17th at 9pm ET.
Be sure to watch and support our local team. In the meantime, here's one of their signature recipes, just for you! Hope you like it!
Buckeye Bacon Pancakes
Yield: 8-10 pancakes
2 T white vinegar
2 T brown sugar
2 T butter, melted
Nonstick spray
1 handful of peanut butter cups, chopped
1 handful of bacon lardons (cooked slowly)
Combine milk and vinegar in a small bowl. Set aside for 3-5 minutes.
Combine dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl whisk melted butter and egg into milk mixture. Dump dry mixture into wet mixture and mix until lumps are gone.
Spray griddle with nonstick spray and place on medium heat. Pour 1/4 cup of batter per pancake. Sprinkle on peanut butter cups and lardons to your taste preference – the Let There Be Bacon team suggests plenty of both!
Flip pancakes when bubbles appear around the edge. Cover with more lardons and peanut butter cups. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and garnish with candied bacon whipped cream, optional.
Posted by Maria Isabella at 12:21 AM
Maria Isabella
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Hi! My name's Maria Isabella, and I am...a wife of 1. Mother of 5. Nonna of 6. Plus a writer. An author. And a self-deprecating foodie. In that order, thank you very much.
www.maria-isabella.com
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Tickets & Opening hours
Identity and History
Morandi Biography
HOME > Exhibitions > Past Exhibitions > 2017 > Catherine Wagner. In Situ: Traces of Morandi
Catherine Wagner. In Situ: Traces of Morandi
Museo Morandi
25 March – 8 October 2017
The Museo Morandi (Morandi Museum) is continually enhancing its collection through a program of temporary exhibitions aimed at juxtaposing Giorgio Morandi's works to those of artists who were inspired by him. Following Alexandre Hollan, Wayne Thiebaud, Tacita Dean, Rachel Whiteread, and Brigitte March Niedermair Museo Morandi is pleased to present Catherine Wagner.
From March 25 to October 8 2017 two rooms of the museum will host the exhibition In Situ: Traces of Morandi, curated by Giusi Vecchi, featuring 21 works made by the American artist between 2015 and 2016.
During her more than thirty-year career Catherine Wagner has studied "constructed environments" as metaphors of the way we create our cultural identities. Wagner uses photography to investigate the different ways through which we have shaped the world.
Over the last few years Wagner spent time in Bologna working in the studio of Casa Morandi, the former home of Morandi. Wagner also worked in Morandi’s Grizzana home, studying Morandi's rigorous structural process and his poetical still lives.
Wagner imagined new still lives with objects that the Bolognaise artist used to depict in his paintings, using them to create, both formally and conceptually, new compositions.
In Situ: Traces of Morandi is accompanied by a bilingual Italian/English catalogue published by Edizioni MAMbo, including an interview to the artist edited by Giusi Vecchi, and a critical article by Peter Benson Miller, Andrew Heiskell Arts Director at the American Academy of Rome. The exhibition was made in collaboration with Anglim Gilbert Gallery of San Francisco, Luisotti Gallery of Los Angeles, and with help from the University of California Education Abroad program, Bologna.
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Pavillon Rouge - Legio Axis Ka
industrial - black metal
Hey, I found something both me and my brother in law can appreciate. He's a hardcore techno fan and I quite like a decent piece of black metal once in a while. Yes, that's correct, this is a combination of both. I know what you might be thinking 'this combination smells like absolute garbage' but you're wrong, you're damn wrong. This is an industrial blast that's way too interesting to ignore.
Hardcore and metal, it has been done before. Remember Morbid Angel's 'Illud Divinum Insanus', the most hated metal album since St. Anger? I'll tell you a secret, I like that album a lot. I like crossovers and I like originality. The quintet from Grenoble, France, is extremely original and somewhat comparable to Samael or The Kovenant because of the electronics. Yet, Pavillon Rouge takes this mix to the extreme, resulting in a smashing sonic trip.
The strange thing is, Pavillon Rouge really is a full-blown black metal band with all the necessary ingredients to write a decent album. Besides the basic elements such as ferocious guitars, haunted screams and blast beats, they use electronics to enhance a bombastic atmosphere and analog electronic beats for a tremendous clubbing effect. The result is stunning.
The album opens with the same sense of bombast as most present day black metal bands incorporate. In that aspect, this quintet really consists of decent musicians who know a thing or two about songwriting. Yet, the elements they bring into the mix are very surprising and extremely refreshing. Besides the dance-elements (which will undoubtedly piss off a lot of people), there's the dark atmosphere of eighties new wave and industrial. Yet, above all, 'Prisme Vers l'Odyssée' is an excellent black metal song.
There's lot of analog hardcore beats present on this album and the way they are used it pretty damn cool. Often they turn into very sick blast beats, reinforcing the extreme nature of the guitars and vocals. 'Mars Stella Patria' is the very first black metal song ever that managed to get me dancing. Maybe it's safe to compare this with a blend of Dimmu Borgir and Combichrist and although it sounds strange, this mix really works.
'Aurore et Nemesis' is another song that reminds me of Samael. The tempo is a lot slower and the songs drives on pounding electronic drums, a bit like early Suicide Commando used. After a while, however, it turns into some fierce blackened Thunderdome stuff. Both dancing and headbanging are possible, and quite inevitable actually. 'Droge Macht Frei' even incorporates some hard rock guitar solos over this industrial mix, raising the level of variation on this album.
Pavillon Rouge is arguably one of the most original bands in the black metal scene today. Knowing that there's a lot of narrow minded metalheads out there (and no offence to them, different people have different taste) who will frown upon this, the music on 'Legio Axis Ka' is quite gutsy and might take some time getting used to. However, I dare you to sit still to a song like 'Kosmos Ethikos', which even has a Blutengel-feel to it.
This is blackened clubbing to the extreme and I recommend checking it out if you're in for something new, daring, original and innovative. To end this review, 'Notre Paradise', you got to listen to this song. I won't tell you why but it's absolutely brillaint what they did with the original song. You'll be pleasantly surprised, just as I was.
Soil Of Ignorance / Endless Demise - Split
Soil Of Ignorance
Endless Demise
Get ready for another twelve minutes of complete and utter sonic destruction. Give Praise records keeps on treating us to excruciating grindcore splits, this time with Soil Of Ignorance from Trois-Rivières (Canada) and Endless Demise from Los Angeles (USA). This 7" isn't very long but definitely long enough to torment the neighbours and crush the survivors.
Each band recorded five tracks for this release and all of them are quite similar, although there are a few differences between the bands. Soil Of Ignorance brings some skullsplitting grindcore with ferocious speed and intensity. Brutal deathgrowls, severe riffs and sick, guttural vocals make this something every grindcore lover will obviously appreciate. Besides, thanks to the use of samples and tempo shifts, this is also the most varied part of the split.
Endless Demise comes up with even sicker vocals and a similar raging speed. Here too the focus is mainly on tempo and aggression, exactly what you can expect from a decent grindcore album. The main difference here is the snaredrum. If you think Lars Ulrich did a good thing with the snare on St. Anger, you will definitely love this. If you hate what Metallica did, you will also like this because in grindcore this snare sounds punishing and morbid.
So in all, this is another excellent grindcore split, well capable of starting moshpits and walls of death wherever you go. In fact, I think I'm going to try to start a moshpit in the street. There's a lot of roadworkers active today and I'd like to see them react to this kind of extreme metal...
Unknown Connection Failure - Ships Will Sink
Ships Will Sink EP by Unknown Connection Failure
It doesn't often happen that a review is being written on the same day as the concerned release reaches our mailbox. So something special must be going on. Perhaps it's just a brilliant album, arriving at the right time or perhaps it's a welcome change from the releases I've been listening to and reviewing. In this case, it's actually both. I've been listening to a lot of black, death and doom metal lately and, no offense, but I need something else once in a while. So yes, Unknown Connection Failure reached us at the perfect time and delivered us a splendid post rock album.
This band hails from Hamburg, Germany and walks a similar path as some of the biggest post rock bands in the world, namely GY!BE, Mono or Explosions In The Sky. The three tracks on this album are lengthy instrumental rock anthems, flowing gently through the room and maintaining this calm, soothing atmosphere for the entire duration. There are no extravagant sonic blasts present, only the immense beautiful musical landscapes which make post rock such a amazing genre.
The album opens with 'Dust & Wires', which starts out as an elaborate ambient piece, including several drones and strings. Gradually, but very slowly, the song builds up in perfect post rock tradition. Other instruments join in and the violin is allowed to float freely upon these soundscapes. At this time, I'm reminded of artists who combine classical music with modern instruments, like Bersarin Quartett or Hidden Orchestra. The result is a very sumptuous and excellent post rock anthem which contains all the right elements and the perfect amount of variation to remain interesting. Halfway through the opener a vocal sample connects this first part with the second, heavier and most post rock orientated, part.
The sextet continues with these beautiful pieces of musical crafstmanship on the other two songs. The overall feel remains calm and tranquil. Title track 'Ships Will Sink', for example, rarely incorporates heavy elements and when it does, the music never gets obtrusive. In fact, it remeains a beautiful cinematic piece of music. 'My Whale vs. Your Whale', which sounds like a fight that I really want to see, brings the same lenient sound, a sound that will find my mediaplayer a lot from now on. This song too gets a little bit heavier after a while but always in this restful manner.
Years ago, I got acquainted with post-rock through sounds like these. Elaborate instrumental rock ballads, mainly influenced by shoegaze and ambient music. Now, years later, I still highly appreciate this genre and they're almost always welcome in this household. So it looks like my post rock playlist is getting crowded with these six people being added. I've been told that more work will be released in the near future and I'm really looking forward to hearing more. And to seeing more because I definitely want to witness this live one day.
J. Kill & Mr. Mule - Saatana Saa Aina Omansa
psychedelic folk
A few days ago, I posted a photo on our Twitter and Facebook account which made me laugh hard. The envelope contained a CD by grindcore band Cut To Fit, which I will review later this week, and this tape. To be honest, I was expecting some fierce grindcore with this one as well but boy, was I wrong. This is something completely different but actually pretty good.
J. Kill & Mr. Mule is a part of Cut To Fit, but focusing on experimental and psychedelic folk music in stead of extreme noise and metal. The songs on 'Saatana Saa Aina Omansa' somehow remind me of acts like Ween. With acoustic guitars and clean, subdued vocals, this act brings and original and refreshing bit of foolery to the acoustic folk scene. In a way it's hard to make out if this is a novelty band or a serious act, planning to grow as a recording and performing act. There's quite a bit of sillyness in these songs but also a pretty serious and emotional side, hence the Ween reference.
However, I like this tape a lot. I like the calm, relaxed atmosphere. It feels like a warm evening on a camping trip. The fire is lit, the guitars come out (sometimes supported by a loop- or drum machine) and the night gains a touch of magic, of belonging and connecting. This is simple-hearted but sincere psychedelic folk that is quite mesmerizing somehow.
Most of the songs drive on a nice, simple melody which can somehow be compared to the calm, acoustic passages of Opeth songs played by Tom Waits. Some minor drones are being poured into the mix once in a while, giving the whole a bit of a mysterious atmosphere. On other occasions, there's a tremendous blues or Americana feel which reminds me of bands like Grant Lee Buffalo.
So yes, I like musical surprises and I like this album quite a lot. It's soft, non-obtrusive and kind sound will probably often find the way to my brand new tape deck. I have a feeling that I'll be facing something completely different when I listen to the Cut To Fit album tomorrow but it'll be fine because I can always play 'Saatana Saa Aina Omansa' when I need to calm down a bit.
Mist - Inan
Soulseller
Slovenia isn't really a country with a lot of musical export products. I've been looking up the country on last.fm to see a list of bands and the only one I knew was Laibach. However, now there's a second band I know and I really hope they can break through soon. Mist is fantastic, a traditional doom band with perfect riffs, a great atmosphere and one of the best female vocals I've ever heard.
I wouldn't really have written the last compliment in the previous paragraph at first. The e.p. opens with a vocal line which made me look at my speakers in disbelief. It wasn't bad but it came so sudden, unexpected and loud that it startled me a bit. However, when the music kicked in, I realized that I was in for an awesome ride with these sorceresses of doom. Yes, 'Inan' is a brilliant mid-tempo doom track.
Mist clearly moves within the traditional regions of doom, mainly influenced by bands like Pentagram, Black Sabbath and Candlemass. The focus is on strong riffs and powerful vocals. 'Inan' contains three new songs and a re-recording of 'Phobia' from their 2013 demo. 'Frozen Velvet' for example is a beautiful hard rock ballad that could have been written in the seventies. I doubt the band members were born in that era but they clearly have doom in their genes.
What strikes me most about the music on this e.p. is the bizarre feeling of already knowing it. This music holds on to the original doom style to that extend that it feels immensely familiar. 'Under The Night Sky', which is my favourite song, incorporates some awesome vocal lines, proving the worth of an excellent vocalist. This song feels so in place, so inborn to the genre that it really is a perfect doom song which can compete with the old classics.
That being said, yes, I think Mist is one of the most promising doom bands I've heard in a while. There's a lot of good acts in that genre but somehow I feel that Mist surpasses many female fronted bands. Jex Thoth, Jess And The Ancient Ones and Avatarium, beware, because here comes the competition. Highly recommended e.p...
Jarun - Pod Niebem Utkanym Z Popiołu
Pod niebem utkanym z popiołu by Jarun
There's a heatwave coming over Belgium. Today is already a pretty hot day and it's only getting warmer in the next few days. So I prepared by downloading some bleak and cold black metal into my media player. That usually helps a bit, along of course with a refreshing beverage. We start with a very interesting band from Poland, named Jarun.
Jarun is a band with a history of bad luck, recording issues and delays. In 2008 Jarun came to life as the solo-project for guitarist Zagreus. Yet, soon enough he found out that this was meant to be much more than just a one man act, thus he invited other musicians to join in. The first album constisted solely of songs written by Zagreus and the recording had been a tedious task. The new album differs in that way. This is a cooperative effort by all members which does indeed show a well-attuned band but it still wasn't easy to get this album recorded.
The album opens with an instrumental piece of post-metal, loaded with folk influences. It shows the progression that the band wants to make, and has been making since the previous effort. Having started out as an atmospheric folk black metal band, Jarun slowly evolved in a post-black metal band with some pagan influences. 'Kamienie' starts reminding me of a band like Opeth and it's not the only song which does. In fact, most of the songs on 'Pod Niebem Utkanym Z Popiołu' come in that region.
With complex song structures, bombastic pieces of chaotic blackened sludge and fierce vocals, Jarun manages to grab the listener's attention immediately. Clean, atmospheric and progressive passages (including some folk elements) alternate with these intense bursts of distortion and blast beats. 'Zawołaj Mnie A Przyjdę' seems to borrow heavily from the Scandinavian black metal wave of the nineties, reminding me of bands like Emperor of Immortal.
But indeed, we're not done there. Somehow Jarun succeeds perfectly in clearing the stylistic musical boundaries between black metal and sludge. 'Pod Niebem Utkanym Z Popiołu' could actually be both. This song suddenly makes me understand why black metal is so popular in sludge circles. They truly enforce each other's intensity and bleakness. 'Jak Wiatr', which closes the album in a brilliant way, is probably my favourite song on the album, even coming up with some progressive metal solos and atmosphere.
'Trzy śmierci' is another great example of this mix, although it clearly breathes the malignancy of black metal. Extreme headbangers of all ages will be extremely pleased with something like this because of the regular shifts in tempo, intensity and malevolence. At times, this is a crushing, almost trance-inducing piece of verocious metal. 'Piołun' on the other hand is a ferocious and chaotic song that blasts everything in sight.
So in all, we're dealing with a pretty damn good album that is clearly rooted in the black metal scene but dares to cross boundaries. Once a folk black metal band, Jarun has clearly evolved. Somehow I think that this evolution is just getting started and that this band will show a lot of new, exciting and refreshing things in the future. However, for now I recommend checking this album out if you want something truly extreme.
Cuff - Interstellar Deviance
grindcore / death metal
Our universe is a cyst, a pulsating abcess filled with pus and filth. Human kind is nothing but a tumor within that cyst, infesting our galaxy with chaos, deviance and mischief. With devastating force, sheer brutality and punishing noise, we demolish every single heavenly body in sight before crashing into the sun and melting away in a debris of meat, bones, intestines and vomit. At least, that seems to be the uplifting message that Cuff wants to give us.
Cuff is a duo from Oshawa, Canada. Several years ago, after their previous band split up, they wanted to kill boredom and started this grindcore act. At first there was a lot of humour. Like many porngrind and goregrind bands they incorporated sick but hilarious samples into their music. However, gradually the band became a bit more serious. 'Interstellar Deviance', their latest e.p. is actually quite a varied mix of grindcore and brutal death metal with intestellar samples and atmospheric elements.
All the necessary elements are available; a deep, guttural voice, vigorous guitars and pounding drums, often to the extent of blast beats. These ingredients alone mostly stand for some quality grindcore but Cuff incorporates some awesome electronic and dark ambient elements as well. These make the music quite unique and extremely enjoyable, even for someone who things all grindcore sounds quite alike.
'Pulsations In Anti-Matter' quickly turns into my favourite track on this e.p. The riffs are immensely powerful and crushing, especially supported by these hammering drums. The dark ambient piece at the end is brilliant, impending even. The song that follows, 'Archaic Mysticism' is a strange, intense and dissonant but nonetheless stunning piece of grindcore and 'Bypassing Evolution' is even more bizarre.
There's even a bit of beautiful, completely non-grindcore music at the end of closer 'Prophecies Unexplained' which confirms my premonition that there is some serious musicial craftsmanship hidden beneath these layers of noise and blasts. I was already thinking about this while listening to the opening track but now I know for sure, we're dealing with talent here.
As far as grindcore is concerned, this is currently my number one of 2015. The originality and amount of variation make this definitely a high quality extreme metal release that absolutely deserves your attention if you're into that stuff. If not, well, start praying to be saved from all this sonic punishment that comes from somewhere up there.
Rolling Through The Universe - Lethe
Post-metal / sludge
Lethe by Rolling Through The Universe
The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding, in all of the directions it can whizz. As fast as it can go, the speed of light, you know. Twelve million miles a minute and that's the fastest speed there is. So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure. How amazingly unlikely is your birth, and pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space 'cause it's bugger all down here on Earth.
Those are some of the lyrics of Monty Python's 'Galaxy Song', which contain a lot of truth. The universe is ever expanding, or at least, that's what most scientists assume these days. We all know scientific data and sumptions can change from time to time. After all everything changes, from the universe to that typical human behaviour we call 'music'. Music evolves, incorporates different elements and influences and continuously alters directions, intensity and atmosphere.
Some musical styles are perfectly suited to depict the immense vastness of our galaxy and everything beyond. Ambient clearly is one of them, so is post-rock or post-metal. Rolling Through The Universe (RTTU), for example, seems to be influenced by the incredible vastness of outer space. This sludge quartet from Portland, OR (USA) now comes up with their third full-length, named 'Lethe'.
RTTU has been around for several years, perfecting their slow, intensely heavy sound. The result is a crushing album with six songs, inspired by the likes of Isis, Neurosis, High On Fire and Yob. Somewhere in between these bands is the perfect spot for RTTU, probably causing a black hole where escape is impossible and doom is indeed imminent. If these Americans would indeed roll through the universe with their music, it would certainly cause some demolishing shockwaves through the galaxy.
The album contains of six tracks and opens with title track 'Lethe'. This song actually combines the most enjoyable elements of post-rock, sludge and doom metal so it's no wonder this is my favourite track. Elaborate instrumental passages alternate with brutal leaden riffs and typical sludge vocals to create a vast song with a lot of variation and the perfect amount of dark energy.
The somewhat shorter songs don't really incorporate the post-rock/metal influences but focus on riff-loaded doom metal, hammering loudly through your eardrums and destroying everything inside. If played loud enough, you will indeed feel the pressure growing inside your head. That's what good music does, it makes you feel something, physically. RTTU understand that and gracefully roll on with this massive sonic spacecraft.
Closer 'Subject of Discord' opens with a very strong piece of post-metal and quickly becomes on of my favourite tracks on this album, along with 'Lethe'. This final track is immense, the longest one and also the heaviest one I think. Apart from the elements I mentioned earlier, there's a solid amount of death metal riffs present. With songs like these, RTTU proves that they're a very skilled band that knows how to bring the necessary variation to keep an album interesting for the full duration. For sludge-adepts this is certainly a worthy addition to their collection.
Elyose - Ipso Facto
electro-metal / gothic metal
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Electro-metal, for years this has been an irreconcilable combination of musical styles. Luckily for the scene, in recent decades metal has become less reticent as far as electronics are concerned. Now, beats and blips can be a regular part of the music, creating an ever widening universe where almost anything is possible. This is good news for a band like Elyose.
Elyose is a French quartet that use the term 'electro-metal' to describe their sound. In fact, this is actually only partially correct. There's lot more going on and it's quite safe to say that we're dealing with a very decent gothic metal band in the vein of bands like After Forever and Epica. It's no surprise that Tarja (former Nightwish) has been a big influence for this band. Vocalist Justine has a similar vocal reach and lines and the music they bring can indeed be compared to those bands.
After a nice intro, we're immediately treated to powerful riffs and these awesome vocals. Here and there some death growls are also incorporated but not very often. The music itself reminds me of bands like Samael, mainly because of the excellent combination of metal riffs and atmospheric electronics. 'L'Animal-aimé' is a perfect example of this combination and at times also comes up with something that reminds me of Otep.
That being said, yes, all the vocals are in French, which somehow gives the music a certain mysterious and romantic edge. When Justine whispers, I immediately think 'Enigma' although this has extremely little to do with that German electronic project. This is high quality rock music that will please a lot of dark metal and goth rock fans. In fact, a song like 'Pour Un Écu' is perfect for any dark dance floor.
'De Guerre Lasse' and 'Plus qu'Humain' are probably my favourite tracks on this album. The latter incorporates these death growls over a mid-tempo song, making this some excellent material for a decent headbanging session. Yet, it's mainly the vocal lines that I love on these songs and on most others. They have a certain sing-along character and get stuck in your head. Maybe if I ever get the chance to see Elyose live, I'll try to sing along in French.
'Chronocide', halfway through the album is actually the first song in which the electronics take the form of dance beats and melodies, for a short while. For the most part however, these electronics are atmosphere-enhancing elements which sound a lot more like keyboards than computers. In 'Rédemption' they take the form of bombastic, almost apocalyptical sounds, perfectly aligning themselves with the guitars, and again I think about Samael. 'Droit Dans Les Yeux' brings us some more beats, and at this moment I've actually started dancing a bit.
So, to conclude, if you're a fan of gothic metal of female fronted metal, this really is something for you. These are excellent musicians who know a think or two about songwriting, supporting a talented singer. The result is a very strong, and a bit sexy, metal album that has the power to raise and turn a lot of heads in their direction.
Ashbringer - Vacant
Vacant by Ashbringer
Many bands from the United States have been renewing the metal scenes in the past few decades. Agalloch, Wolves in the Throne Room, Liturgy and Krallice, to name a few, have put their respective marks on the genre by incorporating different atmospheres and techniques or by blending certain subgenres into their own sound. The pioneers are still extremely relevant today and loved by headbangers far and wide. With Xasthur, America also had one of the most well-known one-man cultbands in history, introducing a new wave of black metal. Ashbringer seems to ride on that wave, bringing us a stunning album.
Ashbringer hails from Minnesota. The project arose in 2013, featuring Nick Stanger on all instruments and vocals. The music he wrote and recorded can easily be named 'Cascadian Black Metal', influenced by most of the bands I named in the previous paragraph, along with some European bands like Darkthrone and Alcest. The result is an excellent album with a lot of variation, both in music and in vocals, and a dark, eerie atmosphere of solitude, desperation and fear.
The album opens with 'Ethereal Aura pt.I', a dark folk song which mainly functions as an intro. However, this dark folk style often returns for short passages, using clean vocals and acoustic guitars. Other elements, like dark ambient also appear once in a while. 'Lonesome' is a dark breather which functions as an into for the epic closer 'Bitter'. About 'Lonesome', this song uses some of the best percussion on this album, making this actually one of my favourite pieces on this album. This is in no way a black metal song but it remains awesome.
Alternating with these calm, almost soothing sounds, are of course the epic blasts of fierce black metal. These are simply brilliant, not extremely complex but very enjoyable and well-varied. Blast beats aren't the main function of the drums, they only appear for short periods of time. Somehow Ashbringer doesn't really need blast beats to show how intense and destructive his music can be. 'Ethereal Aura pt.II' for example opens very slow, like blackened doom, influenced by post-rock/metal. The haunted screams that make this genre unique are also very present and add a lot to the eerie atmosphere.
My favourite black metal anthem on this album is 'With Vacant Eyes', a song that issues a melody that somehow got stuck in my head. This too is partially influenced by post-rock or at least incorporates similar elaborate passages with a tremendous sense of magnificence and grandeur. The blast beats in this one are also quite short but insanely intense, almost grotesque. 'Bitter', like actually all of the songs, is yet another piece of epic atmospheric black metal, honouring both the Scandinavian and the American traditions of the genre.
Somehow I think Ashbringer must have had a lot of experience playing in different bands before starting this project. The songwriting is so meticulous and the level of musical craftsmanship is so high that I can't really believe that 'Vacant' is his first step in the world of extreme music. Fact remains that this is a fantastic album, truly showing the instrumental abilities of this one-man project. For live performances he found some musicians to take over some of these duties on stage and I surely hope he takes this show on the road through Europe. I want to see this live...
Colaris - Nexus
Wolves and Vibrancy Records
Last time I heard the word 'Nexus' was whan I was watching WWE a few years ago. The Nexus was a faction of young wrestlers who turned heel and destroyed the entire set multiple times. I know, wrestling is weird but I still like it. The first time I heard (or read) this word was when The Kovenant (the just Covenant) released 'Nexus Polaris', a ground breaking album in the metal scene. Anyway, we're pretty far away from both wrestling and metal today. In fact, I even dare to say we're dealing with something better.
Colaris is a post-rock band from Pirmasens, Germany. According to their facebook page they're currently looking for a bass player so German bassists, grab your chance and join this spectacular band. This is post-rock at a very high level. Somehow they sound like a mix between Explosions In The Sky, Tool and Jakob. In perfect post-rock tradition this trio (currently duo) delivers a brilliant album that will surely get them on stages throughout Europe. Or at least, I hope so.
The album opens with 'part I' of the 'Nexus epos' and ends with 'part II'. This epos is described as gentle and hopeful as the music is: „The Nexus is a place full of eternal joy. If a person gets drawn into the Nexus, all their wishes and dreams will come true, so the person never wants to leave that place again“. They're absolutely right, both these anthems are absolute pleasures to listen to and will definitely go right into my playlist of 'most exquisite tunes' in the genre.
Yet, in all its cinematic beauty, Colaris doesn't shun some experiments. Here and there blast beats are incorporated which make the music even more intense than it already is. These influences, which are clearly drawn from black metal, are also present in some of the slower, bleak guitar passages. Combined with the atmosphere of greatness that decent post rock has, this results in a very varied album. There are indeed images of immense snowy landscapes and icy forest appearing in my imagination when I listen to this music.
In between the two 'Nexus' anthems, a number of other songs are crammed. All of them fit perfectly in the similar post-rock atmosphere. 'Maelstrom' is an uptempo song, reminding me of a mix between Sleepmakeswaves and Monkey3. This song clearly represents the party calibre that some of the bands in this genre have. Even when the tempo goes down you can actually headbang to this and raise your fist in absolute musical excitement.
Throughout the following songs, the quality remains at an extremely high level. 'Lemuria', 'Shoals' and 'Cluster' maintain the same typical sounds which make post-rock such a unique and widely embraced musical genre. 'Im Sog' is a very slow song, which at times even reaches a dark jazz feel. In some aspect you can indeed say that this is the ballad of the album, the 'Nothing Else Matters' if you will.
'Nexus' is arguably one of the highlights within the post- or instrumental rock genre this year and should be part of every collection which contains albums by the other bands I mentioned in this review. Its bursts of powerful rock, alternating with dreamy, almost psychedelic passages is highly appreciated in this household so it's no surprise I've been listening to this album almost continuously in the past few days. I can only recommend every post-rock fan in the world to get your hands on a copy of this. You deserve it...
The Hillinoise - My Sleeping Butterfly
Grunge - Rock
My Sleeping Butterfly by The Hillinoise
Club Inferno Ent.
For the past few weeks I've been observing a group of caterpillars on one of the plants on my terrace. They are cabbage butterfly offspring and they've been eating an entire white cabbage before they started crawling to the ceiling. Now they have been cocooned for a few days. So I think we'll see new butterflies waking up somewhere in the next few days. Those are my sleeping butterflies, which is also the title of a pretty interesting e.p. by Italian rockers The Hillinoise.
This rockband sprung into existence in 2012, in the city of Potenza. The band is rooted in the nineties' grunge and noise rock sound, which almost guarantees an interesting combination of guitars, supported by a solid rhymth section. Yet, they also incorporate a gothic rock influence, which is mainly embodied with the gentle but strong vocals of Daniella. Somehow these vocals remind me of Anneke Van Giersbergen (The Gathering, Agua De Annique), a huge plus for a rock band in my opinion.
The three songs on this album are indeed very decent grunge rock songs with a gloomy atmosphere. Opener 'Lighter' slowly introduces the band before it blasts out in distorted frenzy, driving on a groovy bassline and both clean and distorted guitars. 'Nymphetamine' is my favourite song. It too drives on elementary riffs and a strong in-your-face rock attitude which I absolutely loved in the nineties. Another striking element is the own life that the bassguitar seems to have. It gives the songs a nice impetus, especially in the title track.
Maybe in a way this can be compared to The Cranberries but The Hillinoise is way better and a lot noisier so let's just call them the prodigal sons (and daughter) of Cranberries and Jesus & Mary Chain. They know how to write strong rock songs and how to turn them into their own distinct sound. If they can set up a decent live-performance, I see a great future for this band and I surely hope to see them on stage soon.
Iron Kingdom - Ride For Glory
War is probably as old as mankind itself. We humans fight for everything and mainly to indulge the egos of the ones in power. Throughout the ages warriors have become heroes and a source of inspiration for all kinds of artists. Paintings, tapistry, poetry, statues and music, they all have created tributes to warriors. Allover the world these soldiers, samurai, knights, impi, hoplites, gladiators, amazons, berzekers and so on, have been honored by thousands of people. Now Iron Kingdom can be added to this list.
Iron Kingdom is a heavy metal band from Canada, focused solely on the vintage sound of the seventies and eighties. This tradition is honoured, not only in the music but also in the band logo and artwork. Every single thing about this album breathes 'classic heavy metal' in the vein of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Blind Guardian. 'Ride For Glory' is their third album and it's completely dedicated to warriors allover the world and throughout history.
The album opens with an instrumental intro and immediately comes up with those classic riffs, drums and solos. Flashing guitars, vigorous drums and a high pitched voice truly bring back the epic sound of the eighties. From there on the band rages on through past wars with exhilarating guitar play and a very strong rhythm section. This makes a song like 'Leif Erikson' (an Icelandic explorer, considered by some as the first European to land in North America, 500 years before Christopher Columbus) a highly convincing anthem.
'Night Attack' and closer 'The Veiled Knight' all have the same epic atmosphere of conquest and victory as 'Leif Erikson'. Not only because these are the longest tracks but mainly because of the vigorous (twin) guitar sound and the almost militant bombast which they seem to possess. For that reason, these songs remind me most of Iron Maiden's hitsongs like 'Fear Of The Dark' and several others. But as good as a guitarist can be, he will still need solid rhythm guitar and bass players to complete his sound. Luckily for Iron Kingdom all the musicians know exactly what to do in order to create a magnificent sound and touch of greatness.
But Iron Kingdom is definitely not a Maiden-clone. They clearly found their own niche, incorporating more complex drums, mainly in songs like 'Lady Trieu And The Kingdom Of Wu' or 'A Call To Arms'. Other nice additions are the occasional sounds of swordfights and some other battle sounds. These make the album concept complete and quite impressive. The vocals add a lot to these, sounding like a blend of Bon Scott (AC/DC), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) and Andi Deris (Helloween).
So in all,' Ride To Glory' is an excellent heavy metal album that can stand next to some albums by the bands I mentioned in this review. I'm not sure if this will one day become a classic in the genre but it's a decent business card to earn a spot on the summer festivals. If Iron Kingdom is as convincing on stage as on CD/LP/Digital, I see a pretty awesome future for these Canadians. So heavy metal fans, check this out. This is a tremendous throwback into the (first) golden age of metal.
Nidra / K.M. - Epitaph Of Solitude
Doom metal - dark metal
Epitaph Of Solitude by NIDRA / K.M.
Casus Belli Musica
I wrote one review today and for the rest of they day two other albums have been continuously playing in this household. One of these two will be reviewed later but I did want to introduce you to one of the best doom split albums I've heard in ages. I know, I often mention that this or that album is one of the best doom albums in a certain period of time but I just can't help it. This is pitch black melodic doom at an extremely high level.
Nidra is a dark metal band from Perm, Russia. Their style reminds me of bands like Novembers Doom, Saturnus or Swallow The Sun. This duo has roots in black metal and somehow you can actually hear that in the music. However, the bleak atmosphere and blast beats made place for mesmerizing keyboards and deep growls. There is actually a lot of variation in vocals, ranging from the usual growls to angsty screams and clean vocal lines.
'Pathways Of A Dream (Kali)', my favourite on the album, has a dark ambient intro which remains present throughout the entire song. 'Prisoner' is a very strong modern day doom track that somehow makes me a bit homesick for the nineties. 'Thorns Of Never Existed' is another beautiful piece of doom metal that drives on dark eighties keyboards and a melancholic feel, a bit like a blend of Tiamat and Anathema. The three songs that Nidra delivered are amazing, very emotional and with a lot of variation.
Nidra / K.M.
'Abyss' is a Bethlehem cover. Now, I've never really gave this dark/black metal band a lot of attention so I can't remember what the original sounded like. Yet, I do like this cover, it reminds me a bit of Moonspell, be it a lot rougher and edgier.
K.M. stands for 'Katharos Melancholin'. This one-man project is also firmly rooted in the black metal scene and still active in several bands. His songs breathe a grim atmosphere, very much like many depressive black metal bands do. Furthermore, K.M. incorporates some influences from post-rock, gothic metal and even a bit of ethereal music. The result is once again stunning, three brilliantly dark songs.
For a twelve minute anthem, 'Mutilated By The God' seriously rocks. This, mostly mid-tempo, song really is a pleasure to listen to. I know because I've listened to it for at least seven times now and I still love every minute of it. 'Having Begun To Hate This World' and 'Cognizing The Grief' also come up with a lot of melody while still being able to maintain a strong rhythm.
In all, I really think this is a brilliant dark metal album, bringing the best elements of death, doom and black together. I'm sure this CD will find my neighbour-torturing-sound-device quite often in the following months and I'm going to keep an eye on these bands, that's for sure...
Barbelith - Mirror Unveiled
black metal - post-rock
Mirror Unveiled 12" LP by Barbelith
Grimoire Records
Musicians are insane, or at least some of them. Drummers for example. Drummers are weird people with tons of energy who can make or break a song. No matter what the others in the band do, if the drummer goes hyper-active and comes up with blastbeats, you're listening to a black metal album. If the drummer does bizarre, a-rhythmic things, it's math rock. If the drummer is a machine, you're dealing with dance music. Same goes for vocalists, screams is black metal, growls is death metal and without a vocalist every band is a post-rock band these days.
Barbelith, a quartet from Baltimore (US) has an intensely screaming vocalist and a very energetic drummer, which should place them within the black metal scene. However, since Barbalith excells in elaborate soundscapes and guitar passages that breathe post-rock all the way, we're not so sure where to place this anymore. This combination of black metal and post rock reminds me of bands like Deafhaven, Wolves In The Throne Room and our own Belgian youngsters Drawn Into Descend. It's this surprising blend of genres that renewed interest in the extreme underground genres, at least for me.
Yet, before we even begin listening to this blackened post-rock, we have to deal with an intro. 'Beyond the Envelope of Sleep' is a four minute lasting mix of noise rock, black metal, noise and experimental metal. This surely is a weird track to open this album but it's a stunning one nonetheless. Within a few moments you've been drenched in the insanity that drives Barbelith. Shortly after opening, the song turns into a very decent black metal song, reminding me of another Belgian band, Wiegedood.
In 'Astral Plane' the post-rock influences become the main part of the music. Here the drums creates quite complicated patters while the guitars create the typical post-rock sound. Slowly the song builds towards blast beats driven black metal while also incorporating some heavy metal riffs. The result is massive and simply epic. 'Black Hole of Fractured Reflections' follows a similar path and quickly becomes my favourite song on this album. In this is song it becomes clear that Barbelith doesn't just alternates these two genres. No, they blend them together into one mesmerizing trip, constantly swaying the listener between different emotions and atmospheres.
The album closes with 'Reverse Fall', a track that also shows the sludge-side of this American quartet. Here too the level of intensity is extremely high. The heavy passages are simply crushing pieces of music. Somehow I think I've been witnessing a glimpse of the evolution of this band. In the past 37 minutes they've stunned me with their unique atmospheric sound and their writing skills. This makes me already look forward to the future of this band and certainly to live performances. Wit hstuff like this, they will surely be able to convince audiences far and wide.
Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule - rehctaWatcher
rehctaWatcher by Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule
Sombre Soniks
For many people, music is way more than a certain arrangement of different sounds. Many people don't know about the deeper, underlying function of music and sound art. Music can move and heal people or do the exact opposite. These qualities have been known for ages but somehow they have been forgotten since the creation of pop music. Luckily, there are still people who explore and investigate these esoteric principles in sound.
Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule is an artist from Australia, active in different forms of occult art, including sculpture, painting and sound. rehcaWatcher is his latest music album, featuring several other artists on electronics, violin or vocals. The album is a compilation of strange sounds and ritualistic vocals. For the main part, these are soundscapes from another world, a world where few people dare to dwell.
The most striking aspect on this album is the alienating atmosphere it breathes. Nothing on this album sounds like anything close to contemporary music and it's not really something I can put my finger on. At times I'm reminded of Deutsch Nepal visiting a fantasy world filled with goblins and other strange creatures. At other times the weirdness of Goethes Erben shines through, enhancing the unsettling feel that you don't belong in this world.
The album lasts for eigthy minutes and after those eighty minutes the listener will be left behind feeling odd, remembering flashes of these tracks and combining them again into something scary nad occult sounding. In that aspect you can say that this is a dark ambient release but a highly experimental and intensely ritual version. Furthermore he incorporates elements from neo-classical, post-industrial and noise music, which turn this album into something out of this world.
In all, rehctaWatcher is a very interesting album if you are into strange, uneasy soundscapes and odd, stretched vocal experiments. Surely this is something that will only be beloved by a small number of experimental and ritual music aficionados but that doesn't matter. Some artists just seem to have that elite or elitist following, which we call 'a scene'.
Suffering Mind - Messiah Of Extermination
Messiah Of Extermination by SUFFERING MIND
Time to speed things up, and not even just a bit. We're going to extremes now, brought to you on a single sided 12" (with a stunning engraving on the b-side), containing twenty songs in only eightteen minutes. Yet, those eightteen minutes are more than enough to crush everything in sight and blast away every last sense of dignity human kind still possesses. Yes, this is a grindcore album and probably one of the sickest things that will be released this year.
Suffering Mind is a trio from Lublin, Poland. 'Messiah Of Extermination' actually contains the tracks from their splits with Scourge Schematic and Asshammer. Somehow this album reminds me of 'Scum' by Napalm Death, mostly because of the short but fierce blasts of grindcore, crust and punk. Brutal guitars, punishing blast beats and an array of growls and screams bring poignant terror to every living room this album is played in.
There is no rest, no breather and no remorse on this album. It rolls through the speakers at fericious speeds where violent, hyper-active sounds demolish all competition. Clearly this stuff is not for everyone, only the most wicked extremophiles will be able to withstand this excruciating punishment. So grindcore fans, get your hands on this thing because this will be a fantastic addition to your collection...
Siren - A Kingdom Aflame
A Kingdom Aflame by Siren
Draconum Records
Officially today is the second day of summer. When you look outside, you won't really notice. Grey skies, rain and cold winds are all I see, and it's quite chilly too. So I decided to stay inside today and get some writing done. Luckily some bands succeed in bringing the warm atmosphere of the summer festivals inside and warming up the room with some distorted guitars and pounding drums. Headbaning is a perfect alternative for morning gymnastics, that's for sure.
Siren hails from Cincinatti and features members of Winterhymn, Hell Scorched Earth, Elimination and Imperial Vengeance. Thit quartet, founded in 2012 brings us something quite unique, an amazing blend of doom and black metal with vintage heavy metal. The result is 'A Kingdom Aflame', a surprising full-length which contains eight tracks that will rock your world in ways you didn't know it could rock. Well, seven track because there's a little breather present as well.
The album opens like many traditional heavy metal albums do. An acoustic intro, followed by distorted guitars and upbeat drums. After a short while, 'Fire and Blood' is a solid power metal track which holds a tremendous sense of euphoria, similar to bands like Gravedigger or Edguy. However, suddenly the bleakness of black metal comes shining through, complete with blast beats and fierce guitars.
'Into the Starless Night' follows a similar hard rock path with some vintage doom elements and a strong live capacity. There's twin guitar solo, a multitude of different vocals styles, some stoner rock elements and a lot more to be discovered. These elements make 'Ursine Lineage' my favourite song on the album. 'Bastard of the Dreadfort' somehow seems to borrow from death metal and hardcore and becomes a strange surprise on this album.
'Hiraeth' switches the sequence, opening like a crushing piece of black metal and evolving into something Sabaton could have written when the were in a doom-mood. Like most of the songs, it takes some time getting used to the strange combination. Luckily, Siren constists of a bunch of highly skilled musicians who possess a decent amount of songwriting skills. Each bit and piece of music on this album sounds convincing enough to remain enjoyable for the entire duration.
I wouldn't be surprised if Siren becomes a big name on the festival stages this summer. This music has the power to please them all, from the oldest metalhead to the youngster looking for new extremes. Maybe some people will frown upon the combination of completely different styles within the metal genre but that's their problem. This is just great stuff, with some flashes of mastery and enough quality to entertain you.
Heathen Beast - The Carnage Of Godhra
The Carnage Of Godhra by Heathen Beast
We usually think of India as the land of yoga, overcrowded trains and holy cows, a country dominated by religious views, dating back to ages before the rise and fall of Rome and before the pyramids of Egypt. However, obviously, as with every country in the world, there is an extreme underground in India with some very surprising and refreshing bands, counteracting the religious oppression and promoting disbelief. These people claim that there is no god who controls your life. You, and you alone, are responsible for the way you choose to live your life and you will have to live with the consequences of that choice.
Heathen Beast is one of those bands who decided to go their own way. Not only in choice of religion but also in musical style. They hail from Calcutta and name their music 'atheistic black metal'. Yet, there's more going on in the three songs on this album. For starters, the music isn't as raw and hellish as their Scandinavian counterparts and it's not as avant-garde and bleak as the modern day American version. No, this is very melodic but extremely aggresive black metal with a touch of sludge and some Indian elements.
The album opens with vocal samples, every song on this e.p. does. Then some nice percussion comes in, quickly followed by some great guitar solos and melodies. It won't take long before the titletrack shows it's true face: a high quality black metal song with a lot of variation, melody and tempo shifts. Over all this controlled chaos, a demonic voice screeches and screams, a lot. It strikes me how much the vocalist is present. He also sounds a bit like vocalist from some sludge bands, hence the sludge reference earlier in this review.
'Ab Ki Baar Atyachar' brings more of the same and therefore is another very decent song. Yet, my favourite remains 'Gaurav Yatra (The Aftermath)', the one with some authentic Indian melodies and the theatrical sound of bands like Dimmu Borgir, The Kovenant or Cradle Of Filth. The combination of these elements is just brilliant. This is great stuff to headbang to and actually a very promising e.p. I'm quite curious about this band and I'm hungry for more. Not only from Heathen Beast but from the entire Indian underground. There's some awesome stuff to be found here...
Abaton / Viscera/// - Diade(ms)
Diade(ms) by Abaton & Viscera///
This is not a split, this is a collaboration between two of Italy's most notorius sludge bands. They have been friends for many years and often shared stages far and wide. So it was no surprise that they would some day get together and record some songs as a collective. Both bands are mainly influenced by sludge doom bands like AmenRa or Corrupted. So what you expect from this effect is very correct, only better.
The two songs are brilliant pieces of blackened hardcore infested doom sludge with layers of sound and brutal vocals. 'Special Needs' incorporates some guttural growls, reminding me of some grindcore bands, along with the typical sludge screams that come pretty close to black metal. The tempo often switches from cumbersome, slow doom to intense blast beats and everything in between.
'Pandemic' is (for the main part) a lot slower, a solid doom metal track, but isn't any less intense that its predecessor. Somehow this can be seen as some melodic doom or death metal song, bearing a dark, fearful atmosphere. Of the two tracks, this is my favourite one. However, they fit perfectly well together, resulting in a well-varied effort by these two bands. So my advice is indeed this: get your hands on this, this cooperation is arguably one of the best pieces of work in the sludge scene today...
Sentient Ruin
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Veetek Witkowski holds a newly assembled AR-15 rifle at the Stag Arms company in New Britain, Conn, April 10, 2013.
Charles Krupa/AP
Even NRA sees some open-carry tactics as ‘weird’ and ‘scary’
06/02/14 03:08 PM —Updated 06/02/14 03:35 PM
Late last week, two large national chains – Chili’s and Sonic – issued coordinated press statements, letting the public know that customers should no longer bring loaded firearms into their restaurants. Chipotle made a similar move earlier in May.
The announcements became necessary because a variety of gun enthusiasts, most notably members of a group called Open Carry Texas, decided last month to bring assault rifles into a Chili’s location in San Antonio – at least in part because state law allows them to do so. (They were asked to leave because they made other patrons uncomfortable.)
Mark Follman reports today that even the National Rifle Association isn’t impressed with the idea of carrying AR-15s into local eating establishments.
Evidently the National Rifle Association has come to realize that none of this is good for business. In an extraordinary move on Friday, the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action – the organization’s powerful lobbying arm in Washington – issued a lengthy statement seeking to distinguish between “responsible behavior” and “legal mandates.” It told the Texas gun activists in no uncertain terms to stand down.
“As gun owners, whether or not our decisions are dictated by the law, we are still accountable for them,” the statement began. “If we exercise poor judgment, our decisions will have consequences…such as turning an undecided voter into an antigun voter because of causing that person fear or offense.” The NRA praised the “robust gun culture” of Texas – which recently has loosened laws as aggressively as any state – but then laid into those Texans “who have crossed the line from enthusiasm to downright foolishness.”
The NRA made the case that “public displays of firearms as a means to draw attention to oneself or one’s cause” can be “downright scary” to members of the public. The far-right group added that the recent incident at Chili’s was “downright weird” – and the NRA wasn’t referring to the manager’s request that the gun-toting patrons leave the premises.
So, how did the gun enthusiasts in Texas respond?
As Eric Lach reported, about as well as you’d expect.
In response to the NRA’s statement on Friday criticizing Texas activists’ recent tactics, members of the pro-gun group Open Carry Texas have been cutting up their NRA membership cards, and the group has issued a statement demanding a retraction of the NRA’s “disgusting and disrespectful comments.” Or else.
“The more the NRA continues to divide its members by attacking some aspects of gun rights instead of supporting all gun rights, the more support it will lose,” Open Carry Texas said in a statement published Monday on its Facebook page.
Yes, because if there’s one aspect of the gun debate that’s obvious, it’s that the NRA is … too moderate?
Update: A new poll found that more than half of the country (55%) believes banning loaded guns in restaurants and retail stores is a good idea. About a third (32%) said the opposite.
The MaddowBlog, Gun Policy, Guns, NRA, Society and Texas
Obama admin unveils ambitious climate rules
The flaming wells of Texas
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The Ruff Report: Dogs and Rescue
89 dogs rescued from a filthy, putrid 'hell hole'
Eighty-nine dogs - many suffering from painful skin burns from being incarcerated in urine- and feces-covered cages piled atop one another in enclosed trailers - have been seized from a breeder in Arkansas during a raid where rescuers had to wear masks because of the noxious stench.
THE HUNT OF HER LIFE, a full-color book by newspaper journalist and MySetterSam.com publisher Joseph A. Reppucci, is must reading for animal lovers of all ages. It has 60 color photos of dogs to illustrate the compelling story of Samantha, an unwanted rescue dog adopted at age 2 by Mr. Reppucci. Travel with them along a trail of life filled with surprising twists, sudden turns, mystery and even what some call a miracle. And when the journey is finished, you may never look at people and their pets, motherhood - and perhaps even God - in the same way. THE HUNT OF HER LIFE will take you on a captivating journey - a trip like no other - that will touch your heart.
For more details and to order, go to the
MySetterSam E-store
Also find The Hunt of Her Life on:
Facebook/thehuntofherlife
CLICK HERE TO LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK
The filthy dogs (some seen at left in photos from the HSUS), mostly small breeds such as Brussels Griffons, Shih-Tzus and Chihuahaus, also are being treated for eye and skin infections, severely matted fur, acute dental disease and parasites, according to animal welfare officials. One dog, too weak to stand, had to be cut loose from the cage after its waste-soaked fur became entangled in the bars.
Scotlund Haisley, senior director of emergency services for the Humane Society of the United States, says the conditions at this "hell hole" of a breeding operation were the worst he has encountered in the 15 rescues of 4,000 animals that his organization has been involved with this year.
"It's hard to even fathom that people can act like this to animals or anything," he told Love of Dogs. "These dogs have been laying in their own feces and urine their entire lives. ... It's turning into an acid and burning their coats."
The breeding operation was being run by two sisters in Lamar, Arkansas. Officials from the Johnson County sheriff’s department and the Humane Society of the United States conducted a raid of the property after receiving tips from citizens about the living conditions of the animals. The rescue also included six cats and two guinea pigs being kept in small cages and some larger dogs chained outside with no protection from the elements.
Desiree Bender, Arkansas state director for the Humane Society of the United States, also said that the conditions on the property were some of the worst she has seen. "The two women that owned these dogs had not had running water for more than a year," she told Love of Dogs. "The dogs were kept in filthy kennels sitting upon layers and layers of feces."
The cramped trailers (seen at left and below in photos from the HSUS) had no ventilation, so the dogs lacked fresh air which took a toll on their health, Ms. Bender said. "Of all the cases I have handled in the last 10 years, the dogs cooped up inside are always in much worse condition than the dogs that have access to fresh air."
Ms. Bender advises people who plan to get a pet to only do business with licensed breeders. "Do your research by visiting the kennel and requesting to meet the parents of the puppy you are considering," she said.
Those who want a dog - even purebreds like Shih-Tzus and Chihuahaus - can also adopt from a shelter or a reputable rescue, Ms. Bender said. "Anyone wanting a purebred dog can go through that breed's rescue," she said, which can be found by doing a search on the Internet. "You will find there are tons of good rescues out there that are dedicated to helping one breed."
Volunteers with United Animal Nation’s Emergency Animal Rescue Service helped set up and operate a temporary shelter to care for the rescued animals for a few days.
“The UAN volunteers have been working nonstop to help the dogs acclimate to their new surroundings and give them clean kennels, food, water and attention like they never experienced before,” UAN Emergency Services Manager Janell Matthies states in a media release.
After receiving emergency treatment at the temporary shelter, most of the animals were taken on an 18-hour journey to Washington, D.C., where the Washington Animal Rescue League is caring for 83 of the small-breed dogs and the six cats.
“We have the resources to turn these dogs’ lives around, though it takes a lot of concentrated effort, time, and money," Dr. Gary Weitzman, the league’s president and CEO, states in a media release. "Dogs from puppy mills have invariably suffered prolonged, gross neglect, and they are among the neediest animals a shelter will ever be called upon to help. But we feel we are well qualified to undertake the work, and ultimately, we find it extremely rewarding.”
The animals will be treated for any medical problems and socialization issues at the Washington Animal Rescue League's Medical Center to help get them ready for adoption. Some will be ready for adoption sooner than others, who will need more time to adjust.
The Washington Animal Rescue League will offer counseling and training to those interested in adopting the animals.
Mary Jarvis, an official at the Washington Animal Rescue League, says a special kind of pet owner is needed for rescue dogs. “Since they have never experienced anything close to life as a normal pet, some will be very fearful," she explained. "House training can be a real challenge - the dogs have never so much as set foot outside. But if someone has the time and perseverance to deal with their special issues, it can be very satisfying to give one of these dogs their first-ever home.”
Most viewed reports about dogs and rescue:
1. 108 dogs rescued from filthy, rat-infested puppy mill
2. 340 dogs found 'suffering' in makeshift kennels
3. Dogs rescued from waste-filled cages are 'skin and bones'
4. 240 dogs traumatized by incarceration rescued
5. One of nation's 'worst' puppy mills busted
6. Dogs in emotional shock after ordeal in tiny, filthy cages
7. 534 dogs imprisoned in filthy, crude cages rescued
8. Rescued dogs suffered in a field of horror
9. Beagles rescued from barbaric outdoor shelter
10. Dogs rescued from squalor resorted to cannibalism
11. 237 dogs in filthy 'solitary confinement' rescued
12. 210 dogs rescued from years of confinement
13. Dogs stuffed into tiny, 'inhumane crates' rescued
14. Starving rescued dogs only had rotting food to eat
15. Waste-covered pets seized; rescuers wear masks
More reports about rescue (state by state)
Those interested in making donations to help pay for the care and rehabilitation of the dogs or who want information about adoption should visit the Washington Animal Rescue League.
Adoption | Food | Health | Money | Rescue
Safety & Behavior | Surveys & Studies
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NASA Planet Hunter Finds Earth-Sized World in 'Goldilocks Zone'
by Naharnet Newsdesk 07 January 2020, 09:09
NASA said Monday that its planet hunter satellite TESS had discovered an Earth-sized world within the habitable range of its star, which could allow the presence of liquid water.
China Jails Scientist Who Gene-Edited Babies
by Naharnet Newsdesk 30 December 2019, 09:08
A Chinese court on Monday sentenced the doctor who claimed to be behind the world's first gene-edited babies to three years in prison for illegal medical practice, state media reported.
NASA's Trip to Mars Begins in California 'Clean Room'
NASA's Mars 2020 rover will head off for the Red Planet next year. But like Voyager, Galileo and Cassini before it, the mission's epic journey began in a "clean room" in California.
China Launches Powerful Rocket in Boost for 2020 Mars Mission
China Friday launched one of the world's most powerful rockets in a major step forward for its planned mission to Mars in 2020.
Secrets of Germany's 'Alcatraz' Virus Island Revealed
On a Baltic Sea island once used by the Nazis for biological weapon research, German scientists are developing virus vaccines that could save lives.
'Ring of Fire' Eclipse Wows across Asia
Skywatchers from Saudi Arabia and Oman to India and Singapore were treated to a rare "ring of fire" solar eclipse Thursday.
Annular eclipses occur when the Moon is not close enough to the Earth to completely obscure the Sun, leaving a thin ring of the solar disc visible.
Lawmakers Greenlight U.S. Space Force
The United States is getting a new space force along with $738 billion in military spending under an agreement backed by lawmakers on Tuesday that fulfills a priority of President Donald Trump.
NASA Says Core Stage of Next Moon Rocket Now Ready
NASA has completed the giant rocket that will take U.S. astronauts back to the Moon, the space agency's head announced Monday, pledging the mission would take place in 2024 despite being beset by delays.
Auditor Says NASA Overpaid Boeing by Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
by Naharnet Newsdesk 15 November 2019, 19:02
NASA "overpaid" Boeing by hundreds of millions of dollars on a fixed contract to develop a spaceship to carry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), an audit report has said, compensation it called "unnecessary."
The U.S. has relied on Russia to transport its crews to the ISS since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, but has hired Boeing and SpaceX under multi-billion dollar contracts, with the two companies already two years behind schedule.
In First, Spacewalk Conducted by Two Women
by Naharnet Newsdesk 18 October 2019, 15:05
The first ever spacewalk with an all-female team began Friday, footage broadcast by NASA showed.
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Primary homework help games maths
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You Are Here: Home Microgaming » Bars And Stripes
Bars & Stripes Pokie
Red, white and blue dominates the reels of Bars and Stripes, which has an all-American theme featuring images of American footballs, waffles, Oreos and a bald eagle to name just a few.
While the USA may be the land of the free, Bars and Stripes is somewhat limited in extra features like free spins, but there's still a few bucks to make with a big 50,000 coin jackpot, a simple bonus game, plus multiplier payouts and Scatter wins.
Bars and Stripes is part of the Microgaming range and like all the others from this developer, it's been certified as fair, while it can also be played with no download needed on PC’s and mobile devices.
Ironically, thanks to American legislation, Microgaming pokies can’t be played from the USA, but this game is still sure to be popular in countries friendly to the States like the UK, Australia and so on. Maybe not so much in Russia or North Korea.
A huge bet range that goes from just 0.01 to 250.00 per spin makes this a great game for all budgets, although with 25 paylines across the 5 reels, it’s always best to have a stake on all lines, for a minimum wager per spin of 0.25.
All symbols are related to the US theme, with none of the playing card icons that feature in so many games. This can be a good thing or bad depending on your point of view, as it can be a bit boring to see the same old card symbols again and again, but at least you know what the lower paying ones will be.
Bars & Stripes
5 1 1 5 Bars & Stripes
The design certainly makes it an eye-catching pokie, and of course the paytable gives a detailed breakdown of expected returns and how they are triggered. The Oreo is the lowest paying one, with between 5 and 20 coins for landing 3 to 5 of them across a line, starting from the left hand reel, while the highest paying standard symbol is the eagle that brings in between 4 and 600 coins.
Microgaming are known for releasing pokies filled with extra features, and while Bars and Stripes isn’t exactly bursting at the seams with them, there are still a couple of bonus symbols that bring the game to life.
A football brightly decorated with the American flag is a scatter symbol which only needs to appear in 3 or more spots, without needing to be on a payline, to reward the players with twice the total bet amount, while getting 5 at once will result in a very nice 200x prize. Unfortunately, there’s no bonus game to follow a scatter win, but there is one triggered by 3, 4 or 5 Uncle Sam hats landing in a line at once.
It’s a pretty simple bonus round, as all the players need to do is click on up to 3 of the hats to reveal prize values hidden within them. Doing this can lead to a whopping 47,500 coins, but the biggest possible prize is reserved for those lucky players who manage to line 5 wild symbols right across a payline.
The wild is simply the Bars and Stripes logo, and it has the conventional duty of substituting for others to help complete winning combinations, but has the added bonus of doubling in a win when it does so.
It also rewards 10 times the line bet for 2 on a line, 150 if 3 land at once on a line, 1000x is paid out should 4 wilds appear and 5000 for a full line of 5 wilds. If 10 coins are being played per line, that equals the maximum 50,000 coin payout.
A Touchdown or a Turkey?
This is certainly a brightly coloured pokie, and fans of all things American will love the style. There are some good points and bad points here however, and starting with the positive, there’s a very wide bet range, and big potential jackpot prize. The downside is a basic bonus round and no free spins game, but we can’t have everything can we?
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A good number of fashion brands based in Detroit, touting the myriad ways they’re bettering the beleaguered city, have cropped up in recent years. Shinola is likely the most famous name heralding its “Made In Detroit” authenticity and its impact on the Midwestern metropolis (though that claim got thoroughly criticized, among other things, by The New York Times back in 2013). But there are some far smaller players doing big things in Motor City — like jewelry line Rebel Nell, founded three years ago by lawyer Amy Peterson, the Detroit Tigers' associate counsel.
Peterson came to Detroit to pursue a career in sports in 2007; getting involved with the local community led her inadvertently into the bauble business as a second job (a third job, really, counting motherhood, as Peterson puts it). Rebel Nell's cofounder and creative director, Diana Russell, had a design and retail background, but it wasn't a fashion project with a do-good element later tacked on. The cause — combatting joblessness for women in Detroit — truly begat the products.
Beautiful as the slightly circuitboard-esque, marble-effect pieces are, it’s the company’s triple-pronged impact that really stands out. Firstly, Rebel Nell employs underemployed, impoverished women, and provides financial-literacy training, among offering other essential "getting through life" resources. The pieces these women create are basically wearable works of urban renewal, crafted from graffiti found around the city. Rebel Nell's offerings, priced at $60 to $175 per piece, bring further attention to the city itself and how revitalization efforts can (and should) take shape via fashion. (Last week, Peterson and Russell were named Social Entrepreneurs of the Year for their impactful work by Ernst & Young.) It’s the kind of altruistic project refreshingly devoid of bullshit; you can’t help but be inspired. We rang up Peterson to get the full story.
How did the concept for Rebel Nell come about?
"I wanted to find my little way of giving back, and it kind of happened accidentally: Right next door to where I lived, there's a well-known shelter, COTS [Coalition On Temporary Shelter]. I'd walk my dog and have conversations with the residents, primarily the women. I heard their stories about the really challenging situations they left in search of better opportunity; even if that meant going to a shelter, they needed to leave whatever situation they were in. These were very courageous, motivated women, and I wanted to give them the tools needed to never be back in a shelter, ever again.
"A lot of what I heard was not only physical and emotional abuse, but they were escaping financial abuse as well. So I thought if I could give a financial-literacy component — understanding their bills, where their money was going — I could possibly help them. At that time, I didn't really know about social-enterprise work, but I wanted to find a way to support COTS with my friend and now business partner, Diana."
Posted by Erin Rose at 1:00 PM Labels: Detroit Business, Detroit Making Headlines, Random Acts of Kindness
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Siemens Vectron Locomotive Channel Trial
Siemens Vectron loco trialled in Channel Tunnel
Published 14th February 2013
Successful tests prove a single loco is capable of safely handling trains between France and England
Siemens has successfully trialled a Vectron Bo-Bo electric locomotive in the Channel Tunnel as part of gaining acceptance to haul through trains between France and England. The locomotive No. 193 922 hauled a test train under its own power in the tunnel during the night of January 25-26.
The tests were part of efforts by Eurotunnel to develop cross-channel rail freight and they validated the compatibility of the locomotive with the systems and safety regulations applying to the Channel Tunnel.
They were carried out with the Vectron AC locomotive in standard configuration but with its two German pantographs replaced by ones suitable for the tunnel. The trails confirmed that the Vectron can operate without any problems pulling trains of 1,350 metric tons up the steep gradients in the Channel Tunnel.
The loco entered the French portal in the late evening on January 25 to perform a series of traction, brake and pantograph tests. It then went through to Folkestone before reversing, carrying out more tests and emerging back in France before dawn on January 26.
Approval of the Vectron Class means that four-axle locos can be used for cross-Channel freight in addition to the purpose-built Class 92 six-axles locos currently in use with DBS, GBRf and SNCF.
The exercise follows similar trials with an Alstom Prima II loco in September 2012.
Siemens Website
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Reflections on the Anarchist Principle
Revolt Library >> Anarchism >> Reflections on the Anarchist Principle
Author : Paul Goodman
(1911 - 1972) ~ American Writer, Critic, Psychotherapist, and Anarchist Philosopher : As the movement became the Movement and shifted to a struggle between the Old Left and the New Left, Goodman remained unapologetically free. Many of his former followers abandoned him as he refused to offer a blueprint for building structures for the future, preferring the formulation of here, now, next. (From : Fitzgerald Bio.)
• "There cannot be a history of anarchism in the sense of establishing a permanent state of things called 'anarchist.' It is always a continual coping with the next situation, and a vigilance to make sure that past freedoms are not lost and do not turn into the opposite, as free enterprise turned into wage-slavery and monopoly capitalism, or the independent judiciary turned into a monopoly of courts, cops, and lawyers, or free education turned into School Systems." (From : "The black flag of anarchism," by Paul Goodman.)
• "Anarchism is grounded in a rather definite proposition: that valuable behavior occurs only by the free and direct response of individuals or voluntary groups to the conditions presented by the historical environment. It claims that in most human affairs, whether political, economic, military, religious, moral, pedagogic, or cultural, more harm than good results from coercion, top-down direction, central authority, bureaucracy, jails, conscription, states, pre-ordained standardization, excessive planning, etc." (From : "The black flag of anarchism," by Paul Goodman.)
• "As our families are, the children in both their present satisfaction and the free growth of their powers, are certainly crushed, thwarted, pushed, hurt, and misled by their hostile and doting grown-ups. Frankly, I doubt that you can find one child in a dozen who is not being seriously injured, in quite definite and tangible ways, by his family." (From : "The Children and Psychology," by Paul Goodman.)
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Anarchism is grounded in a rather definite proposition: that valuable behavior occurs only by the free and direct response of individuals or voluntary groups to the conditions presented by the historical environment. It claims that in most human affairs, whether political, economic, military, religious, moral, pedagogic, or cultural, more harm than good results from coercion, top-down direction, central authority, bureaucracy, jails, conscription, States, preordained standardization, excessive planning, etc. Anarchists want to increase intrinsic functioning and diminish extrinsic power. This is a social-psychological hypothesis with obvious political implications. Depending on varying historical conditions that present various threats to the anarchist principle, anarchists have laid their emphasis in varying places: sometimes agrarian, sometimes free-city and guild-oriented; sometimes technological, sometimes anti-technological; sometimes communist, sometimes affirming property; sometimes individualist, sometimes collective; sometimes speaking of Liberty as almost an absolute good, sometimes relying on custom and “nature.” Nevertheless, despite these differences, anarchists seldom fail to recognize one another, and they do not consider the differences to be incompatibilities. Consider a crucial modern problem, violence. Guerrilla fighting has been a classical anarchist technique; yet where, especially in modern conditions, any violent means tends to reinforce centralism and authoritarianism, anarchists have tended to see the beauty of nonviolence. Now the anarchist principle is by and large true. And far from being “Utopian” or a “glorious failure,” it has proved itself and won out in many spectacular historical crises. In the period of mercantilism and patents royal, free enterprise by joint stock companies was anarchist. The Jeffersonian bill of rights and independent judiciary were anarchist. Congregational churches were anarchist. Progressive education was anarchist. The free cities and corporate law in the feudal system were anarchist. At present, the civil rights movement in the United States has been almost classically decentralist and anarchist And so forth, down to details like free access in public libraries. Of course, to later historians, these things do not seem to be anarchist, but in their own time they were all regarded as such and often literally called such, with the usual dire threats of chaos. But this relativity of the anarchist principle to the actual situation is of the essence of anarchism. There cannot be a history of anarchism in the sense of establishing a permanent state of things called “anarchist.” It is always a continual coping with the next situation, and a vigilance to make sure that past freedoms are not lost and do not turn into the opposite, as free enterprise turned into wage-slavery and monopoly capitalism, or the independent judiciary turned into a monopoly of courts, cops, and lawyers, or free education turned into School Systems.
From : TheAnarchistLibrary.org
April, 1996 :
Reflections on the Anarchist Principle -- Publication.
July 13, 2019 ; 4:57:10 PM (America/Los_Angeles) :
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<< Last Work in Anarchism
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Reflections Upon Anarchism
All Nearby Works in Anarchism
Recollection of Elisée Reclus, A, by Luigi Galleani
Recollections on Marx and Engels, by Mikhail Bakunin
Recovering Evolution: Reply to Eckersley and Fox, A, by Murray Bookchin
Red and Black Revolution Interview, by Noam Chomsky
Red Association, The, by Mikhail Bakunin
Red Fascism, by Voline
Reflections of a Propagandist, by Lucy Parsons
Reflections on Decentralism, by George Woodcock
Reflections On Education, Manners, And Literature, In A Series Of Essays, by William Godwin
Reflections on Student Activism, by Abbie Hoffman
Reflections Upon Anarchism, by Charlotte Wilson
Reformism, by Errico Malatesta
Reformism, by Sébastien Faure
Registration, by Alexander Berkman
Relation of Anarchism to Organization, The, by Fred Schulder
Relevance of Anarcho-syndicalism, The, by Noam Chomsky
Relevance of Anarchy to Modern Society, The, by Sam Dolgoff
Remedial Measures, by Charlotte Wilson
Reply by several Russian Anarchists to the ‘Platform’, by Voline
Report of the Committee on the Question of Inheritance, by Mikhail Bakunin
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CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES AHEAD OF PRINT SEARCH GET E-ALERTS
Flamme GA
Wong A
Liebe K
Lynd J
impulse noise
noise/adverse effects
Damage Risk Criteria
Study Rationale
Risk Estimates
Year : 2009 | Volume : 11 | Issue : 45 | Page : 231-242
Estimates of auditory risk from outdoor impulse noise II: Civilian firearms
Gregory A Flamme, Adam Wong, Kevin Liebe, James Lynd
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Western Michigan University, USA
Date of Web Publication 2-Oct-2009
Firearm impulses are common noise exposures in the United States. This study records, describes and analyzes impulses produced outdoors by civilian firearms with respect to the amount of auditory risk they pose to the unprotected listener under various listening conditions. Risk estimates were obtained using three contemporary damage risk criteria (DRC) including a waveform parameter-based approach (peak SPL and B-duration), an energy-based criterion (A-weighted SEL and equivalent continuous level) and a physiological model (AHAAH). Results from these DRC were converted into a number of maximum permissible unprotected exposures to facilitate interpretation. Acoustic characteristics of firearm impulses differed substantially across guns, ammunition, and microphone location. The type of gun, ammunition and the microphone location all significantly affected estimates of auditory risk from firearms. Vast differences in maximum permissible exposures were observed; the rank order of the differences varied with the source of the impulse. Unprotected exposure to firearm noise is not recommended, but people electing to fire a gun without hearing protection should be advised to minimize auditory risk through careful selection of ammunition and shooting environment. Small-caliber guns with long barrels and guns loaded with the least powerful ammunition tend to be associated with the least auditory risk.
Keywords: Hearing loss, impulse noise, noise/adverse effects, risk factors, weapons
Flamme GA, Wong A, Liebe K, Lynd J. Estimates of auditory risk from outdoor impulse noise II: Civilian firearms. Noise Health 2009;11:231-42
Flamme GA, Wong A, Liebe K, Lynd J. Estimates of auditory risk from outdoor impulse noise II: Civilian firearms. Noise Health [serial online] 2009 [cited 2020 Jan 19];11:231-42. Available from: http://www.noiseandhealth.org/text.asp?2009/11/45/231/56217
This is the second in a series of two studies reporting the acoustic characteristics and estimates of auditory risk from common sources of impulse noise in the general population. The companion paper [1] includes reviews of some current damage-risk criteria (DRC) for impulse noise and the acoustic data they require. Acoustic characteristics and estimates of auditory risk from a small set of consumer firecrackers were also presented in that paper. The current paper reports the acoustic characteristics and estimates of auditory risk from impulses produced by civilian firearms and reports the relationships between DRC for firecracker and civilian firearm impulses.
Exposure to firearm noise is common among adults in the US. Preliminary analyses of data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey revealed that approximately 46 % of adult men and 14 % of adult women report having fired a gun. A single exposure to a high level impulse can result in permanent reduction in hearing sensitivity. However, not all firearms produce the same amount of sound and not all types of ammunition are necessarily equally hazardous. For example, a hunting load for a shotgun will contain more explosive material than a target load for the same gun.
In guns, the gas produced via combustion is initially confined to a small volume (i.e., the cartridge in the firing chamber) and the resulting pressure is used to accelerate a projectile (i.e., the bullet or shot). Upon the projectile's exit from the gun barrel, remaining energy is released as a burst of heated gas traveling at supersonic speed. The energy of the ejected gas is greater than the energy imparted to the projectile. [2] Estimates of peak sound levels produced by firearms are in the range of 143.5 to 174.7 dB SPL at the location of the shooter or bystanders in the immediate area. [3],[4]
The current damage risk criteria (DRC) have been reviewed in the companion manuscript. [1] They can be categorized briefly according to the information they require to return an estimate of risk. Waveform parameter DRC produce risk estimates based on the structure of the impulse waveform (e.g., peak, duration). Energy-based approaches rely solely on the energy contained in the impulse (e.g., A-weighted Sound Exposure Level). Physiological models can also be used. The estimate risk is based on the amount of activity (e.g., basilar membrane displacement) presumed to result from the impulse. The Coles-CHABA DRC, [5] and approach proposed by Smoorenburg, [6] and the Price-Kalb Auditory Hazard Assessment Algorithm for Humans [7] are contemporary examples of these approaches, respectively. All impulses in this and the companion paper were evaluated by each of these DRC to determine the relationships among risk estimates for these kinds of impulses.
Impulse noises from firearms are a known risk factor for hearing impairment [8] and hearing protector usage rates are quite low, especially among hunters, [9] except during organized shooting events where hearing protection is required by event organizers. Auditory risk is liable to vary with the combination of firearm, ammunition, and listener location. Measurements of acoustic characteristics and estimates of risk are necessary before practical recommendations can be developed to help firearm users protect their hearing.
The current study was designed to inform a measurement method and obtain preliminary data on a small set of civilian firearms. Firecracker exposures were considered in the companion paper. [1] The combined objectives of these papers were to (1) report the acoustic characteristics of impulses from these sources and assess the influence of methodological factors (e.g., microphone location, ammunition) on subsequent results, (2) describe the degree of risk to the auditory system posed by these impulse noise exposures according to the three types of damage risk criteria (DRC), and (3) describe the relationships and differences among the recommend maximum number of exposures developed using those DRC.
Tested firearms included a Savage Model 110 .30-06 hunting rifle, a Marlin Model 60 .22 caliber rifle, a Smith and Wesson Model 686 .357 magnum handgun, a Glock model 17 (9 mm handgun), and a Beretta model Beretta Teknys Gold Model AL391 12 gauge auto loading shotgun. The .30-06 and 12 gauge were selected based on a study that revealed that these were the most common guns used for large game in northern Michigan. [10] The remaining weapons were recommended by one member of the investigative team (JL), a firearm expert and retired professional target shooter and gun salesperson. The .22 caliber rifle was chosen because it is frequently used for target shooting and as a firearm for beginning shooters. The .357 caliber and 9 mm handguns were chosen because they are relatively common, but used different loading and firing mechanisms; the .357 was a revolver, while the 9 mm pistol had an automatic loading mechanism.
In addition to differences in barrel diameter, as represented by the caliber and gauge of the cartridge used, barrel length also differed across firearms. The distance from the cartridge base to the muzzle for the .30-06, .22, .357, 9 mm, and 12 gauges were 560, 508, 146, 145, and 737 mm, respectively.
Two types of ammunition were selected for each firearm. Rifle and handgun cartridges were selected to represent the largest range of bullet mass typically chosen by recreational shooters. Bullet mass is typically reported in grains (100 grains = 6.48 grams). There are differences in the burn rate of the propellants in cartridges with more or less bullet mass. In general, propellants for lighter bullets burn faster. [2] Bullet masses of 150 and 180 grains were used in the .30-06 rifle. Standard velocity and high-velocity cartridges were used in the .22 rifle. The .357 was loaded with 125 and 158 grain .38 caliber ammunition. The .38 caliber ammunition was selected because it is more commonly used than .357 magnum ammunition because it generates less recoil without appreciable loss of accuracy. The 9 mm was loaded with cartridges having 95 and 115 grain bullets.
Target and hunting loads were used in the shotgun. Target loads contain less propellant than hunting loads because a shorter effective range is needed for target shooting. The target and hunting loads contained 12.1 grams and 13 grams of smokeless powder propellant, respectively.
Firearm impulses were recorded at:
1. The location occupied by the shooter's left ear when the weapon was mounted on a gun rest secured to tripods (i.e., shooter-field), 2. A position 150° from the line of fire, at the distance between the muzzle and shooter's left ear (i.e., side-field), and 3. The location occupied by the shooter's left ear when the weapon was mounted on a gun rest on a shooting table (i.e., shooter-table). Recordings of .22 caliber rifle impulses were not obtained at the shooter-table location due to a weapon malfunction.
Firearm impulse recordings were made at a local outdoor firing range. The shooting lanes were covered with loose dirt, and the shooting area had a concrete floor and a tin roof with a 10° slope opening towards the shooting lane. The firing range had a 1.3 m timber wall 4.3 m above the firing lane and soil berms along both sides and behind the range to contain stray shots within the firing area. During firing, the muzzle location was 1.4 m directly above the edge of the concrete floor.
Long guns were secured to a gun rest (Caldwell Lead Sled; ) during firing. The gun rest was secured to tripods for recordings made in the shooter-field and shooter-side conditions, and placed on a plywood firing table for the shooter-table condition. The height of the muzzle was reduced 200 mm when mounted on the table. A small cushioned stand (Hoppe's Bench Rest; ) was used as a hand rest in the shooter-table condition.
Instrumentation and data processing
Recordings were made with the same instrumentation and analysis approach described in the companion paper. [1] Briefly, a 1/4-inch pressure microphone at a grazing incidence to the wave front was used. Signals were digitized at approximately 195 kHz and a 24-bit depth. Data were analyzed using customized Matlab (Mathworks, Inc., Natick, MA) routines prepared by NIOSH [11] and modified for this study. Inferential statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).
Recordings of at least 10 impulses were made in each measurement condition. Long guns were first moved into place and then the measurement microphone was placed in the desired location. The weapon was then loaded with the selected ammunition, recording was initiated, and the weapon was fired remotely by a person about three meters directly behind the weapon. Handguns were fired with the muzzle in the same location as specified for the rifles and shotgun. The measurement microphone was positioned approximately three cm from the shooter's left ear.
Data processing and analysis
After data transfer to the analysis computer, impulse baseline corrections were made by subtracting the mean value during a silent period in the waveform from all points on the recording. Each impulse was then analyzed independently using the Matlab software routines described above. Risk estimates were calculated in terms of Maximum Permissible Exposures (MPE) via each DRC for a listening condition in which the listener was directly facing the sound source (i.e., grazing incidence to the ear). Maximum permissible exposures via the Price-Kalb DRC were calculated using a maximum of 500 Auditory Risk Units under unwarned listening conditions (i.e., no anticipatory middle ear response). We elected to use the unwarned condition based on the results of Bates, et al. [12] which found that anticipatory middle ear reflexes cannot be conditioned in the majority of human listeners.
Descriptive statistics, analyses of variance (ANOVA), and correlations were obtained using SPSS v.14. Except impulses from the .22 caliber rifle, firearm data were evaluated via a single analytic model, wherein the impulse source was represented by the combination of firearm and ammunition. Vast differences in acoustic characteristics and risk estimates from .22 caliber rifle impulses lead us to exclude .22 caliber rifle data from the overall ANOVA model and analyze those data via a separate two-way random effect model. Linear (Pa) rather than logarithmically-transformed (SPL) quantities were used in analyses of sound levels, and estimates of maximum permissible exposures (MPE) were logarithmically transformed to normalize variance.
Acoustic characteristics
The impulse waveforms, spectra [Figure 1] and [Figure 2], and summary acoustic characteristics [Table 1] of firearms were somewhat different from those produced by firecrackers. [1] Firearms produced typical peak levels between 159 and 164 dB SPL at the measurement locations, except the .22 caliber rifle, which produced peak levels around 141 dB SPL. A disordinal interaction between microphone location and the firing condition (i.e., the combination of gun and ammunition) was observed (F 14,213 = 37.7; p < .005), but no interaction was observed for peak levels produced by the .22 caliber rifle (F 1,50 = 10.6; p = .432). Post hoc testing revealed that for impulses from the .30-06 rifle, .357 hand gun loaded with .38 ammunition, and the 9 mm handgun, peak pressures at the side-field location were significantly higher than those measured in the shooter-field or shooter-table locations. Significant differences in peak levels across all microphone locations were observed with the 12 ga. shotgun, but the peak pressures from this firearm were greatest in the shooter-table location, intermediate for the shooter-field location, and least at the side-field location, indicating that the rank-order of measurement locations depended on the firearm.
Unweighted peak pressures were significantly different across many firearms. The .22 caliber rifle produced lower peaks than any other firearm, and the .38 caliber load in the .357 revolver produced the highest peaks. The .30-06 rifle and 9 mm handgun produced peaks that were not significantly different from each other, but that were significantly different from all other weapons. Peaks from the 12 ga. shotgun were significantly higher than those from the .22 caliber rifle and were significantly lower than those produced by any other weapons. The ammunition used in a gun had a significant effect on unweighted peak pressure only for the 12 ga. shotgun, wherein the cartridge with a hunting load produced higher peaks. For all firearms except the .22 caliber rifle (lowest) and the 12 ga. shotgun (next lowest), these differences did not reach statistical significance after A-weighting was applied.
The A-weighted SELs produced by the .22 caliber rifle were 94 and 99 dB SPL with standard and high-velocity loads, respectively, while the SELs of the remaining firearms ranged between 119 and 127 dB SPL. Among weapons producing higher levels, significant main effects were observed for microphone location (F 2,14 = 6.41; p = .011), combination of firearm and ammunition (F 7,14 = 69.9; p < .005), and the interaction between microphone location and firearm/ammunition (F 14,213 = 15.6; p < .005), indicating that the effect of microphone location varied across firearms. Post hoc testing from the .30-06 revealed that SELs from all three locations were significantly different from one another. The greatest SEL was observed at the shooter-table location, the shooter-side location was next greatest, and the shooter-field location was lowest. The SELs were also significantly greater at the shooter-table location for the 12 gauge shotgun and the 9 mm handgun. The SELs for the revolver loaded with .38 caliber ammunition were not significantly different across microphone locations.
Within each firearm, post hoc testing revealed that each kind of ammunition produced impulses with significantly different SEL, and across firearms, all SEL were significantly different, except the lighter .38 caliber and 9 mm bullets (125 grain and 95 grain, respectively) produced similar SEL, and the heavier .38 caliber bullet (158 grain) and the heavier 9 mm bullet (115 grain), which produced SELs that also were not significantly different from one another. SELs produced by the high velocity loads in the .22 caliber rifle were higher than SELs from standard velocity loads (F 1,1 = 419; p = .031), but did not differ across the shooter-field or side-field microphone locations (F 1,1 = 0.055; p = .854). The interaction between microphone location and the combination of microphone location and ammunition was not significant (F 1,50 = 1.23; p = .272).
Among firearms producing greater sound levels, pressure envelope (B) durations ranged between 12 and 33 ms, differed by microphone location (F 2,14 = 4.02; p = .042), combination of firearm and ammunition (F 7,14 = 13.0; p < .005), and the interaction between these factors was significant (F 14,213 = 13.7; p < .005), which suggests that changes in B durations across microphone conditions varied by firing condition. Post hoc testing revealed that B durations of handgun impulses were greatest at the shooter-field location, moderate at the shooter-table location, and least at the side-field location. Similar microphone location effects were observed for the .30-06 rifle; B durations recorded at the shooter's ear table and field were significantly greater at the side-field location. Impulse durations from the 12 gauge shotgun were lowest at the shooter-table locations, but B durations measured in the shooter-field and side-field locations were not significantly different from each other. A significant interaction effect of microphone location and ammunition was observed in separate ANOVA for B durations from the .22 caliber rifle (F 1,50 = 6.96; p = .011), but no significant main effects of ammunition or microphone location were observed. Significant differences were not found in post hoc testing (Bonferroni-adjusted p = .114), but examination of means for each combination of microphone location and ammunition suggested that B durations measured the side-field location when the firearm was loaded with standard velocity ammunition were lower than those measured with high velocity ammunition at the shooter-field location or with high velocity ammunition at either microphone location.
Measurements of impulse kurtosis from firearms producing higher levels differed significantly across microphone locations (F 2,14 = 4.17; p = .038) and interacted significantly across microphone location and the firing condition (F 14,213 = 50.34; p < .005). The general trend in kurtosis estimates indicated that impulses from the rifle and handguns had the greatest kurtosis at the side-field location and least at the shooter's ear locations. Kurtosis values from the .30-06 rifle were significantly different across all microphone locations, wherein the kurtosis at the side-field location was greatest and was least at the shooter-table location. Shotgun measurements showed the opposite effect, wherein impulses recorded at the shooter's ear had greater kurtosis than impulses at the side-field location. Kurtosis did not vary across microphone location for the .22 caliber rifle, but was significantly greater when the firearm was loaded with standard velocity ammunition.
Within firearms, ammunition had no significant effect on kurtosis for the .30-06 rifle or the 9 mm handgun, but the revolver loaded with .38 caliber 158 grain ammunition had greater kurtosis than the same firearm loaded with 125 grain ammunition. Impulses from the 12 gauge shotgun had greater kurtosis when the target load was fired.
In summary, some significant differences were observed across firearm impulses, but peaks ranged between 159 and 164 dB SPL for most firing conditions in this study. The .22 caliber rifle produced lower peaks (approximately 141 dB SPL). Measurement factors such as the location of the microphone and the type of ammunition used have measureable effects on the acoustic characteristics of the impulse, and the pattern of these differences depends on the gun.
The mean MPE and their associated 95% confidence intervals for recordings made at the most shooter's ear are presented in [Table 2],[Table 3],[Table 4]. The Price-Kalb DRC was often the least conservative, but was the most conservative for the .22 caliber rifle and the 12 gauge shotgun firing a target load. For the other guns, the Price-Kalb DRC permitted one to two unprotected exposures to the impulses produced in the other firing conditions while the other DRC permitted no unprotected exposures. The Price-Kalb model was the most conservative DRC for the .22 caliber rifle, allowing far fewer unprotected exposures than the other DRC. The Smoorenburg-NATO DRC was the least conservative for the 12 gauge shotgun firing a target load, allowing 50 unprotected impulses while the other DRC allowed no more than one.
MPEs by each DRC varied by condition, which suggests that MPE estimates made with one gun model, type of ammunition, and microphone location may not generalize to other conditions. Effects of microphone location and ammunition were evaluated using each DRC, but the evaluation via the Smoorenburg-NATO DRC was limited to .22 caliber rifle impulses because MPEs of 0 or 50 were allowed for all other firearms. Results with the .22 caliber rifle indicated that the MPE via the Smoorenburg-NATO DRC were significantly greater (F 1,1 = 488; p = .029), indicating that more unprotected shots would be permitted for the .22 caliber rifle loaded with standard velocity ammunition.
Significant main effects of the combination of firearm and ammunition (F 7,14 = 6.57; p = .001) and an interaction between the combination of firearm and ammunition and microphone location (F 14,213 = 27.3; p < .001) were observed within the Coles-CHABA DRC. There was no significant main effect of microphone location (F 2,14 = 0.86; p = .444). Post hoc testing was conducted for each firearm separately. The post hoc results with the .30-06 rifle revealed that MPE via the Coles-CHABA DRC were greater at the shooter's ear than at the side-field location, regardless of ammunition or whether the firearm was fired from a standing position or mounted on a table. Post hoc results from the .357 revolver loaded with the .38 caliber ammunition revealed that the MPE were greater with the 158 grain bullet when recordings were made at the shooter's ear, but that the same bullet resulted in a lower MPE in the side-field location. Post hoc results from the 9 mm handgun revealed that the MPEs were greater for the 115 grain bullet than the 95 grain bullet at the side-field and the shooter-table locations, but that the impulses produced by the ammunition with the 95 grain bullet resulted in greater MPEs when measured at the ear of the standing shooter. The 12 gauge shotgun had greater MPEs when fired with a target load. MPEs were also greater at the side-field location and least at the shooter-table location. A separate two-way ANOVA conducted with the .22 caliber rifle revealed a significant interaction between microphone location and ammunition (F 1,50 = 4.21; p = .045), but no contrasts reached statistical significance on follow-up testing. Greater MPEs were observed with standard velocity ammunition than high velocity ammunition at the side-field location, but standard velocity ammunition had lower MPEs than high velocity ammunition at the shooter-field location.
Evaluations of MPE using the Price-Kalb DRC revealed a significant main effect for the combination of firearm and ammunition (F 7,14 = 11.2; p < .001) and a significant interaction between the combination of firearm and ammunition and microphone location (F 14,213 = 6.57; p = .001). Follow-up testing of individual firearms revealed no significant main effects of ammunition or microphone location, or their interaction, for the .30-06 rifle or revolver loaded with .38 caliber ammunition. Post hoc MPE testing with the 9 mm handgun revealed that significantly different MPEs were observed across microphone locations. Maximum permissible exposures were greater at the shooter-field location and lowest at the shooter-table location. Post hoc testing with the 12 gauge shotgun impulses generated by the target load revealed that MPEs were greater at the side-field location and lower at the shooter's ear, regardless of whether the weapon was fired from a standing position or from a table. Impulses from the same firearm firing a hunting load revealed that the MPEs were significantly different from one another across all microphone locations. The greatest MPEs were observed at the side-field location and least at the shooter-table location. Evaluations of MPE for the .22 caliber rifle suggested significantly lower MPEs when the gun fired high velocity ammunition.
Relationships between DRC
Scatterplots of the relationships between estimates revealed that the logarithms of the estimates were linearly related to each other [Figure 3]. All impulses recorded in this study were included in this analysis (N = 953), and impulses having zero safe unprotected exposures via the Smoorenburg-NATO criteria were replaced with values below one to permit representation on the plot. The data represented in [Figure 3] reiterate the vast differences in MPEs reported above [Table 2],[Table 3],[Table 4] and extend them to the level of individual impulses.
The dashed line in each plot represents the locus of agreement between the DRC. Data above this line indicate that the DRC plotted along the vertical axis was less conservative. The greatest differences among MPE were observed at the upper end of the MPE range, but substantial disagreements were also present at the lower end. Relative to the Coles-CHABA DRC, the Price-Kalb DRC was less conservative at lower MPEs but much more conservative for higher MPEs (e.g., permitting approximately 100 unprotected exposures while the Coles-CHABA DRC permitted more than 1,000,000). The relationship with the Smoorenburg-NATO DRC is not as simple. Only in rare cases were the MPEs greater via the Smoorenburg-NATO DRC when MPEs via Coles-CHABA were less than one. This suggests that the two DRC often agree about the impulses that are categorically unsafe. In the range of one to 50 MPEs via Coles-CHABA, the Smoorenburg-NATO DRC was typically less conservative, but progressively more conservative when the MPEs via Coles-CHABA were greater than 50. Turning to the relationship between the Price-Kalb and Smoorenburg-NATO DRC, the Price-Kalb DRC was uniformly more conservative in cases where the MPEs via Smoorenburg-NATO were greater than one. It was less conservative in cases where the Smoorenburg-NATO DRC permitted no unprotected exposures.
The results indicate that there are significant differences in acoustic characteristics and risk estimates across firearms, ammunition and microphone location. These differences do not always follow a consistent rank-order. This suggests that results obtained for one model of gun, type of ammunition, and microphone location cannot be generalized with confidence to other guns, ammunition, or locations.
Vastly different estimates of risk can be returned by different DRC. The estimates can differ by many orders of magnitude, implying that DRC are not exchangeable. The preferred DRC can only be identified through comparative study with animal models and human volunteers.
Auditory risk from firearms
The acoustic characteristics of impulses recorded the side-field location were frequently different from those made at the shooter's left ear. This finding is consistent with Plomp's [13] representation of the sound radiation characteristics of the FAL rifle. Furthermore, the findings of the current study suggest that these radiation characteristics are not consistent across firearms. Recordings made the side-field location led to overestimates of exposure at the shooter's ear for most firearms evaluated in the current study, but underestimated the exposure for the shooter of the shotgun evaluated in the current study. Such differences make it difficult to extrapolate the acoustic characteristics of impulses recorded at other locations to the shooter's ear.
Propellant combustion is the source of impulses from firearms, so it is not surprising that significant differences in acoustic characteristics [Table 1] and maximum permissible exposures [Table 2],[Table 3],[Table 4] were observed across types of ammunition. Weighted SELs from the .22 caliber rifle and the 12 gauge shotgun differed by 5 and 3 dB, respectively, and kurtosis differed by more than a factor of 2 across the two types of ammunition loaded into these firearms. Maximum permissible exposures were also influenced by ammunition in many cases.
The acoustic characteristics of the firearms evaluated in the current study were somewhat different than those found in other studies. The peak levels observed in the current study tend to be 3 to 7 dB higher than those reported by Kramer [3] and 10 to 13 dB lower than those reported by Odess. [4] The results reported by Kramer can be expected to underestimate peak levels due to the use of a precision sound level meter. Sound level meter circuitry was not designed to capture the rapid rise time present in a firearm impulse and will therefore underestimate peak levels due to their relatively sluggish temporal characteristics. In addition, some differences were expected because the data reported were averages across a large number of firearms and types of ammunition. Differences with the results reported in Odess could be expected based on the use of a larger (15 mm) microphone diaphragm, which was covered with plastic to prevent mechanical overload.
Measurements of peak levels and A durations from .22 caliber rifle impulses were generally consistent with those cited in Coles et al. [5] The study by Acton and Forrest reproduced by Coles et al. found open field peak levels of 138 dB SPL and A-durations less than 0.045 ms. However the B-durations observed in the current study were approximately one order of magnitude greater than those reported by Coles et al.
Different estimates of acoustic characteristics of impulses are obtained at different microphone locations because firearms do not produce spherical blast waves. Peak sound levels at 1 m 180° from the line of fire have been observed to be roughly equivalent to the levels observed at 5 m 90° from the line of fire. [13] The results of this study suggest that the shape of the shock wave surface varies with the firearm. With a few exceptions, greater peak levels, envelope (B) durations, and kurtosis were observed at the side-field location relative to measurements made at the shooter's ear when impulses came from rifles and handguns. However, lower values on these acoustic parameters were observed at the side-field location when impulses from the 12 gauge shotgun were evaluated. These results imply that if the acoustic characteristics of impulses from firearms are to be evaluated at only one location, the location should be the shooter's ear, with reflective surfaces (e.g., shooting table, walls) present if they will often be present during shooting. For example, measurements in the open field cannot be expected to represent the auditory risk for a shooter or any bystanders in a hunting blind. It should also be noted that results obtained from recordings at the shooter's ear may not generalize to nearby shooters, shooting instructors, or other observers, and that one cannot assume that these people would be at less auditory risk simply because they are farther away from the firearm.
The ammunition used in the firearm can also have an impact on the acoustic characteristics of the impulse produced by the firearm. Although no significant ammunition effects were observed with the. 30-06 rifle, large differences were observed between the target and hunting loads for the 12 gauge shotgun and high- versus standard-velocity rounds for the .22 caliber rifle.
Further research is needed to determine whether the differences between the shotgun and the rifles and handguns is characteristic of all shotgun impulses or if it was a consequence of the specific design of the Beretta shotgun used in this study, which has a gas pressure-driven auto loading mechanism and side ejection of the spent ammunition casing.
The DRC uniformly recommended limiting unprotected exposures to zero (Coles-CHABA and Smoorenburg-NATO) or one (Price-Kalb) across firing conditions and microphone locations for most guns [Table 2],[Table 3],[Table 4]. It is natural to wonder about the importance of significant differences across estimates covering such a restricted range of permissible exposures. Although these differences do not change the overall recommendation (i.e., never more than one unprotected exposure), they provide crucial information to those who consult with recreational hunters and shooters. There are nonauditory concerns that advise against the attenuation of environmental sounds, such as the need for localization and identification of other people and game. Recreational hunters and shooters who make an informed decision to forego hearing protection should not be considered eager to subject their hearing to unnecessary risk. Therefore they need instruction on how to minimize auditory risks via careful selection of firearm, ammunition, and shooting environment. For example, if one is guided by the Coles-CHABA DRC, auditory risk can be reduced by 75% if the unprotected shooter of the Beretta Teknys Gold 12 gauge shotgun stands in an open area firing a target load instead of firing a hunting load from a table. A similar concern exists for those in the immediate vicinity (e.g., shooting coaches, hunting partners, and children). From the perspective of the Coles-CHABA DRC, the bystander to the shooter's left will have half the auditory risk (relative to the shooter) when the shooter fires this shotgun, but would have two to five times the risk if the .30-06 or .357 revolver was fired.
Furthermore, MPE values less than one can inform the selection of hearing protectors for use with a given gun, ammunition, and listener location. Hearing protectors alter the acoustic characteristics of the impulse and consequently alter one's auditory risk. Knowledge of unprotected risk is crucial for selection adequate hearing protectors for a listener's exposure profile.
Consider for example a trap shooter who typically completes one or two competition or practice rounds (125 or 250 shots) daily using the shotgun and target load used in this study. The Coles-CHABA DRC was the most conservative for this combination of firearm and ammunition, and the low boundary of the interquartile range was 0.657 [Table 2]. A hearing protector that reduces the DRC by a factor of 100 would result in up to 65 protected exposures. Although this amount might be adequate for the average shooter, it would be inadequate in such a case. A protector reducing the DRC by a factor of 400 or more would be needed.
Accuracy of risk estimates
Early DRC [5],[14],[15] tended to adopt a greater acceptable amount or risk of hearing impairment while more recent DRC have restricted exposures to the No Observed Effect Level, or NOEL. Coles et al. [5] proposed to protect the least susceptible 75% of the population from a permanent threshold shift of 30 dB or greater at frequencies above 2 kHz and their recommendations were adjusted in CHABA [15] to protect the least susceptible 95%. Starting with the DRC proposed by Pfander [16] and including the Smoorenburg-NATO [6] and Price-Kalb [7],[17],[18] DRC., TTS at any frequency in excess of 25 dB for more than five per cent of participants was considered an indication of an unacceptable risk of noise-induced PTS greater than 0 dB. Some differences in MPEs across DRC are consistent with a greater acceptable amount of hearing impairment, e.g., less conservative MEP estimates via Coles-CHABA for lower-level impulses. However, the differences between the Coles-CHABA and the Price-Kalb DRC for high-level impulses do not follow such a pattern. In this range, the MPEs via Coles-CHABA can be 10% of those estimated via Price-Kalb, which was intended to keep exposures at or below the NOEL.
Perhaps the most unsatisfactory implication of this work is that the vast differences in risk estimates leave the user of any impulse noise DRC in an unacceptable position. A given impulse can produce mutually exclusive risk estimates across DRC. No more than one of the methods can be best, and one must recognize the possibility that all existing approaches might be fundamentally flawed. Prospective studies with animal models and human volunteers must be conducted to resolve these differences.
The DRC of Smoorenburg [6] might underestimate permanent threshold shift. The Smoorenburg DRC depends on only the A-weighted energy in the impulse. However, kurtosis is a factor beyond A-weighted energy that predicts PTS. [19] As kurtosis grows from a value of 3, which is the kurtosis of white noise, to a kurtosis of approximately 50, an increase in PTS has been observed in chinchilla models, after controlling total energy in the signal and temporal variation in amplitudes. [20] The minimum kurtosis among the impulses in the current study was well above this range [Table 1] and [Table 2]. A joint exposure criterion based on sound energy and kurtosis has been hypothesized as necessary and sufficient, [21] but this approach has not been evaluated with respect to impulses produced by firearms and firecrackers.
Relationships among DRC
A consistent trend emerges when the results of this study and its companion [1] are combined. There was near agreement across the DRC that there is a reasonable chance of significant hearing impairment for the unprotected listener who fires more than a single shot from a .30-06 rifle and .357 caliber handgun loaded with 125 grain .38 caliber ammunition; excessive hazard may result from even this one shot [Table 2],[Table 3],[Table 4]. In addition, DRC were in general agreement that the number of unprotected exposures to impulses from the 12 gauge shotgun firing a hunting load should be two or less.
There were vast differences in MPE for the .22 caliber rifle and for firecracker impulses at most distances included in the companion paper. [1] MPEs via the Coles-CHABA DRC were considerably greater than either of the other DRC, which may result from an invalid extrapolation to shorter-duration impulses to results obtained from impulses of longer duration or the inclusion of TTS data from listeners with what would currently be described as abnormal hearing thresholds.
The slope of the contour of constant risk (peak level v. duration) employed in the Coles-CHABA DRC was primarily determined via interpolation and extrapolation of a slope between two points (Coles et al., [5] p. 13). The higher point was determined by a series of studies conducted in open environments with firearms using 7.62 Χ 51 mm NATO ammunition. The lower point was determined by studies with .303 and .22 caliber rifles fired in reverberant environments. It is possible that the risk contour for these conditions may not generalize to other weapons and/or firing conditions.
The Smoorenburg-NATO [6] and Price-Kalb [7] DRC presume that exposures producing no more than 25 dB of temporary threshold shift, normalized to 2 minutes following the end of the exposure, i.e., TTS 2 , [22] result in no permanent threshold shift. Coles et al., and CHABA adopted the definition proposed by CHABA, [23] in which damage was considered likely with TTS 2 exceeding 10 dB at 1000 Hz and below, 15 dB at 2000 Hz, and 20 dB at 3000 Hz or above was observed in 50% of an otologically normal sample having pure tone thresholds within 15 dB of 0 dB re: ASA-1951. 1 TTS magnitude is reduced among those with poorer hearing thresholds (Coles et al., [5] p. 27), and it is likely listeners whom we would now judge to have abnormal hearing participated in the TTS studies that form the basis of that DRC. All listeners in those studies were evaluated using the same TTS criteria, and participants with slight or mild high frequency hearing loss could be expected to bias average TTS values downward, which would lead to a less conservative DRC.
The logarithms of all three risk estimates were strongly interrelated [Figure 3]. This means that within measurement conditions represented in this study, exposures determined as having great risk of auditory damage via one method will also be similarly ranked via another method. Absolute agreement on the maximum permissible exposures was better for the most intense exposures included in this study. However, poor agreement was observed for the least intense impulses, where differences of many orders of magnitude were common. Better agreement for the .30-06 rifle could be expected due to the similarity in the ammunition used for this rifle and the 7.62 Χ 51 mm NATO cartridge that was used in many military small arms.
Some differences between DRC were expected. The Coles-CHABA DRC tends to overestimate auditory risk from exposure to impulses from large-caliber weapons, [6] and the Price-Kalb model was developed in part to explain and correct this error. [7] So relative to Coles-CHABA, the Price-Kalb model was expected to permit more exposures than the Coles-CHABA model. However, the Price-Kalb model showed the opposite effect for many impulses in this study, indicating greater auditory risk than Coles-CHABA, often by many orders of magnitude [Figure 3].
The vast differences among risk estimates for the low intensity impulses present a much-needed opportunity for comparative validation of the DRC. These DRC could be evaluated based on the degree to which the growth of TTS 2 conforms to the expectations of each DRC. The large differences in estimated maximum permissible exposures suggest that the number of participants in such a study could be reasonably small, and could follow the basic paradigm of the Blast Overpressure Project, [25] in which participants were sequentially exposed to incrementally increasing numbers of exposures until a criterion threshold shift was observed.
Biases and limitations
The study provides data for a limited set of firearms loaded with ammunition that would be typically used by the recreational hunter and shooter. We made the impulse recordings at an outdoor shooting range having no large reflective surfaces nearby except a concrete floor and an angled tin roof. The results presented here cannot be expected to generalize to conditions where the impulse source is located near large reflective surfaces. This recognition is most important in cases of impulses propagated within enclosures (e.g., indoor shooting facilities and hunting blinds). Analyses of impulses recorded in these environments are required to determine the reduction in the maximum numbers of permissible exposures in such environments, but it is reasonable to expect that, among the stimuli included in this study, only the .22 caliber rifle could potentially have one or more permissible unprotected exposures via the most conservative approach to risk estimation.
Recordings of impulses from the handguns were made near the shooter's ear while the shooter fired the gun. We cannot rule out the possibility that the shooter's head caused an artifactual increase in observed sound pressure at the shooter's ear locations. However, substantial reflections were not apparent in the time waveforms when examined informally.
The estimates of auditory risk detailed in this study represent dominant current approaches to risk estimation and we have attempted to provide the necessary information for interested readers to assess these exposures via alternate DRC.
Finally, MPEs reported in this study could underestimate auditory risk for some listeners, as noted by Ward [26] and mentioned in the companion paper. [1]
The results from firearms indicate that only a complicated set of practical recommendations can be made for civilian firearm users. Auditory risk estimates differ with the combination of firearm and ammunition to be used. In addition, estimates based on recordings obtained at locations other than the shooter's head cannot be generalized with confidence to the shooter's head location. Hence, recommendations for shooters must be made based on recordings taken at the location of the shooter's head. These recommendations are likely to differ from those made to bystanders at other locations.
Practical recommendations are complicated further by the differences in estimates of risk returned by the DRC. Substantial relationships were observed between the DRC, but the rank ordering of risks occasionally differed across measurement conditions, and tremendous differences in MPEs were observed. Until an optimal DRC is identified, those developing practical recommendations must base those recommendations on the most conservative DRC and recognize the uncertainty inherent in such recommendations.
The authors thank William Murphy, Chucri Kardous, and Edward Zechmann (all from CDC/NIOSH, Taft Laboratories, Cincinnati, OH) for the Matlab software used to analyze the impulse data. We also thank the Southern Michigan Gun Club for access to the outdoor firing range used for recordings.
1. Flamme GA, Liebe K, Wong A. Estimates of auditory risk from outdoor impulse noise I:Firecrackers NoiseHealth, 2009:11:223-30.
2. Warlow T. Firearms, the Law, and Forensic Ballistics. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2005.
3. Kramer WL. Gunfire noise and its effect on hearing. Hearing Instruments 1990;41:26-8.
4. Odess JS. Acoustic trauma of sportsman hunter due to gun firing. Laryngoscope 1972;82:1971-89. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
5. Coles RR, Garinther GR, Rice CG, Hodge DC. Criteria for Assessing hearing damage risk from impulse-noise exposure. Technical Memorandum 13-67. In: US Army Human Engineering Laboratories; 1967.
6. Smoorenburg G. Risk of hearing loss from exposure to impulse sounds. Brussels, Belgium: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); 2003. Report No: RTO-TR-017.
7. Price GR. Predicting mechanical damage to the organ of Corti. Hear Res 2007;226:5-13. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
8. Nondahl DM, Cruickshanks KJ, Wiley TL, Klein R, Klein BE, Tweed TS. Recreational firearm use and hearing loss. Arch Fam Med 2000;9:352-7. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
9. Nondahl DM, Cruickshanks KJ, Dalton DS, Klein BE, Klein R, Tweed TS, et al. The use of hearing protection devices by older adults during recreational noise exposure. Noise Health 2006;8:147-53. [PUBMED]
10. Stewart M. Firearm Noise Exposure. In: Excellence in Hearing Conservation Conference. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: American Industrial Hygeine Association and the National Hearing Conservation Association; 2007.
11. Kardous CA, Willson RD, Murphy WJ. Noise dosimeter for monitoring exposure to impulse noise. Applied Acoustics 2005;66:974-85.
12. Bates MA, Loeb M, Smith RP, Fletcher JL. Attempts to condition the acoustic reflex. J Audit Res 1970;10:132-5.
13. Plomp R. Hearing losses induced by small arms. Int Audio 1967;6:31-6.
14. Smoorenburg GF. Damage risk criteria for impulse noise. In: Dancer AL, Hamernik RP, Henderson DH, Salvi R, editors. New Perspectives on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. New York: Raven Press; 1982. p. 471-90.
15. CHABA. Proposed Damage-Risk Criterion for Impulse Noise (Gunfire). Washington, DC: NAS-NRC Committee on Hearing, Bioacoustics and Biomechanics; 1968. Report No: Report of Working Group 57.
16. Pfander F, Bongartz H, Brinkmann H, Kietz H. Danger of auditory impairment from impulse noise: A comparative study of the CHABA damage-risk criteria and those of the Federal Republic of Germany. J Acoust Soc Am 1980;67:628-33. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
17. Price GR, Kalb JT. Insights into hazard from intense impulses from a mathematical model of the ear. J Acoust Soc Am 1991;90:219-27. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
18. Price GR. Validation of the auditory hazard assessment algorithm for the human with impulse noise data. J Acoust Soc Am 2007;122:2786-802. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
19. Hamernik RP, Qiu W, Davis B. The effects of the amplitude distribution of equal energy exposures on noise-induced hearing loss: the kurtosis metric. J Acoust Soc Am 2003;114:386-95. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
20. Qiu W, Hamernik RP, Davis B. The kurtosis metric as an adjunct to energy in the prediction of trauma from continuous, nonGaussian noise exposures. J Acoust Soc Am 2006;120:3901-6. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
21. Hamernik RP, Qiu W, Davis B. Hearing loss from interrupted, intermittent, and time varying non-Gaussian noise exposure: The applicability of the equal energy hypothesis. J Acoust Soc Am 2007;122:2245-54. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
22. Ward WD, Glorig A, Sklar DL. Relation between recovery from temporary threshold shift and duration of exposure. J Acoust Soc Am 1959;31:600-2.
23. Kryter KD, Ward WD, Miller JD, Eldredge DH. Hazardous Exposure to Intermittent and Steady-State Noise. J Acoust Soc Am 1966;39:451-64. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
24. Roberts J. Hearing levels of children by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics: United States. In: Service UP, editor. US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; 1972. p. 47.
25. Patterson JH, Mozo BT, Gordon E, Canales JR, Johnson DL. Pressure measured under earmuffs worn by human volunteers during exposure to free field blast overpressures. Report No. 98-01. In: US Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Fort Rucker, AL; 1997.
26. Ward WD. Temporary threshold shift in males and females. J Acoust Soc Am 1966;40:478-85. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
Gregory A Flamme
Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
1 Shooting habits of youth recreational firearm users
Michael Stewart,Deanna K. Meinke,Jessica K. Snyders,Kayla Howerton
International Journal of Audiology. 2014; 53(S2): S26
2 Temporary threshold shift after impulse-noise during video game play: Laboratory data
C. Spankovich,S. K. Griffiths,E. Lobariñas,K. E. Morgenstein,S. de la Calle,V. Ledon,D. Guercio,C. G. Le Prell
3 Auditory risk estimates for youth target shooting
Deanna K. Meinke,William J. Murphy,Donald S. Finan,James E. Lankford,Gregory A. Flamme,Michael Stewart,Jacob Soendergaard,Trevor W. Jerome
4 Impulse noise generated by starter pistols
Deanna K. Meinke,Donald S. Finan,Jacob Soendergaard,Gregory A. Flamme,William J. Murphy,James E. Lankford,Michael Stewart
International Journal of Audiology. 2013; 52(S1): S9
5 Advances in the neurobiology of hearing disorders: Recent developments regarding the basis of tinnitus and hyperacusis
Marlies Knipper,Pim Van Dijk,Isidro Nunes,Lukas Rüttiger,Ulrike Zimmermann
Progress in Neurobiology. 2013;
6 Bigger caliber, bigger boom
Stewart, M.
ASHA Leader. 2013; 18(2)
Meinke, D.K. and Finan, D.S. and Soendergaard, J. and Flamme, G.A. and Murphy, W.J. and Lankford, J.E. and Stewart, M.
International Journal of Audiology. 2013; 52(SUPPL. 1): S9-S19
8 Recent developments in firearms noise and hearing conservation: Hearing protection fit testing, Noise measurement and hearing surveillance
McBride, D. and Baxter, M. and Fletcher, D. and Lalahi, K.
Journal of Military and Veteransæ Health. 2013; 21(1): 7-13
9 Hearing threshold shift measured by pure tone audiometry after gun shot exposure in military personnel not using hearing protectors
Ghasemi, M. and Saedi, B. and Mojtahed, M. and Rezaee Najafabadi, M. and Afshari, M. and Izadi, M.
Journal of Military Medicine. 2012; 13(4): 201-206
10 Temporary hearing threshold shift in policemen after firearm training [Spostamento temporaneo di soglia uditiva in agenti di polizia dopo esercitazioni in poligono di tiro]
Cassano, F. and Montesano, R. and Bobbio, E. and Borraccia, V. and Volpe, C. and Bavaroi, P. and Quaranta, N.
Medicina del Lavoro. 2012; 103(2): 130-140
11 Relationship between the findings of pure-tone audiometry and otoacoustic emission tests on military police personnel [Relação entre os achados da avaliação audiométrica e das emissões otoacústicas em policiais militares]
Guida, H.L. and De Sousa, A.L. and Cardoso, A.C.V.
International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology. 2012; 16(1): 67-73
12 Assessment of Impulse Noise Level and Acoustic Trauma in Military Personnel
Maryam Rezaee,Mohammad Mojtahed,Mohammad Ghasemi,Babak Saedi
Trauma Monthly. 2012; 16(4): 182
13 Auditory risk to unprotected bystanders exposed to firearm noise
Flamme, G.A., Stewart, M., Meinke, D., Lankford, J., Rasmussen, P.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2011; 22(2): 93-103
14 Impulse noise exposure in rats causes cognitive deficits and changes in hippocampal neurotransmitter signaling and tau phosphorylation
Bo Cui, Mingquan Wu, Xiaojun She, Hongtao Liu
Brain Research. 2011;
15 Measurement of impulse peak insertion loss for four hearing protection devices in field conditions
William J. Murphy, Gregory A. Flamme, Deanna K. Meinke, Jacob Sondergaard, Donald S. Finan, James E. Lankford, Amir Khan, Julia Vernon, Michael Stewart
International Journal of Audiology. 2011; : 1
Rezaee, M. and Mojtahed, M. and Ghasemi, M. and Saedi, B.
Trauma Monthly. 2011; 16(4): 182-187
17 Acoustic and psychoacoustic analysis of the noise produced by the police force firearms
Guida, H.L. and Diniz, T.H. and Kinoshita, S.K.
Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. 2011; 77(2): 163-170
18 Review of the Oriental Monotypic Genus Pibrocha Kirkaldy (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Fulgoridae, Dorysarthrinae)
Zhi-Shun Song, Bourgoin Thierry, Ai-Ping Liang
ZooKeys. 2011; 132(0): 1
19 Estimates of auditory risk from outdoor impulse noise II: Civilian firearms
Flamme, G.A., Wong, A., Liebe, K., Lynd, J.
Noise and Health. 2009; 11(45): 223-230
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Heck of a movie! (Picture by Yunus Emre KARTAL)
January continues to go strong this year! Got in a fantastic movie this week along with plenty of good reading. Can’t complain about that at all.
American Hustle – I hadn’t heard a bad word about this movie and I will say that it did not disappoint. Just phenomenally done. It’s yet another super fun heist movie. I didn’t love the voiceovers that were peppered throughout, but otherwise I’d call it a mostly flawless and fun movie. Go see it before it’s out of theaters!
Babies – While we were watching the Amazing Race, Katie noticed a Botswanan baby and it made her immediately call for a rental of this short documentary. It was definitely cute and, interestingly enough, there’s not a single narrative line of dialogue. They let the universality of humankind and human babies speak for itself.
The Amazing Race – Our trek through season 22 continues. I’m loving watching my teams compete again. Trying to keep a lid on spoilers for Kate is tough, but I think I’m managing well enough.
Justified – I’ve only got about 10 mins left of the final episode of the season left, but I haven’t found the time to finish it. I like the way they resolved the Nicky Augustine moment, but I don’t know if I’m gonna enjoy the way they tie the season up at the end.
Bought me some Paul Simon tickets this morning. Enjoy “Obvious Child”
Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die – There have been some dark, tragic moments in this collection along with some neat, life-affirming fun moments of truth. The premise is so neat because everyone dies, right? Should knowing how change anything?
Bravely Default (Demo) – On the last boss now and it’s been loads of fun. Turns out that linking with Min gives that character full job abilities that he has.
Civilization V – I’ll probably end up smiting Rome from the map by the time this publishes. Good times and good luck catching up, Dave.
Long Live the Queen – Managed to get into the Old Forest, but I haven’t done too much more here. Gonna get into this more this week, I think.
Left 4 Dead – Kate and I finished all of the L4D campaigns this weekend. I’m glad that she’s really enjoyed it and we’re gonna push right into L4D2 really soon to have even more fun.
The Walking Dead – I somehow managed to end up losing the save file that Katie and I generated, so I pushed through and replicated episode 1 really quickly for the next time I play with Kate. You hear that, Min? Super quick. By the way, the second battery is on the floor of the pharmacy.
american hustle, babies, bravely default, justified, left 4 dead, left 4 dead 2, long live the queen, machine of death: a collection of stories about people who know how they will die, paul simon, sid meier's civilization v, the amazing race, the walking dead
What I’ve Been Doing 7 Jan 2014 [FB/IB/F/BT/GO]
Jan 7th, 2014 by Dan
My New Year’s resolution is to eat more curry.
Happy New Year, folks! New year, new posts, new media. I’m super pumped for 2014! No real pictures to put up here
Not this week!
The Twilight Zone – Somehow I had never seen an episode of The Twilight Zone. Not a one. Lucky for me Katie’s dad and his friend love watching the annual marathon on Syfy. I saw a classic episode or two and I wasn’t totally impressed with the quality of the acting in most episodes, but I was also really taken with the anthology style that’s missing in tv today. Very neat. Makes me want to finish Fringe.
Scandal – Saw the pilot episode with Katie and Kyla. It’s definitely got pilot awkardness syndrome and I wasn’t totally sold on the premise of the show, but it’s definitely got promise. I could see myself getting lost in this show.
Almost Human – The clone twist wasn’t super mind blowing, but I liked they way they integrated the hologram tech later in the episode and the further bonding of Kennex and Dorian. The Maldonado stuff fell a little more flat to me. Felt a little patronizing.
Justified – Season 5 of Justified started and I’m still not done with S4! I had about two episodes left and I watched about 1.25 of them. Love, love, love this show. I love it when people have long leisurely conversations, I love it when the shooting happens, and I love the setting.
Inside joke time! “Marry Me” by Jason Derulo
Well Played 1.0: Video Games Value and Meaning – I read almost all of the entries in the book, but one was meant to be in the perspective of a character in one of the games(?) and I skipped it because it was boring. The highlight for me was the section about The Secret of Monkey Island from the perspective of someone who grew up in Spain and played it in Spanish. I’m gonna read 2.0, but not for a while.
Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die – Speaking of anthologies, Machine of Death is dark and funny and it really makes a person think. Would you want to know the exact way you were gonna die? Would you become hopelessly fatalistic about your life or ignore it? Would you just avoid the machine completely?
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies – Case 5 has turned into a completely different case. We’re gonna resolve the issues with Blackquill. I’m more excited for the killer whale one, but that’s because I accidentally spoiled the Phantom’s identity for myself like two months ago.
Bravely Default (Demo) – Another Squeenix RPG, but this one has JOBS! I love job systems. I’m already way down for this release in Feb. I think it’s super neat that the Demo has its own unique story to it.
Nintendo Land – Got a lot of Mario Chase and Luigi’s Ghost Mansion in with Katie and Kyla. Super fun. I know people think Nintendo’s lost it, but just watching people pick up and play their games almost without instruction tells me that their concepts and ideas are still top notch. I love asynchronous multiplayer.
Long Live the Queen – Premise: The Queen dies and you’ve got to survive to coronation. It’s pretty easy to get killed in this game. I’ve managed to beat it a few times without it, but it’s not easy. Mostly a visual novel with skill checking.
Cook, Serve, Delicious – Surprisingly addictive for a simple game. They nailed the sound effects and that’s what really makes the difference. Adding the different ingredients to the dishes just has a lot of pop. Feels great to play. I love it.
SteamWorld Dig – Kind of a Metroidvania mixed with something like Terraria or Minecraft (minus the crafting). It’s fun to figure out how to get to the various treasures and gems. I’m really enjoying it, but the gameplay loop is too addictive. It’s “one more turn”, of a sort, as you try to achieve your objectives and get lower and lower.
Portal 2 – Played the new multiplayer levels with David. By new I mean really old and that one DLC pack they released years ago. It’s got a little new story and it’s funny and neat, but the main draw, obviously, comes from the sweet puzzles. Really creative and I think it made Dave and I feel pretty smart.
Civilization 5 – The D-Bros game continues to go way in my favor as I stomp the Romans down. Persia might have to go next if I continue to maintain the advantage…
Don’t Starve – Played it for a while to get my steam cards. Pretty neat game, but I wish it had steam achievements. My second attempt is going well, but I can’t find any gold for a science machine, and that stinks. Those freaky frogs almost killed me too…
almost human, bravely default, cook serve delicious, don't starve, jason derulo, justified, long live the queen, machine of death: a collection of stories about people who know how they will die, minecraft, nintendo land, phoenix wright: ace attorney - dual destinies, portal 2, scandal, sid meier's civilization v, steamworld dig, syfy, terraria, the secret of monkey island, twilight zone, well played 1.0: video games value and meaning
What I’ve Been Doing 25 Feb 2013 [FB/IB/F/BT/GO]
Feb 25th, 2013 by Dan
Baseball’s finally back. Sure, it’s in spring training, but it’s BACK!
Whoops! Sorry about the week off there! Back to the grind.
It’s also baseball season (still spring training) again! YAY!
Skyfall – I didn’t have a seamless, uninterrupted viewing thanks to Chinese food and plumbers and plumbing catastrophes, but this was definitely a beautiful movie. I’d like to watch it again to let it all sink in.
How I Met Your Mother – Can’t even remember which random episode I saw, but I dug it.
Archer – Saw the one with Barry and Katjaa. It was pretty darn funny. Solid season so far.
Veep – Rewatched the first season with Katie. I can’t wait for the April return of the show.
Community – The cracks of Harmon-less Community are starting to show. I’m definitely not used to watching the show without that creative rudder, so I suppose I’ve got to start thinking of it as a new show with the same cast and premise. Like a writer change on a comic book.
Parks and Recreation – The wedding episode was so great! Best show on television right now?
The Daily Show – A few random episodes. Good stuff, but I’m way…WAY behind on current episodes.
Justified – A stretch of weaker episodes isn’t gonna turn me off of my favorite southern crime drama. No way. That Jackie Nevada girl was good looking too. Hope she keeps coming back.
New Girl – I’m impressed that the show handled Nick/Jess so well. Hopefully that’s no longer an issue for the show for the next few episodes, but I was glad to see it handled so deftly even if it means losing Doctor Sam.
The Oscars – Seth MacFarlane was kind of a sexist jerk, but you can’t expect too much, I suppose. The show was otherwise not too bad.
Man, I heard this song for the first time in ages on Saturday:
Bask in City High.
Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan – Jake Adelstein’s tales about organized crime in Japan are fascinating and super fun to read. I almost can’t put this book down every time I start to read it.
Fire Emblem: Awakening – I’ve stalled on playing this due to social obligations, but I’m about set to hit it hard again.
FTL: Faster Than Light – Finally unlocked the stealth ship! Now I’ve got to get type B and go for the crystal ship.
Spelunky – New skins means watching more new avatars get killed by the cave’s traps and perils. Lots of fun! Hope you’re watching my LPs.
academy awards, archer, city high, community, fire emblem: awakening, how i met your mother, justified, new girl, parks and recreation, skyfall, spelunky, the daily show, tokyo vice: an american reporter on the police beat in japan, veep
Birthday happy hour last week (Photo by Eric)
Another year, another birthday. I continue to get older and, oddly enough, wiser.
In the Loop – I’m a big fan of Iannucci’s work and this movie doesn’t disappoint. Well, except for the fact that its ending is depressing and mostly based on real life. That part’s a huge bummer.
The Thick of It – Oh man, the part where Hugh used Glen’s developmentally challenged son in a story to get out of trouble…wow…
Mythbusters – It sure takes a long, roundabout way to get to a point, but the baseball myths were all super cool to see proved/disproved. Can’t believe they left the humidity one only at plausible. I thought that was fairly definitive.
30 Rock – Not a bad finale, actually. I loved the way they wrapped everything up with Jack and Liz. Good show. I should watch the intermediate seasons that I missed.
Parks and Recreation – The in-show calzone joke thing is perhaps the most amazing thing to ever be put into a sitcom.
Justified – No one on tv is cooler than Raylan Givens. I really liked the one where he had to deal with Lindsay’s husband. This show kind of makes me want to live in Kentucky.
Community – I don’t think the show is as strong without Harmon…at least not so long as they’re gonna keep trying to ape his style. Community Babies was a particularly strained attempt to hit his level of meta.
The Mindy Project – Mindy is still pretty much the same person as my roommate. I find this show a lot funnier than the critical consensus.
New Girl – Speaking of funny shows and shows I haven’t praised nearly enough, New Girl has finally made me realize how incredible it is. It’s just been firing on every cylinder this year. Totally loved the awkward backwards moonwalk. I need to work that into my repetoire.
Archer – Still don’t really care for Ron Cadillac at all. Funny episode nonetheless.
Grammys – I’m sorry, but Frank Ocean >> Mumford & Sons.
I’m not kidding…Listen to Frank Ocean
Are We Winning?: Fathers and Sons in the New Golden Age of Baseball – I really love the Steve Bartman chapter. My favorite part of the book each year that I read it.
Spelunky – I actually had me some good runs go horribly bad. Allowing the scepter of Anubis to kill you was a real jerk move, Derek Yu.
Fire Emblem: Awakening – I wasn’t expecting to get this until everyone was talking about how great it was. Know what? It’s fantastic. Addictive and fun and tough to stomach losing units, but still worth playing. Didn’t know you’d be able to customize your main character, but I love that about this game too.
30 rock, archer, are we winning? fathers and sons in the new golden age of baseball, armando iannucci, community, dan harmon, derek yu, fire emblem: awakening, frank ocean, grammy awards, in the loop, justified, mumford & sons, mythbusters, new girl, parks and recreation, spelunky, the mindy project, the thick of it
The main guy in Virtue’s Last Reward (Photo courtesy Giant Bomb)
This past weekend was a haze of parties and Virtue’s Last Reward. The good news is that I beat the game and had fun at all the parties, but the bad news is zzzzzzzz…
Justified – So happy to have this show back. Raylan is such a badass. Loved the shot to the airbag. I’m really interested in seeing where this season goes. It looks like IA is gonna really get on Raylan’s ass.
Happy Endings – Pretty elaborate episode chiefly centered around making jokes about inappropriate-sounding use of the word “come” and a jerky making circle :cough: circle jerk :cough:. Still fairly hilarious and I’ve got like two episodes still on the DVR!
Two tracks for you today.
First off, who the heck is Bonnie Bear?
Yeah, that’s Bon Iver’s “Perth”. I love that guitar.
Then we’ve got the credits song for The Walking Dead game. It’s just got a sweet sound to it. Not sure if my association with the game makes it stronger…
Alela Diane’s “Take Us Back”
A Confederacy of Dunces – More hot dog shenanigans. I’m coming around on the book, but I’m also taking it a little too slow.
Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward – It’s so hard to talk about this game without spoiling everything that makes it so incredible. Trust me, guys, this game’s story is just awesome. I’m officially a fan of Kotaro Uchikoshi now. It’s the kind of story that makes you think and that makes smart use of its mechanics.
FTL – Died in a fiery Engi Cruiser wreck. Not enough offense.
Borderlands 2 – Our posse is starting to get pretty strong, but the game is also getting a lot harder. Really digging the slag/other elemental combo. I think it helps tremendously with damage.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown – The Second Wave DLC came out allowing you to customize additional really tough XCOM rules and…I got my ass kicked on my first attempt. This next game is going a little better, but I think the soldier I named my guy after just bit the dust.
Saints Row: The Third – I think we played this during this week, right, Dave? Co-op campaign is loads of fun, but I wish I heard David’s character in cutscenes or that we were both present. Loads of fun.
alela diane, bon iver, ftl: faster than light, happy endings, justified, kotaro uchikoshi, saints row: the third, zero escape: virtue's last reward
What I’ve Been Doing 23 April 2012 [FB/IB/F/BT/GO]
Apr 23rd, 2012 by Dan
Unrelated shot of the beautiful Red Rock Canyon
It was a nice, lazy, fun weekend full of baseball, movies, and video games. Who could complain?
The Cabin in the Woods – If you think for a second you want to see this movie, you probably shouldn’t read anything about it. Those of you who don’t, well I thought it was an interesting deconstruction of the horror genre that was expertly written by Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon, but perhaps a little too elbow nudge-y, wink wink to be taken completely seriously. Still worth seeing. Lots of fun.
The Voice – You have to make sacrifices sometimes when you have a girlfriend. This is one of the watchable ones. Some of the eliminations continue to baffle me, but at least RaeLynn is gone. Yay!
Glee – The Quinn in the wheelchair episode was absolutely terrible. The disco one, on the other hand, is a return to form. Diana Agron mysteriously disappeared for long stretches of the episode (perhaps her wheelchair dancing is not to par). I wish they’d use Mercedes more…she’s tragically underused and has the best voice on the show.
New Girl – “I might as well call you ‘Bridge to Terabithia’ because you make kids cry” New Girl…what do I think of you? Most improved show of the year? Perhaps. It’s gotten to be quite good, but it’s still not perfect and I still think Happy Endings does the young 20-30 somethings hanging out thing better. Glad the show is improving, but I could do without all the sappy moments.
Justified – Great great GREAT finale. Gonna miss watching Raylan Givens solve crimes every week. See you next year, Justified!
Mad Men – I remain a week behind on this, per usual, but the boxing match between Lane and Pete was hilariously awesome. Fantastic episode.
Community – It was one of those weeks where they really go all out in the emotional, barely funny route. It worked before and it works again, mostly because Alison Brie is a joy to watch.
Dollhouse – The guy who plays Topher (Fran Kranz) was in The Cabin in the Woods, so I felt like trying to watch some of S2. The show definitely has problems (lots of them), but it’s improving and I am interested in seeing how it all ended.
Bob’s Burgers – Food truck episode…way to be timely? They’re still a thing, but it’s just not that funny in 2012. At least the cast makes it work…mostly.
Baseball – Two Marlins games, two Marlins losses. To the Nationals! WTF!
Parks and Recreation – Bradley Whitford’s part was too small, but that’s ok. Aubrey Plaza continues to show range and grow. I find Aziz Ansari to be increasingly irrelevant in Parks…
All of the Coachella news has put one song permanently in my head last week:
If you know someone who doesn’t like “Changes”, you know a monster. A MONSTER!
Sadly none.
Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP – Only got like 15 mins in so I didn’t get a chance to get a serious impression. I like the style and the sneaky interactive elements. Music seems cool so far too.
The Old Republic – Started up a Trooper so that Min and I could have the full compliment of buffs as we leveled. Love hearing Jennifer Hale’s voice again. Great game and the Trooper and Smuggler have neat stories.
Devil Survivor 2 – Made it to Wednesday, I think. Fighting the first boss that appears at like 0830. Love this style of game, but I’ve got a long ways to go still.
2pac, alison brie, aubrey plaza, aziz ansari, bob's burgers, bradley whitford, community, dianna agron, dollhouse, fran kranz, glee, justified, mad men, miami marlins, new girl, shin megami tensei: devil survivor 2, star wars: the old republic, superbrothers: sword & sworcery ep, the cabin in the woods, the voice, washington nationals
What I’ve Been Doing 2 April 2012 [FB/IB/F/BT/GO]
Mar 26th, 2012 by Dan
Seann William Scott is so innocently dumb in this movie, but it's actually quite good. (Picture courtesy nxusco)
Guys, Goon was really good. More later, but you should check it out. This week was a real scattershot weekend as I tried to play a bunch of games I didn’t give much time to before.
Martha Marcy May Marlene – The cult in the movie is an interesting contrast to the fundamentalist Christian society in Higher Ground and the hippie commune of Wanderlust. This movie really ratchets up the tension of not knowing what’s real and what’s not. Ideally they would have made Patrick a scarier presence, but the movie is still on pretty solid ground with what it accomplishes. Congrats on the fantastic part, Elizabeth Olsen. Keep it up!
Goon – This is a mostly sweet movie about a guy who had no place in life other than to fight on the ice. It’s done pretty well and it’s funny and it’ll definitely win you over. Alison Pill, who played Kim Pine in Scott Pilgrim, is great as a Canadian hockey girl and Seann William Scott is endearing. The violence of hockey and hockey fights is really the thing that might put you off the movie. It gets pretty brutal if you don’t like it.
Mad Men – Last week’s premiere was amazing and I totally loved it. Can’t wait to see yesterday’s episode tonight!
Breaking Bad – Finished the first season. The six episode arc they had to work with never went anywhere with any definitive statement, but I think they’re playing the long game for all the seasons. Doesn’t mean that it was bad, just that I’m used to a more dramatic season arc. The progression of Walter White from teacher to meth cooker has definitely been interesting as is the seething anger that lurks beneath hsi outside personality.
Happy Endings – A great tribute to all the sitcom tropes of old. Some really good jokes in there that helped keep it from being too hack-y (like it was when the episode started). Elisha Cuthbert’s Ellen was hilarious.
New Girl – I liked the episode, but I’m rather chilly on New Girl at the moment. It’s not bad, but it’s not amazing either.
Justified – Another table setter. The final two episodes of this season are going to be bananas. I’d like for Limehouse to continue to be a force in S4, but we’ll see if he survives the next two eps first.
Community – It’s entirely possible that this episode contained the first “boner” joke I’ve laughed at since I was 13. The Subway corpo-humanoid is the highlight of the ep. Also a highlight: “Put it in a letter, Jane Austen!”. Alison Brie is so awesome.
Up All Night – This show is kind of meh to me too. At least it’s enjoyable meh. I’d rather watch New Girl because Zooey Deschanel is cute, but this is the better show.
The Wire – Finally finished S1 and the commentary of S1. Can’t wait to get moving through S2 because S3 is amazing. I love the attention to detail in The Wire and the devastating verisimilitude of it all.
“Heaven” is one of the best tracks on the Persona 4 soundtrack, but it’s also pretty awesome to listen to any time. Don’t believe me?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – I’ve got like 10 pages left. So tired of this book.
Ghost Trick – Weird ending to this game. Just plot twist upon plot twist. Still one of the better story games I’ve ever played and excellent practice for my Spanish.
Devil Survivor 2 – Still haven’t caught the entire breadth of this story, but I do dig it. Interested in seeing where it goes, but my major play time will probably come when Min and I go to Vegas (he’ll probably sleep through the flight)
Mass Effect 2 – Slowly tearing through this a few missions at a time. For some reason I can’t stomach playing it for long periods of time. I think it’s because ME3 is clearly better and they’re so similar.
Poker Night at the Inventory – Put in a few mins to get some achievements and just play some poker. Still fun.
Jamestown – Was feeling like finally putting some time into the weird quasi-historical/quasi-sci-fi version of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia. Fighting the Spanish conquistadors and the Martians is weird, but fun. I like all the different ship types.
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode 1 – I played and beat this many moons ago, but I wanted to play ep. 2 and that required playing this. Decent RPG and pretty funny still.
Sine Mora – Tried it out on XBL. I might pick it up when I finish a few other games. Seems interesting.
Pac-Man CE DX – Um…best game on my Xbox. Period. This game is so good I had to force msyelf to stop to play…
Galaga Legions DX – I was tired of only having like two achievements in this so I went and got to 11/12. Might not get the last one (more annoying than tough), but I’ll probably cave and just do it. Not as good as Pac-Man at all, but still fun.
Shadow Complex – Cave Story + made me think the same thing this game does: Why don’t game companies make more Metroidvania-style games? They’re really addictive and fun. Weird. Also weird: Nolan North in a half-tuck role that’s NOT NATHAN DRAKE! I think the shooting is a little awkward with the right stick because they added the whole 3D aspect to it, but otherwise fun.
alison brie, alison pill, breaking bad, cave story +, community, elisha cuthbert, elizabeth olsen, ellen, galaga legions dx, ghost trick, goon, happy endings, higher ground, jamestown, justified, mad men, martha marcy may marlene, mass effect 2, new girl, nolan north, pac-man championship edition dx, penny arcade adventures: on the rain-slick precipice of, poker night at the inventory, scott pilgrim vs. the world, seann william scott, shadow complex, shin megami tensei: devil survivor 2, sine mora, the girl with the dragon tattoo, the wire, up all night, wanderlust, zooey deschanel
What I’ve Been Doing 26 Mar 2012 [FB/IB/F/BT/GO]
Season 5, y'all! (Photo courtesy Roman Skrada)
Mad Men is BACK…but shhhh! I haven’t seen the premiere yet. Trying to finish S4 first and I’ve got about three episodes to burn through. I’ll get it tonight. Don’t worry.
Was supposed to watch one, but…didn’t get around to it.
Persona 4: The Animation – This show continues to be awesome. The Nanako stuff was really emotionally tough to watch, wow.
Archer – Oh man, the space stuff was so great. This show is so zany and awesome.
New Girl – I haven’t been able to enjoy this show as much since I started watching Happy Endings. That show just seems to do the same thing a lot better.
Fashion Police – My girlfriend makes me watch this. It was great when it was a half hour…now it’s always an hour long. At least Joan Rivers is kind of funny.
Community – Back to weird for Community. The impersonator stuff was hilariously odd. I wonder what they’re setting up with all the Dark Abed and Chang stuff.
Happy Endings – This week’s episode was weaker, but I went through the whole series with Min again. Can’t wait to catch the first half of S2 because the show is a lot better in S2. Not that it was bad in S1, but they’re a lot crazier and funnier in S2.
Justified – the old lady with the milkshake was awesome. The animosity toward the outsiders is pretty amazing. The standoff between Quarles and Raylan was great. Loved when the bartender got into it too.
Up All Night – The Chris on the show thing was pretty obvious, but it had its funny moments.
Mad Men – S4 was pretty great, wasn’t it? Just saw “The Beautiful Girls”. An astounding episode. The scene in “The Summer Man” where Joan tells off the men with respect to Vietnam gives me chills every time.
La Vida Boheme – Check it out.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – If I don’t finish this book this week I’m burning it.
Mass Effect 3 – Still enjoying the multiplayer, but I want to unlock some Krogans and Asari already!
New Super Mario Bros. Wii – Still pretty brilliant. The Yoshi level was fun since Min and I were antagonizing each other a bit.
Super Street Fighter IV – Min and I fought for a long while. Lots of fun playing one of the sharpest fighting games out there. Reminded me how out of practice I was.
archer, fashion police, joan rivers, justified, la vida boheme, mad men, mass effect 3, new girl, new super mario bros. wii, persona 4: the animation, super street fighter iv, the girl with the dragon tattoo, up all night
They are a group of six friends evenly split among men and women. Haven't seen this formula before! (Photo courtesy Screened.com)
I’ll get into it more later, but despite it being pretty standard fare for a sitcom, Happy Endings is actually hilarious and kind of awesome. I blew through season 1 this weekend (half on Netflix, then I bought the entire season on DVD).
Just catching any TV is impressive considering that I haven’t watched a second of it since Mass Effect 3 came out. Now that I’ve beaten that I had a chance to catch up on all the TV I’d missed.
The Descendants – Picked up the movie at Best Buy this weekend too. Great flick. I think Tiffany liked it despite its Oscar film plot meanderings.
Community – Oh god, so glad it’s back! So glad! This week’s episode was pretty solid work for Community. Everyone showed up and was great. Even the Britta stuff was hilarious. I loved that she was a wizard with domestic stuff and wedding planning. Then of course she Brittas the entire thing by getting too drunk with Jeff.
Archer – Space! Pretty excellent episode of Archer. Can’t wait for the finale next week
New Girl – “Did you just Fredo kiss me?” The singing part was kind of “eh”. “Are those cannons on your back”. After watching a lot of Happy Endings later on in the weekend, I think that New Girl is a less good version of that. Bummer. Still, it’s coming into its own and I dig it. Max Greenfield’s Schmidt is hilarious.
Parks and Recreation – The Ron stuff was great. I guess I’m pretty tired of the Ann and Tom stuff too.
Bob’s Burgers – Kristen Schaal and Eugene Mirman are HILARIOUS! Footloose warehouse dancing is great! “No more lick foot”. “If guys had uteruses they’d be called duderuses” Great episode.
Justified – The show knows how to make things seem real bad. “I found the gun.” “Did you touch it?” “What am I, an asshole?” I think Winona’s great! Is she gone for good? Good to see Ava returning to prominence. I like her too. Boyd’s got a real firebrand preacher streak and that’s always fun to see. This season is about to get more real quick and I love it!
Up All Night – Maya Rudolph is great. Spitting the scotch back out was pretty hilarious. The stinger with “gift” and “seed” was the best part. I kept wanting to use that as a line, but it’s so gross.
Happy Endings – Not too bad. Wow. Extra Hot Great turned me on to this show and I spent all weekend watching as much of it as I could. I thought it was pretty hilarious. It’s got a modern Friends vibe, but with the jokes pace of a Community, 30 Rock, or Arrested Development. Just BAM! BAM! BAM! Jokes, jokes, jokes. I really enjoyed it. If you know me I hope you don’t mind me making you watch it.
Just listen to more Rhythm Heaven music, guys!
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Ok, Martin Vanger is dead already. Why does this book still have like 100 pages left?!
Mass Effect 3 – Finally finished this sci-fi epic and…I loved it. Naysayers out there will tell you that the ending is terrible. They’re kind of right, but that doesn’t mean the game isn’t fantastic.
Ghost Trick – This is another one like Dragon Tattoo that I’m getting closer and closer to beating and I just need to put time in to finish.
Mass Effect 2 – Coming back to this after 3 is rough. Combat is slower, the engine is not optimized for PC, it’s trying too hard to be edgy…Still good, but I like 3 and 1 better.
30 rock, archer, bob's burgers, community, eugene mirman, extra hot great, friends, ghost trick, happy endings, justified, kristen schaal, mass effect, mass effect 2, mass effect 3, max greenfield, new girl, parks and recreation, rhythm heaven, the descendants, the girl with the dragon tattoo, up all night
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Drug testing dole recipients harmful: RACP
Plans to drug test Australians on welfare won’t work and could seriously harm those battling addiction, says The Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
The RACP – which represents more than 15,000 physicians across Australia and New Zealand – will on Friday lodge its its submission to an inquiry into the federal Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017.
Legislative changes being proposed will force about 5000 Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients to undergo drug testing and subject them to a variety of restrictions if they test positive.
The RACP is “strongly” opposed and is urging the federal government to instead “appropriately” invest in alcohol and drug treatment services.
“RACP members see first-hand the many and varied harms caused by addiction when treating their patients in Australia’s addiction clinics, rehabilitation centres, liver clinics, cancer wards and hospital emergency departments,” the submission states.
Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious, complex health problem and there is “absolutely” no evidence to show drug testing trials will work, says RACP President Dr Catherine Yelland.
The experience of countries like America and New Zealand, she says, have shown drug testing has a poor record in modifying drug use.
“Similar programs have been shown to be ineffective in identifying people with substance dependency and have been criticised for discriminating against some of the most vulnerable people in those communities.”
The RACP also has serious concerns about amendments that will remove drug and alcohol dependency as a legitimate reason for jobseekers to not meet participation requirements.
It won’t help addicts and it won’t motivate them to seek treatment, Dr Yelland says.
“Taking payments away from these people will only cause even greater hardship and a likely spiral into worse health,” she said.
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����Wellington went to the village of Waterloo to draw up his report to Lord Bathurst.,����The struggle between the old views and the new was long and stubbornly fought out in physical philosophy. Theology stood on guard for the old views and accused the new of violating revelation. But when truth conquered, theology established itself just as firmly on the new foundation.... ,��What's the betting she comes back with a box of / Hate Rita Skeeter badges?�� said Ron. ,LastIndexNext,����"Take care, you'll cut yourself," replied Montparnasse.,����"Have you your pistol?"...
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����He reflected bitterly, and it must be confessed, with profound regret, on the five francs which he had bestowed, that very morning, on that miserable girl.,����Sometimes, at the hour when M. Mabeuf was on his way to the Jardin des Plantes, the old man and the young man passed each other on the Boulevard de l'Hopital. They did not speak, and only exchanged a melancholy sign of the head., ;����When, much later, "Uncle" rode up to Nicholas and began talking to him, he felt flattered that, after what had happened, "Uncle" deigned to speak to him. .;����(1) However we may increase our knowledge of the conditions of space in which man is situated, that knowledge can never be complete, for the number of those conditions is as infinite as the infinity of space. And therefore so long as not all the conditions influencing men are defined, there is no complete inevitability but a certain measure of freedom remains.,CHAPTER XVI !!
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BOOK EIGHT: 1811 - 12,����He began speaking louder, evidently to be heard by everyone.,����If history had retained the conception of the ancients it would have said that God, to reward or punish his people, gave Napoleon power and directed his will to the fulfillment of the divine ends, and that reply, would have been clear and complete. One might believe or disbelieve in the divine significance of Napoleon, but for anyone believing in it there would have been nothing unintelligible in the history of that period, nor would there have been any contradictions.!����Natasha had made a strong impression on Kuragin. At supper after the opera he described to Dolokhov with the air of a connoisseur the attractions of her arms, shoulders, feet, and hair and expressed his intention of making love to her. Anatole had no notion and was incapable of considering what might come of such love-making, as he never had any notion of the outcome of any of his actions.,����An adjutant came out and announced that everything was in readiness within. But Kutuzov evidently did not wish to enter that room till he was disengaged. He made a grimace...,182 INT -- MESS HALL -- DAY (1965) 182!
����A comely, fresh-looking old man was conducting the service with that mild solemnity which has so elevating and soothing an effect on the souls of the worshipers. The gates of the sanctuary screen were closed, the curtain was slowly drawn, and from behind it a soft mysterious voice pronounced some words. Tears, the cause of which she herself did not understand, made Natasha's breast heave, and a joyous but oppressive feeling agitated her.,����"You are friendly with Boris, aren't you?" asked Vera.;����Within a week the peasants who came with empty carts to carry off plunder were stopped by the authorities and made to cart the corpses out of the town. Other peasants, having heard of their comrades' discomfiture, came to town bringing rye, oats, and hay, and beat down one another's prices to below what they had been in former days. Gangs of carpenters hoping for high pay arrived in Moscow every day, and on all sides logs were being hewn, new houses built, and old, charred ones repaired. Tradesmen began trading in booths. Cookshops and taverns were opened in partially burned houses. The clergy resumed the services in many churches that had not been burned. Donors contributed Church property that had been stolen. Government clerks set up their baize-covered tables and their pigeonholes of documents in small rooms. The higher authorities and the police organized the distribution of goods left behind by the French. The owners of houses in which much property had been left, brought there from other houses, complained of the injustice of taking everything to the Faceted Palace in the Kremlin; others insisted that as the French had gathered things from different houses into this or that house, it would be unfair to allow its owner to keep all that was found there. They abused the police and bribed them, made out estimates at ten times their value for government stores that had perished in the fire, and demanded relief. And Count Rostopchin wrote proclamations. ,����"He is the enemy of mankind!" cried another. "Allow me to speak...." "Gentlemen, you are crushing me!..." ,����"Well, you know, I wanted to see...".����She began to cry and a still greater sense of pity, tenderness, and love welled up in Pierre. He felt the tears trickle under his spectacles and hoped they would not be noticed.,,;
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��Let me get this straight,�� he said after a while, brandishing a fresh chicken leg. ��You first saw the elfin the Top Box. She was saving Crouch a seat, right?�� ...,����Likhachev got up, rummaged in his pack, and soon Petya heard the warlike sound of steel on whetstone. He climbed onto the wagon and sat on its edge. The Cossack was sharpening the saber under the wagon.,����The whole purport of his remarks now was evidently to exalt himself and insult Alexander- just what he had least desired at the commencement of the interview.,����"Here are her letters and her portrait," said he....����That point still held firm. Wellington reinforced it.,CHAPTER XXIII .
,����Let an impure blood inundate the furrows! I give my days to my country, I shall never see my concubine more, Nini, finished, yes, Nini?;,����the sea lay below him at a dizzy depth; the shock of his fall had imparted to the foot-rope a violent swinging motion; the man swayed back and forth at the end of that rope, like a stone in a sling....����Marius looked at her, then raised his eyes to heaven, and answered:;if his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; ...
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LastIndexNext,���� After the departure of the ruffians, the Rue Plumet resumed its tranquil, nocturnal aspect....����The Emperor was with the army to encourage it, but his presence and ignorance of what steps to take, and the enormous number of advisers and plans, destroyed the first army's energy and it retired.,,LastIndexNext...����He is going away!,.����The officer murmured, for the death agony was still in his voice:--,����All that he owned in the world was the five francs intended for Thenardier the father.;
,����"I am sure it is Pierre. I will go and see," said Countess Mary and left the room.,����"No.",����Marya Dmitrievna came back to dinner taciturn and serious, having evidently suffered a defeat at the old prince's. She was still too agitated by the encounter to be able to talk of the affair calmly. In answer to the count's inquiries she replied that things were all right and that she would tell about it next day. On hearing of Countess Bezukhova's visit and the invitation for that evening, Marya Dmitrievna remarked:,CHAPTER XXV ... ,����"Ah, Nicholas, do you know I am often troubled about little Nicholas," said Countess Mary. "He is such an exceptional boy. I am afraid I neglect him in favor of my own: we all have children and relations while he has no one. He is constantly alone with his thoughts.",����Javert was probably already at the commencement of the street at whose end Jean Valjean stood. Javert, to all appearances, was acquainted with this little labyrinth, and had taken his precautions by sending one of his men to guard the exit.!����I was a block of wood; I became a firebrand.! ...
����"Not at all, Mamma.",,����"The Elder.... He wants the Elder!... Dron Zakharych, you!" meek and flustered voices here and there were heard calling and caps began to come off their heads.,;����The man who was knocking paused....����Who was this man? The night probably knew more of him than the day.,����Jean Valjean was immediately taken to the prison at Toulon.!
!����"I am at your disposal," she murmured....CHAPTER V .!����Here they are!"...,CHAPTER X .make his wings shorter. I reckon to be costly, not them alone, which charge the purse, but which are wearisome and importune in suits. Ordinary followers ought to challenge no higher conditions, than countenance, recommendation, and protection from wrongs. .
����He felt an immense joy.,tongue had become impossible to her since she had known Marius.,����The roads were not much paved; the streets were not much built up.,����In the damp chill air and crowded closeness of the swaying carriage, she for the first time vividly imagined what was in store for her there at the ball, in those brightly lighted rooms- with music, flowers, dances, the Emperor, and all the brilliant young people of Petersburg. The prospect was so splendid that she hardly believed it would come true, so out of keeping was it with the chill darkness and closeness of the carriage. She understood all that awaited her only when, after stepping over the red baize at the entrance, she entered the hall, took off her fur cloak, and, beside Sonya and in front of her mother, mounted the brightly illuminated stairs between the flowers. Only then did she remember how she must behave at a ball, and tried to assume the majestic air she considered indispensable for a girl on such an occasion. But, fortunately for her, she felt her eyes growing misty, she saw nothing clearly, her pulse beat a hundred to the minute, and the blood throbbed at her heart. She could not assume that pose, which would have made her ridiculous, and she moved on almost fainting from excitement and trying with all her might to conceal it. And this was the very attitude that became her best. Before and behind them other visitors were entering, also talking in low tones and wearing ball dresses. The mirrors on the landing reflected ladies in white, pale-blue, and pink dresses, with diamonds and pearls on their bare necks and arms.,����Some of them were digging, others were wheeling barrowloads of earth along planks, while others stood about doing nothing.,����The remainder of the troops were confined to their barracks, without reckoning the regiments of the environs of Paris.,Certainly moderate praise, used with opportunity, and not vulgar, is that which doth the good. Solomon saith. He that praiseth his friend aloud, rising early, it shall be to him no better than a curse. Too much magnifying of man or matter doth irritate contradiction, and procure envy and scorn. To praise a man\'s self cannot !, ;
praise and commendation of men as it is in gettings and gains: for the proverb is ;����While Marius was slowly descending those melancholy steps which may be called the cellar stairs, and which lead to places without light, where the happy can be heard walking overhead, M. Mabeuf was descending on his side.,? Leo Tolstoy,,����"What luck he has!,BOOK FOURTEEN: 1812.
...����Une verrue habite en son nez hasardeux; .����Anatole went out of the room and returned a few minutes later wearing a fur coat girt with a silver belt, and a sable cap jauntily set on one side and very becoming to his handsome face. Having looked in a mirror, and standing before Dolokhov in the same pose he had assumed before it, he lifted a glass of wine.!����"The French Revolution!",Hadn't planned on it.......����There was nothing in Pierre's soul now at all like what had troubled it during his courtship of Helene..
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,����He had a certain cold and tranquil laugh, which was particularly dangerous..����He is not the man whom you are in search of; it is I: I am Jean Valjean."!����A few intimate friends were dining with the Rostovs that day, as usual on Sundays.!����As if measuring themselves and preparing for the coming movement, the western forces push toward the east several times in 1805, 1806, 1807, and 1809, gaining strength and growing. In 1811 the group of people that had formed in France unites into one group with the peoples of Central Europe. The strength of the justification of the man who stands at the head of the movement grows with the increased size of the group. During the ten-year preparatory period this man had formed relations with all the crowned heads of Europe. The discredited rulers of the world can oppose no reasonable ideal to the insensate Napoleonic ideal of glory and grandeur. One after another they hasten to display their insignificance before him. The King of Prussia sends his wife to seek the great man's mercy; the Emperor of Austria considers it a favor that this man receives a daughter the Caesars into his bed; the Pope, the guardian of all that the nations hold sacred, utilizes religion for the aggrandizement of the great man. It is not Napoleon who prepares himself for the accomplishment of his role, so much as all those round him who prepare him to take on himself the whole responsibility for what is happening and has to happen. There is no step, no crime or petty fraud he commits, which in the mouths of those around him is not at once represented as a great deed. The most suitable fete the Germans can devise for him is a celebration of Jena and Auerstadt. Not only is he great, but so are his ancestors, his brothers, his stepsons, and his brothers-in-law. Everything is done to deprive him of the remains of his reason and to prepare him for his terrible part. And when he is ready so too are the forces.,����There is, in that mode of life, good mingled with evil, for if enervation is baleful, generosity is good and healthful. But the poor man who is generous and noble, and who does not work, is lost.!����Nicholas was spending the last of his leave at home. A fourth letter had come from Prince Andrew, from Rome, in which he wrote that he would have been on his way back to Russia long ago had not his wound unexpectedly reopened in the warm climate, which obliged him to defer his return till the beginning of the new year. Natasha was still as much in love with her betrothed, found the same comfort in that love, and was still as ready to throw herself into all the pleasures of life as before; but at the end of the fourth month of their separation she began to have fits of depression which she could not master. She felt sorry for herself: sorry that she was being wasted all this time and of no use to anyone- while she felt herself so capable of loving and being loved....
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; ,CHAPTER I ,����"No, really! I'll drive home, I must have left them there. I'll certainly...";Sir? Restroom break sir?;ANDY,For a few seconds Voldemort was visible only as a dark, rippling, faceless figure, shimmering and indistinct upon the plinth, clearly struggling to throw off the suffocating mass��.
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����It seemed to Natasha that even at the time she first saw Prince Andrew at Otradnoe she had fallen in love with him. It was as if she feared this strange, unexpected happiness of meeting again the very man she had then chosen (she was firmly convinced she had done so) and of finding him, as it seemed, not indifferent to her.,����He began to be known in the neighborhood under the name of the beggar who gives alms..? Leo Tolstoy,����Thus a prey to the conflicting movements of his thoughts, he dropped his head.,����This man was Brujon, the long-haired man of the Rue du Petit-Banquier. He had been let loose in the Charlemagne courtyard, and the eyes of the watchers were fixed on him.,����They loaded the guns and carbines, all together, without haste, with solemn gravity.,,����Not a shop, not a vehicle, hardly a candle lighted here and there in the windows; all lights extinguished after ten o'clock. Gardens, convents, timber-yards, marshes; occasional lowly dwellings and great walls as high as the houses.!
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����*"Child of the Don." ,����And he narrated his whole conversation with the French doctor and the reasons that convinced him that Metivier was a spy. Though these reasons were very insufficient and obscure, no one made any rejoinder.;����Eponine had joined Azelma at Les Madelonettes.!.Amongst a man\'s peers, a man shall be sure of familiarity; and therefore, it is good ,!
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...����"I shan't believe anyone, I know she doesn't like me," replied Natasha boldly as she took the letter, and her face expressed a cold and angry resolution that caused Marya Dmitrievna to look at her more intently and to frown.,BOOK FIRST.-WATERLOO;CHAPTER X ,,;����One thing only, a picture, of which I think a great deal, but which I am willing to part with, for I must live!;The way of fortune is like the Milken Way in the sky; which is a meeting .
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!����So long as histories are written of separate individuals, whether Caesars, Alexanders, Luthers, or Voltaires, and not the histories of all, absolutely all those who take part in an event, it is quite impossible to describe the movement of humanity without the conception of a force compelling men to direct their activity toward a certain end. And the only such conception known to historians is that of power.,,,RED....Man's been here fifty years. This place is all he knows. In here, he's an important man, an educated man. A librarian. Out there, he's nothing but a used-up old con with arthritis in both hands. Couldn't even get a library card if he applied. You see what I'm saying?,����Natasha rose and curtsied to the splendid countess. She was so pleased by praise from this brilliant beauty that she blushed with pleasure., !
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����A NEST FOR OWL AND A WARBLER,��It's going to be boiling in Trelawney's room, she never puts out that fire,�� said Ron as they started up the staircase toward the silver ladder and the trapdoor. ,����He repeated what he had already said to himself when he had hired Scaufflaire's cabriolet:,����Modern history has rejected the beliefs of the ancients without replacing them by a new conception, and the logic of the situation has obliged the historians, after they had apparently rejected the divine authority of the kings and the "fate" of the ancients, to reach the same conclusion by another road, that is, to recognize (1) nations guided by individual men, and (2) the existence of a known aim to which these nations and humanity at large are tending....����But even admitting as correct all the cunningly devised arguments with which these histories are filled- admitting that nations are governed by some undefined force called an idea- history's essential question still remains unanswered, and to the former power of monarchs and to the influence of advisers and other people introduced by the universal historians, another, newer force- the idea- is added, the connection of which with the masses needs explanation. It is possible to understand that Napoleon had power and so events occurred; with some effort one may even conceive that Napoleon together with other influences was the cause of an event; but how a book, Le Contrat social, had the effect of making Frenchmen begin to drown one another cannot be understood without an explanation of the causal nexus of this new force with the event.;����Eponine had been the cause of everything..����Prince Andrew's last days had bound Princess Mary and Natasha together; this new sorrow brought them still closer to one another. Princess Mary put off her departure, and for three weeks looked after Natasha as if she had been a sick child. The last weeks passed in her mother's bedroom had strained Natasha's physical strength.,;
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About PCSC
PCSC Officers
ASC Interviews
PIH
Who’s Who (Members Only)
Asian American Alumni Association of Princeton Lunar New Year Dim Sum
A4P, Announcements, Events, PCSC Events
Feb. 2, 2020, Join us for Dim Sum to Celebrate the Year of the Rat and Catch Up with Princeton Alumni, Family, and Friends. All are welcome! A4P SoCal Lunar Year of the Rat Dim Sum When: Sunday, February 2, 11:00AM Where: Elite Restaurant 700 South Atlantic Blvd (between the 10 and 60 freeways) Monterey [...]
PCSC Editor2020-01-03T21:29:42-08:00January 3rd, 2020|Categories: A4P, Announcements, Events, PCSC Events|
Jan. 11 Loveboat, Taipei Book
Exclusive screening hosted by the Stanford Club in LA on Jan 11, 2020. Film Screening / Book Preview: Exclusive screening of award-winning documentary Love Boat: Taiwan along with book signing of Loveboat, Taipei. Highlights an infamous summer camp with a reputation for college-aged overseas Chinese & Taiwanese Americans to find romance. Register: https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/events/details?event_id=31589 Loveboat, Taipei Book is inspired [...]
PCSC Editor2019-12-06T23:41:58-08:00December 6th, 2019|Categories: Other Events|
Princeton Club of Southern California (PCSC) Holiday Party
Dec. 15th Sunday, Princeton Club of Southern California (PCSC) Holiday Party update. Thank you for your overwhelming response to the holiday party. We are oversubscribed and will be clearing alums from the waitlist as spots open up. Emails went out to both confirmed guests (w/address) and waitlisted alums.
PCSC Editor2019-12-06T23:03:07-08:00December 6th, 2019|Categories: Announcements|
Centennial Paul Haaga Jr. Program on American Entrepreneurship, Jan. 13
Announcements, Events, PCSC Events
Jan. 13th, 2020 Monday, 7:30pm, Centennial Paul Haaga Jr. Program on American Entrepreneurship Featuring Paul G. Haaga Jr. '70, Huntington Trustee emeritus, chair of the board of NPR, and retired chair of Capital Research and Management Company, in conversation with Meg Whitman '77, CEO of Quibi, former president and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and eBay Inc., [...]
PCSC Editor2019-12-07T15:00:53-08:00December 6th, 2019|Categories: Announcements, Events, PCSC Events|
An evening with Princeton Professor Rosina Lozano, Dec. 13
Dec. 13th Friday, 6pm. Join the Princeton Club of Southern California (PCSC) and the Association of Latino Princeton Alumni (ALPA). Enjoy drinks, a Yucatán-style dinner prepared by acclaimed restaurant Chichen Itza, and great conversation with fellow Princeton alumni followed by an evening with Princeton Professor Rosina Lozano for public lecture and conversation on her book, An American [...]
PCSC Elections and General Meeting November 12
Join us for in-person voting and general meeting at downtown Los Angeles location 11/12 Tuesday 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. For more details and to register, go here
PCSC Events Editor2019-11-02T20:14:31-08:00October 27th, 2019|Categories: Announcements, PCSC Events|
Los Angeles High Table, Sunday November 10th
We invite Yale, MIT, and Princeton alums to join us for the Los Angeles High Table series aimed at showcasing dynamic speakers in an intimate setting. We especially welcome established alums in fields relevant to the talk and younger alums in all fields. This event features Dr. Maja Matarić (MIT PhD 1994), who will speak [...]
PCSC Editor2019-10-24T11:18:31-08:00October 24th, 2019|Categories: Announcements, Events, Other Events|
A Princeton Gathering in Los Angeles
Announcements, PCSC Events
Princeton University cordially invites you to join fellow graduate alumni and friends for a gathering with remarks from Dean of the Graduate School, Sarah-Jane Leslie *07, and Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Student Professional Development, Evangeline Kubu. Learn about the vision for graduate student professional development and how alumni can help empower and inspire [...]
PCSC Editor2019-09-24T11:25:47-08:00September 24th, 2019|Categories: Announcements, PCSC Events|
4th Annual Tiger Talk Thursday, September 12, 5:30-8:30p
Today, Princeton in the nation's service takes on a whole new meaning. It's not just public service; it's a passion for making the world a better place through entrepreneurship. These individuals are mission driven, combining innovation with investment and taking their startups to successful outcomes for society. Come meet Princeton entrepreneurs and business leaders driving [...]
PCSC Editor2019-08-17T17:49:03-08:00August 14th, 2019|Categories: Announcements, PCSC Events|Tags: Tiger Talk|
The Extraordinary Life of Betsey Stockton: A Freedom Journey from Princeton, Around the World, and Back, May 19, 2-4 pm
Lecture and Conversation with Gregory Nobles’70, Robert C. Ritchie Distinguished Fellow in Early American History at the Henry E. Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108 626-405-2100 $15 for Non-PCSC $10 for PCSC Members and Young Alums Ticket link: https://pcschuntington.brownpapertickets.com Betsey Stockton’s story is a remarkable saga of one woman’s journey from slavery to freedom—and, above all, [...]
PCSC Editor2019-04-24T06:46:59-08:00April 24th, 2019|Categories: Announcements, PCSC Events|Tags: betseystockton, gregorynobles, huntingtonlibrary|
PCSC Links
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Album Review: The Membranes – “What Nature Gives… Nature Takes Away”
Reviews August 29, 2019 Andy Close
Since reforming (or mutating out of John Robb’s other band Goldblade depending on your view) around five years ago, the Membranes have been a busy band. Following on from their epic astronomy-themed comeback album, 2015’s Dark Matter/Dark Energy, What Nature Gives… Nature Takes Away sees them taking a look at the natural world over a sprawling 16-track 72-minute double album.
Now, something like this is only ever gonna go one of three ways – an ill-thought-out mess, an overlong self-indulgent bore or something that actually hits the nail on the head perfectly and which you end up losing yourself inside for weeks on end. And I’m happy to report that this album is very much the latter. The Membranes have never been a band afraid to go well outside their comfort zone and What Nature Gives… sees them veering from snarled up punk through spaced-out dub, swooping Joy Division style gloominess, Killing Joke indebted apocalyptic fury and angular Magazine-esque post-punk. The key here is that no two tracks are the same, and just when you think you’ve sussed this album out, something will come out of left-field to smack you in the side of the head and grab your attention.
There’s definitely an element of Patti Smith style beat poetry to the lyrics here as well, with the musings on songs such as the title track, Deep In The Forest Where The Memories Linger and The Ghosts Of Winter Stalk This Land giving plenty of pause for thought. They’ve assembled an impressive guest list too, with appearances from Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny/Theatre of Hate), ex-Pistols/McLaren associate Jordan and even Chris Packham of all people, who shows up to provide a spoken word diatribe on humanity’s crimes against the natural world on Winter (The Beauty and Violence of Nature).
This is definitely a tough album to wrap your head around on first listen but once you do, you’ll be coming back to it repeatedly and noticing new things with every listen. And like I say, with so much going on, this is an album you’ll be happy to lose yourself in for an hour and a bit at a time. A very impressive effort indeed.
I think I can safely say that "What Nature Gives... Nature Takes Away" will be up there in my top 5 albums come the end of 2019. The sheer scope of the thing is absolutely mind-boggling but the key is that over its 72 minutes, you certainly won't be bored. The impressive variety and the little tricks here will draw you in and keep you coming back for more. If you're not afraid to challenge yourself a bit with this month's listening then you really should check this one out.
Overall Score 4.5
Chris PackhamGoldbladeJohn RobbJordanKirk BrandonSpear of DestinyThe MembranesTheatre of Hate
Andy Close
Yorkshire born, Yorkshire bred and now returned to GOC after a decade in exile down south. One time rock 'n' roll hellraiser now living a slightly quieter life but still trying to get out to see decent rock 'n' roll and listen to awesome new bands whenever the opportunity presents itself. Lives to take the rip, dies from retaliation...
Album Review: Spear of Destiny – “Tontine”
Festival Preview – Rebellion 2018
Pure Rawk Tour News Round Up #4
Album Review: Goldblade – “The Terror Of Modern Life”
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